Ultimate Classic Rock Vocalist Bracket: Final Four

Which singer is better in each group?


  • Total voters
    31
  • Poll closed .

tomcat

CRF Ex-Con
Joined
Sep 18, 2008
Posts
4,269
Reaction score
5
Location
On a Misty Mountain overlooking Strawberry Fields.
Paul Rodgers a journey man vocalist? Every band he was in HE STARTED. He isn't with Queen anymore and he was never IN the band just a singer for THE band. Rodgers has written, produced, recorded, and released over 30 albums since 1968. He has sold well over 90 million records. The three bands he did form and front had INTERNATIONAL success. He can play bass, guitar, and piano all very well. Original? Paul Rogers started "Free" at age of 18 which was a British Blues Hard Rock band. At that time, it was very original. The Firm sold a lot of albums and Page was "recovering" from his drug addiction at that time. So they did have their problems muscially at what could have been. Also, early on there was NOTHING original about Led Zeppelin's music. Page put a spin on it but lyrically a lot of stolen goods. Free's debut in the same year was all original cept for maybe 2 songs (Which they gave credit for). All originals CO WROTE by Rodgers himself.

Well OK then Mr. Wikipedia!

Spin the stats like a spinning top all you want. Plant didn't need to jump from band to band like a cheap whore--because he was that good with Zeppelin. He's like Moses; he was a top the mountain and became god like. He had/has nothing to prove--same with McCartney.

There is NOTHING Rodgers has done that will ever be as great as what Plant or McCartney has done, and for purposes of this poll, his voice, though good, is mediocre and bland to my ear. Perhaps if I heard some of his deep cuts I'd like him, but I haven't...I guess there is a reason I've not heard anything but the few ovwerplayed radio crap...I don't know.

And Queen, maybe Mercury has the best voice, but his music is the worst of the bunch. Pavorrati has a great voice, but his music sucks. The songs matter too--don't you think?

Rodgers and Queen Freddy I can't touch McCartney or Plant there either...Especially Queen. Their music is quite simply mostly a pile of shit, with a few gems hear and there. Radio Ga Ga, and Bicycle come to mind--that is complete lameness (and I bike 100 mile a week!). Did they originally write those songs for Sesame Street or the like? It sounds like it to me. "Now children, were are going to learn a new word today"--L A M E!

McCartney and Plant are the best two. The rest of you, send me your physical addresses, and I'll send you a bulb syringe so you can flush out your ears.
 

R. Evans

Left Of Center
Joined
Jan 26, 2010
Posts
3,831
Reaction score
4
Location
Salem, OH
After the above post I'm almost afraid to vote for Freddie Mercury and Paul Rodgers. Almost.
 

gcczep

Ever Onward...
Joined
Apr 29, 2011
Posts
4,374
Reaction score
17
Location
Between my left and right speakers...
The intriguing matchup is the second. While I really like Rodgers whose singing I find smooth. Neither he nor McCartney though NEVER had to go out and do high powered, high velocity vocal gymnastics like Plant did in his heydey. Imagine each attempting the call and response sequences during the bow solo plus the middle section of "Dazed And Confused," "How Many More Times" or "You Shook Me"? Maybe the vocal/theremin battle in the middle section of "Whole Lotta Love"? How about the choruses in "Achilles Last Stand"? A bluesy work out of "Since I've Been Loving You"? Try and keep up with Jones' locomotive bass runs, Bonham’s Thor like hammering on the drum kit and Page’s thunderbolt powerful riffs? Oh and Plant had to sit down between all that and “sing” on the acoustic set of the program. Yes, there was “sloppiness” all around him being part of it BUT that comes with the territory of a band willing to go onstage to do freeform versions of their studio work instead of safe and comfy playing it note for note. The latter to me would do injustice to the fans that come to a band’s shows plunking their hard earned money then feel cheated afterwards because they sound just like their record. Lisa Robinson of Creem once wrote that Led-Zeppelin in concert was just four English boys and their music...no opening act, no platform shoes, no dancing girls, no spaceship, no bulls**t!

Plant’s solo work nowadays isn’t about pandering to the masses or the Top Forty or whatever it is. Actually his solo albums in the 1980’s were a mixture of fun, humor and well crafted pop/rock songs. It is unfortunate that they were being compared to his work with Zeppelin whether intentional or not. Yep, I'm sure with every release he had to deal with queries of "where's "Whole Lotta Rover"? or "where's "Stairway To Kashmir"? Eventually "Now And Zen" happened. Plant’s more recent output has been to satisfy his curiosity and to experiment without being restricted in the confines of the hard rock genre or the blues. I do feel a bit sorry for him when listeners CAN’T get past his past. Zeppelin isn’t just an albatross on his neck but a giant California condor.

McCartney is suitable for great pop songs with still a lovely voice. Rodgers still sings effortlessly in his own bluesy sets. Love them both with a huge respect for their respective canons but Plant’s studio and live work with Led-Zeppelin, as a solo artist afterwards up to this day is a COMPLETELY different animal that encompasses a wider spectrum. For good measure, Plant even did the Honeydrippers album then proclaimed himself to be Conway Twitty’s lost son! He reworks his past and present to whatever suits him rather than being pigeonholed under one category. Plant pays homage to the varied musical strains he's listened to and appreciated over the years not just him mimicking Elvis on a full lenght mirror in his teen years. Sure it doesn’t sound like Zeppelin not even a shouting distance but does it have to be? That era is long, long, long gone. Time to move on. Plant in the present isn't into parodies of himself or recycling old riffs which is quite understandable.

Freddie Mercury? Well, let me get to him. I would be surprised if he doesn’t win this poll. Of the four, he is the up front best showman whose vocal abilities can move from style to style with ease plus he adored Liza Minelli. Hard rock? Check. Pop song? Check. Acoustic ballad? Check. Challenge a full capacity stadium or arena to a merry sing along? Check. A blues song borne out of the dregs of the Mississippi Delta? Uuuummm...well, not really. LOL!

McCartney has that sweet Everly Brothers melodic voice with a sprinkling of Little Richard's woolyness. Rodgers has that smoky, hazy tone that is at home in some gin soaked bar anywhere...straight chaser no beer. Freddie Mercury? How do you describe his? Operatic...vaudevillian...funky...audacious, outrageous outfits included. Plant brings the more rawer, wilder element in his singing. Untrained, unfiltered which some find oftputting or makes you go "wtf?!".
 
Last edited:

snowblue

Senior Member
Joined
May 21, 2010
Posts
1,493
Reaction score
28
Location
UK
Nice to be able to vote for my favourite two singers....Freddie Mercury and Paul Rodgers
 

FireandWater

Family Man
Joined
Apr 12, 2011
Posts
631
Reaction score
3
Location
Missouri
Well OK then Mr. Wikipedia!

Spin the stats like a spinning top all you want. Plant didn't need to jump from band to band like a cheap whore--because he was that good with Zeppelin. He's like Moses; he was a top the mountain and became god like. He had/has nothing to prove--same with McCartney.

There is NOTHING Rodgers has done that will ever be as great as what Plant or McCartney has done, and for purposes of this poll, his voice, though good, is mediocre and bland to my ear. Perhaps if I heard some of his deep cuts I'd like him, but I haven't...I guess there is a reason I've not heard anything but the few ovwerplayed radio crap...I don't know.

And Queen, maybe Mercury has the best voice, but his music is the worst of the bunch. Pavorrati has a great voice, but his music sucks. The songs matter too--don't you think?

Rodgers and Queen Freddy I can't touch McCartney or Plant there either...Especially Queen. Their music is quite simply mostly a pile of shit, with a few gems hear and there. Radio Ga Ga, and Bicycle come to mind--that is complete lameness (and I bike 100 mile a week!). Did they originally write those songs for Sesame Street or the like? It sounds like it to me. "Now children, were are going to learn a new word today"--L A M E!

McCartney and Plant are the best two. The rest of you, send me your physical addresses, and I'll send you a bulb syringe so you can flush out your ears.

I really don't have too much more to say and I'm really not trying to argue. Just a friendly debate :) He jumped from band to band like a cheap whore? So now, making music with other people being creative is a bad thing? Free had their problems and ultimately ended when a member died. Sounds familiar doesn't it? He is still with Bad Company touring frequently. Plant didn't have the best voice especially live. Also, his first two albums with Zep he didn't even put effort to write his own lyrics--for the most part. How many songs where stolen and not given credit for? Honestly, if you don't know enough about Led Zeppelin then don't argue on this one. Zeppelin is one of my favorite bands but their early work they were not creative AT all outside of Page putting a spin on things. That is one thing that differs from what Free did. That is something that I can respect. McCartney I respect but I think his voice is average. GASP! What is that? A difference of opinion. I respect what you say but there is a reason why Paul Rodgers will win against Plant. There is also a reason why Mercury will beat Rodgers AND McCartney.
 

tomcat

CRF Ex-Con
Joined
Sep 18, 2008
Posts
4,269
Reaction score
5
Location
On a Misty Mountain overlooking Strawberry Fields.
Wow Free did the blues...Were those original three chord progressions? And Zep made everything they touched golden; I don't care if they were uncredited blues covers. And where did those covers origins originate--that is lost to time. I think all blues players "borrow" from each other (original American bluesmen included)--they all admit it. And besides, in Plant's case, we are not talking about songwriting--we are taking vocal abilities. And I know enough about Zep to argue until your fire turns your water to steam, or your water extinguishes your fire--but a tomcat has 9 lives don't forget. As far as Rodgers, NO, I don't know about his career--because I don't like his voice. I'm not saying he can't sing, he just lacks personality...He sings like a very good bar band singer. Plant and McCarney are unique--they are stars and McCartney will shine on like the North Star. Mercury is a great singer too, but I just don't get into Queen.
 
Last edited:

FireandWater

Family Man
Joined
Apr 12, 2011
Posts
631
Reaction score
3
Location
Missouri
Wow Free did the blues...Were those original three chord progressions? And Zep made everything they touched golden; I don't care if they were uncredited blues covers. And where did those covers origins originate--that is lost to time. I think all blues players "borrow" from each other (original American bluesmen included)--they all admit it. And besides, we are not talking about songwriting--we are taking vocal abilities. And I know enough about Zep to argue until your fire turns your water to steam, or your water extinguishes your fire--but a tomcat has 9 lives don't forget. As far as Rodgers, NO, I don't know about his career--because I don't like his voice. I'm not saying he can't sing, he just lacks personality...He sings like a very good bar band singer. Plant and McCarney are unique--they are stars and McCartney will shine on like the North Star. Mercury is a great singer too, but I just can't stand his songs.

I'm aware of the chords especially the blues and I wasn't referring to that since most blues tunes are the same musically outside of the solos and little spins. I was basing it off of songwriting and giving credit. The lyrics in A LOT of Zep tunes early on where EXACTLY the same. You can attack Rodgers for being a journeyman and what not--that isn't about vocal ability. So I threw some shots in that wasn't about vocal ability too. I bet most people wish they could be a "very good bar singer". This will be my last comment on the subject since I have stated how I felt about the subject much like you stated how you felt about it. :cheers2
 

LG

Fade To Black
Joined
Apr 20, 2009
Posts
36,862
Reaction score
71
^^I'd say that's a smart move FireandWater....we all have our opinions and TC gets a little overexcited at times.;)

I voted for Plant over Rodgers simply because I like more Zeppelin songs than Bad Company, although his work in Free Almost tipped the balance.
 

Find member

Forum statistics

Threads
30,658
Posts
1,064,853
Members
6,353
Latest member
edmerka

Members online

Top