In no particular order:
Freddie Mercury
James LaBrie
Ian Gillan
David Coverdale
Rob Halford
Geoff Tate
Elvis
Nat King Cole
Paul Rogers
Van Morrison
Thread
Posts in chronological order
1. Freddie Mercury
2. George Michael
3. Steven Tyler
4. Stevie Wonder
5. Brian Johnson
6. Robert Plant (when he was on Led Zeppelin... has gotten very weak ever since)
7. Jon Bon Jovi
8. Matthew Bellamy
9. Axl Rose
10. James Hetfield
2. George Michael
3. Steven Tyler
4. Stevie Wonder
5. Brian Johnson
6. Robert Plant (when he was on Led Zeppelin... has gotten very weak ever since)
7. Jon Bon Jovi
8. Matthew Bellamy
9. Axl Rose
10. James Hetfield
1. Freddie Mercury
2. Paul Stanley
3. Elvis Presley
4. Robert Plant
5. Jeff Buckley
6. Mick Jagger
7. Paul Rodgers
8. Roger Daltrey
9. Dennis DeYoung
10. Prince
2. Paul Stanley
3. Elvis Presley
4. Robert Plant
5. Jeff Buckley
6. Mick Jagger
7. Paul Rodgers
8. Roger Daltrey
9. Dennis DeYoung
10. Prince
1. Freddie Mercury
2. Michael Jackson
3. Elvis Presley
4. Ian Gillan
5. Scott Weiland
6. Ray Charles
7. Buddy Holly
8. Matt Bellamy
9. Chris Cornell
10. Kurt Cobain
I know it's an unusual list, but for me personally, as in my own opinion and from the music I listen to, thats what I'd go for. Freddie, Michael Jackson and Elvis, in my opinion, should adorn the top three of any list of voices, I dont think many could disagree. I had a conversation with a friend a while back about who is better - Mercury or Gillan. I argued Fred, just becuase I think Gillan wobbles occaisonally and relies too heavily on a scream. But that said, When A Blind Man Cries and Child In Time are great great vocals. Scott Weiland, "the melody man" as he is known, for me is a nother great voice, very underrated and often forgotten. Ray Charles is another often forgotten voice, in my opinion. I love the way he sings, and I always look forward to his parts in We Are The World. Buddy Holly is, for me, a simple vioce, nothing necessarily special, I just love his simplicity - he can do rock and he can do soft, and for me, he does it well. Now, Matt Bellamy is a cracking voice. Live, the way he can turn a scream into a soft heart-breaking falsetto amazes me. I find him purely brilliant. Now, Chris Cornell and Kurt Cobain do the rough vocals very very well. The feelings they can put into songs, especially Kurt, often outshines the lyrics in the respect of the emotion of the song. Just check out Black Hole Sun by Soundgarden or Where Did You Sleep Last Night from Nirvana Unplugged, awesome.
I know they are weird selections, but I wasn't going to pick what I dont like, only what I respect and know.
2. Michael Jackson
3. Elvis Presley
4. Ian Gillan
5. Scott Weiland
6. Ray Charles
7. Buddy Holly
8. Matt Bellamy
9. Chris Cornell
10. Kurt Cobain
I know it's an unusual list, but for me personally, as in my own opinion and from the music I listen to, thats what I'd go for. Freddie, Michael Jackson and Elvis, in my opinion, should adorn the top three of any list of voices, I dont think many could disagree. I had a conversation with a friend a while back about who is better - Mercury or Gillan. I argued Fred, just becuase I think Gillan wobbles occaisonally and relies too heavily on a scream. But that said, When A Blind Man Cries and Child In Time are great great vocals. Scott Weiland, "the melody man" as he is known, for me is a nother great voice, very underrated and often forgotten. Ray Charles is another often forgotten voice, in my opinion. I love the way he sings, and I always look forward to his parts in We Are The World. Buddy Holly is, for me, a simple vioce, nothing necessarily special, I just love his simplicity - he can do rock and he can do soft, and for me, he does it well. Now, Matt Bellamy is a cracking voice. Live, the way he can turn a scream into a soft heart-breaking falsetto amazes me. I find him purely brilliant. Now, Chris Cornell and Kurt Cobain do the rough vocals very very well. The feelings they can put into songs, especially Kurt, often outshines the lyrics in the respect of the emotion of the song. Just check out Black Hole Sun by Soundgarden or Where Did You Sleep Last Night from Nirvana Unplugged, awesome.
I know they are weird selections, but I wasn't going to pick what I dont like, only what I respect and know.
Being a singer (and a songwriter) myself (1500 people concerts, records, press articles, the
whole thing, what d'ya know !), I'd go for :
Otis Redding
Rough but every word is perfect, musically and in terms of what it conveys
Marvin Gaye
See above, just replace rough by smooth ;-)
Ray Charles
He could express great feeling through his voice
Freddie Mercury
Almost a mezzo soprano, he is unchallenged in terms of range. He had a very pure voice in
the 70's, I like the huskier mid 80's voice less (Compare a live version of Bo Rhap from 76
to the Magic Tour). Still the best in the pop rock area
Michael Stipe
In the studio his vocals are like jewels, guaranteed to make you cry. It's all a bit lost on
stage, as is REM's music anyway
Dave Gahan
So deep and beautiful, he said he took lessons AFTER Ultra, well aport from breathing
technique, he certainly didn't need them. On stage, he's virtually never out of tune,
unlike...
Bono,
who has alas lost most of his capabalities (from 89 to 93 he was very good live), but the
"go down go up to falestto" gimmick rules !
Eddie Vedder
The vibrato can be irritating after a while, but he can sing perfectly in tunes 30 songs in
a row, and with great feeling, just as if he was singing them for the first time.
whole thing, what d'ya know !), I'd go for :
Otis Redding
Rough but every word is perfect, musically and in terms of what it conveys
Marvin Gaye
See above, just replace rough by smooth ;-)
Ray Charles
He could express great feeling through his voice
Freddie Mercury
Almost a mezzo soprano, he is unchallenged in terms of range. He had a very pure voice in
the 70's, I like the huskier mid 80's voice less (Compare a live version of Bo Rhap from 76
to the Magic Tour). Still the best in the pop rock area
Michael Stipe
In the studio his vocals are like jewels, guaranteed to make you cry. It's all a bit lost on
stage, as is REM's music anyway
Dave Gahan
So deep and beautiful, he said he took lessons AFTER Ultra, well aport from breathing
technique, he certainly didn't need them. On stage, he's virtually never out of tune,
unlike...
Bono,
who has alas lost most of his capabalities (from 89 to 93 he was very good live), but the
"go down go up to falestto" gimmick rules !
Eddie Vedder
The vibrato can be irritating after a while, but he can sing perfectly in tunes 30 songs in
a row, and with great feeling, just as if he was singing them for the first time.
1 Freddie Mercury
2 Michael Jackson
3 Robert Plant
4 Elvis Presley
5 George Michael
6 Paul McCartney
7 Jon Bon Jovi
8 Michael Bolton
9 Stevie Wonder
10 Don Henly
2 Michael Jackson
3 Robert Plant
4 Elvis Presley
5 George Michael
6 Paul McCartney
7 Jon Bon Jovi
8 Michael Bolton
9 Stevie Wonder
10 Don Henly
k....
1.hrm.... maybe no numbers
Ian Gillan, great all-around singer, love the stuff he did with Black Sabbath, have a bootleg 'Born In Hell', it's great, his version of War Pigs is just amazing, I never thought a scream could be so good. (Screams are his trademark, but they are like singing screams, sorta like mariah carey's high notes [was that humor?])
Paul Rodgers, great blues singer, great rock singer, The Stealer is my all-time fav. Free/Bad Company song. Even though it flopped singles wise.
Phil Lynott, one of my favorites, his voice is so distinctive, I love it on Thin Lizzy I, maybe it changes later, but on this album, it just blows me away.
Michael Hutchence, as a live singer he was amazing, great stage presence, I have this dvd of one of their performances in 97, I think it's VH1 Hard Rock Live, and he just blows me away, he showed signs of real talent. It's unfortunate he passed away.
Robert Plant, three words, one song; "Dazed And Confused"
Robert Smith, right up there with Phil Lynott as being a distinctive singer, he has a quality to his voice, and his style is just impeccable. Even as a Fortysomething these days I think he's still cool.
Daniel Johns, with the release of Silverchair's 'Diorama' Danny boy, has forced the world to recognize that he is a force to be reckoned with, teetering on the edge of musical genius, plus he's boning Natalie Imbruligia, which is always a plus.
Julian Casablancas/Lou Reed, different people, basically the exact same voice, Jules work with The Strokes is amazing his voice is just so right for his songs, Lou get an honorable mention because he basically drew attention to the New York scene, and he made it ok to where latex. LMAO.
David Byrne, again yet another distinctive vocalist, if you havent noticed by now, I like singers that have their own style, now all I have to do know is listen to Byrne's cover of Beyoncé's Crazy In Love
1.hrm.... maybe no numbers
Ian Gillan, great all-around singer, love the stuff he did with Black Sabbath, have a bootleg 'Born In Hell', it's great, his version of War Pigs is just amazing, I never thought a scream could be so good. (Screams are his trademark, but they are like singing screams, sorta like mariah carey's high notes [was that humor?])
Paul Rodgers, great blues singer, great rock singer, The Stealer is my all-time fav. Free/Bad Company song. Even though it flopped singles wise.
Phil Lynott, one of my favorites, his voice is so distinctive, I love it on Thin Lizzy I, maybe it changes later, but on this album, it just blows me away.
Michael Hutchence, as a live singer he was amazing, great stage presence, I have this dvd of one of their performances in 97, I think it's VH1 Hard Rock Live, and he just blows me away, he showed signs of real talent. It's unfortunate he passed away.
Robert Plant, three words, one song; "Dazed And Confused"
Robert Smith, right up there with Phil Lynott as being a distinctive singer, he has a quality to his voice, and his style is just impeccable. Even as a Fortysomething these days I think he's still cool.
Daniel Johns, with the release of Silverchair's 'Diorama' Danny boy, has forced the world to recognize that he is a force to be reckoned with, teetering on the edge of musical genius, plus he's boning Natalie Imbruligia, which is always a plus.
Julian Casablancas/Lou Reed, different people, basically the exact same voice, Jules work with The Strokes is amazing his voice is just so right for his songs, Lou get an honorable mention because he basically drew attention to the New York scene, and he made it ok to where latex. LMAO.
David Byrne, again yet another distinctive vocalist, if you havent noticed by now, I like singers that have their own style, now all I have to do know is listen to Byrne's cover of Beyoncé's Crazy In Love
Well, I hope there are more selections to come, as it has been very interesting reading the different top 10's and the reasoning behind them.
Some I agree with and some I don't but that is the beauty of it, seeing the reasoning behind the choices.
Some I agree with and some I don't but that is the beauty of it, seeing the reasoning behind the choices.
1)Freddie Mercury:what a range,power,emotion,...he had it all.His best live-shows were also great though his worst are way too bad for a guy like him(if you know what I mean)He didn't take care of his voice enough at times live I think(that's technique also maybe)I'm not an expert actually.He could sing almost every style and from what I've heard from the period 88-91 I think he could still get better(if he gave up smoking)!What a shame!
2)Jeff Buckley:he is in some ways more limited than freddie altough his range is even bigger.He can't sing many different styles(he has such a typical sad emotion in his voice) and practically always has sad,melancholic music.In that syle he's the absolute best though.The emotion in his voice is truly unique.Very sad he died so young!!My girlfriend is a big fann of his!
3)Robert Plant!!In his best days he sounded live as good and unique as in the studio,hitting very high notes.I can't listen too long to his voice though since it is so sharp.
That are the ones I consider to be the best.My top-3
Maybe I'll post some other names later on.
2)Jeff Buckley:he is in some ways more limited than freddie altough his range is even bigger.He can't sing many different styles(he has such a typical sad emotion in his voice) and practically always has sad,melancholic music.In that syle he's the absolute best though.The emotion in his voice is truly unique.Very sad he died so young!!My girlfriend is a big fann of his!
3)Robert Plant!!In his best days he sounded live as good and unique as in the studio,hitting very high notes.I can't listen too long to his voice though since it is so sharp.
That are the ones I consider to be the best.My top-3
Maybe I'll post some other names later on.
10. Ian Gillan
9. Paul McCartney
8. Roger Taylor
7. Les Claypool
6. David Bowie
5. Elton John
4. Robert Plant
3. Frank Zappa
2. John Lennon
1. Freddie Mercury
9. Paul McCartney
8. Roger Taylor
7. Les Claypool
6. David Bowie
5. Elton John
4. Robert Plant
3. Frank Zappa
2. John Lennon
1. Freddie Mercury