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Original poster

To ask which current singers have the voices to match Elton John, George Michael & Freddie Mercury?

280 replies

ItsABeautifulDay25 · 21/03/2025 09:27

Random playlist last night, Elton John & George Michael - Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me from 1991. The duet is amazing, the power in their voices. Got to add Freddie in the same (or better) category of voice, obviously. Asked my partner who today has the voice that will still make you say wow! in 30 years time? He said the music industry has changed, the ‘stars’ go through too fast now. I can recognise the talent of Chris Martin, Ed Sheeran and others, but where are those really powerful voices?

YABU - listen to …..
YANBU - no one can match them!

OP posts:
Chesticov · 23/03/2025 23:36

MintTwirl · 21/03/2025 09:35

Adam Lambert? I think he has a great voice. And Sam Ryder, he also seems like such a lovely man.

Yes Adam Lambert!

HÆLTHEPAIN · 23/03/2025 23:29

I’m not one to comment really as I don’t get on with more modern music - don’t get me wrong, I think there are obviously very talented people out there but I rarely listen to anything after mid 90’s as it just doesn’t do anything for me. I listen to George a lot, as you might tell from my username. Also Freddie, Bowie, Prince. Then lots of 80’s and 90’s chart stuff, as well as 90’s house/dance music. That does me!

I feel so lucky I got to see George before he died. His performance was absolutely stunning and I came back knowing nothing would ever top that (unless I got to see him again, which I didn’t).

I also saw Queen with Adam Lambert and he was absolutely outstanding. I remember people being negative at the time saying “he won’t be as good as Freddie”. But he didn’t try to be Freddie - he was Adam Lambert singing Freddie’s songs and boy did he do them justice.

My teenage daughter loves Elton! She saw him a couple of years ago and loved him.

CalliopePlantain · 23/03/2025 23:13

Serj Tankian has a powerful and distinctive voice. He’s one of my favourites.

also love Matisyahu.

HÆLTHEPAIN · 23/03/2025 23:09

Glowingworms · 21/03/2025 09:33

Its not about good singers, it's about star power

Elton john and george michael are great examples of this. They radiate something but it's not actually their voice. Hence there are many identical sounding tribute acts (and actually tribute acts that sing better than they do). Ed sheeran and Elton john are similar in that they have song writing power, performance power but vocals alone aren't anything special

A quick watch of the voice, x factor or even if you go round cruise ships/ pubs, west end singers shows thousands of really really good singers that are better than 90% of "stars" but are also just chronically boring, and don't have an edge that make you want to buy their singles or listen to whole albums or seem to "musical theatery"

Lots of people's favourite artists have a voice crack or something that makes them interesting to listen to

Edited

I’m not sure how you can say it’s not George’s voice. His voice is amazing and he happens to have the extra ‘thing’ he radiates too. And of all the tribute acts I’ve seen (and I’ve seen a lot), none of them come close to the perfection of George.

I can’t comment on Elton or Freddie, because, as much as I love them too, I’ve not seen any tribute acts for them.

gummywitch · 23/03/2025 23:03

I thought no-one could top Freddie or George Michael live, then late last November saw Tom Chaplin sing with Keane in a very small room in Soho and was blown away, such power in his voice. Was an acoustic set they did, so scaled right back, just keyboard, guitar, tambourine. Amazing (and I told him afterwards haha)

jcyclops · 23/03/2025 23:02

Tereseta · 22/03/2025 07:37

David Draiman of disturbed has the most amazing powerful voice with great range. He is amazing live.

Surprised it took so long for someone to mention David Draiman.

Other powerful voices (when they want to be):
Simon Neil
Eddie Vedder
Geoff Tate
Chris Cornell (RIP)

Honeyroar · 23/03/2025 22:54

Freddie had a wonderful voice, full of charisma and power, but I much preferred the effortless, rich powerful voice of GM personally. I didn’t like a lot of Queen’s songs, which didn’t help. Elton is leagues behind. A good songwriter but an average voice. I think GM absolutely slaughtered him on Somebody to Love. I also think Elton is a dick, which doesn’t help! No idea why people are suggesting Chris Martin either. The band works well, but it’s not down to Chris Martin’s voice!

Females- Alison Moyet. Adele. Pink (sometimes!). Mariah, Whitney and Céline all have great voices when they just sing rather than try to show off their range of warbling or get over emotional!

Rag and Bone Man or Sam Smith have voices I like nowadays.

I used to love Micheal Hutchence’s voice too. Tracks like Mystify or Never Tear us Apart.

MrsALambert · 23/03/2025 22:27

Adam Lambert live is out of this world. Such an amazing talent. I never get bored of listening to him.
Would loved to have seen Freddie Mercury or George Michael live.

Blemin · 23/03/2025 22:16

Oh I didn't realise it would replace the text with embedded videos, sorry.

Blemin · 23/03/2025 22:15

God I think there are some truly glorious musicians out there at the moment. Soulful, original, provocative and strange - everything you want from musicians.

Samara Joy, ,

- YouTube

Enjoy the videos and music that you love, upload original content and share it all with friends, family and the world on YouTube.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nsk_Q9NHpv8

emeraldsarebest · 23/03/2025 22:00

Nobody will ever live up to Freddie he was a true one of a kind.

However Adam Lambert is phenomenal I saw him in concert with Queen and he was brilliant.

Lewis Capaldi has such a distinctive and soulful voice.

My absolute favourite male voice currently is Mitch Grassi from Pentatonix. His voice gives me goosebumps and he to me sounds like an angel in human form. His parts in The Prayer gives me chills.

SinnerBoy · 23/03/2025 21:53

I like the cover of The Sound of Silence by The Dickies. Voice perhaps not so great...

HRTQueen · 23/03/2025 21:53

I think our grandparents were saying pretty much they same thing and they had a point with singers like Frank Sinatra and Ella Fitzgerald 😆

very very few have marched them vocally Aretha Franklin, Freddie Mercury, Luther Vandross, Whitney and possibly Celine Dion

certainly not George Michael or Elton John (vocally)

GripGetter · 23/03/2025 21:42

Tereseta · 22/03/2025 07:37

David Draiman of disturbed has the most amazing powerful voice with great range. He is amazing live.

Ah yes! The Disturbed Sound of Silence cover! Just amazing, and S&G have said how much they like it too.

AyeRight78 · 23/03/2025 21:40

some of my fave male vocalists

Tom Chaplin - Keane
Curt Smith - Tears for Fears
Dan Smith - Bastille
Rag n Bone Man

user1471467504 · 23/03/2025 21:35

MumofMandL · 23/03/2025 21:34

I’m surprised nobody mentioned Chester Bennington - what a talent!

Omg how did i forget about Chester- what a man, what a voice, what a legend!

MumofMandL · 23/03/2025 21:34

I’m surprised nobody mentioned Chester Bennington - what a talent!

AlicePottery · 23/03/2025 21:30

Maitri108 · 21/03/2025 09:46

I don't think there's ever been anyone comparable to Freddie Mercury regarding range, writing ability and charisma.

Elton John is an amazing song writer but not a particularly special singer. George Michael had a very good voice and wrote his own songs. I wasn't aware of how good he was until I saw him do the Queen tribute concert.

David Bowie had his own category, he wasn't like anyone else. An amazing song writer and character, his voice wasn't great but very distinctive. He created his own musical genre.

I don't know that much about modern music and don't know anyone who compares to any of them.

This !

Reachforthestars00 · 23/03/2025 21:23

Hozier for sure,

If you like country, Chris Stapleton

stillwaitingtobepaid · 23/03/2025 21:11

SueSuddio · 21/03/2025 11:51

Nothing wrong with Elton's voice, especially back in his prime.

There's something about George Michael's voice that just makes you listen in awe. It's flawless and exciting and makes you feel good. What a gift to the world.

I like to think they'll be others but the 70s/80s was a particular golden era for these amazing all rounders so I'll keep playing them to my children!

You have summed George Michael up beautifully…a true gift to the world ! I was lucky enough to watch him live in Sydney on his Faith Tour in 1987 ,truly remarkable and fabulous to watch .

RaraRachael · 23/03/2025 21:05

Agree about Matt Bellamy and Muse. I've seen them 3 times now and they sound exactly like their recordings

AlecTrevelyan006 · 23/03/2025 20:54

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=46YZ8evUfKk&pp=ygUYZ2VvcmdlIG1pY2hhZWwgcmVoZWFyc2Fs

just in case anyone doubts George Michael’s vocal genius you should watch this video of the rehearsal for the Freddie Mercury tribute concert. Truly remarkable. From around 3mins the camera shows David Bowie nodding along in appreciation.

Newname71 · 23/03/2025 20:19

boulevardofbrokendreamss · 22/03/2025 01:03

Yungblud. His voice is incredible.

His cover of I was made for loving you.. ❤️❤️

Newname71 · 23/03/2025 20:13

user1471467504 · 21/03/2025 12:54

Ronnie Radke lead singer of Falling in Reverse - awful person but the talent on that guy is next level. Give last resort reimagined a listen to hear is full vocal range - incredible!

Edited

I played that song on repeat when I first heard it ❤️

Newname71 · 23/03/2025 20:12

Quacking4it · 21/03/2025 12:38

Matt Bellamy from Muse. Very talented

I saw muse at Fownload festival. They’re phenomenal live