James Labrie vs Bruce Dickinson

[RG93]

GO!

By the way, NO KEVIN MOORE OPTION FOR YOU! *evillaugh*

[jsem]

JLB

[Dream Team]

Bruce is AWESOME, but JLB can do a few more things with his voice (especially in the old days) so JLB is slightly better IMO.

[Bertielee]

Bruce is a very good singer, but his very peculiar type of voice makes him sound the same on every song. JLB's unique voice, on the contrary, and his way of singing make him more interesting in my opinion. So, JLB for me.

B.Lee

[Dublagent66]

Bruce is a very good singer, but his very peculiar type of voice makes him sound the same on every song. JLB's unique voice, on the contrary, and his way of singing make him more interesting in my opinion. So, JLB for me.

B.Lee

Good point.

[Dream_Theater01]

Both are incredible singers, but I voted for Bruce Dickinson.  He's my favorite vocalist of all time.  JLB is great also.

[zxlkho]

Bruce would win this poll and every forum except DTF...

I voted Bruce.

[Dream_Theater01]

Bruce would win this poll and every forum except DTF...

I voted Bruce.

Honestly, yes.  I agree.

[LCArenas]

Bruce would win this poll and every forum except DTF...

I voted Bruce.

I hate to say you're right, but you are. It's a tough one for me, tho.

[Mladen]

Bruce Dickinson

Sorry, guys, but no singer can defeat the almighty Bruce. 

[Martinman300]

JLB uses far more techniques and is more versatile and has more range, but bruce is more powerful and consistent.

[hefdaddy42]

Bruce is a very good singer, but his very peculiar type of voice makes him sound the same on every song. JLB's unique voice, on the contrary, and his way of singing make him more interesting in my opinion. So, JLB for me.

B.Lee

This.

And WTF at all these "JLB vs." threads.

[DarkLord_Lalinc]

It's James LaBrie's endurance test.

[SeventhSon]

Definitely voting Bruce. I'm not sure about their comparative ranges (probably pretty similar) but Bruce is a lot more consistent live, and although it has nothing to do with real singing ability, he has a better stage presence than James does.

[7thHanyou]

I really like James' voice.  He's one of my favorite vocalists, period, and I don't agree with some of the hate he gets.  I also like the diversity of things he's able to do with his voice, and think he sounds best on ballads.  Unfortunately, I can point to some weaker performances in his career, and his wailing is an acquired taste (even I admit this, and I haven't been shy about how much I like his singing in Innocence Faded!).  I do prefer how he sounded early in his career, and my favorite of his performances is probably in a song most people consider a throwaway--Another Day from Images and Words.

That said, Bruce's voice sounds better, and for the style of music he chose to sing with Iron Maiden, it was perfect.  As he's gotten older, his voice has changed, and he's changed with it.  His performance on Journeyman is one example of the subtle power and control he's able to evoke.  Anyone questioning whether he can sing a number of styles should hear his solo performances, specifically Tattooed Millionaire, All The Young Dudes, and Tears of the Dragon.  Yes, his voice does always "sound the same," but this isn't a bad thing if it sounds appropriate for any song he sings.  Perhaps his voice never needs to vary that much because it's suited to so much stuff.

Bruce is not my favorite "metal" vocalist, as in, I don't think he has the most well-suited voice for heavy metal.  That honor would go to Ronnie James Dio.  But he is probably my favorite vocalist who sings metal, if that makes sense, because, however predictable his performances are, they're always perfectly appropriate.

Dickinson wins.

[LieLowTheWantedMan]

Both are equal for me.

[Lowdz]

big fan of BD in the 80s but his voice is painful to llisten to on cd these days so live will be torture.
JLB is my favourite singer and a huge part of why I love DT and why other prog metal bands don't cut it.

[tartarus250]

i really love jlb's voice for all of the reasons already stated but as i was into maiden first and as brucetheairradesiren's voice is way more consistant live i have voted for him

[yeshaberto]

had to go both...too tough.
great point, though, about the better variety of JLB

[IdoSC]

Bruce would win this poll and every forum except DTF...

I voted Bruce.

Meh, you make it sound like a bad thing. The Maiden:Dream fans ratio is way higher in favor of Maiden in any forum out there besides this one. If you just put one song of each singer on a professional vocal forum or whatnot, you'd probably get very close results because they both are very similarly good singers. Of course fans' opinion is biased, that's why they are fans of a certain band.

And because of what I just said, James. I enjoy his voice more, plus I always thought both singers' technique is too amazing to compare so I'd have to go by the state of my heart here.

[rumborak]

Bruce always struck me as a less "gimmicky" singer. Hate to say it, but JLB has an element of gimmick-ness.

rumborak

[sneakyblueberry]

Bruce is a very good singer, but his very peculiar type of voice makes him sound the same on every song. JLB's unique voice, on the contrary, and his way of singing make him more interesting in my opinion. So, JLB for me.

B.Lee

Bruce is way more versatile than JLB, wtf?  James sounds Canadian on every song.

[Bertielee]

Bruce is a very good singer, but his very peculiar type of voice makes him sound the same on every song. JLB's unique voice, on the contrary, and his way of singing make him more interesting in my opinion. So, JLB for me.

B.Lee

Bruce is way more versatile than JLB, wtf?  James sounds Canadian on every song.

And so, you have a problem with Canadians?!?!? ......

B.Lee

[sneakyblueberry]

Bruce is a very good singer, but his very peculiar type of voice makes him sound the same on every song. JLB's unique voice, on the contrary, and his way of singing make him more interesting in my opinion. So, JLB for me.

B.Lee

Bruce is way more versatile than JLB, wtf?  James sounds Canadian on every song.

And so, you have a problem with Canadians?!?!? ......

B.Lee

their voices aren't nearly as sultry as the brits, I must say.

[GuineaPig]

Bruce.  Confused about those saying Bruce is less versatile; his solo stuff is quite varied.

[CrimsonSunrise]

BD.....  it's a close one though overall.  Now...  If you're sayin pre-'90 BD...then it's a no brainer in favor of BD.

[Jirpo]

BD.....  it's a close one though overall.  Now...  If you're sayin pre-'90 BD...then it's a no brainer in favor of BD.

What? Bruce's voice on the last 4 albums has been as good as ever, if not better in my opinion. Listen to tracks like Theres a Thin Line Between love and Hate, When the Wild Wind Blows, Out of the Shadows, Coming Home...




Bruce for me. He just has a completely unique style, sometimes sounding haunting, sometimes inspired.

[Moonchild]

With the exception of BNW, TFF and his solo work, since the 90's Bruce sounds like an old man straining to grasp his better days.

That being said, he wins because he's more consistent and diverse than Labrie. Also a better frontman.

1992 LB vs. 1992 BD would be a different story.

[Jirpo]

Yeah, I agree Bruce doesn't sound good in the 90's (except for a few tracks), but I think AMOLAD had amazing vocals, and about half of DOD did too. Also, I don't think he is "straining to grasp his better days". I love his new voice, and he has improved immensely live.

[Tomislav95]

They are for me best singers ever and I can't choose which is better.Both of them are really great

[GuineaPig]

Yeah, I agree Bruce doesn't sound good in the 90's (except for a few tracks), but I think AMOLAD had amazing vocals, and about half of DOD did too. Also, I don't think he is "straining to grasp his better days". I love his new voice, and he has improved immensely live.

Have you heard his solo stuff?

[MetropolisxPt1]

Since i have seen IM recently BD'd voice is just as good as its ever been. When JLB can sing the pensive fear line in take the time then he gets my vote.

[Lowdz]

Bruce.  Confused about those saying Bruce is less versatile; his solo stuff is quite varied.

The music might be, but I don't think the voice is.

[CrimsonSunrise]

BD.....  it's a close one though overall.  Now...  If you're sayin pre-'90 BD...then it's a no brainer in favor of BD.

What? Bruce's voice on the last 4 albums has been as good as ever, if not better in my opinion. Listen to tracks like Theres a Thin Line Between love and Hate, When the Wild Wind Blows, Out of the Shadows, Coming Home...




Bruce for me. He just has a completely unique style, sometimes sounding haunting, sometimes inspired.

I think JLB has one thing going for him... he is really taking care of his vocal chords as he gets older, that is deff. the exception too the rule in the rock world.  Everything I've heard live from BD in the last 20 years sounds strained to me.

[jjrock88]

Both are awesome, but Bruce gets the nod from me.  I believe he is very versatile.