Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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:
BorderlineHappy · 06/03/2021 09:02

Olly Murs is another one,and its so obvious when he sings with better singers.

But i like him and his voice suits his music.
So hes another one the whole package rather than an amazing voice,

Pootle40 · 06/03/2021 09:04

@OrangeBananaFish

Katy Perry. When she is on TV in concert or singing live its just awful
I thought so too. Then I watched her inauguration performance and she is fantastic.
0blio · 06/03/2021 09:07

@merryhollybright

Can I nominate Jess Glynn and her wobbly bleating?
Nails down a blackboard!
Pootle40 · 06/03/2021 09:12

Beg to differ about Madonna. Yes she has bad days. Anyone who watches this and says she can't sing is wrong.

RichPetunia · 06/03/2021 09:13

Madonna
Beyoncé

thecatsthecats · 06/03/2021 09:27

Even if it's lighthearted, I find this thread awfully sad.

I'm objectively a better singer than my sister, but I don't have much confidence in it, whereas she happily breaks into song all the time.

Singing is one of the most joyful things you can do, whether you're good at it or not.

starfishmummy · 06/03/2021 09:38

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!

Or got paid enough

lynsey91 · 06/03/2021 09:50

I have to agree with other posters that people are mixing liking a singer's voice with whether they can sing or not.

I can't deny that Karen Carpenter could sing and well but I can't stand her voice. I also can't stand Mariah Carey, Whitney Houston, Adele and Celine Dion but they can all sing.

On a thread about best singers a few posters have mentioned Katie Melua and how she is absolutely pitch perfect. I dislike her voice so much I have to turn the radio off if they play one of her songs. I have been known to run across the living room to do this!

Just the fact that one poster said George Michael shows how personal taste is the main factor. It's ludicrous to say he couldn't sing. He had an amazing voice. I saw him live a few times and he was incredible.

I think Paul McCartney definitely could sing and had a good voice back in the day. He is 80 (or almost) now for goodness sake. How many 80 year olds can still sing well?

I love singing but will only sing when alone or with DH. I am absolutely dreadful. A cat in pain sounds better. Even the singers that don't impress me - Madonna, Kylie can definitely sing when compared with me.

PolaDeVeboise · 06/03/2021 10:04

My urge to defend George was such that I didn't nominate my worse - Florence Welch - I've always said her version of 'You Got the Love' sounds like a pissed up bird singing karaoke at the end of the night.

I also second Jamie Cullum - hate his nasally whine.

likeamillpond · 06/03/2021 10:17

Lilly Allen.
Basically melodic talking rather than actual singing.

likeamillpond · 06/03/2021 10:25

Voices age.
People shouldn't be judged on how they sound now.

looseddaughter · 06/03/2021 10:28

Ds would never forgive me if I didn't come on and defend Ariana Grande. I completely agree her diction is appalling and she does that breathy thing all the time on her albums but I took him to see her live a couple of years ago and I was pleasantly surprised by how powerful and impressive her voice was. She's not really to my taste but she can definitely sing.

George Michael - yes, of course he could sign and he was a great performer too. I was a huge fan as a teen then sort of forget him then saw him at the Linda McCartney memorial concert and was taken aback by how amazing he was.

Some of the people mentioned haven't got technically great voices but have distinct voices/emotional range and/or great presence as performers. Cheryl Cole stands out as having none of the above.

looseddaughter · 06/03/2021 10:29

George could sing obviously Blush

DrSbaitso · 06/03/2021 10:31

@likeamillpond

Lilly Allen. Basically melodic talking rather than actual singing.
It's not even melodic. I know her entire schtick was that she wasn't meant to sound as if she had been trained at an exclusive drama school (and she sure didn't) but she didn't sound as if she had any talent, however raw. Just droning with no feeling, no strength, no pleasant tone, no nothing. Could have been anyone burbling.

I also really disliked the way she would always go after other women on social media for no reason. I think she thought she was dismantling beauty standards or something, but it was just misogynistic.

Creamcrackersandricecakes · 06/03/2021 10:33

Oh I forgot about Lily Allen, (or my brain had blocked her out). She's not great at all is she. I once caught the end of one of her sets, (she was supporting the Scissor Sisters), and she's not even entertaining and charismatic on stage. She's a wonderful example of how being related to the right people will open doors.
Actually, come to think of it, I remember half watching a documentary about her a few years ago when she was at the height of her fame. They interviewed the music teacher from her school. This woman was literally gushing about how she'd one day 'overheard' little Lily singing away to herself and she 'couldn't believe' how beautiful her voice was. I recall DH and I were like, if you really think that then you've got no business being a music teacher.

tigger1001 · 06/03/2021 10:36

@likeamillpond

Voices age. People shouldn't be judged on how they sound now.
Yes voices age, but if they are still attempting to release music and get people to go to their gigs now why can't we judge their voices now?
Creamcrackersandricecakes · 06/03/2021 10:37

Oh!! And I never forgave LA for murdering that gorgeous Keane song in the John Lewis advert. Her vocals on that are absolutely horrendous, yet people were all losing their minds over it. ConfusedConfusedConfused

DrSbaitso · 06/03/2021 10:44

Remember when Lily murdered Dub Be Good to Me? I remember hearing it, thinking "what, they remade that?", listening out for the female vocals and then thinking "shit, it's Lily Allen, nobody else sounds that horrid, how the hell this happen??". And to think what a beautiful voice the original singer had!

Creamcrackersandricecakes · 06/03/2021 10:52

@DrSbaitso - oh dear god. I hadn't had the misfortune to come across that before. Just 🤮🤮🤮. Not just LA either, the whole thing is just horrific. Angry

beguilingeyes · 06/03/2021 10:59

@likeamillpond

Voices age. People shouldn't be judged on how they sound now.
So much this...
RedToothBrush · 06/03/2021 11:11

There are a lot of singers who don't have pitch perfect voices but I wouldn't say they can't sing. The convey emotion in their voices and can hold something of a tune.

Liam Gallagher used to be able to sing, but he ruined his voice and was dreadful for a while, but I think he's had some treatment/lessons so is better than he was at one point, but his voice isn't as good as it was in Oasis's early years. He's one I lament tbh.

The one who sticks in my mind as being truly appalling and not able to hold anything approaching a tune is the Ian Brown. I remember hearing him at Glastonbury and thinking he sounded like a dying cat. Fucking awful. And I like the Stone Roses and some of his solo singles (shame he's an utter bellend).

I've seen a LOT of bands and singers mentioned on this thread. Brown is the only one who I think is truly beyond any kind of help. (Though that bonkers clip of Elton does make me think its time he retired for perfectly valid health reasons).

Cattenberg · 06/03/2021 11:25

On the subject of Ronan Keating, I did laugh at his version of Father and Son. Cat Stevens sung it in two contrasting voices. Ronan Keating sung it all in the same voice Grin.

However, the most depressing thing about this thread is that everyone mentioned can sing better than me.

Houseofvelour · 06/03/2021 11:34

Paul McCartney is AWFUL

barm87 · 06/03/2021 11:42

Ian Brown

AngeloMysterioso · 06/03/2021 11:44

Well it seems like everyone agrees on Jess Glynne... she sounds like she’s singing whilst sitting on a washing machine set to spin!

And can I add to the list Diana Vickers (and absolutely cracks me up) and Ella Henderson- oh god, she does this weird howl at the end of her notes which is so off-putting, and now whenever I hear her all I’m listening for is that break in her voice when it turns into that howl! As well demonstrated in