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

[Cool Chris]

-Two different singers tied for being listed the most at number 1 (5 lists each).

I find that amazing. I wouldn't have thought no one would have received more than 2 or 3 first place votes.

[KevShmev]

Knopfler (overall) is always a tricky one for me, in that I have never really cared for Dire Straits, but his greatness as a guitarist is more than obvious.  The main theme song from The Princess Bride (which he wrote and played) is nothing short of drop dead gorgeous. 

[bosk1]

-Only four singers appeared on at least half of the 36 lists, and the high total was 26.

This REALLY surprises me.  I expected diversity.  But I could easily name around 10 or more that I would have thought would be common threads on most lists. 

[SeRoX]

I wonder if James LaBrie makes top 10. At least prime James.

[lonestar]

-Only four singers appeared on at least half of the 36 lists, and the high total was 26.

Off the top of my head, I'd say JLB and Freddie Mercury. It gets fuzzy after that

[DragonAttack]

I’m just hoping for no more spoilers until after #1 has been announced….

[KevShmev]

I’m just hoping for no more spoilers until after #1 has been announced….

No worries, I just wanted to throw out a few fun facts today, but mum's the word till it's over.  I will start it all tomorrow, with the intention to finish on Friday 12/09.

[The Realm]

I love Dire Straits and I love Knopfler but I didn't seriously consider him in my top 25.

Steve Wilson, same as above, love his music but he had no chance for me.

Meatloaf - well mixed feelings for me. I think he is great but if anyone saw him sing live at half time at the AFL (Australian Football League) Grand Final about 10 years ago is probably scarred for life as that vocal performance was beyond abysmal...

[HOF]

I did not rank SW, as I don’t really like his voice and I’m only moderately interested in his music. I did give some consideration to his frequent collaborator, Tim Bowness, who’s voice and music I find more compelling.

Meatloaf is not somebody I’ve ever willingly listened to, and I only know one Dire Straits album (Love Over Gold - at Dave Manchester’s urging, which is pretty great) aside from the radio hits.

I do have a few guys on my list who, like Knopfler, are better known for their guitar playing (and who’s voices are somewhat divisive), but who’s voices are also a big part  of the appeal for me.

[LithoJazzoSphere]

Mark Knopfler has worked with one of my 25 vocalists a number of times.  A much better vocalist than him in my opinion, but Mark's a better guitarist. 

Taylor Swift now has a better chance of making this than Steven Wilson, on a prog forum. Fucking love you DTF!

For the record, I'm not a fan of Taylor Swift but I love that people around here give zero fucks and unashamedly like what they like 

Yeah, I like a couple of songs, but otherwise don't particularly care about her, but I love that at least a portion of the prog community is past the "pop music sucks" elitist phase that had stuck to it for too long. 

[Glasser]

Mark Knopfler? Wow, nice. On another note, Lemmy is the best of all time so no one needed to include him on a list, its a given. But you all knew that already.

[LithoJazzoSphere]

I thought the given was that The King won, we're just finding out who is in his shadow. 

[KevShmev]

Taylor Swift now has a better chance of making this than Steven Wilson, on a prog forum. Fucking love you DTF!

For the record, I'm not a fan of Taylor Swift but I love that people around here give zero fucks and unashamedly like what they like 

Yeah, I like a couple of songs, but otherwise don't particularly care about her, but I love that at least a portion of the prog community is past the "pop music sucks" elitist phase that had stuck to it for too long.

I have never been shy about expressing what I like and don't like, and I have long been a sucker for a good pop song, but ultimately if it is good (to me), I will like it.  And I don't really consider Swift to be "pop music" in the narrow way is often expressed.  I have her classified in my iTunes (where we can label artists by genre) as "singer/songwriter" (same as Springsteen) as she does enough variety that I don't think she can be pigeon-holed into one genre, but that's neither here nor there. 

[LithoJazzoSphere]

Yeah, technically neither "pop" nor "singer-songwriter" are really genres (I mean, Death is technically singer-songwriter, Chuck sang the songs and also wrote them), it's more just the ability to embrace that it's ok to write songs with hooks that are catchy.  Not everything has to always be abstract, cerebral, dissonant, and challenging.  There's a place for both, sometimes in the same song at times. 

[KevShmev]

Yeah, technically neither "pop" nor "singer-songwriter" are really genres (I mean, Death is technically singer-songwriter, Chuck sang the songs and also wrote them), it's more just the ability to embrace that it's ok to write songs with hooks that are catchy.  Not everything has to always be abstract, cerebral, dissonant, and challenging.  There's a place for both, sometimes in the same song at times.

For sure.

I always say, if it was that easy to write hooks that the masses love, 95% of the artists/bands in the world would do it.  Even though they largely stay in a realm that is outside of my musical world, Max Martin and Shellback are geniuses, as they have the knack to take a song someone else has written and tweak and produce it to where it becomes insanely catchy and a massive hit.   That takes major talent to pull that off successfully. 

[Dave_Manchester]

I only know one Dire Straits album (Love Over Gold - at Dave Manchester’s urging, which is pretty great) aside from the radio hits.

Glad you liked it! Knopfler has been my musical idol since I was a teenager. My favourite guitarist, singer and song-writer. Vocally I love how he brings the stories of his songs to life. A song like Skateaway, for example, the joy of the 'narrator' at something so simple as seeing a pretty girl in rollerskates (it was the 80s) is so, I dunno, 'authentic' somehow, like he's living it in the moment. He has a story-teller's voice. Knopfler always tried to weave his own working class geography into his songs and it all just speaks to me so deeply. Since he apparently isn't gonna appear on the final list, I just wanted to pay him this 'lil tribute.

[jingle.boy]

I wonder how many time I'll when I realize I forgot someone.

I'm not worried about that happening for me.

There were only a couple of guys I wished I could've gotten on my list.

I’m still trying to get past Debbie Harry not making your list.

[TAC]

I wonder how many time I'll when I realize I forgot someone.

I'm not worried about that happening for me.

There were only a couple of guys I wished I could've gotten on my list.

I’m still trying to get past Debbie Harry not making your list.

Hah! I never even considered her. I think I ended up nominating only like 28 to make a 25 man list.

[LithoJazzoSphere]

I like this version of Debbie, when she was working with H.R. Giger.

[Dave_Manchester]

Her version of Rainbow Connection with Kermit the Frog is a real tear-jerker:

https://youtube.com/watch?v=h0Hd3uWKFKY

[TAC]

Her version of Rainbow Connection with Kermit the Frog is a real tear-jerker:

https://youtube.com/watch?v=h0Hd3uWKFKY

 

[lonestar]

Her version of Rainbow Connection with Kermit the Frog is a real tear-jerker:

https://youtube.com/watch?v=h0Hd3uWKFKY

Don't even need to wonder why she was my first real crush...

[Glasser]

I thought the given was that The King won, we're just finding out who is in his shadow.

[Tomislav95]

I only know one Dire Straits album (Love Over Gold - at Dave Manchester’s urging, which is pretty great) aside from the radio hits.

Glad you liked it! Knopfler has been my musical idol since I was a teenager. My favourite guitarist, singer and song-writer. Vocally I love how he brings the stories of his songs to life. A song like Skateaway, for example, the joy of the 'narrator' at something so simple as seeing a pretty girl in rollerskates (it was the 80s) is so, I dunno, 'authentic' somehow, like he's living it in the moment. He has a story-teller's voice. Knopfler always tried to weave his own working class geography into his songs and it all just speaks to me so deeply. Since he apparently isn't gonna appear on the final list, I just wanted to pay him this 'lil tribute.

I think you're the first who is even more fascinated by him here than I am glad to see it

[SwedishGoose]

I only know one Dire Straits album (Love Over Gold - at Dave Manchester’s urging, which is pretty great) aside from the radio hits.

Glad you liked it! Knopfler has been my musical idol since I was a teenager. My favourite guitarist, singer and song-writer. Vocally I love how he brings the stories of his songs to life. A song like Skateaway, for example, the joy of the 'narrator' at something so simple as seeing a pretty girl in rollerskates (it was the 80s) is so, I dunno, 'authentic' somehow, like he's living it in the moment. He has a story-teller's voice. Knopfler always tried to weave his own working class geography into his songs and it all just speaks to me so deeply. Since he apparently isn't gonna appear on the final list, I just wanted to pay him this 'lil tribute.

I think you're the first who is even more fascinated by him here than I am glad to see it

Knopfler did not make my list despite me loving him and despite Dire Straits beeing one of the first major bands I saw live.
I love his voice and I think he uses it really well but I would not call him a great singer. A great singer-songwriter yes,but not a great singer.

[KevShmev]

And away we go!!!


25 Mikael Akerfeldt

Appeared on 8 of 36 lists
Highest Finish: 2 (Tomislav95, LithoJazzoSphere)
3 Top 10 Finishes

I'm a fan, but he went unranked for me.  He strikes me as being similar to his pal Steven Wilson in that his singing is nothing special, with it being perfect for the music he writes, but I suspect he got much more support due to his growling from the past.


24 Peter Gabriel

Appeared on 7 of 36 lists
Highest Finish: 2 (Metropolaris)
4 Top 10 Finishes

Huge fan here. I ranked him 7th.  He was a little raw in the Genesis days, but there was still a charm to his singing, and it got even better once he went the solo route.  There is a roughness to his unique voice that is so darn appealing.

[ReaperKK]

I really like Mikael, I'm happy he made the list. The dudes growls are impeccable and his clean voice really adds to the atmosphere of Opeth.

I would've never thought of Peter Gabriel, I just don't know his music enough to form an opinion either way.

[jingle.boy]

Well, everyone knows where I stand on growls, so no surprise the Akerfeldt never even got a sniff of consideration.  While I enjoy everything from PG, I'm not sure he'd crack my Top 50 as a "favorite".

Kev... I'm not sure if you've normally done this since I didn't participate in your other countdowns, but when all is said and done, are you going to share the list of the 300+ that didn't make it, with any accompanying stats?

[ReaperKK]

Jingle just curious what do you think of Mikael's clean singing voice?

[SwedishGoose]

Funny enough.... I have them just like that only a bit higher.

25.
24.
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17. Mikael Åkerfeldt   
16. Peter Gabriel   
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Bought Morningrise on a whim because I liked the cover and the song titles and a sticker said for those who like Dream Theater.
Loved his clean voice from the get go... got to love his growls after getting used.
Seen Opeth 7 times now.

Peter Gabriel..... one of my favorite song writers but not as high in the voice department.
Never got to see him live with Genesis but 3 times so far solo and a forth booked for next year.
His Secret World tour still holds my number one favorite concert spots.

[Adami]

Neither on my list. Fun start though and not surprising at all.

[lonestar]

Had one... Never was a huge Opeth fan, so he obviously didn't make my list.


23- Gabriel

[Metro]

Opeth is a band I can only listen to in small doses. Having said that I think MÅ has a great voice. He did not make my top 25 though.

Peter Gabriel is among my favorites primarily due to the 4 classic lineup-era Genesis albums, which are among my favorite albums ever. I’ll admit I’ve only dipped my toe into his solo work, but his time with Genesis was something magical.

25.
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16.   
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2. Peter Gabriel
1.

[jingle.boy]

Jingle just curious what do you think of Mikael's clean singing voice?

Hard to have much of an opinion, as I just never tried Opeth much.  There's one album I think that is mostly/all cleans??  If so, I did give that one a try, and was mostly underwhelmed.

[Lethean]

Neither made my list.  I never liked Mikael's harsh vocals and his cleans are fine, but nothing really special (for me).

I like Peter Gabriel's voice on the solo stuff I've heard, which isn't all that much.