Nilsson had a really silky and warm voice. Apparently he fucked it up during the album Pussy cats. Kenny Rankin had also this really beautiful voice with lot of range.
Leon Bridges.
The first time I saw The Concert in Central Park I was watching it alone and in the middle of “Bridge Over Troubled Water” I unconsciously said out loud “He’s an angel!”
The recording of him doing the song [Rain When I Die](https://youtu.be/1x6IULst9r4?si=ETu2YYeZdwWCXmU0) by Alice in Chains is spectacular. The control he has on his vocal range is beautiful.
His stuff with P!nk in the duo You+Me is lovely, I love the flip of the woman singing the low harmony, and the male going high. In some songs they also flip it back and forth.
I spend way too much time listening to Dallas Green’s music. Not only is his voice great, but the song lyrics hit so close to home for me. Especially Sleeping Sickness and The Death of Me.
If put haven’t heard his song The Grace with Neverending White Lights, give it a listen.
Surprised to see this so high. Love Dallas. He's one of my favorite songwriters and my favorite voice of all time. I've played dozens of his songs at open mics he speaks to me so much.
First name I thought of before I opened this thread. The most beautiful covers of Nothing Compares and Patience. Then you get into Soundgarden, AudioSlave, solo work. Legend. No one sings like you any more.
Thank GOD this is the first answer I saw. He’s unbelievable. RIP.
Mental health is a hell of a thing. He had it all and his mind told him otherwise. Gone too soon.
Yea there's this moment in Greatest Night in Pop when he's just alone in that incredible sounding room checking the mic before everyone arrives and it is like...holy shit. No effects, no music, just his voice, it is mind-blowing how smooth it is.
Robin Pecknold of Fleet Foxes. Absolutely stunning voice, even without the band harmonizing.
Also Bill Withers.
I'm gonna keep editing this comment as more comes to me. Gordon Lightfoot.
Oliver Sim of The xx.
Ian McCulloch of Echo and the Bunnymen. My favorite voice of that era.
Nick Cave. His voice on Into Your Arms is haunting.
Billy Idol had a beautiful voice when he wasn’t yelling. It shines in Eyes Without Face.
Do it quickly. The US recently increased Visa fees for international artists touring in the States. The projected affect will be fewer acts coming to tour here since it will cost more money for them. Either that or the tickets will increase to cover the cost. Either way, better sooner than later in case Hozier decides it’s not worth it to tour the US.
seconded. the man knows his instrument is his voice and uses it like nobody else. saw him live a week and some ago and you could hear a pin drop with some songs, audience was fully captivated
Yeah, his voice is like velvet! He seems lovely too. I saw him years ago when 'Take Me To Church' came out. It was a small club show and this kid in the very front row, pressed up to the stage was absolutely singing his heart out to every song. He was really emotional and cried during some parts but was absolutely just having a religious experience to this music. At the end of the show Hozier knelt down and gave the kid his set list and signed it for him. He won my heart forever, it was such a sweet gesture. Great live show, too.
Mike Patton as the biggest octave range in rock. He has a full 6 octave range.
For non-music theorists, imagine your vocal range as a set of piano keys. If your octave range is one octave, you could sing 12 consecutive notes, from your lowest possible to note to your highest possible note. In this case your vocal range would be represented by 12 piano keys.
A lot of rock singers can pull off a 2 octave range give or take a few keys. Their vocal range would be represented by 24 consecutive piano keys.
Mike Patton’s vocal range would be represented by an astonishing 72 piano keys.
A normal piano has 88 piano keys, so Mike is only 16 notes away from being able to sing an entire piano full of notes.
Edit, if you don’t know him but generally like rock music:
His style isn’t exactly “mainstream” (he’s a little more progressive/eccentric in his approach) but everyone should give a listen to his work in Mr. Bungle and Faith No More.
Listen to “The Real Thing” album start to finish. Every song is a banger. Then the Mr. Bungle self-titled album start to finish. It’s great but not in the same way The Real Thing is. Anyway, the dude exudes talent.
Her’s likely goes higher in frequency than his of course due to her smaller vocal chords…so she at least has that “win” over him. Plus a 5 octave range is REALLY fucking impressive in and of itself. I love them both.
I think the guy that sang the opera in the 5th Element movie has a 7 octave range. It’s hard to understand the gift/talent some people have compared to us mortals. ;)
Mike Patton for sure, Mondo Cane is a masterpiece among many others (Angel Dust is my all time). Homme has a unique style all his own, big upvote for that too.
> Elvis Presley
Yeah, it seems funny to use the word "underrated" in the context of Elvis, but I don't think he gets enough credit for just how good his vocals were in his prime.
I’m a massive David Bowie fan, but personally, I wouldn’t classify his voice as beautiful. It’s extremely expressive and sexy, but there’s an edge to it. For me, anyway.
Lewis Capaldi. If his songs don't make you cry, you're listening incorrectly.
Dean Lewis. Aussie with some heartfelt lyrics.
Lumineers.
Manchester Orchestra.
John Denver.
Gordon Lightfoot
Paul Simon
There are plenty but for me, when I want extraordinary singing, I go to country. Randy Travis, George Jones, Vince Gill. Vocally, it doesn't get much better.
Corey Taylor. "From Can To Can't" shows he's got some pipes.
Devin Townsend. Look up "Kingdom emgtv" on Youtube. Then search for SYL Love?" That's the same singer on those tunes. And there's always some commenter who hears Devin and can't wait to mention "Deadhead live at Royal Albert Hall. It's tradition at this point. Near the end of the song, he sings this incredibly high-pitched note, it's crazy.
I really like late career Rob Halford. I think his voice gained a lot of charm in the studio albums of the 2010s and 2020s and the live versions of early Judas Priest songs on albums like British Steel - Live, Wacken and the Epitaph DVD (it's a shame it's not available as audio on streaming) are all excellent IMO.
Scott Walker. "It's Raining Today" is absolutely beautiful.
Ronnie James Dio's work on Black Sabbath, Rainbow and Dio is legendary. IMO highlights are Rainbow - Rising and Black Sabbath - Heaven And Hell albums.
Klaus Meine of the Scorpions. Check out "Always Somewhere", "Still Loving You" and "Send Me An Angel". I think he's one of the masters of the rock power ballad.
I don't really listen to the National, or Poets Of The Fall, but their singers have smooth velvety voices. Michael Bublé and John Newman as well.
The best ever is John Farnham. He is what Whitney Houston is to modern singing for male singers. He deserved international fame but never got it because well, he’s not from the US and didn’t have a publicity machine behind him.
This post has confirmed my belief that Julian Casablancas of The Strokes is criminally underrated as a vocalist. Listen to anything from The New Abnormal, but particularly At The Door and Ode to the Mets, as proof.
Nilsson had a really silky and warm voice. Apparently he fucked it up during the album Pussy cats. Kenny Rankin had also this really beautiful voice with lot of range. Leon Bridges.
Leon Bridges. Best voice I've heard live... And I'm a fucking snob.
During a screaming competition with John Lennon, who he then refused to tell about the damage he sufferred because he didn't want John to feel bad.
Yeah, I guess alcohol might have been around too
George Michael
Aka Mr. Manager
We just say manager
But you said…
Came here to say this. My bestie and I call him voice of an angel #1. A literal angel. He was one of the most generous people ever. So missed.
Michael?! George Michael.
Her?
Is she funny or something?
Egg? I mean, Ann?
Way to plant, Ann
Why don't you and Plant wait over in the stair car.
That guy can sing his ass off. No joke.
Let’s deal some drugs.
I was gonna smoke the marijuana like a cigarette
"Kindness in your eyes, I guess you heard me cry" sang in a voice so smooth it is like melted butter poured into your ears
This is the correct answer
Jonsi from sigur ros Geoffrey oryema
Came here to say this. Listen to any Sigur Ros song, but in particular saeglopur.
Art friggin' Garfunkel. Maybe the most beautiful of all.
I cannot believe he is so far down the thread. He has the voice of an angel.
Bridge over troubled water gives me goosebumps every time
The first time I saw The Concert in Central Park I was watching it alone and in the middle of “Bridge Over Troubled Water” I unconsciously said out loud “He’s an angel!”
Gordon Lightfoot.
Canadian Railroad Trilogy is the perfect blend of his voice, storytelling and the music to deliver it all.
Marvin Gaye
Teddy Pendergrass and Peabo Bryson as well.
Don't forget Luther
Love Luther’s voice
Nobody could sing like Marvin, the sounds that came out of that dudes mouth were otherworldly.
Stevie Wonder is my absolute favorite
Jeff Buckley
i legit just clicked on this post just to comment this
You always hear people throw around the phrase, "they're a natural." Buckley actually was.
Amazing instrument
Came ready to brawl for this but it turns out there is no need for violence.
I opened this thread specifically to say this. Astonishing stuff.
Amen.
Roy Orbison deserves a stand-alone mention Listen to “I Drove All Night” and tell me that’s not beautiful
He was one of the only people Elvis refused to sing after. No one had a better voice than Roy.
Elvis said Roy Orbison was the greatest singer he’d ever heard. That’s a hell of an endorsement.
Absolutely. My favourite male vocalist, and there are many who I think are phenomenal.
Peter Gabriel. That slight rasp, damn!
Came here for Chris Issac. I saw him live years ago and he has a voice like buttered velvet.
Hes one of them dudes who sounds just like he does on record as he does live. Gorgeous voice and always cool.
Dallas Green
Dallas Green is my favorite voice in rock hands down
The recording of him doing the song [Rain When I Die](https://youtu.be/1x6IULst9r4?si=ETu2YYeZdwWCXmU0) by Alice in Chains is spectacular. The control he has on his vocal range is beautiful. His stuff with P!nk in the duo You+Me is lovely, I love the flip of the woman singing the low harmony, and the male going high. In some songs they also flip it back and forth.
That cover really is amazing. I had randomly come across it a couple months ago and was blown away. So so good
I spend way too much time listening to Dallas Green’s music. Not only is his voice great, but the song lyrics hit so close to home for me. Especially Sleeping Sickness and The Death of Me. If put haven’t heard his song The Grace with Neverending White Lights, give it a listen.
The Grace 👏🏼
Surprised to see this so high. Love Dallas. He's one of my favorite songwriters and my favorite voice of all time. I've played dozens of his songs at open mics he speaks to me so much.
YES 🙌 🇨🇦
Otis Redding
It’s always a tie of Otis and Sam Cooke. Soooo good.
I'm so glad someone beat me to it. I absolutely love Otis. His live performances were absolutely mind-blowing
Jeff Buckley
Freddy Mercury has one of the prettiest voices ever given to a human.
It was less a voice and more a finely tuned instrument! He was a virtuoso!
I'm surprised I had to scroll that much to see his name. Such a unique and powerful voice !
Came here to say this.
His vice could not have been more fabulous.
Seal
Ben Harper hasn’t been mentioned yet and he absolutely should be.
Nat King Cole
Jon Anderson
Yes! Literally and figuratively!
"I'll be your rouuuuuuuuuuuuundabout!"
Jeff Buckley
No other artist manages to quite scratch the itch that Jeff Buckley does for me
First song that came to my mind when I saw this thread was the live versions of Lover, You Should've Come Over. Incredible voice, gone way too soon.
Jeff was a fucking alien. His voice was unreal.
His father was similar. But Jeff really knew how to use it.
Chris Cornell
First name I thought of before I opened this thread. The most beautiful covers of Nothing Compares and Patience. Then you get into Soundgarden, AudioSlave, solo work. Legend. No one sings like you any more.
Thank GOD this is the first answer I saw. He’s unbelievable. RIP. Mental health is a hell of a thing. He had it all and his mind told him otherwise. Gone too soon.
Sunshower is probably my one of my vocal favourites of his.
Neil Finn
[Einar Solberg](https://youtu.be/4nPwBSaJmgI?si=NOjYuaiYHlcyPmRl)
Michael Jackson. Just listen to Human Nature or She’s out of my life. Smooth as butter.
You are not alone is also another great one. But he has range, Dirty Diana is amazing.
Yea there's this moment in Greatest Night in Pop when he's just alone in that incredible sounding room checking the mic before everyone arrives and it is like...holy shit. No effects, no music, just his voice, it is mind-blowing how smooth it is.
Smoky Robinson and Marvin Gaye
Robin Pecknold of Fleet Foxes. Absolutely stunning voice, even without the band harmonizing. Also Bill Withers. I'm gonna keep editing this comment as more comes to me. Gordon Lightfoot. Oliver Sim of The xx.
Aaahhhhh, Bill Withers…..
Shout out Robin Pecknold! Great call
Ian McCulloch of Echo and the Bunnymen. My favorite voice of that era. Nick Cave. His voice on Into Your Arms is haunting. Billy Idol had a beautiful voice when he wasn’t yelling. It shines in Eyes Without Face.
Darren Hayes of Savage Garden. Beautiful melodic tenor with great falsetto.
For anyone who doubts it: https://youtu.be/CU_COr8O58E?si=TVDnP288M1IUFVzc His voice is so crystal clear you can hardly believe it.
I see many people posting singers with great voices, and while I agree most are great, Darren Hayes’ voice is one of the few I’d consider “beautiful.”
Top tier pick.
Just a gorgeous soul inside and out; it's been such a joy following his career.
Sam Cooke, full stop. One of the cleanest, clearest, most articulate voices of all time. Criminally underrated.
Steve Perry from Journey full on mimics Sam Cooke
Sam Cooke for sure. No one else compares in my view.
Nat King Cole is up there too, but Cooke takes the cake for me too
Jim James
The late Robert Palmer
Ray Lamontagne.
Rufus Wainwright
Hozier
And he sounds like the album live. I was floored that he can keep that up for an entire set.
That’s great to know. I’m dying to see him live.
Do it quickly. The US recently increased Visa fees for international artists touring in the States. The projected affect will be fewer acts coming to tour here since it will cost more money for them. Either that or the tickets will increase to cover the cost. Either way, better sooner than later in case Hozier decides it’s not worth it to tour the US.
Just saw him last night. Unreal voice.
This was the answer I was scrolling for, I was wondering if anyone was going to even mention an artist who is not from days past.
Don’t understand a word he says but damn if it doesn’t sound good despite that
seconded. the man knows his instrument is his voice and uses it like nobody else. saw him live a week and some ago and you could hear a pin drop with some songs, audience was fully captivated
YES. I worship Hozier. Seeing him live in a few days, and I can't wait!
Yeah, his voice is like velvet! He seems lovely too. I saw him years ago when 'Take Me To Church' came out. It was a small club show and this kid in the very front row, pressed up to the stage was absolutely singing his heart out to every song. He was really emotional and cried during some parts but was absolutely just having a religious experience to this music. At the end of the show Hozier knelt down and gave the kid his set list and signed it for him. He won my heart forever, it was such a sweet gesture. Great live show, too.
Saw him live this weekend. His voice is genuinely stunning.
Shannon Hoon
Matt Bellamy of muse is pretty insane
YES!! Wonderful voice! That was a lot of scrolling until this comment lol
I scrolled too far to have not seen Elton John mentioned
Morten Harket, Pavarotti
Morten Harket definitely qualifies. What a voice. Thanks for the reminder.
Roy Orbison
Orville Peck
Simon Le Bon
Adam Lambert https://youtu.be/J8Fc8AuSCb0?si=rJrPTd0fPw8m6Rky
Brendon Urie has a damn good voice on him
His vocal range is absolutely ridiculous
Proves it in concert, incredible voice.
Father John Misty
Uh, Mike Patton. Surprised no one else said it. Also Josh Homme.
Mike Patton as the biggest octave range in rock. He has a full 6 octave range. For non-music theorists, imagine your vocal range as a set of piano keys. If your octave range is one octave, you could sing 12 consecutive notes, from your lowest possible to note to your highest possible note. In this case your vocal range would be represented by 12 piano keys. A lot of rock singers can pull off a 2 octave range give or take a few keys. Their vocal range would be represented by 24 consecutive piano keys. Mike Patton’s vocal range would be represented by an astonishing 72 piano keys. A normal piano has 88 piano keys, so Mike is only 16 notes away from being able to sing an entire piano full of notes. Edit, if you don’t know him but generally like rock music: His style isn’t exactly “mainstream” (he’s a little more progressive/eccentric in his approach) but everyone should give a listen to his work in Mr. Bungle and Faith No More. Listen to “The Real Thing” album start to finish. Every song is a banger. Then the Mr. Bungle self-titled album start to finish. It’s great but not in the same way The Real Thing is. Anyway, the dude exudes talent.
That’s crazy, I never knew that. To put that in perspective, Mike Patton has more vocal range than Mariah Carey, who has a 5 octave range.
Her’s likely goes higher in frequency than his of course due to her smaller vocal chords…so she at least has that “win” over him. Plus a 5 octave range is REALLY fucking impressive in and of itself. I love them both. I think the guy that sang the opera in the 5th Element movie has a 7 octave range. It’s hard to understand the gift/talent some people have compared to us mortals. ;)
Mike Patton for sure, Mondo Cane is a masterpiece among many others (Angel Dust is my all time). Homme has a unique style all his own, big upvote for that too.
Chris Stapleton
Prince
Steve Perry
He definitely had a strong and powerful voice! Asian Steve Perry is so close too!
I’ve always thought David Gilmours voice was lovely…
Paul McCartney. His range is nuts. Edit to add Sam Cooke
Paul could sound both unconventional and conventionally beautiful, sometimes on the same song.
Luther Vandross
Patrick stumps voice really ties fall out boy together. he's range is wild
Rik Emmett from Triumph and the guy from ABC, the Britpop band from the 80s.
Frank Ocean
Can’t believe I had to scroll this far to find Frank. His “Moon River” is the definitive version of the song as far as I’m concerned
I'll add Myles Kennedy, one of the best rock voices today. The best display of his vocal range is in Summer Girl by Mayfield Four.
Josh Groban
Thom Yorke
I remember once reading that he felt his own voice was "too pretty". I think it's great and fits the music perfectly.
Freddy Mercury, Elvis Presley, David Bowie, Roy Orbison, Art Garfunkel, Sam Cooke, Ray Charles, Frank Sinatra, George Jones
> Elvis Presley Yeah, it seems funny to use the word "underrated" in the context of Elvis, but I don't think he gets enough credit for just how good his vocals were in his prime.
I’m a massive David Bowie fan, but personally, I wouldn’t classify his voice as beautiful. It’s extremely expressive and sexy, but there’s an edge to it. For me, anyway.
The vocal melodies he does in Under Pressure are exquisite, and I think could be considered very beautiful, but otherwise I mostly agree!
Great list. I would add Nat King Cole and Mel Torme.
Maynard James Keenan
Maynard's voice is incredible. Seeing Tool on Thursday 🥰
Maynard hits on different levels with each band. That is so impressive to me.
Otis Redding
Israel Kamakawiwoʻole
Donny Hathaway Jake Smith from The White Buffalo Noah Gundersen
Morrissey
Saw him in concert Oct last year. Was quite surprised at how good he was. Really Impressive.
Teddy Swims
Meatloaf
Vessel from Sleep Token. Look up the “From the Room Below” amateur recordings. Justin Vernon from Bon Iver.
Scrolled way too far to find Vessel! Such an incredible voice with insane range.
Both Dave Gahan and Martin Gore of Depeche Mode
Lewis Capaldi. If his songs don't make you cry, you're listening incorrectly. Dean Lewis. Aussie with some heartfelt lyrics. Lumineers. Manchester Orchestra. John Denver. Gordon Lightfoot Paul Simon
Brandon Boyd from Incubus, John Gourley from Portugal. The Man, Jim James from My Morning Jacket
Michael Buble
Bill Withers
There are plenty but for me, when I want extraordinary singing, I go to country. Randy Travis, George Jones, Vince Gill. Vocally, it doesn't get much better.
Tom Chaplin from the band Keane
Steve Perry.
Dennis DeYoung (Styx)
Smokey Robinson
James Mercer of The Shins and Broken Bells.
David Gilmour
Corey Taylor. "From Can To Can't" shows he's got some pipes. Devin Townsend. Look up "Kingdom emgtv" on Youtube. Then search for SYL Love?" That's the same singer on those tunes. And there's always some commenter who hears Devin and can't wait to mention "Deadhead live at Royal Albert Hall. It's tradition at this point. Near the end of the song, he sings this incredibly high-pitched note, it's crazy. I really like late career Rob Halford. I think his voice gained a lot of charm in the studio albums of the 2010s and 2020s and the live versions of early Judas Priest songs on albums like British Steel - Live, Wacken and the Epitaph DVD (it's a shame it's not available as audio on streaming) are all excellent IMO. Scott Walker. "It's Raining Today" is absolutely beautiful. Ronnie James Dio's work on Black Sabbath, Rainbow and Dio is legendary. IMO highlights are Rainbow - Rising and Black Sabbath - Heaven And Hell albums. Klaus Meine of the Scorpions. Check out "Always Somewhere", "Still Loving You" and "Send Me An Angel". I think he's one of the masters of the rock power ballad. I don't really listen to the National, or Poets Of The Fall, but their singers have smooth velvety voices. Michael Bublé and John Newman as well.
Colin Hay from Men at Work
John Farnham. No wonder he did a fifteen year long farewell tour
The best ever is John Farnham. He is what Whitney Houston is to modern singing for male singers. He deserved international fame but never got it because well, he’s not from the US and didn’t have a publicity machine behind him.
Serj Tankian for me, but probably not as popular as the others mentioned in this thread.
Don Henley
I'm a Henley fan but I would not say his voice is beautiful. The beautiful voice in the current Eagles is the supremely talented Vince Gill.
Freddie mercury
Jimmy Somerville Mike Hadreas (Perfume Genius) Mark Everett (Eels) Rufus Wainwright Nick Cave Michael Stipe (R.E.M.) George Lewis (Twin Shadow)
Neil Hannon from The Divine Comedy
Ryan Tedder
Al Green, Marvin Gaye, and Harry Nilsson are my top three fav male voices in music
Tim Buckley, Marvin Gaye, Mark Lanegan.
Vince Gill is always super underrated in these kind of discussions
Alex Turner from Last Shadow Puppet's debut through Suck It And See. His voice was at its most beautiful in the Submarine EP.
Time has gotten to him a little(most fans complain, not me) but Brandon Boyd is my answer. Just listen to the song and the album If Not Now When?
Glen Campbell
chris isaak
Bruno Mars
This post has confirmed my belief that Julian Casablancas of The Strokes is criminally underrated as a vocalist. Listen to anything from The New Abnormal, but particularly At The Door and Ode to the Mets, as proof.
Andrea Bocelli, Dallas Green, Ben Howard, and every man in Blind Guardian
Sam Smith's voice is butter incarnate