Classic Rock Vocal Showdown #10: Nicks vs Wilson

[jingle.boy]

There aren't many ladies from the 70s that fronted bands, but these have to be the two leaders.  While Stevie had to share duties, she still owned the mic and the song when she did.  Ann on the other hand... I'd put her up against any of the male vocalists I've fired off already.  Her voice represents everything good about rock and roll.

Ann it is.

[Lolzeez]

Nicks

[Jaq]

Ann Wilson, by a mile. Stevie Nicks was an adequate singer at best before she blew her voice out.

[Sir GuitarCozmo]

I'd rather nail Stevie Nicks than Ann Wilson.  So would Mrs. C.  Stevie gets the vote.

[Cool Chris]

Stevie's voice works best within the harmony structure of FM. Her and Lindsay and Christine created some of the most awesome harmonies. But going it alone, Ann wins.

[jammindude]

Even if you prefer FM over Heart, there is no doubt that Ann is the better singer. I don't even see how it could possibly be disputed that she is the greatest female rock vocalist in history.

[KevShmev]

Nicks' voice has a certain charm and uniqueness to it, but Wilson is by far the better singer.  Mistral Wind and Dream of the Archer demonstrate this to a 't.'

[jjrock88]

Ann

[Orbert]

Ann Wilson, by a mile. Stevie Nicks was an adequate singer at best before she blew her voice out.

This.  Stevie had a beautiful, sweet voice before she destroyed it on the Bella Donna tour (her first solo tour) and it's just been shit ever since.

Ann Wilson can wail, always could, and still can.

[DebraKadabra]

Ann Wilson, no contest.  Even before Stevie blew her voice out, she sounded goaty.

[Orbert]

"goaty" - Never thought of it that way, but appropriate!

[ColdFireYYZ]

I like both of them, but this one is easy: Wilson.

I've heard people complain that Nicks sounds like she's singing with marbles in her mouth (i.e. goaty ) but I really enjoy her voice on the FM stuff. I'm just glad that she wasn't the only singer with the band, as the others added much more variety.

[Zook]

Ann Obviously, but I like Stevie Nicks too...

... Except when she makes odd vocal choices, like in 2:40 of Talk To Me.

[kirksnosehair]

S.Nicks Enunciation: ah thah stavah nah iah a gah sangah, bah ahv gattah ga wha ann wahlsah


English Translation:  I think Stevie Nicks is a good singer, but I've gotta go with Ann Wilson




Answer: Ann Wahlsah 

[jingle.boy]

Had a feeling things were going to turn out this way. Unfortunately, there just isn't a better female to challenge Wilson.  In fact, I've only got one other female matchup. There just aren't that many from the classic rock era.

[kirksnosehair]

Pat Benatar

[Orbert]

I was just gonna say Pat Benatar.  Great voice.

[jingle.boy]

I'd put her more 80s though... Which I might do after the "classic" genre. My criteria is vocalists that really got their start, and fame in the 70s (and some from the 60s)

[Orbert]

Yeah, 80's still counts as "classic" for some, but to others "classic" will always imply the 70's.

[kirksnosehair]

I think it's an age thing.   

[bosk1]

I think it's an age thing.   

Exactly.  "Classic rock" just means "the decade of rock immediately before I was old enough to really get into music."

[Orbert]

Nah, classic rock is the music I grew up with.  But then, I grew up in the 70's.

I think it's an age thing.   

There's definitely a correlation.  Even after all this time, I rarely think of 80's as "classic".  It came after most of my favorite stuff and is "newer" music even 30 years later.  But to folks who didn't grow up with it, it tends to get all lumped together.  It's all "old shit".  Hell, the "classic rock" stations around here play some 80's songs, and every time, I go "That's not classic!"  Yelling at the radio tends to annoy my wife, but in this case she agrees with me since we're the same age.

[El Barto]

In the Heat of the Night (which included Hearbreaker) was 1979. Even discounting that, she's close enough, since that's the only person who could compete with Ann Wilson as a female rock vocalist.

As for Stevie Nicks, I always liked her voice as a singer with other people. She and Lindsay Buckingham both had real rough voices that actually sounded great together. Still, Ann Wilson blows her away (and still sounds great).

[Phoenix87x]

One word:

Landslide 

[LieLowTheWantedMan]

Nicks.

[jingle.boy]

One word:

Landslide 

Actually, it's not even the biggest landslide, not by a longshot.

[King Postwhore]

Ann Wilson by miles and miles.  She is what I love about female singers.

[Dark Castle]

Pat Benatar

back in my shuttle van days at the hotel, I drove her and her family around,her husband is fucking awesome.

[Big Hath]

Had a feeling things were going to turn out this way. Unfortunately, there just isn't a better female to challenge Wilson.  In fact, I've only got one other female matchup. There just aren't that many from the classic rock era.

You'd have to go back to Joplin and maybe Grace Slick.

[wolfking]

I'd prefer to listen to FM, but Wilson is easily the better singer.

[masterthes]

yeah, if there's anybody you could compare to Ann Wilson, it's Pat Benatar or maybe Grace Slick

Anywho, I went with Ann

[jingle.boy]

Had a feeling things were going to turn out this way. Unfortunately, there just isn't a better female to challenge Wilson.  In fact, I've only got one other female matchup. There just aren't that many from the classic rock era.

You'd have to go back to Joplin and maybe Grace Slick.

You are indeed wise Big Hath.

[jammindude]

Ann is the only person on the planet who can sing Stairway to Heaven TO LED ZEPPELIN...and bring a tear to their eye. I don't even think Benatar could do that. But I would put her as a distant second.

[lonestar]

Nicks voice connects with me on a personal level, but as a pure singer it's Ann no question. And I agree that Benatar would have been a better match up.

[DebraKadabra]

I've heard people complain that Nicks sounds like she's singing with marbles in her mouth

Never heard that one...