I was talking about this with a friend yesterday and thought it might be good thread topic since we are all music lovers.

Are there certain singers you can identify even if you've never heard the song before? Like for instance, Brian Johnson from AC/DC has a very recognizable voice. As does Robert Plant & David Lee Roth. If you were to play a Led Zep or VH song that I've never heard before, I could tell who it was right off the bat soon as I heard the vocals.

Who else would fall into the category of distinct voices that stand out?

BRYAN ADAMS
ROD STEWART
....I would probably be able to recognize them right away. Good topic :)

I think Klaus Meine of the Scorpions and Brad Roberts of the Crash Test Dummies have very distinctive voices.

Ronnie James Dio
James LaBrie -Dream Theater
Russell Allen -Symphony X
Tom Keiffer -Cinderella
Don Dokken -Dokken
Bruce Dickinson -Iron Maiden
Rob Halford -Judas Priest
Ozzy Osbourne
Geoff Tate -Queensryche
Geddy Lee -Rush
Scott Weiland -STP & Velvet Revolver
Lane Staley -AIC
Paul McCartney

Phil Collins
Daryl Hall
Simon LeBon

Cyndi Lauper

Tom Araya

Evan Dando

Jeff Buckley

Bjork

Robert Smith

Jay Aston

Euros Childs

Linda Perry

Jeff Martin - The Tea Party
Ed Roland - Collective Soul
Chad Kroegar-Nickelback (now I might get some arguments on this one, but I can pick that sexy man's voice out anywhere :naughty: )
Mark Holmes - Platinum Blonde
Alice Cooper
Don Henley
Kenny Shields - Streetheart
William Hung :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:

I know I went with mostly Canadian artists........but these are ones that i listened to all the time (and still do)
EXCEPT William Hung.........gawd i just cringe if i hear his CRAP

Tom Keiffer -Cinderella
Don Dokken -Dokken
Scott Weiland -STP & Velvet Revolver
Lane Staley -AIC

OOH! I have to MAJORLY disagree with these 4 Kimmy! Sorry!
Although I love Tom Keifer, the dude from Britney Fox sounds EXACTLY like him to me.. and there was another one around that time as well..

I LOVE Don Dokken as well.. but his voice to me sounds very common.. alot of metal vocalists share that sound.

and Weiland and Staley to me sound like all of the new artists and bands out there that are attempting to copy their sound.. in fact, AIC's Jerry Cantrell sounds a whole lot like Layne did.. and on some occasions, I even confuse STP for AIC.. I just did that the other day.. some of the songs sound so similar!


I would have to add The Beastie Boys.. they have their own "sound"
I USED to say that Dave Matthews had a distinct and unique voice but that new guy John Mayer sounds just like him to me now
Stevie Nicks
Paul Stanley
any of the Gibb brothers of the Bee Gees
Ann Wilson of Heart
Prince
Michael Jackson
Rob Zonbie

The Cranberries have that unique sound and
Stevie Nicks.

Stevie Nicks
Cyndi Lauper
Jon Bon Jovi

Stevie Nicks
Ray Charles
Bjork
Louie Armstrong
Tina Turner

Morten Harket - A-ha

and a lot of those already mentioned!

Bjork, all the way! I can pick her out a mile away! The other night I was sitting in the movie theater and they usually have music playing while they show ads and stuff and they were actually playing Bjork! There were only a bunch of older ladies in there, it was funny watching their faces as the song was playing!

I have to agree with many on Cyndi Lauper, as well as the chick from the Cranberries.

Tina, I totally agree about Dean from Britny Fox... when he screams, he sounds like Tom Keifer, when he sings lower, he sounds like Paul Stanely.

Elvis Presley
Frank Sinatra
Ozzy
Ann Wilson
Cyndi Lauper
George Strait
Jimmy Buffet
Alan Jackson

I also got to agree with some of the others that have been mentioned :)

David Byrne is the one that stands out for me.

Oh and someone who has a horrible voice is that Roland Gift from Fine Young Cannibals

THERE ARE TONS!
Not mentioned yet:
TOM PETTY
MICK JAGGER
PRINCE
BOB DYLAN
AXLE ROSE
ROY ORBISON
JONNY CASH
MICHAEL McDONALD
DENNIS DeYOUNG (One of my Favorites!)
STEVE PERRY(Another Favorite!)
PETER CETERA(Yet another fav!)

At the risk of sounding typical... Stevie Nicks has a totally distinct voice to me. The other day, a friend played me a song of hers from the early 70s and I knew it was her right away... there's just no mistaking that voice!

Other voices that are distinct to me:
-Cyndi Lauper
-Ann Wilson
-Reba McEntire
-Susanna Hoffs

Definitley Michael MacDonald!
I used to think David Bowie had a stand out voice, but that changed when the group Spacehog came out...that singer sounds exactly like him!

Danzig
Cyco Miko
Janis Joplin
Willie Nelson
Lemmy

Annette....you've moved up a few notches in my book for being the only one to mention the King. ;) :thumb:

I would have to add The Beastie Boys.. they have their own "sound"
WAY have to disagree with you there Tina hun!!! In order to be a singer with a distinctive voice, you have to actually sing. Rap artists do not count. Love 'em or hate 'em, you have to admit they do not "sing". Talking over a backbeat is not singing.

To prove the point....go ask a rap star how much vibrato he uses when he "sings". Make sure you take a picture of the blank stare you'll undoubtedly receive in response! :lol:

Tom Waits
Shane McGowan
Bjork (hatstand)
Ian McCulloch
Al Green

Ozzy Osbourne

Steve Perry

Huey Lewis

James Brown

Prince

Elvis Presley

To name a few.

and Weiland and Staley to me sound like all of the new artists and bands out there that are attempting to copy their sound.. in fact, AIC's Jerry Cantrell sounds a whole lot like Layne did.. and on some occasions, I even confuse STP for AIC.. I just did that the other day.. some of the songs sound so similar!

No way do AIC and STP sound the same! Have you really heard all of AIC's music? If you did you would not say that. ;) Alos, JC does not sound like LS either. Sorry Tina but I am a huge AIC fan and IMHO I disagree. ;)


Re: Singers with distinct voices...
Hard to name names. Everyone here has some good picks. I will add, Maynard James Keenan. :D

I agree, Layne sounds NOTHING like Scott Weiland OR Jerry Cantrell, imo....but then again, I'm a huge AIC fan, so I'm a little biased ;)

TC, I was gonna say Maynard...but I know that people unfamiliar with Tool's music would disagree :p

I have to disagree with Steve Perry sounding unique. Journey has a new Steve somebody-or-other singing and he sounds just like Steve Perry. It's creepy, almost. And the guy from AC/DC (Brian Johnson?) sounds just like the first guy from AC/DC. Heck, if you change up the music, Geddy Lee sounds like the guy from REO Speedwagon.

Either way, to those of us who enjoy certain artists, they'll sound unique. To those of us who tolerate certain artists on our way to our favorites, they'll sound the same as the next cookie cutter. :lol:

The ones who stand out to me:
Joe Elliott
Chad Kroeger
Elvis Presley
Stevie Nicks
That chick from Evanessence
Allison Krauss
Martina McBride
Willie Nelson
Dolly Parton
Don Henley
Cyndi Lauper
...............that's all that are popping in my head for now...

Not musicians but recognizable:
Gilbert Godfried
Kasey Casem
John Wayne

Jeff Keith(Tesla)
Mike Matijevic(Steelheart)
Zak Stevens
Jon Olivia
Dave Mustane

And the guy from AC/DC (Brian Johnson?) sounds just like the first guy from AC/DC.
No way!!!! NO ONE sounds like Bon Scott!

That chick from Evanessence
A complete and total rip-off of the girl who sings for Nightwish. Not original in the LEAST! And I don't know HOW you could think that Geddy and Kevin Cronin sound alike! :lol:

I'll add....

Loreena McKennit
Ronnie James Dio
Ace Frehley - Bad as his voice is, it's unique!
Joey Ramone
Gene Simmons
Rob Halford
Billy Joel
Elton John
Luther Vandross
Barry White
Ethel Merman
Carol Channing
Cher
Barbara Steisand

Peter Murphy
Elizabeth Fraser
Ian Curtis
Sade
Siouxsie
Ian McCulloch
Sinead
Bowie
did I mention Peter Murphy? :D

how could I forget this one that I listen to all the time?
Derek D. from Marillion.
he has that timeless voice that sounds like something
out of a fantasy novel from Tolkien. :D ;)

Heck, if you change up the music, Geddy Lee sounds like the guy from REO Speedwagon.


:6ohboy: Maybe to the untrained ear :lol:

The ones that I was going to add are listed already.

Perry Ferrell...

there are way too many distinct voices, that's prob why most of them are famous. lol

I guess everybody is waiting for ME to mention......Pat Benatar.

I'll add Cliff Richard too.

yeah, Pat Benatar and Cliff R.
so true.
and Phil Collins,
and Jim Morrison,
and Sid Berett etc. etc....
Rod Stewart....

just being obnoxious..

I'd have to say:

Bryan Adams
Phil Collins
Peter Cetera
Stevie Nicks

no particular order :)

Bringing this one WAAAYY back! Thanks to PG for starting it! :thumb:

Harriet Wheeler
Natalie Merchant
Bradley Nowell
David Gahan
Michael Stipe
Frank Black
Beth Gibbons
Mike Ness