Who had the greatest singing voice in music history??

[sdifox]

Andrea Bocelli?
Luciano Pavarotti?

Bocelli is not really all that good a singer. He is extremely popular though.

 

[SP33Demon]

Men: Freddie Mercury, Sinatra
Female: Arethra, Mariah Carey

 

[zinfamous]

I wouldn't care about MJ - and I doubt anyone else would - if he didn't have those addicting beats for his most popular songs.

He could sing, no doubt, but "Thriller", "Beat It", "Billie Jean", "Rock With You", "Wanna Be Startin' Something", etc. wouldn't be much without the killer music that was the backdrop for his vocals.

It's the same way I feel about Lady Gaga (lol, TFP). She can sing, but her voice isn't the main driving factor. Just listen to some of the less beat heavy songs in "The Fame Monster". You could find tons of other female singers (or even male ones ) just as talented vocally or even better. A lot of what makes successful pop successful pop successful is the production team behind the main artist (in Gaga's case, herself and RedOne, mostly).

I'm saying this as a huge fan of MJ's music.

very well put. I honestly don't see his voice being tolerable outside of his music. Michael was a pop star. Superior voice talent not required (not that he didn't have a good voice).

:thumbsup:

 

[zinfamous]

Greatest sing voice can construed to mean most identifiable/distinctive. That's why I picked Louis Armstrong. He could call your name once, and you'd know exactly who it was without looking. I agree with the Bob Dylan choices, and I would also throw Tom Waits in there. Most of the choices people have posted here are justifiable on some level. It's really an unanswerable question.

word. all of these voices are absolutely perfect, to be honest.



And only one person has mentioned Marvin Gaye?

D:

 

[Mojoed]

In my opinion, best pure singing voice goes to Jussi Björling. I get goosebumps listening to Nessun Dorma linked below.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bUbA5y1hnFg

 

[Arkaign]

too many to pick a best

Freddie Mercury and Jeff Buckley immediately jump to mind for more 'modern' ones.

Ditto. Another somewhat more obscure but indibly wonderful voice/presence is Leonard Cohen. And a mainstream powerhouse of great vocal talent is Sarah McLachlan, even if most of her recent work is pretty bland in comparison.

 

[lxskllr]

word. all of these voices are absolutely perfect, to be honest.



And only one person has mentioned Marvin Gaye?

D:

Marvin Gaye's the shit. I had forgotten about him for a bit, and just put one of his discs on an mp3 disc for my car. It's been great hearing him again :^)

 

[zinfamous]

Crystal Bowersox!

:sneaky:

 

[CallMeJoe]

Enrico Caruso. No contest.

 

[BurnItDwn]

Dunno about best, but some of my favorites.... (all Rock/Metal)
Male ... Mikael Akerfeldt or Steven Wilson
Female ... Marcela Bovio, Tarja Turunen, Liv Kristine, or possibly Anneke Van Giersbergen

 

[sdifox]

Enrico Caruso. No contest.

:thumbsup:

 

[Flipped Gazelle]

Geddy Lee

/thread

 

[overst33r]

Josh Groban?

 

[Jeeebus]

pavarotti's version of nessun dorma is far better then that chicks

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VATmgtmR5o4&feature=fvw

His Pagliacci performance gives me chills every time I listen to it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ky271W94VHA

 

[CKent]

Axle Rose, fo' sho'

 

[Perknose]

Sam Cooke had a gorgeous voice. Laura Nyro had an amazing dual register range, to throw a couple names out there.

I also happen to be one who is and has been personally moved by Bob Dylan, Jim Morrison, and Van Morrison, despite their obvious "technical" deficiencies, especially the first two. "Soul" is not principally about technique, you know.

When we discuss the all-time greats, the inestimable and magnificent Mrs. Miller springs to mind, but when you come right down to it, who can really top Tiny Tim?

 

[Dominato3r]

Have you heard Taylor Swift live? If she sounded the same on her albums as she does live, then no one would know who she is.

IMO, the person with "the greatest singing voice in music history" has to be someone with a voice that sounds great before it's all touched up by the studio.

Listen to Taylor Swift live then Aretha Franklin live. If you can still say that Taylor Swift sounds better, then I pity your listening abilities.

She's good dude. I like it.