A few of those (Suggs, Ian Broudie) were never great singers in the first place. A few have voices that have deteriorated, Liam Gallagher isn't the singer he was when he was young
But then there are also boring performers. Alison Goldfrapp has a fine voice, but I found her a dull live performer.
Some frontmen were never really singers - they more or less spoke the words. You can include Ian Brown, Liam G, Suggs, Terry Hall(Specials) and many more in this list. A lot depends on the style of music.
If I'm going to see a soul or r&b act I'd usually expect the vocals to be much more of a focus.
Quite a few mentioned above. Ian Brown does my nut in, he is flatter than a witches tit. Go and get some lessons, no excuses. Suggs, but it was more about the whole skinhead/ska thing than a singer. I will add:- Bob Dylan, but then again he is one of the greatest song writers. Jimi Hendrix, dont like his voice at all mind you neither did Hendrix. Wilko Johnson, atrocious singing voice
Re Paul McCartney London 2012, yep it was a car crash, however he has gone on record as saying that he couldn't hear himself at all, so didn't know if he was in key, anyone who sings live will know what a pain it is. I recently watched a live gig he did in 2014 (I think) and he was on point. Not bad for a 70+ old rocker.
Only one winner here, surely. Yoko Ono. Enjoy - from about 2:15 in. (It comes as no surprise that the Zappa released version was called A Small Eternity With Yoko Ono.) Quite amusing though that Zappa tells the band beforehand what key it's going to be in!
Only one winner here, surely. Yoko Ono. Enjoy - from about 2:15 in. (It comes as no surprise that the Zappa released version was called A Small Eternity With Yoko Ono.) Quite amusing though that Zappa tells the band beforehand what key it's going to be in!
I've never seen that before. I'm not sure I'd describe Yoko as singing. More wailing and howling.. the whole thing sounds like drug fueled jam, because that's exactly what it was.
Only one winner here, surely. Yoko Ono. Enjoy - from about 2:15 in. (It comes as no surprise that the Zappa released version was called A Small Eternity With Yoko Ono.) Quite amusing though that Zappa tells the band beforehand what key it's going to be in!
I've never seen that before. I'm not sure I'd describe Yoko as singing. More wailing and howling.. the whole thing sounds like drug fueled jam, because that's exactly what it was.
It may surprise you, but Zappa never did drugs - and his band won't have been, either. He would sack any musicians that put substance use above the music.
It's kind of ironic, because when people first see the fella (or listen to his music) they assume he is the archetypal drug fuelled musician. But no, his genius was not chemically assisted.
As for Lennon, though; my personal opinion is that he must have been taking some heavy shit to fall for Ono......
I thought this was just for British singers. If we're going worldwide, Bob Dylan was absolutely awful live at the hop farm a few years ago. 1 of the greatest songwriters of all time though
I used to only watch British bands' performances and many of them sound good live. Some even sound exactly the same as on studio albums (for example Elbow's Guy Garvey).
Last night I watched a couple of Lana Del Rey live clips and to my surprise she sounded absolutely terrible. I do like a few of her songs.
And I remember a recent conversation with a friend of mine. We both like a very young American pop singer Charlie Puth. I think his live singing ability is poor but my friend said it's OK for a singer-songwriter to be less good/notably worse at singing than music-writing.
Actually I rarely listen to nowadays' pop music so I wonder is this the norm? Any poor live performers out there you noticed?
Likewise, I like a few of her songs so checked her live on youtube ....Oh dear :-(
Only one winner here, surely. Yoko Ono. Enjoy - from about 2:15 in. (It comes as no surprise that the Zappa released version was called A Small Eternity With Yoko Ono.) Quite amusing though that Zappa tells the band beforehand what key it's going to be in!
Their vocal chords are usually ruined after a couple of years, look at the Bring Me the Horizon singer as evidence.
My opera singer friend says "Singers Nodules" are common with people that shout rather than sing. He's very "sniffy" about certain popular singers who he says are rubbish. Rod Stewart and Elton John to name but two. Apparently surgery is necessary in the worst cases. His girlfriend likes to point out that they've all made shed loads more money than he has though.
anthony kiedis of the red hot chili peppers. I love them but jesus the guy cant sing live, especially when frusciante was in the band, he was surrounded by arguably the best bass player and guitarist in the world which made it stand out even more.
Only one winner here, surely. Yoko Ono. Enjoy - from about 2:15 in. (It comes as no surprise that the Zappa released version was called A Small Eternity With Yoko Ono.) Quite amusing though that Zappa tells the band beforehand what key it's going to be in!
Autotune has a lot to answer for - twenty years of making singers sound far better than they really are. It's absolutely everywhere now. Even the very best singers use it when recording. Maybe I'm a grungy old bloke but I think it's built an unrealistic expectation of what most live performers can achieve.
Having said that, Chris Martin is pants, no matter how much computer assistance you give him.
Just popped in here to check nobody has mentioned me yet.
Paul Young (The one who sang Love of the Common People) - saw him a couple of years back and he was shocking. He used to have a great voice, I don't know what's happened but he has completely lost it.
Also went to one of his concerts a couple of years ago and can confirm that his singing voice has completely gone. He knows it as well - was almost apologetic at the end of the show.
Only one winner here, surely. Yoko Ono. Enjoy - from about 2:15 in. (It comes as no surprise that the Zappa released version was called A Small Eternity With Yoko Ono.) Quite amusing though that Zappa tells the band beforehand what key it's going to be in!
Only one winner here, surely. Yoko Ono. Enjoy - from about 2:15 in. (It comes as no surprise that the Zappa released version was called A Small Eternity With Yoko Ono.) Quite amusing though that Zappa tells the band beforehand what key it's going to be in!
anthony kiedis of the red hot chili peppers. I love them but jesus the guy cant sing live, especially when frusciante was in the band, he was surrounded by arguably the best bass player and guitarist in the world which made it stand out even more.
Ok ill bite, do fuck off.......HaHaHHaHaHHaHaHHaHaHHaHaHHaHaHHaHaHa. Fucking hell !
anthony kiedis of the red hot chili peppers. I love them but jesus the guy cant sing live, especially when frusciante was in the band, he was surrounded by arguably the best bass player and guitarist in the world which made it stand out even more.
Ok ill bite, do fuck off.......HaHaHHaHaHHaHaHHaHaHHaHaHHaHaHHaHaHa. Fucking hell !
Only one winner here, surely. Yoko Ono. Enjoy - from about 2:15 in. (It comes as no surprise that the Zappa released version was called A Small Eternity With Yoko Ono.) Quite amusing though that Zappa tells the band beforehand what key it's going to be in!
Only one winner here, surely. Yoko Ono. Enjoy - from about 2:15 in. (It comes as no surprise that the Zappa released version was called A Small Eternity With Yoko Ono.) Quite amusing though that Zappa tells the band beforehand what key it's going to be in!
Comments
If I'm going to see a soul or r&b act I'd usually expect the vocals to be much more of a focus.
Ian Brown does my nut in, he is flatter than a witches tit. Go and get some lessons, no excuses.
Suggs, but it was more about the whole skinhead/ska thing than a singer.
I will add:-
Bob Dylan, but then again he is one of the greatest song writers.
Jimi Hendrix, dont like his voice at all mind you neither did Hendrix.
Wilko Johnson, atrocious singing voice
Re Paul McCartney London 2012, yep it was a car crash, however he has gone on record as saying that he couldn't hear himself at all, so didn't know if he was in key, anyone who sings live will know what a pain it is.
I recently watched a live gig he did in 2014 (I think) and he was on point. Not bad for a 70+ old rocker.
Their produced studio stuff is good though.
It's kind of ironic, because when people first see the fella (or listen to his music) they assume he is the archetypal drug fuelled musician. But no, his genius was not chemically assisted.
As for Lennon, though; my personal opinion is that he must have been taking some heavy shit to fall for Ono......
Their vocal chords are usually ruined after a couple of years, look at the Bring Me the Horizon singer as evidence.
Martha Reeves. Age has certainly taken it's toll :-(
David Coverdale
Chris Martin
Debbie Harry - tragically
Having said that, Chris Martin is pants, no matter how much computer assistance you give him.
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/music-news/7571582/Chili-Peppers-John-Frusciante-named-best-guitarist.html
https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/rolling-stone-readers-pick-the-top-ten-bassists-of-all-time-10325/2-flea-103314/