# most distinctive singing voice **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 13, 2003, 3:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-distinctive-singing-voice/194817 "2003-08-13T03:21:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![nefertari](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/7bcc69/32.png) [@nefertari](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nefertari)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2003, 10:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-distinctive-singing-voice/194817/41 "2003-08-13T10:59:38Z")
…Brian Molko isn’t bad either. ---
**Author:** ![longjohn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/65b543/32.png) [@longjohn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/longjohn)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2003, 11:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-distinctive-singing-voice/194817/42 "2003-08-13T11:03:07Z")
Not a single mention of Nina Simone? I’ll be damned. As far as Tori Amos goes, she is very distinctive, and would be unique if only it wasn’t for Kate Bush… j. ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2003, 11:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-distinctive-singing-voice/194817/43 "2003-08-13T11:09:31Z")
Elizabeth Fraser. ---
**Author:** ![Achernar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e274bd/32.png) [@Achernar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Achernar)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2003, 11:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-distinctive-singing-voice/194817/44 "2003-08-13T11:28:01Z")
MC Hawking ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Bee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ba0ec/32.png) [@Larry\_Bee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Bee)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2003, 11:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-distinctive-singing-voice/194817/45 "2003-08-13T11:40:43Z")
The man with the Golden Voice - Lenny Cohen. Shane MacGowan cackles like onone else I know. Van Morrison is pretty hard to mistake for someone else, too. Nina Simone had her own unique way of singing. ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2003, 11:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-distinctive-singing-voice/194817/46 "2003-08-13T11:43:40Z")
Dammit, **longjohn** , Kate Bush was my female answer! Has no one said Neil Diamond? ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2003, 11:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-distinctive-singing-voice/194817/47 "2003-08-13T11:52:20Z")
Mark Knopfler. Who the hell is Geddy Lee? ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2003, 11:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-distinctive-singing-voice/194817/48 "2003-08-13T11:57:18Z")
sang for Rush ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2003, 12:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-distinctive-singing-voice/194817/49 "2003-08-13T12:06:44Z")
Amazing! This deep into the thread and I get to mention: Frank Sinatra Rosemary Clooney and some others I didn’t see above: Tiny Tim Teresa Brewer Brenda Lee Alvin (of the Chipmunks) Johnny Cash Elvis Jerry Lee Lewis John Lee Hooker Jerry Reed Jimmy Reed Gregg Allman Perry Como ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2003, 12:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-distinctive-singing-voice/194817/50 "2003-08-13T12:12:50Z")
I have trouble telling Alvin, Simon, and Theodore apart. ---
**Author:** ![moejuck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/57b2e6/32.png) [@moejuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/moejuck)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2003, 12:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-distinctive-singing-voice/194817/51 "2003-08-13T12:33:33Z")
Neil Young! ---
**Author:** ![GrandfatherTrout](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/f17d59/32.png) [@GrandfatherTrout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrandfatherTrout)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2003, 12:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-distinctive-singing-voice/194817/52 "2003-08-13T12:42:16Z")
Robot Arm scores big with Blossom Dearie. I can’t believe nobody has mentioned Steve Perry (of Journey). ---
**Author:** ![booklover](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/85f322/32.png) [@booklover](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/booklover)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2003, 1:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-distinctive-singing-voice/194817/53 "2003-08-13T13:12:29Z")
Can’t believe nobody else has mentioned Karen Carpenter. Also, Nina Simone and Janis Joplin. ---
**Author:** ![Woeg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/df705f/32.png) [@Woeg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Woeg)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2003, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-distinctive-singing-voice/194817/54 "2003-08-13T13:45:45Z")
Danny Elfman ---
**Author:** ![DeVena](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/dec6dc/32.png) [@DeVena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DeVena)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2003, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-distinctive-singing-voice/194817/55 "2003-08-13T14:21:48Z")
Ethel Merman ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2003, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-distinctive-singing-voice/194817/56 "2003-08-13T14:29:27Z")
I should be hammered senseless with a wok! RAY CHARLES! ---
**Author:** ![nitroglycerine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/c5a1d2/32.png) [@nitroglycerine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nitroglycerine)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2003, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-distinctive-singing-voice/194817/57 "2003-08-13T14:57:56Z")
Well. I’m listening to Modern Lovers right now… the “Precise Modern Lovers Order” Lp to be exact, and NOBODY sounds like Jonathan Richman (You know, the guy who sings in Something About Mary). Anybody mention Jello Biafra and Exene from the band X? Jon ---
**Author:** ![bordelond](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bordelond/32/150_2.png) [@bordelond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bordelond)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2003, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-distinctive-singing-voice/194817/58 "2003-08-13T14:59:01Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by GrandfatherTrout \* > \*\*I can’t believe nobody has mentioned Steve Perry (of Journey). \*\* Strongly seconded. I’m also urprised to see no mention of Freddie Mercury. ---
**Author:** ![nitroglycerine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/c5a1d2/32.png) [@nitroglycerine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nitroglycerine)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2003, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-distinctive-singing-voice/194817/59 "2003-08-13T15:05:20Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by moejuck \* > \*\*Neil Young! \*\* Check out the band Jon [Dead Moon](http://www.geocities.com/SunsetStrip/Venue/7980/) sometime. Its a lo-fi punk band whose singer, Fred Cole, was in the 60s band Lollipop Shoppe (who had the GREAT song, “You Must Be A Witch”). His voice is great, and fits the music perfectly, but he sounds like Neil Young singing Sugar Mountain on a really bad night. Jon ---
**Author:** ![curly\_chick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7ba0ec/32.png) [@curly\_chick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/curly_chick)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2003, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-distinctive-singing-voice/194817/60 "2003-08-13T15:05:40Z")
Freddie Mercury Jimmy Sommervile Paul Robeson Dusty Springfield All instantly recognisable [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-distinctive-singing-voice/194817.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-distinctive-singing-voice/194817.md?page=4)