VoiceCouncil Magazine now has a huge community of singers of contemporary genres – so we thought it would be fun to discover the identity of your ultimate singers.
Our survey in June simply asked you to identify the singers who inspire you the most. Here is the countdown of the top 5 male artists – along with some of the reasons you mentioned as to why they stand out for you. Read about the top female singers here.
5. Elvis Presley
Elvis is your “charismatic showman” with a “rich voice” who just so happens to be responsible for changing the course of history with his innovative blend of American folk genres. Bruce Springsteen called Elvis his religion, David Bowie said Elvis was a major hero and John Lennon said that without Elvis there would be no Beatles.
4. Frank Sinatra
Ol’ Blue Eyes is recognised by his smooth vocal tone and impeccable phrasing. He was a founding member of the Rat Pack and is heard in the voices of Michael Buble, Robbie Williams Harry Connick Jr and Jamie Cullum. You respect him for his “style”, “timing” and “sense of ease”, showing that skilful singing is more than vocal acrobatics.
3. Jeff Buckley
Jeff is somewhat of a cult figure known for his brooding lyrics and high notes (A.K.A ‘The Flying Buckleys’). Jeff mysteriously drowned in the Mississippi river leaving the world with 1 precious record. You love his “range”, “versatility” and “expression” whilst Bono called him “a pure drop in an ocean of noise”.
2. Michael Jackson
Michael inspired a whole generation of performers: Justin Timberlake, Beyonce, Usher, Chris Brown, Justin Bieber, The Weeknd and Lady Gaga to name a few. You loved not only his expressive and agile voice, but his courage to “be different” and his “authentic feeling”. The King of Pop’s influence still appears in many forms.
1. Freddie Mercury
Freddie topped this poll by a mile with you describing him as a “theatrical power house”. His formidable presence is revered and his stage craft is iconic. Adam Lambert, the American Idol winner and current lead singer with Queen said “he’s got that real strong mid-chest voice. The way he attacks the note, it’s bad ass, it’s sexy”. Below, watch Freddie’s power.
Close runners up included Ed Sheeran, Steven Tyler, Prince and Robert Plant. As seen in the cloud below, the most important traits for you are emotional delivery, a good vocal tone with a large range and a soulful and passionate performance.
See also: Summer 2015 Singing Competition Winner Announcement and 10 Looping Artists You Need to Know About