Sure Meatloaf is silly and has a histrionic, theatrical style but he seems to have a good powerful voice and some technical chops to back it up, at least to me anyway, the guy can definitely sing.
It’s nothing new.
Loving you, is easy cause you’re beautiful…
Minnie Ripperton could sing, but the whistle register is a bit much.
Rebecca Black. You may now close the thread.
As it happens, I saw the Birthday Party play that song live. I agree, in the context of the Birthday Party, NC was a very effective vocalist. His solo material, however, proves that he is no singer.
Are we talking “technically” bad or just those that we personally dislike? I know there’s an element of subjectivity but I’d think there are some universal standards, such as the ability to carry a tune / hold a note, etc. I don’t think anyone could say that Celine and all the other vocal gymnasts out their are “bad” singers. That style gets on my nerves but I can’t possibly see calling it bad.
Bob Dylan, Neil Young, Leonard Cohen? What they do can barely be called singing, imo (I do love Cohen though.)I suppose they get a pass because of their gorgeous lyrics but I find the sound of their voices pretty unpleasant. I can’t think of a voice that actually pisses me off like Billy Corgan’s. When I hear is off tune yelping I visualize hitting his bald head with a two by four. Grrrrrrrrrrrrr. Stevie Nicks sounds like a braying ass and I picture sticking my foot out and tripping her, mid twirl.
Are you guys serious? Cohen’s voice is perfectly suited to his material - if anything, it got significantly better as he aged. His vocals on his final album are incredibly rich and resonant, and perfectly on pitch.
It’s certainly unusual, yes, and not your standard rock/pop fare. But to say it’s the worst is just… outside of my universe, let’s say.
And don’t even get me started on Tom Waits…
Technical is a big part of the question. But also that there was a kernel of music in there to begin with.
Leonard never had a good voice, but Neil and Dylan? It’s just impossible to make that many songs of that high quality and to not be able to sing them. Kristofferson is a dude who should not sing and his career showed it. A handful of songs, and then, movies. There are moments of such perfect beauty in Neils vocal work. It certainly isn’t off key or uncommitted.
Dylan is not off key either that I can hear. When he sings he is doing what he does for a living and it sounds like it. Leon Russell does not.
In short rough singing isn’t bad singing.
Dylan : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3a3ERxzuh80
Neil Young : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3aYTWv2rhDA
Here’s Leon: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d2Z9qN8R9Bg
The first two are natural singers of their own material. The third is painful to me.
No one has mentioned Geddy Lee, yet. Oversight? Professional courtesy?
Or King Diamond? People actually listen to this stuff?
“Queen Jane Approximately”, from Blonde on Blonde is famously waaay out of tune, some have argued purposefully.
I wouldn’t even consider novelty acts like Tiny Tim in the discussion.
Having something to say gives you somewhat of a pass on vocal quality.
I like Willie Nelson but would never describe him as a good singer. But there is something “interesting” about his voice.
He’s not my taste but I would have thought Geddy Lee is considered one of the best in his genre(?) His voice is distinctive for sure, so I guess if one doesn’t like it, they *really *don’t like it.
Phil Collins deserves honorable mention, ISTR it was someone on this board that long ago branded him as a “power whiner” and that has always stuck with me as accurate. “You’re the only one who really knew me at all”, very difficult to listen to.
Can we nominate those who don’t make their living as musicians? Lorne Greene did a passable job (sort of) singing Ringo, but there’s really nothing to compare with the dulcet tones of William Shatner and Tambourine Man.
My thoughts too.
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What’s wrong with the Swedish Chef 
No reason to limit this to human beings. In the frog category, Michigan J. Frog is of course a standout. After that the pond gets shallow pretty quickly. Clarance “Frogman” Henry boasted he could “sing like a frog” but forgot to include “one with a bad case of congestive heart failure”. And Kermit the Frog’s rendition of The Rainbow Connection makes the Budweiser Frogs sound positively melodic.
Are you talking about his singing? I never noticed that. The guitars are supposed to be apparently, or were left that way intentionally.
I agree on all points.
Also: Adam Duritz is really bad. And tasteless.
Eddie Vedder is just tasteless.
Adam makes the list but Eddie doesn’t.
Here’s some bad:
-A band who imitates another band I didn’t like anyway, and badly at that. Check out the singers line endings- Rancid.
He actually was a great singer with an amazing vocal range. People only know his falsetto, but he could do so much more.