The Dixie Chicks. I didn’t hear about them until around the same time The Spice Girls were becoming popular and I dismissed the DCs as being similar. I was wrong.
Amy Winehouse. I thought she was just a drugged up chick who released an album. When I listened to “Back to Black,” I was in awe. Tremendous. Too bad she’ll probably never get her life together enough to release another one.
Michael Jackson. OK, he could sing pretty well for a little kid, but so could Donny Osmond. Then he got a few years older and DAMN he was good!
Prince
Robbie Williams
Shakira
Christina Aguilera
I’ve been hearing jokes about Duran Duran all my life (and made a few) but I only listened to them properly the other day. Surprise! Ordinary World in particular is awesome.
Robbie Williams (until his last two albums).
This chick has come a long way, too.
Christina Aguilera. At first she seemed to just be one of a flood of pop tarts whose songs were popular more for her teen sexuality than for any actual musical value. But “Hurt” set her apart from the crowd, for me.
Tim Minchin, literally. His singing is a joke, or at least part of his joke but his version of “you grew on me” from his last tour was a real goose-bump moment. Sadly all too rare but very precious because of that.
This song is all about love creeping up on him like “A Tumor” “a Virus” “menigococcal meningitis” etc. etc. and the effect thereof. Not promising material I’ll grant you but for me it packed a massively powerful emotional punch.
(and though I can’t say for certain, I’d reckon that it has special meaning for him as well). His voice conveys it far better than any warbling bint like Whitney, Christina or Maria could ever do.
For those who aren’t aware of him I’d suggest you look him up by the normal means.
I’ll third Christina Aguilera. I’m especially impressed with some of her more retro stuff.
He is a genius. I saw him live two months ago and was stunned.
The band Red Elvises. A group of eastern Europeans with pretty heavy accents doing campy surf rock songs. They are actually musically very good, and their lyrics are awesome. I see them live every chance I can.
Songs like Drinking With Jesus, I Wanna See You Bellydance, Love Rocket, etc. What’s not to like?
Lily Allen. I wrote her off as an over-marketed British version of Hannah Montana and never bothered to sample any songs. She’s actually damn talented and interesting, I love her stuff.
I’ll fifth Justin Timberlake. He’s actually talented!
Back in the early 90s my husband’s company would hire a singer or band for their annual Christmas party. One year it was Celine Dion, another year it was Kenny Rogers. The first year we attended, they hired Ann-Margret. She was horrible. Her singing was mediocre and she was way too old to be acting like a sex kitten.
The next year was Andy Williams, and we almost stayed home. But it was a night out without the kids and a free dinner. So we went. And I have to admit that I enjoyed the heck out of his concert. He sang Christmas standards, without all the vocal acrobatics that is so popular today. And it was quite lovely and low key: a perfect antidote to the craziness of the season.
Andy Williams and Johnny Mathis are the 2 Christmas albums I buy over and over again (first in vinyl, then cassette, then CD). They know how to sing Christmas songs.
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.
Also, I saw Seth Mcfarlane on the BBC proms a couple of months ago…again, wow!
The creator of Family Guy?
The very same, he brought the house down. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O3zXCVfJSIs
Could you give us a hint on current acts just starting out who you feel are jokes? I would like to know who is going to be huge in the coming years.
I love this! I’m a huge MacFarlane fan. He’s brilliant, funny, super hot, and has one of the best voices in animation.
Thanks for sharing that.
Another vote for Christina Aguilera.