00:06Welcome to WatchMojo!
00:09And today, we're looking at 10 singers celebrated as incredible songwriters, performers, and
00:14deliverers of lyrics, but whose vocals leave something to be desired.
00:23We're going to start with the unconventional storytellers, who lean on the character of
00:27their voice, more than their singing fundamentals.
00:32Tom Waits
00:33Like many vocal chameleons, Tom Waits doesn't just have one voice.
00:38It's a fascinating evening.
00:43Oh, I drove myself home.
00:45A master storyteller, his unique style of singing has been acclaimed for its versatility.
00:50Whether Waits is embodying the drunken blues singer, the leader of the carnival, or some
00:55of the more twisted creations of his later career, he rarely fails to hit his mark.
01:00Last secret night, put a downturn trend.
01:06His voice isn't for everyone, and for some people, they simply cannot get past his theatrical
01:12delivery.
01:13However, after over five decades in the business, Waits has barely put a foot wrong, going through
01:18several different eras, while maintaining an unusually consistent catalogue.
01:22Hell broke loose!
01:26Hell broke loose!
01:27Hell broke loose!
01:27Lou Reed
01:28The great Lou Reed has proven on many occasions that he is more than capable of singing in a
01:34straight and melodically sound way, especially earlier in his career.
01:38Come between the twisted stars, the plated lines, the faulty map, the poor Columbus to New York.
01:42Some of his sweeter moments with the Velvet Underground prove this beyond a shadow of a doubt.
01:47However, Reed has earned himself a legion of both fans and critics by pioneering a style
01:52of singing that often borders on just speaking into the mic.
02:03His supporters point out that there is a melodicism to how he delivers his lines, while his detractors
02:09are more inclined to cite his lack of vocal range.
02:12Either way, the lyrics are generally always Reed's biggest strength, even as his voice
02:17deteriorated as he aged.
02:25Connor Oberst
02:26There is something naturally unstable about listening to Bright Eyes singer Connor Oberst
02:31on the mic, like it's all in danger of falling apart at any second.
02:41His fans see this as a major selling point, a natural authenticity that only serves to elevate
02:47the themes and vibes of his songs.
02:49Many artists of his era leaned heavily into vulnerability and imperfection as a stylistic choice.
02:55Did they make you stay up all night?
02:59Did they paint your face that pasty white?
03:02Sure, that decision is not going to please everyone, but for our money.
03:07There are few vocalists from that period who do it better.
03:10That said, his place as a truly great unconventional storyteller is set in stone.
03:15Is it bitter or sweet?
03:17That depends on your timing.
03:20Next, we'll move on to the punk disruptors, the ones who used their angst,
03:25attitude, and fury to get their message across.
03:28John Lydon
03:29From his wild and unhinged period with the Sex Pistols to his
03:34far more extensive catalog with Public Image Limited,
03:37John Lydon was synonymous with the British punk movement in the late 70s.
03:42I'll take a queen, remain a man!
03:47Known for his razor-sharp wit, Lydon,
03:49previously known as Johnny Rotten,
03:52was never going to win any awards for the natural range of his voice.
04:00When it came to channeling anger and an all-around rebellious attitude, though,
04:06Lydon was in a league of his own.
04:08Even when he made dramatic musical shifts with Public Image Limited,
04:11his voice proved its adaptability.
04:13Just don't expect to hear him singing Amazing Grace anytime soon.
04:22Mark E. Smith
04:23Notoriously difficult to work with and thoroughly unmusical in his approach,
04:28over the course of four decades, the great Mark E. Smith used his band The Fall as a
04:33platform to deliver his poetry.
04:42Sure, there are elements of singing from time to time, but by his own admission,
04:47Smith does not have a musical background.
04:49This snarling delivery and tendency to end every sentence with an ah sound is either going to grab
04:55you immediately or turn you off as music for life.
05:01The Fall, despite their many, many different lineups, retains a truly devoted fanbase to this day.
05:07While Smith's presence and character are big reasons for that, he was by no means a conventional vocalist.
05:20Black Francis
05:21Black Francis
05:21Pixies were not truly part of the punk movement, although they wore their influences on their sleeves.
05:27Little life on the sands in the yard
05:30The band could pivot wildly from power pop to bordering on heavy metal at times,
05:37bolstered by their singer, Black Francis, and his wild vocal approach. Pixies were famous for going
05:43from loud verses to explosive choruses in the blink of an eye. Francis' ability to go from whispering
05:50and almost whimpering to roaring like he's possessed by a demon has made him a rock legend.
05:55Everything is gonna burn, but I'll take turns, I'll get mine to-
06:01Most fans would agree that beneath all the biblical references and oddball tendencies,
06:05he's a masterful pop songwriter. That said, his voice is, most certainly, not a traditional one.
06:11Here comes your man
06:15Here comes your man
06:17Bob Geldof
06:18Irish singer Bob Geldof burst onto the scene as the frontman of the Boomtown Rats,
06:23bringing a new-wave-tinged and undeniably punky sound to the table.
06:27Tell me why I don't like money
06:30Tell me why I don't like money
06:34For as much as Geldof could craft a fine pop song, his vocal style wasn't for everyone.
06:40Best described as rough around the edges, his sneering approach was suited quite well for what
06:45he and his band did.
06:46They said she did it, with Grace, they said she did it, with Stan, they said she did it,
06:51oh, they said before she died.
06:54Even his fans would agree that if you put Bob Geldof in front of a panel of American Idol judges,
06:59it probably wouldn't go well for him. Then again, when it comes to his approach, that was never really the
07:06point.
07:06And always someone looking at you,
07:08what the fuck the fuck the fuck…
07:09I wasn't sure someone was looking at you, what the fuck the fuck…
07:13Our final section is reserved for the truly unique but divisive voices that can split people
07:19down the middle. Neil Young.
07:21If Neil Young's voice is not for you, you're most certainly not alone.
07:33His nasal and quite thin delivery has been a source of debate ever since his early recordings
07:38in the 1960s.
07:39Those who can't stand him generally don't make it much further than a single listen
07:44before making up their minds.
07:45However, to those in the know, Young's voice is the perfect vessel for his incredibly frank
07:50and honest songs.
07:52And once you're gone, you can't come back.
07:59His delicate delivery suits his music to the point where you couldn't imagine anyone else
08:04singing his lyrics quite as well.
08:06Whether he's performing solo with guitar or piano or rocking out with Crazy Horse, Young
08:12has one of the most instantly recognizable styles in the business.
08:21Leonard Cohen
08:22The poetry of Leonard Cohen still resonates with people all these years later, and despite
08:28not being a technically strong singer, it doesn't detract from his music.
08:32Dance me to the end of love.
08:36Cohen may have a very limited vocal range, but his fans will argue that his control of tone
08:41and cadence is masterful.
08:43If you need a bit more dynamism from your singers, his music might not be for you.
08:48I can't say much has happened since the closing time.
08:52However, his songwriting abilities have never been in doubt.
08:56Even as he aged, Cohen found a way to adapt his voice to its increasing frailty, leaning into
09:02its resonance more and more.
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09:37Bob Dylan.
09:39Finally, we come to quite possibly the most divisive voice in music.
09:43Here comes the story of the hurricane, the man the authorities came to blame.
09:50Bob Dylan has changed his vocal style several times throughout the course of his career,
09:55but despite this, he still can't please everyone.
09:58Few would argue against the fact that he's an incredible songwriter, but many listeners
10:02just cannot get past his singing style.
10:04I never knew what I had until I threw it all away.
10:13Whether it's the nasal tones of Blonde on Blonde or the gruff and aged stylings of his more
10:19recent work, Dylan never plays it straight.
10:22In fact, fans and critics alike would probably agree that he simply isn't able to play it
10:27straight.
10:27Depending on which side of the fence you sit on, it's either a major limitation or one
10:32of his greatest strengths.
10:37But who do you think is the most misunderstood singer of them all?
10:41Let us know in the comments below.
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