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. . .long thread title, but for me it says it all. The song "Red Rain" in the original studio-version is an absolute "Rock-pearl" - for many PG-fans the best track ever by Peter - good. The song was already played many times since 1986 - the live-version from 1993 ("Secret World Live"/Modena 1983) was also nominated for a Grammy-award for "Best Rock Vocal" - good. Watching and listening to "Red Rain" this time with "New Blood Orchestra" IMPRESSED me A LOT - the voice, the sound, the musical arrangement, the mood, the visual - fantastic !

The "New Blood" live version of "Red Rain" is absolutely amazing. . .totally agree Cimber! I was blown away by this live performance. . .it literally took my breath away during the performance at Radio City in May. . .one of the many highlights during the second half of the show!

I absolutely agree with both of you! . . .version of "Red Rain" with Orchestra and visual scenes of New Blood Tour is . . . .fantastic,touching!! . . . .for me as if this song was on a cloud,and new wind blowing on it,another dimension. . .it's difficult to explain! The power of the Art. . . .thank you Peter!

the best live version of "RED RAIN" since 1986 is the "New Blood"-version No it's not. But it's nice anyway.

I also think it's not the best version since 1986. Peter seemed to struggle with the lyrics at the end of the song at Brussels and also at Amneville. But like Caste said it was nice anyway.

For once in my life, I agree with Caste !! this is terrifying isn't it ? (no , i'm kidding) I think it's been a great version but I found that Peter was not at ease at the end of the song, there were something strange at the end. But anyway, great version.

You're right. Whenever I hear the Brussels recording I have the impression Peter lost some cues by the end of the song. Where you expect he's going to sing the final lines of the song there's nothing, giving the impression he forgot them or ran out of breath. It's a nice version, but the vocals are sounding very strange in some places.

Red Rain sounded amazing in NYC in May. If "Red Rain" makes it onto the "New Blood" CD (which I feel it will) I'm sure that Peter perfectionist will make sure the vocals and all will be spot on! If it's anything like the "New Blood" studio version of "Washing of the Water". . .well. . .enough said. . .

I once heard him sing red rain just sat at the piano,think it was on the old grey whistle test.thats my favourite version of red rain,the vocal is to the fore and not drowned out by the music as it is with a band.

I really love this version http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ED1ZIbbxPOc

I think the new blood version was too close to the original. Maybe it would have been even better if PG (or John Metcalfe) made a slightly different arrangement.

. . .allright folks, the PG-hardcore-section strikes back - you are right: of course there are some TOP live-versions of "Red Rain" from the past with rock-band. I just wanted to express my feelings about this new version, which sounded absolutely great without any vocal or lyrical problems. Just leaning back and watching the performance of this track is a pleasure. I would have been the LAST one to choose out tracks like "San Jacinto" or "Red Rain" for this tour (never thought "REd Rain" could work WITH orchestra), but both tracks sounded just right to my ears - like HONEY to the BEES. . .

I'm still uneasy with the orchestral Red Rain, however, I wait to hear the Koln version, specially since Dickie said the vocals ran smoothly during the show.

Ceridwen,i like too version you posted. . . . but i prefer all versions where only Peter sings. Reason is that i think this is a song with oneiric vision that is too much "Gabrielian",and nobody else can "translate" with singing. . . . even an artist like Stipe. . .sorry i think this. . . .