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

[BlackBucketOfCheese]

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.

@thecatsthecats

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.

I think most of the singers mentioned here can take comfort in their enormous bank balances and great lifestyles. I doubt our thoughts on their voices is keeping them up at night. Or in any danger of shutting them.up

@DrSbaitso

What do people mean by "like a pub/club singer"? I've heard it used as an insult, on here and on singing shows, but I've never really understood what it means or why it's undesirable.

Somebody who might be “booked” to sing at a club or pub, on a regular basis eg Friday night. Or bookable for weddings etc. Might be generally doing covers. So not selling records or touring or anything. And probably doing another job by day. Some of these people are probably very good singers and just don’t want to take it any further. Some of them will be a bit rubbish. But nothing wrong with it per se.

Not a lot famous singer as such but Ewan McGregor in moulin rouge was woeful as was Russel Crowe in Les Miserables. Pretty sure they’ve admitted it since and unsurprisingly haven’t done any more musicals.
Genuinely don’t know why you wouldn’t hire actual singers to star in a musical...oh wait yeah you want proper A listers to make sure it makes money.
See also Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone in La La land. They managed ok but clearly are not good singers!

Maybe something in between a home singer and one who has a record contract?

@tobee

Maybe something in between a home singer and one who has a record contract?

A club/pub singer I mean

Also have to defend Ariana Grande as DD1 will kill me if I don't. I can't stand her music but she can sing. DD keeps going on about something called whistle notes?

Someone mentioned Debbie Harry? Beautiful voice especially now she is older and her range is lower.

Totally agree about Debbie Harry. The woman is a goddess. I've seen her solo and with Blondie. Just listen to Hanging On The Telephone.

Even if it's lighthearted, I find this thread awfully sad
Singing is one of the most joyful things you can do, whether you're good at it or not.*

I think most of the singers mentioned here can take comfort in their enormous bank balances and great lifestyles. I doubt our thoughts on their voices is keeping them up at night. Or in any danger of shutting them.up

Totally agree, any singer in the public eye, especially those who are earning fortunes must expect to get critique. Nothing sad about it. There’s good singers and bad singers, they shouldn’t be all classed the same. Wouldn’t be fair on the good singers, there’d be no merit. Otherwise we might as well all do it.

5 page of people who can't tell the difference between their personal preferences in music and peoples actual abilities.

Frazzled, Russel Crowe is actually a good singer and fronted a band for quite a long time.

What he is not is a musical theatre bass-baritone.

@PolkadotsAndMoonbeams

Frazzled, Russel Crowe is actually a good singer and fronted a band for quite a long time.

What he is not is a musical theatre bass-baritone.

This reminds me of the epic line from the movie version of the musical 'The Last Five Years'.

Cathy has been auditioning (again) for a part in a musical, as we watch she changes from the audition song to sing to us' why am I working so hard? These are the people who cast Russell Crowe in a musical - Jesus Christ! I suck, I suck, I suck'

Love that movie!

In terms of Russell Crowe and Les Mis, this video is interesting

m.youtube.com/watch?v=1ikqU6G6Xgs

It is long! But in terms of Crowe (and Jackman) says their technique was awful and they made rookie errors, eg Hugh Jackman not drinking and fluid for 3 days before he sang Look Down

Sorry meant that it says they’re reasonably talented but sound awful due to technique

@ChocBeforeCock
Thanks for posting that video. Quite interesting. I love Hugh J and he can definitely sing but he’s not that great in LM is he.
But when I was thinking about the parallel “who CAN sing?” Thread earlier, the one person that came to mind was, Samantha Barks!

@SmokedDuck I agree. I think a lot of the older singers were multi-talented, they were actually able to play an instrument and were often trained. Aretha Franklin had an amazing voice AND she was a pianist. People compare her to the likes of Beyoncé who is essentially a stage entertainer with backing singers and dancers and I have to roll my eyes.

A lot of today's "singers" are just manufactured products who are selected for their looks and marketability rather than talent.

This thread is making me chuckle though. Do people truly believe Whitney, Mariah and Adele can't/couldn't sing?? You may not like the music but come on now, they CAN sing

My husband's mate always said Elvis was just a glorified pub singer.....

@Eastie77

I thought Beyoncé could sing, though. Doesn’t she have a real powerhouse voice?

Nobody beats Roberta Flack for me, though. The way she sings ‘First time...’ breaks my heart each time🙂

@looselegs

My husband's mate always said Elvis was just a glorified pub singer.....

That made me laugh. Elvis a glorified pub singer! I don't think so.

I've often thought over the years that he can't sing. Reminds a bit of a sheep bleating. Other singers that I think haven't got very good voices are Marc Almond,although I still like him! Also,Paul Young,and Ellie Goulding. There's something about her breathy voice that irritates me intensely.

@ALongHardWinter

I've often thought over the years that he can't sing. Reminds a bit of a sheep bleating. Other singers that I think haven't got very good voices are Marc Almond,although I still like him! Also,Paul Young,and Ellie Goulding. There's something about her breathy voice that irritates me intensely.

Marc Almond??? Come off it - he’s amazing! I note you like him And I’m not being an arse but he is a fantastic singer! I saw him at one of those 80s concerts a couple of years ago and it was a real gear change from all the old fun has-beens to his artistry. Also he has a pet jackdaw called Dawkins which makes him even more amazing 🤩

Paul Young used to be able to sing...I used to go and see his old band The Q Tips a lot, but something happened to it in the 80s and it's gone.

[quote Eastie77]@SmokedDuck I agree. I think a lot of the older singers were multi-talented, they were actually able to play an instrument and were often trained. Aretha Franklin had an amazing voice AND she was a pianist. People compare her to the likes of Beyoncé who is essentially a stage entertainer with backing singers and dancers and I have to roll my eyes.

A lot of today's "singers" are just manufactured products who are selected for their looks and marketability rather than talent.

This thread is making me chuckle though. Do people truly believe Whitney, Mariah and Adele can't/couldn't sing?? You may not like the music but come on now, they CAN sing[/quote]
I don't know though with someone like Adele - she has a great voice, but then there is also the question of technique, it's obviously pretty compromised. Like, you can give me a Stradivarius but everyone would probably still say I couldn't play, or at least they would when I broke the violin.

Liam Gallagher shockingly bad loud and screaming.
Madonna tuneless but brilliant performance so forgive her.
Bono sounds like a drunk bloke at karaoke..Still awesome.

Katy Perry live is appalling
Cheryl Cole or whatever she calls herself now
Kylie Minogue

Robbie Williams sounds like dodgy karaoke
Madonna is truly dreadful