| Localboy80 31.08.2005 09:20 |
Now I personally think Freddie's voice is the best of all time and that is without trying to sound biased. You try attempting to sing a Queen song and wow, it is one hell of a strain. But the power he generates and the high notes he hits, as well as falsetto, is just amazing. His voice is unique and I truly believe there will never be another voice like his, certainly not in my life time at the very least. Apart from Freddie, I personally think Elvis has the best voice of all time. Elvis is very stereotyped artist but having been a fan of Elvis since 1986, I have been fortunate to listen to a hell of a lot of his material. Now Elvis could sing anything, rock, ballads, country, gospel, rhythm n' blues, rap (yes, rap), funk, blues etc... Some of the notes Elvis hit live (for those who are fans will know what I am referring to) are incredible. Elvis is also one of those artists, who had a unique voice, which I believe will never be heard again in this lifetime. You don't have to necessarily like the artist but list your top ten of greatest vocalists of all time. I am waited to be corrected, as I am not a vocalist but I am merely going by my love and appreciation of music and great vocal from I have heard over the years. Say for example, a really cheesy artist like Michael Bolton and even though his voice sounds the same on every song, he had great power and can go really raw. Anyway, here are my top ten (no order apart from Freddie being number 1 and Elvis being number 2) and bearing in mind, this list will probably change from day to day. Remember, you listing vocal talent and not necessarily if you are a fan of the artist :- 1) Freddie Mercury 2) Elvis Presley 3) Roy Orbison 4) Stevie Wonder 5) Michael Jackson 6) Paul Rodgers 7) Bono 8) George Michael 9) Mick Hucknell 10) Michael Bolton Now the list has left people out but the list, as I said, will probably change everyday and if I was going to include female artists then I think Aretha Franklin and Celine Dion would be up there. I look forward to all your opinions and top ten guys and gals! :-) |
| Fenderek 31.08.2005 09:33 |
1. Paul Rodgers (I'm blues based- he's blues based, he was my hero for a long time as this is MY PERSONAL influence) It's not only about the range (although he can hit pretty nice notes) but mostly about phrasing and the "feeling"- the guy can improvise like no-one, he can do a lot with his voice and I truly believe that he's one of the few who really sing from his heart. Truly THE VOICE 2. Freddie- great range, could sing many styles, but technically far from perfect- was forcing high notes a lot (you can hear it especially live), sometimes it sounded amazing (The Show Must Go On)- sometimes just... well, I didn't like it (i.e. Gimme The Prize, live versions of radio Ga-Ga, IWTBF or WATC). Nevertheless- not someone who'll be copied, not someone who'll be ever replaced. 3. Ian Gillan- incredible range, very bluesy as well, could sing fast screamers and the slow numbers- just compare "Speed King" and "When A Blind Man Cries". Highlight? Def "Child In Time"- no-one will sing it as well as he did... 4. Nick Cave. Mostly i love him as a lyrycist. He's range isn't very impressive. Live he's sometimes really struggling. Yet the power of his voice and the depth of it is amazing. He's second to none when it gets to interpretation. "Mercy Seat" live is THE experience... He's angry and passionate and extremely powerful when singing dark tunes like "Stagger Lee", "Red Right Hand" or "Do You Love Me" and the very next minute he can be lyrical and reflective when doing something like "Ship Song" or "Into My Arms". Recommended albums- "No More Shall We Part" or "Live Seeds" 5. Jeff Buckley- I'm not THAT huge fan of his music, but this guy was really singing from the darkest corners of his soul and heart... I wouldn't even attempt to sing the stuff he did... Incredible range, a lot of improvisisng, extremely talented individual whos career was sadly very short... 6. Robert Plant- he's like the wine- the older the better. Of course he doesn't have half of the range he used to have but... he's got his own style- and he realy found himself in this oriental(ish) sound... Even when he's of tune it sounds good (there's always an exception- see: Innuendo), but some of the songs he sang... "Heart In Your Hand" recorded by Page / Plant in 1996 (if my memory serves me well) is one of the most beautiful vocal performances I've ever heard... 7. David Coverdale- again, another bluesy one. Huge range, but too many crappy songs he sang (I'm not a huge Whitensake fan). The one I really love is "Here I Go Again", but the original version, not the re-recorded one from MTV (with his lady on the car). Also some stuff he sang with Purple is amazing- especially "Mistreated" 8. Glenn Hughes. I mean Purple had so many great vocalists... And yes, another bluesy one (well- funky but bluesy... hmmm...). The problem with Glenn is that he never had a song that would define him as an artist... He didn't ahve THE song or THE album.... Everybody knows he's gota great voice, but somehow he didn't sing too many THAT memorable things... The guy sang almost with everybody, he also had a long break due to drugs... He's back and he just recorded a great album where his voice is better than ever before... 9. Jim Morrison- not technically perfect, very often completely in his own world (musically as well), very often up his own arse, but... nevertheless really deep voice, very persuasive, very... sexy? I guess if I was a woman I'd go for that :) 10. Ray Charles? Elvis maybe? (although he sang a lot of crappy tunes...) John Lennon? Peter Gabriel? (again- the older the better) Edith Piaff? There are still few... I'll put more later :) And one more thing- the most important thing for me in music are the vocals and guitar. So when I like something- it's usually with a decent voice. Of course we h |
| Localboy80 31.08.2005 10:06 |
Cheers, mate! I look forward to more of your contributions! Any chance of your top ten? |
| Fenderek 31.08.2005 10:42 |
Yep - I'm just going to edit the post |
| john bodega 31.08.2005 10:57 |
Barry Gibb was right to call Roy Orbison the 'voice of God'. The man could walk on water. Some singers I'm very fond of include Sammy Davis Jr. Everytime I credit Elvis as a brilliant singer some idiot will tell me that all he did was rip off Black People. BIG WHOOP, if he didn't do it, someone else would have. We should be glad that at least a good singer was the one to introduce the world to that amazing breed of music. Bono hasn't done anything in a very long while that rates him in my top ten. John Lennon. Now - he constantly sang outside of his range (to the detriment of his vocal health, I'm sure) and wasn't always perfect pitch or anything. But (as Brian May would tell you) he conveyed emotion like not many others do. Actually, while I'm on the Beatles - people have told me George Harrison isn't much of a singer, but I really don't think that at all. Listen to "All Those Years Ago". Very good song (though a little on the nose with the early 80's instrumentation). Michael Jackson - but only when he did raucous stuff like Thriller. Basically, when he sings soft like in "There Must be More to Life than This" I snore because he sounds so terribly boring. But he really is amazing in songs like Thriller - what an entertainer. Pity he turned out to be such a wierdo. Honorable mention - Johnny Cash, for turning a Nine Inch Nails song into something GOOD. Outside of TATDOOL, that has to be the most emotional song/video I've seen. Back to Roy Orbison. Amazing singer. And more amazing, that he was able to do it all again 20 years later. Pity he went and died. Jeff Buckley. Music can be a bit hard to listen to sometimes, but he was an innovative kind of guitarist - and made such an interesting sound with his voice. Freddie Mercury. It's quite hard to sum this dude up. He did force it a lot, sometimes it worked and sometimes it didn't. (Imagine the size of his throat nodes after recording Princes of the Universe or Gimme the Prize... for the record, I like those songs). He could do a lot of things though, very delicate and soft stuff in the 70's, and that amazing sort of rock singing like in I Want It All and Was It All Worth It. Yeeeeep... think I'm done. |
| JacquesDaniels 31.08.2005 11:28 |
I will always hold Freddie Mercury as #1, but I most heartily recommend listening to some excellent Frank Zappa vocalists: - Ray White - Ike Willis - Adrian Belew - Napoleon Murphy Brock - George Duke - Bobby Martin ...and then some more of my favorites, in no particular order: - Björk - Jim Morrison - Damon Albarn - Al Jarreau - Ronnie James Dio - Tom Waits (his emotional range is supernatural) - Mike Patton etc. |
| Fenderek 31.08.2005 12:05 |
JacquesDaniels wrote: - BjörkOh yes- how could I forget!!! She's barmy, I'm not a huge fan of her music but her voice is simply out of this world. Amazing stuff!!! |
| Adam Baboolal 31.08.2005 12:06 |
Isn't it common knowledge that Elvis in his Vegas years used backing singers to hit those high notes for him? I can't remember what interview I heard this in, but it came from Elvis to a friend, I think. Peace, Adam. |
| Lisser 31.08.2005 12:41 |
Fenderek wrote:Ohhh nooo!! I can't listen to her. It gives me a headache!!!JacquesDaniels wrote: - BjörkOh yes- how could I forget!!! She's barmy, I'm not a huge fan of her music but her voice is simply out of this world. Amazing stuff!!! When it comes to vocals, I'm not trained at all in range. I just go by what I enjoy hearing. With that my list is: Freddie Elton John Prince Roy Orbison Robert Plant George Michael If I think of more, I'll edit. |
| gem27 31.08.2005 12:48 |
1. Freddie Mercury 2. Elvis Presley 3. Axl Rose 4. Michael Jackson 5. Prince 6. John Lennon 7. David Bowie 8. James Dean Bradfield 9. George Michael 10. Lionel Richie |
| Localboy80 31.08.2005 13:32 |
It is really interesting to read everybody's views and opinions on this and I am really enjoying each reply. Fenderek, wow, you know your shit, mate! As for Elvis, I am not the type of person to say something about someone just for the sake of it but trust me, Elvis' voice was astounding. Bearing in mind, Elvis toured every year from 1969, all the way up untill 1977, performing 2 and sometimes 3 concerts a day. I mean, who does that these days? I |
| Localboy80 31.08.2005 13:47 |
It is really interesting to read everybody's views and opinions on this and I am really enjoying each reply. Fenderek, wow, you know your shit, mate! As for Elvis, I am not the type of person to say something about someone just for the sake of it but trust me, Elvis' voice was astounding. Bearing in mind, Elvis toured every year from 1969, all the way up until 1977, performing 2 and sometimes 3 concerts a day. I mean, who does that these days? If you watch Elvis in the Comeback Special in 1968 (the show where he is dressed in that black leather), you will see just how raw his voice was. Also, believe me, Elvis could hit high notes live and his range was incredible. Anyway, as for other people that were in my top ten, like I said, it will probably change tomorrow but Roy Orbisons voce was effortless, amazing and always sounded like he was in the studio. Michael Jackson is another artist with a unique voice and someone who a lot of people may be surprised to be in the lest, Mick Hucknell, I think has an extremely strong voice. Has anybody here ever heard him sing bad? Anyway, Freddie number 1 for me and Elvis definitely number 2... THE KING AND QUEEN!!! :-) |
| ARMANDO MARTINEZ 31.08.2005 15:18 |
1-Freddie Mercury 2-Rob Halford 3-Bruce Dickinson 4-George Michael 5-Fabio Lione 6-James Labrie 7-Timo Kotipelto 8-Geoff Tate 9-Ian Gillian 10-Dio |
| Localboy80 31.08.2005 17:20 |
I have to admit that I have only heard of a few of those. |
| goliath 31.08.2005 21:38 |
1. Freddie 2. Elton John (early years) 3. George Michael 4. David Bowie 5. Elvis 6. Paul Rodgers 7. Paul McCartney 8. Bono 9. Boy George 10.Joss Stone ( New & very good vocials) |
| Bob The Shrek 31.08.2005 21:40 |
In no particular order: Freddie Mercury James LaBrie Ian Gillan David Coverdale Rob Halford Geoff Tate Elvis Nat King Cole Paul Rogers Van Morrison |
| Mr.Jingles 31.08.2005 22:38 |
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 |
| Shay 01.09.2005 00:23 |
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 |
| GreatKingSam 01.09.2005 07:36 |
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. |
| Fone Bone 01.09.2005 11:02 |
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. |
| ken2004 01.09.2005 12:25 |
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 |
| nibznik 01.09.2005 14:38 |
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 |
| Localboy80 02.09.2005 04:08 |
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. |
| on my way up 03.09.2005 12:50 |
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. |
| deleted user 04.09.2005 00:12 |
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 |