New for 2022

[dmg]

I remember reading a magazine review of one of Mark's albums years ago which stated "Mark Knopfler could be accused of never having sung a note in his life!! But he has certainly played a few" I don't agree with that, I think his voice is as unique as his guitar playing, I watch reaction videos on YouTube, and it is amazing how many people love his voice, especially people who are hearing him and his songs for the first time.

I've watch a few of these myself out of curiosity.  Some of them are hilarious while others do a decent job.  Of course they all want hits so we should bear that in mind.

[ds1984]

I remember reading a magazine review of one of Mark's albums years ago which stated "Mark Knopfler could be accused of never having sung a note in his life!! But he has certainly played a few" I don't agree with that, I think his voice is as unique as his guitar playing, I watch reaction videos on YouTube, and it is amazing how many people love his voice, especially people who are hearing him and his songs for the first time.

From day one Mark Knopfler was a full package for me. Of course the guitar hero thing was obviously the main attraction but we know a lot of super guitarist that are only good at playing axes.
Mark could sang, write text and compose music, he knows how to put on a good melody. And he has this distinctive way to sing, not a tenor but he clearly do the job. Listen to him doing second voice on "Wonderfull Tonight" at the Mandela concert.

[SG]

I love his voice and his guitar playing
40 years ago when I discovered Dire Straits, I mostly liked the songs and the guitar.
(I'm not a real fan just a little one)

But now I like his voice too
And I like the sound of the records, it's important for me because I'm a film sound engineer

[MaxG]

I initially battled to get used to his deeper voice which started occurring from the OES tour but I grew to like it.

For me the big factor here is the effect of the gruelling touring on his voice:
1) You will notice his voice is always decent on the studio albums, this as he is going in with a "fresh" rejuvenated and rested voice.
2) Listen to how his voice takes strain over the course of a tour, starting with OES, the 1991 shows were smooth, but if you take a listen to On The Night and Basel Switzerland from 1992, you will see what I mean. This same feature applies to all the tours, just sample any early dates vs. later dates on any tour. I remember how good it sounded in 2005 the first 2 shows in South Africa when I was there live and then towards the end of the tour.
3) His voice was really deep from about 1996, Golden Heart and in particular the STP tour in 2001 then he stopped smoking and it improved.

So I think there is a distinction between a deep pleasant voice, on all his albums and the early tour shows vs. a strained/damaged voice later on in the tours which is much harder on the ear.

[rmarques821]

In 1991/1992 his vocal delivery was like that because he didn't give a f*...
He was bored to death by October/November 1991: shortened the setlist and became incredibly static for the reminder of the tour, gave up playing the beautiful outro in R&J with the Pensa, etc.

So, I'm not sure his voice deteriorated that much after 1985, he just didn't want to be there so he put absolutely zero effort in his vocal performances.
Telegraph Road in 1992 went just like this:

believe in me. I'll get you away. out of the darkness into the day.
these rivers of headlights. rivers of rain.
anger that lives on the streets with these names.
run every red light. memory lane. desperation explode into flames. don't want to see it again.

I might have put more effort typing this than Mark singing it back then 

[dmg]

In 1991/1992 his vocal delivery was like that because he didn't give a f*...
He was bored to death by October/November 1991: shortened the setlist and became incredibly static for the reminder of the tour, gave up playing the beautiful outro in R&J with the Pensa, etc.

So, I'm not sure his voice deteriorated that much after 1985, he just didn't want to be there so he put absolutely zero effort in his vocal performances.
Telegraph Road in 1992 went just like this:

believe in me. I'll get you away. out of the darkness into the day.
these rivers of headlights. rivers of rain.
anger that lives on the streets with these names.
run every red light. memory lane. desperation explode into flames. don't want to see it again.

I might have put more effort typing this than Mark singing it back then 

I think you're probably right there.  I've heard some call it the On Easy Street tour.  The sax taking the first solo on a rushed TR and shortened ToL too.  The tour was a definite step down from the BIA one where every effort was put into each performance.

[ds1984]

According to Joop de Korte, Mark seemed bored from start with that tour.

Still the early part of the tour sounded  so great.

[Robson]

Why can't I see it when I watch the concert from Basel, for example.

The boredom of MK on every street tour is overrated

[hunter]

Why can't I see it when I watch the concert from Basel, for example.

The boredom of MK on every street tour is overrated

Because you are wearing very thick rose-tinted glasses.

[Robson]

That's possible. Just like over 40,000 people at St. James's Stadium:)

[ds1984]

I remember when I attended my Paris show in 1992, after the first 30 minutes of the show I had that feeling he was doing the job but like a robot. It was so mechanical.
Later when the TV special "24 Heures" was boradcasted I learnt that Mark was under medication (antibiotics) for a cold.

 

[rmarques821]

Why can't I see it when I watch the concert from Basel, for example.

The boredom of MK on every street tour is overrated

No, it is not. Almost every single person who talks about that tour is clear about it: John Illsley, Joop de Korte, Chris Whitten, Ed Bicknell... All of them say the tour was a disaster. Mark was bored, angry, dealing with a failed marriage and he clearly didn't want to be stuck for another year touring the world, playing songs and shows he no longer wanted to play.

In fact, in my view, the Basel 1992 concert is a crystal clear example of this. Mark speaks to the audience once, for like 10 seconds. Did he even smile once during that concert? I don't think he did. His vocals are completely emotionless, his playing is formulaic and the whole performance of the band is just robotic.

I love the On Every Street period because I'm a country/folk guy, so I love the album. But I would be blind or deaf if I said that the 1992 concerts sound good to me.

[Robson]

He smiled many times:) I think we are forgetting about the joy and enthusiasm of the audience. And I can see it. My perception is different.

Mark knew his possibilities and life, he knew what awaited him on the long concert tour. If he didn't want to, Mark wouldn't go on tour

[superval99]

He smiled many times:) I think we are forgetting about the joy and enthusiasm of the audience. And I can see it. My perception is different.

Mark knew his possibilities and life, he knew what awaited him on the long concert tour. If he didn't want to, Mark wouldn't go on tour

I noticed that he smiled during Sultans, especially when he was duetting with Chris White, but sometimes he looked a bit irritated.

[hunter]

I don't think Mark had the freedom to choose to not go on tour in those days. They had an album to support.