Sing Me a Song
“Sing me a song, you’re a singer…”; the opening line from Black Sabbath’s song ‘Heaven and Hell’. I remember seeing Black Sabbath with Ronnie James Dio doing the vocal duties. He was impressive, but pretty far down on the list of what I would consider great singers. I’ve always thought that singing for a band is one of the most difficult jobs because unlike other instruments in the band, it doesn’t require physical dexterity to execute it well. It requires very strong vocal chords…just two little strands of muscle to either sound great or just be another average singer. So, who are the best singers in rock today? Read on and allow me to award medals to the best of the best!
Gold Medal: Geoff Tate. For those of you who may not recognize the name, Geoff Tate is the amazing voice, and backbone, of the group Queensryche. The first time I heard this guy sing, I was blown away. His range is absolutely astounding. And he sounds just as good in concert as he does on the recordings. I was lucky enough to catch Queensryche on the Operation Mindcrime tour. Are you freaking kidding me?!?! My jaw was on the floor the whole show. For some classic Geoff Tate high notes, check out the early stuff like ‘The Warning’ and ‘Rage for Order’. The newest release, entitled ‘American Soldier’, is very good stuff also (and will be a future album review). If you have ever wondered how high the male vocal range can get and still sound as powerful as ever; listen to some Queensryche!
Silver Medalist Bruce Dickinson!
Silver Medal: Bruce Dickinson. I’m not sure if Bruce Dickinson is any more recognizable than the gold medalist, but his voice is just about as remarkable. Bruce has been the front man for Iron Maiden since roughly 1981. He left the band for a few years, and then reunited with them and has been a staple out front ever since. The element about Dickinson’s voice that I most admire is the strength behind the notes. His notes come across almost like an opera. Supposedly, he actually studied opera singing prior to turning to metal music and that’s how he got such a powerful voice and great range. I have seen Iron Maiden several times over the years and the live shows are fantastic! Lot’s of energy! On the album front, my favorite Maiden disc is still ‘Power Slave’, followed very closely by ‘Piece of Mind’ and ‘Number of the Beast’. Virtually any song on any of these albums will put Dickinson’s powerful voice on full display for your listening pleasure. Enjoy!
and finally...Bronze Medalist Freddie Mercury!
Bronze Medal: Freddy Mercury. This vocalist probably needs no introduction. He was easily one of the best vocalists and front men in the business. His real name was Farrokh Bulsara, but he will forever be remembered by his stage name. To me, Freddy Mercury always seemed larger than life. His voice was so enormous and powerful…it propelled the music forward at a frenetic pace, even on the slow songs! His voice simply drove the music right out of the speakers and punched you square in the chest. My favorite Queen album remains ‘News of the World’, but I was also a huge fan of ‘Jazz’ and ‘A Day at the Races’. There are some great, great Queen songs on those albums that really demonstrate the vocal virtuosity of the late, great Freddy Mercury.
Honorable Mention: There are a few singers that I did not mention in the top three, but definitely deserve a shout-out for their vocal ability. I consider Robert Plant a phenomenal vocalist…his range and power are legendary. The late Brad Delp of the group Boston still makes me crank up the volume and try desperately to sing along. James LaBrie of Dream Theatre really belts it out…love that guy’s voice. Brent Smith of Shinedown sounds great, even unplugged! And last but not least, I have to include Rob Halford of Judas Priest. He has the original high-pitched wails that make you cringe! Turn it up! And sing along!
