Worst recent male pop singer

[blacbird]

You know, the one who makes your teeth ache at the first bar of any song you hear. Major successful ones, post 1970.

[BenPanced]

*breaks finger hitting mouse button on Michael Bolton choice*
*contemplates creating sock puppet profiles to stuff ballot box*

[DeleyanLee]

I don't think the sock puppet's needed there, Ben. LOL!

[kristie911]

You should have allowed more than one choice, blac. My brain hurts from trying to choose.

[Don Allen]

WoW! Billy Joel on that list???? I'm not sure about that. \

Phil Collins dosen't sit well with me, but he's such a good guy and like Billy Joel has such a proven record of success I couldn't vote him the worst, I think on just plain ol' dumb luck that he got famous without much of a voice, Donnie Osmond or worse tony deFranco, God did he suck...It's funny though, as I think about this, I seem to come up with way more female famous putrid voices than male..... Probably just me.

[Serena Casey]

I never really liked Michael Bolton; I merely tolerated him. Now, I can't stand to listen to him at all. He just annoys me.

[Shadow_Ferret]

WoW! Billy Joel on that list???? I'm not sure about that. \

Phil Collins dosen't sit well with me, but he's such a good guy and like Billy Joel has such a proven record of success I couldn't vote him the worst, I think on just plain ol' dumb luck that he got famous without much of a voice, Donnie Osmond or worse tony deFranco, God did he suck...It's funny though, as I think about this, I seem to come up with way more female famous putrid voices than male..... Probably just me.
I'm not sure what you're saying here. Are you saying Donnie Osmond can't sing? He has a pretty good voice. Find the soundtrack to "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat" and have a listen.

On that list, if I went by singing ability, I'd have to go with Steve Perry. I still remember a Rolling Stone review from the early '80s where they said he sounded like Minnie Mouse on helium.

[Don Allen]

Never said he couldn't sing, just never thought he should have attained the fame he did, with the voice he had,(has) and never did a thing for me.

[Devil Ledbetter]

You know, the one who makes your teeth ache at the first bar of any song you hear. Major successful ones, post 1970.Chad Kroeger of Nickleback. He does the same little sing-songy thing in every last song. I can't really describe it adequately, but it makes me cringe.

Also, his lyrics are an embarrassment to rock and roll, and rock and roll has pretty low standards in that department already.

[poetinahat]

Does it count when a horrible voice is saved by brilliant lyrics? You know which two I'm thinking of....

P.S. Manilow's got great pipes.

[leontay]

Chad Kroeger of Nickleback. He does the same little sing-songy thing in every last song. I can't really describe it adequately, but it makes me cringe.

Hah, so true. I don't really mind Nickleback, cookie-cutter tunes and all, but this puts me right off.

[blacbird]

Just for truth in advertising: I kinda figured Bolton would win this competition. Top of my list, however, is McDonald. There's just something about that over-wrought mumbly tenor, the same in every damn song, that makes me want to run out with Ted Nugent and shoot Bambi.

caw

[scarletpeaches]

You call these 'recent'?

[blacbird]

You call these 'recent'?

I'm a geologist. They are geologically recent.

caw

[TerzaRima]

...when a horrible voice is saved by brilliant lyrics? You know which two I'm thinking of.

Poet, you got a problem with my voice? (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EnO2jwvaB5c&feature=related)

[TerzaRima]

Blacbird, you forgot the latest crop inflicted on the public by American Idol. Daughtry, David Archuleta, etc. Yodeling, melismatic, all of them pretty much of the same vocal mold.

[aka eraser]

Chad Kroeger of Nickleback. He does the same little sing-songy thing in every last song. I can't really describe it adequately, but it makes me cringe.

Also, his lyrics are an embarrassment to rock and roll, and rock and roll has pretty low standards in that department already.

Amen brother.

Dating myself here - and he didn't make much of a splash State-side - but Edward Bear couldn't warble two words before I was mashing radio presets.

[otterman]

I share the view of those who think Chad Kroeger should be on list and Billy Joel should be off. Joel was/is a very talented performer whereas Kroeger (Nickleback) keeps putting out the same annoying music with the same annoying vocals year after year, and people actually buy it!

[blacbird]

Joel was/is a very talented performer

Yeah. Which is why "Piano Man" routinely makes lists of the top ten most hated pop songs.

caw

[Devil Ledbetter]

I share the view of those who think Chad Kroeger should be on list and Billy Joel should be off. Joel was/is a very talented performer whereas Kroeger (Nickleback) keeps putting out the same annoying music with the same annoying vocals year after year, and people actually buy it!He puts the oy in annoying, that's for sure.

[ChimeraCreative]

The singer of Hoobastank... when he's singing live... it's like he's murdering my eardrums...

-An

[Jersey Chick]

Piano Man is waaay overplayed and IMHO, Billy does NOT belong on this list :D. It's like how KISS has what? 385 albums, yet radio stations around here only ever play Rock and Roll All Nite - which makes me want to jab a fork in my ear just so I don't have to hear it.

But worst pop vocalist? Michael Bolton - between his grating voice and flowing coif (and the equally annoying short do he got when he finally admitted he looked like an idiot with the bald on top, flowing coif)... Argh.... easily the worst on that list...

/rant

[Bubastes]

Any singer who gets a nod in "Office Space" has to be awful. Another vote for Bolton.

[sheadakota]

^ What she said- I Love Billy Joel, he is a talented singer song writer and muscian-

Michael Bolton on the other hand makes me shudder-

[Bubastes]

Chad Kroeger of Nickleback. He does the same little sing-songy thing in every last song. I can't really describe it adequately, but it makes me cringe.


I know exactly what you're talking about. There's a specific note progression and rhythm that seems to show up in every song, usually in the chorus. I swear they write new songs by taking an existing song and holding the sheet music up to a mirror or flipping it upside down.

[Priene]

The most annoying male voices I've come across in the last few years (I can't bring myself to think of 1970 as "recent") are the helium squeak of The Killers' Brandon Flowers (http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=Ch3hppFG3UQ) and the weird irritation of Modest Mouse's Isaac Brock (http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=erc40wCxRZo). Scott Weiland of Velvet Revolver put in a performace of agonised horror at Glastonbury a couple of years ago, but sadly I couldn't find a youtube clip which does him justice.

[III]

I know he's purposefully singing with an affectation, but I can't listen to Michael Stipe.

[cray]

I know he's purposefully singing with an affectation, but I can't listen to Michael Stipe.


i knew it! you blurve michael bolton's hair. or at least his hair from 1990.















eta: i voted for bolton. cringeworthy.

[Don]

I haven't had The Old Battleaxe out in a while for a beheading, but for Michael Bolton, I'd be happy to bring it out of retirement. :D

[III]

i knew it! you blurve michael bolton's hair. or at least his hair from 1990.


"The hair clog in Michael Bolton's drain is 28 feet long."

- Harland Williams

[auntybug]

WTF??? Billy Joel & Steve Perry? Are you high???

I expected a few backstreet boys or new kids on the block!

*prepares flounce*

[Susie]

bumping

[Greenify13]

Well since Orlando doesn't count, Michael Bolton. Someone took his marbles. (I swear it wasn't me!)

[rhymegirl]

The only one I can think of is the lead singer for Air Supply. I think his name is Russell Hitchcock. Every time my husband hears just a few words of one of their songs he says, "Air Supply! Change the station!"

I don't know if you'd say he has a bad voice, but it is annoying.

[maestrowork]

How the heck did Manilow and Joel get on that list?

Bolton is like the Kenny G. of pop singers. The female equivalent is Mariah Carey. Cringe-worthy.

[Jersey Chick]

Mariah "I will once again prove that not only can I hit every octave known to man, I can hit a few that only dogs can hear" Cary - Ugh. Another one that makes me look for the fork(s).

How come Ricky Martin isn't on this list??? Take Billy off and put Ricky on... blech,

[StevenJ]

It has to be Elton John. Ok, so he's sung some of the best-known songs ever, but his singing is terrifyingly crapola.

'An' I guess dat's waaa they corll ittt the blooOOOoooz'

[Devil Ledbetter]

It has to be Elton John. Ok, so he's sung some of the best-known songs ever, but his singing is terrifyingly crapola.

'An' I guess dat's waaa they corll ittt the blooOOOoooz'You have a point, but I think if someone is a talented songwriter/composer they should get a pass even if their vocals are sub par. I mean, Bob Dylan made Rolling Stones' 100 Best Singers of All Time list. So there's precedent for this.

But if you're writing cookie-cutter music and cheesy lyrics then singing them in a grating voice (like say, Chad Kroeger) I think you get the boobie prize.

JMO.

[TerzaRima]

It has to be Elton John. Ok, so he's sung some of the best-known songs ever, but his singing is terrifyingly crapola.


I'LL FIGHT YOU

[Jersey Chick]

Whoa... I'm with TerzaRima on the Elton thing:box:

[Voyager]

Scott Stapp and that ridiculously affected 'I'm a rawk star' accent that he puts on when he sings. Makes my butt itch.

[KTC]

Chad Kroeger of Nickleback. He does the same little sing-songy thing in every last song. I can't really describe it adequately, but it makes me cringe.

Also, his lyrics are an embarrassment to rock and roll, and rock and roll has pretty low standards in that department already.

PRAISE BE! I'm mortified to call myself Canadian...imagine letting puredrivenshit like that to not only infiltrate our own radio stations but to ooze down below the border! I haven't been this ashamed of my citizenship since CoreyFart and PlatinumBlondedouchebags hit the airwaves.

[Bubastes]

Hey, you gave us Barenaked Ladies, so that makes up for the rest.

[Devil Ledbetter]

PRAISE BE! I'm mortified to call myself Canadian...imagine letting puredrivenshit like that to not only infiltrate our own radio stations but to ooze down below the border! I haven't been this ashamed of my citizenship since CoreyFart and PlatinumBlondedouchebags hit the airwaves.Don't feel too bad. Michigan spawned Ted Nugent, Madonna and Kid Rock.

*humiliation*

However, I'm happy to report that unlike Madonna, The Bay City Rollers were not from Bay City.

[aka eraser]

Don't feel too bad. Michigan spawned Ted Nugent, Madonna and Kid Rock.

*humiliation*

However, I'm happy to report that unlike Madonna, The Bay City Rollers were not from Bay City.

Buy you also favoured us with Bob Seger and Mitch Ryder - two of the best in the business. (Seger gets my vote for best rock voice ever.)

[Jersey Chick]

Ahem - New Jersey's given you

Frankie Valli
Jon Bon Jovi
Sebastian Bach (not be confused with Johan Sebastian Bach)
Bruce Springsteen

and

Frank Sinatra

and yes - you're welcome


:D

[Devil Ledbetter]

Buy you also favoured us with Bob Seger and Mitch Ryder - two of the best in the business. (Seger gets my vote for best rock voice ever.)Seger used to play at my high school football stadium. Fact.

[TerzaRima]

Yeah, Down on Main Street is practically the official state anthem.

[BenPanced]

Being from Indiana, I would like to formally apologize for Michael Jackson.

[SirBiatch]

Being from Indiana, I would like to formally apologize for Michael Jackson.

what for? he's practically the most influential musician of all time.