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The
Most Annoying Singers of All Time!*
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Possibly
the most subjective of all our categories, the most annoying
singers may very well turn out to be among the greatest
vocalists ever. The performers listed below are singers
that you probably noticed immediately upon hearing his
or her voice. We are not listing poor song selections
like when Leonard "Mister Spock" Nimoy sang
Proud Mary, or when Bing Crosby sang Hey Jude.
We have left "personal politics" out of this
section as well. (You're welcome, Ms. Streisand!)
This section is also not for bands who never should have
been in a recording studio, like the Shaggs or Styx. (Just
kidding about one of them. You decide which!) A distinctive
vocal ability can can be a curse or a blessing. Both to
the singer and the listener.
This category was suggested by a visitor, and, of course,
we welcome your suggestions and input via e-mail!
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| 1. |
Ethel Merman (1908-1984) sang such hits as "There's
no Business Like Show Business" and "Everything's
Coming Up Roses". Ethel Agnes Zimmerman was born
at 359 4th Avenue in Astoria, Queens, in her grandmother's
house. She has been called the loudest woman in show business,
and she probably was!
"I can never remember being
afraid of an audience. If the audience could do better,
they'd be up here on stage and I'd be out there watching
them."
Irving Berlin said, "You'd better not write a bad
lyric for Merman because people will hear it in the second
balcony." |
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| 4. |
Macy
Gray - The first time I heard Macy Gray song on the radio,
I thought a baby was singing. Well, not really. I suppose
I though she was a toddler.
When I first saw her on television, I thought she was
a Saturday Night Live parody of a 1970s black entertainer.
That being said, she has nearly won a Grammy, sells millions
of CDs, is well respected in the music community and was
featured in the first Spider-man movie! |
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| 6. |
Neil
Young - Neil is probably the most prolific rocker-who-can't-really-sing
on our list. Oddly enough, his "Best Of" 2 CD
set "Decade" was one of the first CD's I bought
as I entered the 21st century and got a CD player. I just
like the guy's music! Crosby, Stills and Nash have really
nice harmonies, but I just can't get myself to buy any
of their albums that end without "and Young".
This daring rocker has experimented with rock-a-billy
as Neil Young and the Shocking Pinks, well as "new
wave" electronic music on his "Trans" album,
but just try to find them on CD, or even vinyl! |
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Michael
Bolton - When it comes to our "worst of" category,
the phrase "... and anything by Michael Bolton"
comes up a lot.
Anyone who ticks off that many music lovers must be doing
something right!
Michael is probably the biggest selling "yelling"
singer, and seems like a nice enough guy when I see him
on talk shows. |
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Jimmy
Durante - Jimmy Durante (1893-1980) is probably best known
to today's audience for singing the theme from TV's 1969
"Frosty the Snowman" holiday cartoon. In his
live shows, he thanked an old friend with "Good night
Mrs. Calabash, wherever you are" at the end of each
performance.
There is much debate as to why he thanked her. In keeping
with our goal of maintaining a "PG" rated site,
we'll let you decide for yourself what that "thank
you" was all about. He also opens the Sleepless In
Seattle soundtrack with "As Time Goes By". |
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Sting
- I loved this guy in the Police. Since leaving the band,
his voice has degraded into a barely distinguishable warble.
His new style is defined by his baying (at the moon?)
in his song, Desert Rose. Here is a snippet of the lyrics...
I dream of rain I dream of gardens in the desert sand
I wake in pain I dream of love as time runs through my
hand I dream of fire...
He yodels all that in about six syllables. I dream of
the day he gets back with his old band. |
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Joe
Cocker - Joe's voice defines the term "gravelly",
and he was a big hit at Woodstock in 1969 with his version
of the Beatles' With A Little Help From My Friends. He
is probably best known for his solo hit You Are So Beautiful,
along with his duet with Jennifer Warnes, Up Where We
Belong. Another hit is the stripper-esque You Can Leave
Your Hat On.
He survived the usual 60's performer drug and alcohol
abuse and now lives on a 160 acre ranch outside of Crawford,
Colorado, with his lovely wife, Pam. They run the Mad
Dog Ranch Fountain Cafe. |
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James
Brown - Haugh! - As comedian Eddie Murphy once pointed
out, that's a James Brown lyric. JB has been called the
Godfather of Soul, and the hardest working man in show
business.
In his day, he really was. I see him dancing and think
of a Black Elvis. In reality, he truly brought stage performance
to a new level, and all of today's energetic singer/dancers
owe a piece of their success to Mister Brown. |
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| 18. |
Ringo
Starr - Although the least-appreciated Beatle while they
were together, Ringo captured a dozen Top 40 solo hits,
exceeded only by George, who had 15! For thoses of you
keeping score, John and Paul each have had 7 solo hits
so far. (story)
Ringo's unusual collection of hits included the No No
Song, Back Off Boogaloo and a cover version of You're
Sixteen, in which Paul McCartney played the kazoo.
Ringo also starred in the vastly underrated 1981 film,
"Caveman". |
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Mariah
Carey - It has been predicted that Mariah would soon acheive
album cover full frontal nudity, as she appears to be
wearing fewer clothes with each passing CD release. Her
break-up with EMI records may have slowed the pace down,
but many experts believe that she'll redouble her efforts
with her new record deal.
While she has an incredible vocal range, and was the top
selling artist of the 1990's, she has recently been using
that voice to create new sounds instead of singing new
songs. She could easily fall off this list if she would
start singing songs again. |
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| *
as suggested and voted on by Pop Culture Madness visitors!
send your list & comments via e-mail! |
