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Posted: Sep 26 2008 08:04 pm

I would like to compile a list of the greatest vocalists of all time. Here are some picks of mine, in no particular order:

Freddie Mercury
Chris Cornell
Harry Nilsson
Layne Staley
Ann Wilson
Ronnie James Dio
Mariah Carey
Phil Anselmo
Celine Dion
Jim Morrison

What do you think?

Posted: Sep 26 2008 08:42 pm

I think Celine Dion sucks ass.

I also think that Sebastian Bach, Rob Halford, Bruce Dickenson, Lizzy Borden, Robert Plant, Ronnie James Dio, Ian Gillan, Marion Raven, Suzie McNeil, Corey Glover, Freddie Mercury, are among the finest rock singers on Earth. They're my favorites at least.

Posted: Sep 26 2008 08:54 pm

I agree except for Rob Halford, he's a gimmick singer. What notes can he hit? Ann hits the highest notes as a rocker in the 70's and Layne can touch hell and heaven and everywhere and in between. And Harry Nilsson just rocks singing, his songs suck, but he nails vocals; his vocals are a 9.5/10.

Posted: Sep 26 2008 08:55 pm

The guy from Falconer is a pretty badass metal singer, check out falconer if you get a chance.

Posted: Sep 26 2008 08:55 pm

FREDDIE MERCURY

Posted: Sep 26 2008 09:04 pm

You've never seen Judas Priest live, I take it...the guy almost brought tears to my eyes (well, the whole band did, they were that brilliant).

Posted: Sep 26 2008 11:50 pm

I'll list my favorite vocalists and the songs which exhibit why they're amazing (in no particular order):

Martin Gore of Depeche Mode
Best examples:
"The Bottom Line"
"Breathe"

Thom Yorke of Radiohead
Best examples:
"Weird Fishes/Arpeggi"
"How to Disappear Completely"

Bjork
Best examples:
"Oceania" (probably the best vocals on this entire list)
"5 Years"
"Pagan Poetry"

Dolores O'Riordan of the Cranberries
Best examples:
"Dreams"
"Linger"

Rihanna (not that I like the music behind her vocals, but I do like her voice)
Best example:
"Umbrella"

Tom Chaplin of Keane
Best examples:
"This Is The Last Time"
"Nothing In My Way"
"A Bad Dream"

Posted: Sep 27 2008 12:04 am

Freddie Mercury, Bruce Dickinson, and the guy from blind guardian (I know they are hokey as fuck!) for guys that belong to the typical genres of choice on here.

Deltron 3030 for rap - a space opera masterpiece!

And for old-timey, if you guys ever wanted to check out something different, Mississippi John Hurt & Jimmie Rodgers. Kick ass stuff. Any guitarist needs to here john hurt, he is the master of fingerpicking.

Posted: Sep 27 2008 12:14 am

take out Jim Morrison and add Thom York and Glenn Danzig... Morrisons lyrics were ok, and the music was good, but his vocals... well

Joined: Sep 17 2007 Location: The Opium Trail Posts: 3475

Fortune Smiles wrote:

I agree except for Rob Halford, he's a gimmick singer. What notes can he hit?

I seriously hope this is a joke.

Joined: Aug 05 2008 Location: CA Posts: 867

Leonard Cohen. Hands down, my favorite vocalist/singer/song writer.

Posted: Sep 27 2008 07:42 am

JRA wrote:

Fortune Smiles wrote:

I agree except for Rob Halford, he's a gimmick singer. What notes can he hit?

I seriously hope this is a joke.

It can be, if you want. But even George Michael has him beat vocally. I look for pitch range, power, and quality (pleasing, catchy, etc.). If you have some specific examples you might be able to make a believer out of me, I always try to be open-minded.

Jim Morrison is off the list, I agree with that. I forgot Danzig and I will listen to some Radiohead, everyone says they fucking suck other than their song 'Creep'. Again, forgive my potential ignorance.

Posted: Sep 27 2008 07:44 am

ross_rifle113 wrote:

You've never seen Judas Priest live, I take it...the guy almost brought tears to my eyes (well, the whole band did, they were that brilliant).

Any specific songs? Again, I must claim ignorance as I haven't really listened to much of them. If I am wrong I'll be the first to admit it.

Posted: Sep 27 2008 07:59 am

Nobody's mentioned Mike Patton yet?! Great singer who makes great music on top of that. Most people probably know Faith No More (at least I hope), but I think Mr. Bungle is worth checking out too.

Also, I would rather listen to Loreena McKennitt over Celine Dion ANY TIME.

Posted: Sep 27 2008 12:22 pm

Marvin Gaye
Ville Valo
Sade
Aaron Lewis
Maynard James Keenan
Ronnie James Dio
Kristy McVee (Try to listen to Songbird, have a heart, and not cry, I dare ya)
Billie Holiday
Leena Horn
Billy Paul (The sound of Philadelphia)
Barry White
Freddie Mercury
Robert Plant
Geoff Tate
Grace Slick
Bruce Dickinson
Roger Daltrey
Matt Bellamy
Klaus Meine
Brad Delp

Docinsano's Channel 63 · Posted: Sep 27 2008 01:14 pm

Dii Infer wrote:

Nobody's mentioned Mike Patton yet?! Great singer who makes great music on top of that. Most people probably know Faith No More (at least I hope), but I think Mr. Bungle is worth checking out too.

Also, I would rather listen to Loreena McKennitt over Celine Dion ANY TIME.

And I thought I was the only person here that actually digs Patton and Mr. Bungle.

Joined: Dec 06 2007 Location: Connecticut Posts: 11244

Fortune Smiles wrote:

I would like to compile a list of the greatest vocalists of all time. Here are some picks of mine, in no particular order:

Freddie Mercury
Chris Cornell
Harry Nilsson
Layne Staley
Ann Wilson
Ronnie James Dio
Mariah Carey
Phil Anselmo
Celine Dion
Jim Morrison

What do you think?

I can't figure out what makes you think someone is good at singing.

If Chris Cornell is on this list... well then I think Axl Rose should be too. He may do 99% of his songs in falsetto, but he hits every note with perfect pitch and seems to have an unlimited range.

... and what do we do with Michael Jackson and Justin Timberlake?

I personally think that people could easily say which they prefer, but at a certain point it is impossible to say who is the best.

Posted: Sep 27 2008 02:46 pm

Fortune Smiles wrote:

JRA wrote:

Fortune Smiles wrote:

I agree except for Rob Halford, he's a gimmick singer. What notes can he hit?

I seriously hope this is a joke.

It can be, if you want. But even George Michael has him beat vocally. I look for pitch range, power, and quality (pleasing, catchy, etc.). If you have some specific examples you might be able to make a believer out of me, I always try to be open-minded.

Jim Morrison is off the list, I agree with that. I forgot Danzig and I will listen to some Radiohead, everyone says they fucking suck other than their song 'Creep'. Again, forgive my potential ignorance.

'Creep' is a pretty overrated piece of shit. They have a number of other very good songs, 'Creep' just isn't very good.

Posted: Sep 27 2008 02:47 pm

How come no one has mentioned the Singer from Grim Reaper?

Posted: Sep 27 2008 06:18 pm

Steve Grimmett...the little man with the big voice Very Happy

And Halford actually has a really really impressive range...like 8 octaves I think Confused

Listen to 'Painkiller' just to get a sense of one end of his range.

Posted: Sep 27 2008 06:29 pm

docinsano wrote:

Dii Infer wrote:

Nobody's mentioned Mike Patton yet?! Great singer who makes great music on top of that. Most people probably know Faith No More (at least I hope), but I think Mr. Bungle is worth checking out too.

Also, I would rather listen to Loreena McKennitt over Celine Dion ANY TIME.

And I thought I was the only person here that actually digs Patton and Mr. Bungle.

Honestly, I never became a fan of his weird, animal-like noises he makes in some performances but he is ridiculously talented without a doubt. "Squeeze Me Macaroni" astonishes me everytime because he can sing those profane lyrics at a FAST speed (sounding like scat almost).

Also, he was great in Metalocalypse!

Posted: Sep 27 2008 06:32 pm

I love Faith No More. Patton's a genius, and an amazing singer.

Posted: Sep 27 2008 06:40 pm

GPFontaine wrote:

Fortune Smiles wrote:

I would like to compile a list of the greatest vocalists of all time. Here are some picks of mine, in no particular order:

Freddie Mercury
Chris Cornell
Harry Nilsson
Layne Staley
Ann Wilson
Ronnie James Dio
Mariah Carey
Phil Anselmo
Celine Dion
Jim Morrison

What do you think?

I can't figure out what makes you think someone is good at singing.

If Chris Cornell is on this list... well then I think Axl Rose should be too. He may do 99% of his songs in falsetto, but he hits every note with perfect pitch and seems to have an unlimited range.

... and what do we do with Michael Jackson and Justin Timberlake?

I personally think that people could easily say which they prefer, but at a certain point it is impossible to say who is the best.

False, Chris Cornell is a much better vocalist than Axl Rose ever was. Cornell has alot more power in his voice. His range is also more versaitle than Rose's. I do agree that Michael Jackson should be on the list though, and def Robert Plant.

Joined: Dec 06 2007 Location: Connecticut Posts: 11244

Andrew Man wrote:

GPFontaine wrote:

Fortune Smiles wrote:

I would like to compile a list of the greatest vocalists of all time. Here are some picks of mine, in no particular order:

Freddie Mercury
Chris Cornell
Harry Nilsson
Layne Staley
Ann Wilson
Ronnie James Dio
Mariah Carey
Phil Anselmo
Celine Dion
Jim Morrison

What do you think?

I can't figure out what makes you think someone is good at singing.

If Chris Cornell is on this list... well then I think Axl Rose should be too. He may do 99% of his songs in falsetto, but he hits every note with perfect pitch and seems to have an unlimited range.

... and what do we do with Michael Jackson and Justin Timberlake?

I personally think that people could easily say which they prefer, but at a certain point it is impossible to say who is the best.

False, Chris Cornell is a much better vocalist than Axl Rose ever was. Cornell has alot more power in his voice. His range is also more versaitle than Rose's. I do agree that Michael Jackson should be on the list though, and def Robert Plant.

They both yell a lot. Cornell yells for volume, Rose screams for effect.

Bring your range bullshit somewhere else.

Joined: Sep 17 2007 Location: The Opium Trail Posts: 3475

Fortune Smiles wrote:

JRA wrote:

Fortune Smiles wrote:

I agree except for Rob Halford, he's a gimmick singer. What notes can he hit?

I seriously hope this is a joke.

It can be, if you want. But even George Michael has him beat vocally. I look for pitch range, power, and quality (pleasing, catchy, etc.). If you have some specific examples you might be able to make a believer out of me, I always try to be open-minded.

First off, perhaps I should give my perspective of my reaction. For all I care you could consider Clay Aiken a better vocalist than Halford.

What I have a problem with is you refering to him as a "Gimmick singer" and asking LOL WUT NOTES CAN HE HIT? What the hell kind of stupid question is that for any singer (well that isn't one of those Phil Anselmo types). But Rob is perfectly capabale of singing in a "normal voice" and the thing is many people have said that Rob never uses a falsetto. I'm not sure if that's still true nowadays.

But regardless, I have plenty of reccomendations I could give, but I don't know what you've already heard.

ross_rifle113 wrote:

And Halford actually has a really really impressive range...like 8 octaves I think Confused

Listen to 'Painkiller' just to get a sense of one end of his range.

The problem with Painkiller is the untrained ear might think its falsetto (shit, it might be). I had actually heard G& R before Priest and when I heard Painkiller I thought "this guy kinda sounds like Axl Rose here."

While from 88-02 Halford was at his most powerful with high notes, in the 70's his ability to hit high notes sounded more natural. Just listen to Dreamer Deceiver. Rob starts off in a Tony Bennet-esque Bartione and then three minutes he's hitting pitches higher than Painkiller!