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

[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 

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.

I like the complete SoP discography, her solo albums and White HorseDark Horse as well

[KevShmev]

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.

The bridge in Day 13 on The Human Equation is one of my favorite singing moments ever, but I don't know much by Marcela outside of her work with Arjen (and I have zero interest in symphonic metal).

[SwedishGoose]

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.

The bridge in Day 13 on The Human Equation is one of my favorite singing moments ever, but I don't know much by Marcela outside of her work with Arjen (and I have zero interest in symphonic metal).

You could try her solo albums.... those are as far from symphoic metal you can get

https://open.spotify.com/album/4otoDB5YTbs8UimKjrJ8z0?si=1vQ8yCvPTKa-Yf3TDt2FrQ&utm_source=copy-link

[KevShmev]

I don't do Spotify, but I will look into her solo albums later when I am home.

[lonestar]

Cool idea...singers that no one else had...



25- Angelina 1/3- Gacharic Spin

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QmL0V667QzI

22- Maggy Lutyen - Beautiful Sin, Arjen projects, Beyond the Bridge, Nightmare (shame on you Chad for not listing her)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IrbueJOXvms

19- Spencer Sotelo- Periphery

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=99ovz6N6tJI

18- Saiki- BAND-MAID

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QbyQCJn6rYg

16- Kala Rose- Saving Escape (funny thing, I meant to put Kayle Reeves, who sings with TSO..Kala is the young lady that did the Pull Me Under cover at 10 years old, she's actually grown into one hell of a singer)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ipsf4Xgy-pM

13- Ray Davies- The Kinks (realized I put brother Dave, as I said, I did this list really quickly lol)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gSItDuo8Wss

12- Riley McShane- Allegaeon

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PFNGAcYibSI

9- Ashe O'hara- TesseracT, Voices from the Fuselage

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O-hnSlicxV4

8- Mayu- Nemophila

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=19VQ9tkWksQ

[Dream Team]

Mine, with the bolded ones that made the cut:

25 Jim Morrison
24 Whitney Houston
23 David Coverdale
22 Robert Plant
21 Sebastian Bach
20 Barry Manilow
19 Pat Benatar
18 Michael Jackson
17 Klaus Meine
16 David Lee Roth
15 James Hetfield
14 John Lennon
13 Geoff Tate
12 James LaBrie
11 Deborah Harry
10 Frank Sinatra
  9 Ronnie James Dio
  8 George Michael
  7 Paul McCartney
  6 Bruce Dickinson
  5 Rob Halford
  4 Russell Allen
  3 Barbra Streisand
  2 Elvis Presley
  1 Ann Wilson

I had about 4 I was debating for #1 but I decided on Ann - flawless technical ability, power, range, and sings everything with emotion and passion. The kicker is she always delivers live as well even up to today. Great job Kev as usual.

[DTwwbwMP]

MY top 25
25 Ross Jennings
24 Matt Bellamy
23 Pat Benatar
22 Frank Dimino
21 Greg Lake
20 Jackson Browne
19 Lizzy Hale
18 Steven Tyler Geoff Tate
17 Myles Kennedy
16 Ronnie James Dio
15 Lou Gramm
14 Midge Ure
13 Robert Plant
12 Gary Cherone
11 Bruce Dickenson
10 Paul Rodgers
  9 Steve Walsh
  8 Dennis DeYoung
  7 Paul McCartney
  6 Elton John
  5 Roger Daltrey
  4 Rob Halford
  3 Brad Delp
  2 Ann Wilson
  1 Freddie Mercury 

[DTwwbwMP]

Love the band, but JLB didn't sniff my list

[lonestar]

MY top 25
25 Ross Jennings
24 Matt Bellamy
23 Pat Benatar
22 Frank Dimino
21 Greg Lake
20 Jackson Browne
19 Lizzy Hale
18 Steven Tyler Geoff Tate
17 Myles Kennedy
16 Ronnie James Dio
15 Lou Gramm
14 Midge Ure
13 Robert Plant
12 Gary Cherone
11 Bruce Dickenson
10 Paul Rodgers
  9 Steve Walsh
  8 Dennis DeYoung
  7 Paul McCartney
  6 Elton John
  5 Roger Daltrey
  4 Rob Halford
  3 Brad Delp
  2 Ann Wilson
  1 Freddie Mercury 

Ahh, there's the other Ross Jennings vote.

[SwedishGoose]

22- Maggy Lutyen - Beautiful Sin, Arjen projects, Beyond the Bridge, Nightmare (shame on you Chad for not listing her)

Oh.... Maggie. I love her on the Ayreon projects..... should ivestigate other releases

[jingle.boy]

Not surprising that I'm the only one that rated Johnny Gioelli, David Benoit (Mystery), and Colm Wilkinson.  Looks like someone other than Chef and I rated Rik Emmett.  And a couple others had Michael Eriksen (Circus Maximus) and Mac 

Looking at those that just *missed* the cut, I had 5 or the first 8.  Fascinating that Gilmour/Waters were side-by-side in their final rankings.  Fascinating how low Lande ranked (Tim's not surprised).

Also, I have to correct myself, I actually had 10 on my list.

1. Russell Allen
2. Damian Wilson
3. Ted Leonard
4. James Labrie
5. Floor Jansen
6. Michael Eriksen
7. Rik Emmett
8. Johnny Gioelli
9. Tommy Karevik
10. Roy Khan
11. Freddie Mercury
12. Robert Plant
13. Tom Englund
14. Geoff Tate
15. Neal Morse
16. Ann Wilson
17. David Benoit
18. Sebastian Bach
19. Steve Perry
20. Dennis DeYoung
21. Dio
22. David Gilmour
23. Colm Wilkinson
24. Bruce Dickinson
25. Andrew McDermott

Goose... If you love Maggi in Ayreson, definitely check out Beautiful Sin.  And if you like the sound of her voice, check out Ethernity.  I coulda swore it was her singing the first time I heard them

Cheffy.... I do feel a little shame.  She finished in the 30s for me.  Sorry - I just don't like her work in Nightmare.

[lonestar]

Whatever....

[King Puppies and the Acid Guppies]

Not surprising that I'm the only one that rated Johnny Gioelli, David Benoit (Mystery), and Colm Wilkinson.  Looks like someone other than Chef and I rated Rik Emmett.  And a couple others had Michael Eriksen (Circus Maximus) and Mac 

Looking at those that just *missed* the cut, I had 5 or the first 8.  Fascinating that Gilmour/Waters were side-by-side in their final rankings.  Fascinating how low Lande ranked (Tim's not surprised).

Also, I have to correct myself, I actually had 10 on my list.

1. Russell Allen
2. Damian Wilson
3. Ted Leonard
4. James Labrie
5. Floor Jansen
6. Michael Eriksen
7. Rik Emmett
8. Johnny Gioelli
9. Tommy Karevik
10. Roy Khan
11. Freddie Mercury
12. Robert Plant
13. Tom Englund
14. Geoff Tate
15. Neal Morse
16. Ann Wilson
17. David Benoit
18. Sebastian Bach
19. Steve Perry
20. Dennis DeYoung
21. Dio
22. David Gilmour
23. Colm Wilkinson
24. Bruce Dickinson
25. Andrew McDermott

Goose... If you love Maggi in Ayreson, definitely check out Beautiful Sin.  And if you like the sound of her voice, check out Ethernity.  I coulda swore it was her singing the first time I heard them

Cheffy.... I do feel a little shame.  She finished in the 30s for me.  Sorry - I just don't like her work in Nightmare.

I also had Michael Eriksen on my list and Rik Emmit jus missed. I'll post my full list when I get home.

[pg1067]

02 James LaBrie

...

01 Freddie Mercury

Say what you want about James Labrie's recent live struggles, his performance on 14 DT studio albums over the past 30+ years is unparalleled.  I had him at #6.

Sadly, Mercury was the guy I completely botched and forgot to include in my rankings.  I realized within hours after submitting my list.  Looking at my list, I'm guessing he'd have ended up in the high teens.  His abilities are second to none, but I'm just not a huge fan of Queen, so he likely wouldn't crack the top 10 of my FAVORITES.  A very worthy #1, though.

My complete list:

25. Ian Gillan
24. Gwen Stefani
23. David Coverdale
22. James Hetfield
21. Steve Perry
20. Tommy Shaw
19. Klaus Meine
18. Amy Lee
17. Joey Belladonna
16. Robert Plant
15. Brad Delp
14. Phil Mogg
13. Geddy Lee
12. Pat Benatar
11. Ann Wilson
10. Michael Kiske
9. Steve Walsh
8. Rob Halford
7. Geoff Tate
6. James LaBrie
5. Ronnie James Dio
4. Bruce Dickinson
3. Rik Emmett
2. Jon Anderson
1. Ray Alder

Seriously bummed that Rik Emmett and Phil Mogg didn't crack the consensus top 25.  Phil at #55 is an insult (looks like Tim and I accounted for 35 or his 54 points), while Rik at #69 (with more than half of his points coming from me)?  Triumph is just criminally underrated.  Also a little surprised that James Hetfield didn't crack the top 25 and downright shocked that George Harrison garnered only 1 point.

[Stadler]

Mine, with the bolded ones that made the cut:

25 Jim Morrison
24 Whitney Houston
23 David Coverdale
22 Robert Plant
21 Sebastian Bach
20 Barry Manilow
19 Pat Benatar
18 Michael Jackson
17 Klaus Meine
16 David Lee Roth
15 James Hetfield
14 John Lennon
13 Geoff Tate
12 James LaBrie
11 Deborah Harry
10 Frank Sinatra
  9 Ronnie James Dio
  8 George Michael
  7 Paul McCartney
  6 Bruce Dickinson
  5 Rob Halford
  4 Russell Allen
  3 Barbra Streisand
  2 Elvis Presley
  1 Ann Wilson

I had about 4 I was debating for #1 but I decided on Ann - flawless technical ability, power, range, and sings everything with emotion and passion. The kicker is she always delivers live as well even up to today. Great job Kev as usual.

We didn't have a ton of overlap, and for every real hit (Ann, Elvis) there's a miss (Russell) but overall that's a really solid list, right there.   Hard to argue with Frank, Klaus, Debbie, Pat...

I don't get any personal satisfaction from other people's lists, but if I did, it would be at the frequency that David Coverdale is showing up.  Mock his Whitesnake nonsense all you want, but his voice on the Starkers In Tokyo set (and the later acoustic set with Doug Aldrich) is enough alone to get him on the list.   Find "Don't Fade Away" from that performance; it's amazing. 

EDIT:  Here's the audio.  There's video too, but I didn't see it outside of the complete show.

[TAC]

Pleasantly surprised to see Klause Meine show up on a few lists.

[Glasser]

Top 2? Milli and Vanilli, respectively.

 

[Glasser]

Huge thanks to kev for doing this!!!! And a personal thanks from........

[Glasser]

Here's my list. As I said, I can do a separate list for metal singers but a few are here.

25) Bruce Dickinson.
24) Rob Halford.
23) Paul Shortino.
22) Robert Plant.
21) Timothy Schmit.
20) Steve Lukather.
19) Kerry Livgren.
18) David Coverdale.
17) Todd Rundgren.
16) KD Lang.
15) Amy Winehouse.
14) Gerry Rafferty.
13) Brad Delp.
12) Barbara Streisand.
11) Don Henley.
10) Daryl Hall.
9) John Lennon.
8) David Pack.
7) Michael McDonald.
6) Stevie Wonder.
5) Phil Lynott.
4) Steve Perry.
3) Stevie Nicks.
2) Lou Gramm.
1) Paul Stanley.

[Stadler]

Good call with Darryl Hall; he should've been on my list too. Another miss.

Have I ever heard Steve Lukather sing?

[wolfking]

My list;

25. Tony Martin
24. Eddie Vedder
23. Tobias Sammet
22. Timo Kotipelto
21. Russel Allen
20. Maynard James Keenan
19. Lord Tim
18. Jorn Lande
17. Jeff Martin
16. Christian Alvestam
15. Ray Alder
14. Gary Moore
13. Jon Oliva
12. Matt Heafy
11. Geoff Tate
10. Michael Kiske
9. Ronnie James Dio
8. King Diamond
7. Bjorn Strid
6. Andi Deris
5. Rob Halford
4. Tom Englund
3. Blackie Lawless
2. James Labrie
1. Bruce Dickinson

[Animal]

Pleasantly surprised to see Klause Meine show up on a few lists.

  Forgot about him completely, otherwise, he would have been on mine too. Love his vocals, despite not being much of a Scorpions fan.

[Samsara]

My list:

25. Darius Rucker
24. Jesse Hasek
23. Matt Barlow
22. John Bush
21. Gary Cherone
20. Warrel Dane
19. Sebastian Bach
18. Robert Plant
17. James Michael
16. Brittney Slayes
15. Billy Joel
14. Russell Allen
13. Ann Wilson
12. Bruce Dickinson
11. Layne Staley
10. Ronnie James Dio
9. Ray Alder
8. Chris Cornell
7. Michael Kiske
6. Freddie Mercury
5. Glenn Hughes
4. Corey Glover
3. Myles Kennedy
2. Steve Perry
1. Geoff Tate

[HOF]

My list:

25. Darius Rucker
24. Jesse Hasek
23. Matt Barlow
22. John Bush
21. Gary Cherone
20. Warrel Dane
19. Sebastian Bach
18. Robert Plant
17. James Michael
16. Brittney Slayes
15. Billy Joel
14. Russell Allen
13. Ann Wilson
12. Bruce Dickinson
11. Layne Staley
10. Ronnie James Dio
9. Ray Alder
8. Chris Cornell
7. Michael Kiske
6. Freddie Mercury
5. Glenn Hughes
4. Corey Glover
3. Myles Kennedy
2. Steve Perry
1. Geoff Tate

Darius Rucker has a great voice!

[King Postwhore]

Good call with Darryl Hall; he should've been on my list too. Another miss.

Have I ever heard Steve Lukather sing?

I'll Be Over You.
I Will Remember
How Many Times
Georgy Porgy
99
I Won't You Back


Also the verses in Rosanna.

[bosk1]

Pleasantly surprised to see Klause Meine show up on a few lists.

I couldn't leave him off of mine.  That guy was SUCH a beast on vocals for so long.  Incredible range and power.  And for the longest time, we could absolutely replicate it live as well. 

[KevShmev]

Love the band, but JLB didn't sniff my list

Sounds like you need to see your ear, nose and throat doctor.

[Animal]

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.

I would argue that Arjen's guitar playing and Neal's singing falls into good-but-not-great category. So I don't think he is penalized. There are other jacks of all trades in the Top 25 - Devin, Daniel, Einar, Geddy and, to some extent, Freddie - these would be recognized standout vocalists - regardless of whether their vocals are to one's taste - even if they never wrote a song or played any instrument.

Anyway, thanks for the great job with this countdown. This one has been most fun so far - but I can't really imagine what a chore it must have been to enter all 300-400 different singers....

[Zoom E]

My list

25. Shirley Manson
24. Glenn Hughes
23. Ann Wilson
22. Chris Cornell
21. Rob Halford
20. Matt Bellamy
19. Phil Lynott
18. Jeff Buckley
17. Mark Lanegan
16. Damien Wilson
15. Bob Catley
14. Bruce Dickinson
13. James Labrie
12. Robert Plant
11. Phil Mogg
10. Bono
9. Mike Patton
8. Tarja Turnanen
7. Tony Martin 
6. Freddie Mercury
5. Ronnie James Dio
4. Michael Kiske
3. Sean Harris
2. Klaus Meine
1. Geoff Tate

[TAC]

Mogg/Lynott/Kiske!!!!

[LithoJazzoSphere]

@KevSchmev, I think you mixed up my #3 & #4 and gave them the last name of #3. 

I tried to like JLB for a long time.  He's best on Awake, and then on Elements of Persuasion and some of his work with Ayreon.  Lots of talent, but just not a vocal timbre that generally appeals to me. 

Mercury is amazing, and on my honorable mentions list. 

I want to post more extensive writeups for each later, but I don't have time to fix all the formatting right now, so here's the basic list, and a sample writeup for my top favorite singer, since she's only on my list, but won me a roulette round. 

25:  Cammie Gilbert (Oceans of Slumber)
24:  Susan Tedeschi (Tedeschi Trucks Band)
23:  Jorn Lande (Ark)
22:  Jonas Renkse (Katatonia)
21:  Anneke van Giersbergen (The Gathering)
20:  Ruth Moody (The Wailin' Jennys)
19:  Lajon Witherspoon (Sevendust)
18:  Steve Shannon (Idle Cure)
17:  Sheila Chandra (Monsoon)
16:  Matt Barlow (Iced Earth)
15:  Tomi Joutsen (Amorphis)
14:  Heike Langhans (Draconian)
13:  Nienke de Jong (Autumn)
12:  Fiora
11:  Daniel Tompkins (TesseracT)
10:  Julianne Regan (All About Eve)
9:  Sara Gazarek
8:  Chelsea Wolfe
7:  Tinna Karlsdotter (All Ends)
6:  Christian Alvestam (Scar Symmetry)
5:  Dan Swano (Nightingale)
4:  Aleksandra Djelmas (Destiny Potato)
3:  Judith Rijnveld (Kingfisher Sky)
2:  Mikael Akerfeldt (Opeth)
1:  Marjan Welman (Autumn)

Honorable mentions - Aleksandra Radosavljevic, Beth Hart, Bob Carlisle, Brooke Fraser, Charlotte Wessels, Damian Wilson, Dave Gahan, Devin Townsend, Emma Ruth Rundle, Floor Jansen, Francesa Battistelli, Freddie Mercury, Heather Findlay, Johanna DePierre, Kate Havnevik, Katharine McPhee, Klaus Meine, Manda Ophuis, Marissa Nadler, Peter Steele, Rick Florian, Russell Allen, Sade, Sarah McLachlan, Speed Strid, Warrel Dane

1:  Marjan Welman

Bands - Autumn, Vetrar Draugurinn, Demiurg, others
Guest appearances - Ayreon, Demons & Wizards, Blind Guardian, others
From - the Netherlands
Other song highlights - Autumn "Liquid Under Film Noir", Vetrar Draugurinn "Reynisfjara", Demiurg "Cold Skin"

The only band to have two separate vocalists on my list, both were perfect for their eras.  Marjan has one of the most pure and elegant voices I've ever heard.  There isn't a particular trick or gimmick that she relies on, her voice just sounds perfect and effortless over anything she sings over, whether it's proggy atmospheric rock, doom metal, backing up power metal legends, or somehow not sounding out of place on a Swedish death metal album.  Her voice is just that versatile, like a super-Anneke, who she was inspired by, and missed touring with by two years. 

Listening:

Autumn - "Phantom Limb"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zAI0GOJ9-QY

In Action:

Autumn - "The Heart Demands"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UBTI2reG3wM

Bonus cuts:

Her rendition with Arjen Anthony Lucassen of the iconic "Valley of the Queens" from Ayreon. 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KrrUgPqOLvc

Marjan's rawer live version of a Nienke-Autumn era classic shortly after joining the band. 

Autumn - "Satellites"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nBnIS1TjuJ4

Even better live a dozen years later in her other main band. 

Vetrar Draugurinn - "The Observer"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oPHudZibgGU

[lonestar]

Good call on Cammie, she's awesome.

[Adami]

Nice to see a few shout outs for Matt Barlow.

Dude just has an insane voice. Wish he picked better bands haha.

[twosuitsluke]

My list;

25. Tony Martin
24. Eddie Vedder
23. Tobias Sammet
22. Timo Kotipelto
21. Russel Allen
20. Maynard James Keenan
19. Lord Tim
18. Jorn Lande
17. Jeff Martin
16. Christian Alvestam
15. Ray Alder
14. Gary Moore
13. Jon Oliva
12. Matt Heafy
11. Geoff Tate
10. Michael Kiske
9. Ronnie James Dio
8. King Diamond
7. Bjorn Strid
6. Andi Deris
5. Rob Halford
4. Tom Englund
3. Blackie Lawless
2. James Labrie
1. Bruce Dickinson

Also had Matt Heafy, and should've guessed it was you who had King Diamond!

Good call on Cammie, she's awesome.

She really is

[HOF]

These were the other singers I put down on my “long list” for consideration but who didn’t make my top 25 list. Not necessarily in order, but Vedder and Pinnick were in and out of my early drafts.

- Eddie Vedder
- Doug Pinnick
- Hannah Stobart
- Kate Bush
- Anthonie Tonnon
- Bono
- Robin Wilson
- Gary Cherone
- Sammy Hagar
- Steve Winwood
- Jon Anderson
- Fish
- Gotye
- Kevin Gilbert
- Natalie Merchant
- Tim Bowness
- Michael Stipe
- Sebastian Bach
- Chris Cornell
- Richie Kotzen
- Don Dokken
- Bruce Hornsby
- John Wetton
- Dave Matthews
- Andy Partridge
- Darius Rucker
- Paula Cole
- Oleta Adams