Like the Axl Rose interview linked above, I remember being surprised when I saw a David Coverdale interview and discovered he has a rich, deep baritone speaking voice. At the time I only knew him from his singing with Whitesnake.
That is more the rule than the exception. Few Brits sound British while singing. Don’t know why, but most English speakers sound American when they sing. This is so common that people notice when someone is singing in a strong accent, like the Proclaimers (“500 Miles”)
It’s also one of the things that is really annoying about (non-musical) actors that are affecting an have singing parts. They don’t realize how much accent it’s okay to give up. It takes a really good musician to sound good while maintaining a strong accent.
It seems the Proclaimers use the speak song version where they are talking as much as they are singing.
John Lithgow and Jason Alexander both are fine Irish tenors. Surprises the hell out of me.
Mel Tillis speaks with a very pronounced stutter, which completely disappears when he sings.
John Fogerty has kind of a lispy speaking voice
I was just watching an old Muppet Show episode, and found that Leo Sayer, who has a really annoying squeaky falsetto singing voice, has a pleasant speaking voice.
Wonder why he didn’t sing in that voice instead…
Anyone remember Miche’le? She was this singer that used to sing for, or with NWA, I think. Anyways, she talked like a baby, but sang like a powerhouse.
“No More Lies” was the joint back in the day!
I have a Michel’le tape somewhere. But her speaking voice made me want to puncture my eardrums.
And on the opposite end of the spectrum, there’s Billie Joe Armstrong, lead singer for Green Day. He sounds British when he sings, but is actually from Berkeley. Here’s his speaking voice.
Here’s how it worked out: British invasion singers sang like American blues and R&B singers (Beatles, Stones); the Kinks brought back Englishness and sang in their native accents; corporate rock brought the American accent into vogue; punk gobbed on American accents and made London accents popular; new wave and 80s music took both British and American accents; grunge and alternative bands favored British accents.
Here’s another: Gerry Rafferty. Sounds like a West Coast Yank, but has a lovely Scottish accent.
She had a song I used to love back in the day! It was called ‘Before You Turn off the Lights’ or something like that, and it featured rappers doing *really corny *raps. “Hey, I’m a Scorpio. I’m the master of seduction.” hahaaaa! She sang her heart out on that song, and without a trace of irony too!
Jon Lovitz has a silly speaking voice, but has a very strong, pleasant singing voice.
What about the voice of Geddy Lee…how did it get so high? I wonder if he speaks like an ordinary guy.
Wow! that was impressive!