# Has there ever been a worse very successful singer than Mick Jagger? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 30, 2009, 3:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-there-ever-been-a-worse-very-successful-singer-than-mick-jagger/519428 "2009-11-30T03:51:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 7
**Author:** ![Stan\_Shmenge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/94ad74/32.png) [@Stan\_Shmenge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stan_Shmenge)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2009, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-there-ever-been-a-worse-very-successful-singer-than-mick-jagger/519428/121 "2009-12-03T03:15:58Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > Not the worst singer in his band. In fact he probably wasn’t even the _second_ worst. But maybe my perception is skewed because I’ve heard Weir recently, when he’s absolutely horrible - sub-Dylan, sub-William Shatner. A lot of it had to do with the particular day. On a good day, Jerry can make you weep. The album version of “Standing on the Moon” being a good example. But a lot of days he was pretty much done. 😃 /deadhead ---
**Author:** ![Stan\_Shmenge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/94ad74/32.png) [@Stan\_Shmenge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stan_Shmenge)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2009, 3:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-there-ever-been-a-worse-very-successful-singer-than-mick-jagger/519428/122 "2009-12-03T03:17:31Z")
And as far as Geddy Lee is concerned, he sings on key, he just as a freakish voice that turns some people off. Once you get beyond that, he is a fantastic singer, for a band called Rush. It wouldn’t really be Rush without him. /rush nerd ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2009, 3:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-there-ever-been-a-worse-very-successful-singer-than-mick-jagger/519428/123 "2009-12-03T03:54:42Z")
> [@koufax](#): > > From wikipedia: > > “Pet Sounds is the eleventh studio album by the American rock band The Beach Boys, released May 16, 1966, on Capitol Records. It has been widely ranked as one of the most influential records ever released in western pop music and has been ranked at number #1 in several music magazines’ lists of greatest albums of all time, including New Musical Express, The Times and Mojo Magazine.[1][2][3] In 2003, it was ranked #2 in Rolling Stone’s 500 Greatest Albums of All Time list.[4]” And they call Wilson a musical genius. I don’t get it one bit. When they were on top i refused to see them for free. ---
**Author:** ![oliversarmy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/eb8c5e/32.png) [@oliversarmy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/oliversarmy)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2009, 4:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-there-ever-been-a-worse-very-successful-singer-than-mick-jagger/519428/124 "2009-12-03T04:37:57Z")
Stevie Nicks. ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2009, 5:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-there-ever-been-a-worse-very-successful-singer-than-mick-jagger/519428/125 "2009-12-03T05:11:24Z")
> [@Mister\_Rik](#): > > I thought Madonna sounded great on her album “I’m Breathless”, which was songs from the _Dick Tracy_ movie and other songs in the same “big band/swing” style. I recommend that album to anyone who thinks Madonna doesn’t have a sense of humor. Totally off the wall silliness. For the best of her singing, I’d recommend _Something To Remember_. It includes the absolutely wonderful ‘‘Love Don’t Live Here Anymore.’’ She nailed that one. Oh, and _Bedtime Stories_. There’s a vulnerability to her voice, I think it works for her even though she’s not a perfect singer. Stan, as a fellow _Rus_h nerd, I will defend Geddy Lee. Hot shit. ---
**Author:** ![Dorothea\_Book](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/da6949/32.png) [@Dorothea\_Book](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dorothea_Book)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2009, 5:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-there-ever-been-a-worse-very-successful-singer-than-mick-jagger/519428/126 "2009-12-03T05:13:47Z")
> [@oliversarmy](#): > > Stevie Nicks. And I was going to say Elvis Costello 😉 ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2009, 5:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-there-ever-been-a-worse-very-successful-singer-than-mick-jagger/519428/127 "2009-12-03T05:42:29Z")
> [@racer72](#): > > Best scream in rock history in Won’t Get Fooled Again. That’s enough to not be mentioned in this thread. Amen. I’m not a big fan of the Who, but Daltrey was the perfect fit for their music, and that scream is _the_ quintessential rock scream. I’m not sure what more praise you can give a rock vocalist. Perfect. Just like Keith Moon, who is not my favorite drummer by any stretch (although my appreciation is growing) but absolutely perfect for the Who. Whenever I hear post-Moon who, it just doesn’t sound right to me. ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2009, 7:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-there-ever-been-a-worse-very-successful-singer-than-mick-jagger/519428/128 "2009-12-03T07:39:18Z")
> [@Nametag](#): > > Yes, Mick Jagger is, justifiably, a rock legend – but that doesn’t change the fact that he’s a terrible singer. It’s always struck me as unjust that Keith Richards has gotten such grief for his solo efforts when Mick doesn’t sing any better. It’s all personality. > > Exhibit #1 for the prosecution: Mick Jagger singing the blues. He’s awful. I remember once hearing a late night show – I’m thinking it was Ray Manzarek – devoted to exploring the Rolling Stones’ work. They played a track of one of the great Negro bluesmen singing one of the Stones’ blues songs. It was beautiful, and it it became clearer than ever before that Mick can’t sing. Probably Robert Johnson performing his song “Love In Vain” in 1937. I love the Stones’ version of it. > [@olivesmarch4th](#): > > As one of the biggest Madonna fans on the planet, I will concede that she is not the strongest singer out there. Weirdly enough, though, I think her upper range is the problem. Seriously, have you heard, ‘‘Live to Tell’’ and ‘‘In This Life’’ and pretty much any of her ballads which features a strong alto? Gorgeous. > > Her vocal immaturity is pretty evident in early upper range songs like ‘‘Holiday’’ and ‘‘Lucky Star,’’ but she eventually got some vocal training (when she filmed Evita in 1996) and improved tremendously. > > Still, I’ve always believed that Madonna is not a singer. She is a performer. Her first love, and greatest talent, is dance. I though it was hilarious that despite desperately trying to be taken seriously as a singer in Dick Tracy, Madonna was outsung seemingly effortlessly by Mandy Patinkin (her piano player) in the one line he was given to sing. I think her vocals are completely ordinary. It’s her performance that puts her on top. I can’t say I think Mick Jagger is a good singer or bad singer, but I do think he is the biggest reason the Stones are what they are. I don’t think a better singer would have made them any bigger. He’s exactly the right man for the job. Sometimes yelling with good timing is exactly what’s needed. ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2009, 1:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-there-ever-been-a-worse-very-successful-singer-than-mick-jagger/519428/129 "2009-12-03T13:26:28Z")
> [@Stan\_Shmenge](#): > > And as far as Geddy Lee is concerned, he sings on key, he just as a freakish voice that turns some people off. Once you get beyond that, he is a fantastic singer, for a band called Rush. It wouldn’t really be Rush without him. Substitute John Fogerty and Creedence into this sentence and it works equally well. I wouldn’t know how to begin to describe Fogerty’s voice, Southern Enthusiastic?, but again it’s a perfect marriage with the music. ---
**Author:** ![Mister\_Rik](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mister_rik/32/491_2.png) [@Mister\_Rik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mister_Rik)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2009, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-there-ever-been-a-worse-very-successful-singer-than-mick-jagger/519428/130 "2009-12-03T17:18:20Z")
> [@needscoffee](#): > > I though it was hilarious that despite desperately trying to be taken seriously as a singer in Dick Tracy, Madonna was outsung seemingly effortlessly by Mandy Patinkin (her piano player) in the one line he was given to sing. I think her vocals are completely ordinary. It’s her performance that puts her on top. But that one song (did they not finish the song in the movie? I can’t remember… weren’t they interrupted by Madonna’s characater’s jealous “boyfriend”?) is freakin’ _gorgeous_. And you’ve got to admit, Mandy Patinkin could sing circles around just about anybody. Guy’s got to be one of the most versatile performers on the planet. All-around, old-school, Vaudeville-type “Entertainer”. But I kind of think the point of the Breathless Mahoney character was that she was not _supposed_ to be a good singer (and that’s hinted at by her very name), she was supposed to be nightclub eye-candy. Also, and this is OT, the song “More” from the movie has one of the most brilliant, IMHO, lines ever: “More is better than nothing, yes, but nothing’s better than more.” Geddy Lee: I recently saw, on YouTube, a documentary about Rush tribute bands. It included some comments from Geddy himself, and at one point he admits, “When I was younger I wrote some completely ridiculous [vocal] parts”, and went on to say that he was impressed that other people were even _attempting_ to sing them, especially since even Geddy himself can’t sing those parts any more. Although that’s one area where, in my view, Geddy earns points over Daltrey. These days when Rush performs their older material live, Geddy has rearranged the melodies and even changed the keys of some songs to eliminate those notes he can’t consistently hit any more (they’re _his_ melodies - he’s allowed). I heard a recording of a live The Who performance from some time in the '90s where Roger was attempting to hit some really high notes from an older song, and he sounded like complete shit because he simply couldn’t do it. To be fair, though, I don’t know the circumstances. Maybe it was near the end of a tour and his voice was simply thrashed. Or maybe he’d been ill. ---
**Author:** ![Lamia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Lamia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamia)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2009, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-there-ever-been-a-worse-very-successful-singer-than-mick-jagger/519428/131 "2009-12-03T23:48:04Z")
> [@Mister\_Rik](#): > > Although that’s one area where, in my view, Geddy earns points over Daltrey. These days when Rush performs their older material live, Geddy has rearranged the melodies and even changed the keys of some songs to eliminate those notes he can’t consistently hit any more (they’re _his_ melodies - he’s allowed). I heard a recording of a live The Who performance from some time in the '90s where Roger was attempting to hit some really high notes from an older song, and he sounded like complete shit because he simply couldn’t do it. To be fair, though, I don’t know the circumstances. Maybe it was near the end of a tour and his voice was simply thrashed. Or maybe he’d been ill. I’ve seen The Who at least half a dozen times in the past decade, and Daltrey definitely has adjusted the vocal arrangements to fit his current range. You may have heard him on a bad night. ---
**Author:** ![Mister\_Rik](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mister_rik/32/491_2.png) [@Mister\_Rik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mister_Rik)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2009, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-there-ever-been-a-worse-very-successful-singer-than-mick-jagger/519428/132 "2009-12-04T00:47:35Z")
> [@Lamia](#): > > I’ve seen The Who at least half a dozen times in the past decade, and Daltrey definitely has adjusted the vocal arrangements to fit his current range. You may have heard him on a bad night. Maybe he learned his lesson after that performance I heard 😃 ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2009, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-there-ever-been-a-worse-very-successful-singer-than-mick-jagger/519428/133 "2009-12-04T01:28:59Z")
Sadly, Roger’s voice is the weakest link in a modern Who gig. If you read fan reviews, the caliber of the show almost always hinges on his performance. Considering the demands of Pete’s songs, it’s a wonder he can speak at all. There is only so much damage human vocal chords can take. However, his just completed “Use It Or Lose It” tour was well received by fans and media reviewers alike. Maybe he has one go-round left…at least we hope so. ---
**Author:** ![BigShooter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/f07891/32.png) [@BigShooter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigShooter)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2009, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-there-ever-been-a-worse-very-successful-singer-than-mick-jagger/519428/134 "2009-12-06T14:07:26Z")
> [@SenorBeef](#): > > The guy from AC/DC is definitely worse. He also doesn’t sing, has a really annoying voice, and has almost no range whatsoever. This is in part covered up by the entire band not having any musical talent, so it doesn’t stand out quite as much as he could. > > I read that AC/DC was like the 6th best selling artist of all time on some list and several of my blood vessels spontaneously exploded. I don’t know even where to start with this… :smack: My guess if you have no idea what rock and roll is all about so you have no business posting in a thread about rock and roll singers. AC/DC is one of the most pure rock acts out there. No frills, balls out rock. It’s not about having the golden voice - it’s about having the attitude and energy. No one who’s ever seen AC/DC play can deny that they are one of the tightest, most “jump around silly” inducing bands out there. One of the best lead guitar players ever plus the best rhythm section in rock history, period. Brian Johnson has a voice that fits the genre and the band perfectly… But that’s just my opinion.😃 It’s almost like saying that Zach De La Rocha from Rage Against The Machine has a crappy voice. He does - but not for that band. For that band, he was absolutely perfect… ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2009, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-there-ever-been-a-worse-very-successful-singer-than-mick-jagger/519428/135 "2009-12-06T16:54:13Z")
> [@BigShooter](#): > > I don’t know even where to start with this… :smack: > > My guess if you have no idea what rock and roll is all about so you have no business posting in a thread about rock and roll singers. > > AC/DC is one of the most pure rock acts out there. No frills, balls out rock. It’s not about having the golden voice - it’s about having the attitude and energy. No one who’s ever seen AC/DC play can deny that they are one of the tightest, most “jump around silly” inducing bands out there. One of the best lead guitar players ever plus the best rhythm section in rock history, period. Brian Johnson has a voice that fits the genre and the band perfectly… > > But that’s just my opinion.😃 > > It’s almost like saying that Zach De La Rocha from Rage Against The Machine has a crappy voice. He does - but not for that band. For that band, he was absolutely perfect… Hey dude - where ya been? Nice to see you on the 'Dope… Yeah, you have to be careful with this thread. People throwin’ tomatoes at Sinatra in a thread about Jagger - kinda not worth it. Your bone to pick is another example. Folks are welcome to not like a particular vocalist, but the undeniable success of some of the frontmen (and women), and the respect that they get from fellow practitioners within their genre, suggests that there is \*something \*they are doing well. You can choose to be open to that or not, but that’s about your choice, not what they are bringing to the table… ---
**Author:** ![Shirley\_Ujest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shirley\_Ujest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shirley_Ujest)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2009, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-there-ever-been-a-worse-very-successful-singer-than-mick-jagger/519428/136 "2009-12-06T18:11:12Z")
> [@gaffa](#): > > On Saturday Night Live, long ago, Tim Curry did a wonderful imagination of Jagger’s first “network special”, with various “special guest stars”, including Joe Piscopo’s wonderful Frank Sinatra. They traded lines from each other’s song, Jagger singing “Strangers In The Night”, Sinatra singing “Get Off My Cloud”. > > I wish I could find it, but Saturday Night Live has been diabolically efficient at removing clips from YouTube, and equally _in_efficient at putting clips back up on Hulu. > > Jagger is a brilliant singer compared to Lou Reed. [Sorta.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=31BCvjJRSBQ) ---
**Author:** ![Purd\_Werfect](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e47c2d/32.png) [@Purd\_Werfect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Purd_Werfect)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2009, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-there-ever-been-a-worse-very-successful-singer-than-mick-jagger/519428/137 "2009-12-06T18:19:44Z")
I’m not going to speculate on bad singers, but one thing stands out to me in this thread: Just about everyone mentioned has a sound which is uniquely identifiable. They may not be great singers or vocalists or whatever, but no one else really sounds like them. To me, that’s more special than being technically proficient. ---
**Author:** ![BigShooter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/f07891/32.png) [@BigShooter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigShooter)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2009, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-there-ever-been-a-worse-very-successful-singer-than-mick-jagger/519428/138 "2009-12-06T21:40:10Z")
> [@WordMan](#): > > Hey dude - where ya been? Nice to see you on the 'Dope… > > Yeah, you have to be careful with this thread. People throwin’ tomatoes at Sinatra in a thread about Jagger - kinda not worth it. Your bone to pick is another example. > > Folks are welcome to not like a particular vocalist, but the undeniable success of some of the frontmen (and women), and the respect that they get from fellow practitioners within their genre, suggests that there is \*something \*they are doing well. You can choose to be open to that or not, but that’s about your choice, not what they are bringing to the table… Just trying to get Ghost Town Guitars off the ground… slowly…😃 You always have a better way of putting things that I do… ---
**Author:** ![unwashed\_brain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/a9adbd/32.png) [@unwashed\_brain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/unwashed_brain)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2009, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-there-ever-been-a-worse-very-successful-singer-than-mick-jagger/519428/139 "2009-12-07T19:07:44Z")
More votes for the usual suspects: AC/DC (both), Geddy Lee, Dylan, Petty, Reed, Forgety, and Costello. One singer whose work I really enjoy but who probably fits in this thread is Greg Dulli, primarily of The Afghan Whigs. The album **Black Love** in particular has a large percentage of off-key vocals, yet it all just works somehow. Add him to the list of frontmen who really sell what they’re singing. ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2009, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-there-ever-been-a-worse-very-successful-singer-than-mick-jagger/519428/140 "2009-12-07T19:15:44Z")
What no Rod Stewart fans? Jagger wins. Just think .I can’t get no satisfaction. I can’t get no satisfaction ,and think of the range it required. Yes he was the front singer of a very successful band. They wrote songs to fit both of the notes he could sing. It was a perfect marriage of stage show and rock. It was just not very good singing. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-there-ever-been-a-worse-very-successful-singer-than-mick-jagger/519428.md?page=6) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-there-ever-been-a-worse-very-successful-singer-than-mick-jagger/519428.md?page=8)