Privileged Voices

I would vote for Fish (predictably, perhaps!), but he's Scottish.

All of the others do what they do well, but none as well as Freddie Mercury did - love or hate his voice, it was everything from powerfully operatic to gentle and soulful.

ReedLover:

I fail to see what is so offensive about my "reply" to Alex Lifeson - I meant no offense, just a little redress of the balance. I have read that kind of argument from Record companies and bands sooo many times, and it exaggerates certain aspects in order to make the point.

The problem as I see it is that people often end up believing the exaggerations, focus is lost, and 9 year old children get fined thousands of dollars - which must be very scary for them and their parents.

I certainly did not and do not condone downloading albums (unless the owner of the material gives them away)!!! 

I think you have just got the wrong end of the stick somewhere

I've heard of KISS and tell...

Peter quoted Morrissey! Well done, sir! My own favorite quote from the Wilde wit is almost appropriate in this thread: "She said I know you and you cannot sing...I said that's nothing, you should hear me play piano."

Of all the singers listed, I'm torn between Gabriel and Jon. On one hand, Gabriel balanced his theatricality with a slightly raspy and yearning quality (I feel the same about Gilmour, to a lesser extent); while Jon Anderson at his best was able to counter the mystic poetic pomposity of the lyrics with an almost childlike openness like no one else, except possibly Nick Drake (who had less cosmic lyrics to begin with). And coming in third, Ian Anderson (in better days) had an incredible combination of amazingly disparate elements; folksy and yet wordly, lecherous and spiritual, caustic and tender.

I'm not in the camp that dislikes Geddy's voice (me mum didn't believe me when I said the singer was a bloke, haha), but I don't think it's typically very expressive (with certain exceptions). And I could understand where it might grate on people...perhaps it's an aquired taste. Didn't higher pitched voices used to be much more common than now? For a long time you couldn't sing for a hard rock or metal band unless you could hit notes that would shatter glass.

Greg Lake has his high and low points for me, but I think he's unbeatable on "Epitaph" and ELP's softer songs ("From the Beginning", "Take a Pebble", "Lucky Man"). And certainly anyone who can inspire the kind of feelings (and behavior) that Ms. fates illustrates must be worth something 

I'm surprised there's an anti-Wetton contingent; I could understand not being overly impressed by his voice, but actively disliking it? IMAO he was perfect on "Starless", "The Night Watch", and "Fallen Angel". My wife likes him on "Heat of the Moment" too- she made me put that in

My favorite prog voice is the Leonardo Sasso- lead singer for Locanda della Fate- and I'm well aware that many people find him annoying. In general I think the italian bands have the best male singers. Strange that I'm put off by the more pompous English vocals but I love the rough operatic bombast of Locanda, Alusa Fallax, Deus ex Machina, etc...maybe I just don't want to understand the lyrics.

And one last thing- I'm a big fan of Zappa's voice when he does the sleazy deep-throated voiceover thing ("I am the Slime", and many others). 

threefates wrote: ... his voice makes my knees weak, his intonation is like no other.. I had to control myself not to drop to my knees... (however, he did let me do that later...)  I know, I know... I'm a bad girl.....

Heath!

You're off again - have some bromide asap - I'm getting old and don't know with this talk, whether I could stand the rush of blood to my..............head. Cold shower - it is (bloody English) raining outside.

Marcelo wrote: Wonderful voices includes Liliana Bodini from Zauber and Dalys Toruño from Equinox? Estás seguro? Desafinan!

Hay algo en su infortunio vocal que me encanta de sobremanera! Es como recalcar el asunto con Mariela! Suena espectacular en sus discos, pero ambos sabemos la verdad de las cosas   (Por cierto, Dalys es hermosa al fin y al cabo! eso lo compensa todo )

Saludos!

Threefates wrote:

I'll say it again, Ivan.  I've heard both Greg and John sing quite a bit... studio and of course, live... and I find no similarities in their voices.  They don't even sound alike in their speaking voices...  Maybe you find the connection between imagery or something... I have no clue on that!

I knew that was comming.

Probably I'm wrong and it's only a personal opinion but I know many people who thinks like me.

Iván

First, Reed Lover and Certif1ed (and Peter):

I read through your comments on the mp3 thread, and do not believe that either of you were out of line.  Yes, passions were stirred, and perhaps things were said (as Asia would have it) "in the heat of the moment."  However, both of you made cogent points, and other than a single mild insult (for which Reed Lover apologized immediately), everything was "kosher."  So, at leat for now, can you two guys "kiss and make out"...er..."up?"

Re this thread, I did not vote since, as one member pointed out, there are so many aspects of singing to consider, even given the specific title of the thread.  As most do, I love Gabriel for what he does, the Andersons (both) for what they do, Lake (who has probably the most naturally "gifted" voice of all), and others.

Re Wetton, I always liked the "grittiness" of his vocals, and feel they were a good match for the majority of Crimson's material.  However, I believe he does his best vocals on the two "U.K." albums, which have not yet been mentioned.  Those albums prove that he can handle both "heavy" ("In the Dead of Night," "Danger Money") and "light" ("Nevermore," "Rendezvous 6:02") singing.

Peace.

Reed Lover wrote: Peter it is not rampant negativity and anger, it is passion!

I know thats exactly what it is on my part... 

However, I think its also necessary to have a good sense of humor.

James Lee wrote: "Passion is no ordinary word...The world is easy when you're just playing around." - Graham Parker Peter makes a solid point about the difference between words on a PC monitor and words exchanged between lads in a pub. I've cringed at things I wrote in the past that seemed so innocuous and justified at the time. In fact, I think one example was directed at Peter  and he responded like a complete gentleman. So I make at least a slight effort to see how my words could be taken- not from any 'political correctness' sh*te, but simply because communication is all about the intent as well as the content. And I think I should get an award for not re-stating my opinion of Peter Hammill's voice on this thread

You showed great restraint. It is common knowledge( I thinK) that you pretty much don't care for hammill and VdGG. You have stated that on many threads and in reviews for the band no less. While I love this band ALOT I would prefer peoples bad reviews along with the good. If I am searching the archives and all I have is a bunch of clones singing their appraise for a band what good does it really do me? None really!!!