Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Dev]

I was listening to Eagle FM and a Pretenders song came on the radio, I lamented "There aren't many great voices left in Rock n' Roll nowadays. Chrissie Hynde was one of them. If you had to vote for one male voice and one female (of all time), who would they be?

Male: David Bowie - His music isn't the best but what a great voice! Awesome range.

Female : Anne & Nancy Wilson (Heart)

[jinju]

Best vpice in rock? Jim Morrison. None of that effeminite, girly, gay high pitch crap, simply power and substance.

Best voice in music, not necessarily rick and roll: Leonard Cohen and Johnny Cash.

They all sang like men not eunuchs.

[AbbeFaria]

Male: Maynard. That's all I have to say about that.

Female...That's a tough call. Not that many modern bands with a strong female lead. Melissa Auf Der Maur does pretty good. Got a nice sexy sound. I'm tempted to say the chick from Evenescance, but she goes too over the top. If we're talking in the past, I second Dev, Heart ranks up there near the top. Lita Ford, Joan Jett, Janis Joplin, not really rock but Annie Lennox. The only other band that springs to mind is Blondie and I never cared for her voice. That comin' tah get ya song was cool though.

Oh, and also whoever the original lead for Varuca Salt was, she was good. I think I read that they've split and reformed a bunch of times since the Seether days though, so may not be the original singer, if they even put out music anymore. Melissa Ethridge is still great as well.

I know you called for one, but I really can't choose just one.

�S�

[Tiberious aka Sparkles]

Male: Curtis Matfield or Thom Yorke

Female: Karen O

Sparkles*_*

[SPINOZA]

Maggie O'Reilly who sings Mike Oldfield's 'Moonlight Shadow' (best song of the 80s?) has a great voice.

Male: Bowie

[bobbyhanlon]

van morrison and aretha franklin

[crazylemongirl]

Nick Cave.. I want to have his love child.

The lead from INXS though I don't want to have his love child as he is dead and Paula Yates beat me to it.

[Moldy Rutabaga]

Male: Freddie Mercury. Robert Plant.

Female: Kate Bush. Pat Benatar.

Not an exhaustive list, just the first few to come to mind!

Ken:>

[seoulsucker]

[Dev]

[drumpounder]

A great thread!

Favourite Male: Paul Rodgers (Free, Bad Company, The Firm, Queen)

Fave Female: Debbie Harry (Blondie)

[jaganath69]

For me it would be the likes of Jello Biafra, such a distinctive voice and one that is easily recognizable. Female would be PJ Harvey, strength and passion all in one.

[Rteacher]

Males:

Gotta list Elvis Presley and Roy Orbison near the top of the all-time list. I also liked Eric Burden (of the Animals), Richie Havens (folk-rock) , and Art Garfunkle (great tenor on "Bridge Over Troubled Water" ... ) I also used to like Gerry Marsden (of "Gerry and the Pacemakers") "Bill Medley" (Righteous Brothers) and Fats Domino. If I had to pick just one I might go with Roy Orbison.

On an Internet listing of the "Top 100" male vocalists they have Freddy Mercury in the #1 spot. Here's their top eleven:

1. Freddie Mercury (Queen, Solo)
2. Jackie Wilson
3. Jeff Buckley
4. Sam Cooke
5. Robert Plant (Led Zeppelin, Solo)
6. Ian Gillan (Deep Purple, Solo)
7. Steve Perry (Journey, Solo)
8. Roy Orbison
9. Chris Cornell (Soundgarden, Temple Of The Dog, Solo)
10. Clyde McPhatter (Drifters, Dominoes, Solo)
11. Elvis Presley
http://www.digitaldreamdoor.com/pages/best_vocalists.html

Females:

I also like Chrissie Hynde (Pretenders - and militant vegetarian...) Annie Lennox (once married to a Hare Krishna...), Gracie Slick (Jefferson Airplane and Starship...), Joni Mitchell (folk-rock), Nina Hagen (I've never heard her, but she reportedly sang a Hare Krishna tune so she gets honorable mention...), Tina Turner, Fiona Apple, Sara Brightman (pop/classical...) Janis Joplin, Ann Wilson ( the fat sister in Heart...) Ronnie Spector (Ronnettes, Crystals), Karen Carpenter, Petula Clark and Dusty Springfield. If forced to choose just one: Dusty Springfield (in a shocking upset...)

Of course, they have a "Top 100" list for the gals too. Not surprisingly, Janis Joplin tops their list (though folksinger Janis Ian may have been better...) Here's their top eleven:

1. Janis Joplin
2. Grace Slick (Jefferson Airplane)
3. Ann Wilson (Heart)
4. Stevie Nicks (Fleetwood Mac)
5. Tina Turner
6. Pat Benatar
7. Debbie Harry (Blondie)
8. Annie Lennox (Eurythmics)
9. Kim Gordon (Sonic Youth)
10. Joni Mitchell
11. Chrissie Hynde (The Pretenders
http://www.digitaldreamdoor.com/pages/best_vocalists-fe.html

[jjurabong]

As posted by Jag, PJ ( in my avatar ) is just amazing - She can coo, growl, belt and rock, all in one song.

Rickie Lee Jones can also wail like a banshee when she wants

I actually think Jimi Hendrix was a pretty amazing vocalist. You can curl up inside his voice - so rich and warm.

Jeff Buckley for sheer emotion and range.

[Qinella]

I think Freddie Mercury had an amazing voice in his prime.

My favorite female voice... probably Tori Amos. More passion and soul than anyone else I can think of. (Aretha's great, but also a little typical. I've heard 1,000 black ladies sing like that at churches around the South.)