Jason Aldean on SNL

[viribus]

Like I said, I'm not familiar with Aldean or his band at all. Maybe the rehearsals etc. were very rushed to meet SNL deadlines. Maybe Aldean is understandably a little "off" after the Vegas horror.

It's still a nice tribute.

 

[PlanBfromOuterSpace]

Yeah, he was a bit off key for sure but he is famous because he has a GREAT band. In particular, Tully Kennedy is a fantastic bass player. Trying to figure out all those bass riffs in “My Kind Of Party” kicked my butt and was really an inspiration for me to become a better bassist.

 

[Rocker949]

I think they were doing the best they could, but just aren't in the Tom Petty league. Also, Jason Aldean was painfully flat. But they were trying to do a good thing and I wouldn't want to criticize it.

 

[SteveHeissner]

I suspect that sometimes even the pros can't hear themselves due to a poor mix in the monitors. It's nice to know that problem isn't just restricted to us chumps in cover bands.

 

[SteveC]

He was flat. He isn't my favorite by a long shot. The intention was good so I'll cut him a break. He should have taken it down a step. At least it's him singing and not tracked or auto-tuned or whatever. Props for that, but then make sure it's a key/song you can pull off.

 

[makaspar]

It was a bit high for him, and he had some flat spots, but on second listening, he wasn’t all that bad. The spirit certainly was there.

Doesn’t help that they probably learned the song on the way to the SNL studio...

 

[Richland123]

I will give him credit for doing a tribute; but, here are other live videos where he sings off too

 

[Engle]

Tom Petty songs are difficult to sing. Jason was having a hard time and all the vocals were low in the mix. I couldn't hear the background vocals at all. But good on them for getting out there and playing that tune.
I think you have to cut them some slack given the circumstances. All our "worst gig ever" stories pale in comparison to what happened in front of that band 6 days before that SNL performance.

 

[wellshuxley]

My uneducated guess: combination of poor monitor mix and Jason's attempt to emulate Tom Petty's "portamento" on the original recording

 

[Biggbass]

Flat or not, I did appreciate what he was saying in song...
that song should be an international anthem against evil...and I think it is now...
and maybe Jason launched the start of that.

 

[waveman]

He sounded a little off. I am a fan, in fact going to see him this Friday. But yeah, he has a limited range. And even when he sings his own songs that I have seen on award shows, he can sometimes be a little flat, sometimes not so much

 

[mpdd]

you're supposed to sing so flat that it sounds good, that's an old post punk trick I use from time to time

 

[HolmeBass]

I am not too picky about vocals, since my singing sucks and glass houses and stones, etc, but during the choruses especially I couldn't help noticing something was off, and a few of his notes were definitely out.

My wife is a lot more critical and her comment, about half way through the first line he sang, was, "Wow there aren't many people who make Tom Petty sound like a strong vocalist."

 

[Lesfunk]

He didn't "seem" to be singing flat... He WAS singing flat... as heck!

 

[jchrisk1]

Yeah, he was flat. And, I don't believe that blaming poor monitors is an excuse for not being able to sing on pitch. I could have heard any band across the country hacking Tom Petty songs last week, and they put that on TV. But, I have zero respect for bro-country "artists".

 

[jaco944]

No worse than me screaming my guts out to American Girl when I heard Petty died. Of course I was in my car blowing snot bubbles with my daughter singing and laughing at me.

 

[rmars]

Yeah, during the "Hey baby!" part his voice just clashes with the guitars in a not pleasant way.

Whoever plays bass on his albums is great. I've filled in with a few country bands and played Tattoos On This Town and Night Train and the bass parts are fun. I was flying thru a song list for a last minute fill in gig and Night Train made me earn my money.

 

[bassbully]

I thought it was a very cool they did this and a nice tribute to Tom Petty. As for him singing flat whatever.
I thought he sounded like Jason and he's not a fantastic singer anyhow. In the shadow of such a horrible tragedy and the loss of a rock icon calling Jason Aldean out for singing flat is the least thing we have to worry about.

 

[makaspar]

Yeah, during the "Hey baby!" part his voice just clashes with the guitars in a not pleasant way.

Whoever plays bass on his albums is great. I've filled in with a few country bands and played Tattoos On This Town and Night Train and the bass parts are fun. I was flying thru a song list for a last minute fill in gig and Night Train made me earn my money.

It’s Tully Kennedy, and I believe he’s produced all of his albums as well. He’s a TB’er.

 

[Dogbertday]

Its normal for him to be flat.

Loved the SNL spot for a lot of reasons, him singing flat aside.