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AIBU?

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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:
Bonjovispyjamas · 21/03/2025 15:56

OverpricedCupcake · 21/03/2025 15:27

Oh wow, you got to meet him, lucky you.
I'd miss Stevie Wonder if I went to Leeds and I've more chance of seeing Mika again.
I did love seeing him running through the picnics at Kew, made my night!

I did 😊 He's so lovely, but I got too starstruck and couldn't think of anything to say to him 🤦🏻‍♀️ Got a selfie with though. He stood next to me at Battersea and kept swaying into me, it was lovely. I was at kew too, but tickets were a present and we were in the reserved enclosure, wasn't impressed, was too far from the stage. Hammersmith I was right at the front.
Ah, that's a shame they clash, Steve Wonder will be amazing though.

LSTMS30555 · 21/03/2025 16:11

Lewis Capaldi love his voice, vocal range ect.

Unpopular opinion but I can't stand Chris martins dull depressing unremarkable voice!

LSTMS30555 · 21/03/2025 16:17

@ItsABeautifulDay25 Sting most certainly has the power. Have you ever heard him live?
Money for nothing with dire straits & all for one with rod steward and Bryan adams were absolutely powerful performances.

Comtesse · 21/03/2025 16:30

AlertCat · 21/03/2025 13:33

HRTFT and I know the OP was on male voices, but I was lucky enough to see Madeleine Peyroux live and she has an incredible voice, reminiscent of Bessie Smith, Peggy Lee, those 30s and 40s blues voices. I’ve loved her albums for years but live, her voice is so smooth and perfect (she had an amazing band, too).

Agree with this - her voice is beautiful, so distinctive. Also for jazz voices - how about Gregory Porter? He’s got a lot of power, what a dude.

phonecompaniesstink · 21/03/2025 16:33

Nobody will ever compare with George Micheal imo.

ItsABeautifulDay25 · 21/03/2025 17:01

LSTMS30555 · 21/03/2025 16:11

Lewis Capaldi love his voice, vocal range ect.

Unpopular opinion but I can't stand Chris martins dull depressing unremarkable voice!

I’m not fussed by Chris Martin at all, but Coldplay have been going 30 years 😱 they must be doing something right, even if it’s not to my taste. But no way is his voice in the same league!

OP posts:
CheeseAndPineappleHedgehog · 21/03/2025 17:04

Lady Gaga is unreal live. When she sings just her and a piano you can hear a pin drop. I don’t think people realise just how good her voice is! She’s amazing on the piano as well, she puts on an amazing show

BogRollBOGOF · 21/03/2025 17:06

Early days, but one to watch out for is The Last Dinner Party.

Definitely a band inspired by the late 70s/ early 80s. Shades of Kate Bush, Hazel O'Connor and the slightest hint of Sparks. I love them!

ItsABeautifulDay25 · 21/03/2025 17:06

LSTMS30555 · 21/03/2025 16:17

@ItsABeautifulDay25 Sting most certainly has the power. Have you ever heard him live?
Money for nothing with dire straits & all for one with rod steward and Bryan adams were absolutely powerful performances.

No I haven’t, but I’d love to. I love Sting’s voice and I probably was unfair on him. I think it’s a different song style, or at least my preferred Sting songs do not match the power of GM & FM. I agree All for One was a great song. I’ll go back to Sting…

OP posts:
Ihateboris · 21/03/2025 17:11

Carrie Underwood has an amazing voice. Great lyrics to her songs as well!

BunnyLake · 21/03/2025 17:14

LSTMS30555 · 21/03/2025 16:11

Lewis Capaldi love his voice, vocal range ect.

Unpopular opinion but I can't stand Chris martins dull depressing unremarkable voice!

I do like the bluesy aspect of his voice but I find it too nasally, as if he has a bad cold, for my taste. I love the song Someone you Loved though but I prefer to listen to Korean singer Jinho’s rendition. It’s beautifully clear despite him not being fluent in English. (He also sings An Englishman in New York amazingly). He is a pocket sized powerhouse of talent.

SoOxon · 21/03/2025 17:19

Michael Bolton
David Draiman of Disturbed (Sound of Silence)
Mick Hucknall

ItsABeautifulDay25 · 21/03/2025 17:34

SoOxon · 21/03/2025 17:19

Michael Bolton
David Draiman of Disturbed (Sound of Silence)
Mick Hucknall

Michael Bolton yes - has a fantastic powerful voice - and sang the right songs to prove it.

Mick Hucknall - I love Simply Red songs, I like his voice, it’s good, it suits his songs, occasionally makes me go wow, but less so than others.

OP posts:
ForIcyAzureDreamer · 21/03/2025 17:37

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

Love Ronnie and his version of Last Resort is the best cover ever. Shame we're still waiting for UK tour dates to be rescheduled!

ForIcyAzureDreamer · 21/03/2025 17:38

Vessel from Sleep Token. I melt when I hear his beautiful powerful voice.

shellyleppard · 21/03/2025 17:40

Pink has a fantastic voice, from the really rousing songs to the ballads this lady can sing them all ❤️ but no one will ever have the talent of Freddie Mercury

BogRollBOGOF · 21/03/2025 18:09

ItsABeautifulDay25 · 21/03/2025 17:34

Michael Bolton yes - has a fantastic powerful voice - and sang the right songs to prove it.

Mick Hucknall - I love Simply Red songs, I like his voice, it’s good, it suits his songs, occasionally makes me go wow, but less so than others.

Mick Hucknall has good stage presence when performing.

There's a lot of artists at the moment where I can recognise that they have good voices, but I don't necessarily like what they do with them, often coming across as a bit slurred and try-hard. Rae comes to mind. Ariana Grande is another. I often like Miley Cyrus- she's got a raw Stevie Nicks gravelly tone that feels expressive rather than just belting out and warbling Mariah Carey style.

A lot of it is from the modern corporate production.

RaraRachael · 21/03/2025 18:41

I don't rate Elton John's voice at all. No current male singers' voices appeal to me tbh.

As for the fashion for whispering breathy female singers ......

Whitney and Tom Jones my picks

TRC11 · 21/03/2025 18:43

Voice wise, maybe Stephan Sanchez. I did get chills at the end of his song "Be More."

mathanxiety · 21/03/2025 19:11

Nathaniel Rateliff
Hozier
The Weeknd
Ryan Bingham
Teddy Swims

Music has changed. It isn't so much about belting any more. There are far fewer vocal-centered songs.

MasterBeth · 21/03/2025 19:17

Why are people calling Freddie Mercury "Freddie" like he's their mate?

Overblown, pompous, foghorn of a singer. Volume does not equal quality.

DaysofHoney · 21/03/2025 19:19

LSTMS30555 · 21/03/2025 16:17

@ItsABeautifulDay25 Sting most certainly has the power. Have you ever heard him live?
Money for nothing with dire straits & all for one with rod steward and Bryan adams were absolutely powerful performances.

Sting live was magical! He’s amazing!

BogRollBOGOF · 21/03/2025 19:21

mathanxiety · 21/03/2025 19:11

Nathaniel Rateliff
Hozier
The Weeknd
Ryan Bingham
Teddy Swims

Music has changed. It isn't so much about belting any more. There are far fewer vocal-centered songs.

Not much in the way of instruments either.

Laments the demise of instrumental sections

MrsMoastyToasty · 21/03/2025 19:38

Agneta and Anni-frid from Abba
Annie Lennox.

shellyleppard · 21/03/2025 21:15

Joe Elliott from def leppard, really sings a beautiful ballad. Robert Palmer was also brilliant x

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