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Topic ClosedWho are some of the best vocalists in prog?

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StrengthandWisdom View Drop Down
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Direct Link To This Post Topic: Who are some of the best vocalists in prog?
    Posted: April 08 2011 at 18:39
I want singers who've had at least some degree of vocal training, and don't sing with a glottal voice.

Who are some of your favorites? Which bands have really good vocalists? I like Neal Morse and Steven Wilson's voice.
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: April 08 2011 at 21:25
From the more famous bands that I know, I go for John Anderson, Annie Haslam, and Freddy Mercury... and then many of the female fronted metal bands too. Very special mention and better than most, are italian singers Francesco di Giancomo (from Banco del Mutuo Socorso), and Jimmy Spitaleri from Metamorfosi.
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: April 08 2011 at 21:34
Geoff Tate. No doubt, he has an amazing voice. Like Dellinger said above, Freddie Mercury (probably the best rock vocalist of all time) and Jon Anderson.
Cedric Bixler-Zavala of TMV can wail pretty well.

Edit: oops. Fixed it!


Edited by Mushroom Sword - April 10 2011 at 00:48
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: April 08 2011 at 22:43
As far as range and technical prowess go:

Daniel Gildenlow
Peter Hammill
Steve Walsh (in his younger days)
Dan Swano
Fish (in his younger days)
Ross Jennings (lesser known, he's in a band called Haken and has an incredibly diverse range)

Then theres the singers who aren't as technically gifted but can still belt out some tunes with some real intensity:
Fish (in more recent years)
Steve Hogarth
Steve Walsh (more recently)'
Hasse Froberg
Roine Stolt
Nad Sylvan
Rob Sowden
Peter Nichols
Chuck Schuldiner


In many ways I actually prefer the latter singers to the former.
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: April 08 2011 at 23:31
I endorse the suggestions of Haslam, Gildenlow and Walsh.  Also, doesn't really have a huge range but a very pleasant voice: Richard Sinclair.  Phil Collins in the four man Genesis days too, especially the song Ripples.  Not particularly trained, these last two but given that you mentioned Morse and Wilson, I am not sure that is exactly what you're looking for.  Would also suggest The Gathering's singer Anneke van Giersbergen, especially the album How to Measure A Planet. 
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: April 09 2011 at 00:11
Originally posted by rogerthat rogerthat wrote:

Not particularly trained, these last two but given that you mentioned Morse and Wilson, I am not sure that is exactly what you're looking for.  

Glad somebody said it LOL
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: April 09 2011 at 01:47
Always loved Bryan Ferry's strange 'wobbly' voice.
 
On an emotional level Pete Nicholls (IQ) does it for me. I also like Matt Bellamy for sheer intensity (check out Sing For Absolution)
 
Technically the best imo:
Chris Thompson
Bruce Dickinson
 
The worst:
The guy from Eloy although I love the band
 
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: April 09 2011 at 03:13
Personal favourites of mine are Peter Nicholls (IQ),  Rikard Sjoblom (Beardfish) and Derek Shulman (Gentle Giant).

Then of course there are the all-time prog greats like Gabriel, Mercury, anderson and Geddy Lee.

Although Andy Tillison's voice has never been great, I always appreciated that his songs were very personal, so I guess good vocals aren't always so important LOL
Going to trial with a lawyer who considers your whole lifestyle a crime-in-progress is not a happy prospect.
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: April 09 2011 at 03:36
Originally posted by Mushroom Sword Mushroom Sword wrote:

Omar Rodriguez Lopez can wail pretty well.


Omar is the Voltas guitar player. Cedric is the singer.


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Direct Link To This Post Posted: April 09 2011 at 03:48
Originally posted by richardh richardh wrote:


Technically the best imo:

Bruce Dickinson
 


How can a screamer be technically the best?LOL
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: April 09 2011 at 03:55
Patrik Lundström  from ritual and kaipa  has an amazing voice

Edited by martinprog77 - April 09 2011 at 03:55
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: April 09 2011 at 04:36
Originally posted by Snow Dog Snow Dog wrote:

Originally posted by richardh richardh wrote:


Technically the best imo:

Bruce Dickinson
 


How can a screamer be technically the best?LOL

While I agree that Bruce is not technically the best, there's much more to his singing than just screaming.  He used to sing at the top of a tenor's range all the time in the 80s so that is very demanding. Sure, we have so very many of those metal sirens by now but it's still not for everyone. And not just the fact that he hits those notes, he belts them powerfully. And he sings in tune all the time, so it's not screaming in the Tom Araya-sense at all.  Lacked adaptability and favoured an overwrought style of emoting but that's a different story.  
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: April 09 2011 at 04:41
Originally posted by rogerthat rogerthat wrote:

Originally posted by Snow Dog Snow Dog wrote:

Originally posted by richardh richardh wrote:


Technically the best imo:

Bruce Dickinson
 


How can a screamer be technically the best?LOL

While I agree that Bruce is not technically the best, there's much more to his singing than just screaming.  He used to sing at the top of a tenor's range all the time in the 80s so that is very demanding. Sure, we have so very many of those metal sirens by now but it's still not for everyone. And not just the fact that he hits those notes, he belts them powerfully. And he sings in tune all the time, so it's not screaming in the Tom Araya-sense at all.  Lacked adaptability and favoured an overwrought style of emoting but that's a different story.  

I meant shouter rather than screamer. My mistake. He shouts. 
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: April 09 2011 at 04:45
Originally posted by Snow Dog Snow Dog wrote:

Originally posted by rogerthat rogerthat wrote:

Originally posted by Snow Dog Snow Dog wrote:

Originally posted by richardh richardh wrote:


Technically the best imo:

Bruce Dickinson
 


How can a screamer be technically the best?LOL

While I agree that Bruce is not technically the best, there's much more to his singing than just screaming.  He used to sing at the top of a tenor's range all the time in the 80s so that is very demanding. Sure, we have so very many of those metal sirens by now but it's still not for everyone. And not just the fact that he hits those notes, he belts them powerfully. And he sings in tune all the time, so it's not screaming in the Tom Araya-sense at all.  Lacked adaptability and favoured an overwrought style of emoting but that's a different story.  

I meant shouter rather than screamer. My mistake. He shouts. 

Well, maybe my objections come across as semantic, but Bruce is simply belting hard at high pitch. It's not shouting because he's very much in tune.  The last lines of Hallowed Be Thy Name, for example, are SUNG.  With a lot of power and fury, yes, but it's still singing. I would not call it shouting or screaming because trying to shout out those notes like that day in day out in concert can wreck the singer's voice. Bruce was absolutely in control and knew what he was doing.
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: April 09 2011 at 04:47
Originally posted by rogerthat rogerthat wrote:

Originally posted by Snow Dog Snow Dog wrote:

Originally posted by rogerthat rogerthat wrote:

Originally posted by Snow Dog Snow Dog wrote:

Originally posted by richardh richardh wrote:


Technically the best imo:

Bruce Dickinson
 


How can a screamer be technically the best?LOL

While I agree that Bruce is not technically the best, there's much more to his singing than just screaming.  He used to sing at the top of a tenor's range all the time in the 80s so that is very demanding. Sure, we have so very many of those metal sirens by now but it's still not for everyone. And not just the fact that he hits those notes, he belts them powerfully. And he sings in tune all the time, so it's not screaming in the Tom Araya-sense at all.  Lacked adaptability and favoured an overwrought style of emoting but that's a different story.  

I meant shouter rather than screamer. My mistake. He shouts. 

Well, maybe my objections come across as semantic, but Bruce is simply belting hard at high pitch. It's not shouting because he's very much in tune.  The last lines of Hallowed Be Thy Name, for example, are SUNG.  With a lot of power and fury, yes, but it's still singing. I would not call it shouting or screaming because trying to shout out those notes like that day in day out in concert can wreck the singer's voice. Bruce was absolutely in control and knew what he was doing.

Lets get this clear...to me he is a shouter. Nothing you say will sway that opinion.Smile
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: April 09 2011 at 04:52
Originally posted by Snow Dog Snow Dog wrote:

 

Lets get this clear...to me he is a shouter. Nothing you say will sway that opinion.Smile

Fine, but I raised the objection only because you are questioning another's assessment of Bruce's technical abilities based on what appear to be somewhat inaccurate observations.  You are free to call him what you like, but factually, Bruce is a singer, he's not a typical thrash metal shouter sort at all. 
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: April 09 2011 at 04:55
Originally posted by rogerthat rogerthat wrote:

Originally posted by Snow Dog Snow Dog wrote:

 

Lets get this clear...to me he is a shouter. Nothing you say will sway that opinion.Smile

Fine, but I raised the objection only because you are questioning another's assessment of Bruce's technical abilities based on what appear to be somewhat inaccurate observations.  You are free to call him what you like, but factually, Bruce is a singer, he's not a typical thrash metal shouter sort at all. 

He shouts. Belting a song throughout is shouting. And of course factually he is a singer. So is mark Knoppfler factually a singer even though he talks. he's a talker. Don't pull this my opinion are true nonsense.


Edited by Snow Dog - April 09 2011 at 04:57
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: April 09 2011 at 05:00
Originally posted by Snow Dog Snow Dog wrote:

 

He shouts. Belting a song throughout is shouting.

Wrong. Belting is simply maintaining chest resonance even at pitches where you'd normally be required to move to head.  Sounds of the Sea chorus is as much belted as Hallowed...., just used for different purposes.

 
Originally posted by Snow Dog Snow Dog wrote:

 And of course factually he is a singer. So is mark Knoppfler factually a singer even though he talks. he's a talker. Don't pull this my facts are true nonsense.

I really haven't heard enough Dire Straits to relate to that analogy but if your point is simply that any vocalist is a singer, that's not what I was saying at all.  A vocalist projecting tuneful melodies is a singer.  Bruce definitely meets that criterion, whether he sings gently or at the top of his voice is irrelevant.  If your point was that he cannot emote over gentle or sparse settings, many technically accomplished singers don't fare very well at that either so diversity or adaptability has nothing to do with technical skill.  
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: April 09 2011 at 05:04
Originally posted by rogerthat rogerthat wrote:

Originally posted by Snow Dog Snow Dog wrote:

 

He shouts. Belting a song throughout is shouting.

Wrong. Belting is simply maintaining chest resonance even at pitches where you'd normally be required to move to head.  Sounds of the Sea chorus is as much belted as Hallowed...., just used for different purposes.

 
Originally posted by Snow Dog Snow Dog wrote:

 And of course factually he is a singer. So is mark Knoppfler factually a singer even though he talks. he's a talker. Don't pull this my facts are true nonsense.

I really haven't heard enough Dire Straits to relate to that analogy but if your point is simply that any vocalist is a singer, that's not what I was saying at all.  A vocalist projecting tuneful melodies is a singer.  Bruce definitely meets that criterion, whether he sings gently or at the top of his voice is irrelevant.  If your point was that he cannot emote over gentle or sparse settings, many technically accomplished singers don't fare very well at that either so diversity or adaptability has nothing to do with technical skill.  

You're wrong ( to use your term)
 

He shouts. he shouts in tune. But he shouts.

Having said that, I love Iron Maiden and Bruce.( just wish he wouldn't shout so much)
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: April 09 2011 at 05:08
Originally posted by StrengthandWisdom StrengthandWisdom wrote:

I want singers who've had at least some degree of vocal training, and don't sing with a glottal voice.

Who are some of your favorites? Which bands have really good vocalists? I like Neal Morse and Steven Wilson's voice.

Even singers WITH training use "glottal voice" (I presume you mean "head voice"); you can't reach certain high notes without using head voice. If you don't believe me read the wikipedia entry about vocal resonation:
http://vocal resonation
Vocal training only teaches you  how to switch between them effortlessly and to support the sung note with the diaphragm.



Edited by BaldFriede - April 09 2011 at 05:12


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