The most annoying voice in Pop/Rock music

[KurtNYC]

They say "you can't argue with success" but how did these guys sell so many records with voices like theirs?

Some are harsh, some are nasil, some seem to whine their way through line after line. Who do you think has the most annoying voice in pop and rock music?

[BulletproofLandshark]

1. Brian Johnson is the vocalist for AC/DC

Angus Young plays lead guitar

[KurtNYC]

2. you got me

I have edited the line to "Bon Scott"

[martymar64]

88. Brian Johnson is just like nails on a chalkboard

Bon Scott was much better. Say them with Bon in 1978. They opened for Aerosmith and kicked their ass!

Oh and BTW, Steven Tyler's voice really irritates the hell out of me, too.

[Shell Beau]

3. I am not a fan of the way Bjork sings!

[KurtNYC]

8. and she better not wear that swan dress around Dick Cheney

[Shell Beau]

10. Or a neon orange hunting vest.

:P

They apparantly mean the same.

[Danger Mouse]

4. Geddy Lee makes Chad Kroger look like a good singer.

[coyotespaw]

5. How in the hell did you forget

Chad Kroeger's over-processed whiny head-cold voice? If the Nickelback tour bus crashes and everyone in that group of alleged musicians fall off the edge of a cliff, I'll be doing a happy dance the likes of which haven't been seen since January 28, 2001.

[MrSlayer]

6. That assclown from Smashing Pumpkins.

The worst voice in rock history. Yoko Ono shouldn't really be on the list as she's never done anything legitimate.

[Danger Mouse]

7. Billy Corgan. Seriously, though, worse than Geddy Lee? Have you HEARD Geddy Lee's singing?

[jerryster]

22. I never heard of Geddy Lee.

So I'm going with Corgan. Nails on a blackboard.

[MrSlayer]

24. Yes, I'm a fan of Rush and Geddy.

Geddy Lee kills Corgan. Destroys him.

[Danger Mouse]

25. How? By sounding like a dying cat? Seriously, explain to me how Geddy sounds good.

[MrSlayer]

27. By producing sounds from his vocal chords that are pleasing to my ear?

I like Geddy Lee. He's isn't my favorite but he's unique and sounds good to me.

[Danger Mouse]

28. Hmm...I guess I just don't like the style.

I think of James LaBrie of Dream Theater...somewhat similar, but much more toned down than Geddy. Even him I find an acquired taste.

[KurtNYC]

9. Agreed. Yoko Ono was gratutious

since I can't define her music career as "successful."

[Maccagirl]

12. Amen to that

She's had a small, strange following but no airplay thank God.

[Shell Beau]

16. She should have just "let it be"

;) !!! She never had any business singing to begin with, IMO.

[GReedDiamond]

128. Visionary artists,...

...during their actual lifetimes, are a tough sell to the "general public."

Yoko is a legitimate artist (fluxus movement, since before she met John), and has had, as a musician/singer, an influence on contemporary pop/punk/rock/alternative music genres/artists, which maybe you are aware of.

You would be correct, I suppose, if you were to compare some of her vocal stylings to the sound that comes out of my cat (Chibi) when I accidentally step on his tail. But personally, I like that kinda shit (Yoko's vocals, not my cat yowling).

Yoko obviously also had a positive (I think) influence on John's tragically shortened body of work. Wish he was here...

Speaking of wishes, her latest art work is a public piece in Pasadena, CA, where "wish trees" invite passersby to write their wish on a tag with a string attached, and then tie it to a branch on one of the trees. I walked over to one of these trees, of which there were (are?) 10 or something, and reached into one of the trees randomly selecting one tag from amongst literally hundreds, and it said:

"I wish that all of my friends were not assholes."

(edited: "an" to "a")

[Rob H.]

19. Yup.

Hate his voice. :puke:

[Tommy_Carcetti]

20. DEAD. TO. ME.

You shall be vanquished to Free Republic along with Turtlensue for your slander against the great Billy Corgan.

[MrSlayer]

38. Well you better bring friends.

I am not going to that cesspool willingly.

[harmonicon]

32. what counts as "legitimate"?

The Plastic Ono Band was fantastic, including her singing. It was also at least a decade ahead of its time.

[Frank Cannon]

96. A-fucking-men to that

I remember when the Smashing Pumpkins guy and Shannon Hoon from Blind Melon were fighting it out as to who had the most godawful voice on record. Hoon died, so I guess the Smashing Pumpkins guy wins.

[Tommy_Carcetti]

104. You shall burn in a lake of fire for your comments.

Billy shall see to that.

[LeftyMom]

11. Gwen Stefani. nt

[XemaSab]

68. .

:thumbsup:

[flvegan]

13. Kim Peterson a/k/a King Diamond.

How ANYone can listen to that shit is so far beyond me.

King of suck, there is none higher
Sucka wannabes should call you "sire"

[Sebastian Doyle]

35. I always thought he sounded like a Chipmunk on Helium

And looked like a Kiss reject.

[City of Mills]

52. Haha now with video goodness

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cpX-QdG3hgU

I can't tell if this video is a parody or not, hilarious good fun. Satan worshipper eats taco. SCARY!

[Shakespeare]

14. Anyone voting for Geddy Lee over Yoko Ono is either deaf or just plain stupid.

Her music is considered a form of torture under the Geneva Convention.

[Danger Mouse]

17. Nobody listens to Yoko Ono, though. Everybody knows she's terrible.

Unfortunately, there are some misguided fools out there that believe Geddy Lee's satanic dying cats from hell that he calls 'singing' is somehow appealing.

[hobbit709]

46. What makes you think it's music?

Her only connection to music was by hooking up with Lennon.

[MrScorpio]

15. Hands down, Billy Joe Armstrong

[LeftyMom]

18. What the fuck is with that fake accent? If I'm not mistaken, he's from Oakland.

:eyes:

[XemaSab]

69. You're not mistaken

:eyes:

[Mendocino]

21. Steve Tyler

Other than "Dream On" where he kept his squelch under control, his voice combines the squeak of Geddy Lee with the pomposity of David Lee Roth.

[Genevieve]

23. Sheryl Crowe. ick . n/t

[travelingtypist]

62. This.

She's a complete egomaniac for the music she produces. Ick.

[sakabatou]

26. Teeny-bop

God that stuff is annoying.

[sohndrsmith]

29. that "year of the cat" guy... n/t

[harmonicon]

33. NO. FUCKING. WAY. DUDE.

Al Stewart is the best. Ever. At anything. Pure genius, he is.

[sohndrsmith]

39. ... okay, dude! I'm sorry! : ) The song annoys the heck out of me...

but I'm only one dude (or something)...

I'll pick someone else.

Journey?
The Partridge Family?

um...
Oh! I know... nope... not that one.

um...
Captain and Ten -

I've got it:

Anthony Neuley (sp?).
better? : ) : ) ... no he is so campy he's sort of endearing. Plus he did James Bond, so there you go.

No, now I've really got a good one:
... my mom (bless her) is pretty much the worst singer I've ever heard... but it just makes her more adorable.

[harmonicon]

47. and it doesn't make Al Stewart more adorable?

Check out this jacket, for fuck's sake!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F6UVbz4QL4A

[Sebastian Doyle]

59. You must now be the only person on earth who thinks so.

I had a friend who once thought of Al Stewart the same way. Sadly, he's no longer with us. :evilfrown:

Used to drive me batshit crazy with his Al worship. Oddly enough, I find myself listening to a scratchy old vinyl copy of "Time Passages" once in a while just for the Hell of it.

[harmonicon]

73. yeah, I'm sure that I'm in a tiny minority

Sorry about your friend :(

Al Stewart really is brilliant though. Time Passages is ok, but I really think that "Year of the Cat" is one of the best records from the 70's.

[martymar64]

89. I always dug Al Stewart

He wrote bitching lyrics. I remember one song he wrote about Stalingrad of all things, it still haunts me.
"The steely Russian skies go on forever"

[harmonicon]

91. "Roads to Moscow"

that one is great. He still makes albums and tours and things, but usually just solo acoustic shows. I wish I would have gone out of my way to see him this summer.... maybe next time.

[sohndrsmith]

126. actually, I have nothing against the artist per se. but I do with the cat song. : )

(edit: to add disclaimer)

Disclaimer: I have nothing in favor of this artist either - I don't know any other songs of his. But I assume they may be similar? So... I guess I there is a little bit of bias against the artist. So my subject was a little inaccurate... : )

[redqueen]

54. Oh yeah... way up there, that guy.

That 'accent'. Just no.

[KamaAina]

65. Oh, you are sooooooooooo lucky

that the Lounge's official Al Stewart fan got herself banned a couple of years ago. Her name has slipped my memory for the moment... :(

[underpants]

92. In a morning like a Bogart movie. In a land where they turn back time

she comes strolling through crowd
like Peter Lorre contemplating a crime

Love that song

[ElsewheresDaughter]

30. cyndy lauper

[harmonicon]

31. I really like most of those singers

The worst voice by far is the "goat voice". "Goat voice" is prominently featured by Creed, and the bands that they influenced both in the future and the past (Creed is so awful, that their influence of suck can stretch into the past, affecting such bands as the nearly as horrific Pearl Jam).

[mvd]

115. Yeah, many mentioned here are pretty good to great IMO

I agree completely about the lead singers of Creed and Nickelback. On the female side, I don't like Bjork or Marnie Stern. Bjork's Homogenic is ok when you get in the mood, but I still don't like that voice.

[harmonicon]

125. I think bjork is awful, because it quickly (second album?) became self-parody

I like the Sugar Cubes (the band she was in before going solo) a lot.

[Common Sense Party]

34. Three way tie: Bjork, Dave Matthews, or that jerk from Coldplay.

Yuck. A pox on all three.

[driver8]

58. I cannot stand Coldplay!

What is up with them? I just don't get it...

[Common Sense Party]

83. I don't either. But then I never got Dave Matthews.

Yeah, they're good musicians. But why would you ruin great music with that crappy voice?

[driver8]

87. I'm not a huge Dave Matthews fan, but he doesn't bother me like

Chris Martin.

All of their songs sound the same to me.

[WildEyedLiberal]

36. I don't know whether to vote for Geddy Lee, Michael Stipe, or write in Billy Corgan

All three voices absolutely grate on my ears to the point that I absolutely cannot listen to songs that I otherwise might like.

[LeftPeopleFinishFirst]

37. yoko.

nt

[Tabasco_Dave]

40. Most Death Metal vocalists

They think they can sing like the Devil but they sound like someone with throat cancer.

[mvd]

118. Not my thing, either

Though Ozzy, Hetfield, and Serj from System Of A Down are exceptions to me.

[Sebastian Doyle]

122. They sing like Cookie Monster

S is for Satan. He's evil enough for me!!! :evilgrin: :headbang: :evilgrin:

[Systematic Chaos]

41. Van Morrison!

That voice is, in and of itself, proof that there is no God.

No merciful and loving God would dare to inflict that on anybody.

[Enrique]

42. you forgot something

you might want to :hide:

[Systematic Chaos]

43. Nope!

I'm not the guy who sounds like he has a gallon of molasses, 3 rotten heads of cabbage and an acre foot of hot road tar in his mouth while he "sings".

[Enrique]

44. there's a word for that

it's known as "soul." :shrug:

[old mark]

45. David Lee Roth. Irritating voice, and an asshole in person...

2 for 2...

mark

[Sebastian Doyle]

64. Sammy, is that you?

;)

[old mark]

74. Mas Tequila! The Red Rocker strikes aain....

No, but he is my age and neither of us ever grew up.

mark

[carlyhippy]

124. Snorts!

:spray:

[sarge43]

48. Celine Dion

Because what's a Lounge morning without an earworm

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NV5nqF6mVCQ

[unpossibles]

49. Geddy Lee, although Scott Stapp is close! nt

[Tommy_Carcetti]

50. Scott Stapp sounds just like Eddie Vedder. That's his problem.

He's Eddie Vedder with the same a-holeishness, but sans talent.

[unpossibles]

55. Yeah - I didn't mind Vetter so much

but Stapp, along with whoever sings for Puddle of Nickle Doors Down, could use some vocal lessons (pt one: how to sing without sounding like you have something in your mouth).

[jakefrep]

51. Michael W. Smith

Maybe he's more "Christian" than pop, but his voice is fingernails across a chalkboard annoying.

[redqueen]

53. Axl Rose, hands down.

Worst voice ever.

[XemaSab]

71. This should be a poll option

n/t

[Amerigo Vespucci]

76. We were "live blogging" Chinese Democracy a week or so ago on DU...

Axl had the whole album streaming from the Gn'R Web Site. Someone asked "Could someone PLEASE explain what the hell is going on in track five?" I almost fell out of my chair. The shared opinion in the thread was that it was pretty stupid for him to make the entire album available so people could see how bad it was BEFORE buying it.

:rofl:

[Sebastian Doyle]

56. Sammy "Ronald McDonald" Hagar

.....the Republican tequila salesman cheese ballad peddler

[Throd]

57. Neil Young. Love his songs, hate his singing.

[Cabcere]

127. Word.

:thumbsup:

[bmbmd]

60. One name surfaces-

David Bowie.

[Sebastian Doyle]

63. BLASPHEMER!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ueUOTImKp0k

[redqueen]

70. You must be joking. (nt)

[XemaSab]

72. LIES!

:o

[Bake]

61. The guy from Pearl Jam, although his suckitude pales in comparison to Geddy Lee.

So of course I voted for Geddy.

Bake

[KamaAina]

66. This guy?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yu_moia-oVI

[graywarrior]

67. How dare you include Dylan in that poll and how double dare you include

him in pop music! Are you daft?!

[kentauros]

99. I must be daft then.

I simply cannot stand Dylan's "voice". If he would just play the music, write the songs and hire someone else to sing, he'd still have made his place in the world ;)

[dawgmom]

100. I'll second, third, and fourth that emotion

I'm thinking it must be a generational thing. Sheeeesh.

[kentauros]

101. Perhaps generational if you were a teen in the 60's

instead of just a kid back then, like myself. His voice grates worse than fingernails on a chalkboard. To my almost 48-y-o ears, anyway ;)

[dawgmom]

102. I'm only a few years older than you, and I love Dylan

Not only do I love his music, but I love his voice, and think it's an integral part of his music. Funny thing is, I'm a singer myself, with near perfect pitch -- but I'd much rather listen to Dylan, or John Prine, or Johnny Cash or Neil Young than to a singer who is "technically" a good singer, but doesn't move me. (Celine Dion comes to mind.) Sometimes music is more about the feeling for me, and the instrument carrying it isn't that important.

[kentauros]

105. Of the ones you listed, I like Johnny Cash.

I thought he was a brilliant singer and songwriter. But I still can't stand Dylan's voice. I can't say I liked his music or lyrics, really, but I will acknowledge that he is quite talented. Just not my kind of music ;)

[graywarrior]

107. You are my friend.

[dawgmom]

113. Awwwww, shucks. nt

[Amerigo Vespucci]

75. Robert Plant

Specifically, in the live Stairway To Heaven, when he whines "Does anybody remember LAUGHTER?"

What the hell is THAT? Southbound Suarez is also a little slice of nails-down-the-blackboard agony.

:hide:

[sixmile]

77. These are all better than any in the Billboard top ten right now

By far.

[Symarip]

78. Behold

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U9-ljaJpSC4

A 2 for 1.

[Greyskye]

79. No freaking contest: Rod Stewart

How that ex-gravedigger made a career with his voice, I'll never in a million years understand.

[Sebastian Doyle]

81. Well I know how he did so at first

Because the Jeff Beck Group and the Faces fucking ROCKED.

How he's managed to do so since 1975 is another question altogether......

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qHrJvXRe9ZI

[Scout]

80. Neil Young n/t

[Lautremont]

82. This guy (and I swear to biscuits this is no rickroll!):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K6_VAiznSTc

How this guy sold ten million records between 1976 and 1980, I will NEVER know!

[AwakeAtLast]

93. What the hell was that?

Complete with superimposed dancer - WTF? :wtf:

"I am the ram, I am the ram..." Dear God, why?

[KurtNYC]

97. talkin' 'bout the Taurus, talkin' 'bout the bully bull bull...

I'm traumatized. And I only made through 3 signs.

[Lautremont]

106. You mean you didn't get to pi-pi-pi-Pisces? For shame!

Actually, it is one of those things best consumed in small doses, for the sake of your sanity.

[BarenakedLady]

84. Adam Levine from Maroon 5

Gah!!!!!

[mvd]

119. Agreed - overplayed, too

:hi:

[Kingofalldems]

85. Neil Sedaka--No contest

[mvd]

120. Agreed

[kimmerspixelated]

86. Natalie Merchant, and that Bathead biting heavy metal singer.

not in that order necessarily. I cannot stand screaming with any kind of music.

[ACTION BASTARD]

111. BATHEAD= Ozzy Osbourne

His "voice" is an acquired taste, no doubt about it. Natalie Merchant hasn't be relevant in years, thankfully.

[Berry Cool]

90. Actually, if I had to pick the all-time worst, it would have to be

probably Leonard Cohen. Great songwriter, but should never be permitted to sing his own songs.

[AwakeAtLast]

94. Britney Spears

She is who the word 'caterwauling' was created. :nailsonchalkboardsmilie:

[mvd]

121. Doesn't bother me that much

If the dance song is good, she doesn't detract from the production-oriented tune IMO. On ballads, she's often surrounded by others.

[bunkerbuster1]

95. Ian Gillian

Probably just me.

But I think you can trace all that is bombastic and stupid and hair-metal-ish about lousy "hard rock" to the vocals on "Space Truckin'."

[dawgmom]

98. Why isn't Axl Rose in the poll?????

He has, by far, the most annoying, screeching, horrid horrid horrid voice in rock music. I have very nearly swerved off the road, trying to get to the radio knob to stop the madness.

[mvd]

117. I agree on this one

But Madonna, Michael Stipe, Bob Dylan, Billy Joe Armstrong, Sheryl Crow, Gwen Stefani, Eddie Vedder, Cyndi Lauper, Van Morrison, etc? That's why music is so subjective. They are faves of mine.

[leftofthedial]

103. Madonna

horrible singer

[LSdemocrat]

108. Lead singer of Nickelback

Not bothered enough to actually look up the name.

[Zavulon]

109. I personally don't see how anyone but Stipe can

steal votes from Dylan, who is so bad at singing that I'd almost consider a law forbidding him to do it. Stipe is the second-worst to be sure.

[Arugula Latte]

110. That dude from Styx -- "Laaaaaaaaady ..."

x( :puke:

[ACTION BASTARD]

112. I choose that annoying prick from Smashing Pumpkins.

First time I heard him sing, I thought someone was taking the piss. But, blow me down, that turd was full on serious. I can't listen to a SP song without cringing and having to change the station.

[mvd]

114. From that poll, Yoko Ono by a mile

I love Bob Dylan, Fred Schneider, and Michael Stipe. Could take or leave Geddy Lee and Bon Scott.

[KG]

116. phil collins

[Bucky]

123. Lead singer for Air Supply. He's like a Christopher Cross without balls

So technically, he has negative testicles.