These voices are unmistakable! Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re counting down our picks for the artists with the most distinctive vocals.
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00:00Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we're counting down our picks for the artists with the most
00:09distinctive vocals.
00:17Number 20.
00:18David Bowie He built his entire career off unconventional
00:25choices, and his singing is likewise unconventional.
00:30Inspired by both theatrical singers and rock stars, David Bowie drew from several wells
00:35when it came to creating his own voice.
00:38The more he progressed in his musicianship, the more his abilities flourished.
00:42One style he adopted was switching octaves during songs, highlighting the differences
00:47between his rich lower register and his more distinctive upper range.
01:00This skill also gave him the ability to tackle a variety of genres, rather than staying in
01:05one box.
01:06His effortless versatility gave him an edge among his peers, which was apparent in all
01:13up until the end.
01:18Number 19.
01:19Janis Joplin In rock and roll, there never was a more
01:23important female voice than that of Janis Joplin.
01:31Cashing out at only 27, Joplin left a body of work that would inspire musicians for generations
01:37to come.
01:38She had a strong personality and incredible stage presence, but it was her voice that
01:43really forced people to sit up and pay attention.
01:46It was one of a kind.
01:54It had a hoarseness to it, but that only added to its soulfulness and dynamic qualities.
01:59Whether delivering a quiet, passionate line or bringing the fire with a high note, she
02:04never failed to leave a lasting impression.
02:14Number 18.
02:15Tiny Tim No, we're not talking about Bob Cratchit's
02:19youngest son, though this iconic American singer's voice could have just as easily
02:24originated from his fictional namesake.
02:30Tiny Tim was best known for his hit covers of songs like Tiptoe Through the Tulips, though
02:35more so than any individual songs, he is remembered for his unusual voice.
02:41He could work a falsetto alongside the best, and did so in a warbling vibrato delivery
02:47that was sure to turn heads at each and every performance.
02:56If you're ever feeling low and in need of a pick-me-up, there's no voice more welcome
03:01or infectiously upbeat than that of Tiny Tim's.
03:10Number 17.
03:12Freddie Mercury There's never been anyone quite like him.
03:21Despite technically being a baritone, he sang most of his career as a tenor and could
03:26cover every role between bass and soprano.
03:30He could also switch between them without sounding strained, changing the tonality of
03:34a line at the drop of a hat.
03:43His immense range is only scratching the surface of his talents.
03:47His vibrato is unmatched, and was found to be more comparable to those of opera singers
03:53than rock musicians.
03:55Mercury used his incomparable talent to create some of the most beloved anthems in modern
04:00music history.
04:08Number 16.
04:09Amy Winehouse
04:16Many pop stars, women in particular, are known for utilizing higher or more dulcet
04:22tones, which only made Amy Winehouse stand out even more.
04:27Her unmistakable alto voice immediately set her apart from her peers, and her 1960s-inspired
04:33sound gave her a style that hardly anyone else was utilizing at the time.
04:38She also blended together several different genres at once, creating a musical landscape
04:44that seemed molded to her.
04:52Beyond skill alone, the emotions she infused throughout each piece highlighted the unique
04:58aspects of her ability.
04:59She was able to bring modern and retro stylings together to create an incredible technique
05:04that hasn't been replicated since.
05:10Number 15.
05:11Eddie Vedder His voice has become one of the most emulated
05:20in alternative rock, and it's easy to see why.
05:24His telltale growl became his calling card early on in his career, and helped Pearl Jam
05:29dominate the grunge scene.
05:34Although it may have sounded like he was yelling during his early days, he still exhibited
05:39a level of control that made it easier to enjoy his music.
05:42He also put more focus into belting out the lyrics than into focusing entirely on the
05:47notes, which gave his performances an emotional angle that has lasted even as his abilities
05:53have developed.
05:55Several artists have tried to emulate his snarl, but none have been able to even come
06:00close.
06:07Number 14.
06:08Johnny Cash Sometimes you can just hear someone sing and
06:15know exactly what genre they dominate.
06:18Johnny Cash is one of the best examples of this.
06:22His deep twangy accent has become synonymous with classic country music.
06:26He also has the ability to make anything sound gritty, no matter how it beats.
06:35While other male singers had a deep voice, his had a sonorous quality that made it instantly
06:40recognizable.
06:41His modest personality seemed to bleed through into his work as a musician, coloring his
06:46discography with a humble air that only adds to his authenticity as an entertainer.
06:57Number 13.
06:59Chris Cornell Chris Cornell needs no introduction.
07:06His discography in the 1990s and 2000s made him a bonafide legend years before his passing.
07:13His voice played a huge role in that legacy, especially his ability to hit several notes
07:18in just one song, spanning almost four octaves.
07:22His voice was one of the most genuinely impressive not just within rock, but in music as a whole.
07:29Rather than just focus on his lower timbre, he experimented with various falsetto variations
07:37and other vocal stylings, such as chanting.
07:41It didn't matter if he was creating solo albums or performing with a group, every number
07:45he sang was infused with his distinctive touch.
07:53Number 12.
07:55Cher She first came to the world's attention
08:03in the company of musical and romantic partner, Sonny Bono.
08:07But after stepping out on her own, this pop singer's powerful pipes and unique vocals
08:12earned her the title, Goddess of Pop.
08:19Over the years, she's experimented with a number of musical styles, including folk,
08:24rock, disco, new wave, and power ballads.
08:28But you always know you're listening to Cher.
08:30Her contralto voice is characterized by a deep, resonant quality that, unlike most lower
08:36register voices, is heavy on the vibrato.
08:44Theatrical and passionate, Cher's voice never fails to make an impression.
08:50Number 11.
08:51Louis Armstrong Identifiable by both his voice and his trumpet
08:59playing, Armstrong first made a name for himself with his distinct style of playful and creative
09:05trumpet playing, which, in the jazz music genre, is saying a whole lot.
09:11Of course, it's his voice that we're here to talk about, and boy did he ever have a
09:15voice of his own.
09:21The music industry isn't exactly short on gravelly-voiced singers, but Louis' voice
09:26goes into Cookie Monster territory, deep in tone and rough beyond belief.
09:32But when he's singing What a Wonderful World, there's no other voice you'd want to hear.
09:49Number 10.
09:50Robert Plant Zep fan or not, you know who you're listening
09:54to the second that those vocals come in.
10:01Robert Plant is one of the most influential voices in rock history.
10:06Many have tried to imitate him, but few have succeeded in coming anywhere close.
10:19The reality is, with such wide range and that ability to hit piercingly high notes with
10:25seemingly little effort, there aren't many vocalists out there who can compete.
10:30They simply haven't got the vocal cords for it.
10:38His howl became the gold standard of not only his generation, but generations to come, and
10:43there's no other quite like it.
10:46Number 9.
10:47Nina Simone This influential voice rang out loud and clear
10:51during the American Civil Rights movements.
10:57Her direct and undaunted lyrics resonated with countless individuals fighting for equality,
11:04but it wasn't just the words she said that caught the attention of the masses.
11:08It was the way she sang them.
11:16With a voice falling into the contralto range, Nina embraced the nuanced and unpredictable
11:21qualities of her voice, allowing its unpolished qualities to shine through.
11:27Nina Simone was an absolutely phenomenal singer who, rather than obsess over perfection and
11:33self-control, sang out unfiltered and unrestrained.
11:38Number 8.
11:39Axl Rose Another rock god, another set of pipes that
11:44can leave a listener speechless.
11:48In his prime, the iconic GNR frontman somehow managed to ooze masculinity despite a distinctively
11:57feminine style of dress and a womanly vocal quality, and outclassed his peers with every
12:03note.
12:13His range spans roughly six octaves and, depending on who you ask, covers more ground than Mariah
12:19Carey's.
12:20Whether or not you agree that he's the greatest vocalist ever, as some claimed, there's
12:25no denying that he's got a voice unlike any other.
12:38Number 7.
12:39Elvis Presley There's only ever been one king of rock and
12:43roll.
12:50Everything Elvis Presley did was to the beat of his own drum, and unlike anyone before
12:55or after him, from the way he danced to the way he sang.
12:58Sure, Elvis has inspired countless impersonators who've developed a knack for imitating his
13:04distinctive delivery, but no one can truly recreate that voice.
13:16Gregory Sandaus, a music professor at Columbia University, once called it the most unusual
13:22voice he'd ever heard.
13:24Simultaneously a tenor, baritone, and bass, musical theory buffs struggled to classify
13:30him, but regardless of the label, he was unmistakably Elvis.
13:39Number 6.
13:41Barry Gibb Fusing rock, soul, disco, and pop, the Bee
13:49Gees created a unique sound that sold millions of records.
13:59Although brothers Maurice and Robin also had the goods, it's hard to imagine the brothers
14:04Gibb without Barry's remarkable falsetto.
14:07However, Barry's trademark high notes weren't always a trademark at all.
14:12Once his falsetto arrived, however, it left a permanent mark on popular music.
14:19There's a lot more to Barry Gibb than the highs.
14:24The main body of his voice is distinct and engaging, but those upper notes give him a
14:29punch few others can throw.
14:37Number 5.
14:38Bjork It wouldn't be a list celebrating eccentric
14:45voices without Bjork.
14:47Her soaring soprano vocals and delivery have helped make her one of the most compelling
14:52and celebrated alternative artists working today.
14:57It's hard to describe what makes her so special.
15:05It's as though she goes out of her way to be as eclectic as possible, while still maintaining
15:10an identifiable sound.
15:12Though she has a traditionally higher range, she maintains careful control over it.
15:18This creates a slightly discordant effect that makes her all the more compelling.
15:23It's hard not to listen to her without feeling like you're being transported to another time
15:27or world, which creates a truly immersive musical experience.
15:38Number 4.
15:39Barry White How low can you go?
15:43Probably not as low as this legendary R&B, soul and punk singer.
15:53Others may have gotten as low as Barry White, but few had anywhere near as smooth a delivery.
15:59White has been the voice of seduction behind countless romantic evenings in.
16:03When his music comes on, you know it right away, because your clothing has already hit
16:08the floor and candles have appeared out of nowhere.
16:16That voice just sends chills down your spine in all the right ways.
16:21There's only one man that Bass Baritone could possibly belong to.
16:40Number 3.
16:41Michael Jackson The whole world got to watch his voice develop
16:48in real time.
16:50Starting out as a young child, Jackson had a typical upper register, which he used to
16:54make hits before he hit puberty.
17:01As he grew older, it shifted from a soprano to a tenor and his mature style began to form.
17:08His breathy and seemingly restrained technique not only contrasted with his earlier work,
17:13but also set him apart from virtually every other performer.
17:21Once he implemented his famous stutters and scatting, it was over for everyone else.
17:26As he changed with age, he was able to adapt and create an entirely new niche for himself,
17:32a testament to his sheer talent.
17:39Number 2.
17:40Bob Dylan He may be best known for his incomparable
17:49songwriting, but his voice has also helped him become a standout musician in many generations.
17:55Its quality changed for the better throughout his career, morphing from nasal and untrained
18:01to coarse and weathered.
18:09While he doesn't have the most technically perfect tone, his evocative way of delivering
18:14lyrics makes up for that.
18:16Dylan wasn't trying to create the most gorgeous or melodic pieces.
18:20He was cultivating an artistic experience, and he excelled.
18:24His deliberate harshness only served to make his art more expressive.
18:29Dylan challenged the idea of what a singer could sound like, breaking unspoken rules
18:34for famous entertainers that had been in place for decades.
18:59Number 1.
19:03Tom Waits While he himself made joke about the quality,
19:11there's no doubting his voice is unique.
19:14It can best be described as guttural, which makes it perfect for the darker atmosphere
19:19he celebrates in much of his work.
19:22Waits completely breaks vocal conventions with his harsh, masculine timbre, all while
19:27creating an undeniably unforgettable bond.
19:35He's carved out a place within the soundscape that can't be replicated.
19:40What makes him all the more interesting is that he didn't always sound like this.
19:44On his earliest release, his voice is more traditional compared to what followed.
19:55This unexplained change only makes his newer variation more interesting, and proves how
20:00far he's willing to go to adapt it.
20:09Which musician do you think has the most distinctive voice?
20:13Let us know in the comments below.