The latest Greatest Singer list

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Craig Johnson
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The latest Greatest Singer list

Post by Craig Johnson »

The recent greatest singer list got me thinking about, who are the best musical acts, not in my opinion, but based on JUST studio album sales, this is what I found out and it surprised me. This is only studio album sales, not compilations, not marketing of other kinds, I don't believe it includes live albums but it might. The top 20.
1. Michael Jackson - 182million sales. (I own none of his albums)
2. Pink Floyd - 169million sales (I own Dark Side of the Moon)
3. Beatles - 160million sales (I own all their studio albums)
4. Madonna - 146million sales (I own Music)
5. Led Zeppelin - 141million sales (I own three of their studio albums)
6. Celine Dion - 136million sales (I own none of her albums)
7. AC/DC - 132million sales (I own none of their albums)
8. U2 - 127million sales (I own Joshua Tree)
9. Metallica - 121million (I own none)
10. Mariah Carey - 116million (I own none)
11. Rolling Stones - 113.8million (I own none, but I have two of their greatest hits albums)
12. Whitney Houston - 113.6million (I own none, but I mean to buy some really like her voice)
13. Bruce Springsteen - 103million (I own none, but I have his greatest hits, I want the Born In The USA album)
14. Rod Stewart - 100million (I own one of his greatest hits albums)
15. Eminem - 98million (I own none)
16. Phil Collins - 93million (I own none, but I like some of his stuff)
17. Billy Joel - 91.4 (I own three of his greatest hits albums)
18. Barbara Streisand - 91.3 (I own none, but I do like her voice)
19. Queen - 90million (I own none, on purpose)
20. Santana - 89million (I have his debut album)
So, there you have that. I think that says a lot about who is best, even if they are not my type.
I could not find info for purely studio album sales on some acts, like the Beach Boys, etc.

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Niemand
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Re: The latest Greatest Singer list

Post by Niemand »

Some would say this is the greatest Singer. It helps fix your clothes.
Image

I think Freddie Mercury of Queen was the greatest singer of these from a technical standpoint. And from that point of view there are much greater singers to be found in opera than rock/pop. Whether you like these is another matter.

This is my opinion on the other stuff here:
* Michael Jackson – not my cup of tea, but I can respect him for his showmanship. As a person, like Freddie he had some serious issues. Own none of his albums.
* Beatles – prefer their later stuff. Good variety of music but mixed up in some dodgy stuff. "A Day in the Life" is probably one of the best rock/pop songs ever. Own a few of their albums.
* Madonna – overrated. I honestly think that singers like Deborah Harry (Blondie), Siouxsie Sioux, Kim Wilde or Kylie Minogue are just as good as her. Her voice isn't that great. No albums. * Pink Floyd – Now, I respect these folk, at least their sixties and seventies stuff. Maybe Learning to Fly .They did produce some excellent music in their heyday, but for the last thirty years or more they've been treading water. Have several of their albums.
* Led Zeppelin – overrated paedophiles and musical thieves. Think I have one album of theirs.
* Celine Dion – awful songs, but unlike Madonna I do rate her ability to sing. Much stronger voice than her. No albums.
* AC/DC – I do like AC/DC but like Pink Floyd not much new in thirty years. Like the Ramones a band you can listen to in moderation not constantly. Some very dodgy lyrical content. Own several albums.
* U2 – overrated, plus Bono is a globalist. Used to have a couple of albums not sure if I do now.
* Metallica – they haven't done much decent in thirty years since the Black Album. Hetfield is so so as a vocalist. I own several albums.
* Mariah Carey – probably quite good technically. Not my thing, awful songs.
* Rolling Stones – they're okay. Haven't done anything decent since 1970s. Own maybe one album. (When I was younger I preferred them to the Beatles!)
* Whitney Houston – Again like Celine Dion, probably good on a technical level, but not my music.
* Bruce Springsteen – Used to have a housemate many years ago who was a fan of the "Boss" and used to play him a lot. There was always something I quite liked about him as a performer but I've never bought an album.
* Rod Stewart – I may have an album, not sure. Voice okay. He did some decent songs in his day. Not much in thirty or forty years... again.
* Eminem – okayish. I think I do have an album by him. Not really into rap.
* Phil Collins – just no...
* Billy Joel – some decent songs. Have no albums.
* Barbara Streisand – technically good but not my style.
* Queen – a band I'm embarrassed to admit I like. Own several albums.
* Santana – all the songs sound alike. Never got into him.

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Great8
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Re: The latest Greatest Singer list

Post by Great8 »

All this Babylonian music!!!!
Van Halen is the best!!!
LZ are peddies? what's the back story there?

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Craig Johnson
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Re: The latest Greatest Singer list

Post by Craig Johnson »

Great8 wrote: January 5th, 2023, 7:12 am All this Babylonian music!!!!
Van Halen is the best!!!
LZ are peddies? what's the back story there?
Yeah, lots of bands that I think are much better, people want Michael Jackson instead, although Eddie did play on one of his albums. I would not buy a Michael Jackson album, just zero musical appeal to me, and the dancing thing, skin color change, surgeries, and all around weirdness, what the heck? That is what people want i guess. I like music that sounds like music and rock that looks and sounds like rock, not pop and not hard metal - although I like a little of that. Classical music I love, great tenors and sopranos I love, great country music I love (not the heavily produced nonsense), even good elevator music, but music that is enjoyable to listen to and not crazy sounding is my bias.

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Cruiserdude
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Re: The latest Greatest Singer list

Post by Cruiserdude »

It's almost like the people of the world could have different opinions and tastes.... How weird? 😉😁

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Niemand
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Re: The latest Greatest Singer list

Post by Niemand »

Great8 wrote: January 5th, 2023, 7:12 am All this Babylonian music!!!!
Van Halen is the best!!!
LZ are peddies? what's the back story there?
Exhibit a): the cover of Houses of the Holy with naked kids.
Image

Exhibit b) The book Hammer of the Gods published way in the 1980s has eye-witness statements from groupies discussing how the band were having sex with girls as young as twelve. One seasoned older groupie said that what she saw was "revolting". At least one of those girls has discussed the matter in more recent times.

Exhibit c): Take a look at some of their lyrics which clearly refer to schoolgirls, children etc.

Exhibit d): occultist Jimmy Page still likes young looking girls. Here is a recent one. Thirty going on fifteen.
Image

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Craig Johnson
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Re: The latest Greatest Singer list

Post by Craig Johnson »

Niemand wrote: January 5th, 2023, 8:46 am
Great8 wrote: January 5th, 2023, 7:12 am All this Babylonian music!!!!
Van Halen is the best!!!
LZ are peddies? what's the back story there?
Exhibit a): the cover of Houses of the Holy with naked kids.
Image

Exhibit b) The book Hammer of the Gods published way in the 1980s has eye-witness statements from groupies discussing how the band were having sex with girls as young as twelve. One seasoned older groupie said that what she saw was "revolting". At least one of those girls has discussed the matter in more recent times.

Exhibit c): Take a look at some of their lyrics which clearly refer to schoolgirls, children etc.

Exhibit d): occultist Jimmy Page still likes young looking girls. Here is a recent one. Thirty going on fifteen.
Image
I don't have that particular album and I did not know they were so odd. I heard that one of them had a child that drowned and some people thought it was a weird circumstance, but that might just be talk. I like the Jimmy Page guitar work, which is mainly based on American guitar work, go figure.

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David13
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Re: The latest Greatest Singer list

Post by David13 »

Other than Beatles I don't agree with anyone on your list. Or the others mentioned.

I have a sort of all time favorite. I have been infatuated with her since the beginning (1989 or so, not before that).

She still had going on what I liked about her in 2016 or so when she was 48. Now she has gone "pop culture" or whatever, and plastic vanity surgery and all that garbage, so I don't much like her in the present.

Yes, I know that probably none of you know of her, maybe only subbie, and then he probably doesn't like her.

This was her last great performance.

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Craig Johnson
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Re: The latest Greatest Singer list

Post by Craig Johnson »

David13 wrote: January 5th, 2023, 9:38 am Other than Beatles I don't agree with anyone on your list. Or the others mentioned.

I have a sort of all time favorite. I have been infatuated with her since the beginning (1989 or so, not before that).

She still had going on what I liked about her in 2016 or so when she was 48. Now she has gone "pop culture" or whatever, and plastic vanity surgery and all that garbage, so I don't much like her in the present.
I know zero about Mexican pop.

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nightlight
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Re: The latest Greatest Singer list

Post by nightlight »

Enya is the greatest female artist imo

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dreamtheater76
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Re: The latest Greatest Singer list

Post by dreamtheater76 »

I have every Pink Floyd album. Been a fan for decades now. Amazing that a band that was iconic for independent, underground, and experimental music made it to mainstream popularity and sold as many albums as they did. Animals was the album that really blew me away and got me into the Floyd and just a ton of other Progressive Rock bands and albums.

anonymous91
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Re: The latest Greatest Singer list

Post by anonymous91 »

Interesting top 20 list. Over the years I have listened to and been subjected to a wide variety of music. I'm not much of a fan of Country since I was inundated with it constantly, even though just about everyone I went to school with loved it. Some of it was ok, but the yawl and twang drove me crazy. My parents constantly played church music and Classical Music at home. As I grew older, I learned to appreciate the complexity of Classical Music, however, I really never cared for the Church songs.

Personally, I think that music is subjective to the individual what one prefers and how it affects you. Several interesting studies were done in regard to various types of music, and the results were very interesting. The research has found that many of the top-performing college students across the country preferred to listen to Classical music, followed immediately by Metal music. Interestingly, this study showed that the lowest-performing students listened to Country music. Another study showed that people who preferred to listen to metal music were able to improve their mood (help them feel calmer & happier) simply by listening to metal music. The same study showed that it had the opposite effect on people that didn't like metal music, it actually made them stressed and/or upset.

Here is an interesting article about additional studies:

https://loudwire.com/heavy-metal-music-studies/

Recently, I've really dived into the Metal genre and started to dip my toes into the 100+ sub-genres. I find the variety and different styles of music to be the most diverse. I can find music that is extremely technical & complex, music that has roots in Classical music but adds modern instruments and vocals, ones that cross interesting genres (Rap metal, Pirate Metal, etc), and everything in between. I can find lyrics that are extremely intelligent and thought-provoking, ones that match my mood or help me elevate my mood. There seems to be an incredible unending variety of amazing music, and I am constantly finding new groups and talent.

If you are interested in exploring and/or expanding your current music list I am going to list my current top 20 groups (along with at least 1 song to get you started) that I would recommend to dip your toes into. Here is the list, in no particular order:

1- Ad Infinitum (Somewhere Better: https://youtu.be/QhgPyEevxWY)
I've been following the Lead Singer Melissa Bonny for a few years. She is one of my favorite singers and has an extremely versatile voice.
2- Tool (Lateralus: https://youtu.be/Y7JG63IuaWs)
This is what you would definitely be called a technical band with an amazing lead singer Maynard. This particular song uses part of the Fibonacci sequence, an absolute masterpiece.
3- NightWish (Ghost Love Score Tarja Turunen Version: https://youtu.be/YODCM26JXOY)
(Ghost Love Score Floor Jansen Version: https://youtu.be/JYjIlHWBAVo )
(Floor Jansen Live Performance of Judas Version: https://youtu.be/IGVYBmkLrGA)
NightWish is what is commonly referred to as "Symphonic Metal". Nightwish has had 3 different singers. Tarja was the first (classically trained), Annette Olzon, and currently Floor Jansen. I can't decide between Tarja or Floor though, they are both amazingly talented singers with 2 completely different styles).
4- Jinjer (Pisces: https://youtu.be/SQNtGoM3FVU)
Tatiana Shmayluk is from Ukraine and is considered to be one of the best in her particular sub-genre. This sub-genre is typically referred to as "Melodic Death Metal". This song gives you an idea of how talented this band is.
5- Epica (Storm the Sorrow: https://youtu.be/dNoTvg0t52c)
Simone Simons is the lead singer. This is another "Symphonic Metal" group. Interesting bit of trivia, supposedly Simone is a natural brunette, not a redhead, she could have fooled me.
6- Skillet (Feel Invincible: https://youtu.be/Qzw6A2WC5Qo)
(Lions: https://youtu.be/DzjfNI2XEBs)
John Cooper is the lead singer and is a Christian that also has his own weekly podcast. His wife plays several instruments and backing vocals. His band is what is considered "Christian Metal". I would say that this group is fairly mainstream, so I wouldn't be surprised if you've heard about this group. I love listening to Skillet, very inspiring and motivational songs, and I would recommend his podcast too, a lot better than GC)
7- Leaves Eyes (Hell to the Heavens: https://youtu.be/0JPs7rFNGP4)
Liv Taylor was the original singer of the band, the song I posted is her singing. The current lead singer is Elina Siirala, which I haven't kept up with.
8- Xandria (NightFall: https://youtu.be/gGTAmmTiD_Y)
9- BlackBriar (Until Eternity: https://youtu.be/kuvST3wGCG8)
10- Disturbed (Who Taught You How to Hate: https://youtu.be/5Hpa6MfcY8U)
11- Helion Prime (Life Finds A Way: https://youtu.be/F0VfnqLUs8M)
12- Kobra and the Lotus (Light Me Up: https://youtu.be/HRfSEEtzxug)
13- Aeverium (Break Out: https://youtu.be/qRcDXsZt-wI)
14- Lacuna Coil (Our Truth: https://youtu.be/SB9LXpO6yWo)
15- Unleash The Archers (Time Stands Still: https://youtu.be/liOpF1oHhu4)
16- Amaranth (Maximize: https://youtu.be/nfk7YZJtmeo)
17- Within Temptation (Memories: https://youtu.be/gsQIOgkZt68)
(Paradise, this is a duet with Tarja: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dy6MpsDPKts)
(Somewhere Duet: https://youtu.be/IR_mBh5mqok)
(And we run ft. Xzibit, this is a great example of rap metal: https://youtu.be/awvqIi427_A)
18- Walk in Darkness (Last Siren: https://youtu.be/D1W0uFbcSjA)
19- Ye Banished Privateers (Annabel: https://youtu.be/u05HbfkoFQI)
I told you there is a Pirate Metal sub-genre, Lol. Let's see if Pop music can match that.
20- Sirenia (Seven Widows Weep: https://youtu.be/jhNpvE9bZMA)

and Just for Fun:

Pop Singers VS Metal Singers (https://youtu.be/cPR-W-aik20)
Pop Vs Metal Singers 3 | Acoustic Battle (https://youtu.be/gLw4gPyZLok)
Heavy Metal Blind Auditions on the Voice|Top 10 (https://youtu.be/Dn0JPuwvJgY)

THE DARK SIDE OF THE MOON ft. Rusanda Panfili - Double Trouble/Lumos! (Official Video) Harry Potter
(https://youtu.be/KnqOXLH5Us0)


Today's pop singers just aren't as good as it was back in the 80s and 90s, they are turning music into an industrial mess that consists of computers generating the music (without the tonality or reverberation), the standard 4-chord melody that is used on 1000's of songs, and the biggest desecration of all is the autotune being used. Most of today's singers sound horrendous without it.

The last song, if you haven't heard the acoustic version of this popular song you are missing out.

Eagles (Hotel California Acoustic 1994 Version: https://youtu.be/Zo8DChGWG5o)

I am sure that most of you will find at least one or more songs that you enjoy.

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Niemand
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Re: The latest Greatest Singer list

Post by Niemand »

Though lt might be interesting to list a few other well known singers. Others can chip in on this. Maybe I should clear out the dodgier content from my music collection?

* Aerosmith: Started as a decent rock band, ended as a bad pop band. Like Led Zep liked little girls. Don't like their recent stuff and their albums would often have sleazy rock and love ballads together. Own a couple of albums.
* Black Sabbath: Love them or loathe them, these guys were very influential and have been through quite a few singers. Their worst gift has been to mainstream openly satanic-related content. I find Ozzy an odd singer to deal with, sometimes he's amazing sometimes he's awful. Dio, great voice, often bad content. Gillan same issue. Own one or two albums but probably shouldn't.
* David Bowie: I reckon Bowie was probably one of the most interesting and varied rock performers out there, and one of the few to produce decent albums into the 21st century (although the 90s were a dry period for him). Like many rock performers mixed up in some bad stuff too, I'm afraid. I've owned a number of his albums.
* Garth Brooks: know little about him. For me he represents the commercialisation of modern country... maybe I'm being unfair. His sales are absolutely massive. Bigger than Michael Jackson. No albums.
* Glenn Campbell: At times he can be brilliant and he produced some amazing stuff although a bit on the commercial side. His output was uneven. I've heard one or two of his albums which were awful, but I do own some.
* Johnny Cash: Brilliant voice and often interesting lyrically. Own several of his albums.
* Ray Charles: Great voice, but not very familiar with his music. Own one or two albums by him.
* Cher: Another singer who has been treading water for decades and I can't forgive her for mainstreaming autotune. She was a great singer back in the sixties and seventies. Her recent stuff is much of a blur. No albums.
* Eric Clapton: Amazing guitarist, mediocre singer. No decent stuff since the 70s again. Merits a mention for being one of the few major celebrities to speak out about being injured by the shots. One or two albums.
* Devo: Very quirky style but went off the boil at some point in the eighties. Own one or two albums.
* Neil Diamond: Cheesy as heck but he has done some memorable songs. No albums.
* Bob Dylan: I've never understood the big deal about Bob Dylan let alone him winning the Nobel Prize. For me someone like Leonard Cohen wrote better lyrics and numerous other people can write better tunes and sing better. Oh, and Dylan went and pinched a number of traditional Scottish tunes and used them as his own. Own no album by him.
* Eagles: Often a bit bland but some decent songs. Did they do a deal with Satan or not? Also sold out their country roots a bit. Own one or two albums.
* Elvis Presley: No one mentioned him yet? I like early Elvis, his later stuff not so much. As someone once said, Elvis had a voice which was unique to him yet which most men could imitate. Own one or two albums.
* Faith No More: Not up there in terms of sales, but I think they deserve a mention for unusual singing style. Own several albums. (Primus also have an unusual style, but own no albums.)
* Fleetwood Mac: A band I feel I should know much better. A few of their songs have become pop standards. My neighbours used to do karaoke of some of their songs. Own no albums.
* Arethra Franklin: I put her above all the female singers on the previous list. She can belt them out.
* Guns n Roses: Axl was amazing back in the day, but they haven't done any decent albums in thirty years. Dodgy lyrical content. Own several albums.
* Hall & Oates: 🤮
* Iron Maiden: Again lyrically dodgy as anything but like the Sex Pistols below listened to a lot of their Bruce Dickinson era material. Discussed on one of Michael Sherwin's threads. Have a few albums.
* Elton John: A very overrated character who has not produced any notable music since the 1970s. (Or at least Bernie Taupin or whoever writes his songs hasn't.) No albums.
* Emerson, Lake and Palmer: a waste of talent. Awful stuff. Their predecessor band the Nice had one or two decent songs. Own one or two albums (by mistake)
* Bon Jovi: Metal for people who don't like metal. No albums.
* Dave Matthews: don't know the stuff well. I have friends in a band who cover him. frequently. No albums.
* Nirvana: Dodgy lyrics if you can decipher them. Own several albums.
* Dolly Parton: I've grown up hearing her music but never bought an album. I do rate her as a singer but some of her output is cheesy. Same with Tammy Wynette, another talented singer i've heard but not really sat down and listened to. No albums.
* Public Enemy: One of the few rap bands I've ever really listened to. Think I have/had one album.
* REM: the bland end of alternative. Think I had one of their albums. Heard their stuff off plenty of other people.
* Red Hot Chili Peppers: their recent stuff is bland. Very dodgy lyrical content. Unusual sound. Own a few albums.
* Kenny Rogers: Great voice and I like one or two of songs. Ruby is amazing. I own none of his albums. See Dolly above.
* Johnny Rotten/The Sex Pistols/P.I.L.: Foul mouthed and controversial, but I always found this guy an amazing singer back in the day. The lyrical content is dodgy as heck. Maybe not as big a seller as some of the people on these lists but deserves a space for influence. Own several albums.
* Carly Simon: Good strong voice. Used to hear her on the radio. Don't know her material much or own any albums.
* Simon and Garfunkel: Okay. Have one or two albums.
* Frank Sinatra: Amazing singer who puts his own twist on everything. No albums.
* Soundgarden/Audioslave/Chris Cornell: Amazing voice but not familiar with all their songs. Own several albums.
* Britney Spears: Commercial trash. No albums.
* Taylor Swift: I can take or leave her stuff. She has a certain charm to her voice that sets her aside from a lot of contemporary singers but I would never buy one of her albums. Too commercial for me.
* Talking Heads/David Byrne: Had a very unusual style but wreck it occasionally by being too commercial. One or two albums.
* Tina Turner: Good powerful voice, but I found most of her post-sixties output unlistenable. No albums.
* Shania Twain: I suppose she had a decent vocal range, maybe still does. Never bought an album by her.
* Stevie Wonder: Hated his stuff when I was younger but now rate some of his song writing. Own no albums.

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Robin Hood
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Re: The latest Greatest Singer list

Post by Robin Hood »

Runrig.

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Niemand
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Re: The latest Greatest Singer list

Post by Niemand »

Robin Hood wrote: January 7th, 2023, 5:24 amRunrig.
😂

Oh dear. I once encountered Donnie Munro coming down some stairs. He gave me one of the filthiest looks imaginable. Never knew what that was about, but the man has the ego of Bono just without the same kinds of sales. I haven't listened to them much since DM left and don't know the Bruce Guthro material at all.

According to Runrig themselves, someone once burgled someone's home (or was it a van?) and stole some of their singles (the Work Song). A couple of days later they'd all been returned. 😄

I actually own more Runrig albums than some of the artists listed above... they are one of the groups along with Def Leppard, Jethro Tull and Queen I'm most embarrassed to have admitted listening to. I used to have a Runrig poster up on my wall in my pre-Metalhead days. I find a lot of their stuff awful now, but I still have a soft spot for one or two of their songs... and I think they have done more for Gaelic culture than just about anyone else (including the ones who chuck lots of money at it.)

I started listening to them, which got my mother into them. I think when my mother started liking them, i stopped. But they do remind me of her a bit sometimes. God rest her soul.

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Niemand
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Re: The latest Greatest Singer list

Post by Niemand »

Probably another honourable mention should go to Morrissey and the Smiths. Morrissey himself is an idiot and fanatical vegan in real life, but he does occasionally come up with amazing performances and I like some of his lyrics. His post-Smiths career shows little development, but there are one or two stand out songs.

I like this one anyway. Good singing, and I think the lyrics stand out.
One of our ex-bishops is a massive Smiths/Morrissey fan and a bit of a lookalike (but without the same personality thankfully)

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Robin Hood
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Re: The latest Greatest Singer list

Post by Robin Hood »

Niemand wrote: January 7th, 2023, 5:33 am
Robin Hood wrote: January 7th, 2023, 5:24 amRunrig.
😂

Oh dear. I once encountered Donnie Munro coming down some stairs. He gave me one of the filthiest looks imaginable. Never knew what that was about, but the man has the ego of Bono just without the same kinds of sales. I haven't listened to them much since DM left and don't know the Bruce Guthro material at all.

According to Runrig themselves, someone once burgled someone's home (or was it a van?) and stole some of their singles (the Work Song). A couple of days later they'd all been returned. 😄

I actually own more Runrig albums than some of the artists listed above... they are one of the groups along with Def Leppard, Jethro Tull and Queen I'm most embarrassed to have admitted listening to. I used to have a Runrig poster up on my wall in my pre-Metalhead days. I find a lot of their stuff awful now, but I still have a soft spot for one or two of their songs... and I think they have done more for Gaelic culture than just about anyone else (including the ones who chuck lots of money at it.)

I started listening to them, which got my mother into them. I think when my mother started liking them, i stopped. But they do remind me of her a bit sometimes. God rest her soul.
Donny Munro left Runrig in 1998. Since that time Bruce Guthro has been the lead singer. He is from Cape Bretton Island, Nova Scotia. He is way better than Munro.

What many people don't realise is that Runrig are a Christian band, and their Christian faith is often apparent in their song lyrics.
Not only that, but they sing about places, people, mountains, highland clearances and the like. None of this luvvy duvvy stuff.
They were phenomenal live.
You need to listen to some of their later stuff.

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Cruiserdude
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Re: The latest Greatest Singer list

Post by Cruiserdude »

anonymous91 wrote: January 7th, 2023, 2:45 am
The last song, if you haven't heard the acoustic version of this popular song you are missing out.

Eagles (Hotel California Acoustic 1994 Version: https://youtu.be/Zo8DChGWG5o)

I am sure that most of you will find at least one or more songs that you enjoy.
This song, as timeless as it gets.
(and yeah, I even liked some in your list I wasn't expecting to 👍)

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Niemand
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Re: The latest Greatest Singer list

Post by Niemand »

Robin Hood wrote: January 7th, 2023, 6:09 am
Niemand wrote: January 7th, 2023, 5:33 am
Robin Hood wrote: January 7th, 2023, 5:24 amRunrig.
😂

Oh dear. I once encountered Donnie Munro coming down some stairs. He gave me one of the filthiest looks imaginable. Never knew what that was about, but the man has the ego of Bono just without the same kinds of sales. I haven't listened to them much since DM left and don't know the Bruce Guthro material at all.

According to Runrig themselves, someone once burgled someone's home (or was it a van?) and stole some of their singles (the Work Song). A couple of days later they'd all been returned. 😄

I actually own more Runrig albums than some of the artists listed above... they are one of the groups along with Def Leppard, Jethro Tull and Queen I'm most embarrassed to have admitted listening to. I used to have a Runrig poster up on my wall in my pre-Metalhead days. I find a lot of their stuff awful now, but I still have a soft spot for one or two of their songs... and I think they have done more for Gaelic culture than just about anyone else (including the ones who chuck lots of money at it.)

I started listening to them, which got my mother into them. I think when my mother started liking them, i stopped. But they do remind me of her a bit sometimes. God rest her soul.
Dornie Munro left Runrig in 1998. Since that time Bruce Guthro has been the lead singer. He is from Cape Bretton Island, Nova Scotia. He is way better than Munro.

What many people don't realise is that Runrig are a Christian band, and their Christian faith is often apparent in their song lyrics.
Not only that, but they sing about places, people, mountains, highland clearances and the like. None of this luvvy duvvy stuff.
They were phenomenal live.
You need to listen to some of their later stuff.
I think the trouble is that Guthro doesn't know Gaelic, which means he doesn't sing a significant chunk of their songs. I think the MacDonald brothers do these days. (I can never tell Calum from Rory). Personally the albums I liked back in the day were the Highland Connection, Recovery, Heartlandand the Cutter and the Clan. I do have a memory of driving through the early morning mist once and my mother playing O Cho Meallt which is about them being ripped off by a record company but somehow fitted in with the whole thing.

Runrig are a bit of a running joke in Scotland these days. Maybe a bit unfairly. Some Germans (mostly women) seem to be really into them and occasionally you'll find a random German who's turned up here and starts quizzing everyone about Runrig only to find most Scots aren't into them. They are, by the way, yet another band which has been discriminated against by the BBC (there was a leaked document in which they admitted keeping them off playlists!)

You make a fair point about their lyrics. I think sometimes they're too sentimental but they do sing about the real history of the Highlands. At some point in the late eighties, early nineties they started getting into more "save the whales" type stuff. Their main problem in their early albums was diction... trying to decipher some of their lyrics was really hard especially the Gaelic stuff.

I probably should give a shout out to Karen Matheson. She is or was probably one of my favourite Gaelic singers. The first time I heard this recording it blew me away. It's an old lament from the Jacobite period. (The lyrics and an English translation can be found in the YouTube link on the main page.)

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Robin Hood
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Re: The latest Greatest Singer list

Post by Robin Hood »

Niemand wrote: January 7th, 2023, 6:31 am
Robin Hood wrote: January 7th, 2023, 6:09 am
Niemand wrote: January 7th, 2023, 5:33 am
Robin Hood wrote: January 7th, 2023, 5:24 amRunrig.
😂

Oh dear. I once encountered Donnie Munro coming down some stairs. He gave me one of the filthiest looks imaginable. Never knew what that was about, but the man has the ego of Bono just without the same kinds of sales. I haven't listened to them much since DM left and don't know the Bruce Guthro material at all.

According to Runrig themselves, someone once burgled someone's home (or was it a van?) and stole some of their singles (the Work Song). A couple of days later they'd all been returned. 😄

I actually own more Runrig albums than some of the artists listed above... they are one of the groups along with Def Leppard, Jethro Tull and Queen I'm most embarrassed to have admitted listening to. I used to have a Runrig poster up on my wall in my pre-Metalhead days. I find a lot of their stuff awful now, but I still have a soft spot for one or two of their songs... and I think they have done more for Gaelic culture than just about anyone else (including the ones who chuck lots of money at it.)

I started listening to them, which got my mother into them. I think when my mother started liking them, i stopped. But they do remind me of her a bit sometimes. God rest her soul.
Dornie Munro left Runrig in 1998. Since that time Bruce Guthro has been the lead singer. He is from Cape Bretton Island, Nova Scotia. He is way better than Munro.

What many people don't realise is that Runrig are a Christian band, and their Christian faith is often apparent in their song lyrics.
Not only that, but they sing about places, people, mountains, highland clearances and the like. None of this luvvy duvvy stuff.
They were phenomenal live.
You need to listen to some of their later stuff.
I think the trouble is that Guthro doesn't know Gaelic, which means he doesn't sing a significant chunk of their songs. I think the MacDonald brothers do these days. (I can never tell Calum from Rory). Personally the albums I liked back in the day were the Highland Connection, Recovery, Heartlandand the Cutter and the Clan. I do have a memory of driving through the early morning mist once and my mother playing O Cho Meallt which is about them being ripped off by a record company but somehow fitted in with the whole thing.

Runrig are a bit of a running joke in Scotland these days. Maybe a bit unfairly. Some Germans (mostly women) seem to be really into them and occasionally you'll find a random German who's turned up here and starts quizzing everyone about Runrig only to find most Scots aren't into them. They are, by the way, yet another band which has been discriminated against by the BBC (there was a leaked document in which they admitted keeping them off playlists!)

You make a fair point about their lyrics. I think sometimes they're too sentimental but they do sing about the real history of the Highlands. At some point in the late eighties, early nineties they started getting into more "save the whales" type stuff. Their main problem in their early albums was diction... trying to decipher some of their lyrics was really hard especially the Gaelic stuff.

I probably should give a shout out to Karen Matheson. She is or was probably one of my favourite Gaelic singers. The first time I heard this recording it blew me away. It's an old lament from the Jacobite period. (The lyrics and an English translation can be found in the YouTube link on the main page.)
Bruce Guthro does sing in Gaelic, although the band had moved more to English later on. Sometimes they'll do a mixture, with the verses in English and the chorus in Gaelic.
The albums you name are from the Munro era and I find them OK, but not nearly as good as the later stuff.
With regards to vocals, Rory does a lot of the old Gaelic songs on stage, and Brian Herren (the most recent recruit - before the band retired) is an excellent vocalist.
Last edited by Robin Hood on January 8th, 2023, 2:13 am, edited 1 time in total.

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Robin Hood
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Re: The latest Greatest Singer list

Post by Robin Hood »

Niemand wrote: January 7th, 2023, 6:31 am
Robin Hood wrote: January 7th, 2023, 6:09 am
Niemand wrote: January 7th, 2023, 5:33 am
Robin Hood wrote: January 7th, 2023, 5:24 amRunrig.
😂

Oh dear. I once encountered Donnie Munro coming down some stairs. He gave me one of the filthiest looks imaginable. Never knew what that was about, but the man has the ego of Bono just without the same kinds of sales. I haven't listened to them much since DM left and don't know the Bruce Guthro material at all.

According to Runrig themselves, someone once burgled someone's home (or was it a van?) and stole some of their singles (the Work Song). A couple of days later they'd all been returned. 😄

I actually own more Runrig albums than some of the artists listed above... they are one of the groups along with Def Leppard, Jethro Tull and Queen I'm most embarrassed to have admitted listening to. I used to have a Runrig poster up on my wall in my pre-Metalhead days. I find a lot of their stuff awful now, but I still have a soft spot for one or two of their songs... and I think they have done more for Gaelic culture than just about anyone else (including the ones who chuck lots of money at it.)

I started listening to them, which got my mother into them. I think when my mother started liking them, i stopped. But they do remind me of her a bit sometimes. God rest her soul.
Dornie Munro left Runrig in 1998. Since that time Bruce Guthro has been the lead singer. He is from Cape Bretton Island, Nova Scotia. He is way better than Munro.

What many people don't realise is that Runrig are a Christian band, and their Christian faith is often apparent in their song lyrics.
Not only that, but they sing about places, people, mountains, highland clearances and the like. None of this luvvy duvvy stuff.
They were phenomenal live.
You need to listen to some of their later stuff.
I think the trouble is that Guthro doesn't know Gaelic, which means he doesn't sing a significant chunk of their songs. I think the MacDonald brothers do these days. (I can never tell Calum from Rory). Personally the albums I liked back in the day were the Highland Connection, Recovery, Heartlandand the Cutter and the Clan. I do have a memory of driving through the early morning mist once and my mother playing O Cho Meallt which is about them being ripped off by a record company but somehow fitted in with the whole thing.

Runrig are a bit of a running joke in Scotland these days. Maybe a bit unfairly. Some Germans (mostly women) seem to be really into them and occasionally you'll find a random German who's turned up here and starts quizzing everyone about Runrig only to find most Scots aren't into them. They are, by the way, yet another band which has been discriminated against by the BBC (there was a leaked document in which they admitted keeping them off playlists!)

You make a fair point about their lyrics. I think sometimes they're too sentimental but they do sing about the real history of the Highlands. At some point in the late eighties, early nineties they started getting into more "save the whales" type stuff. Their main problem in their early albums was diction... trying to decipher some of their lyrics was really hard especially the Gaelic stuff.

I probably should give a shout out to Karen Matheson. She is or was probably one of my favourite Gaelic singers. The first time I heard this recording it blew me away. It's an old lament from the Jacobite period. (The lyrics and an English translation can be found in the YouTube link on the main page.)
A quick example of Christian lyrics from their song Every River: "Loved, forgiven, washed and saved".
Most people have no idea what it means. It's the same with The Proclaimers hit Sunshine on Leith.

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Niemand
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Re: The latest Greatest Singer list

Post by Niemand »

Robin Hood wrote: January 7th, 2023, 7:12 am A quick example of Christian lyrics from their song Every River: "Loved, forgiven, washed and saved".
Most people have no idea that it means. It's the same with The Proclaimers hit Sunshine on Leith.
Is Sunshine on Leith a Christian song? I've just reread the lyrics and it looks like it could be.

I'm still trying to work out if Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me, Kill Me by U2 and some of their other songs are. The video has someone with the Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis on them. I'm not a fan of Bono's ego but U2 seems to have some Christian content.

It seems if you want to get Christian material into the mainstream, unless you're Johnny Cash you'll have to bury it deep. The Christian rock genre is a ghetto few escape from. There was a British Christian rock band called Delirious? that I went to see years ago, that got briefly into the mainstream. They were okay, but seem to have slipped back into Christian obscurity.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Delirious%3F

(A surprising number of heavy metal musicians have become Christian too. Dave Mustaine of Megadeth is a prominent example.)

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Robin Hood
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Location: England

Re: The latest Greatest Singer list

Post by Robin Hood »

Niemand wrote: January 7th, 2023, 7:30 am
Robin Hood wrote: January 7th, 2023, 7:12 am A quick example of Christian lyrics from their song Every River: "Loved, forgiven, washed and saved".
Most people have no idea that it means. It's the same with The Proclaimers hit Sunshine on Leith.
Is Sunshine on Leith a Christian song? I've just reread the lyrics and it looks like it could be.

I'm still trying to work out if Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me, Kill Me by U2 and some of their other songs are. The video has someone with the Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis on them. I'm not a fan of Bono's ego but U2 seems to have some Christian content.

It seems if you want to get Christian material into the mainstream, unless you're Johnny Cash you'll have to bury it deep. The Christian rock genre is a ghetto few escape from. There was a British Christian rock band called Delirious? that I went to see years ago, that got briefly into the mainstream. They were okay, but seem to have slipped back into Christian obscurity.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Delirious%3F

(A surprising number of heavy metal musicians have become Christian too. Dave Mustaine of Megadeth is a prominent example.)
Quite a few Proclaimer songs have Christian undertones, and one or two are quite overt.

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Lexew1899
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Re: The latest Greatest Singer list

Post by Lexew1899 »

This article has a study done showing the vocal ranges of several highly regarded singers.
https://www.classicfm.com/discover-musi ... al-ranges/
Image

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Niemand
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Re: The latest Greatest Singer list

Post by Niemand »

Lexew1899 wrote: January 7th, 2023, 8:43 am This article has a study done showing the vocal ranges of several highly regarded singers.
https://www.classicfm.com/discover-musi ... al-ranges/
Image
Here's the thing though, it's what you can do in that range as well, i.e. expression etc. I would argue Montserrat Caballé was a more talented singer than Lady Gaga even though her range appears smaller. Caballé could sing stuff Gaga could only dream of.

Someone like Bowie, it's more difficult since his voice became deeper over his career, and he was not as high pitched as his early music. Leonard Cohen is an extreme example. Cohen's voice went from being quite high pitched to being a bass... sadly his singing range within that also contracted.

Mariah Carey clearly has a massive vocal range, but her songs are dreadful. Another example of wasted talent.

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