In no particular order...

Russell Mael
Kate Bush
Freddie Mercury
Elvis Costello
Danny Elfman

Very definitely ... David Gray!
and Neil Tennant
Paul McCartney

phil judd
thom yorke
ric ocasek
roland orzabal (i'll bet i'm alone on that one)
barry hay
bono
michael hutchence

David Bowie
Peter Garrett

My list would include many mentioned above, plus;

Jeff Lynne
Roddy Frame
Jim Kerr
Andy Partridge

If you're talking about distinctive voices, then one obvious choice (surprised no one mentioned this) is Eddie Vedder. Like him or hate him, you KNOW who it is the instant you hear the voice.

quote:

posted by anselm
5. Bob Dylan

i love this man, for being one of the greatest songwriters to have ever graced the earth, but he has to have the worst voice ever!
it is sooo bad!

distinctive voices IMHO:
eddie vedder
nick drake
macy gray
joan armatrading (love that woman)
tanita tikaram
stina nordenstam

thats all i can think of @ the mo

quote:

quote:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
posted by anselm
5. Bob Dylan
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

i love this man, for being one of the greatest songwriters to have ever graced the earth, but he has to have the worst voice ever!
it is sooo bad!

Just a reminder: it's the most distinctive vocalists I'm focussing on, not the BEST. I'm not a particularly big fan of Dylan's but he definitely is very distinct, with a few stylish vocal tricks, twists and turns of phrase which no-one else possesses.

There's been some great suggestions posted here so far, some people I've forgotten about but would definitely cite as totally unique: Elvis Costello, Eddie Vedder (who I can't stand incidentally!), Stevie Nicks, Roddy Frame.

There's also been a few names suggested who I'd strongly disagree with, like Neil Tennant (sounds too much like Al Stewart), Jeff Lynne (spent most of his time trying to copy Beatles harmonies )

Cinnamon : what an incredible name you mentioned that I totally missed - the late Nick Drake. A fabulous writer and guitarist, not to mention inimitable vocalist. I thought I was his only fan!! http://www.nickdrakeworld.com [Sorry for the shameless plug]

Lots of fascinating and controversial opinions so far....keep them coming

Fergal Sharkey (Undertones and solo fame in the late 70's early 80's)
Nils Lofgren
Tim Finn
Nik Kershaw
Elton John
John Lennon
Paul McCartney
Donald Fagen (Steely Dan)
Robert Plant (Led Zeppelin)
Bono
Bob Dylan
Bruce Springsteen
Paul Buchanan (The Blue Nile)
Paddy McAloon (Prefab Sprout)

have to disagree with however said Roddy Frame tho'; he sounds just like Midge Ure, Justin Currie and loads of other Glasgow area vocalists (and I like all three singers I've mentioned) I guess I get some flack from any Glasgow-based frenz!

Bob, I don't know Justin Currie, but I can't hear the similarity between Roddy and Midge. I wasn't huge on Ultravox, though.

Anselm, I don't think you can copy harmonies, they just exist as a fact of nature, but you could try to copy melodies. (My Sweet Lord/He's So Fine) I don't think Jeff Lynne was trying to copy the Beatles in that respect. He was (or perhaps still is) a musical genius in his own way, and a fan of the Beatles, or at the very least of George Martin, but as this discussion is about his voice, I have to say it gave me that "feeling" when I was an adolescent.

springsteen,dylan, vedder, neil and tim finn, tori amos, sarah mclachlan, annie lennox,rufus wainwright, lennon, colin hay, axl rose, just a few off the top of my head.

Eddie Vedder's one that springs to mind.

Macy Gray, Michael Jackson, Bono... & Neil Finn (only because I've heard so much of his stuff).

Also the lead singer of Live.

The only ones that I can think of that havent already been mentioned are:

Nick Cave
Rod Stewart
Dido
Celine Dion
Kasey Chambers

Oh, I meant to say Shaggy as well...god I hate that guy...

Sting - I'm surprised no one has mentioned him yet - it's so hard to hit the notes he does - whether it be high OR low

quote:

posted by anselm
nick drake - not to mention inimitable vocalist

yes absolutely agree, anselm. i love 'northern sky'

barry white - now theres a distinctive vocalist

and astrud gilberto - what beautiful silky smooth singing!

I challenge anyone to try and roll Dolly Parton.

One I forgot until today - Tim Buckley (Jeff's dad).

Since Dolly got a mention it must be safe to name the late great Roger Miller. Not only a great voice but also clever and amusing lyrics.
Sorry.

I was just about to suggest Freddie Mercury - but I can hear bits of his voice in George Michael and Robbie Williams.

anyone else think this way?

Joni Mitchell!

She's just the very greatest! Much much more influencial than most woudl think!

Silke
*admires Joni a lot*

I'm not saying whether I like these voices - just that I find them distictive:

Anthony Kiedis
Thom Yorke
Stina Nordenstam
Elizabeth Fraser (Cocteau Twins)
Neil Tennant
David Byrne

Must say I find the guy in Stereophonics sounds something like Rod Stewart - so can't give Rod a distinctive vocals vote.

For me the most distinctive voices in rock (which I like and can listen too) are:

thom yorke
john lennon
paul mc cartney
bono
neil & tim finn (obviously)
david bowie
peter garrett
michael hutchence
jimmy barnes
elton john
mark seymour
eddie vedder (although he sounds like a sheep) very distinctive

yeah that's it I think.

Kate

I'd definitely go for:
Neil & Tim Finn
Gordon Summers (a.k.a. Sting)
Eddie Vedder

Some others:
Darren Hayes (Savage Garden)
Don Henley (Eagles)
Frank Black (The Pixies)
Phil Collins
Damon Albarn (Blur)
Bob Marley
Elton John
Eric Clapton

quote:

Originally posted by Bob Memery:
[qb]have to disagree with however said Roddy Frame tho'; he sounds just like Midge Ure, Justin Currie and loads of other Glasgow area vocalists (and I like all three singers I've mentioned) I guess I get some flack from any Glasgow-based frenz![/qb]

*gives you flak*

Umm...nice to see Stevie Nicks getting a mention, although she's not totally unique since I sound exactly like her Then again I don't think I count, being not-famous and all that.

JON ANDERSON OF YES, PEOPLE! COME ON!

And um...Billie Joe Armstrong, you know it's him when he sings...Jonathan Donahue of Mercury Rev...ummm...Matt Bellamy of Muse...*stops before she goes too far down the obscure indie path*

quote:

Originally posted by marmotgirl:
[qb]JON ANDERSON OF YES, PEOPLE! COME ON[/qb]

The guy from Blind Melon sounded exactly like Jon Anderson. But I wonder if that counts, since a fair amount of their material was imitating Yes.

Somebody mentioned 'Gordon Summers.' Well, I don't know who that is, but i know that Gordon SumNER can't be matched...

I can't believe no one mentioned "The Boss", Bruce Springsteen! His voice is one that is really easily recognised.

My Top 10 (give or take)

1. Steve Perry (Journey)

2. Steven Tyler (Aerosmith)

3. Steve Winwood

4. Hmmmm, out of "Steves" now...so how about Paul McCartney. He has that rock & roll voice that always got me.

5. Lou Gramm (Foreigner)

6. Neil Young

7. Neil Finn (naturally--did you think I could leave him off??)

8. What's that guy's name from Nickleback? Chad Kroeger? (I think). Even if you're not a fan, he does have that cool r&r voice

I just noticed that all of my choices are men, so I'll add:

Melissa Etheridge

Pat Benatar

I also notice that all of my idols are from like, 20 years ago. Or more. ((sigh)) It's hell to grow old! ((grins))

vch

PS, speaking of Dolly Parton, has anyone heard the cover of Collective Soul's "Shine" she did?

ARGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!

vch

BEN FOLDS

DAREEN HAYES

JOEY RAMONE

What about the King?...

ELVIS PRESLEY??

And speaking of sheep-voices...wouldn't an Eddie Vedder/Stevie Nicks duet be too much???

I see no ones mentioned Don McGlashan yet.

So, yeah... Don McGlashan

quote:

Originally posted by Sue Diego:
[qb]What about the King?...

ELVIS PRESLEY??

And speaking of sheep-voices...wouldn't an Eddie Vedder/Stevie Nicks duet be too much???[/qb]

Sheep voice? *splutters, blusters*

Lou Gramm = Trevor Rabin, also of Yes. Same voice, SAMESAMESAME. But I don't, somehow, see you all rushing out to test the similarity.

And I repeat, NOBODY sounds quite like our Jon

Tim Finn
Neil Finn
Elliott Smith

I think that these would be my choice of distintive voices:-

Neil Young

Nils Lofgren

Bob Dylan

Paul Rodgers (Free/Bad Company) In my opinion the classic rock voice often copied but not bettered)

Kate Bush

Otis Redding

Ray Davies ( Classic English Voice and a Tim fave!)

Paul

quote:

I think that these would be my choice of distintive voices:-

Neil Young

Nils Lofgren

Bob Dylan

Paul Rodgers (Free/Bad Company) In my opinion the classic rock voice often copied but not bettered)

Kate Bush

Otis Redding

Ray Davies ( Classic English Voice and a Tim fave!)

Funnily enough, Neil Young's voice often gets confused with that of the lead singer of the band America ('Horse With No Name', 'Ventura Highway' etc). Have a listen and see what you think. Also, Kate Bush and Tori Amos' vocal styles often get confused with each other, not sure if either of them fall into the totally 'distinct' category.

Thinking back, maybe I should have titled this topic 'Most uniquely recognisable voice'. Then again, everyone's voice is unique...but the discussions are fun.

I'd like to add...

Morrisey

paulport wrote:

quote:

Paul Rodgers (Free/Bad Company) In my opinion the classic rock voice often copied but not bettered)

I second that. It's a pity that he hasn't produced his best solo ablum yet. It seems he's got incredible voice but not many good original songs to sing with it IMO.

Ooohhh, yeah. Paul Rodgers. I forgot about him!

vch

Cyndi Lauper anyone?

Or did someone mention her already?

- Kia (about to move from one continent to another and thence very distracted) Kaha...

Yes, definetly Darren Hayes *swoon* and how about Dave Matthews? If anyone knows who he is...

Ooooh oh I just thought of one more... Leonard Cohen! Cant mistake that voice anywhere.

Natalie Merchant

Tom Petty

Axl Rose (not that much into his music but I like his voice)

Steven Tyler (Aerosmith)
Ed Kowalczyk (Live)

Hey Awamutu, great call for Tom Bailey. What about:

Love On Your Side
In The Name Of Love
Sister Of Mercy
You Take Me Up
Doctor Dream
Lay Your Hands On Me

Great songs all. Wonder if Neil would ever collaborate with Tom? Wishful thinking, but the results might be fun....

Distinctive, sending shivers down my spine, making me swoon, number one ONLY could be...

NEIL FINN

Next, distinctive, with some shivers (used to be more before Neil)...

Paul McCartney

Distinctive voices that twitch my ears the right way, and can at times, cause shivers in their delivery of song...

John Lennon
Peter Gabriel
Elvis Costello
Jimi Hendrix
Janis Joplin
Tom Petty
David Byrne
Peter Garrett
Chris Isaac
Bruce Springsteen (although when I first heard him in the late 70's, I hated his voice. It grew on me.)
Neil Young
Linda Ronstadt
Aimee Mann
Stevie Nicks
Barbra Streisand
Neil Diamond (Have you seen "Saving Silverman"?
Stevie Wonder
Chrissie Hynde
Joni Mitchell
Carly Simon
James Taylor
Carol King
Sheryl Crow
David Bowie
Elton John
Paul Simon
Eric Clapton
Phil Collins
Annie Lennox
George Harrison
Ringo Starr
Kurt Cobain
Dave Grohl
Serj Tankian
Billy Joel
Bette Midler
Pat Benatar
KD Lang
Ray Charles
Peter Salette
Jackson Browne
Joe Jackson
Van Morrison
Phoebe Snow
Donald Fagen
Robert Plant
Joe Crocker
Dolly Parton
Anne Wilson
Grace Slick (Although I don't care for her politics)
Phil Keaggy
Keith Green (He was a friend of mine and I miss him terribly - RIP)
Weird Al Yankovic (Okay, so he's not great on the ears, but he's funny! - and that makes up for it)

Voices that are distinctive, that I am learning to tolerate much more...
Elvis Presley (I'm sorry)
Eddie Vedder
Tim Finn (Please forgive me. I like him much better when he harmonizes, rather than singing lead vocal. Otherwise he's fine. Sometimes it feels like he's working too hard to hit some notes and that's what repels my audio sensibilities. I DO think he's talented.)
Madonna

Voices that are distinctive, that don't do anything to me, one way or the other...
Ella Fistzgerald
Diana Ross

Voices, I'm not sure how I feel about them, they are just "interesting"...
Leon Redbone
Iggi Pop

Voices that are distinctive, that I can barely tolerate...
Cher
Mick Jagger
Johnny Cash
Willie Nelson
Wayne Newton
Richard Thompson (He almost was in the bottom category, but he's moving up.... slowly)

Voices that are distinctive, that I have no tolerance for, whatsoever...
Tiny Tim
Melissa Etheridge (I used to like her, but she's gotten on my nerves - BIG TIME!. She's a female Springsteen wannabe IMHO)

If I've forgotten someone, I'll just edit and add it. (So, if you actually care, you could check back.) These are voices that, if I hear them on the radio, they stand right out and I know, that's them ; whether I like them or not.

shalom,
Kim

Edward Vedder
Neil Young
Ben Harper
Nick Drake
John Denver

Cha Cing

peace n love
Thomas

Whee Heee glad to see KaTe everywhere in this topic!!!

And Peter Gabriel, too
And Elisabeth Fraser

Neil Finn
Tim Finn
Elvis Costello
Phil Collins
Peter Gabriel
Neil Young
Donald Fagen
Ann Wilson
Joni Mitchell
Brian Wilson
Bob Seger
James Taylor
Paul Rodgers
Jackson Browne
Neil Diamond
Janis Joplin
John Denver
(sorry, I keep adding to this list!)

Well, since other people have mentioned artist's that are not rock....
Willie Nelson - I adore him, so laid back mellow,
beautiful song interpreter
Kris Kristofferson - Very unique, great song
writer.
Waylon Jennings - Rest in peace...
Johnny Cash - Hello?
Hmmmm, just named the Highwayman too
Kenny Rogers - C'mon!!!
Conway Twitty - "Hello Darlin..'"
George Jones - "The Possum"
Sorry, my mom has been a huge influence on my musical taste, love Country & Western.
Other non-rock:
Ella Fitzgerald - my favorite singer of all time!
Sarah Vaughn - warm, rich "Sassy"
Mel Torme - "The Velvet Fog"...so many more I'm sure, I could go on. Ok, back under my rock now!

Remember folks....it's not your favourite vocalists I'm looking for, it's the most DISTINCTIVE. Who can you tell INSTANTLY when you hear a snippet of radio or while flicking through the TV channels? You might not even like them...you might even hate them - for example I don't like Steve Winwood's voice but there's no mistaking who it is when you hear him.

Here's another name, although non-UK people will be unfamiliar with it - Ian Dury.

more

joe jackson
billy corgan
benjamin orr (r.i.p.)
the edge (in the early days of U2 when he did backing vocals, even the few songs he sang lead on just sounded like backing vocals.)
lisa germano
robert plant

quote:

Originally posted by Kim Goldman:
[QB]Voices that are distinctive, that I am learning to tolerate much more...
Eddie Vedder
Tim Finn (Please forgive me. I like him much better when he harmonizes, rather than singing lead vocal. Otherwise he's fine.) [QB]

I LOVED the 7 Worlds Collide version of Tim & Eddie singing. I thought that sounded like absolute GOLD. I think there is too much emphasis on Tim Finn's singing. He's a great singer and songwriter...as good as Neil...studio-wise at least...live Neil kicks his ass and is PURE GENIUS. OK his voice is grainey, but how much more Macy Gray - she's horrible but she's famous and respected. It's just a matter of getting used to it.

Other distinctive voices in rock?

Abby Dobson (ex Leonrado's Bride} OZ
Kevin Mitchell (Jebediah) OZ
Fran Healey (Travis) SCOT
Alex Lloyd OZ

Michael Stipe
David Byrne
Sam Phillips
Shawn Colvin
Jerry Garcia
Norah Jones

Originally posted by Anselm:

quote:

Remember folks....it's not your favourite vocalists I'm looking for, it's the most DISTINCTIVE. Who can you tell INSTANTLY when you hear a snippet of radio...

I do happen to think all of my favourite singers have distinctive voices. I read your very first posting and you listed your favourite singers and also mentioned that we should list singers that give you a "shivery feeling". All my favourite singers do. Singers I don't like would leave me with a nauseous feeling
But, sorry if I misunderstood your original questions...

Fair point, Jenn...no you didn't misunderstand me, I'd forgotten that I'd listed MY favourite singers originally - so you were quite right to list yours!

I'd agree that mentioning people you dislike (however distinct) would be hard to do, although there are some really distinctive voices around today who just don't grab me at all. Look at Eddie Vedder - his voice seems to polarise people: we either seem to hate it or love it - no in-betweens. Personally I can't stand him, and not a big fan of either of the Finn brothers' singing voices (Shock! Horror!). Although their voices seem to FIT their songs in the way that other people's wouldn't...sorry if I'm confusing you.....

I think it's all very subjective...if you like an artist's music you're much more likely to think that they are distinctive.

So I accept your comments completely!

Cheers,
Anselm.

LOL @ SHEEP VOICES!!!!!! I regularly impersonate Stevie Nicks as a goat...

Anyhow...I noticed a few that I haven't seen yet, which for me are pretty unmistakable...Note that I don't necessarily LIKE all of these, but I'll admit their distinctiveness.

PHIL COLLINS. It's the pronunciation.
ADAM DURITZ. It's the WHINE.
CELINE DION/BARBRA STEISAND.
SIMON leBON. It's this little shriekything he does at the beginning of words.
JOHNNY CASH. Low, low, low...
TOM JONES. Completely and unrepentantly cheesy.
MICHAEL JACKSON. He has a sound.
RON SEXSMITH. The tremolo.
LYLE LOVETT. The sexiest rasp in music!
ROD STEWART. When rasp goes to extremes.
BOY GEORGE. A touch off key.

I agree with many, many I've seen here, including Macy Gray, Michael Stipe, Elvis...lots and lots. (Conversely, though, maybe we should start a thread about artists you've mistaken for other artists. I've almost NEVER been able to guess Beth Orton/Indigo Girls correctly! And I've been known to mistake Travis and Wilco, Sheryl Crow and Lisa Loeb.)

Don Henley...I LOVED the duet he did with Sheryl Crow on her album...it was cheesy and poppy, but he was FLAWLESS and PERFECT! The way my husband put it: "Don Henley is about the only guy in music who can do a power ballad without sounding like a p***y..."

re: "Don Henley is about the only guy in music who can do a power ballad without sounding like a p***y..."

yes Kim Your husband is soooo right, Don henley is a legend....
Adam Duritz, however can sing a pretty good soppy song and get away with it don't you think!! I love American girls, their newie, its catchy as heck!!!!
Chester

quote:

yes Kim Your husband is soooo right, Don henley is a legend....
Chester

Sorry Chester, that was Heidi's husband , not mine. But, that's okay, because my husband is usually right, unless, of course we disagree on something, then naturally you know who's right.

shalom,
Kim

Oops, man I am not on form today
I think most husbands think they are right unfortunately... (not that I have one or anything)

Hey, it's cool.

We all have those days.

Days like this can't last forever.

Tomorrow's another day...

shalom,
Kim

Mama Cass

Peter Garrett - Midnight Oil

MY husband (who's also always right) suggests Mick Jagger and David Gray.

I respectfully disagree with Mick Jagger and respectfully can't stand David Gray.

(He's out there with Stevie Nicks, bleating like a sheep...)

I have to add someone not mentoned so far....she was so long ago but very effective, Wanda Jackson. Several singers have imitated her sound, but so far she is the original. Elvis sounded like the mama's boy he was next to her.

Aretha

awamutu

Wanda Jackson sang in the mid 1950's to early 1960's. She was an early rock and roll singer in every sense of the word. She was friend of Elvis, covered the songs he covered...but did it better. Rollins Stone described her as the only singer who did not sing from her voice, but sang from a particular part of the female anatomy. She has also been described as the most dangerous singer in early rock . In short, she was a party girl with a big voice, and a big attitude. There are several websites on her. You can hear her on:

http://www.wandajackson.com/

Neil Finn
Eddie Vedder
Liam Gallagher
John Lydon
John Lennon
Paul McCartney
Frank Sinatra
Michael Stype
Tom Waits
Bono
Paul Weller
Sting
Peter Garret

More...

James Hetfield from Metallica-ah
Smokey Robinson
Colin Hay (always thought he had a memorable voice)
Tracey Thorne from Everything But The Girl
Michael Franks
Ian Gillan
kd lang
Tracy Chapman
Peter Gabriel

quote:

Originally posted by awamutu:
[qb]

quote:

Originally posted by Ghost_Girl:
[qb] Very definitely ... David Gray!
and Neil Tennant
Paul McCartney [/qb]

neil tennant did spring to my mind for a second but i then i remembered he always reminds me of the "year of the cat" guy... [/qb]

Do you mean Badly Drawn Boy/Damon Gough?

Cos if so, its Year of the Rat

I wouldn't term his voice distinctive - I prefer the term 'Annoying'.

Although i'm not a fan, I suppose it's only fair to mention Jon Bon Jovi (how do you spell it?)Songs like It's My Life and Bed Of Roses belong to him through his distinctive voice alone I guess.

quote:

neil tennant did spring to my mind for a second but i then i remembered he always reminds me of the "year of the cat" guy...

The first time I heard West End Girls I swore it was by the Year Of The Cat guy (Al Stewart). Always wondered if other people thought that too...

Yup. Neil Tennant always reminds me of Al Stewart. The resemblance in West End Girls is uncanny!

Can't believe we're on page 3 and I've not seen one mention of Leonard Cohen. Talk about distinctive.

Also, I'd say:
David Bowie
Kate Bush
Tori Amos (I don't consider them to sound the same vocally AT ALL even though their songwriting style is similar)
I was gonna say Peter Gabriel until I remembered that I once mistook Steve Winwood for PG!
Michael Stipe
Eddie Vedder
Andrew Eldritch (Sisters of Mercy)

As for those that send a shiver:
Lennon and Gabriel. STOP.

Dido - but sounds so out of tune it's awful
Sheryl Crow
Nils Lofgren
Bruce Springsteen
Phil Oakey (Human League)
Andy Partridge (XTC)
Donald Fagen
Warren Zevon
Andy McCluskey (OMD)
Sting

and someone who manages to sounds like a lot of people:
Robin Zander of Cheap Trick

quote:

Originally posted by Paul H:
[qb] Can't believe we're on page 3 and I've not seen one mention of Leonard Cohen. Talk about distinctive. [/qb]

Gemini mentioned him on pg 2, and yes, he's a very unique vocalist and tremendous songwriter (IMHO).

Billy Bragg
Andy White
Guy Chadwick
Ron Sexsmith

A friend of mine happened to have the radio on in his vehicle here recently, only to subject me to Grace Slick's distinctive vocals . . .

Apologies to Gemini: seen so many names and read so quickly (I guessed as soon as I typed it that Leonard C would have been mentioned earlier).

While I'm on the subject, Lou Reed is fairly distinctive too...

Who could forget Paul Hester

Oooopps, just remembered, was James Taylor mentioned?

If my list included people that most of you have mentioned, it might go on forever, so I'll reduce it to folks who haven't been noted that much (good or bad):

-Bruce Springsteen
-Dave Matthews
-Michael Jackson
-Rufus Wainwright
-Joe Strummer
-Marvin Gaye
-John Popper
-Prince
-Sinead O'Connor
-Cat Power
-David Lee Roth
-Axl Rose
-Indigo Girls
-Pat Benatar
-Odetta
-Roger Daltrey
-James Taylor
-John Fogerty
-John Mayer
-Rob Thomas
-Phil Judd
-Isaac Brock (Modest Mouse)
-Phil Lynott (Thin Lizzy)
-John Kay (Steppenwolf)
-and, of couse, I'll mention my darling Eddie, even though he's been mentioned frequently

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

-----

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)