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Geek Culture / The greatest vocalists ever

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Matt Rock
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Posted: 20th Jun 2006 20:41 Edited at: 20th Jun 2006 20:41
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UGH!

Lately I've found myself knee-deep in arguements with people over who the greatest vocalists of all time are. I figured I'd spill the debate into TGC . I know that Saikoro and Jeku will have a thing or two to say about this but who do you guys think are the greatest vocalists (singers) ever? Mine aren't in any particular order, except the first one because, well, I shouldn't need to explain why he's at the top of the list, lol:

* Thom Yorke. 'Nuff Said. Especially in Exit Music (for a film) and Lucky, and I think it goes without saying that Street Spirit is one of the most gorgeous songs ever hehe

* Aretha Franklin. She is, hands-down, the best female vocalist I've ever heard. Period. No question. The buck stops here. Think I'm wrong? Download "Ain't No Way," listen to it intenfully, then name someone better

* Jeff Buckley. While I'm not his biggest fan, I do LOVE the song Grace because it's so rediculously gorgeous and I think he's earned his way onto this list

* David Bowie. Okay, you might not like the way he dresses, but the man can sing to no end, and he has one of the most unique voices ever imo.

I don't really have a fifth, partially because I can't think of anyone else worthy of being the best, but also because I'm so god-awful picky when it comes to music But what do you guys think? Who do you all think is the best singer or the best singers in recorded history?

Edit: PS, sorry for starting another music thread


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Megaton Cat
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Posted: 20th Jun 2006 20:42
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Who. The feck. Cares.


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Oddmind
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Posted: 20th Jun 2006 20:52
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yea... its just gonna be a big argument again ...


Frank Sinatra... If you disagree i have a pair of garden shears who would like to bite down on your pinkys.

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Megaton Cat
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Posted: 20th Jun 2006 20:54 Edited at: 20th Jun 2006 20:55
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I don't like how Matt keeps blurring opinion into fact.

"Hands down. The best. No doubt about it. Period. End of the line. The buck stops here"

Sod off.


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Eric T
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Posted: 20th Jun 2006 20:56
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Mikael Akerfeldt of Opeth
Warrel Dane of Nevermore
Steven Wilson of Porcupine Tree

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BearCDPOLD
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Posted: 20th Jun 2006 21:14
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Best vocalist? Easy. None of those people.

Frank Sinatra
Ella Fitzgerald
Freddie Mercury
Dennis DeYoung
Faye Wong


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Jeku
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Posted: 20th Jun 2006 21:22
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Bjork--- that woman can sing for 12 hours straight and never crack an offkey note. Used to be a HUGE fan.

Frank Sinatra--- hands down. period. no questions asked. rofl.

David Bowie - haunting, modern.

Lead singer of Squirrel Nut Zippers.


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Matt Rock
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Posted: 20th Jun 2006 22:10
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Quote: "I don't like how Matt keeps blurring opinion into fact."

At least I'm passionate about things Give me that at least!

Quote: "Bjork--- that woman can sing for 12 hours straight and never crack an offkey note. Used to be a HUGE fan."

Agreed, she's fantastic, one of the best female vocalists imo

Quote: "Frank Sinatra"

I like his stuff, but I wouldn't classify him amongst my favorites or amongst those that *I* personally think are the greatest because I tend to mostly like people who take pages out of the book and blow their nose on them He's a classical fantastic, if that makes any sense.

Megaton, if you don't like the subject matter then why post in the first place?


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Megaton Cat
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Posted: 20th Jun 2006 22:11
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Quote: "Megaton, if you don't like the subject matter then why post in the first place?"


Just to annoy you at best - and look! It worked!


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BearCDPOLD
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Posted: 20th Jun 2006 22:15
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Quote: "I like his stuff, but I wouldn't classify him amongst my favorites or amongst those that *I* personally think are the greatest because I tend to mostly like people who take pages out of the book and blow their nose on them He's a classical fantastic, if that makes any sense."


Of course he's a classic now, he's dead. His voice was crisp and perfect on pitch, and his voice improv ideas are used by jazz instrumentalists of all styles.


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David T
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Posted: 20th Jun 2006 22:49
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Adam Duritz.

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CattleRustler
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Posted: 20th Jun 2006 22:54
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yoko ono...

oh no

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Hobgoblin Lord
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Posted: 20th Jun 2006 22:59
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Whew what a loaded question here, since the question isn't favorite it's who is the greatest. So hard to compare cross generational or style to compare a master yodeler to a hardcore band is really tough.

All that said guess I would have to say

Roy Orbison-Not a big fan of his music but the man could hit notes over hi C full voice and just loaded with talent.

If you had said Favorite Vocalist
Bruce Dickinson
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soapyfish
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Posted: 21st Jun 2006 00:20
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I hear Lee can give a damn good rendition of Goldfinger when he feels like it.

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Mnemonix
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Posted: 21st Jun 2006 00:29
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Freddy Mercury - Formerly of Queen
David Bowie
Tarja Tarunen - Formerly of Nightwish
Me - Getting my head kicked in after a bad karaoke number, but I still think im great

WE SHALL BECOME ALL POWERFUL! CRUSH THE LESSER RACES! CONQUER THE GALAXY! UNIMAGINABLE POWER! UNLIMITED RICE PUDDING ! ! ! ETC. ! ! ! ETC.! ! !
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Oddmind
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Posted: 21st Jun 2006 00:50 Edited at: 21st Jun 2006 00:51
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AGH kick me in the face!

I didnt say freddy murcury, and i was listening to queen! XD

im gonna go with frank freddy and ella fitzgerald.

Aretha was great as well.

bot BOB DYLAN surpassed them all in measurments of lightyears.

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Bahamut
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Posted: 21st Jun 2006 00:51
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Depends on the style of music. There is no best vocalist, but here are a few from the metal world.

Bruce Dickinson-Iron Maiden (metal)
Angela Gossow-Arch Enemy (Death Metal)
Anders Friden- In Flames (Death Metal)
ZP Theart-DragonForce (Power Metal)



Some others:
The guy from Rhapsody. Anyone who can sing those lyrics with a straight face deserves a knighthood (no pun intended).
Ian Gilain (Deep Purple) used to be good.
The woman from Epica. No idea what her name is.
The vocalist in Opeth. Don't know his name but I love the deep growls.

IceBound Melodic rock/metal band with loads of lead guitar, clean female vocals, and more guitars! What more could you want?
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ionstream
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Posted: 21st Jun 2006 01:03
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Billy Idol.

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Mnemonix
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Posted: 21st Jun 2006 01:04
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Mr. Blobby

WE SHALL BECOME ALL POWERFUL! CRUSH THE LESSER RACES! CONQUER THE GALAXY! UNIMAGINABLE POWER! UNLIMITED RICE PUDDING ! ! ! ETC. ! ! ! ETC.! ! !
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jrowe
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Posted: 21st Jun 2006 01:46 Edited at: 21st Jun 2006 01:49
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Off the top of my head, here are some vocalists that I admire, in no order:

Captain Beefheart
Bob Dylan
Thom Yorke
Jeff Buckley
Tim Buckley
Jónsi Birgisson
Nusrat Fateh Ali Kahn
Nina Simone
Billie Holiday
Vashti Bunyan
Anne Briggs
Björk
Joan Baez

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Miguel Melo
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Posted: 21st Jun 2006 02:03
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Quote: "I hear Lee can give a damn good rendition of Goldfinger when he feels like it."


Is it similar to Alan Partridge's?

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Saikoro
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Posted: 21st Jun 2006 02:26
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Freddy Mercury, any of the TSO vocalists and some of the previously mentioned.

Thom Yorke sings like I fart.

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BearCDPOLD
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Posted: 21st Jun 2006 03:07
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Quote: "Thom Yorke sings like I fart."


*applause*


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CattleRustler
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Posted: 21st Jun 2006 03:31
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the Asian kid who sang "she bangs, she bangs..."
he's my favorite

Science, Mathematics, and Physics do not lie - only people do.
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Hobgoblin Lord
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Posted: 21st Jun 2006 03:33
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Quote: "the Asian kid who sang "she bangs, she bangs..."
he's my favorite"


Thank god his 15 minutes is over

Think his name was William Hung or something similar
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Flindiana Jones
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Posted: 21st Jun 2006 04:17
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I think Freddy Mercury is really high on my list...can't think of any others right now.

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Zero Blitzt
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I didnt really think about this until a few days ago, but I'd have to say for Rock, Freddie Mercury is definitely up there.

Also I vote Robert Martin for backing vocals, look him up, he worked/toured with Frank Zappa for a number of years as a vocalist/keyboardist.


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Matt Rock
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Posted: 21st Jun 2006 07:55
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Quote: "Just to annoy you at best - and look! It worked!"

Lol I didn't know you started hating me at any particular point

Quote: "bot BOB DYLAN surpassed them all in measurments of lightyears."

Oh, I totally agree. His best verse is debatable though. My personal favorite was:
Wuh wuuuuhhhhh, wah wahhhhh, wuh-weh-wah,
Wuh woooooh, wooh wah, wah-wah
Wuh weeee, woh wuh, wuh wee woh,
Wuh wuuuuhhhhh, wah wahhhhh, wuh-weh-wah
That one gets me every time!

Quote: "Tim Buckley"

Some of his stuff definitely surpasses his son's (Jeff). Port of Amerstdam was arguably better performed by Tim Buckley than it was by Bowie himself.

Quote: "Thom Yorke sings like I fart."

What's with everyone ganging up on me today? lol I thought you liked Radiohead now

Quote: "Think his name was William Hung or something similar"

Yeppers, William Hung. Whoever gave him a record contract needs to be dragged into the street and shot in the face with the neighbors looking on in horror so that no one ever does something similar to that level of horrible ever again.


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Hobgoblin Lord
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Posted: 21st Jun 2006 08:49
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Pavoratti - The man can certainly sing, don't really want to listen to it but I have to say he has a hell of a voice. Like to hear his rendition of Bohemian Rhapsody (not that freddy didnt do a killer job)
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Saikoro
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Posted: 21st Jun 2006 12:01
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Quote: "lol I thought you liked Radiohead now "


I do. But that doesn't make him any better of a singer.

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Wiggett
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mike patton. though jeff buckley is also great with reaching higher pitch vocals but he is dead. drowned in his own dam. mik epatton is still alive and can do not only singing but bizzaro sound swith his mouth.

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Matt Rock
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Posted: 21st Jun 2006 17:37
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Quote: "I do. But that doesn't make him any better of a singer."

That makes you the only Radiohead fan on earth who doesn't think he's one of the greatest singers in rock history hehe anything to be unique Matty?

Quote: "jeff buckley is also great with reaching higher pitch vocals but he is dead. drowned in his own dam"

I thought he drown in the Mississippi river? Eh, either way, he didn't float. But a truly great singer nevertheless. Kinda makes you wonder what music would be like if he were alive today, or if it'd be any different even a pretty serious loss to music. I'd go so far as to say that music would have done better if Buckley lived than if Cobain did, although I'm sure I'm going to catch flak for that within the next three threads (puts money on it).


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Saikoro
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Posted: 21st Jun 2006 17:47 Edited at: 21st Jun 2006 18:06
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Quote: "That makes you the only Radiohead fan on earth who doesn't think he's one of the greatest singers in rock history hehe anything to be unique Matty?"


Don't confuse honesty with uniqueness.


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Jeku
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Posted: 21st Jun 2006 20:38
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Quote: "That makes you the only Radiohead fan on earth who doesn't think he's one of the greatest singers in rock history"


I think he's far from it. You can't even understand the lyrics in most of his music after The Bends--- everything's just slurred. They've gone down hill.

---------------

One of the best vocalists I've heard is on one of my MP3s at home (but I forgot his name)--- he did an amazing rendition of Nessun Dorma. It's official-- I want that played at my funeral


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Evil Star
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Posted: 21st Jun 2006 22:19
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Corey Taylor- Slipknot


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Eric T
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Posted: 21st Jun 2006 22:42 Edited at: 21st Jun 2006 22:42
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Quote: "Corey Taylor- Slipknot
"


You, sir, are indeed a moron.

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nemo85
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Posted: 21st Jun 2006 23:19 Edited at: 21st Jun 2006 23:20
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My choices would be,

Axl Rose
Jack Black
Jack White
Paul McCartney (he needs to win summut at the mo so think it should go to him!!! )
Otis Redding
Frank Sinatra
John Lennon
Al Green
Kurt Cobain
Freddie Mercury
Ziggy Stardust
Bruce Dickinson

Thats off the top of my head, but there really is SO many!!! As you can tell i like my music song by men, just my preference (in music lol) altho Aretha Franklin can belt em'!

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BearCDPOLD
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One more to add, Emmy Rossum.


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Phaelax
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freddy mercury definately in the top somewhere. I think john crosby has a great vocal range. But it is hard to pick just one.

"Using Unix is the computing equivalent of listening only to music by David Cassidy" - Rob Pike
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Evil Star
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Posted: 22nd Jun 2006 09:32
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Quote: "You, sir, are indeed a moron."


Well duh!


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Matt Rock
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Posted: 22nd Jun 2006 09:59
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Bruce Dickinson... whose that? I feel like I know that name but I'm too stupid to know how I do

Of all the metal fans in here, and of all the metal singers listed, I'm surprised no one has mentioned the guy from Tool yet.

Quote: "I think he's far from it. You can't even understand the lyrics in most of his music after The Bends--- everything's just slurred. They've gone down hill."

Recorded, yes, although OK Computer is friggin' amazing. But live? If you guys like Radiohead and haven't heard their live stuff, maybe I should zip a few mp3's up for you to listen to... I think, and again this is just my opinion, that Thom Yorke is one of the best singers alive today, and I haven't met many Radiohead fans who disagreed with that. But there's a first and second for everything, hehe.

Quote: "One of the best vocalists I've heard is on one of my MP3s at home (but I forgot his name)--- he did an amazing rendition of Nessun Dorma"

I know that Andrea Bocelli and Pavaratti (sp?) both did "covers" of that song, as did some metal band that my sister listens to... Man of War? I think that's what they're called. Funny, funny cover, opera in metal Although I did like Apocalyptica's CD, so it can be done in reverse


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Dazzag
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Quote: "Bruce Dickinson... whose that?"
Iron Maiden basically. Awesome when they get it right.

Quote: "OK Computer is friggin' amazing"
Yeah, I don't really like their later albums, but that was one of the best albums ever. Although not to listen to when a nice sunny day on the beach

Cheers

I am 99% probably lying in bed right now... so don't blame me for crappy typing
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Oraculaca
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Chris Cornell
Adam Duritz
Grant Lee Phillips
Eddie Vedder

and loads more I cant think of right now

No.Art.Here
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Jeku
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Posted: 22nd Jun 2006 20:48
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Oh yes, how could I forget Chris Cornell?


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PowerSoft
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Posted: 22nd Jun 2006 22:54
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Chris Martin
Tom Chaplin
Richard Ashcroft

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nemo85
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Totally agree with Richard Ashcroft!!

There really is SO many..

Jon Bon Jovi (Always, L.O.A.P, It's My Life etc.. C'Mon!)
James Hetfield (Enter Sandman, Nothing Else Matters.. WOW)
Chuck Berry (LEGEND)
David Gray (The Other Side, This Years Love - Awesome)
Robert Plant (GENIUS!!!!)

Could go on forever! Which is the best thing about music, it's truly eternal!.. Well good music anyways!
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PowerSoft
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Richard Ashcroft is great. Specially when you get to see him live playing with Coldplay!

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nemo85
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Yeh you, me and 200,000 other people.. lol
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empty
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Although I don't like Dream theater much (or at all), James LaBrie is a very good vocalist. So is Robbie Williams, by the way.


Play Nice! Play Basic!
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Hobgoblin Lord
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Layne Staley
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