Songs you wish had a different singer.

Muaguana · #1 09-12-2011, 12:13 PM

I'll probably get flak for this, but every time I hear that one Led Zepplin song with the grand, dramatic orchestral backing (can't look it up on Youtube as I'm at the library,) I want to go back in time to when they recorded that song and yell at Robert Plant. His shrill, horrific voice just ruins what would otherwise be a powerful and memorable (in a good way) piece of music. Hell, that's the case with most Zepplin songs: great instrumental foundation, atrocious vocals (IMO.) Though I might just be hyper-sensitive to singers who sound like castrated rodents; YMMV.

So, what song or artist makes you want to punch the singer in the larynx? Or, at the very least, hit the Stop button?

Ironderby · #2 09-12-2011, 12:17 PM

Bring Me The Horizon, they have some brutal riffs, but Oli Sykes is a failure at vocals.

Kwesi · #3 09-12-2011, 01:27 PM

Everything by Dream Theater... literally everything.

PlaytheRoot · #4 09-12-2011, 05:56 PM

i hate to say, but some Yes

Rockmusician · #5 09-12-2011, 05:59 PM

Pretty much everything by Yes, Supertramp, Pearl Jam, Guns 'N' Roses, Metallica and anything that Stevie Nicks sings. I love the music but do not like the singing.

Spectrum · #6 09-12-2011, 06:04 PM

Guns N Roses. Can't stand that screechy voice. It's the main reason I never liked GnR.

Whoever sang for Yngwie Malmsteen when he was big in the 80s. I think Yngwie picked a lousy singer on purpose to make sure you paid more attention to the guitarist.

Michael Stipe of REM. Put a sock in it.

Eddie Vedder of Peral Jam. If Jeremy can speak, maybe he can sing better than Eddie, too.

Muaguana · #7 09-12-2011, 08:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spectrum

Guns N Roses. Can't stand that screechy voice. It's the main reason I never liked GnR.

Agreed; every time I listen to Mr. Brownstone I can't help but wonder, "Why couldn't Axl sing like this on all their songs?"

Unrepresented · #8 09-13-2011, 09:10 AM

Paul Rogers with Queen disappoints me every time I hear it because I know it sounds better with a different singer. I am not a Paul Rogers fan.

90's band Hum struck me as being held back by a less than stellar singer. Helmet falls into that camp too.

AuntieBeeb · #9 09-13-2011, 09:15 AM

"How Soon is Now" by The Smiths.

It has such a great opening - even if that guitar riff is stolen - and then Morrissey comes in and ruins it all by singing in his pretentious, melodramatic militant-vegetarian-John-Major voice.

HeadyVan Halen · #10 09-13-2011, 09:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kwesi

Everything by Dream Theater... literally everything.

+ Rush, Level 42, ACDC, Michael McDonald, Bob Dylan, KISS, and anyone who has ever said "Are you ready to rock...!" and was serious, yeah, them too.

fenderhutz · #11 09-13-2011, 09:31 AM

I would like RUSH much better is someone else was singing. I can listen to the music all day, but Geddy wears out my ears.

gjbassist · #12 09-13-2011, 09:33 AM

Most of Van Halen with David Lee Roth. I love how VH rocked harder with Roth but his voice was so mediocre. Sammy's voice although not great was a drastic improvement. Wish the could have been edgier with Sammy and less pop friendly and keyboard oriented!

ThudThudThud · #13 09-13-2011, 09:35 AM

There's a bunch of songwriters who, although they write great songs, and the songs were written for their voice, insist on singing:

Kris Kristofferson
Willie Nelson
Leonard Cohen (although I actually enjoy his singing...)
Richard Thompson (personal hero)
Bob Dylan

If anyone else sings their songs it always sounds better.

gjbassist · #14 09-13-2011, 09:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fenderhutz

I would like RUSH much better is someone else was singing. I can listen to the music all day, but Geddy wears out my ears.

Have you listened to newer Rush where Geddy's voice is not so high? IMO it is much more pleasant now. I've been a big Rush fan since the early 80's but as I get older even I find I don't care for Geddy's earlier shrill voice that much now.

Tituscrow · #15 09-13-2011, 09:46 AM

Gotta defend Dylan here. Yes, his 'nasal whine' and 'gravelly mumble' can be an acquired taste, but of the myriad of Dylan covers, I think only the Hendrix version of '....Watchtower' does the original any justice.

As a massive Dylan fan though, I concede I am completely biased

PaulMacCnj · #16 09-13-2011, 09:54 AM

Anything by Maroon 5. They have good songwriting and I like the bass player, but their lead singer annoys the hell out of me.

PaulMacCnj · #17 09-13-2011, 09:56 AM

The Grateful Dead & Jerry Garcia Band did many songs from the Dylan catalog and they sound great.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tituscrow

Gotta defend Dylan here. Yes, his 'nasal whine' and 'gravelly mumble' can be an acquired taste, but of the myriad of Dylan covers, I think only the Hendrix version of '....Watchtower' does the original any justice.

As a massive Dylan fan though, I concede I am completely biased

Tituscrow · #18 09-13-2011, 10:33 AM

Agreed. Not saying there aren't any really good versions of his songs. The 'Masked and Anonymous' soundtrack - which was a terrible film - nevertheless has some brilliantly innovative and unusual interpretations of his songs.

If I had to choose to listen, one last time, to either his original or a cover, then apart from Hendrix I'd take the original every time.

Aside: quick joke for ya: what did the Grateful Dead fan say when the drugs wore off?

"Jeez....this band is terrible!"

In fact, gonna post that in the TBOT joke thread right now!

PaulMacCnj · #19 09-13-2011, 10:39 AM

GD bassist Phil Lesh loves that joke. His response is, "Give me more (drugs)."

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tituscrow

Aside: quick joke for ya: what did the Grateful Dead fan say when the drugs wore off?

"Jeez....this band is terrible!"

fenderhutz · #20 09-13-2011, 10:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gjbassist

Have you listened to newer Rush where Geddy's voice is not so high? IMO it is much more pleasant now. I've been a big Rush fan since the early 80's but as I get older even I find I don't care for Geddy's earlier shrill voice that much now.

I gave up after Test for Echo.