Singers who still sound great past say 50 years old?

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NutBucket

NutBucket

Lifer
Aug 30, 2000
27,119
613
126
Are we talking currently sound good and old just those that sound good after passing 50?

For example, Aretha is but a shell of herself currently. Not that it's unexpected. Stevie Nicks sounds terrible currently and I love her vocals. But then consider Aretha is 73 and Stevie is 67.

As for old folks that sounds great today, my go-to is always Paul Rodgers. The man can straight belt it out. Already mentioned, Ann Wilson is amazing too. And, crazy as it sounds, Ozzy still sounds great live.

Age is a bitch. Seeing Genesis a few years back it was sad see how far Phil Collin's voice has fallen.
 
Triumph

Triumph

Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
15,031
14
81
I don't know what you people are smoking, Geddy Lee was always a terrible singer. And his voice now is even terribler. Saw them in 2010 and it sounded like a teenager going through puberty.

I can't think of anyone that has really kept their voice as it was in their prime. Which is probably a bit unreasonable. But many singers have fallen very far. Robert Plant comes to mind. Even someone like Mariah Carey, who is known for taking exceptional care of her voice, sounds like a different singer than when she was young. Not a terrible singer, but nothing like what she was. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o8ECXXZtrHY
 
runzwithsizorz

runzwithsizorz

Diamond Member
Jan 24, 2002
3,497
14
76
Here's a lady with a LONG career, who has sang almost every genre, ummm,
included this, from not that long ago.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wJsE8OWQOek
EDIT: you might not care for that type of music, and frankly it's not on my play list, BUT you gotta admire that voice after all these years.
Sadly, do to her illness, she can no longer sing for us.
 
Last edited:
BurnItDwn

BurnItDwn

Lifer
Oct 10, 1999
26,282
1,790
126
futurefields said:
He sounds terrible now what are you talking about?

Ya know what guys - nevermind.
Click to expand...
What the hell are you talking about? Lemmy sounds as awesome now as he always has. Yes, his voice is a little bit rough and raspy, but, to a Motorhead fan, rough and raspy = sounds good.

I'd add Bruce Dickinson to the list, hes almost 60 but he still has amazing range and hasnt lost any of his power.
 
Triumph

Triumph

Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
15,031
14
81
runzwithsizorz said:
Here's a lady with a LONG career, who has sang almost every genre, ummm,
included this, from not that long ago.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wJsE8OWQOek
EDIT: you might not care for that type of music, and frankly it's not on my play list, BUT you gotta admire that voice after all these years.
Sadly, do to her illness, she can no longer sing for us.
Click to expand...

Wow, I never knew she was that good! All I knew about Linda Ronstadt up to now was this:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LnhmYdPxDkk
 
P

Pacfanweb

Lifer
Jan 2, 2000
13,155
59
91
11thHour said:
Still a strong voice, but wow, he's a shell of his former self.
Click to expand...

Well of course he is. The thread, however, is about older singers who can still get it done.

No singer in the history of ever hasn't lost some range and/or power by their 60's, but some retain more than others.

Sammy Hagar still has "more than most". Sure, his voice isn't like when he was 30...nobody's is.

Here's another "ageless wonder", Mickey Thomas, performing "Jane", 2 years ago at age 63:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c_8_0gPry2A

Down a bit from the original, but that's DAMN strong at his age
 
P

Pacfanweb

Lifer
Jan 2, 2000
13,155
59
91
GoPackGo said:
Roger Daltrey, Brian May, Cyndi Lauper, and Eddie Vedder
Click to expand...

Daltrey's voice has been shot for years.

He still had decent pipes into his 50's, though.

Eddie Vedder has a terrible voice to begin with, but low voices like his hold up better over time, it seems.
 
P

Pacfanweb

Lifer
Jan 2, 2000
13,155
59
91
Triumph said:
I don't know what you people are smoking, Geddy Lee was always a terrible singer. And his voice now is even terribler. Saw them in 2010 and it sounded like a teenager going through puberty.

I can't think of anyone that has really kept their voice as it was in their prime. Which is probably a bit unreasonable. But many singers have fallen very far. Robert Plant comes to mind. Even someone like Mariah Carey, who is known for taking exceptional care of her voice, sounds like a different singer than when she was young. Not a terrible singer, but nothing like what she was. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o8ECXXZtrHY
Click to expand...

Nobody has kept the same voice into their 60's as they had in their prime. Some retain more than others, though, and still sound great.

Robert Plant hasn't had a high register since basically the late 70's, and certainly the early 80's. You can see Zeppelin doing Stairway at the Atlantic Records anniversary show in 1988 and there's no high note for him at all. It was almost gone at Live Aid in 1985.

In his lower register, however, he still sounds like Robert Plant.
 
TastesLikeChicken

TastesLikeChicken

Lifer
Sep 12, 2004
16,852
59
86
Saw Rush live quite a few times during the early 80s. Geddy Lee was amazing back then. Sadly, today, he is vocally a shell of his former self. He sounds ok in the lower and mid ranges but he can't hit those high notes anymore. It's understandable though. That kind of singing voice can't last forever.
 
MongGrel

MongGrel

Lifer
Dec 3, 2013
38,466
3,067
121
NutBucket said:
For example, Aretha is but a shell of herself currently. Not that it's unexpected. Stevie Nicks sounds terrible currently and I love her vocals. But then consider Aretha is 73 and Stevie is 67.
Click to expand...

I'm just splitting hairs a bit now I guess.

I missed Steven Tyler myself.
 
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