greatest singer of all time in your opionion

been some great vocalists over the years. For me, there was only one for me, Freddie Mercury.

In recent years i've stumbled across Myles Kennedy, who's touring with slash. Incredible voice I genuinely think rivals freddie's.

So who for you had the greatest voice of all time?

So many- voice is, like sporting talent, too subjective to pick just one.

For me the different contenders I have heard, depending on what one is lokking for, includes Freddie Mercury, Ray Charles, Alfie Boe, Jeff Buckley, Damien Rice (in a very different way), David Bowie, Whitney Houston, Nina Simone, Robert Plant, Paul Rodgers, Alicia Keys, Marvin Gaye, and Etta James

Depends what you look for in a voice and singer I guess, but for me its Johnny Cash.

I listen to mainly Punk, Rock and Metal but love cash.

I heard his son once say that you will find his albums among record collections that make him look out of place, but he has such a wide appeal that he reaches out to fans of all tastes.

steven tyler for me

Otis Redding

A really hard one for me.

What are we judging it on? If its as a performer, then Freddie Mercury is a good shout.

If its on how beautiful a voice is, Karen Carpenter would win this for me.

My own personal favourite is Fish but thats down to the words and feeling in his voice.

If I can just say one, it's Jeff Buckley because every note plucks a string on the harp of my soul, or something cheesy like that

Can't look much further than Freddie. It's very hard to pick just one from my "generation", I like Brad Paisley, Blake Shelton, Miranda Lambert, Carrie Underwood, Dan Auerbach (The Black Keys) and Billie Joe Armstrong. Honourable mention to Matt Bellamy too, his voice is more an instrument than purely singing the lyrics.

I can't pick just one. But maybe Dan Auerbach just shades it and all the rest are joint 2nd.

Stevie Nicks for me. Just something about that voice is just unreal!if its just going by their voice that is.

For me Morrissey and Prince take some beating. The range they find is quite mesmerising. I would also chuck Bono's name in there, but for me Prince and Morrissey have always left me just saying wow. I think the talent in singing is match the tone to the music and I think Morrissey and Prince have done is better than most before and after them.

Some great nominations already, to which I would add Art Garfunkel and the vocal for Bridge over Troubled Water.

As LK says, there is something about matching tone to music (and lyrical meaning), and that song is one of the finest examples of this you will ever hear.

There are some great shouts so far. It is hard to pick one but I'd like to put in
Darius Rucker - hootie and the blow fish
Brad Roberts - crash test dummies
Michael hutchence
Karen carpenter

Purely on vocals only and nothing else I'll pick:

Otis Redding.
Damien Dempsey.
Aretha Franklin
Sinead O'Connor.
Bono (especially on early U2 stuff).
James Dean Bradfield.
Jonny Rotten (just unique).

For pure voice alone, Nat King Cole & Karen Carpenter.

Definitive.

Others up there for me:

Roy Orbison
Dusty Springfield
Sam Cooke
Aretha Franklin
Mary J. Blige
Marvin Gaye
Dionne Warwick
Curtis Mayfield
Stevie Wonder
Joni Mitchell
Smokey Robinson
Al Green
Patsy Cline
Bill Withers
Louis Armstrong
Neil Young
Annie Lennox
Chrissie Hynde
Van Morrison
Bowie
Bjork
Bonnie Raitt
Michael Jackson
Elvis
Me Uncle Eamon with a few pints in 'im

So many more. Its one of those eternal questions. But, the Top 2 always remain the same for me.

I like emotional singers like Thom Yorke and Matthew Bellamy, but would say George Michael, amongst others has a better voice.

Its hard to pick as people have suggested so I will base my answer on voices who effect me in a certain way when I hear them.

Karen Carpenter - Just an amazing voice. The song ''We only just began'' is proof for me. The perfect voice for a love song, great great voice.

Marvin Gaye - He could add real emotion to his songs, true talent. He could be melodic and powerful. Love hearing songs like ''When did you stop loving me, when did I stop loving you''

Stevie Wonder - Could go from soul to operatic in the same song again real talent.

Anita Baker - Jazz, soul, you name it.

Sade - need I say more.

Stella wrote:I like emotional singers like Thom Yorke and Matthew Bellamy, but would say George Michael, amongst others has a better voice.

Great choices in Thom Yorke and Matt Bellamy, I love listening to Thom Yorke sing. Not a big fan of George Michael but can appreciate he has a good voice.

crazygangwomble wrote:

Stella wrote:I like emotional singers like Thom Yorke and Matthew Bellamy, but would say George Michael, amongst others has a better voice.

Great choices in Thom Yorke and Matt Bellamy, I love listening to Thom Yorke sing. Not a big fan of George Michael but can appreciate he has a good voice.

Thom's emotion really come out doesn't it. Great band.

ONETWOFOREVER wrote:Its hard to pick as people have suggested so I will base my answer on voices who effect me in a certain way when I hear them.

Karen Carpenter - Just an amazing voice. The song ''We only just began'' is proof for me. The perfect voice for a love song, great great voice.

Marvin Gaye - He could add real emotion to his songs, true talent. He could be melodic and powerful. Love hearing songs like ''When did you stop loving me, when did I stop loving you''

Stevie Wonder - Could go from soul to operatic in the same song again real talent.

Anita Baker - Jazz, soul, you name it.

Sade - need I say more.

Another 2 cracking choices. Karen Carpenters voice gives me goosebumps sometimes. As for Stevie Wonder, the guy had something about him that just made him stand out. A brilliant voice

Gibson wrote:For pure voice alone, Nat King Cole & Karen Carpenter.

Definitive.

Others up there for me:

Roy Orbison
Dusty Springfield

So many more. Its one of those eternal questions. But, the Top 2 always remain the same for me.

Good choice on those two, Orbison makes it sound so effortless and Dusty is a big favourite of mine, can do pretty much any style, soul, ballads, pop, love Dusty.

Not mentioned yet -
David Sylvian
Tom Waits

Tom Waits for me, could sing anything and it'd sound golden and meaningful.

alma wrote:Sam Cooke. The rest trail in his wake to be honest

Man but its so hard to be white sometimes.

Love you Alma. Pour toi.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gbO2_077ixs

Nat King Cole or Ella Fitzgerald

Billie Holiday or Anita O'Day; in the pop/rock etc world, Aretha Franklin .

Billie Holiday or Anita O'Day; in the pop/rock etc world, Aretha Franklin .

Pop/rock? Arethra Franklin?? I know she's not true Blues or jazz but pop?

male - Michael Stipe of REM & Johnny Mathis
female - Elizabeth Fraser of the Cocteau Twins

Ray LaMontagne has an incredible voice. Not the most uplifting songs but his voice is just amazing. It is someone rough and gravelly yet unbelievably soulful and soothing at the same time.

H from Steps.

CJ, I'm counting soul in 'etc'! It's quite hard to define - not classical, not jazz, not folk...

Mind the windows Tino. wrote:Ray LaMontagne has an incredible voice. Not the most uplifting songs but his voice is just amazing. It is someone rough and gravelly yet unbelievably soulful and soothing at the same time.

This

BlueNote wrote:CJ, I'm counting soul in 'etc'! It's quite hard to define - not classical, not jazz, not folk...

Well, I tend to define it as Soul! Or possibly an offshoot of Gospel

Galted wrote:male - Michael Stipe of REM & Johnny Mathis
female - Elizabeth Fraser of the Cocteau Twins

Excellent shout.

Tricky one as it's all subjective.

David Gedge,
Rachel Goswell,
Erlend Oye,
Isaac Brock
Matt Johnson

Musically and technically it's hard to beat Sinatra particularly his timing, phrasing, note bending etc. His playing with time was as good as any of the great jazz instrumentalists.

Best female singer to me is Ella Fitzgerald and it isn't even close. A voice of velvet that could do things and go places never matched in the history of recording.


For rock since the 1980's I like Chris Cornell.

Soul, it's Marvin or Otis, both incredible.


Of the British mega bands like Zep, Floyd, The Beatles etc I like Roger Daltrey's voice the most.


Freddie always deserves a special mention.

Ella had amazing dexterity, great voice, great phrasing, but maybe just lacked that little bit of soul for me.

Right Im mainly a fan of Hip Hop and R&B so although I know I am going to be absolutely slated and ripped for this here goes:

The greatest singer of all time in MY opinion is R Kelly.

In fact one could say he is the "Worlds Greatest"!

In all seriousness though he is my favourite. Be gentle with me please!!!

Just for you, Shot:

Nat King Cole, Ella Fitzgerald and Tom Araya from SLAYER!!!!!

In terms of recent times, Chester Bennington of Linkin Park is up there. I'm bias as a fan but he sings in many different styles and sounds great every time.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8j4StOKKTOA

Bruce Springsteen.
Smokey Robinson
Bob Marley
Jimmi Cliff.

Bob Marley wasn't even the best singer in Bob Marley & The Wailers.