Most Annoying Singer
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Forum Name: Prog Polls
Forum Description: Create polls on topics related to progressive music
URL: http://www.progarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=46555
Printed Date: August 04 2025 at 00:14
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Topic: Most Annoying Singer
Posted By: Draconis
Subject: Most Annoying Singer
Date Posted: February 25 2008 at 02:58
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I actually like several of these, but they all have distinctive voices that - I suspect - could rub someone the wrong way. What say you? |
Replies:
Posted By: JayDee
Date Posted: February 25 2008 at 03:01
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Akon. ------------- 
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Posted By: The Whistler
Date Posted: February 25 2008 at 03:09
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What the--? Who voted...for Ian?
You must all suffer for this one man's mistake!
Oh, and, why ain't Geddy Lee up there? ------------- "There seem to be quite a large percentage of young American boys out there tonight. A long way from home, eh? Well so are we... Gotta stick together." -I. Anderson |
Posted By: Draconis
Date Posted: February 25 2008 at 03:10
| I didn't think of Geddy Lee. An unfortunate omission on my part! |
Posted By: The Whistler
Date Posted: February 25 2008 at 03:12
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S'alright. I mean, the Supertramp guy does sorta sound like him, if memory serves, and either way, Jon Anderson should sop up the Lee votes. ------------- "There seem to be quite a large percentage of young American boys out there tonight. A long way from home, eh? Well so are we... Gotta stick together." -I. Anderson |
Posted By: Cristi
Date Posted: February 25 2008 at 03:13
| i vote for Ferry - never enjoyed either Roxy Music or his solo stuff much. |
Posted By: Dean
Date Posted: February 25 2008 at 03:52
 ------------- What? |
Draconis wrote:Posted By: fighting sleep
Date Posted: February 25 2008 at 04:33
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No Geddy Lee or Roger Waters? The list is a little lonely without them! From this list, Jon Anderson gets the merit badge.
....but have you ever heard Waters on Amused to Death...?
...or Geddy Lee at all?
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Posted By: BaldJean
Date Posted: February 25 2008 at 04:46
Jon Anderson certainly has a top spot in my personal list of annoying singers, but the price goes to (surprise, surprise) Greg Lake! I just can't stand the way he schmaltzes at times.  this does not mean he always sings badly though, but when he is annoying he really is annoying.Steve Howe is in a category of his own; his voice is not merely annoying, it is a catastrophe, so I did not vote for him.  I am surprised Peter Hammill is not on the list. he is my favorite singer, but I know very well a lot of people find him annoying -------------  A shot of me as High Priestess of Gaia during our fall festival. Ceterum censeo principiis obsta |
Posted By: Sckxyss
Date Posted: February 25 2008 at 04:59
| Belew's singing is one of the main reasons I can't enjoy KC's Discipline, which would otherwise be a pretty good album, so my vote goes to him. |
Posted By: Zargus
Date Posted: February 25 2008 at 05:12
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One of the big reasons i dont like Supertramp is that singer they got. I dont know why but i yust find the sound of his voice very annoying. ------------- 
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Posted By: iguana
Date Posted: February 25 2008 at 05:48
rick davies? 
where is david surkamp? ------------- progressive rock and rural tranquility don't match. true or false? |
Posted By: iguana
Date Posted: February 25 2008 at 05:49
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sorry – to keep to the subject – out of these: freddie mercury. never liked queen. RiP. ------------- progressive rock and rural tranquility don't match. true or false? |
Posted By: Cristi
Date Posted: February 25 2008 at 08:20
Freddie Mercury annoying? that's a shocker, for me at least.
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Posted By: Paper Champion
Date Posted: February 25 2008 at 08:42
For me too. My vote goes for Adrian Belew, as I have never liked his singing manner and now I'm missing glorious KC Wetton-Bruford-Fripp days.. |
Posted By: BaldFriede
Date Posted: February 25 2008 at 09:04
I never was a fan of Mercury and can see why some would perceive him as annoying. -------------  BaldJean and I; I am the one in blue. |
Posted By: Raff
Date Posted: February 25 2008 at 09:10
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How can you have forgotten the king of annoying singers - Mr James LaBrie of Dream Theater? *runs and hides from the wrath of DT fans*
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Posted By: markosherrera
Date Posted: February 25 2008 at 09:23
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Steve Howe....I dont Know Dave Cousins...and the others are good singers....
Where is Steve Howarth of Marillion? ------------- Hi progmaniacs of all the world |
Posted By: stonebeard
Date Posted: February 25 2008 at 09:34
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Another rare non-Mercury here. Perhaps you should add David Byrne of the Talking Heads. I love him, but I can easily see his voice as an acquired taste. ------------- http://soundcloud.com/drewagler" rel="nofollow - My soundcloud. Please give feedback if you want! |
Posted By: Cristi
Date Posted: February 25 2008 at 10:40
I was wondering how long will take till someone will mention HOGARTH as annoying - at least spell his name right
 - oh well... |
Posted By: ghost_of_morphy
Date Posted: February 25 2008 at 10:46
| No Geddy Lee? :( |
Posted By: Barla
Date Posted: February 25 2008 at 11:18
Yeah, that's shocking! He's (and I say he IS because nobody could beat him) the best singer of all time, easily! My opinion, of course, but I guess many will agree with me.
 I can't think of a 'most annoying' singer right now because none of the bands I listen have terribly bad singers. ------------- http://www.last.fm/user/Barla/?chartstyle=LastfmMyspace">  
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Posted By: ProgBagel
Date Posted: February 25 2008 at 11:22
| None of the above, they all have pretty unique voices in my opinion. I'd rather take that then safeguard with the typical generic singer. I heard Steve Howe is oblivious, but I haven't listened to any of his solo stuff. His backing vocals are fine. |
Posted By: BaldFriede
Date Posted: February 25 2008 at 11:33
Steve Howe as lead singer is the pits!  ------------- BaldJean and I; I am the one in blue. |
Posted By: keiser willhelm
Date Posted: February 25 2008 at 12:36
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From the list Roger Hodgson, although i really dont find too many of these guys annoying. James Labrie holds the title for the best bad singer ever. ------------- http://www.last.fm/user/KeiserWillhelm" rel="nofollow - What im listening to |
Posted By: mono
Date Posted: February 25 2008 at 12:37
| Zappa has to have the most ugliest squeakiest voice in the pack |
Posted By: laplace
Date Posted: February 25 2008 at 12:58
I agree with every point (although it's not so much Jon Anderson's voice that annoys me as it is his accent.) A vote in spirit against Greg Lake. He ruined the title track from ItCotCK for me, and that's a hard thing to do considering how good the song is. =( ------------- FREEDOM OF SPEECH GO TO HELL |
Posted By: The Quiet One
Date Posted: February 25 2008 at 12:58
| Freddie and Ian when he starts singing like in hard rock songs from Aqualung very disgusting. And Freddie has never been my cup of tea. Where's David Byron? I apreciate him but sometimes is really annoying. |
Posted By: Finnforest
Date Posted: February 25 2008 at 13:07
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Morse's voice makes my skin crawl. And as much as I love Steve Howe, his singing is problematic to put it nicely. Labrie sometimes bothers me but not always. And an honorable mention to the Gentle Giant dude for his quirky style. I can take it for a while, but beyond a certain point I'll put a fist through the wall.------------- https://www.youtube.com/shorts/sQD8uhpWXCw" rel="nofollow - It's a beautiful day in the neighborhood...Road Rage Edition |
Posted By: Abstrakt
Date Posted: February 25 2008 at 13:28
| James Labrie, Freddy Mercury & Glenn Hughes (At Times) |
Posted By: crimhead
Date Posted: February 25 2008 at 13:51
Geddy is a good choice. It is hard to listen to more than one Rush CD at any given time. |
Posted By: Erpland316
Date Posted: February 25 2008 at 15:20
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James LaBrie's voice can be too much for me. On a lighter note, Adrian Belew has an amazing voice...just listen to Matte Kudasai or Walking on Air from Discipline and Thrak! ------------- "Science is all metaphor"-Timothy Leary [IMG]http://freespace.virgin.net/martin.jones10/amonpic.jpg">[IMG]http://imagegen.last.fm/red/artists/Yeti316.gif"> |
Posted By: Avantgardehead
Date Posted: February 25 2008 at 15:42
Zappa is anything but squeaky. ------------- http://www.last.fm/user/Avantgardian |
Posted By: mrcozdude
Date Posted: February 25 2008 at 16:13
yeah i thought the same,he's no singer but he sounds fine ------------- http://www.last.fm/user/cozfunkel/" rel="nofollow"> 
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Posted By: Nogbad_The_Bad
Date Posted: February 25 2008 at 18:22
| Ok , where's Peter Hamill, Derek Shulman, Robert Wyatt, ? |
Posted By: Dean
Date Posted: February 25 2008 at 18:56
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For me part of the charm of Prog is that the singers are quirky and idiosyncratic, that they have an individual vocal style with distinctive vocal phrasing, pitch, intonation, diction or some unusual affectation that singles them out from a crowd of "non-annoying" singers who, although may be technically perfect, are colourless and bland by comparision.
One quote from the fringes of Prog that I rather like was by Ron Mael, who when asked about his brother Russell's eccentric vocals answered with "If the songs are difficult to play, then they can damn well be difficult to sing". ------------- What? |
Posted By: heyitsthatguy
Date Posted: February 25 2008 at 19:24
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odd, I find Wetton more annoying vocally than Belew at least on Starless and Bible Black he's pretty good on Red and Larks' Tongues though in short, I don't like Wetton's singing on Starless and Bible Black ------------- 
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Posted By: tszirmay
Date Posted: February 25 2008 at 19:46
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Kenny Rogers! Oh, Prog singer! er......Lee Jackson on Refugee (yuck!) vewy vewy bad! ------------- I never post anything anywhere without doing more than basic research, often in depth. |
Posted By: Topographic
Date Posted: February 25 2008 at 20:35
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Howe by himself. He's an awesome on his instrument, and he can pull off vocal harmony (when he's being covered up by Jon and Chris, or Trevor Horn and Chris). But solo Steve doesn't work. Have you ever tried eating cumin by itself? That's what Steve's voice is like--it blends well with others, but is . . . um . . . "interesting" on its own. -Topo ------------- Have you rearranged your liver to the solid mental grace today? |
Posted By: ES335
Date Posted: February 25 2008 at 20:59
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For me it's a toss up between Robert Plant and the dude from Kansas (the other dude from Kansas is decent though). ------------- Bible-thumping heavyweight evangelistic boxing kangaroo |
Posted By: Ivan_Melgar_M
Date Posted: February 25 2008 at 21:37
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Well Steve Howe shouldn't be allowed to sing even in the shower, but he's not a vocalist, so he must be judged as a guitarist and he's outstanding.
BTW: Very negative thread.
Iván ------------- 
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Posted By: zbida
Date Posted: February 26 2008 at 03:52
| Does anyone mention Roine Stolt here? That's my candidate. And I have Roger Waters solo on my mind too. |
Posted By: LinusW
Date Posted: February 26 2008 at 06:46
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Jon Anderson. He's the main reason to why I can't really grow fond of Yes. And I LOVE Geddy's voice. Strange, isn't it? ------------- http://www.last.fm/user/LinusW88" rel="nofollow - Blargh |
Posted By: Yorkie X
Date Posted: February 28 2008 at 05:04
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Posted By: Zitro
Date Posted: February 28 2008 at 08:36
| How can phil collins and Freddy Mercury get so many votes??? They are fantastic singers. |
Posted By: Logan
Date Posted: February 28 2008 at 13:03
No female vocalists?
Good post, though of course not all of the singers in Prog are quirky or idiosynchratic (when looking across the gamut of musical styles). It's the ones that don't have an individual, bland style that quite often don't appeal for me too, though not necessarily. Prog is such a mixed bag, and you find those that seem to imitate other Prog singers, and those whose voices would not be unusual for other musical genres (for instance, AOR, pop, heavy metal, folk, musicals, jazz, light opera...). I enjoy many voices which are not that distinctive, actually (quite a few female Prog folk singers I could think of, but I enjoy them anyway). I could understand someone not liking Dagmar Krause (Art Bears, Slapp Happy, Henry Cow), David Surkamp (Pavolv's Dog), Peter Hammill (VdGG and solo), and Norman Barrett (Gravy Train) for instance, and there are those who dislike the vocals in Bubu which I like very much, but for me it's rather typically AORish vocals that really don't appeal, as well as certain metal style vocals. I have always had a bit of aproblem with one of the more idiosynchraticc singers in Prog, Peter Hammill, though I really like VdGG and still don't know his solo work well enough. he has a beautiful voice, but I do find his histrionics annoying and affected. A male singer whose voices really appeal to me is Topi Lehtipuu from Hoyry-Kone, but I know others don't enjoy such singing so much. Francesco Di Giacomo of Banco del Mutuo Soccorso is one singer who I can't recall anyone saying was bad. I used to like Annie Haslam's voice (Renaissance) quite a lot, but my wife found it very common and boring. She says much the same of Emily Hay's voice (U Totem, Motor Totemist Guild...). Robert Wyatt may not have a traditionally good voice, but I feel a sincerity and amicability in it that appeals. My favourite vocals are often more operatic, and they can be typically operatic. I often like idiosynchratic voices, and do tend to prefer fairly distinctive vocals, but that can put me off too, depending on how its employed and the tone etc. A few vocalists I don't care for are Roine Stolt, Neal Morse, Steve Walsh. The voices fit the music well, but then I don't care for the music. And a great deal of Neo Prog vocals don't appeal to me as it sounds AORish to me. Interestingly, I often prefer Collins' voice over Gabriel's as it can be smoother and easier listening for me. Much as I like distinct voices, if those distinct voices are pitchy and too raw, that can be a turn-off. It's got to be, for my ear, good and distinct, or good (highly trained) and not that unique. A bad-sounding unique voice still sounds bad to me, but in some cases I can find those enjoyable too... ------------- Watching while most appreciating a sunset in the moment need not diminish all the glorious sunsets I have observed before. It can be much like that with music for me. |
Posted By: fighting sleep
Date Posted: February 28 2008 at 14:24
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Posted By: Evandro Martini
Date Posted: February 28 2008 at 14:28
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I chose Trevor Horn, but if I could I'd definitely choose Peter Hammil. He thinks he's the only one who knows how to interpretate in a song!
------------- "You’ll never make any money playing music that people can’t sing.” Keith Emerson's father |
Posted By: Avantgardehead
Date Posted: February 28 2008 at 14:38
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I'd have to pick either Roger Chapman or that guy from Pavlov's Dog. Out of the choices, no one bothers me except for Ian Anderson. ------------- http://www.last.fm/user/Avantgardian |
Posted By: BaldJean
Date Posted: February 28 2008 at 18:30
yes he does, and he is right ------------- A shot of me as High Priestess of Gaia during our fall festival. Ceterum censeo principiis obsta |
Posted By: King Crimson776
Date Posted: February 28 2008 at 19:03
Oh c'mon, his vocals are just delightful. |