The most distinctive vocalists in Rock?

Liz Fraser from The Cocteau Twins.

What about Roy Orbison? Can't believe no one has mentioned him yet!

Peter Garrett of Midnight Oil, an example of his dancing i will now present:

what could be more distinctive than a 6 foot tall bald guy dancing with a flare in his mouth! and his singing was awesome too, very unique

Distinctive/like:

Simon LeBon
Meat Loaf
Roy Orbison
Phil Collins
John Fogerty
Brian Wilson
Marie Fredriksson (Roxette)
Robert Palmer
Natalie Maines (Dixie Chicks)
Bob Seger

Distinctive/tolerate:

Cher
Tina Turner
Toni Childs

Distinctive/can't stand:

James Blunt

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AND... I can't be bothered thinking anymore, so that'll do.

...Fizzy.

Distinctive?

Bob Geldof (its the accent, surely)
Tim Finn
Phil Judd
Jimmy Barnes
Janis Joplin
Mark Knopfler
Boy George (I didn't say I liked them all)

and my fav

Tim Freedman

Distinctive vocals...
Well this might show my age but I've got to add:
Ritchie Neville
Scott Robinson
& Richard Breen to the list. All were in a Rap/Rock/Pop group called 5ive a few years ago and all three have distinctive voices.
Then there's {as if these haven't been mentioned before}
Neil Finn
Paul Hester
NOEL CROMBIE
Phil Judd
Tim Finn {I can hear THROUGH THE YEARS on Foxtel music channels right at this instant so I had to mention this one! }

I wouldn't say Neil Finn is a distinctive vocalist. How many people have compared him with Glen Tilbrook?

Well actually we did in another thread. I'm just checking if anyone's paying attention.

Can't be bothered trawling through six pages of posts, so here are some off the top of my head (apologies if already mentioned):

Tom Waits
Robert Smith (from The Cure)
Gary Numan
David Bowie
Robin Gibb
Fred Schneider (from the B52's)

I do hear a similarity between Kate Bush and Tori Amos, but Tori Amos blows Kate Bush's piano playing away.

Tiny Tim

We also discussed 'Finn and Tilbrook' in the "What Are You Listening To Now?" thread. I guess that means that even us fans have to concede the similarity!

quote:

Originally posted by Dazz:
We also discussed 'Finn and Tilbrook' in the "What Are You Listening To Now?" thread. I guess that means that even us fans have to concede the similarity!

Yeah, but Tilbrook's voice is more "mickey mouse", more cartoonish. Neil's is like no other's really. Tilbrook's voice does not make me feel the way Neil's does at all. Neil's is so soothing, and that's just one adjective out of many.

Has anyone mentioned Morrissey? Love or hate The Smiths, the guy has a distinctive voice, that's for sure.

I also think Don Henley has a very distinctive voice... I know it the instant I hear it.

quote:

Originally posted by NFADDICT:
Distinctive vocals...
Well this might show my age but I've got to add:
Ritchie Neville
Scott Robinson
& Richard Breen to the list. All were in a Rap/Rock/Pop group called 5ive a few years ago and all three have distinctive voices.

Haha, I was a huge Five fan back in the day! Though with hindsight I wouldn't say Rich had a distinctive voice (could agree with the other two though)...

Back to distinctive ...
Macy Gray and Shakira are both pretty unmistakable ... has anyone mentioned Bjork? Kirsten Morelle from Goldenhorse has a unique voice as well...

Anyone mentioned Jon Anderson yet? If they have, excuse the fact that I was too lazy to plough through the last 5 pages.

Ringo Starr

Sinead O'Connor mentioned earlier
Annie Lennox
Jim Morrison
Bernard Fanning (Powderfinger)
Shane MacGowan (The Pogues)
Steve Kilbey (The Church)
Roger McGuinn (The Byrds)

hmmmm yep. okay edited ROCK only.

Bon Scott

Elvis Costello
Tom Waits
Antony (from Antony & the Johnsons)
Annie Lennox
David Bowie
Jarvis Cocker

Simon LeBon
STEVE PERRY (Come on, people may not understand a word he is singing, but you KNOW it's him)
Imogen Heap!!!
Morrissey.
Antony (check out the Leonard Cohen I'm Your Man film-wow!!!)

and Neil Finn, too. Though I can't help but see the similarity between him and Glenn Tilbrook after listening to Fame Is.... but I agree with Half-Full's post a loooooong time ago-Glenn's voice doesn't make me feel like Neil's does!

Feargal Sharkey

(after playing his record for the first time in years yesteday)

quote:

Tiny Tim

true! I love Livin' In The Sunlight, Lovin' In The Moonlight, best song evarrr!
at the moment all I can think of is
Billy Thorpe
David Byrne

A couple more,

Greg Lake
John Wetton
Roger Chapman
Ray Davies

quote:

Originally posted by Bogue:
Feargal Sharkey

(after playing his record for the first time in years yesteday)

Oh goodness yes (flashback, flashback). No mistaking him, good call.

quote:

Originally posted by Greatfox:

quote:

Tiny Tim

true! I love Livin' In The Sunlight, Lovin' In The Moonlight, best song evarrr!
at the moment all I can think of is
Billy Thorpe
David Byrne

Anyone else think Italian Plastic was channeling a bit of David Byrne-dom?

I admit to skipping the previous 5-6 pages (I skimmed). My 2 cents...

Bono
Elvis Costello
Eddie Vedder
Sting
Neil Young
Rod Stewart
Peter Garrett
Chris Cornell
Stevie Nicks
Jack White
Roger Daltry
Tom Petty
Mick Jagger
Anthony Keidis
Freddie Mercury (R.I.P.)
Michael Stipe
Ray Davies
John Lennon
Peter Gabriel
Jim Morrison
Bruuuuuuuuuce
Chris Robinson

I skipped the previous pages & will not repeat what's already been said on this page (Lila64 took half my answers!)...

Jeff Buckley
Rhett Miller
Elizabeth Fraser
Elvis
Morrissey
Bjork
Rufus Wainwright
Tom Waits
Liam Gallagher
Grant Lee Phillips
Stephen Merritt
Stuart Staples
Jarvis Cocker
Brian Molko
Neil Finn
Prince

distinct before their clones:
Thom Yorke
Dave Matthews

not really rock:
Beth Gibbons
Tracey Thorn
Joanna Newsom

http://myspace.com/vivycakes

I've just done a Ctrl-F search through all 7 pages, and no-one has mentioned Roger Hodgson! Unmistakable voice, it's like Jon Anderson except less girly...

Good call, Six.

has anyone mentioned Chris Cornell?

he just about bring me to my knees. *blush*

on that note, barry white & chris issak too

Bette Midler
Jack Black
Brett Anderson
Matt Johnson of The The, the sexiest voice ever. his "Dogs of Lust" melt my panties every time

And of course:
Anthony Keidis
Freddie Mercury
and Justin from the Darkness
Leonard Cohen

and not really rock, but Harry Connick Jr.

Here's someone whom Canadians may know.  He passed away by suicide last April (2012) but was certainly a distinctive voice.  Had a couple of very good albums to his credit too, Blackberry and Raggle Taggle.

 

John Bottomley

Surely it's got to be Tom Waits, Captain Beefheart or Leonard Cohen?  Janice Joplin? I wouldn't describe many of those cited as anywhere near the most distinctive.  Bono?  Sting?  Really? Lot's of people sing like them..

BOB DYLAN

No contest, the most distinctive vocalist in rock by a country mile!

Noah & the Whale sound like Dylan, I don't think so!!!

Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers have backed Dylan in the past and Petty worked with him on the Traveling Will berries but that's as far as the affinity goes as far as I my ear can discern.

As Bowie once wrote "Oh hear this Robert Zimmerman I wrote this song for you, about a strange young man called Dylan with a voice like sand and glue".  There maybe many who attempt to imitate but there is only one true Dylan.

If I heard Matt Johnson on the radio I'd probably fall over in shock.  The The are quite popular in NZ though.

       
       


Perfectly calm, I await your naming of the Dyian-alike with not so baited breath.

Could it be; The Tallest Man on Earth a.k.a: Kristian Matsson?

Brian Ferry

Iva Davies (not my favourite person at the moment)

Rod Stewart

Madonna (who it seems would adapt to any trendy music style)

Louis Armstrong

Did someone say John Denver?

Guy Sebastian

And Jimmy Sommerville

Oops, Louis and John Denver aint rock, my bad! Madonna had quite a few sound-alikes in the 80s. I think her voice has improved out of sight since then and become a distinctive voice.