Top 25 Favorite Singers countdown thread! (Top 2 Revealed!!!)

[SeRoX]

I rank James LaBrie #1

I love bands/performers for different reasons. James LaBrie is the reason Dream Theater is my favorıite band, all time fav actually. I gotta admit I don't like DT's music like I used to but it's about their musical direction not James' studio/live works. (I admit his live performance now is controversial) If there is James singing I carry on listening DT no matter what.

We talked about this much but again, prime James is godly and unmatchable. Like many great singers in this list his prime time is short, sadly. But it's amazing his studio works are still delightful and strong unlike others. More than other reasons, James is almost only singer that conveys all emotions full and his voice is distinguishable among other rock/metal singers. Distinctive, warm, emotional and strong voice... I just love him.

I ranked Freddie Mercury #8

I mean it's Freddie Mercury. A big influence for the music. For the obvious reason his prime time was short too but he gave it all to us.

[Mladen]

Tremendous job, Kev. 

[jingle.boy]

Tremendous job, Kev. 

Yeah, I gotta echo this.   

[Zydar]

Indeed, great job Kev! Although I'm not participating I enjoy following your countdown threads.

[Metro]

I’m pretty certain about the top 2. One of them doesn’t surprise me. The other, if it is who I think it is, would shock me being this high on the list, despite me being a big fan.

Stupid me totally forgot about Freddy Mercury despite having him on my list. I was legit afraid that Neal Morse would be in the Top 2  Love Neal, but top 2 is too high.

Taylor Swift   7

I demand a recount. #StopTheSteal

Anyway, of course James is gonna be this high. I mean, where are we? Despite his questionable performances nowadays he still was a great singer in his prime and has sung on some of my favorite albums ever.

Freddy Mercury is the singer everybody wants to be.

1. Devin Townsend
2. Peter Gabriel
3. Freddie Mercury
4. Claudio Sanchez
5. Chris Cornell
6. Nick D’Virgillio
7. Ronnie James Dio
8. Geddy Lee
9. Rob Halford
10. Bruce Dickinson
11. Jon Anderson
12. Mike Patton
13. David Longdon
14. Phil Collins
15. Neal Morse
16. John Baizley
17. Maynard James Keenan
18. Neil Fallon
19. David Bowie
20. Adrian Belew
21. James Murphy
22. James LaBrie
23. John Wetton
24. Fish
25. Layne Staley


Great job Kev and thanks for doing this!

[lonestar]

Jingle and I were talking behind the scenes about Morse's placement. Guess even with the fan boys here it wasn't enough for him to show.

[jingle.boy]

Jingle and I were talking behind the scenes about Morse's placement. Guess even with the fan boys here it wasn't enough for him to show.

I guess it’s more for the music than the vox.

[TAC]

I had James at #6. I'm glad he rated so highly. Obviously he has had bouts of struggling live but I don't thing Dream Theater is the same without him.

Freddie Mercury did not make my list. I've never listened to Queen outside of the radio. Just never gotten into them. A recent deep dive thanks to DragonAttack's thread has gained me a much higher appreciation into the "band", but I always Freddie Mercury was amazing.
If I included Freddie, then I would've had to include Brad Delp, Dennis DeYoung, and every other great singer out there. I kept my list at those who I actually listen to frequently...er...my favorites.


Here's my list. Bands in parenthesis for the less common names.

25   Mike Howe (Metal Church)
24   Bon Scott
23   Daniel Heiman (Lost Horizon)
22   Joacim Cans (Hammerfall)
21   Rhett Forrester (Riot)
20   Rob Halford
19   Biff Byford (Saxon)
18   Ray Alder
17   Eric Knutson (Flotsam & Jetsam)
16   Steven Tyler
15   James Hetfield
14   Geoff Tate
13   Geddy Lee
12   Matt Smith (Theocracy)
11   Paul Stanley
10   Ozzy Osbourne
9   John Bush (Armored Saint)
8   Bruce Dickinson
7   Gary Moore
6   James Labrie
5   Phil Lynott
4   Alice Cooper
3   Phil Mogg (UFO)
2   Ronnie James Dio
1   Michael Kiske

I was legit afraid that Neal Morse would be in the Top 2  Love Neal, but top 2 is too high.

I mentioned to a few people offline that I considered Neal Morse a Wild Card. I am honestly shocked he didn't make the Top 25.

[devieira73]

Freddie Mercury (#3) - I truly love Freddie and I do thing he is the best vocalist of all the time, no doubt. It just happens that I still like better Geoff Tate and Steve Perry.
James La Brie (#21) - I think he has a truly gifted and versatile voice and has an amazing recorded catalog. But, unfortunately he never totally conviced me on the live environment, even on the Image and Words Live in Tokyo DVD. But I think he was almost perfect on the Octavarium tour.

[HOF]

Neal Morse not making the list was the big surprise to me (I figured he missed when we got to the top 5). I had him at 9, Kev had him top 5, but I guess some people may be more fans of his music than his singing.

Steve Hogarth was my number 1, and I was sad to not see him rank, but at least he finished above Bono and Fish!

Phil Collins is the other one I thought could make it. But I’m guessing there are relatively few fans of the later Genesis and his solo stuff here.

Here is my top 25, only 5 made the overall top 25.

25. Eric Johnson
24. Ty Tabor
23. Roine Stolt
22. Glen Phillips
21. Billy Corgan
20. Adam Duritz
19. Tim Elsenburg
18. Paddy McAloon
17. Geoff Tate
16. James LaBrie
15. Geddy Lee
14. Mark Hollis
13. Roland Orzabal
12. Neil Finn
11. Eric Martin
10. Ted Leonard
9. Neal Morse
8. Nick D’Virgilio
7. Peter Gabriel
6. Phil Collins
5. Steve Perry
4. David Longdon
3. Kip Winger
2. Paul Buchanan
1. Steve Hogarth

Also, a playlist I put together with each singer if anyone is interested:
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0M4Ar24dUvHQR3g952SXej?si=4d6a3cca2a5c4c40

[Stadler]

Reading through this thread, I realize that many of my 'favorite' singers are far from what you'd call talented...yet, they completely move me as artists.

Thom Yorke, Michael Stipe, Bob Dylan, Neil Young, and Kip Winger would've all made my top 20, and other than Kip, I'll be the first to say that those are some pretty pedestrian vocalists when it comes to talent.

Calling Dylan pedestrian is an understatement. Excellent songwriter, but if we apply common standards by which people usually judge singing voices, he might be the only vocalist giving Yoko-Ono run for her money as the worst singer ever. But I totally get why someone would rank him - in the context of his songs, his voice just works.
   Stipe was my n. 8. I actually think he is quite talented, but not in terms of power/range.

Did someone say "Yoko"?

https://youtu.be/ZbGuxGGOIV0

The look on Chuck's face is worth gold.

[SeRoX]

That was a great run indeed. Thanks for the hard work, Kev.

[jingle.boy]

25. Eric Johnson
24. Ty Tabor
23. Roine Stolt
22. Glen Phillips
21. Billy Corgan
20. Adam Duritz
19. Tim Elsenburg
18. Paddy McAloon
17. Geoff Tate
16. James LaBrie
15. Geddy Lee
14. Mark Hollis
13. Roland Orzabal
12. Neil Finn
11. Eric Martin
10. Ted Leonard
9. Neal Morse
8. Nick D’Virgilio
7. Peter Gabriel
6. Phil Collins
5. Steve Perry
4. David Longdon
3. Kip Winger
2. Paul Buchanan
1. Steve Hogarth

I'm pretty sure you're just making names up with a few of these entries.   

But I would love to go to the pub with Paddy McAloon.

[Stadler]

Freddie was my No. 3, and James was #21.   Though, to be fair, James is one of the two reasons I LOVE Dream Theater.  He could have been higher but there were other singers I wanted to celebrate.

My "James" moment(s): Voices, Learning To Live
My "Freddie" moment(s):   Funny How Love Is; One Vision, The Show Must Go On (There's really too many, though; the man is a master).

[Stadler]

25. Eric Johnson
24. Ty Tabor
23. Roine Stolt
22. Glen Phillips
21. Billy Corgan
20. Adam Duritz
19. Tim Elsenburg
18. Paddy McAloon
17. Geoff Tate
16. James LaBrie
15. Geddy Lee
14. Mark Hollis
13. Roland Orzabal
12. Neil Finn
11. Eric Martin
10. Ted Leonard
9. Neal Morse
8. Nick D’Virgilio
7. Peter Gabriel
6. Phil Collins
5. Steve Perry
4. David Longdon
3. Kip Winger
2. Paul Buchanan
1. Steve Hogarth

I'm pretty sure you're just making names up with a few of these entries.   

But I would love to go to the pub with Paddy McAloon.

Or David Longdong.   

[Stadler]

25   Ben Orr
24   Robert Plant
23   Jack Russell
22   Michael Stipe
21   James LaBrie
20   Steve Perry
19   Gordon “Sting” Sumner
18   John Wetton
17   Roger Hodgson
16   Greg Lake
15   Klaus Meine
14   Brad Delp
13   Elton John
12   Johnette Napolitano
11   Paul “Bono” Hewson
10   David Gilmour
9   Waylon Jennings
8   Hank Williams, Jr.
7   Paul McCartney
6   Phil Collins
5   Robin Zander
4   David Coverdale
3   Freddie Mercury
2   Ann Wilson
1   Elvis Presley

[HOF]

25. Eric Johnson
24. Ty Tabor
23. Roine Stolt
22. Glen Phillips
21. Billy Corgan
20. Adam Duritz
19. Tim Elsenburg
18. Paddy McAloon
17. Geoff Tate
16. James LaBrie
15. Geddy Lee
14. Mark Hollis
13. Roland Orzabal
12. Neil Finn
11. Eric Martin
10. Ted Leonard
9. Neal Morse
8. Nick D’Virgilio
7. Peter Gabriel
6. Phil Collins
5. Steve Perry
4. David Longdon
3. Kip Winger
2. Paul Buchanan
1. Steve Hogarth

I'm pretty sure you're just making names up with a few of these entries.   

But I would love to go to the pub with Paddy McAloon.

They're all real! Paddy probably would be good company in the pub. He's an interesting guy for sure.



https://www.loudersound.com/features/paddy-mcaloon-on-prog-rock-and-trawling-the-megahertz

[KevShmev]

I think Neal Morse gets "penalized" for his jack of all trades persona.  He does so many things well (sing, play, write) that I think it is hard for some to think of him as just a singer.  Different area, but I think the same happens with Arjen for example, as I never see him talked about as a great guitar player even though is, simply because he also does so many things so well.

As for being the only voter for Mr. Swift, I was not surprised.  She is not a standout singer in the traditional sense, and she is known much more for her songwriting than her singing.

[Samsara]

Cheers to whoever was my partner-in-crime who had Jesse Hasek on their list. 

Freddie was my #1. And should have been #1. Nothing need be said. The man was one of the most talented singers to ever grace the Earth.

As for JLB, he was unranked for me. Considering him in his prime alone, which frankly was only about five or six years, the recorded work was amazing. But even then, he didn't replicate live that level of mastery on a consistent basis when he was young, while other guys have and did it longer. So, while I respect him greatly, he fell down my list pretty quickly looking at most everyone I put above him. Could he have made my top-25? Yes. He probably should have. He wasn't far from it. And he's a great singer. But this ranking, I believe, is pretty biased, given that we're on a DT forum. But I expected it to happen, so at least I called it.

But Images & Words and Awake, man...really, just absolute monster vocal performances on those record.

[Stadler]

I think Neal Morse gets "penalized" for his jack of all trades persona.  He does so many things well (sing, play, write) that I think it is hard for some to think of him as just a singer.  Different area, but I think the same happens with Arjen for example, as I never see him talked about as a great guitar player even though is, simply because he also does so many things so well.

As for being the only voter for Mr. Swift, I was not surprised.  She is not a standout singer in the traditional sense, and she is known much more for her songwriting than her singing.

She was just a victim of numbers for me.  I'm a "melody" guy, so singers are important to me, and if I do't like a singer - Anthony Keidis, for one, Thom Yorke for another - it's hard for me to like the band.

[Stadler]

Freddie was my #1. And should have been #1. Nothing need be said. The man was one of the most talented singers to ever grace the Earth.

It's not a comment to you, Samsara, just using you as a springboard (I could have used any of about five or six posts), but to further a point made before the countdown started, even FREDDIE looked up to Elvis (he has said he wrote "Crazy Little Thing" as homage to Elvis, following his death).  I put Freddie third, only to celebrate Ann Wilson, but in terms of absolute, or objective, Freddie is probably the SECOND greatest rock singer in history.  Elvis is still The King.  You don't have famous photos of singers meeting Robert Plant, or Freddie Mercury, or Paul McCartney/John Lennon, but there are famous photos of every one of those* meeting ELVIS.



* Freddie never met Elvis, though he did meet Lisa Marie, who gave him one of Elvis' scarves. It was, according to those close to him, one of his most prized possessions.

[Samsara]

Neal Morse - not sure he's "penalized." Frankly, from my standpoint, I just don't think very highly of his singing. He's fine, and a good songwriter for sure. But he didn't even enter my mind. I saw him with Transatlantic, and to be frank, great musician, nothing special vocally.

[hefdaddy42]

I had JLB unranked. Dream Theater is my favorite band, but I didn't rank him.

I had Freddie Mercury at #1.

[Samsara]

re: Elvis - great showman. Average singer. I think his influence on Freddie was in the former.

If we were doing "best singer" instead of "favorite" in the rock genre, I think Freddie Mercury, Ann Wilson and Steve Perry should be 1-3.

[bosk1]

This was fun!  Yeah, I had both of those.  Pleasantly surprised to see James ranked so high.

Here's my list:
25   Ronnie Dio
24   Layne Staley
23   Gary Cherone
22   Mariah Carey
21   David Coverdale
20   Dave Meniketti
19    Joe Elliott
18   Sharon Den Adel
17   Freddie Mercury
16   Eric Gillette
15   Matt Heafy
14   Neal Morse
13   Ray Alder
12   Devin Townsend
11   Ray Gillen
10   Klaus Meine
9   Bruce Dickinson
8   Michael Sweet
7   Simone Simons
6   Sebastian Bach
5   Steve Perry
4   James LaBrie
3   Russell Allen
2   Floor Jansen
1   Geoff Tate

[HOF]

Something to consider with Freddie Mercury (and you could say something similar for The Beatles and Nirvanah, etc.) is that while he did have a fairly long career, we didn't get to hear what he sounded like at age 50+ doing the nostalgia circuit. He passed at age 45. Steve Perry was 47 when Trial By Fire was released. Not saying Freddie couldn't have held up longer (and I'm not really familiar with his later career material to know how his voice held up until then), but the lasting memory of him is his heyday, whereas at least some of the impression of Perry, or Tate, or JLB, or Phil Collins is how they sound now.

That's why I decided to emphasize peak in my rankings. Not everybody's careers follow the same path or timeline. For instance, Neal Morse didn't release his first album with Spock's until he was 35. IMO he had a really great voice while he was in Spock's and on those early Transatlantic albums. But by the time The Whirlwind came out he was 49 and it was starting to show a bit. I didn't want the fact that he's released a ton of music over the years where his voice maybe isn't too great to take away too much from how much I enjoyed him in the early days just in terms of my personal rankings.

[SwedishGoose]

Had 10 singers that no one else had:

25. Herman Saming   
24. Peter Hammil   
23. Doris Brendel   
14. Kari Rueslåtten 
12. Dalbello   
11. Simon Åkesson 
10. Steve Broughton 
9. Sam Brown   
8. Krister Linder   
7. Marcela Bovio 

I realise that I should have done this much earlier to find the perfect link.... oh well



Herman Saming of A.C.T
Love the guy. Have seen them live 7 times. Great vocalist and great frontman

https://youtu.be/3Br0VsmAvkM



Peter Hammil solo and Van der Graaf Generator
Fantastic lyricist and singer. Have only seen him twice. Both pretty recently once solo and once with VdGG.

https://youtu.be/xDzlocGihOo


Doris Brendel solo and The Violet Hour
She floored me when The Violet hour opened up for Marillion in 93.Flatulist and singer.... they were way better than Marillion on that tour. Sadly they disbanded after it and only made one record. I found out a few years ago that she has been making music the whole time. Someof you have probably seen her supporting Fish and singing backing vocals.

https://youtu.be/la8VTUXGbo8


Kari Rueslåtten  of 3rd and the Mortal
The norwegian band 3rd and the Mortal with their progressive doom hooked me when i saw them at a small festival.

https://open.spotify.com/track/6VvP4iaiOoOO9abWWchroR?si=iNKKxkcWRTa8VYUW2eGxkA&utm_source=copy-link

Dalbello
Canadian singer Dalbello who Queensryche cover with Gonna Get Close to You was one of my favorites before that. Sadly she has only a small discography.... but what a discogrsphy

https://youtu.be/1k_EkGXPj0s


Simon Åkesson of Moon Safari
Well no list of fantastic sigers can be complete without the brothers in Moon Safari. I choose Simon to represent them all.
Seen them live only once as support to Fish.... want to see them again

https://youtu.be/EuB48k2CVMY


Steve Broughton  of City Boy
Again one singer to represent all singers of a band. These guys are my absolute fvorites and their album The Day The Earth Caught Fire is probably my nr 1 record of all time.

https://youtu.be/f3MrjSyeILg




Sam Brown
What a voice..... she exploded onto the scene with Stop! She has a lot more fantstic albums than that though. She has also been singing backing vocals for Pink Floyd.
Sadly I hsve only seen two songs of her live when she was one of Danny Thompson's friends at the Borderline in London in 91.

https://youtu.be/nUZrOo_dAKU


Krister Linder  Grace , Dive solo
I have already shared Captain Nemo by Dive soI will choose the first song I ever heared him sing. Grace with Inga kan älska som vi  unfortunateley it's in swedish but shows his vocal abilities.

https://youtu.be/XBSDiBlpJtI





Marcela Bovio   Stream of Passion and solo
I guess Marcela needs no introduction  she is after all a regular with Ayreon. One of the many fantastic singers Arjen has introduced me to.

https://youtu.be/Z9ZJCs_h9Ws

[HOF]

Simon Åkesson of Moon Safari
Well no list of fantastic sigers can be complete without the brothers in Moon Safari. I choose Simon to represent them all.
Seen them live only once as support to Fish.... want to see them again

https://youtu.be/EuB48k2CVMY

I love Moon Safari! One issue though is I've never internalized which singers in the band go with which voice. They're all amazing though. Is Simon the one who also performs in the acapella group?

[SeRoX]

This is my list.

25- Sebastian Bach
24- Jorn Lande
23- Prince
22- Robert Plant
21- Phil Anselmo
20- Angela Gossow
19- Simone Simons
18- Bruce Dickinson
17- Geoff Tate
16- Anneke Van Giersbergen
15- Lara Fabian
14- Michael Kiske
13- Celine Dion
12- Jennifer Holiday
11- Whitney Houston
10- Ronnie James Dio
9- Sharon Den Adel
8- Freddie Mercury
7- Steve Perry
6- Michael Jackson
5- Hansi Kürsch
4- Eddie Vedder
3- David Bowie
2- Andrea Bocelli
1- James LaBrie

[jingle.boy]

Something to consider with Freddie Mercury (and you could say something similar for The Beatles and Nirvanah, etc.) is that while he did have a fairly long career, we didn't get to hear what he sounded like at age 50+ doing the nostalgia circuit. He passed at age 45. Steve Perry was 47 when Trial By Fire was released. Not saying Freddie couldn't have held up longer (and I'm not really familiar with his later career material to know how his voice held up until then), but the lasting memory of him is his heyday, whereas at least some of the impression of Perry, or Tate, or JLB, or Phil Collins is how they sound now.

That's why I decided to emphasize peak in my rankings. Not everybody's careers follow the same path or timeline. For instance, Neal Morse didn't release his first album with Spock's until he was 35. IMO he had a really great voice while he was in Spock's and on those early Transatlantic albums. But by the time The Whirlwind came out he was 49 and it was starting to show a bit. I didn't want the fact that he's released a ton of music over the years where his voice maybe isn't too great to take away too much from how much I enjoyed him in the early days just in terms of my personal rankings.

Couple of really good points.  I guess my surprise with Morse was that I was kinda expecting 1/2 of this group to maybe put him in the 'teens' in their ranking.  Surely not a lot of Top 10s, but the shear quantity, and relatively good quality of his output is what had me thinking that way.

[TAC]

Had 10 singers that no one else had:

25. Herman Saming   
24. Peter Hammil   
23. Doris Brendel   
14. Kari Rueslåtten 
12. Dalbello   
11. Simon Åkesson 
10. Steve Broughton 
9. Sam Brown   
8. Krister Linder   
7. Marcela Bovio 

I don't even have some of those letters on my keyboard.

[King Postwhore]

Dalbello also sang one song on Alex Lifeson's solo album Victor.

[Adami]

Had 10 singers that no one else had:

25. Herman Saming   
24. Peter Hammil   
23. Doris Brendel   
14. Kari Rueslåtten 
12. Dalbello   
11. Simon Åkesson 
10. Steve Broughton 
9. Sam Brown   
8. Krister Linder   
7. Marcela Bovio 

Marcela is a good call. Sadly she hasn't done much of good quality other than the first SoP album and her Ayreon output, but she has a great voice.

[SwedishGoose]

Simon Åkesson of Moon Safari
Well no list of fantastic sigers can be complete without the brothers in Moon Safari. I choose Simon to represent them all.
Seen them live only once as support to Fish.... want to see them again

https://youtu.be/EuB48k2CVMY

I love Moon Safari! One issue though is I've never internalized which singers in the band go with which voice. They're all amazing though. Is Simon the one who also performs in the acapella group?

As I said he represented thm all for me but yes he is also part of Accent.

[HOF]

Simon Åkesson of Moon Safari
Well no list of fantastic sigers can be complete without the brothers in Moon Safari. I choose Simon to represent them all.
Seen them live only once as support to Fish.... want to see them again

https://youtu.be/EuB48k2CVMY

I love Moon Safari! One issue though is I've never internalized which singers in the band go with which voice. They're all amazing though. Is Simon the one who also performs in the acapella group?

As I said he represented thm all for me but yes he is also part of Accent.