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Some voices are so distinctive, they become legends all on their own. Join us as we count down our picks for the singers whose voices are truly one of a kind! From raspy rockers to soulful crooners, these artists prove that the most unforgettable voices don't always play by the rules. Which singer do you think has the most unique voice in music history? Let us know in the comments below!
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00:03Welcome to Ms. Mojo, and today we're counting down our picks for the top 20 singers with
00:08the most distinctive voices.
00:1420. Brian Johnson
00:16With a trademark shriek that redefined a legendary rock band, Brian Johnson revitalized ACDC for
00:28a new era. Joining the group in 1980 after the passing of Bon Scott, his high-voltage wail was
00:35immediately put to the test on the monumental Back in Black. Johnson's voice is a sheer force
00:40of nature, perfectly suited to piercing through those signature crunching guitar riffs. Whether
00:46he is belting out the soaring notes of Thunderstruck or delivering the gritty and sleazy energy of
00:52You Shook Me All Night Long, Johnson's raspy intensity is instantly recognizable. He proved
00:58such that a uniquely screechy vocal style could not only carry a melody, but also become the
01:03defining sound of stadium rock for half a century.
01:06Yeah, you shook me all night long!
01:1219. Cher
01:13I got you, babe. I got you, babe.
01:18This pop star made waves with her rich contralto and her pioneering use of autotune. Emerging in
01:25the 1960s alongside Sonny Bono, Cher quickly stood out thanks to her resonant and remarkably thick
01:32lower register. In a pop landscape often dominated by high-pitched sopranos, Cher's heavy tone carved
01:39out a lane that was entirely her own. She then completely reinvented her sound in the late 1990s
01:45with the massive hit Believe, using new vocal distortion technology to create a robotic and
01:51futuristic effect with her voice. Yet beneath the studio magic, it's her unmistakable vibrato and
01:58commanding delivery that have allowed Cher to dominate across folk, rock, disco, and dance.
02:04I can feel something inside me say. I really don't think you're strong enough now.
02:1218. Geddy Lee
02:20When it comes to rock, few vocalists are as polarizing as the frontman of Rush. Geddy Lee's exceptionally high
02:28tenor and piercing wails sound like they belong in another stratosphere. Often described as a
02:33countertenor or a mouse to his detractors, Lee's ability to hit those screechy notes while also
02:39playing complex bass lines is nothing short of superhuman. On iconic tracks like Tom Sawyer and
02:46The Spirit of Radio, his distinctive nasally tone cuts straight through the dense instrumentation of
02:51his bandmates. Love it or hate it, Lee's shrill delivery is the unmistakable vocal signature of one of
02:58rock's most legendary trios.
03:00Invisible airwaves crackle with light, right the tender bristle with the energy.
03:0717. Macy Gray
03:15This throwback soul singer gives hits like I Try, a unique spin with a voice that sounds both vintage
03:21and fresh. Gray's vocals are famously raspy. Drawing comparisons to a jazz-age Billie
03:27holiday mixed with a modern R&B. When she broke into the mainstream with her debut on How Life Is,
03:34listeners were immediately captivated by her wonderfully coarse and emotionally raw delivery.
03:46I Try, which took home the Grammy for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance, perfectly highlights her
03:52ability to sound deeply vulnerable, yet wonderfully powerful. Gray's distinctive quirk rasp ensures that
03:59no one else in modern soul sounds quite like her.
04:02I try to say goodbye and I choke. I try to walk away and I stumble.
04:0916. Dave Mustaine
04:11There's a new way
04:14I get a first in line
04:17As the chief architect of Thrash Metal Titan's Megadeth, Dave Mustaine possesses a voice that is
04:23practically dripping with venom. You won't find operatic metal wails here. Instead,
04:29Mustaine delivers his lyrics with a signature teeth-gritted snarl that perfectly complements
04:34his blistering guitar riffs. His cynical delivery on tracks like Holy Wars and Peace Cells
04:39sounds less like typical singing and more like a villainous sneer.
04:50And on more mainstream hits like Symphony of Destruction, his raspy and almost conversational
04:56verses explode into menacing hooks. Mustaine's vocal style is unapologetically harsh, but it's
05:02also the snarling soul that put Megadeth at the forefront of the thrash scene.
05:07We dance like a marionette, swinging through the symphony.
05:1315. Axl Rose
05:15With a searing voice that can shatter glass, Axl Rose conquered the world as a controversial rock god.
05:29The Guns N' Roses singer boasts one of the most astonishing vocal ranges in music history.
05:34Capable of dipping into a low, resonant baritone before exploding into an aggressive multi-octave
05:40shriek. His performance on Welcome to the Jungle is a masterclass in vocal menace,
05:46somehow sounding both dangerous and melodic.
05:49You've got it down in the jungle! Welcome to the jungle!
05:57And the epic ballads like November Rain, he smooths out that famous grit for something much more
06:03emotional and sweeping. Rose's razor-sharp wail is the sonic embodiment of Hard Rock Rebellion.
06:10And it's hard to hold a candle in the cold November Rain.
06:1614. Nina Simone
06:23Known as the High Priestess of Soul, Nina Simone's voice was as complex and commanding as the woman
06:30herself. Her deep contralto blurred the lines between jazz, blues, folk and classical music.
06:37Simone didn't just sing a song, she inhabited it, using her dark and trembling vibrato to express
06:44a profound mix of emotions.
06:52Tracks like Feeling Good and Sinner Man highlight her ability to shift from a haunting, whispery hum
06:58to an authoritative roar. Unlike many of her contemporary peers, Simone's smoky tone was never
07:05concerned with being purely pretty. Instead, it was communicative, raw, and fiercely original.
07:1913. Janis Joplin
07:27This gritty rocker had a range and a raspy power that remains a marvel to behold.
07:3314. Janis Joplin didn't so much sing her songs as she unleashed them from the depths of her soul.
07:3914. Her blues-drenched wail on classics like Peace of My Heart and Cry Baby burst with an uninhibited,
07:45almost agonizing level of emotion.
07:5214. Janis Joplin
07:53She pushed her vocal chords to the human limit,
07:56blending a ragged, scratchy tone with a phenomenal sense of pitch and control.
08:00In an era of polished folk singers, Joplin's throat-treading delivery broke the mold and
08:06made her the undisputed queen of psychedelic soul.
08:1015. Janis Joplin
08:10But what good? What good? What good? And what good can I ever bring?
08:1515. Janis Joplin
08:16Number 12. Tom Waits
08:1715. Tom Waits
08:25Music critic Daniel Dershals famously claimed that Tom Waits' voice sounded,
08:30quote, like it was soaked in a vat of bourbon, left hanging in the smokehouse for a few months,
08:35and then taken outside and run over with a car. That about sums it up. His voice is legendary for
08:41its extreme gruffness, often compared to the sound of a roaring chainsaw or a carnival barker.
08:47This raspy bellow perfectly suits his eclectic blend of blues, jazz, and vaudeville.
08:53Well, I'll see you in there
08:57We're on a downtown train
08:59On tracks like Jockey Full of Bourbon or Downtown Train, his guttural growl adds a layer of cinematic
09:06grit and dark humor to his brilliant songwriting. Nobody else in modern music has managed to make
09:12such a harsh and weathered tone sound so beautifully poetic.
09:16You gotta hold on, take your mind, standin' right here, you gotta hold on.
09:2311. Stevie Nicks
09:25Now there you go again, you say, you want your freedom.
09:32With a voice that feels both mystical and grounded, Stevie Nicks is the undisputed queen
09:38of rock and roll bohemia. Her signature contralto brought a completely unique flavor
09:43to Fleetwood Mac and her own massively successful solo career.
09:52On anthems like Dreams and Edge of Seventeen, her fluttery vibrato and slightly nasal
09:58tone creates an enchanting, almost magical atmosphere. Nicks never needed to belt out
10:04flawless high notes to command a room. Her emotional phrasing and spellbinding texture
10:09make every lyric she sings sound like an ancient incantation.
10:2110. Joni Mitchell
10:23Among the most gifted songwriters of her generation,
10:26Joni Mitchell comes with a unique sound all her own.
10:35The Canadian-born folk singer started her career in the 1960s with a range that spanned
10:41low notes and falsettos. Her ability to climb to staggering highs is one of the signatures of
10:46her catalogue. And this is all aside from her songwriting on classics like Both Sides Now,
10:51which spotlight her emotional delivery and songwriting abilities.
10:59There's also the legendary tracks off her Blue album, which further showcase her talents as a poet
11:05and performer. Even in her later years, Mitchell has continued to perform with a richly toned
11:17voice that's deeper and just as effective.
11:19I'd still be on my feet...
11:269. Amy Winehouse
11:33Powered by a throwback sound, Amy Winehouse fused together the finest aspects of R&B,
11:39pop, pop and more. Her voice had a resonance and power that few artists could match. In only two
11:45studio albums, Winehouse managed to conquer the mainstream with her richly textured tones.
11:51She sang songs that often explored the depths of the human psyche, such as the hit Rehab.
12:02Bringing emotion to each record, she didn't leave anything up to interpretation. Her vocal work
12:08on the likes of Back to Black remains an amazing example of updating older influences for a new
12:22audience.
12:30What was your reaction the first time you heard Freddie Mercury?
12:34His band made a name for themselves with their elaborate compositions,
12:38featuring Mercury as their fearless and talented leader.
12:41His operatic voice could have been fit for the most esteemed stage in the world,
12:46but he chose instead to rock out. We think he made the right choice,
12:50given his acrobatic vocals on songs like Bohemian Rhapsody.
12:58With an enviable range, Mercury soared above most male registers without missing a beat.
13:04He also had the pipes to deliver an intimate ballad or fill an entire arena with glorious sound.
13:11We are the champions, we are the champions, we are the champions.
13:17Number 7. Tina Turner
13:19Through multiple decades of impressive work,
13:26Tina Turner established herself as one of the most enduring artists of any era.
13:32Her early work with Ike gave her a national spotlight, with performances like Proud Mary,
13:37making it clear she was a distinct vocal talent.
13:46Providing intensity in every track, she went solo with a voice as powerful as ever.
13:51With What's Love Got To Do With It, she showed she could sing a pop song as well as any
13:56star,
13:57and do so with a tone nobody else possessed.
14:05Turner had an unrivaled stamina, with the ability to maintain complete control over said unique voice,
14:11while also showing off her dance moves.
14:14What's Love's got to do, it's got to do with it.
14:18Number 6. Johnny Cash
14:20Love is the burning thing, and it makes it.
14:27Whether he's considered an outlaw or the man in black, Johnny Cash will forever be known as an original.
14:33The country star lived a complicated life that came out in every one of his performances.
14:43His deep voice feels like a window to his soul, perfectly paired with the darkness and vulnerability of his lyrics.
14:51Cash's style was so self-assured that it felt completely different in country music.
14:56He was among the most recognizable voices in the genre, especially thanks to the direct nature of his presentation.
15:07Any time he sang, the artist made us feel like he was sitting us down and telling a story as
15:13a trusted friend.
15:17Number 5. Bjork
15:25One of Iceland's most famous singers became a sensation after going solo in the 1990s.
15:32With every album, she has set herself apart from others in the industry with her delivery.
15:37She doesn't match a typical mainstream sound, creating art pop and alternative music all her own.
15:48This is bolstered by her one-of-a-kind voice, which she uses to do everything from shrieking,
15:54to screaming, to hitting glorious high notes.
15:56Her records may range from electric to avant-garde and experimental.
16:00But one thing remains constant, you'll know it's Bjork behind that mic.
16:10Some may try to imitate her, but few can match her in terms of originality.
16:20Number 4. Kate Bush
16:30Boldly going her own way, Kate Bush began her singing career as a teenager in the late 1970s.
16:37She arrived fully formed with hits like Wuthering Heights, which showcased her unique style.
16:49Mixing together various theatrical and experimental techniques,
16:53Bush threw the pop world for a loop with her dynamic works and unique sound.
17:04Her staggering voice paved a new way for female singers that didn't bother with specific labels.
17:10Inventive records followed and so did more critical praise, including recognition for
17:15classics like Hounds of Love. Each step of the way, her ability to convey anger,
17:20love, and wonder through her voice have made her an icon.
17:30Number 3. Louis Armstrong
17:33Among the greatest legends of the 20th century, Louis Armstrong was one of the most famous trumpeters
17:44of his time. He also had an identifiable voice that you can't mistake for anyone else.
17:50Out of the three, in that number.
17:53Equiparts raspy and refined, Armstrong performed from the heart every time.
17:58Many probably know him best as the singer of What a Wonderful World.
18:02I see trees of green, red roses too.
18:09In reality, he was a much more nuanced artist who was deeply important to the jazz world.
18:15The musician was as adept with his trumpet as he was with his vocal chords.
18:20Up until his final years, Armstrong continued to remind people of his gift for exceptionally original performances.
18:27What a wonderful way.
18:34Bob Dylan's voice might throw the casual music fan off, but those listeners would be missing out on
18:46his gritty tones and the way they elevate his songs.
18:54His everyman vocals might not be conventional, but they are special. Plus, his lyrics are exceptional
19:01in every way. He was at least partly inspired by folk heroes before him, who never let an
19:06unorthodox voice keep them from performing, and has blazed his own trail.
19:17Unique in every way, Dylan's raw portraits of American life need his unrestrained delivery
19:22to feel complete. Instead of worrying about becoming the next pop star,
19:26the man followed his instincts and became a legend.
19:29The inside is blowing in the wind.
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19:58Number 1. Leonard Cohen.
20:08Leonard Cohen always played by his own rules. The troubadour started as a writer and a poet,
20:14eventually moving to singing as another outlet for his artistic vision.
20:18What followed was a decade of work closely tied to folk tradition.
20:22For he's touched your perfect body with his mind.
20:30His earthly voice was a warm and welcome guide through memorable tunes such as Suzanne.
20:35With the 1980s came a new era for the artist and a deeper voice.
20:40You'll dance me to the end of love.
20:44His later era sounds unconcerned with conforming to any movement or popular technique.
20:50Instead, Cohen blended the art of speaking and singing into one signature form of storytelling,
20:56using the voice only he possessed.
21:05Can you think of any other singers with unique voices? Let us know in the comments below!