# Any particular vocalists who annoy you? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 24, 2026, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-particular-vocalists-who-annoy-you/1029540 "2026-04-24T22:31:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![Sitnam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Sitnam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sitnam)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2026, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-particular-vocalists-who-annoy-you/1029540/101 "2026-04-27T14:56:39Z")
Billie Joe Armstrong from Green Day sings with a heavy nasal twang my wife cannot stand. Now that I can hear the sound he gets on my nerves as well. ---
**Author:** ![Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/q.q.switcheroo/32/5713_2.png) [@Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.Q.Switcheroo)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2026, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-particular-vocalists-who-annoy-you/1029540/102 "2026-04-27T15:06:53Z")
> [@Mortimus](#): > > I had a similar experience with Louis Armstrong. He could no doubt blow a horn but he sang like he was gargling with rocks. As one critic wrote, his road to success was paved with gravel. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2026, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-particular-vocalists-who-annoy-you/1029540/103 "2026-04-27T15:13:07Z")
> [@Sitnam](#): > > Billie Joe Armstrong from Green Day sings with a heavy nasal twang my wife cannot stand. Now that I can hear the sound he gets on my nerves as well. …which was the style at the time. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2026, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-particular-vocalists-who-annoy-you/1029540/104 "2026-04-27T15:31:17Z")
That yodeling jazz singer. I think it’s probably Leon Thomas. Seriously, what the fuck? Also, jazz singer Gregory Porter. His voice is fine, but a lot of his songs consist of repeating the same lyric over and over and over again. Man, I’m not trying to stop you from going to Harlem. Go, already. ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2026, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-particular-vocalists-who-annoy-you/1029540/105 "2026-04-27T16:10:34Z")
> [@Mortimus](#): > > Eventually I figured out that his style and feel were far more important than technical singing ability. Someone at work (ad agency) mentioned that Nat King Cole’s response to a music critic was “But I’m not a singer, I’m a song stylist.” That was all it took for my fellow workers (musicians, artists, and writers) to kick off a decade of disclaimers: “Well, I’m not a poet. I’m more of a syntax stylist.” “Keep in mind, I’m not an artist. I’m more of a scribble stylist.” Ad infinitum… ---
**Author:** ![ricepad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b38774/32.png) [@ricepad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ricepad)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2026, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-particular-vocalists-who-annoy-you/1029540/106 "2026-04-27T18:04:59Z")
> [@Mortimus](#): > > Maybe I missed it but nobody has mentioned Janis Joplin. I couldn’t stand her voice when I first became aware of her. Just hearing her rasp caused sympathetic pain in my own throat. And that horse-whinny thing she does was like fingernails on a chalkboard. But over time I came to appreciate her vocal styling and now she’s one of my favorite artists of that era. Tastes can change. Yeah, me too. I hated Janis for years. I wouldn’t say I love her singing now, but I can appreciate her talent, and won’t change the radio if one of her songs comes on. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2026, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-particular-vocalists-who-annoy-you/1029540/107 "2026-04-27T18:36:07Z")
> [@ricepad](#): > > Yeah, me too. I hated Janis for years. I didn’t “get” her singing style for quite some time, but then I’d never heard anything like it before. It was new, it was brutal, and it was primal. And it still gives me shivers to hear Ball And Chain at Monterey. To see Cass Elliot, who is certainly no slouch in the vocals department, turn to her bandmates and say something along the lines of “holy shit!” still gives me goosebumps. ---
**Author:** ![Eric1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/3bc359/32.png) [@Eric1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eric1)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2026, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-particular-vocalists-who-annoy-you/1029540/108 "2026-04-27T20:19:12Z")
Steven Tyler has a very annoying voice to me. I always dislike those voices where the person’s been screaming and developed nodes on their larynx. ---
**Author:** ![Ponch8](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ponch8/32/9883_2.png) [@Ponch8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ponch8)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2026, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-particular-vocalists-who-annoy-you/1029540/109 "2026-04-27T21:57:12Z")
There are several fairly recent examples for me. Ariana Grande: I liked a few of her early songs, but her breathy, high-pitched voice got very irritating after a couple years. Sabrina Carpenter: I can’t distinguish her voice from Grande’s. If anything, Carpenter’s voice is even more juvenile-sounding than Grande’s. Billie Eilish: I absolutely couldn’t stand that song she did for the _Barbie_ movie. Another example of the breathy, high-pitched crap that’s become too prevalent among female singers. ---
**Author:** ![Guest-starring\_Id](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guest-starring_id/32/21736_2.png) [@Guest-starring\_Id](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guest-starring_Id)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2026, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-particular-vocalists-who-annoy-you/1029540/110 "2026-04-28T00:12:50Z")
> [@Ponch8](#): > > …breathy, high-pitched crap that’s become too prevalent among female singers Yeah, that balderdash. Is Suzanne Vega to blame for kickstarting that twaddle? ---
**Author:** ![sunacres](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@sunacres](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sunacres)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2026, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-particular-vocalists-who-annoy-you/1029540/111 "2026-04-28T00:51:40Z")
Tiny Tim. ---
**Author:** ![Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/son_of_a_rich/32/5439_2.png) [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Son_of_a_Rich)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2026, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-particular-vocalists-who-annoy-you/1029540/112 "2026-04-28T01:03:30Z")
John Fogerty’s affectation grows old quickly. Toinin’ and boinin’ 🙄 ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2026, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-particular-vocalists-who-annoy-you/1029540/113 "2026-04-28T01:52:34Z")
That’s only because you don’t know how to keep on chooglin. ---
**Author:** ![Sylvanz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/fbc32d/32.png) [@Sylvanz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sylvanz)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2026, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-particular-vocalists-who-annoy-you/1029540/114 "2026-04-28T02:20:34Z")
At least to me that is not breathy it sort of swallo-y. Breathy is Billie Eylish. There are a lot of women who are singing in that style now. I’m not a fan at all. I like the indie singer better. ---
**Author:** ![Sylvanz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/fbc32d/32.png) [@Sylvanz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sylvanz)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2026, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-particular-vocalists-who-annoy-you/1029540/115 "2026-04-28T02:24:14Z")
I love cindi Lauper and Stevie Nicks. Though they are miles apart in range, style, and well everything. Lauper has a good vocal range and excellent control. Nicks has a certain husky appeal. I like her writing too. ---
**Author:** ![pkbites](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pkbites/32/204_2.png) [@pkbites](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pkbites)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2026, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-particular-vocalists-who-annoy-you/1029540/116 "2026-04-28T02:36:38Z")
> [@Sylvanz](#): > > I love cindi Lauper and Stevie Nicks. It’s Cyndi And the OP didn’t ask who you love. ---
**Author:** ![Sylvanz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/fbc32d/32.png) [@Sylvanz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sylvanz)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2026, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-particular-vocalists-who-annoy-you/1029540/117 "2026-04-28T02:37:33Z")
Mellecamp eeew. Talk about mumbling and slurring. cohhhkun up the evnahhn slahuup. Little Pink Houses. ---
**Author:** ![Sylvanz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/fbc32d/32.png) [@Sylvanz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sylvanz)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2026, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-particular-vocalists-who-annoy-you/1029540/118 "2026-04-28T02:45:54Z")
I never was a big fan. His singing was ok but quirky. Having said that I had no idea what a virtuoso guitar player he was until after he died. I watched a video of him and if I recall correctly George Harrison, and perhaps some other famous people, performing While My Guitar Gently weeps. It was seriously outstanding. And I don’t remember his doing any vocals, though perhaps some back ups? > **[Google Search](https://www.google.com/search?q=while+my+guitar+gently+weeps+with+prince+and+harrison&rlz=1CANHHD_enUS1198&oq=while+my+guitar+gently+weeps+with+prince+and+harrison&gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUyBggAEEUYOTIICAEQABgWGB4yCAgCEAAYFhgeMggIAxAAGBYYHjIICAQQABgWGB4yCAgFEAAYFhgeMg0IBhAAGIYDGIAEGIoFMg0IBxAAGIYDGIAEGIoFMgoICBAAGKIEGIkFMgoICRAAGIAEGKIE0gEJMTk2MzdqMGo3qAIAsAIA&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8#fpstate=ive&vld=cid:d8ca8a04,vid:6SFNW5F8K9Y,st:0)** ---
**Author:** ![Guest-starring\_Id](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guest-starring_id/32/21736_2.png) [@Guest-starring\_Id](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guest-starring_Id)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2026, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-particular-vocalists-who-annoy-you/1029540/119 "2026-04-28T02:59:14Z")
> [@Sylvanz](#): > > …and perhaps some other famous people Dot Wiggin might have been in there. Carol Channing didn’t have the most heart cockle-warming voice, but boy could she out-debate Pauline Kael at their high school debate competition. TYL, eh? 🫠 Could be a wildcat dancer, though, in a sort of CrossFit-y way. ---
**Author:** ![Sylvanz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/fbc32d/32.png) [@Sylvanz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sylvanz)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2026, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-particular-vocalists-who-annoy-you/1029540/120 "2026-04-28T03:15:20Z")
The performer were: Tom Petty and the Heart Breakers, Jeff Lynne, Steve Winwood, and George Harrison’s son Dhani Harrison, who looks so much like his dad. The video, as beautiful as it is, makes me sad. George was already dead at the time, and Prince and Tom Petty are now gone. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-particular-vocalists-who-annoy-you/1029540.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-particular-vocalists-who-annoy-you/1029540.md?page=7)