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

[twosuitsluke]

I have no clue who Ann Wilson is. Is she some country singer who is only big in the US? 

Oh dear fucking lord.

You're saying that but that's literally how it is, at least here for me. Heart is basically an unknown band here. Deep Purple, sure, Queen, yeah, Iron Maiden, yes for sure, Heart? Probably 99% of people never heard of them.

I only know who Ann Wilson is because of DTF. I'm with Luke on this.

I know Heart but I don't think I frequent any of the threads where she may ever get talked about on DTF (if she even does get talked about much). I've certainly never heard her name, and the only Heart song I think I know is Barracuda 

I think it's way more shocking to think people on DTF don't know Einar, but that's just me probably.

[King Puppies and the Acid Guppies]

Daniel Gildenlow - Great to see him included here. I had him at #15. Massive range and has the ability to inject a ton of emotion into the lyrics. Some may call that being overly dramatic, those people don't know what they are talking about.

Ann Wilson - Made my shortlist at #67. Definitely deserving of being on the cumulative list though. Such a powerful voice!

[T-ski]

For my money Ann Wilson is the best female hard rock singer of all time, glad she made the list.

[Tomislav95]

Daniel is my #4. Remedy Lane and TPE are among my favorite albums ever and Daniel  was imo always good at writing melodies that fit him well (and vocal melodies in general). Power, range, versatility, it's all there.

Ann is definitely generational singer. I know of her, I know of Heart, but other than Alone I don't hear it anywhere ever. Not surprised some don't know her.

[twosuitsluke]

I really got into POS, back when In the Passing Light of Day came out, but no other album of theirs ever really struck a chord.

I like his voice, and understand why he made the list, but he seems a bit too full of himself for me to ever really love him.

[lonestar]

For my money Ann Wilson is the best female hard rock singer of all time, glad she made the list.

Yeah, she definitely needs to be in the discussion for sure. And her voice has aged so well, I was just watching video from Wacken last year, and she still fucking kills it at 72.

[cramx3]

Not a fan of PoS so Gildenlow never came to mind.  I did think he was pretty good as a vocalist and frontman when I did see PoS though.  I can understand his inclusion on this forum, but I'm not really much of a fan.

I'm a bit surprised about Ann Wilson.  I didn't know this forum really was into Heart, I really am not familiar with them much at all and the songs I know have never made me think "oh she's fantastic". I most likely just never gave her attention to really be familiar in the end. 

[jingle.boy]

Once I submitted my list, the one name I realized should have made my list but didn't was Ann.

Jesus!  How the hell did *you* forget her!?!?!   

For my money Ann Wilson is the best female hard rock singer of all time, glad she made the list.

Yeah, she definitely needs to be in the discussion for sure. And her voice has aged so well, I was just watching video from Wacken last year, and she still fucking kills it at 72.

Hell fucking yeah!

I'm a bit surprised about Ann Wilson.  I didn't know this forum really was into Heart, I really am not familiar with them much at all and the songs I know have never made me think "oh she's fantastic". I most likely just never gave her attention to really be familiar in the end. 

But this forum has a shit-ton of fogeys.  You don't have to be a massive heart fan (I'm not terribly deep on their discography myself) to get goosebumps virtually every time you hear her voice.  There's at least a dozen or so songs that are still on regular rotation on rock radio stations.

[Zoom E]

Ikm a Apin of Salvation fan, but I didn’t rank Daniel. He has a decent enough voice.

I had Ann Wilson at #23. Incredible voice.

[Cool Chris]

Once I submitted my list, the one name I realized should have made my list but didn't was Ann.

Jesus!  How the hell did *you* forget her!?!?!   

I know! When I was first noodling on this I thought about her as an obvious inclusion. Then when I sent my list I thought "Wait, I didn't see Ann's name on my spreadsheet..."

There was an urban legend at my high school that the band teacher played with the Wilsons early in their career but I couldn't substantiate it.

[Animal]

Never heard of Heart. Where I am from, this is not a well-known band. I have seen Ann's Wilson name quite a few times in vocalist discussions though so I am sure she must be a remarkable singer. I just don't know her stuff. But I'll definitely check her rendition if Stairway to Heaven.

Great to see I am not the only one to think so highly of Daniel to rank him number 1. Seems to be a similar case to Einar . relatively few people rank him, but those who do rank him very high. I understand that many can find him too dramatic - what I have a very hard time getting is the fact that he can be too dramatic for someone who likes DT and James Labrie. Really? Has there ever been a more dramatic singer than James? (To be clear, I love James almost as much as Daniel).

[bosk1]

Didn't pick either of these, but neither choice surprises me.  I remember checking out a lot of Gildenlow's stuff back during Transatlantic's Whirlwind album cycle, and was really impressed with his abilities.  Ultimately, he just isn't for me.  But I couldn't help but be impressed by his talent. 

Used to like Heart back in the early days, but lost my love and respect for them eventually.  I can understand why Ann is on a LOT of these kinds of lists, not only on DTF, but virtually every list of best rock singers out there.  That's why I think so many find it so surprising for some to say they never heard of her.  She is so ubiquitously heralded as a great rock singer everywhere, and has been for so many decades now.  Whatever country you are from, I can almost guarantee Heart charted VERY high there at some point.

[LithoJazzoSphere]

Both fantastic singers, easily top 100 candidates for me.  "Crazy On You" is one of those classic rock staples that doesn't get annoying even if it's overplayed.  They do Zeppelin and Zeppelin-esque better than Zeppelin.  And the marvelous acoustic intro is Ann's sister Nancy. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4AuucouCVBk

[jingle.boy]

Both fantastic singers, easily top 100 candidates for me.  "Crazy On You" is one of those classic rock staples that doesn't get annoying even if it's overplayed.  They do Zeppelin better than Zeppelin.  And the marvelous acoustic intro is Ann's sister Nancy. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4AuucouCVBk

[coz]

My running results:

6. Robert Plant
5. Chris Cornell
2. Layne Staley

And selections from my long list: Ann Wilson, Jon Anderson, Åkerfeldt, McCartney, Gabriel, Delp

[WardySI]

Been away a while and just catching up...

Finally have a run on the board had Cornell at #7.

Glad to see Ann make the list had her around my Top30 in retrospect maybe should've made my 25 sensational voice \m/

[wolfking]

Gildenlow just missed out, wonderful singer. 

Wilson and Heart never been my thing.

[The Realm]

0 from 2 today for me.

Daniel Gildenlow - big fan of Pain of Salvation but didn't consider Daniel as one of my favourite singers.

Ann Wilson - also never considered when putting together my list but not surprised to see her in the top 25.

[Revenge319]

I chickened out at the end and didn't come up with a list. But I'm having fun following this. 

Same here, kind of; I just couldn't think of enough singers to make a Top 25 list. I'm still enjoying watching how this is turning out!
There's a couple singers I'd love to see appear on this list, but I'm unsure if either of them will show up at this rate.

[nick_z]

Ann Wilson is phenomenal...so powerful and over the top without, well, sounding over-the-top 

She's amazing on the early Heart's classics, but also on some of the more "polished", big 80s hits...like "Wait for an Answer", for example:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XPvb6-klI_k

Or something lesser known, from Desire Walks On, "Black on Black II":
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e1CSb6lx4Ws

(I mean, the singing is almost "metal" here!)

Incidentally, both songs above were written by Lisa Dalbello, of Gonna Get Close to You fame...

I remember a few years ago randomly catching on cable a concert celebrating some Dreamboat Annie anniversary (It was a DVD, I think). I haven't watched it in a long time, but my memories are of a pretty stunning performance. Here seems to be the whole thing:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RItit4W7QRo&t=35s

The actual performance starts around 9:40 or so.

[Cool Chris]

Or something lesser known, from Desire Walks On, "Black on Black II":
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e1CSb6lx4Ws

Man I remember when that song came out, it was all over the radio here, and my brain couldn't wrap itself around the possibility this awesomeness was by the same band that released all those 80s pop songs, which is all I knew of them at the time.

[senecadawg2]

Daniel is my favorite. I can appreciate the reasons why some might not enjoy the style of his delivery or the way he writes his vocal melodies, but when it comes to the qualities that make a singer a singer—detached from style, to whatever extent that's possible—he's undeniable. His range, power, versatility are outstanding. I'm glad to see that he topped a few lists.

I don't know Heart well at all, but I do know the most famous of their songs. Hard to deny Ann Wilson's greatness.

[KevShmev]

Regarding tomorrow's featured singers, get ready for the metal...

[TAC]

 

Both made my list! 

[HOF]

Wasn’t expecting more metal!

[TAC]

Wasn’t expecting more metal!

Oh...expect it!!

[Lethean]

Wasn’t expecting more metal!

Oh...expect it!!

[Glasser]

I'm starting to think only 2 more from my list will rank. I only have Plant and Delp so far.

[wolfking]

Wasn’t expecting more metal!

Really?

[KevShmev]

Metal it is!

12 Floor Jansen

Appeared on 8 of 36 lists
Highest Finish: 2 (bosk1)
7 Top 10 Finishes

Great voice, great singer, but I couldn't rank her as I barely listen to anything she sings, just the Ayreon/Arjen albums in which she was one of many contributors.  I don't really like symphonic prog metal, so her normal bands do not interest me.  Again though, great singer for sure.


11 Rob Halford

Appeared on 13 of 36 lists
Highest Finish: 4 (DTwwbwMP)
6 Top 10 Finishes

I was hoping he would finish top 10, but he just missed out.  I ranked him 9th; I likely would have had him higher years ago.  Not that I think any lesser of him, but Priest is more of a once in a while band for me now rather than one I listen to regularly.  For my money, when it comes to metal singers, he is in my holy trilogy along with Geoff Tate and Devin Townsend (I don't really think of James LaBrie as a metal singer per se).

[lonestar]

Floor is amazing, had her ranked very high at #5.

While I love Halford and respect all he's done for metal, I just don't dig Preist that much.


23- Peter Gabriel
10- Brad Del
5- Floor Jansen
1- Jon Anderson

[TAC]

I'm not really familiar with Floor. I'm not into symphonic metal either. I'm sure she's an amazing singer though.


I had Rob Halford at #20.


I have a pic!


June 4, 1984
Providence Civic Center

[Evermind]

Two fantastic picks. Floor would've been probably in my Top 5, Rob I would've placed somewhere in the 20-25 range.

[jingle.boy]

Floor is amazing, had her ranked very high at #5.

While I love Halford and respect all he's done for metal, I just don't dig Preist that much.

Ditto... including the Floor ranking.  I'm not 'in' to JP enough to consider Halford one of my faves, but I understand him being here.  Impressive stat - she made 8 lists, and was top 10 in 7.

[SeRoX]

I love both singers but not my fav 20 but probably in 30 or 40.