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AIBU?

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Original poster

to think Ronan Keating can’t sing? Which other famous singers can’t sing?

519 replies

BlackBucketOfCheese · 05/03/2021 14:23

When I was a teenager I thought Ronan Keating had a great voice (despite not being my type of music) but I think I probably just fancied him. I’ve just heard one of his songs from around 1999 pop up on a Spotify playlist and he sounds like a goat yelping into a Pringles can.

I know lots of pop stars can’t sing for shite but in my head I had him in a bracket of people who can sing nicely - despite probably not having listened to his music for 20+ years.

Can RK sing?

Which other pop stars who people think are decent singers actually turn out to sound like a farm yard animal with trapped wind.

OP posts:
SmokedDuck · 06/03/2021 03:26

[quote Eastie77]@Obviouspretzel - no, what a strange conclusion to draw. I was giving an example of one singer (who I explained I'm not a fan of) at one event in the 1980s as an example of the quality of singers and live performers then who did not have to rely on assistance such as auto tune.

There are plenty of decent singers nowadays I'm sure. I just personally think the quality overall has declined.

HTH[/quote]
I think it has to do with changes in the music industry.

Phil Collins is a pretty accomplished musician (as a lot of prog rock guys were.) He might not have had a top notch voice but it could be compelling, ad he could sing in key, had a great sense of rhythm, knew how to sing harmonies. etc.

It's maybe to the point that he was in a band that produced high quality original music, and was very hard working in terms of touring and just creating music.

The music industry has completely changed now, particularly pop music, and it's mainly the financial element that drives it. I think in many ways it's like fast fashion. Poor quality, shiny, cheap to make, disposable, soon to be replaced by the next thing.

JackieWeaverHandforthCouncil · 06/03/2021 03:37

I can’t understand a word Ariana Grande is singing so don’t rate her.

Debbie Harry and Mel C could never sing and Beverly Knight always sounded like high pitched shouting.

Roman Keating, Mark Owen and Billie Piper got very lucky as none of them can sing at all.

MMfanalltheway · 06/03/2021 04:45

@DrSbaitso

Can someone tell me what is so very special about Adele? She's obviously very talented and her voice is beautiful, but what is it about her that makes people say it's a "once in a generation" voice and all that? It's lovely but I don't see how it's better than the cast of any current musical or many other beautiful singers I've heard.
It's a rare trait of being able to make you feel what they're singing.
MMfanalltheway · 06/03/2021 05:28

Does anyone have a party piece? Mine is the Green Fields of France. Sung once and still talked about. Yes. I'm famous.

There's an interesting thing that the comedian Michael McIntyre does where they record people singing at karaoke and then the real singer comes on. It's surprising how hard some songs are to sing.
DD1 gets 100% in music. I've sent her a link to this thread. Interested to hear her opinions, though I suspect she hasn't heard of half on here.

Some of these make no sense though unless you're tone deaf (some people are - my aunt is - it's actually a thing with hearing) such as Meatloaf, Adele etc. How could you possibly say that they can't sing? Ok, maybe you don't like the song, but fuck me, if you can't hear that either of them can sing there really must be something wrong with you. Somebody even mentioned Ed Sheeran? Have you ever seen him recording with Bocelli? Now, that's a blind man, so all he really has is sound, and he rated Sheeran enough to record with him! This is beautiful to watch as well as listen to.

MMfanalltheway · 06/03/2021 05:34

I very much feel that a song has to have emotive lyrics and then a musical moment. Like a crescendo. If you look at most hits, they have both. And obviously the voice to hit the crescendo.

sashh · 06/03/2021 05:49

Bruce Springsteen.

I once saw some graffiti that said, "Tone deaf in the USA", I often have that in my head.

MMfanalltheway · 06/03/2021 05:52

Do you know one of the most sung songs with a massive range? I'll let you guess. Hint - Not many can do it but they tend to be divas and my favourite version is Whitney Houston.

Tsubasa1 · 06/03/2021 06:06

Agree with Katy Perry, i've seen her live and it wasn't great

FannyFlapClap · 06/03/2021 07:00

Jess Glynn - ooft, I have to change the radio when she comes on, it's almost panic inducing.
Madonna - yeah, but I actually like her music.
Definitely can't stand Mariah Carey- I recently discovered the original version of 'Without You' by Badfinger, I'm so in love with this version that I refuse to listen to the other warbling two.

I love Paolo Nutini's voice - dreamy.
And Noel Gallagher is good live, definitely the better singer of the 2 brothers.

CuriousaboutSamphire · 06/03/2021 07:08

David Bowie can’t sing. But oh my gawddd can he put a song over! I love non-conventional voices like Bowie, Eartha Kitt, Bob Dylan Etc.

You have to listen to album tracks to hear his 'ordinary' singing voice, which always surprised me with its deep, round tone! But yes! And Wild is the Wind is possibly one of the best examples - but you have to listen to the full length version to hear some of the most raw parts

YeahYeahThatsMoi · 06/03/2021 07:09

Rihanna when she was live on TV one time.

BorderlineHappy · 06/03/2021 07:14

I have to say ( and it kills me) that Ronan was great in the crooner session.
Gary Barlow not so much.
You can hear him against the other singers and it's not great.

CarrotIsApple · 06/03/2021 07:16

Beyonce

sashh · 06/03/2021 07:37

David Bowie can’t sing. But oh my gawddd can he put a song over!

To be fair not many dead people can sing.

Faultymain5 · 06/03/2021 07:44

@Iwasonceabrownie

I never understood the love for David Bowie to be honest.
Finally found my personSmile
Sgtmajormummy · 06/03/2021 07:54

Simon LeBon.
Wild Boys especially.

Hozier. Relies on drums and bass for effect.
The top note in “Offer me that DEATHless death” may be intentionally off but it makes me want to smash the radio...

Faultymain5 · 06/03/2021 07:55

@Ladytron11

I’ve been through three pages & no-one’s mentioned Chris Coldplay??

Ariana Gasper she’s known as in our house. Every breath is an audible gasp!

Another one on my wavelength. Smile that voice is awful.
Frazzled2207 · 06/03/2021 07:57

@DrSbaitso

Can someone tell me what is so very special about Adele? She's obviously very talented and her voice is beautiful, but what is it about her that makes people say it's a "once in a generation" voice and all that? It's lovely but I don't see how it's better than the cast of any current musical or many other beautiful singers I've heard.
She’s not at all. However a small proportion of her songs have been pretty good. She’s a reasonable singer but her success is entirely disproportionate to her talent which is there but not stellar by any stretch. See also Ed Sheeran.
TheRogueApostrophe · 06/03/2021 07:58

@Cam2020

I remember my sister and I used to impersonate Cilla Black by screeching 'Surprise surpriiiiise, the unexpected hits you between the iiiiiieees .....' (spelling adjusted accordingly!) and laughing our heads off at the sheer awfulness of her voice (and ours). I used to wonder how anyone had ever thought she could sing

Yes!! I remember doing this too Grin

Us too 🤣 I bet we were all doing it in unison up and down the country!
Bawdrip · 06/03/2021 08:00

Jamie Callum. I've no musical talent whatsoever so can someone tell me is he flat on nearly every note because that's how it sounds to me. Awful scratchy voice too. Always changing key to the point it's unsettling.

DinosaurDiana · 06/03/2021 08:04

@Iwasonceabrownie

I never understood the love for David Bowie to be honest.
Agree.
TheRogueApostrophe · 06/03/2021 08:05

This is the reason The X Factor came about, isn't it? Because being a successful performer isn't all about having a perfect voice. It's about having the whole package.

I've always hated Robbie Williams's voice. I don't think he can sing but his success isn't about his voice alone. See also Gary Barlow and Mark Owen. I'm.not a TT fan! Kylie's always been nasally but her success is about being Kylie, and she's done amazingly well to stay current.

Voices definitely weaken and change with age though, so it's probably unfair to be judging some of the greats by how their voices sound today.

TigerDroveAgain · 06/03/2021 08:16

I know I’m incredibly late to the party and completely missed it in the summer but “I’m dill danding”GrinGrinGrin

Cam2020 · 06/03/2021 08:51

I remember my sister and I used to impersonate Cilla Black by screeching 'Surprise surpriiiiise, the unexpected hits you between the iiiiiieees .....' (spelling adjusted accordingly!) and laughing our heads off at the sheer awfulness of her voice (and ours). I used to wonder how anyone had ever thought she could sing

Yes!! I remember doing this too grin

Us too 🤣 I bet we were all doing it in unison up and down the country!

That's such a funny thought 😂

MsMiaWallace · 06/03/2021 08:59

I'm a 90s girl, massive take that fan. Used to adore Robbie. Went to the first reunion tour they did when Robbie came back for a time. Around 2011 & they released the flood.
Robbie came on & he was dreadful!
My heart sank. He looked good but was dreadful performing solo.