Support NeoGAF

[Artoris]

best 80s singer

 

[mansoor1980]

 

[Soodanim]

Best in terms of an analysis of vocal ability or just a preference for the whole package?

If it's overall, it's easy to see why Michael Jackson was the biggest star in the world. In terms of vocal ability... he ranks highly there, too.

 

[Nobody_Important]

David Coverdale and Ian Astbury are not on the list.


Invalid.

 

[jufonuk]

Overall (regardless of gender )MJ or Freddie

Female Whitney or Mariah

Male Huey Lewis or George Michael

 

[Werewolf Jones]

MJ or Freddie overall

Female Whitney or Mariah

Male Huey Lewis or George Michael

Are MJ and Freddie gender neutrals then?

 

[jufonuk]

Are MJ and Freddie gender neutrals then?

Overall I rate Freddie and MJ the best.

But if you can stick meatloaf in that list. Over all those are the best. Despite gender in my opinion.

 

[Tams]

Obviously Phil Collins with his drum skills.

Can't deny that this is his best song.

 

[Toots]

plus best guitarist, best quad neck guitar, best eggplant in pants, and best hairdo

 

[Havoc2049]

Where the hell is Billy Idol and Dave Gahan (Depeche Mode) on this list?!?!

 

[Winter John]

Ricky Gervais

 

[Marvel14]

Surely 80s should mean "emerged professionally in the 80s". What are 60s and 70s icons doing on the list?

 

[Marvel14]

Obviously Phil Collins with his drum skills.

Can't deny that this is his best song.

You RR MF!

 

[AJUMP23]

Laura Branigan is probably the best vocalist with the purist sound from the 80s. Her range and clarity of note are unmatched.

 

[Men_in_Boxes]

It's Whitney or Freddie.

 

[Days like these...]

fuck wacko that pedo the answer is Sade.

 

[joedan]

Whitney Houston or Michael Jackson.

 

[Burning Blade]

No Whitney on this list is ridiculous.

 

[PuppetMaster]

Daryl Hall

 

[IDKFA]

Pavarotti?! You have Pavarotti in the same poll as fucking pop singers?! ​

One of the greatest operatic tenors of all time, competing against George Michael and Madonna? Really?

oh, and calling him an 80s singer as well? *smh*

I'm so triggered that I need to take some time out.

 

[JCK75]

Michael Kiske.

 

[RedC]

Pavarotti?! You have Pavarotti in the same poll as fucking pop singers?! ​

One of the greatest operatic tenors of all time, competing against George Michael and Madonna? Really?

oh, and calling him an 80s singer as well? *smh*

I'm so triggered that I need to take some time out.

 

[Soltype]

This poll is missing a ton of heavy hitters. Where's Aretha, Patti, Whitney, Chaka, Johnny Gill, you even left off Luther.

 

[haxan7]

Robert Plant. His 80s solo career is massively underrated and he does things vocally 99% of singers can't.

 

[SJRB]

The GOAT

 

[jason10mm]

Where is Geoff Tate?

Anyway, very hard to answer this question because you have a "studio voice", a "live voice" and SO MANY folks from that era were doing the Star Search power vocals versus what passes for singing today. Is it range, mimicry, consistency?

But I'd say Whitney (though she is the tail end of this time period) and Michael Jackson if I was sticking to the list.

 

[OmegaSupreme]

Roland and Curt from Tears for Fears. Bowie from that list.

 

[AJUMP23]

Pavarotti?! You have Pavarotti in the same poll as fucking pop singers?! ​

One of the greatest operatic tenors of all time, competing against George Michael and Madonna? Really?

oh, and calling him an 80s singer as well? *smh*

I'm so triggered that I need to take some time out.

Pavarotti transcends this poll.

 

[West Texas CEO]

Alexander O'Neal.

 

[FunkMiller]

Freddie Mercury's voice was better than any of those others, so by that metric, it's him.

 

[winjer]

I would say Michael Jackson. With Freddie Mercury as a very close second.

 

[Kraz]

Diamanda Galas

 

[AJUMP23]

Freddie Mercury's voice was better than any of those others, so by that metric, it's him.

I agree as pure vocals go he is up there.


Performers prior to autotune had to actually be able to sing and perform. Now they just have to perform and the computer handles the vocals. If you can sing, like Whitney or Mercury or Brandingham, or Bowie, Bono, You just have to stand there and you don't need all the other stuff to cover it up.

 

[nush]

1990.

 

[Bartski]

that chick with giant bazookas in the pool

 

[SirTerry-T]

Annie Lennox
Liz Fraser

 

[RagnarokIV]

Too many to pick... Many are vastly underrated...
Peter Cox, Richard Page, Tony Lewis, Kiske, Don Dokken (pre-90s of course).

 

[StreetsofBeige]

Marie Fredriksson from Roxette. Amazingly, the band was formed when she and Per Gessle united, but at the time Per's band was bigger and she was doing background vocals. But then Marie took over the vocals and was the star of the band.

 

[Punished Miku]

That guy who did the Transformers movie theme song is top 20.

 

[AJUMP23]

Richard Marx
Steve Perry - not even on the list. Brilliant vocalist.

 

[Big Baller]

 

[Nitty_Grimes]

Queen at Wembley in 1986 was incredible.

Genesis at Wembley in 1987 was also incredible.

 

[Trunx81]

The GOAT is missing

 

[SpiceRacz]

Prince. If you've listened to enough of his albums, he has a greater range than most, if not all on that list. Definitely the most versatile (and talented) of the artists listed.

 

[AJUMP23]

The one take away I have from this thread is the OP doesn't know much about 80s music.

 

[dorkimoe]

 

[ClanOfNone]

Outta that list? Freddy n Prince for sure.

 

[Wildebeest]

I would call many of those artists more iconic of the 60s or 70s.

Who are iconic 80s singers to me?

Siouxsie Sioux



Phil Oakey



Elizabeth Frazer

 

[Putonahappyface]

 

[Hudo]

Nicholas Bullen of Napalm Death.

My favorite song by the band with him as singer is "You Suffer":