I’m going to say right up front that I don’t listen to current music and I have just a passing familiarity with some of the names. When I’m in the car, I listen to a local station that plays an eclectic mix that includes singers from the 40s and 50s, up to some contemporary artists.
My possibly unfair impression is that singers today seem to rely on electronic enhancements and fancy choreography/costuming/effects for their live performances. Is there anyone who just sings? (Not sure I’m even asking this right.)
I’m thinking of performers like Robert Goulet, Tony Bennett, Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, Julie Andrews, Johnny Mathis, Sammy Davis Jr, Judy Garland, and more if I think a little harder - they seemed to own the stage and the audience when they picked up a microphone. Or maybe I’m misremembering, but I’m hard-pressed to come up with and 20-30-something singers today that would fit in that category. Am I missing some amazing talents while wallowing in the past?
I wonder how much of “greatness” is personal opinion. I recall recently commenting on the lack of pipes on Billie Ellish, yet several people strongly disagreed with me. Was Whitney Houston great? Mariah Carey?
I’ll offer for your consideration Rhiannon Giddens.. (Just a catchy recent release - not chosen to highlight vocal pyrotechnics.)
Yes, you are missing some amazing singers while wallowing in the past. Adele, Lady Gaga, Mariah Carey (yes, Mariah Carey), Lee Salonga, John Legend, Charlie Puth, Ariana Grande, and David Phelps come immediately to mind, and that’s just pop.
Her music is nothing special, but from the bits I’ve heard, Olivia Rodrigo has decent “pipes” and vocal range (in both senses of the word — stylistic and octave-wise).
David Draiman shows off his incredible vocal skills in Sound of Silence:
I very rarely notice a singer while listening to music, but when this song came up on my shuffle the first time I really sat up and took notice. Unfortunately, I don’t like heavy metal, so that’s really his only song I like, but boy can he sing.
I usually dislike “vocal gymnastics” but Sia always impresses me. I don’t know how much her studio recordings are enhanced but here’s some live Sia stuff.
Oh and listen to Aurora on a (supposedly) live performance of a song from an earlier era.
Good one. I heard her in concert (in her hometown, Kansas City) eleven years ago — soon after her wonderfully varied “Archandroid” album — and was impressed. A couple years later, we learned she’s also a good actress. Quite a talent.
I adore Alecia Beth Moore AKA Pink. I prefer her slower songs usually. I love her voice. I shiver with enjoyment from her. My sister laughs at me.
You might enjoy Allison Russell. She’s got a new album and was just on NPR doing some of her music and being interviewed. She also has a tiny desk concert. I bet I’ve listened to her song Nightflyer a quadrillion times.
I think that Adam Lambert does a pretty admirable job replacing Freddie Mercury and Mercury was a great vocalist. I’m not a huge Queen fan, but it is impressive how well Lambert does with the songs.
Why didn’t Queen ever go back and make a new album featuring Lambert? Aren’t they all alive still?
My favorite singer is probably Floor Jansen from the band Nightwish, but she does solo work and has even shown that she can sing other types of songs. I’ll link to her on Beste Zanger if you want to see what she sounds like outside Nightwish.
The truth is, almost all of the singers that “make it” have a lot of talent.
Let’s talk about that most scorned category: Pop Stars. Surely they can’t sing without electronic enhancements, elaborate, skimpy costume, and pyrotechnics? Here’s what you are missing if you believe that:
You picked three pop stars with great natural voices! But I don’t think J-Lo, Paula Abdul, Britney Spears, or Katy Perry, and many more, are similarly blessed.
There have always been perfomers whose careers were constructed (anyone rememjkber Fabian?). And I note you had to go 40 years back to find all your examples.
And another thing:
I’m not going to defend Paula Abdul, but even Britney started with a voice:
I’m not saying they have terrible voices – they just don’t have great voices. IMO, of course. The first three you chose have great voices. Those three are just okay to pretty good, IMO.
A few weeks ago, I watched some ‘America’s Got Talent’ against my will.
There were two teenage girls who certainly had some pipes on 'em. They were belting out some really difficult pieces. So, yeah, there are great singers, now and in the future. But you may not like what they are singing. Hell, a lot of times I don’t like it. But that is because I got old.
