# Who's the worst famous singer? Who really sucks? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 9, 2005, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-the-worst-famous-singer-who-really-sucks/316235 "2005-08-09T04:04:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**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:** [August 9, 2005, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-the-worst-famous-singer-who-really-sucks/316235/81 "2005-08-09T23:31:06Z")
> [@rayh](#): > > Shane MacGowan - remember Fairytale of New York? Argh, he’s great, and that song is gorgeous! Granted, he’s be eliminated pretty quickly from American Idol, but you can’t tell me there is a singer in the world more suited than Shane MacGowan to sing the Pogues’ songs. > [@pulykamell](#): > > , who in their right mind would want Tom Waitts singing his music with a bland, but technically sound, voice? That’s the charm of Tom. That’s the soul of Tom. > > I think someone like Neko Case is a fantastic combination of both vocal prowess AND distinct character. The girl just oozes soul. YES and YES. You named my favorite male and female singers! ---
**Author:** ![ZebraShaSha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/eada6e/32.png) [@ZebraShaSha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZebraShaSha)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2005, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-the-worst-famous-singer-who-really-sucks/316235/82 "2005-08-09T23:34:51Z")
> [@elfkin477](#): > > 😃 I don’t mind some of Modest Mouse’s songs, but I got some Mountain Goats MP3s from station ripper a couple of months ago. I didn’t make it a full minute into any of their songs before skipping to the next songs on my playlist. Actually, I love both of those bands. Which actually made me remember some other bands that I dig that have absolutely horrible vocalists: Punk. The list just goes on and on: MC5, Stils, Dictators, Suicide, Sex Pistols, Ramones, Patti Smith, New York Dolls, Clash, Joy Division, etc. If you were apart of CBGBs, chances are you couldn’t sing. This didn’t mean they didn’t sound good, they just weren’t no American Idol either. And, my favorite crappy vocalist I have forgotten all this time would have to go to Beat Happening’s very own Calvin Johnson. He sounds like an accounting firm full of buffalos on almost all his tracks. ---
**Author:** ![Shayna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shayna/32/17976_2.png) [@Shayna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shayna)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2005, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-the-worst-famous-singer-who-really-sucks/316235/83 "2005-08-10T00:12:47Z")
> [@yBeayf](#): > > Dude, Tiny Tim had an _amazing_ voice (and in a good way, too). I’d give my left nut to have half the range he had. [You’re](http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&token=ADFEAEE47E17DC49A97220C7932B43C0A67FA458FE4AED81106E495AD1A930499F0563F240ADC6C4AEF875B47CE3F824A15305D6CBFE3681&sql=33:wns9kemtgq7v) [pulling](http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&token=ADFEAEE47E17DC49A97220C7932B43C0A67FA458FE4AED81106E495AD1A930499F0563F240ADC6C4AEF875B47CE3F724A45905D0CAFE3681&sql=33:geb1z85a8ytj) [our](http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&token=ADFEAEE47E17DC49A97220C7932B43C0A67FA458FE4AED81106E495AD1A930499F0563F240ADC6C4AEF875B47CE3F724A45905D0CAFE3681&sql=33:ryd9kettjqjq) [legs](http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&token=ADFEAEE47E17DC49A97220C7932B43C0A67FA458FE4AED81106E495AD1A930499F0563F240ADC6C4AEF875B47CE3F724A55E05D7C8FE3681&sql=33:qh9as36ra3zg), [right](http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&token=ADFEAEE47E17DC49A97220C7932B43C0A67FA458FE4AED81106E495AD1A930499F0563F240ADC6C4AEF875B47CE3F724A45C05D3CEFE3681&sql=33:8e8j1tg8zzba)? ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2005, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-the-worst-famous-singer-who-really-sucks/316235/84 "2005-08-10T00:15:20Z")
> [@featherlou](#): > > See, I’m exactly the opposite. I would much prefer to hear an amazing singer doing a mediocre song than a mediocre singer doing a fantastic song. I’m not sure how you meant this, but as I’m reading it, it’s not what _I_ meant. I said, I’d rather hear a _technically mediocre singer_ doing a passionate, soulful take of a song, rather than a _techically astounding singer_ doing a limp run-through of a song. The former is the better singer, in my opinion, because singing is not all about technique. It’s an amalgam of art and craftsmanship. Now, I’m not saying I like to hear some poor tone-deaf schlub doing impassioned karaoke to “We Are The Champions.” Intensity will only take you so far–you still need to have some basic grasp of tune and be able to control the timbre of your voice effectively. But almost none of the artists mentioned so far are so technically deficient as to qualify. Anything they lack in range or pinpoint perfect pitch they make up for in character and soul. I guess that’s what I look for: character and quirk in a voice, with enough discipline to hold a melody. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Rieux](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@Dr.Rieux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Rieux)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2005, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-the-worst-famous-singer-who-really-sucks/316235/85 "2005-08-10T00:16:16Z")
Ooh, ooh–I forgot about Jeff Lynne! ELO–great band, terrible vocals. ---
**Author:** ![Nobody](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/94ad74/32.png) [@Nobody](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nobody)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2005, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-the-worst-famous-singer-who-really-sucks/316235/86 "2005-08-10T01:03:30Z")
Wow, so many singers who have, what I concider, good voices getting slammed. Ouch! Well, anyway, I totally agree with Tom Waits (How the hell did he get a career?) and Billy Corgan, sometimes (sometimes, for some reason, his off key voice seemed to work for me) are the only two I can think of at the moment. Although if you want to include people who, at one time were able to sing, then, because of time, or drugs, or smoking, or, whatever reason, don’t sound so good any more, then I include the lead singer of Loverboy who, on Hit Me Baby One More Time sounded like crap when singing “Working for the Weekend” and I saw a little bit of live 8, and was dissapointed 😛 when I heard Neil Tennant singing “Always oh my mind”. ---
**Author:** ![Nobody](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/94ad74/32.png) [@Nobody](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nobody)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2005, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-the-worst-famous-singer-who-really-sucks/316235/87 "2005-08-10T01:06:51Z")
I’m also disappointed that I didn’t run my post through spell check first 😃 ---
**Author:** ![souroranges](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3e96dc/32.png) [@souroranges](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/souroranges)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2005, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-the-worst-famous-singer-who-really-sucks/316235/88 "2005-08-10T01:12:25Z")
Madonna or… Ester 😕 sang decent songs… but not neccesarily with a decent voice. Her early days were high pitched and irritating, while today she’s a british-sounding 😕 (you can develop an English-accent from marrying a UKer?) spaz. Oh, and she’s overrated to boot. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![5\_time\_champ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/5/278dde/32.png) [@5\_time\_champ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/5_time_champ)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2005, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-the-worst-famous-singer-who-really-sucks/316235/89 "2005-08-10T01:16:55Z")
89 posts and no one thinks of the worst. singer. ever. Macey frickin’ Gray! ---
**Author:** ![Rubystreak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Rubystreak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rubystreak)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2005, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-the-worst-famous-singer-who-really-sucks/316235/90 "2005-08-10T01:49:56Z")
The worst male singer ever is that guy from Sugar Ray. He’s off key both live and in recordings. I don’t even know his name, and I don’t want to. Worst female singer? Sheryl Crow. My god, does she suck. I think she sucked some of the coolness right off Eric Clapton, but that’s what he gets for dating someone who is as a bad a singer as she is. Whenever she wins a Grammy, I shake my head in utter confusion. ---
**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:** [August 10, 2005, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-the-worst-famous-singer-who-really-sucks/316235/91 "2005-08-10T02:11:58Z")
**Kris Kristofferson** can not hold a tune in a sack. ---
**Author:** ![wolf\_meister](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolf_meister/32/15202_2.png) [@wolf\_meister](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolf_meister)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2005, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-the-worst-famous-singer-who-really-sucks/316235/92 "2005-08-10T02:22:10Z")
\*\*Max Torque \*\* The guy from “Canned Heat” ? He’s dead you know. He was Al “Blind Owl” Wilson who killed himself Sept 3, 1970. I’m really showing my age here but I think a special wing of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame of Horrible Singers should be dedicated to **Freddie Cannon**. ALL the singers mentioned so far are _ **nothing** _ compared to this guy. Those of you that can find a copy of “Pallisades Park” should really listen to the sour sonic stylings of this King of Cacaphony. ---
**Author:** ![Laughing\_Lagomorph](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/6bbea6/32.png) [@Laughing\_Lagomorph](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Laughing_Lagomorph)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2005, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-the-worst-famous-singer-who-really-sucks/316235/93 "2005-08-10T02:24:31Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > … the guy who heads up Green Day. Jesus. No, Jesus headed up The Twelve Apostles. The Green Day guy is Billie Joe Armstrong. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Bomzaway](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e480ec/32.png) [@Bomzaway](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bomzaway)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2005, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-the-worst-famous-singer-who-really-sucks/316235/94 "2005-08-10T02:50:32Z")
> [@Sampiro](#): > > He’s dead now, you know. > > Not really. > > [nods] ☹ 🆒 ☹ 😛 ☹ 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Dark\_Side\_of\_the\_Floyd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/bb73d2/32.png) [@Dark\_Side\_of\_the\_Floyd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dark_Side_of_the_Floyd)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2005, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-the-worst-famous-singer-who-really-sucks/316235/95 "2005-08-10T03:15:06Z")
Roger Daltrey? Rod Stewart? Roger Waters?? Mick Jagger? Frank freakin’ **Sinatra**?? I need to rest. I don’t feel well. ---
**Author:** ![Shonyxian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e8c25b/32.png) [@Shonyxian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shonyxian)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2005, 8:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-the-worst-famous-singer-who-really-sucks/316235/96 "2005-08-10T08:58:29Z")
\*\*Karen \*\*O from Yeah Yeah Yeahs. **Ashlee Simpson** ; Anyone heard her ‘performance’ on the Super Bowl? Oh and her lip syncing, blaming it on the band, then saying she had acid reflux. Just pathetic. It led to a message board invading her official website (Even made the news…) Sweet justice. Kurt Cobain definitely doesn’t belong there. If anyone’s heard Nirvana: MTV Unplugged, they’d know he has range and consistency in his vocals. ---
**Author:** ![Dark\_Side\_of\_the\_Floyd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/bb73d2/32.png) [@Dark\_Side\_of\_the\_Floyd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dark_Side_of_the_Floyd)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2005, 9:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-the-worst-famous-singer-who-really-sucks/316235/97 "2005-08-10T09:00:47Z")
Hey, welcome to the boards, man. ---
**Author:** ![lhovis73](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ecd19e/32.png) [@lhovis73](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lhovis73)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2005, 9:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-the-worst-famous-singer-who-really-sucks/316235/98 "2005-08-10T09:06:16Z")
> [@DarkSideoftheFloyd](#): > > Roger Daltrey? Rod Stewart? Roger Waters?? Mick Jagger? Frank freakin’ **Sinatra**?? > > I need to rest. I don’t feel well. I’m with ya, man. No one has said Van Morrison or John Lennon yet, but all of my other favorite singers are here… As Cartman would say, screw you guys…I’m goin’ home… ---
**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:** [August 10, 2005, 12:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-the-worst-famous-singer-who-really-sucks/316235/99 "2005-08-10T12:56:35Z")
> [@Master Control](#): > > Well, anyway, I totally agree with Tom Waits (How the hell did he get a career?) By being the coolest guy ever! ---
**Author:** ![Leviosaurus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/439d5e/32.png) [@Leviosaurus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leviosaurus)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2005, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-the-worst-famous-singer-who-really-sucks/316235/100 "2005-08-10T17:27:35Z")
I note with great satisfaction that no one has yet come to the defense of **Peter Cetera**. I personally would find it quite gratifying if all subsequent posts included a Cetera slam. Just a friendly request. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-the-worst-famous-singer-who-really-sucks/316235.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-the-worst-famous-singer-who-really-sucks/316235.md?page=6)