- 3 weeks ago
They may not have the smoothest voices, but their music is undeniable. Join us as we count down our picks for the most incredible musicians whose singing voices leave a little something to be desired!
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00:06Welcome to WatchMojo!
00:09And today, we're looking at 10 singers celebrated as incredible songwriters, performers, and
00:14deliverers of lyrics, but whose vocals leave something to be desired.
00:23We're going to start with the unconventional storytellers, who lean on the character of
00:27their voice, more than their singing fundamentals.
00:32Tom Waits
00:33Like many vocal chameleons, Tom Waits doesn't just have one voice.
00:38It's a fascinating evening.
00:43Oh, I drove myself home.
00:45A master storyteller, his unique style of singing has been acclaimed for its versatility.
00:50Whether Waits is embodying the drunken blues singer, the leader of the carnival, or some
00:55of the more twisted creations of his later career, he rarely fails to hit his mark.
01:00Last secret night, put a downturn trend.
01:06His voice isn't for everyone, and for some people, they simply cannot get past his theatrical
01:12delivery.
01:13However, after over five decades in the business, Waits has barely put a foot wrong, going through
01:18several different eras, while maintaining an unusually consistent catalogue.
01:22Hell broke loose!
01:26Hell broke loose!
01:27Hell broke loose!
01:27Lou Reed
01:28The great Lou Reed has proven on many occasions that he is more than capable of singing in a
01:34straight and melodically sound way, especially earlier in his career.
01:38Come between the twisted stars, the plated lines, the faulty map, the poor Columbus to New York.
01:42Some of his sweeter moments with the Velvet Underground prove this beyond a shadow of a doubt.
01:47However, Reed has earned himself a legion of both fans and critics by pioneering a style
01:52of singing that often borders on just speaking into the mic.
02:03His supporters point out that there is a melodicism to how he delivers his lines, while his detractors
02:09are more inclined to cite his lack of vocal range.
02:12Either way, the lyrics are generally always Reed's biggest strength, even as his voice
02:17deteriorated as he aged.
02:25Connor Oberst
02:26There is something naturally unstable about listening to Bright Eyes singer Connor Oberst
02:31on the mic, like it's all in danger of falling apart at any second.
02:41His fans see this as a major selling point, a natural authenticity that only serves to elevate
02:47the themes and vibes of his songs.
02:49Many artists of his era leaned heavily into vulnerability and imperfection as a stylistic choice.
02:55Did they make you stay up all night?
02:59Did they paint your face that pasty white?
03:02Sure, that decision is not going to please everyone, but for our money.
03:07There are few vocalists from that period who do it better.
03:10That said, his place as a truly great unconventional storyteller is set in stone.
03:15Is it bitter or sweet?
03:17That depends on your timing.
03:20Next, we'll move on to the punk disruptors, the ones who used their angst,
03:25attitude, and fury to get their message across.
03:28John Lydon
03:29From his wild and unhinged period with the Sex Pistols to his
03:34far more extensive catalog with Public Image Limited,
03:37John Lydon was synonymous with the British punk movement in the late 70s.
03:42I'll take a queen, remain a man!
03:47Known for his razor-sharp wit, Lydon,
03:49previously known as Johnny Rotten,
03:52was never going to win any awards for the natural range of his voice.
04:00When it came to channeling anger and an all-around rebellious attitude, though,
04:06Lydon was in a league of his own.
04:08Even when he made dramatic musical shifts with Public Image Limited,
04:11his voice proved its adaptability.
04:13Just don't expect to hear him singing Amazing Grace anytime soon.
04:22Mark E. Smith
04:23Notoriously difficult to work with and thoroughly unmusical in his approach,
04:28over the course of four decades, the great Mark E. Smith used his band The Fall as a
04:33platform to deliver his poetry.
04:42Sure, there are elements of singing from time to time, but by his own admission,
04:47Smith does not have a musical background.
04:49This snarling delivery and tendency to end every sentence with an ah sound is either going to grab
04:55you immediately or turn you off as music for life.
05:01The Fall, despite their many, many different lineups, retains a truly devoted fanbase to this day.
05:07While Smith's presence and character are big reasons for that, he was by no means a conventional vocalist.
05:20Black Francis
05:21Black Francis
05:21Pixies were not truly part of the punk movement, although they wore their influences on their sleeves.
05:27Little life on the sands in the yard
05:30The band could pivot wildly from power pop to bordering on heavy metal at times,
05:37bolstered by their singer, Black Francis, and his wild vocal approach. Pixies were famous for going
05:43from loud verses to explosive choruses in the blink of an eye. Francis' ability to go from whispering
05:50and almost whimpering to roaring like he's possessed by a demon has made him a rock legend.
05:55Everything is gonna burn, but I'll take turns, I'll get mine to-
06:01Most fans would agree that beneath all the biblical references and oddball tendencies,
06:05he's a masterful pop songwriter. That said, his voice is, most certainly, not a traditional one.
06:11Here comes your man
06:15Here comes your man
06:17Bob Geldof
06:18Irish singer Bob Geldof burst onto the scene as the frontman of the Boomtown Rats,
06:23bringing a new-wave-tinged and undeniably punky sound to the table.
06:27Tell me why I don't like money
06:30Tell me why I don't like money
06:34For as much as Geldof could craft a fine pop song, his vocal style wasn't for everyone.
06:40Best described as rough around the edges, his sneering approach was suited quite well for what
06:45he and his band did.
06:46They said she did it, with Grace, they said she did it, with Stan, they said she did it,
06:51oh, they said before she died.
06:54Even his fans would agree that if you put Bob Geldof in front of a panel of American Idol judges,
06:59it probably wouldn't go well for him. Then again, when it comes to his approach, that was never really the
07:06point.
07:06And always someone looking at you,
07:08what the fuck the fuck the fuck…
07:09I wasn't sure someone was looking at you, what the fuck the fuck…
07:13Our final section is reserved for the truly unique but divisive voices that can split people
07:19down the middle. Neil Young.
07:21If Neil Young's voice is not for you, you're most certainly not alone.
07:33His nasal and quite thin delivery has been a source of debate ever since his early recordings
07:38in the 1960s.
07:39Those who can't stand him generally don't make it much further than a single listen
07:44before making up their minds.
07:45However, to those in the know, Young's voice is the perfect vessel for his incredibly frank
07:50and honest songs.
07:52And once you're gone, you can't come back.
07:59His delicate delivery suits his music to the point where you couldn't imagine anyone else
08:04singing his lyrics quite as well.
08:06Whether he's performing solo with guitar or piano or rocking out with Crazy Horse, Young
08:12has one of the most instantly recognizable styles in the business.
08:21Leonard Cohen
08:22The poetry of Leonard Cohen still resonates with people all these years later, and despite
08:28not being a technically strong singer, it doesn't detract from his music.
08:32Dance me to the end of love.
08:36Cohen may have a very limited vocal range, but his fans will argue that his control of tone
08:41and cadence is masterful.
08:43If you need a bit more dynamism from your singers, his music might not be for you.
08:48I can't say much has happened since the closing time.
08:52However, his songwriting abilities have never been in doubt.
08:56Even as he aged, Cohen found a way to adapt his voice to its increasing frailty, leaning into
09:02its resonance more and more.
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09:35Influence.
09:37Bob Dylan.
09:39Finally, we come to quite possibly the most divisive voice in music.
09:43Here comes the story of the hurricane, the man the authorities came to blame.
09:50Bob Dylan has changed his vocal style several times throughout the course of his career,
09:55but despite this, he still can't please everyone.
09:58Few would argue against the fact that he's an incredible songwriter, but many listeners
10:02just cannot get past his singing style.
10:04I never knew what I had until I threw it all away.
10:13Whether it's the nasal tones of Blonde on Blonde or the gruff and aged stylings of his more
10:19recent work, Dylan never plays it straight.
10:22In fact, fans and critics alike would probably agree that he simply isn't able to play it
10:27straight.
10:27Depending on which side of the fence you sit on, it's either a major limitation or one
10:32of his greatest strengths.
10:37But who do you think is the most misunderstood singer of them all?
10:41Let us know in the comments below.
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