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Post by peridot44 on Oct 16, 2005 14:16:04 GMT -8
Ah, a nice list (and no Frank Sinatra - or was that an oversight?). Isn't it amazing - Jerry Dorsey got nowhere as a singer. Then he changed his name to that of a German composer and what do you know! suddenly he's a star. What's in a name? Everything, it seems. Agree especially about Dean Martin, Buddy Holly, Perry Como and Elvis Presley. Mario Lanza is in a different class. Given a stronger constitution he would have been an opera singer. As it was, he would hardly have made it through act 1 of an opera. Placido Domingo will always be at the top of my list of male singers. He was so good-looking, not fat, really fitting the romantic parts he played (and acted very well indeed) together with his wonderful voice, all made him unbeatable.
P
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Post by M.Maestro on Oct 17, 2005 9:03:03 GMT -8
Ah, a nice list (and no Frank Sinatra - or was that an oversight?). Isn't it amazing - Jerry Dorsey got nowhere as a singer. Then he changed his name to that of a German composer and what do you know! suddenly he's a star. What's in a name? Everything, it seems. Agree especially about Dean Martin, Buddy Holly, Perry Como and Elvis Presley. Mario Lanza is in a different class. Given a stronger constitution he would have been an opera singer. As it was, he would hardly have made it through act 1 of an opera. Placido Domingo will always be at the top of my list of male singers. He was so good-looking, not fat, really fitting the romantic parts he played (and acted very well indeed) together with his wonderful voice, all made him unbeatable. P Just out of curiousity, P, where do rate The Great Caruso? The Great Pavarotti? And operatic singers in general when compared to other genres? (jazz, gospel, R&B, crooners, etc?) MM
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Post by peridot44 on Oct 17, 2005 12:57:31 GMT -8
Ah ha! A good question. I rate Caruso very highly (as well as I can from the poor recordings). Pavarotti has a sweet voice, unsuitable for tougher roles as he knew himself, but lovely in the roles he sang. BUT, I once saw him on stage starring as a young lover opposite Joan Sutherland as his lover. These two are very fat and when the 'young couple' tried to embrace, they tended to bounce off each other and could hardly get their arms to reach each other, let alone embrace. So, while Pavarotti has a lovely voice, the effect of his figure, on stage, can be unintentionally comical, and this spoils dramatic impact of the opera. Domingo's latin good-looks, superb figure, in his younger days, and acting ability, made him unrivalled in the dramatic tenor roles.
I don't think that opera singers can be directly compared to other genres. On purely technical grounds they win hands down. The trained human voice is truly amazing! But jazz singers are so completely different that comparisons are futile. Neither could do the other's work. An opera singer singing a crooner's song sounds all wrong. The crooner couldn't sing the operatic aria. I've heard it tried and it sounds awful. I don't think there is any true cross-over. Gospel is completely loose and uncontrolled and suitable for what it is trying to do. A trained opera singer amongst them would, I believe, be too dominant. In short, horses for courses. I like most genres (not rap, though) to some degree and some to a large degree, and like the artistes to stick to what they do well.
That was a long reply and I would appreciate your opinion now. P
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tom
Bronze Nostalgic Master
Posts: 101
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Post by tom on Oct 18, 2005 2:38:52 GMT -8
There were one or two popular singers that may have made decent opera singers - Al Martino and Harry Secombe come to mind. Having said that, it would have been impossible to listen to Harry singing an aria without expecting him to blow a 'raspberry' in the middle of it.
As you say, peridot, it's quite hard to judge singers from the early 20th Century by the recordings available because of the lack of tonal quality of those recordings. Also, I agree that it's pointless trying to compare singers of different genres - the only true measure of a singer's ability is in the context of his or her own field of music. Likewise, you can't compare a tenor to a barritone, or a soprano to a contralto.
Even within the same genre, the problem that we find when we try to compare singers of different eras is the evolution of recording techniques in the studio - many of today's 'artists', deprived of the numerous computerised gizmos in the recording studio, couldn't hold a song in a bucket!
Even Demis Roussos, when I saw him live in the late 70s or early 80s, disappointed me immensely. Although his singing voice had the tonal quality of his records, he seemed unable to deliver his songs at a reasonable volume level - he spent almost the entire concert giving signals to the sound man to increase the levels - with the result that his voice sounded reed-thin. A truly great singer would manage adequately even without a microphone.
That could be another subject for debate: who have you been disappointed by when you've seen them live? Or, on the other hand, who have you been pleasantly surprised by?
Tom
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Post by peridot44 on Oct 18, 2005 10:29:08 GMT -8
The problem with 'good' singers in the popular genre, such as Harry Secombe, is that the strength and stamina you find in an opera singer, is missing. Without a mic they would barely be heard beyond the front rows of the stalls, especially if there is an orchestra there. I heard Nina (of Nina and Frederick) singing an operatic aria, on Classic FM of all places, and her untrained voice couldn't cope so the sound was simply awful. She, in common with all pop singers, sang from the throat with lots of escaping air hissing along and the aria lost all of its power and beauty. It was so bad it was funny, but was meant to be 'cross-over' What was she thinking of? I feel the same way about opera singers singing 'standard' songs or popular, more recent songs. A voice can be too good for the song and spoil it. Agh! I'm on my soapbox again, sorry
I always thought Roussos had a very thin voice and I never liked it. I did see Gene Pitney on stage in 1967 and he was very enjoyable. Of course he was practically sucking the mic but He sounded just like he did on his records and had a great stage presence (he could have been miming but I don't think so). My friend at the time was a fan and I was accompanying her. I was surprised that I enjoyed his act (but none of the programme 'filler' acts) I really preferred going to operas when I could. Cheers P
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Post by peridot44 on Oct 18, 2005 10:31:21 GMT -8
Ah dear, I didn't mean to suggest Gene Pitney was a god - just a typo. P
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Post by peridot44 on Oct 18, 2005 10:33:30 GMT -8
Eerk!! No, I didn't mean Gene was a typo, the error was - clear?? Good grief , this language! P
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socal
Nostalgia Master 1
Posts: 47
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Post by socal on Jan 24, 2006 11:22:37 GMT -8
Here are my top ten male vocalists:
10- Louis Prima (legendary R&B singer of the 40's)
9- Tony Bennett (still going strong as he approaches his 80th birthday!)
8- James Brown (The "Godfather" of Soul)
7- Jackie Wilson ("Mr. Excitement")
6- Robert Plant (one of the most unique voices in rock history)
5- Andy Williams (smooth, yet powerful delivery)
4. Buddy Holly (would have been among the top 3 if he had lived longer)
3. Stevie Wonder (a musical genius)
2. Frank Sinatra ( "The Voice")
1. ELVIS PRESLEY - "THE KING"
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Post by peridot44 on Jan 26, 2006 9:22:23 GMT -8
My list would be a little different but would include Buddy Holly, Elvis Presley and Perry Como. Also Frankie Vaughn and Paul Anka. I would include opera singers like Placido Domingo and Titto Gobbi. Hard to put them in any order, though as they are all so different. Never heard of Robert Plant or Louis Prima.
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Post by Musicologist on Jan 9, 2010 1:37:19 GMT -8
1. Elvis Presley 2. Andy Williams
The best of the rest, in no particular order:
Bing Crosby, Frank Sinatra, Johnny Mathis, Neil Diamond, Tennessee Ernie Ford, Roy Orbison, Jim Reeves, Luciano Pavarotti
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Post by Musicologist on Jan 9, 2010 2:48:44 GMT -8
Stevie Wonder is ridiculously overrated as a singer. I'll give him good marks as a songwriter, but his singing voice is unremarkable. He wouldn't even make my top 40 as a singer.
Sinatra was a legend, but hardly the "voice of the century". Andy Williams had a more beautiful voice and sang with greater feeling, as did Elvis Presley.
Elvis was also a master of many singing styles---rock, pop, blues, R&B, gospel and country. Presley is the only singer in the rock, country and gospel halls of fame.
Elvis gets my vote as both singer and entertainer of the century. Besides being a brilliant and legendary singer, he was also a very respectable rhythm guitarist, pianist, actor and dancer.
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Post by M.Maestro on Jan 14, 2010 20:14:09 GMT -8
Stevie Wonder is ridiculously overrated as a singer. I'll give him good marks as a songwriter, but his singing voice is unremarkable. He wouldn't even make my top 40 as a singer. Sinatra was a legend, but hardly the "voice of the century". Andy Williams had a more beautiful voice and sang with greater feeling, as did Elvis Presley. Elvis was also a master of many singing styles---rock, pop, blues, R&B, gospel and country. Presley is the only singer in the rock, country and gospel halls of fame. Elvis gets my vote as both singer and entertainer of the century. Besides being a brilliant and legendary singer, he was also a very respectable rhythm guitarist, pianist, actor and dancer. I'm sorry, but to me, it is almost IMPOSSIBLE to seperate Mr. Sinatra, Mr. Crosby, & Mr. Presley---the only reason that there is separation on the list is that making them 1A, 1B, and 1C(the way I really feel) is that if you were to put a gun to my head & force me to choose ONE, I would go with Mr. Sinatra----but make NO mistake about it, those 3 gentlemen are head & shoulders above any others under consideration--I can make a compelling case for all three--so if you believe that Elvis is #1, cool---just remember that others can argue for Bing, or Frank as well, but that it as far as the very top of the (pop)ledger. Just wait til I post the Country, or R&B male singers! It will be duck & cover time!!! (LOL)
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