top 5 most distinctive vocalists

Dave78

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There are many, many vocalists who sound unique an unlike anyone else, but I like these guys' vocals the best: Paul Rodgers, Steve Perry, Vince Neil, Chris Cornell and Ozzy.

And for the wimmin', I like these uns: Grace Slick, Janis, Stevie Nicks, Tori Amos, Enya
 

Cosmic Harmony

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I'm kind of shocked that no one has added Janis Joplin. Love her vocals or not there aren't any of ladies who scream the blues like her.

Really? I'm trying to hear it now. :think: It's funny because I actually was going to write in Raine Maida as well for his distinctive vocals! :grinthumb

Well personally I think Raine has a whole lot more vocal ability than Billy Corgan. He can simply do more with his voice I think.

And one of the biggest comparisons I can make between the two are the choruses of "Superman's Dead" and "Bullet With Butterfly Wings". The nasally tone they both us just makes them both click together in my ear.
 

Soot and Stars

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There are many, many vocalists who sound unique an unlike anyone else, but I like these guys' vocals the best: Paul Rodgers, Steve Perry, Vince Neil, Chris Cornell and Ozzy.

And for the wimmin', I like these uns: Grace Slick, Janis, Stevie Nicks, Tori Amos, Enya

Since Tori is my second favorite artist ever I wanted to give her a vote to but I always here her compared to Kate Bush so I didn't use her.
 

annie

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Another one that popped into my mind is Neil Diamond. I would know his voice in a second.
 

Odysseus

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Not all top five but easily distinctive.

Females that come to mind:

Sade (what a dreamy voice!)
Chrissie Hynde
Patsy Cline
Billy Holiday
Leslie Gore

Males:

Burton Cummings
John Fogerty
Barry Manilow
Steve Winwood
Geddy Lee
 

ladyislingering

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Just through my own listening experiences, here's five vocalists I could never ever mistake for someone else:

Karen Carpenter
(During Christmastime a lot of businesses play music. When I'm with my youngest sister I'm notorious for stopping dead in my tracks and just saying, "I hear Karen!" - she knows who I'm talking about immediately.)

Ric Ocasek
(If I could have "scrobbled" my entire childhood, the amount of times I listened to The Cars would completely surpass everything else. Despite the fact that lead vocals were also shared with Benjamin Orr, the fine Mr. Ocasek is simply unmistakable. He's like what would happen if Buddy Holly and Iggy Pop would have been born one in the same.)

Pat Benatar
(As I once heard a radio DJ say, she's "five feet, three inches of rock fury". Incomparable badass lady royalty.)

Morrissey
(Despite the fact that I haven't always been into his music, with or without the Smiths, Moz has this voice that's just so freaking weird, wonderful, slightly difficult to really get into, but unique enough to keep me listening.)

Russell Mael
(The only American that can easily pretend to be British. Not exactly a father of falsetto, but the man has pipes that could cause a person to spontaneously combust - or faint!)

Females that come to mind:
Leslie Gore

I love Lesley.

For some reason her voice basically fills a void in my soul.
 

Odysseus

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I love Lesley.

[/QUOTE]


Lesley Gore! California Nights is a great favorite of mine.
 

Gabble Ratchet

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Nothing against female singers, but none that I really listen to are distinctive enough for my list :(

*beats TheFeldster with Sarah Blasko CD's* :bash:

Off the grid here, but when I play Marillion, early Genesis, then later Genesis it struck me that Fish, Peter Gabriel and Phil Collins are remarkably similar the way they sound...not all the time but in certain songs you could swear it's any one of them.:think:

You can add Andy Partridge from XTC to that list :grinthumb

As for me, I tend to notice the music more than the singing when it comes to music I'm familiar with. Many songs I can know the name of in the opening few seconds :)

I will add some that may or may not have been overlooked though:

David Byrne
Chris Martin
The aforementioned Sarah Blasko
Jimmy Barnes
Jim Morrison
Eddie Vedder
Josh Homme
Russell Morris
Stevie Nicks
Tom Petty
 

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