The Greatest Voices Of All Time
A quick scan down Q magazine's Top 10 Greatest Voices Of All Time shows that, at the very least, they were trying to include someone for everyone and irritate as few people as possible. Until you hit #1 and realize that they took a wrong turn at Graceland.
10. Jeff BuckleyOn the flip side, Q offers their choices for the worst singers of all time, too, including Ozzy Osbourne, Mariah Carey, Céline Dion and Yoko Ono. That's a pretty good start, but no such list is complete without this dude.
09. Mick Jagger
08. Robert Plant
07. Kurt Cobain
06. Marvin Gaye
05. John Lennon
04. Otis Redding
03. Frank Sinatra
02. Aretha Franklin
01. Elvis Presley
Posted at 6:00 PM in Shit List
are you bloody serious!? elvis had a horrible voice. i cant stand to listen to elvis. id rather listen to ozzy osbourne trying to sing like mariah carey than listen to elvis sing.
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HAHA! I totally agree with you, Elvis isn't that good at all...
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no roy orbison? WADDA THEY THINKIN?!
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no roy orbison? WADDA THEY THINKIN?!
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Freddy Mercury?
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Sam Cooke.
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No Ashcroft or Bono? Worst list evs. Cobain top 10? Blow me where the pampers is.
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somehow freddie mercury was only 47.
also rufus wainwright was like 97. for comparison, chris cornell was 93.
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Freddie Mercury should have been number 1. Ann Wilson sounds like the female version of Freddie.
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Freddie Mercury should have been number 1. Ann Wilson sounds like the female version of Freddie.
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Freddie Mercury should have been number 1. Ann Wilson sounds like the female version of Freddie.
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one woman in the top ten.
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Cobain? Please... his nasally whining does not quallify for the top 10.
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Stevie Nicks?
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thom yorke anyone? hmm.
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why are there 9 dudes on this list?
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No Meatloaf? This list is a joke.
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Where is Roger Daltrey?!?
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Replace Jeff Buckley with Dorothy Moore or P.P. Arnold, and Kurt Cobain with Dusty Springfield, and you might be getting somewhere, I suppose.
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Freddie fucking Mercury.
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Where is Elliott Smith on there?
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Celine Dion Is the best singer in the world.
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Where's Scott Walker? Or is this the list of top 10 singers after Scott Walker?
I'd take Jesse Presley over Elvis any day.
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Bump Jeff Buckley up a few notches, drop Cobain, Jagger and Presley, add Cass Elliot, Freddie Mercury and Billy Joel...
and I heart Thom Yorke, but not for a top 10 of all time list.
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Chan Marshall of Cat Power...the most beautiful voice around in my book.
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one female in the top ten singers is sort of ridiculous, especially since there are so many in the ten worst. nina simone, ella fitzgerald, bjork etc. - at least one of them should have been in the top ten over buckley or cobain. there is still a great deal of sexism in mainstream rock journalism.
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Hey, Ella Fitzgerald was alright. I reckon Sam Cooke, Nat King Cole and especially the rich voice of Karen Carpenter. Fuck she can sing. Not sure about Sinatra, I mean he could sing, but often he didnt try.
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why the hate for elvis.. the guy could sing.
john fogerty over mick jagger.
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Yeah sorry, anyone showing contempt for Elvis being on a Top Ten Singers list should just stop. You're being contrary on purpose, knock it off.
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.......Kurt Cobain? I won't deny that his particular vocal sound added to the greatness of the melancholic out-of-it Nirvana. But i mean.... his singing was mumbling at a higher pitch and volume.
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I have never been more upset by one of these lists.
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Omg, that is a shit list. That list fucking blows. Fire that editor!
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Lists like this are intended solely to agitate me...and they work everytime. I'm happy to see Cobain in the top ten though. Calling Mariah Carey one of the worst singers ever reeks of a shitty corporate magazine trying desperately to please the indie kids. Looks like they accomplished that. Yeah, she sucks, but she CAN sing. Just like John Mayer sucks but he CAN play the guitar. They are both good with their instruments, they just use them for evil instead of good. And how in the fuck did Mick Jagger make the list?
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1. Sam Cooke
2. Frank Sinatra
3. Al Green
4. Rod Stewart (in the Faces)
5. Curtis Mayfield
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Billie Holliday deserves to be on this list far more than Kurt Cobain (and probably a couple of others).
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poor stereogum,
you used to be alright
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A little less well known, but where is Eva Cassidy? That voice could shatter the coldest hearts of the most bitter of Stereogum editors...
And yes, where the FUCK is Sam Cooke?
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rod stewart in top five-- you're right.
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And here's number four for Sam Cooke. In my book, he's got the most effective set of pipes I've ever heard. But that's in my book. Seriously, who among us could write a list that wouldn't make ninety five percent of the population scoff? It's impossible. This whole making of lists - everyone has their lists - is ridiculous enough without reading them with the assuption that they actually mean anything. lets all make lists of our favorite singers and read them while eating slices of buntcake (i find bunt cake equally arbitrary because it never really seems to satisfy that need-for-cake-urge, but it wouldn't do in any other situation, either, right?). And "greatest" is so ambiguous. I could try to write an All-Star list of singers, but it would be based on my speculations on popular opinion, or some sort of historical/gravitational equation which i'm not smart enough for (meaning, who first influenced who, etc).
so, for me, one through ten,(in order of ten down to one) singing voices that have the most intense effect on me, limited to people who sing predominantly in English, in order of how greatly the sound of the voice has affected my ambition to stay alive:
10. Sly Stone
9. Perry Farrell
8. Patti Smith
7. Skip James
6. Smokey Robinson
5. Billy Holiday
4. Crissy Hines
3. Otis Redding
2. Nina Simone
1. Sam Cooke
I want to read one hundred lists, of everyone's top ten. it's such a personal thing. let's share.
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When I think of best voices, I think of Sam Cooke and Smokey Robinson. I also think of Horton Barker, a traditional (anglo-american) ballad singer from recorded in the 40s--they didn't say well-known, best voices after all.
Elvis definitely had a good voice. It had range and subtlety (just listen to "Suspicious Minds"), but at the same time, calling it the best voice every is a bit ridicilous.
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No Elliott Smith, Thom Yorke, Jarvis Cocker, Beth Gibbons, Emily Haines? Fuck this list.
And as for the worst voices ever list: William Hung, Britney Spears, Joanna Newsom, Chad Kroeger, Scott Stapp, and the assholes from The Rapture and Cover Your Ears Say Oww
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for the person who asked about elliott smith, he doesn't feature in the list!
if the list was for top 100 distinctive voices, it would have been ok. but it was fucking GREATEST voices. kurt cobain does not have one of the greatest voices in music. that's a joke. they need to decide what exactly they are compiling before they fuck it all up.
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thismust be a fucking joke. Kurt Cobain?! John Lennon?! WTF?!
Where is Geoff Tate? Where is Chris Cornell? Where is Allison Krauss, or anyone from the top notch new country scene?
Those guys at the Q must have some serious hearing problems, besides not having any musical hearing at all...
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billie
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Yeah this list does suck. Even talking from a strictly Beatles perspective, Paul has a better voice than John, come now.
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Though I may catch shit, Bobby McFerrin needs to be on the list--dude can sing the shit outta some shit, yo!
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Steven Patrick Morrissey.
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I far as I am concerned the two greatest voices ever are Neko Case and Jim James. Also i would vote for Michael Stipe, Emily Haines and George Hunter.
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brian wilson?
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Elliott Smith? I never heard any range in that guy's voice.
Nix to Thom Yorke as well. I think he's great, but can you imagine him singing over anything other than a Radiohead song? It'd sound terrible. He's the perfect singer for his band, but nothing more.
Let's see more love for Rod Stewart. Man, he used to be great.
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Why no Dave Matthews? Just because he's not dead? Shit list for sure.
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I assume they left Dave Matthews off this list because he could not sing if his life depended on it.
The fact that Cobain, Jagger and Plant are on there and Neko Case, Sam Cooke, Roberta Flack and Morrissey are not, really makes me question this shithole of a list.
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Mavis Staples
Mahalia Jackson
Odetta
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John Lennon??? He had a horrible voice!!!!!
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Let me elaborate here. I love that this post reflects much of what I´ve been listening to lately. There have been numerous mentions to Sam Cooke, Curtis Mayfield, Sly Stone and Al Green, all of which have been in pretty constant rotation on my iTunes as of late. I´ve swapped the usual indie fare for soul. These guys all sing and write melodies that have affected me emotionally in a way that almost nothing else can. Especially when any of their songs are about unrequited love or being heartbroken. When Al Green´s cover of How can You Mend a Broken Heart comes on, for example, I´m floored. I don´t get up from my bed and I can barely breathe. And I´m not even heartbroken or anything. It just gets to me. Every time.
On a seperate note, thank God they included Marvin Gaye on this list. What´s Going On is a perfect album. When he sings:
Who really cares, who is willing to try
To save a world that is destined to die
That makes me want to bawl more than anything that any politician could ever say. It is still so amazingly relevant to this day. Stereogum if you could write a post on its anniversary or whatever my respect for you as a blog will skyrocket. And I´m a pretty big fan.
Sorry to ramble. To conclude, if any of you are disaffected by the indie scene currently, check out all of the singers mentioned above. They will remind you of why you listen with music to begin with.
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Now back to my usual armchair critic status.
Roy Orbison and George Jones are glaring omissions. So are almost all of the soul singers that we´ve been talking about. And yes there should be more women on this list. It would be really cool if the lead singer from the group The Sundays were on this list somewhere. Or Elis Regina. Terrible list, but what are you going to do?
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iggy pop. there is no other.
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yes! Elis Regina! nobody ever talk about her, but I think she has the greatest female voice out of almost all of the bossa nova singers i've ever heard. (this is why i limited my list to people who sing in english, because it's just too complicated otherwise; too much to think about, too many people to consider) and i think someone up there was correcting my earlier mispelling of billie holiday's name. yes. thank you. in my defense, it was the middle of the night . . . and i'm also really happy to see so many mentions of chris cornell. I just don't like soundgarden anymore, so he's not on my mind, but, in terms of greatest singing voices, yeah, fer sure, his voice (and his music aside) is pretty mind blowing.
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the list is perfect as is. get over it.
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win butler!
and morrissey gets 2 through 10.
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im trying to decide which is more embarassing - the actual list or some of the suggestions being offered here.
as much as i love elliott smith, he really didn't have a great voice.
perry farrell? he goes on the worst voice list.
win butler? iggy pop? dave matthews? thom yorke? jarvis cocker? MEATLOAF?
and may the flames of hell consume whoever says jeff buckley doesn't deserve to be on the list. flames of hell.
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exactly
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i hate lists that are the best ANYTHING "OF ALL TIME!"
Of all time?
So, nobody could sing until the 1920s?
Stupid - of course, they couldn't throw in singers from 1740 or 876. So, simply call it best singers of the 1900 til now.
OF ALL TIME!
Stupid
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Whoever said Dave Matthews must be on crack. I'd rather hear an elephant fart than listen to his voice. And what kind of name is Kegstand? What are you, 16 or something? Are you related to Funnel and Ice Luge?
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WTF? This list is a joke. Mick Jagger? Kurt Cobain? Elvis at #1?!?!?
I'd like to see The Chairman of the Board somewhere in the top 10, and I guess John Lennon's selection must have canceled out McCarney/Harrison. I'm guessing that the same logic goes for the omissions of Freddie Mercury and Axel Rose's screaching (canceled out by the selection of Robert Plant?).
What about Roger Waters? Janis Joplin? Bob Marley? Morrissey? Thom? This list blows.
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why... i think they made a misprint. taylor hicks isn't up there. of course they made a mistake. taylor hicks created the soul patrol. where would we be without the SOUL PATROL!?!?!?
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Anyone who doesn't think Elivs deserves number one must not be a fan of music. The man had the most powerful voice in Rock history, not even arguable. Watch this: http://youtube.com/watch?v=1f9TBAYjyUA
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elvis ain't got shit on taylor hicks
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hey eddie,
elvis sounds like shit in that video.
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My choices for best singer:
Neko Case
Feist
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the guy who says "We're Explosions in the Sky, thanks for coming" at the start of their shows.
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There are some worthy names on that list, but any such list that doesn't include JOHNNY CASH cannot be taken very seriously.
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i'm still shocked that ella fitzgerald didn't make the list. really? kurt cobain better than ella?
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and the incredible EDDIE VEDDER!!??
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Ella Fitzgerald hands down. Don't mind Elvis though. And Mariah Carey is a great singer! Of woeful songs.
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Joni Mitchell is sorely missing.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_1Qgsn0U340
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Uh . . .
Maria Callas? Diamanda Galas?
Elizabeth Frazer? Lisa Gerrard?
Joan LaBarbara? Meredith Monk?
Again: Roy Orbison?
David Bowie? Peter Murphy?
Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan? Pandit Pran Nath?
I know that Q covers pop music, but it boggles that the "greatest" singers of "all time" doesn't include singers that are actually trained to sing, in a classical fashion, or even that many singers that naturally have the depth, range, nuance and power to be considered good at, really, anything.
Plant, Cobain, Jagger sing the same way all the time, with variations in technique only limited to dynamics.
Taste aside, Luciano Pavarotti is technically a better singer than all 10 of the above people. These lists need to be more specific in their titling, as mentioned above and as mentioned before with previous lists.
For example: "Greatest Western Mainstream Pop Singers Since 1950."
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Stop hatin' on ELVIS.
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Tom Waits
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It seems like they went more for the most popular singers of all time rearranged to fit the editors' tastes than anything to do with true talent, which, to me, is more than just being able to sing well. A good vocal coach can bring out good singing, but I really think the mark of a good singer pretty much lies in every other aspect of the singing.
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H.R. from bad brains.
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no mike patton, no freddie mercury, this list is just stupid.
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oh, and harry nielson definitely in the top 10.
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Look this list is the best. I love Eddie Vedder. He wasn't in the top 100 but whatever. They were putting singer not by talent here. If that was the case they would look up the whole world. They were putting singers by personality and depth. That's what singers should be judged by. I don't totally agree completely but it's awesome that they did it this way...did you see the worst singers. Celine Dion, Mariah Carey HAHA! I loved it. It is true they do nothing but ripp notes!
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Where is Russell Mael of Sparks? Surely one of the best and most unique voices in popular music.
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Buckley should be closer to the top, and Elvis certainly should be nowhere near the top ten (or top hundred even), he was a performer first vocalist second. Roy Orbison should be in there. Chris Cornell too. And where's Mike Patton at???
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tim buckley bobby mcferrin janis joplin lou reed eddie vedder jim morrison maria callas susan tadeschi ricky lee jones freddy mercurry laarbi batma(nass el ghiwane) and more and more
and we cant compare betwen vices every voice is a feeling that we must taste!
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it's ALL about Pat Benatar and her four and a half octave range!
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Where the fucking hell is Freddie Mercury and Roy Orbison??
They are, like, only the two greatest vocalists of all time, so yeh, don't put them in the top 10. Who made this fucking useless piece of shit list? And why the FUCK am I wasting my time writing about this?
Such toilet paper! UGH!!
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John Lennon should definitely be on the list, whoever claims differently hasn't heard his singing; whoever said that John Mayer sucks, needs to recheck his/her brain ability of critical thinking, however women singers and some exeptional notmentioned male vocalists as well... Cobain doesn't belong there.
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...are missing... (edit above post)
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freddy mercury !!!! is the best !!!!the voice !! the band!!!!
please !!! what happend??
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1.- whitney houston.
2.- aretha franklin.
3.- steve wonder.
4.- mariah carey.
5.- alicia keys.
6.- beyonce.
7.- dionne warwick.
8.- lionel richie.
9.- luther vandrous.
10.- celine dion.
11.- elliot yamin (bonus)
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1. WHITNEY HOUSTON
2. Mariah Carey
3. Celine dion
4. Jennifer Holiday
5. Dionne Warwick
6. Bette Midler
7. Madonna
8. Shirley Bassey
9. Shania Twain
10.Aretha Franklin
Whitney Houston is far way better than the rest.
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where is Freddie Mercury
are you crazy?
he was the best voice on world, hey guys, never listen to the Queen
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ok, first of all, KURT KOBAIN? he has a great band, but the singing voice isnt the best in the world. try stevie wonder, don henley, elton john, but marvin gayes already on there. but these guys are the real shit
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I agree with a few but where the hell is Chad Kroeger!!?? Where's Brett Scallions?! Amazing voices and you put Elvis, Mick Jagger up there? Messed up.
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hello freddie mercury is the all time greatest singer in history! no one is better than him. elvis sounds like shit by the way
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From Bueno Aires,Argentina
-1-Fredy Mercury (Queen)
-2-Allan Clarke (the Hollies)
-3-Roger Daltrey (th Who)
-4-Phill Collins
-5-Elton Johnn
-5-El cantante de Keane
-6-Iam Gillan (Led Zeppeling)
-7-Joe Cocker
-5-Tony Braxton
-9-Barry Gibb (Bee Gees)
-10-Kurt Cobain
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From Bueno Aires,Argentina
-1-Fredy Mercury (Queen)
-2-Allan Clarke (the Hollies)
-3-Roger Daltrey (th Who)
-4-Phill Collins
-5-Elton Johnn
-5-El cantante de Keane
-6-Iam Gillan (Led Zeppeling)
-7-Joe Cocker
-5-Tony Braxton
-9-Barry Gibb (Bee Gees)
-10-Kurt Cobain
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From Bueno Aires,Argentina
-1-Fredy Mercury (Queen)
-2-Allan Clarke (the Hollies)
-3-Roger Daltrey (th Who)
-4-Phill Collins
-5-Elton Johnn
-5-El cantante de Keane
-6-Iam Gillan (Led Zeppeling)
-7-Joe Cocker
-5-Tony Braxton
-9-Barry Gibb (Bee Gees)
-10-Kurt Cobain
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Layne Staley - best singer of the grunge era
Eric Burdon of the Animals and War - great British singer turned great funk/soul singer
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has anyone listened to atif aslam ,the guy from pakistan i think he is one of the best ever , try to listen to his songs , and you will realise his soul touching voice , he is a genius musician
as far as kurt cobain , i think he is one of the best ever
mike jaggers also good, others should also include richard ashcroft , bono , axl rose , sting , john lennon and chris martin
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elvis , MJ and kurt cobain should make the top , i think atif aslam is the best
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Where the hell is STEVEN TYLER????????
Where is STEVE PERRY??????
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The list is "Greatest Voices of All Time", not "Your Personal Favorite Singers of All Time".
I heart Elvis Costello, but there's no way in hell he'd make the top 50 in terms of voice. Same with Stipe, Butler, Yorke.
You don't have to like Jeff Buckley, but you have to admit he had a beautiful voice. Two glaring female omissions -- Cyndi Lauper and kd lang. lang especially, I'm not sure there are many people out there with her range.
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john lennon????????
he wasnt even the best singer in the band. Paul McCartney blows Lennon away vocally. Listen to a Lennon song like I Am the Walrus and then listen to a McCartney song like Hey Jude or Let it Be. No comparrison.
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What about Ella Fitzgerald, Nat King Cole....nobody ever heard of them ?
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What about Ella Fitzgerald, Nat King Cole, Sarah Vaughan ? Nobody ever heard them sing ?
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What about John Farnham? Amazing voice.
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What a homophobic list! I think that we can agree that, although he was very gay, Freddie Mercury was also the greatest voice in popular music.
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kurt cobain should be in the top five.he is one damn rock vocalist,got a beautiful voice and still kicks ass.
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good selection but i think elvis should not be there. where's Janis Joplin? she has a fucking great voice, paul mc cartney?, noel gallagher, freddy mercury, roger waters. robert plant has a grea voice also, ir why not axl rose
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I challenge everyone to listen to george jones in the 60s, 70s, and 80s and then decide who has a voice only God could have blessed a man with. He sings with passion and soul from within and experience. There's only one voice and that's George Glenn Jones!
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Terrible List. Elvis & Sinatra just crooners. Lennon not even second best in his band. Kurt was whiny (but influential). Jagger was limited. Plant not very versatile.
Some not yet suggested. Captain Beefheart. Tim Booth (James). Anthony Mongomery (Geneva). Brett Anderson (Suede). KD Lang. Nina Simone. Liz Frazer. Paul Rogers. Roberet Johnson. Tim Buckley. Blind Willie Johnson.
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elvis is #1 like the list says ...then go from there...there wouls be nobody if it werent for him so stop.he is the king period
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1. Sam Cooke
2. Patsy Cline
3. Edith Piaf
4. Sarah Vaughn
5. Nat King Cole
6. Nana Mouskouri
7. Pavorati
8. Sinatra
9. Clyde McPhatter
10. Otis Redding
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ok 'madthinker' is wrong. Elvis did have a great voice, if you've ever heard 'can't help falling in love' than you know that. but this is a list about great voices and although elvis was a very influential performer, he had nothing to do with spawning great singers.
personally i cant believe nobody has mentioned jim morrison, id kill to have that dudes voice
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If were talking great singers, Sam Cooke, who inspired Al Green and made him want to sing! surely should be on there??? Al and Sam, 2 of the greatest voices of all time! easily!
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My list
Sting- THE POLICE
Tony Chaplin-KEANE
Bono-U2
Allan Clarke-THE HOLLIES
Barry Gibb-BEE GEES
Joe Cocker
Janis Joplin
Dido-
Jin Morrison-THE DOORS
Mick Jagger-TOLLINGS STONES
Andres Calamaro-LOS RODRIGUEZ
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elvis with sun records ....... no doubt .....best voice of all time....... so pure and raw..... the real elvi with sun rocords
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elvis at sun records .....best voice ever.....early elvis
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This is the worst list of all time. You people know nothing about grest voices.n I'm insulted!
Elvis, give me a break, Please... oh yea add some brothas man!
My list
10. Sam Cooke
9. MJ
8. Luther
7. Al Green
6. Marvin Gaye
5. Axel Rose (Sweet Child o' Mine)
4. Freddy Mercury (fantastic)
3. Aretha Franklin
2. Minnie Ripplton
And the #1 all time singer Whitney Huston (We Will Always Love Her)
Take That! !
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There is noooo way this list is any good... how can you leave out STEVE PERRY!?!?!?!?!?!?
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Worst 'live' singing would go to Elliott Smith. Man, that guy sucked.
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What's Elliott Smith doing these days?
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Um. Are you kidding me?
These days Elliott Smith is doing nothing.
He's dead.
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Kurt is God for me, but I need to say that Layne Stanley has a way better voice than him, just listen to any Alice in Chains song and you will see...
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Sam Cooke - Angelic. Dean martin - rich..Not in the list??? your taking the piss!!
Two of the very best in my book, case closed.
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Not anything against Cobain but whoever thinks he is better than Layne Staley is crazy! Staley should take his spot if anything. Just listen to Alice In Chains songs Would? or Rain When I Die.
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personalmente las mejores 10 voces de todos los tiempos(sin tener en cuenta los años/trayectoria, ya que lo que se juzga es la voz en sí):
1-serj tankian
2-mike patton
3-skin(skunk anansie)
4-david gilmour
5-david bowie
6-john lennon
7-aretha franklin
8-elvis presley
9-eddie vedder
10-tom yorke
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personalmente las mejores 10 voces de todos los tiempos(sin tener en cuenta los años/trayectoria, ya que lo que se juzga es la voz en sí):
1-serj tankian
2-mike patton
3-skin(skunk anansie)
4-david gilmour
5-david bowie
6-john lennon
7-aretha franklin
8-elvis presley
9-eddie vedder
10-tom yorke
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Mariah Carey is the number 1 selling female artist of all time and has beaten elvis. Also she has been named the VOICE of Mtv.
Others to include are:
Judy Garland
Stevie Wonder
Patti Labelle
Luther Vandross
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what the hell kind of list is this?? Who has the most imitated voice in the last 25 years, with countless "rip-off" bands trying to sound like him. Whi makes the hairs stand up on the back of your neck?....EDDIE VEDDER people. get a clue. He is one of the best voices EVER in music....not even on the list. Jagger (what a joke), cobain couldn't mimick the ficking burp of vedder..
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Mariah Carey is one of the greatest female singers in history... whitney houston come close...
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I'm sure you tried, but the list is just wrong!
Freddie mercury should have been in that list
(Elvis?!)
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who gives a snit about a shitty list .its not gonna change your life in any way
xx
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My list:
1.Mariah
2.Whitney
3.Celine
4.Beyonce
5.Alicia Keys
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Aren't we forgetting our two favorite blind musicians?
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Half the posters here have no clue what they're talking about.
noel gallagher? Seriously, come on.
Two people are missing from this list: Janis and Roy.
Elvis, by his own account, would be number 2. He once said Orbison had the greatest voice he had ever heard. Technically, I'd agree, but Elvis is in the Rockabilly, Rock and Roll, Country and Gospel hall of fames. He could sing *any* type of song, and sing it well - 21 or 42.
"Elvis' range was about two and a quarter octaves, as measured by musical notation, but his voice had an emotional range from tender whispers to sighs down to shouts, grunts, grumbles and sheer gruffness that could move the listener from calmness and surrender, to fear. His voice can not be measured in octaves, but in decibels; even that misses the problem of how to measure delicate whispers that are hardly audible at all."
Lindsay Waters, Executive Editor for the Humanities at Harvard University Press
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bjork should be in the top ten as well as a few others, who made this list do they know what they are talking about or maybe its just thier personal favourite?
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Wow...what a very gumped up list. I would like to know who compiled this list. On of the best voices of the past 100 years isnt even on there. Its Trisha Yearwood. Look her up you'll see...She dosent just sing the song she makes you believe what you are hearing. I think this list sucks LOL
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freddie mercury...where is he??should be the number one in all of that lists!!freddie mercury fucking rock us all!!!
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where is rod Stewart, rod Stewart is the best in the world my list :
rod Stewart
Fredi mercury
phill collins
axl rose
dido
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what the hell is wrong with you people?DAVID RUFFIN has the greatest voice period.He can hit any note just ask aretha franklin.do you people know what they mean when they say the greatest greatest voice ever huh?IDIOTS!!!
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Where the hell is Lowell George! That guy could hit any note he liked with the uptmost of passion. And I agree, too many males in the top ten - replace Kurt Cobain with Sandy Denny and John Lennon with Kirsty MacColl and the list would be far better in my opinion!
1. Kirsty MacColl
2. Lowell George
3. Sandy Denny
4. Sam Cooke
5. Karen Carpenter
6. Freddie Mercury
7. Aretha Franklin
8. Nina Simone
9. Ella Fitzgerald
10. Carl Wilson
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Wow I cant believe no one mentioned Pavarotti. Ok his music may not be mainstream but listen to his Nummen Dorma and you will see, Not too many of the original top 10 list can even compare.
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My list.
1. John Lennon
2. Freddie Mercury
3. Otis Redding
4.George Harrison
5. Robert Plant
6. Sam Cooke
7. Steve Wonder
8. Marvin Gaye
9. Frank Sinatra
10. Roy Orbison
Newton Faulkner didn't make my list by he's worth a mention.
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Michael Jackson, Michael Matijevic (Steel Heart/Steel Dragon from the movie Rockstar, NOT Mark Wahlberg), Freddie Mercury, Mariah Carey, Whitney Houston, Bono Vox, Celine Dion, Bobby Hatfield (The Righteous Brothers), Elvis Presley, and probably some R&B singer somewhere. And of course there's Steven Tyler and Axl Rose, but we could go on all day....
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Freddie Mercury and Steve Perry have the most powerful, awe-inspiring, and purely core-rattling male voices in the history of English music. Period. Elvis couldn't move your sould the way eithe rof these men could. Shame, Q...Shame
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Freddie Mercury and Steve Perry have the most awe-inspiring, core-rattling, tremendous voices in the history of English music. Period. Elvis could never have moved your very soul the way either of these men could. Same on you,Q... Shame
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hey?why not FREDDIE MERCURY?
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BARBRA STREISAND
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Freddie Mercury the best
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All I have to say it... Whitney Houston should DEFINITELY be on this list... are you insane, how could she not be? She had such an amazing voice!
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Joe Cocker...?
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there is one thing to pay homage to those that started it all. and i agree the beatles and rolling stones made some classic hits but come on... mick jagger does not have one of the greatest voices of all time. i listen to many people some names that i would throw out there are definitely whitney houston, aretha franklin, freddie mercury, berry gibb, joni mitchell, marvin gaye, jackie wilson, janis joplin, jimi hendrix (i personally love his voice), robert plant, frank sinatra, ella fitzgerald, chaka khan, many more... thats more than 10 but that list is b.s. just my opinion
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I think, that the best voice of all times is VITAS
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Damn! Freddie must be here.......
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Damn! Where is Freddie Mercury............. He must be topping the chart :S
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Love Freddie Mercury the great
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You've gotta be kidding me. Kurt Kobain had a horrible voice....
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spot on
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fuck the list..freddie mercury was one of the most talented and versatile signers ever..no one can even sing cover versions of his songs..he should be at no1
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carusso was the greatest
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Elvis Presley is the Greatest!!!!!!!!!!!!!! no one has more awards and acheivements like him.... thats why he is the KING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 2nd to NO ONE!!!!!!!!!!
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Elvis was second to Roy Orbison full stop. (Elvis was good, Orbison however wiped the floor with his sweet falsettos)
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LMAO @ some of you who apparently laugh at Elvis being on this list. Please, watch these videos and tell me again he's not one of the best vocalists ever:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GWK04X-RcJs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dXhcNgr5Vus
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uxlX-CFMddc
I also think Paul McCartney belongs on this list instead of John Lennon. And Roy Orbison should be #1. And Freddie Mercury should definitely be on here. And Frank Sinatra wasn't even the best crooner so I dunno wtf he's doing as #3 -- Nat King Cole should be somewhere near the top.
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hey you people moron stop insulting king elvis! if you just can be more objective, you'll surely be impressed by how great his voice is....he's fucking very versatile anyway!!
try listen "if i can dream"! what a damn great voice! his best song for me...
king has more songs in chart than others.. showing many people love his voice than others...
so, just dont be such an idiot mentioning shit singer who got no popularity like the top ten.... they'r popular for their voices! goddamn lyric, tunes,etc just plays minor part! voice is dominant!
KING ELVIS!!
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Hey, his music sucks to the point that I'm embarrassed to bring it up, but I've said for years that the best pure male pop singing voice I've ever heard is Daryl Hall. Dude is a singing machine -- it's just that what he chooses to sing is fake-soul crap. I mean, Elvis Costello asked him to guest on a song ("Only Flame in Town"), and he doesn't duet with chumps.
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YAYA!!! ROBERT PLANT SHOULD BE IN FIRST PLACE!!! HE HAS THE MOST SEXY VOICE EVER!!!!!!!!! YAYAYA! And why the hell isn't BRUCE DICKISON in the list? And I agree with "annie onymous" who posted a message on 03/07/07, ELVIS SUCKS! IT DOESN'T MEAN THAT HE HAD THE MOST SUCCESS THAT HE HAS THE BEST VOICE! Wtf...
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FUCK ELVIS & THIS LIST!!
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Melanie you dipshit just because he has the most success doesn't mean he CAN'T have the best voice either. At any rate, this list needs more MICHAEL JACKSON.
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An unbelievably idiotic list. Elvis was a great performer, different from a great singer. He was a bellower, like Tom Jones, sounding at moments of heightened emotion like a trapped moose. This is what happens when critics and their purblind concern for the 'cool' factor, looks, dress sense etc are allowed to construct a list, rather than other singers. Talking of which, is there a list of 'great singers' actually chosen by those who know the f***in' craft?!
In the pop sphere, no such list is complete without Roy Orbison, Scott Walker, Sam Cooke, Chaka Khan, the foolishly maligned Whitney Houston and the way underrated Morten Harket (a-Ha had fairly longterm success outside of the US, and people who know singing are in awe of his voice). Great singing my bollocks... this is less a list of great, serious singers than 'guys we unassuming, meek, sedentary journalist boys would love to be', with the immortal Ms Franklin chucked in as the token female. Why don't these magazines stop claiming a genuine love of music and fess up? It's all about some deadheaded, immature, watching-yourself-being-watched idea of what's 'hip'.
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Michael Jackson has always had the best voice in music.
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this list is crazy without michael jackson!!!!! he definately has one of the best voices in music ever!!
whitney houston needs be on here too!
mick jagger is ok on here because he has lots of emotion in his voice
marvin gaye definately deserves his place. just listen to his recordings.
john lennon? he was in the greatest band of all time and wrote some of the best lyrics, but his voice...no.
eh elvis. if ur going based on his rock songs, no, because he didnt sing much, but u gotta actually listen to more than crap like 'hound dog' or whatever. dude had an awesome voice.
sinatra, eh. good but nat king cole was 1000000000000000000000000000000000x better
kurt cobain? his voice isnt all that good sorry
oh and neil diamond is real good too
and barbra streisand should be #1
sorry for my english i am from mexico originally
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also diana ross
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oh god lmao @ some of these suggestions. Beyonce? seriously people come on now. taylor hicks? what has he done lately? mariah carey? LOLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL. sorry but squealing really high doesn't add to her "range", no matter how many of her worshippers think she actually has a 5-octave range. this list is alright except i'd take out mick jagger, john lennon, and kurt cobain and put in freddie mercury, roy orbison, and jim morrison
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and serious LOL @ people demanding mick jagger to be dropped from this list but not john lennon
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Karen Carpenter had the greatest voice since they have been recording voices
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Where the heck is Johnny Cash. He should be number one but seems like you don't like him. He was the greatest singer of all time. I'll tell you who is the top ten singers of all time.
10. Waylon Jennings
9. Willie Nelson
8. Charlie Rich
7. Conway Twitty
6. Roy Orbison
5. Jerry Lee Lewis
4. Carl Perkins
3. Ricky Nelson
2. Elvis Presley
1. Johnny Cash
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WHERE THE FUCK IS MICHAEL JACKSON ON THAT LIST!!!!!! Without him it's pretty much usless!!!!
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Elvis has the best voice in history. Everyone knows this. That`s also why he is the most successful, you little idiot!
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JIM MORRISON
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Where is MARC ANTHONY?!!!!!!!!!!!! Come on people! The greatest voices of all time without greatest voices? Whitney Houston, Marc Anthony, Celia Cruz, luchano Pavaroty .... I am agree only for Areta and Mick Jagger but Elvis is the greatest voice for all time?????????????? Come on!
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The reason why these artist you are saying have "horrible voices" arent because they dont sound absolutley perfect and innocent, its because they have unique voices the world has never heard and can carry tunes. Kurt Cobain deserves to be on the top ten because he had one of the greatest uniquest voices i have ever heard.
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This is a countdown for the greatest voices in music not the greatest personality in music...duh since we are talking about the voice theres no doubt that Mariah Carey took the best crown...i mean these music artist cant hit notes like Mariah and they cant write songs like mariah...mariah is the top 1 greatest voices in MTV and etc...shes got the greatest award in music...shes got the artist of the DAY,WEEK,YEAR,DECADE and millenium
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Whitney houston is the best voice of all time this is undeniable.
my list
1. Whitney Houston
2-10 who cares.
Whitney houst sets and maintains the way to sing and voicalise a song.....this list is nothing without her name in it....
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john fogerty? he had a remarkable voice so beautiful that when he sings his soul out it can make any man weep by its sheer beauty.
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In no particular order, they're all great, take your pick. The true test is when one can sing acapella, no musical accompaniment, and still sound unbeliveably great. The following could all do that:
Nat King Cole
Sam Cooke
Otis Redding
Sam & Dave
Jr. Walker
Steve Winwood
Karen Carpenter
Ella Fitzgerald
Jim Morrison
Marvin Gaye
Aretha Franklin
Janis Joplin
Joe Cocker
Al Green
Minnie Ripperton
Patti Labelle
Luther Vandross
Elvis Presley
Ray Charles
Sarah Vaughan
Billie Holliday
Frank Sinatra
Tony Bennet
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Add these to the above list and The List is complete:
Sam Moore
Greg Allman
James Brown
Etta James
Paul Rodgers
Eric Burdon
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My review
I think that MARIAH CAREY is the best vocalist of all time.Behind her,I think that probably should be Whitney Houston or Christina Aguilera,then Bono(U2),Alicia Keys,Michael Jackson,Beyonce...Elvis Presley is so stupid,how he can be first?Aretha Franklin is good vocalist bud her singing is more like screaming and her vocal range is worse than vocal range of many musicans on the list,which are behind her..........List is SO STUPID!!!
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I THINK THAT MARIAH CAREY HAS THE BEST VOICE EVER!
ELVIS PRESLEY?KURT COBAIN?ARETHA FRANKLIN?COME ON PEOPLE!
THIS IS FOR REAL!
1)MARIAH CAREY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
2)JESSICA SIMPSON
3)WHITNEY HOUSTON
4)BEYONCE
5)MICHAEL JACKSON
AND GOOD ARE... BRITNEY SPEARS,ALICIA KEYS,JIM MORRISON,BARBARA STREISAND,USHER............
AND THE WORST VOICES EVER ARE..................................................
ASHLEE SIMPSON,MADONNA,ROBBIE WILLIAMS,VANESSA HUDGENS,.........................
AND ............
CHRISTINA AGUILERA!!!!!!!!!!!!! SHE HAS THE WORST VOICE EVER!
SHE SCREAMS LIKE A PIG!
SHE SUCKS!HOW ANYONE CAN SAID THAS SHE SINGS GOOD WHEN SHE KILLING PEOPLE WITH HER UGLY AND DISCOUSTING VOICE!!!!!!!!
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AND I FORGOT:KURT COBAIN HAS THE UGLIEST VOICE EVER....AND ON THAT LIST ARE ALL OLD SINGER,MANY OF THEM DIED...IF SINGER IS OLD OR DEAD THAT DON'T MEANS THAT HE HAS THE BEST VOICE.AND,CHRISTINA AGUILERA HASN'T THE WORST VOICE....SHE IS ONE OF THE BEST ARTIST AND VOICES EVER...HOW SHE SINGS BAD,WHEN SHE IS THE YOUNGEST ARTIST ON ROLLING STONE LIST OF 100 GREATEST VOICES EVER AND 5TH BEST VOICE OF MTV GENARATION???SHE HAS 4 OCTAVES VOCAL RANGE AND HER VOICE IS NOT COMPARABLE WITH VOICE OF ELVIS,ARETHA OR MICK JAGGER CAUSE SHE IS SO MUCH BETTER!
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Updated my list but really, after looking at all the other lists, what this comes down to is your own personal favorites list. A huge part has to do with your taste, your age, what you have been exposed to, etc.. For example, if you're into Metallica you're not likely to be impressed with Nat King Cole or Karen Carpenter or Mahalia Jackson or Sam Cooke, regardless of how good they are/were, and of course vice versa. After I submit this list AGAIN, no doubt I will think of other great singers to add, so really there's an almost endless list of great singers from the past and present. Here are "some" of mine:
Nat King Cole
Sam Cooke
Otis Redding
Jr. Walker
Steve Winwood
Karen Carpenter
Ella Fitzgerald
Jim Morrison
Marvin Gaye
Aretha Franklin
Janis Joplin
Joe Cocker
Al Green
Minnie Ripperton
Patti Labelle
Luther Vandross
Elvis Presley
Ray Charles
Sarah Vaughan
Billie Holliday
Frank Sinatra
Tony Bennet
Sam Moore
Greg Allman
James Brown
Etta James
Paul Rodgers
Eric Burdon
Linda Ronstadt
Stevie Wonder
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Elvis Pressley is the best singer or performer their has ever been and will ever be hands down. "Kentucky Rain" is the most beauitifull song ive ever heard and anybody who lived during the 50s and 60s would tell you that he is the best no doubt about it. For any of you to diss on the best of alltime after he died at only 42 years old and is still recognized as the greatest ever is just plain retarded and only listens to moder day music and judges just on it the way autotune helps all these supposive good singers and you can not be heavy metal and hard rock and be a good singer......
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People can do all kind of stupid things here Elvis Presley is one of the greatest male signer that ever lived not everone can do rock then turn to blues ballads country and jazz at the same time.
Whitout Presley starting it all none of the others had made it!
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Guy Garvey of Elbow... needs a mention
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What about Elton John? And Billy Joel? This list means nothng for me.
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Uh, Whitney Houston anyone?
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Luciano Pavarotti... Placido Domingo... Carreras....
As much as I love Nirvana, Cobain and in fact everyone one the list simple pale in comparison to the above.
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Hello has anyone ever heard of Patsy Cline, she may have been dead since 1963, but if you want to talk about the greatest voices, the list must be compiled on singers who actually had to sing to get a record made, Patsy did that she could sing anything, and without musical instruments; most of these singers yell or talk. Listen to just one Patsy cline song and you'll see there is no comparison. Not to mention that she was the first female in the history of country music that crossed over into pop, without that we wouldnt even have half the singers on this list. Her voice is the purest ever.
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Elvis Presley at number 1? and Frank Sinatra at 3?
If I had to choose who in this top 10 would be number 1, I'd choose Marvin Gaye!
Elvis is not that great. Position number 10 is probably the right spot for him considering he's dubbed as the King, but voice wise, try number 20!?!?! And Mariah Carey for the worst singer of all time? Q Magazine is full of stupid sh*t! Mariah Carey is the female vocalist since Aretha Franklin, and her Minnie Riperton like range is a big plus! And where is Michael Jackson?
This list is crappy, I feel sorry for the organizers of this absurd thing!
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Withney Houston
Maria Carey
Julie Andrews
Barbra Streisand
Regine Velasquez
Lani Misalucha
Jed Madela
Luciano Pavaroti
Sarah Brighman
Lea Salonga
Charice Pampengco
Dulce Amor
Rhydan
Michael Jackson
Connie Stevens
Nat King Cole
Matt Monroe
Johnny Mathis
Louie Reyes
Diana Ross
Dessa
Frenchie Dy
Sarah Geronimo
Martin Nievera
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