# Singers with strange voices **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 21, 2004, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singers-with-strange-voices/265373 "2004-09-21T20:39:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![GorillaMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@GorillaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GorillaMan)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2004, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singers-with-strange-voices/265373/21 "2004-09-21T21:57:20Z")
On the classical front, Peter Pears and Kathleen Ferrier had extraordinary-sounding voices. And Cathy Berberian, who I’m sure I mentioned yesterday in another thread, who had one of the most versatile voices on the planet. ---
**Author:** ![stpauler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9d8465/32.png) [@stpauler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stpauler)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2004, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singers-with-strange-voices/265373/22 "2004-09-21T22:06:49Z")
I’ll second Macy Gray and Tom Waits (and I’m going to hear the new TW album tonight! Woohoo!). [Ferron.](http://www.ferrononline.com/) I’ve always found it hard to describe her voice without giving up and playing a song. [(“Ain’t Life a Brook” subscription required I believe for sound clips.)](http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&token=ADFEAEE4781FD94CA57520D79A2A45C4BB61E629C742F281116E495AD1A9611BDF5E21B240ACC6CFB0E577B479ABB328AE5A0BD9C9EE469CA1&sql=10:iq2zef5k8gf1) ---
**Author:** ![Kyla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/eada6e/32.png) [@Kyla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kyla)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2004, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singers-with-strange-voices/265373/23 "2004-09-21T22:29:48Z")
Bob Dylan Joni Mitchell ---
**Author:** ![bluecanary](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bluecanary/32/3614_2.png) [@bluecanary](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bluecanary)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2004, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singers-with-strange-voices/265373/24 "2004-09-21T23:34:07Z")
I despair of this act ever getting the recognition that they deserved, but: If you enjoy listening to the singing of Thom Yorke and Matt Bellamy, get a hold of **Geneva** ’s first album, ‘_Further_’. In particular I recommend the track ‘Worry Beads’. ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2004, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singers-with-strange-voices/265373/25 "2004-09-22T00:01:12Z")
C’mon people. This discussion begins and ends with Geddy Lee. Alex Lifeson: “When we started people didn’t know what to make of us. We were just sort of known as this band that ripped off Zeppelin and had a singer with a crazy voice.” ---
**Author:** ![angelicate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@angelicate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/angelicate)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2004, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singers-with-strange-voices/265373/26 "2004-09-22T00:22:07Z")
Jello Biafra (Dead Kennedys) has a pretty unique voice. ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2004, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singers-with-strange-voices/265373/27 "2004-09-22T00:33:06Z")
Paul Robeson. Can a human voice go any deeper? ---
**Author:** ![PunditLisa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/4af34b/32.png) [@PunditLisa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PunditLisa)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2004, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singers-with-strange-voices/265373/28 "2004-09-22T00:36:50Z")
Aimee Mann has an unusual voice. It’s either very deep or very high. Kate Bush was the other lady who comes to mind. Unlike fishbicycle her voice didn’t grow on me. I still think she sounds like Minnie Mouse on helium. ---
**Author:** ![JayElle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/4bbf92/32.png) [@JayElle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JayElle)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2004, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singers-with-strange-voices/265373/29 "2004-09-22T00:38:30Z")
Lucinda Williams. While she doesn’t a classically beautiful voice, I find her very compelling and soulful. Kinda like a female Willie Nelson. ---
**Author:** ![devilsknew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4da419/32.png) [@devilsknew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/devilsknew)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2004, 3:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singers-with-strange-voices/265373/30 "2004-09-22T03:03:32Z")
[King Diamond](http://king-diamond.coven.vmh.net/) has a pretty unique operatic falsetto. His albums are pretty unique too, they tell spooky gothic horror stories as a whole. Makes for some Hoary Halloween Headbangin’-- The album _Abigail_ was my favorite. ---
**Author:** ![edwino](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/35a633/32.png) [@edwino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/edwino)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2004, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singers-with-strange-voices/265373/31 "2004-09-22T03:36:02Z")
Liz Phair has a bizarre voice. But it works. I always thought Sinead O’Connor has a weird singing style (she has a beautiful voice). She hits her notes straight-on, without vibrato. I think that is pretty cool. Bjork and Laetitia Sadier (from Stereolab) also do this. How could we go this far in the thread without mentioning Janis Joplin? If you are interested in groaners, try Mahlathini and the Mahotella Queens. Mahlathini is a famous South African groaner, singing in front of the lovely soprano Mahotella Queens. Try the song “Thokozile”, one of the happiest songs ever. ---
**Author:** ![Green\_Bean](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/green_bean/32/1760_2.png) [@Green\_Bean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Green_Bean)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2004, 3:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singers-with-strange-voices/265373/32 "2004-09-22T03:51:13Z")
Neil Young has one of those voices where you could credibly argue that he can’t sing at all. I generally don’t like his solo work, though I think he sounds good when singing with David Crosby, Stephen Stills, and Graham Nash. Pete Townshend also has one of those voices. But I love to listen to him. ---
**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:** [September 22, 2004, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singers-with-strange-voices/265373/33 "2004-09-22T03:57:19Z")
Diamanda Galas. Her version of Amazing Grace is simultaneously painful and astounding to listen to. ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2004, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singers-with-strange-voices/265373/34 "2004-09-22T03:57:24Z")
**John Prine** The lead singer for **Sparks** I suppose **Warren Zevon** might qualify. ---
**Author:** ![Askia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/96bed5/32.png) [@Askia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Askia)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2004, 4:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singers-with-strange-voices/265373/35 "2004-09-22T04:21:26Z")
Louis Armstrong, Tone Loc, Michael Jackson, the recent late great Barry White. ---
**Author:** ![NDP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ndp/32/55_2.png) [@NDP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NDP)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2004, 4:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singers-with-strange-voices/265373/36 "2004-09-22T04:53:01Z")
I don’t know if he should count because it’s an affectation but [Les Claypool](http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&token=ADFEAEE4781BDE4BAF7420E8B30869E89A26AB5BFE66C2AD37146F1BFF9A1C54942C5DF85EFB9D88FDF36AB67BB0FD2EA45E43D2C8E452FED6653B2DFC93&sql=11:5jx7gjwrj6im) of Primus sounds like a cartoon hillbilly. [Victoria Williams’](http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&token=ADFEAEE4781BDE4BAF7420E8B30869E89A26AB5BFE66C2AD37146F1BFF9A1C54942C5DF85EFB9D88FDF36AB67BB0FD2EA45E43D2C8E452FFD6673A2DFC93&sql=11:fmozefekhgf1) voice is thin, strained, and high. > [@](#): > > Kate Bush was the other lady who comes to mind. Unlike fishbicycle her voice didn’t grow on me. I still think she sounds like Minnie Mouse on helium. Well, to be fair, her voice did get deeper as she got older. ---
**Author:** ![edwino](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/35a633/32.png) [@edwino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/edwino)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2004, 5:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singers-with-strange-voices/265373/37 "2004-09-22T05:13:33Z")
Shane MacGowan of the Pogues. If he isn’t drunk, he’s on the way there. ---
**Author:** ![Hey\_It\_s\_That\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Hey\_It\_s\_That\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hey_It_s_That_Guy)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2004, 6:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singers-with-strange-voices/265373/38 "2004-09-22T06:06:26Z")
> [@stpauler](#): > > I’ll second Macy Gray and Tom Waits (and I’m going to hear the new TW album tonight! Woohoo!). You lucky person! Please tell us all about it! Start a new thread! Tom Waits is my favorite musician. When is this new album coming out for the rest of us proles? ---
**Author:** ![Bimble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b2d939/32.png) [@Bimble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bimble)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2004, 10:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singers-with-strange-voices/265373/39 "2004-09-22T10:34:51Z")
**Trent Reznor** - Nine Inch Nails. The man has an ear-bendingly nasal TWANG to his voice BUT what he DOES with that voice is what makes his vocal performance perfect for getting his lyrics across. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Lars\_Aruns](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c68b51/32.png) [@Lars\_Aruns](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lars_Aruns)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2004, 11:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singers-with-strange-voices/265373/40 "2004-09-22T11:00:38Z")
There’s **Jon Anderson** of Yes. And it’s _his actual voice_, it’s not a falsetto thing. Quite enjoyable in the right setting. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singers-with-strange-voices/265373.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singers-with-strange-voices/265373.md?page=3)