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My list of top singers - please rip it apart!
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thief View Drop Down
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Points: 1546 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote thief Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: January 16 2020 at 07:04
Originally posted by Psychedelic Paul Psychedelic Paul wrote:

It makes a nice change for me to have heard of all the names on your list. Smile
The "fame" factor was important, I'd like to have list that can be discussed with non-hardcore fans too, and fame correlates pretty well with "greatness", at least when it comes to classic rock. Plus it's nice to have progressive singers grouped with other ATGs Wink

Originally posted by Lewian Lewian wrote:

Did you restrict yourself to male only on purpose, or are there really no women making your top 20 or even top 33? I know rock is male dominated but the world of singers surely is not! (I'd probably list 4-5 women in my top 5...)
It was on purpose. Kate Bush, Ann Wilson and Debbie Harry could make it to Top 20, but unfortunately most of the terrific female voices are either less famous (Annie Haslam, Siouxsie, Kim Deal, Alia O'Brien) or not really rock (Dolores O'Riordan, Tina Turner etc.).
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Points: 14229 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Lewian Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: January 16 2020 at 06:38
thief: Did you restrict yourself to male only on purpose, or are there really no women making your top 20 or even top 33? I know rock is male dominated but the world of singers surely is not! (I'd probably list 4-5 women in my top 5...)
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Points: 35570 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Psychedelic Paul Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: January 16 2020 at 06:01
It makes a nice change for me to have heard of all the names on your list. Smile
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Originally posted by Mortte Mortte wrote:

I also would take Axl away (he´s anti-singer to me), everybody else is great or at least good! But no females, was that purpose?
Yes it was! With plethora of talented female singers, it would be even harder to narrow down a top twenty. Many here love Annie Haslam's voice, Grace Slick and Joplin are classics, so is Ann Wilson and even Joan Jett... not to mention the All-Time Greats from fringes of rock, i.e. Tina, Kate, Amy...

Originally posted by Mortte Mortte wrote:

Here´s my list, singers have always been important to me, so I hope I don´t forget someone really great one.
Very eclectic list, I really dig some less obvious picks like Sandy Denny or Jukka Gustavson. Many don't meet the criteria of fame/recognition, but such is a nature of personal rankings :) From your list, Steve Winwood and Gary Brooker fit my criteria really well, thanks for that!

Originally posted by Mortte Mortte wrote:

Because Blues isn´t "allowed" I left there my big favourites Howlin Wolf, Robert Johnson, Charlie Patton & Skip James. Also would like to add list Elvis, Little Richard & Eddie Cochran.
If I wasn't that strict, Little Richard and Elvis would make it to TOP20 on influence alone. As a matter of fact, I would shift my own criteria to have Presley at 1 :)

Edited by thief - January 16 2020 at 05:52
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I also would take Axl away (he´s anti-singer to me), everybody else is great or at least good! But no females, was that purpose?

Here´s my list, singers have always been important to me, so I hope I don´t forget someone really great one:
1. P J Harvey
2. Sandy Denny
3. Captain Beefheart
4. Tom Waits
5. Nick Cave
6. Jukka Gustavson
7. Steve Winwood
8. Gary Brooker
9. Jim Morrison
10. Greg Lake
11. Roger Chapman
12. Laura Nyro
13. Kate Bush
14. Björk
15. Ana Da Silva
16. Jon Anderson
17. Ian Anderson
18. Nina Simone
19. Buffy Sainte-Marie
20. Nina Hagen

Because Blues isn´t "allowed" I left there my big favourites Howlin Wolf, Robert Johnson, Charlie Patton & Skip James. Also would like to add list Elvis, Little Richard & Eddie Cochran.
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Points: 1546 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote thief Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: January 16 2020 at 04:54
Originally posted by Cristi Cristi wrote:

great list, the only vocalist I would not put there is Axl.
Thanks. I'm also a bit iffy about Axl Rose, his vocals are at least as polarizing as his stage antics and personality. The selling points are:
1) extremely unique sound; it's often parodied and mocked, but MANY people adore it secretly
2) colossal fame of Guns N'Roses even 25 years past their heyday; it seems the band stood the test of time in the eyes of youth

I'm well past my teenage days sadly, but found out that today's 17 year olds listen to G N'R with as much devotion as we have, not to mention the original fanbase in 1987-94 era. Anyways, Axl might be over the top and borderline annoying, but it suits his music very well... perhaps the most recognizable vocals of early 90s, sans Kurt Cobain.

You also mentioned a bunch of solid names, I'd definitely consider Swano and Gildenlow for Metal list - if I ever sit down to write one Big smile

Originally posted by Psychedelic Paul Psychedelic Paul wrote:

I wouldn't change any of the names on there.
Much appreciated! Cool

Originally posted by Guldbamsen Guldbamsen wrote:

I was just about to mention Paul Rodgers missing from your list seeing as you seem to have an affinity for those singers that somehow are able to pull back the sack and hit those girlish rock cries
*You did welcome folks to rip your list apart*
You welcome Smile Admittedly there are some girlish vocals on the list, no way around it!

Originally posted by Guldbamsen Guldbamsen wrote:

There are a bunch of singers on that list whom I personally adore. My alltime fave also in Jim
Hard to argue with Jim Morrison right? One of a kind timbre, very good stylistic range (crooning, screaming, meditating), the fame and influence is undeniable. Definitely Top 20 material, and I'm not even The Doors fanatic.

I found myself moving Bowie in-and-out of the list, hence the honorable mention. Demetrio Stratos had all the skills in the world, deserves a shout out too. Francesco di Giacomo was also terrific... but yeah, Top 20 is very limiting.
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Points: 23098 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Guldbamsen Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: January 16 2020 at 04:18
I was just about to mention Paul Rodgers missing from your list seeing as you seem to have an affinity for those singers that somehow are able to pull back the sack and hit those girlish rock cries
*You did welcome folks to rip your list apart*

Just pulling your leg There are a bunch of singers on that list whom I personally adore. My alltime fave also in Jim
I’m not sure I can do such a list without missing a fair few of my faves plus my faves tend to change with the wind...though never Jim We arrived at an understanding many years ago.

Some faves off the top of my head?

Jim
Catherine Riberoux
Franco Battiato
Povl Dissing
Anna Meek
Brendan Perry
Demetrio Stratos
David Bowie
Susanne Sundfør
Lucio Battisti
Lou Reed
“The Guide says there is an art to flying or rather a knack. The knack lies in learning how to throw yourself at the ground and miss.”

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Points: 35570 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Psychedelic Paul Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: January 16 2020 at 02:51
That's a great list. Thumbs Up I wouldn't change any of the names on there.
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Cristi View Drop Down
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Points: 41760 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Cristi Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: January 16 2020 at 02:04
great list, the only vocalist I would not put there is Axl.

Glenn Hughes
Dan Swano
Daniel Gildenlow
Steve Walsh
Chuck Billy
Mark Hollis
Joey Tempest
Morten Harket
Michael Kiske
Michael Eriksen
Andrew McDermott
Arno Menses
Ted Leonard
Ray Alder
Tom Englund
Fish & Steve Hogarth

and many others, I'll get back to it. Tongue
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thief View Drop Down
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Points: 1546 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (1) Thanks(1)   Quote thief Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: January 16 2020 at 01:50
Hi, I'm trying to come up with my personal list of Top 20 Vocalists in Rock History.
It's a very, very narrow grouping, once I started the writeup I had 20 names on the list and 40+ substitutes... and I'm sure it still has obvious, glaring weaknesses.

I ask you to criticize the list and suggest different placement and/or names, taking into account my criteria:
  • covering rock music since ~1965 to 90s (some would say it's "classic rock")
  • hard/prog are generally >>> soft/pop
  • points for Skills, Fame, Influence and Unique Voice
  • avoiding blues, metal, fusion, rock'n'roll etc.
20. Ozzy Osbourne
19. Steven Tyler
18. David Byron
17. Greg Lake
16. Bon Scott
15. Bruce Springsteen
14. Geddy Lee
13. Axl Rose
12. Peter Gabriel
11. Jim Morrison
10. Paul McCartney
09. Chris Cornell
08. Steve Perry
07. Roger Daltrey
06. Ian Gillan
05. David Coverdale
04. Jon Anderson
03. Ronnie James Dio
02. Freddie Mercury
01. Robert Plant

HM: David Bowie, Eddie Vedder, Rod Stewart, Jack Bruce, David Gilmour, Paul Rodgers, Ian Anderson, Phil Collins, Cedric Bixler-Zavala, Peter Hammill, Bryan Ferry, Phil Lynott, Nick Cave...
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