Greatest singer of all times

[Bernie Sanders]

I'm being pulled between Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin

[KoolBak]

Def have to go Sinatra on that list....

[RiskTycoon]

Def have to go Sinatra on that list....

+1
I do enjoy both. Maybe not the greatest singer of all time though... As a crooner for sure.

[jonesthecurl]

Annie Lennox or Grace Slick

[TA1LGUNN3R]

This is about as bad as a greatest guitarist list. What's your metric? How can you compare singers from different genres?

Some top mentions for me:
Otis Redding, David Ruffin for raw emotion. They make you feel the soul.
Likewise for Janis Joplin
Ronnie James Dio for pure POWER.
Roy Orbison for uniqueness and a four octave range.
Likewise for Freddy Mercury.
Whitney
Tina
The queen, Aretha

...and a ton more. Voices are pretty variable instruments, I don't think you can compare, say, a talented opera singer to any of the above.

-TG

[Bernie Sanders]

This is about as bad as a greatest guitarist list. What's your metric? How can you compare singers from different genres?

Some top mentions for me:
Otis Redding, David Ruffin for raw emotion. They make you feel the soul.
Likewise for Janis Joplin
Ronnie James Dio for pure POWER.
Roy Orbison for uniqueness and a four octive range.
Likewise for Freddy Mercury.
Whitney
Tina
The queen, Aretha

...and a ton more. Voices are pretty variable instruments, I don't think you can compare, say, a talented opera singer to any of the above.

-TG

Roy Orbison voice is magical

[tzor]

I'm going to lean on Frank Sinatra.

[KoolBak]

Not really in thread...but....of the recent singers I like, give this dude a shot, assuming you got 4 minutes to spare. Just an outstanding job....

[riskllama]

hmm, kb...
some songs you just shouldn't mess with - especially if you're the band, "disturbed". EPIC FAIL.

[Army of GOD]

This is about as bad as a greatest guitarist list. What's your metric? How can you compare singers from different genres?

Some top mentions for me:
Otis Redding, David Ruffin for raw emotion. They make you feel the soul.
Likewise for Janis Joplin
Ronnie James Dio for pure POWER.
Roy Orbison for uniqueness and a four octave range.
Likewise for Freddy Mercury.
Whitney
Tina
The queen, Aretha

...and a ton more. Voices are pretty variable instruments, I don't think you can compare, say, a talented opera singer to any of the above.

-TG

you decide what your own metrics are. stop pussyfooting and rank them


my list:
1. Freddy Mercury
2. Whitney Houston
3. Billie Holliday
4. Marvin Gaye
5. Otis Redding
6. Robert Plant
7. Ella Fitzgerald
8. Aretha Franklin
9. Johnny Cash
10.Thom Yorke

[TA1LGUNN3R]

f*ck you, Thom Yorke is shit.

The rest of the list is good, though. However, you're missing some good singers from metal like Dio or Bruce Dickinson.

-TG

[Dukasaur]

A. ROCK

1. Freddie Mercury
2. Eric Burdon
3. Ian Gillan
4. Axl Rose
5. Meatloaf
6. Ann Wilson
7. Billy Corgan
8. David Bowie
9. Bruce Dickinson
10. Paul McCartney

B. Other Genres
1. Willie Nelson
2. Johnny Cash
3. Judith Durham
4. Dean Martin
5. Neil Diamond
6. Trisha Yearwood
7. Prince
8. Glen Campbell
9. Petula Clark
10. Barry Manilow

[iAmCaffeine]

McCartney is shit. How can't you have Dio in a top 10?

[KoolBak]

lol @ RL...this thread really shows how opinoins are so vastly different. I thot Semen and Garfinkles original SUCKED. David Draiman has been voted in the top 100 rock voices of all time and his skills show in that video, which is so far superior to the original (IMHO) that it isn't worth discussing. This coming from a guy that listened to this damn album starting at age 2 (when it was released) thru when I left home...ugh.

Now, half my song collection is country, which I love....Willie? Really?? A "Best" singer? That stoned old tax-evading reprobate doesn't fooking sing. He's even worse live...had to sit thru one of those once....thank the gods for beer.

And Meatloaf?? Dude....whatchyoo smokin??

[2dimes]

[Army of GOD]

f*ck you, Thom Yorke is shit.

The rest of the list is good, though. However, you're missing some good singers from metal like Dio or Bruce Dickinson.

-TG

when I made my list, I was thinking of people that could make you feel emotions, not by what they're singing but how they're singing it.

I don't really get that from most metal singers. Not that they aren't technically good, but it's mostly just yelling (I love metal so I'm not trying to shit on it).


If I had to go with a metal singer, I'd probably go Staley or Ozzy.

[Keefie]

For Pop/Country my choice would be Raul Malo

[WingCmdr Ginkapo]

Eminem

[Army of GOD]

Eminem

get the f*ck out

[waauw]

Eminem

Well I have to give you credit. At least your watch didn't stop 15+ years ago.
Seriously, how old is everybody?!

[tzor]

Enya

[Symmetry]

I like Bobby Darrin better than Sinatra and Dean. His Mack the Knife is genius.

[Serbia]

hmm, kb...
some songs you just shouldn't mess with - especially if you're the band, "disturbed". EPIC FAIL.

Disagree 100%. It's a great cover.

Bollocks.

[Symmetry]

f*ck you, Thom Yorke is shit.

The rest of the list is good, though. However, you're missing some good singers from metal like Dio or Bruce Dickinson.

-TG

when I made my list, I was thinking of people that could make you feel emotions, not by what they're singing but how they're singing it.

I don't really get that from most metal singers. Not that they aren't technically good, but it's mostly just yelling (I love metal so I'm not trying to shit on it).


If I had to go with a metal singer, I'd probably go Staley or Ozzy.

Missed this post when I replied just above, but I like singers, and writers too, who do irony well. That's why I like Bobby Darin.

Thom Yorke is a great vocalist for sure for getting a mixed emotion. Have you heard the weird Bond theme commission thing yet?

[Bernie Sanders]

I like Bobby Darrin better than Sinatra and Dean. His Mack the Knife is genius.