# Singers You Thought Were A Joke But Turned Out To Be Impressive **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 16, 2009, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singers-you-thought-were-a-joke-but-turned-out-to-be-impressive/521490 "2009-12-16T16:27:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![joebuck20](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/74df32/32.png) [@joebuck20](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/joebuck20)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2009, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singers-you-thought-were-a-joke-but-turned-out-to-be-impressive/521490/41 "2009-12-17T22:48:35Z")
Fergie. When I first heard about her, I thought she was just another Britney Spears bubble gum princess knockoff. But my wife downloaded a few of her songs off iTunes and I was impressed. Pop music at its finest. ---
**Author:** ![MadTheSwine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9fc29f/32.png) [@MadTheSwine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MadTheSwine)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2009, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singers-you-thought-were-a-joke-but-turned-out-to-be-impressive/521490/42 "2009-12-17T22:50:32Z")
Pink ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2009, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singers-you-thought-were-a-joke-but-turned-out-to-be-impressive/521490/43 "2009-12-18T00:42:29Z")
> [@Novelty\_Bobble](#): > > I am just so jealous, to the point where I’m using the phrasing of a 14 year old girl. > I am keeping an eye out for his next tour dates. I have deferred my 40th birthday present for precisely that reason. > > I only really knew him from various UK panel shows. He was certainly funny but then I saw his stage show on TV and had NO idea he could sing and play like that. Incredible. When I say “genius” I truly mean it. Here’s why I think this: there are great comedians; there are great comedians who are thinkers; there are mediocre comedians who are great musicians; there are great musicians who are reasonably comic; there are good comedians who write bad comic songs; there are great comic singers who are shit comedians; there are great comedians who are funny but aren’t great thinkers… But, what occurred to me when I left the theatre, was that I have never seen anyone before who combines so much simultaneously, to such a degree of excellence: He’s a brilliant composer. He’s a fantastic musician. An excellent singer. A superb poet. A highly comedic lyricist. (I would hazard he’s the only person alive, apart from Tom Lehrer, who could be reasonably declared to be Tom Lehrer’s heir.) AND a very funny standup. But most of all, a sharp and sceptical [critical thinker](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UB_htqDCP-s). Truly, truly, when I say he is a genius, that’s not hyperbole. And he’s eccentric, self-effacing and charming too. Wanker Go and see him, at all cost. ---
**Author:** ![Maiira](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f04885/32.png) [@Maiira](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maiira)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2009, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singers-you-thought-were-a-joke-but-turned-out-to-be-impressive/521490/44 "2009-12-18T01:45:17Z")
**MIA**. Liked her stuff, but thought it was a bit silly. Then I read about her background, and it changed the meaning of just about every song of hers that I listened to. ---
**Author:** ![njtt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ecd19e/32.png) [@njtt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/njtt)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2009, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singers-you-thought-were-a-joke-but-turned-out-to-be-impressive/521490/45 "2009-12-18T02:05:14Z")
Scott Walker George Michael ---
**Author:** ![Walloon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/fbc32d/32.png) [@Walloon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walloon)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2009, 10:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singers-you-thought-were-a-joke-but-turned-out-to-be-impressive/521490/46 "2009-12-18T10:04:42Z")
I took one look at [Elvis Costello in the mid-1970s](http://www.dennishanna.com/costello_3.jpg), with his ill-fitting clothes, knocked knees, and Buddy Holly glasses, and thought: this nerd is going nowhere. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2009, 10:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singers-you-thought-were-a-joke-but-turned-out-to-be-impressive/521490/47 "2009-12-18T10:29:35Z")
> [@joebuck20](#): > > Fergie. When I first heard about her, I thought she was just another Britney Spears bubble gum princess knockoff. But my wife downloaded a few of her songs off iTunes and I was impressed. Pop music at its finest. > [@MadTheSwine](#): > > Pink ooh, yes, want to second both of these (with the exception of “My Humps”, but that might be Will.I.Aam more than Fergie for all I know) ---
**Author:** ![Novelty\_Bobble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Novelty\_Bobble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Novelty_Bobble)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2009, 12:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singers-you-thought-were-a-joke-but-turned-out-to-be-impressive/521490/48 "2009-12-18T12:44:55Z")
> [@jjimm](#): > > When I say “genius” I truly mean it. Here’s why I think this: there are great comedians; there are great comedians who are thinkers; there are mediocre comedians who are great musicians; there are great musicians who are reasonably comic; there are good comedians who write bad comic songs; there are great comic singers who are shit comedians; there are great comedians who are funny but aren’t great thinkers… > > But, what occurred to me when I left the theatre, was that I have never seen anyone before who combines so much simultaneously, to such a degree of excellence: > > He’s a brilliant composer. > He’s a fantastic musician. > An excellent singer. > A superb poet. > A highly comedic lyricist. (I would hazard he’s the only person alive, apart from Tom Lehrer, who could be reasonably declared to be Tom Lehrer’s heir.) > AND a very funny standup. > But most of all, a sharp and sceptical [critical thinker](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UB_htqDCP-s). > > Truly, truly, when I say he is a genius, that’s not hyperbole. > > And he’s eccentric, self-effacing and charming too. > > Wanker > > Go and see him, at all cost. I shall, and I will have to content myself with the fact that, polymath he may be but he will always be Australian. Ha! let’s see him “genius” his way out of that one. ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2009, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singers-you-thought-were-a-joke-but-turned-out-to-be-impressive/521490/49 "2009-12-18T13:37:36Z")
> [@Novelty\_Bobble](#): > > I shall, and I will have to content myself with the fact that, polymath he may be but he will always be Australian. Ha! let’s see him “genius” his way out of that one. Yet his genius does extend to being born in England. ---
**Author:** ![Novelty\_Bobble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Novelty\_Bobble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Novelty_Bobble)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2009, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singers-you-thought-were-a-joke-but-turned-out-to-be-impressive/521490/50 "2009-12-18T14:54:45Z")
> [@jjimm](#): > > Yet his genius does extend to being born in England. Oh I see, so he ends up with the best of both worlds does he?..dammit! is he doing this just to annoy me? ---
**Author:** ![Sigmagirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c89c15/32.png) [@Sigmagirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigmagirl)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2009, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singers-you-thought-were-a-joke-but-turned-out-to-be-impressive/521490/51 "2009-12-18T15:34:21Z")
My friend was enamored with Toni Tennille and gave me a tape of some of her cabaret songs. I must say I was impressed. Also, Maureen McGovern is best known for her schlocky “The Morning After” from _The Poseidon Adventure_, but is a really terrific jazz singer. ---
**Author:** ![Drain\_Bead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e47774/32.png) [@Drain\_Bead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drain_Bead)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2009, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singers-you-thought-were-a-joke-but-turned-out-to-be-impressive/521490/52 "2009-12-20T15:12:41Z")
Beck. Anyone remember his first hit? I didn’t think he’d be anything but a one-hit-wonder after that, but he definitely expanded and had staying power. For a similar result in bands, see Cake, and perhaps the Beastie Boys. ---
**Author:** ![TreacherousCretin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treacherouscretin/32/476_2.png) [@TreacherousCretin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TreacherousCretin)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2009, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singers-you-thought-were-a-joke-but-turned-out-to-be-impressive/521490/53 "2009-12-20T19:49:27Z")
Going way back- Tiny Tim. The guy was a nutcase, and looked like it, both on and off stage. HOWEVER, he was in fact an extremely good vocalist, with an encyclopedic knowledge of early 20th Century pop music. . [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singers-you-thought-were-a-joke-but-turned-out-to-be-impressive/521490.md?page=2)