I’ve been thinking about WNCX’s recent Greatest Voices in Rock poll. While I’m not surprised by the listener-generated Top 10 (Clevelanders love them some Roger Daltrey, Bob Seger and Stevie Nicks), I am a bit shocked to see Freddie Mercury perched at the top.
Not that I have anything against Queen (except that they’re always bombastic, sometimes annoying and occasionally crappy), but how did their late singer place above Robert Plant (No. 2), the greatest rock singer of all time? All you have to do is pit “Whole Lotta Love” against “Bohemian Rhapsody” (or whatever Queen song you like best; I’m going for this one), and it’s obvious who’s the better singer and who’s the Broadway-lovin’ ham.
Maybe it’s the whole died-before-his-time thing. Plant made a great record a couple of years ago with Alison Krauss. Chances are, most ‘NCX listeners never heard it (it’s a subtle and moody album that’s eons away from Zep’s howls). While it’s nice to think Mercury died in his prime (AIDS claimed him in 1991, when he was 45), the fact is, he and Queen hadn’t had a hit since 1984’s “Radio Ga Ga.” Lady Gaga is more interesting.
It all comes down to the music, and Led Zeppelin were tons better than Queen. Queen reunited last year with Bad Company’s Paul Rodgers (who placed No. 3 on WNCX’s list) filling in for Mercury. It was one of last year’s worst records. Plant, on the other hand, put the kabosh on any widescale Zep reunion, because he knows there’s no way they can ever top Led Zeppelin II, IV and Physical Graffiti. Besides, he’s got a new Grammy to keep him company (seriously: go buy Raising Sand now).
What do you think? Who else should have been on that list? John Lennon? Bob Dylan? Michael Stanley? —Michael Gallucci
This article appears in Mar 18-24, 2009.
Dear Michael,
You account is terribly subjective and fails, on every level, to put forth a compelling argument. Although Mercury died on 24 November 1991 of bronchial pneumonia (brought on by AIDS), during and after his life, he along with his bandmates released many hits. The power, precision and nuances of Mercury’s voice far outweigh those of Plant’s vociferous and irritating vocal gymnastics. You should really hear the repertory from The Miracle (1988), Innuendo (1991) and Made in Heaven (1995), as Queen released many “hits” following The Works (1985). Mercury versus Plant live is another area that you failed to address and, simply, the former mops the floor with the latter. Voters seems to hear Mercury’s genius, why can’t you?
p.c.b.
Your Cleveland listeners are a sophisticated group. Maestro Bulsara (Freddie Mercury) was not just the world’s greatest front man with the most incredible voice. He was a Persian Genius whose eidetic memory allowed him to pluck melodies and poetry from the Creator’s Mind then translate them into songs which are still sung in every venue all over the world. It was Mercury’s innovative mind and boundless energy which created costumes, lighting, sound mixing. Favored in rock, yet also proficient in ragtime, blues, gospel, light opera, reggae, just to name a few. Once every thousand years, the world is Gifted with such an Artist & your Cleveland audience has recognized that. I salute them.
Good to see that the Queen fans living in Brazil and everywhere else but Cleveland, found time to check in.
I’m missing Springsteen on this list. Surprised that Morrison didn’t place higher on the list, as much as I hear Roadhouse Blues and Riders On The Storm in this city.
Also surprised to see Steven Tyler at the bottom of the top ten.
Nice to see Ann Wilson in the top 5 – I can get behind that one..
You gotta to be kidding me ..Freddie Mercury has the best voice ever!! I never get bored when i watch his performances always keeps me excited . Plant just screams with his tarzan voice
One area of Freddie’s music that is often overlooked is that of his dramatic stagecraft. Freddie shared the peculiar form of genius with only a few other rockers of his time – perhaps only Mick Jagger of the Roling Stones comes even close to Freddie’s command of the stage.The difference between the excellent performance of Mick Jagger and the genius of Freddie Mercury was one of scale. Mick could hold the attention of the audience on the stage in the hall or audotorium. Freddie could hold the audience in a stadium. Each and every person would respond and believe: even those who were not Queen fans.It takes a staging genius to take centre stage in a huge stadium, on a massive stage with thousands of lights, smoke and three brilliant musicians, and still be seen to be singing one-to-one with each and every member of the audience. Rather then being swallowed by the stage production, Freddie was lifted by it.Even when sitting at the piano and playing, the nuances and timbre of his voice would enwrap the listener and carry them on his journey. His clothing and makeup during the early part of their career were flamboyant and designed to capture and hold the attention of the audience.
Why isnt Paul McCartney on the list? This is the guy who gave us the vocal-shredding “Helter Skelter”, and “Live and Let Die”; his range is incredible when you listen to “Maybe I’m Amazed”. I love the warmth of his voice when he sings a ballad (“Another Day”, My Love”). Boo to Clevelanders for leaving him off the list.
Bob Seger? Uh… no. Paul Rodgers? Another no.
Oh yeah…good call on McCartney! HUGE omission!
Totally agree with Joe about the live scene. Freddy sounded better live than Robert. Robert somtime struggled live. Btw, when Robert tried to sing Innuendo at the Freddy tribute concert, it wasn’t really good, it was cut off the DVD. I agree he was no longer in his prime, but still.
They were however two great singers, but with different styles and tones.
About other singers not included, where is Ian Gillan of Deep Purple. And, is it because it is Heavy Metal, but Rob Halford of Judas Priest was a totally amazing singer (best range I have heard in rock) and what about Ronnie James Dio?
jkws: Could not agree with your comments more! “pluck melodies and poetry from the Creator’s Mind” indeed! Spot on assessment of the Master.
Thank you, wagtails. Mozart is another genius who plucked melodies from the Mind of God. And, like Maestro Bulsara, he translated them into complex, layered, pieces to be enjoyed by the world. But Mozart was stuck in one genre; and, he produced no lyrics of note. I believe that 150 years from now, university music courses will address Mercury in much the same way as they now do Mozart. I wont be here to see it but, if you, wagtails, are young enough, perhaps you will enjoy one of those studies.
I don’t know how many times I’ve heard this debate over the last 20+ years, and the clear winner has always been Freddie Mercury. Surprised that you’re surprised.
His vocal range was incredible, and he had amazing control over it. After all, you did ask for the Greatest Voice, not the greatest band or band with greatest/most hit songs, although I’m sure Queen would also score high on those counts. You asked who the best Voice was, and you got a clear answer.
And he was more consistent than other singers mentioned. Mercury’s voice is amazing on dozens of songs, not just a select few where he was having a good day. And Queen songs have also stood the test of time, enjoying constant replay in a variety of venues, so people are more familiar with Mercury’s voice than Plant’s anyway.
Tonally, vocally, and just plain musically Freddie had it all over Robert Plant.
The Bio channel just ran a Biography of Freddie in which it was revealed that Freddie had a deformed mouth with extra teeth and an expanded pallate. He could have had his buck teeth look fixed with surgery. He chose to stay that way because he felt it was a gift and the secret to his perfect pitch and ability to hit and hold amazing notes and hold them. That’s commitment!
Robert Plant’s claim to fame was a screechy voice (which his bandmates originally balked at if I remember correctly) and a sock down his pants.
David Lee Roth famously said that “the reason rock critics like Elvis Costello is because most of them LOOK like Elvis Costello.” Put your Robert Plant / Alison Krauss critically acclaimed crap to the side and listen to Freddie sing ‘The Show Must Go On’ hauntingly while he was dying of AIDS.
Neil Young said it best “It’s better to burn out, than to fade away.”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VgCKs9qxO1Q
You be the judge! I say Freddie is better. ‘Nuff said.
MikeBrooklyn: excellent comment. The intra-marriage custom of this Ancient Persian community of Zoroastrians has resulted in recessive genetic material being manifest. Freddie’s mother and his father had the anomaly of extra teeth, as well. In such a tiny gene pool, we discover Gifts genius and mental illness, as well as physical deformity and sterility. The total world population of Parsis (Persian Zoroastrians who fled to India when their country was over run hundreds of years ago) is thought to be 60,000 to 120,000. It is the Zoroastrian custom of marrying withing the community that drives the population toward extinction. It is also that custom which gives us the Genius of Mercury and his Pure Persian anatomy. If you want to see something truly remarkable, Google image Persian warrior (http://pagesperso-orange.fr/miltiade/solda…) and you’ll see a pic of art over three thousand years old which looks just like Freddie. Amazing.
Here is another link to a Google image of an Ancient Persian relief. In addition to similarities of facial structure, please note the hands; it is as though you are looking at Freddie’s hands, long, tapered fingers. Pure genetic material is powerful.
http://www.livius.org/a/iran/persepolis/ap…
Yeah, what he said. ^
Queen and Led Zeppelin are two of my all-time favorite bands, but Queen will always be number one in my book. Same goes when comparing Freddie Mercury with Robert Plant. It’s been said a million times but no one could sing like Freddie could. No one comes close to him today. And it was more than the voice, it was the songwriting and the performing ability. All you have to do is watch Freddie performing at Live Aid, when they absolutely blew everyone off the stage. Go watch the clip on YouTube of Queen performing We Are the Champions or Radio Ga Ga right now. That will end this discussion real quick. Led Zep wouldn’t even allow their Live Aid performance to be released. Zep are legends but Queen were otherworldly.
Thoughtful & well stated, May. I’ve never participated in one of these forums before & I am wondering why Gallucci isnt involved in this discussion. He was so bold with his declarations in the initial piece; then, where did he go. OK, back to May…..”otherworldly” ……I congratulate you for using that term. When you read comments on youtube, often seen are: otherworldly, a god, not human, an angel, prophet, to name a few. Its interesting, isnt it, that so many cannot even put him into a pigeon hole with other composers/artists; I would like to hear Gallucci’s comments on this, plz.
Freddy was a rock God, but I would have to agree if you are comparing Freddys vocals on BoRhap with Robert Plant in general. On the recorded version of BoRhap Freddy is still young and not all that experienced with his voice. But compare the vocals on Live Killers and there is huge improvement. Even better, Freddys voice on I Want It All is his peek if you ask me, and he’s 38 years old when that was recorded! Robert Plants feminine manorisms do not translate to dynamic vocal range, but Freddys masculine operetic larinx surely makes up for his high notes and high heals.
Zeppelin never got any further than ripping off the blues. And as for Plant’s collaboration with Allison Krause, well I’m sure the huge PBS audience “gets it”. Freddie sang his soul out while recording “Innuendo” and it is one of their finest albums. Plant? He sampled his old riffs and came up with a minor hit on “Tall Cool One” – which was ONLY a hit due to his Zep samples.
And please…Michael Stanley?? Give me a break. Only in Cleveland would a bar band singer get any attention. Maybe for your next article you could write a retrospective on the impact of John Cafferty and The Beaver Brown Band.
ggg
Sorry for the comment above (ggg), was testing it out.
But anyways, your argument is hilarious. And the mentioning of Lady Gaga was pathetic.
Even though Plant is also a good singer, Freddie is just on another level. His voice is untouchable and nobody before him or after him can beat it. He’s not only the best rock singer, he’s the best singer of all time. His vocals were versatile and he (and the rest of Queen) played around with different genres of music and did it wonderfully.
You probably don’t know this, but Freddie also sang some opera with Montserrat Caballe. Can’t imagine Plant or any other rock singer pulling that off.
Freddie was definitely one in a million. We’ll probably never see anyone like him again.
Wow, are you guys paying this moronic kid to write this ignorant garbage? How ridiculous that this “article” even gets published – even on the internet.
Hey Mikey Galluci – go listen to Raising Sand and let us know when Plant is actually able to sing outside of a three note range!
Robert Plant better than Freddie Mercury??? I would love the opportunity to debate this issue with Mr. Gallucci but in the meantime I will inquire if he’s seen the May issue of Classic rock magazine. Freddie Mercury was once again voted the greatest rock singer by readers, critics and musicians. Did Mr. Glliucci see Robert Plant destroy “Innuendo” at the Freddie Mercury tribute concert? I doubt it as along with many of Plant’s bad performances, he wouldn’t ok its commercial release. Is he aware of all the writing credits in recent years that have now been added to the “great” Zeppelin catalog? There was more creativity and innovation in one Queen song than the entire Led Zeppelin catalog – and I like Zeppelin. Zeppelin plagiarized many old blues songs. Get real Mr. Gallccui, Robert Plant is a joke compared to Freddie Mercury. Plant released a mundane MOR album with Allison Krauss that gets a fair amount of press – more than deserved. Freddie Mercury did an album, with Montserrat Caballe (one of the greatest singers who ever lived!) that appeared in the top 10 USA classical billboard chart when released. Artistically, there is no comparison! Mr. Gallucci, I suggest you expand your horizons and step out of your egocentric world.
ummm.. you’re an idiot.
Freddie Mercury had the most amazing voice that rock music has ever seen. I happen to love Led Zeppelin, but RP just does not compare to Freddie, on any level.
His vocal ability is unmatched thus far, and probably aalways will be. You obviously are just a hater, and haven’t done any actual research on Queen , or else you’d know that he is revered as one of the greatest vocalists/showman in music history.Take your head out of your ***, you’ll be able to hear better that way.
Freddie admired Robert Plant, so comparing the two isn’t really fair. However… to say Freddie doesn’t deserve the top spot is ludicrous. Look at this performance from 1982. Unbelievable.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aduNahDPjBA
Wow, I get used to seeing articles regarding Freddie & Queen that I disagree with everyday. Top 10 lists are all down to opinion, and in these days of music I’m just happy to see Freddie in a top 5.
But it’s not often I see an article I disagree with as much as this.
Everyone has taken the words right out of my mouth. I like Led Zeppelin (in fact, I’m a fan of John Bonham and John Paul Jones, can take or leave Page and Plant, overhyped).
All I will say is, a very close-to-death Freddie, suffering from unspeakable pain, sang Innuendo with more feeling, power and emotion than Robert Plant did at the Freddie tribute.
‘Nuff said.
And, whoever said Paul Rodgers shouldnt be up there is an idiot, playing with Queen or no Queen, he’s got a top voice. And you can seriously say you cant name ten singers better than Paul McCartney?! He’d never make any top 10 I’d be in charge of…
I’m still waiting for Mike Gallucci to respond to our comments. I would like to know how he is feeling having read all of the thoughtful writings. Hellooooooo Mike. Are you out there? As for me, I have read all of them and It gives me so much joy to know that part of the world knows how to appreciate the Gifts of a genius like Freddie. I dont think we thought too much about it during the time he was with us; it takes time for Gifts of this magnitude to sink in & be recognized. As for me, I am older now and have time to truly consider his life and his music. At the time he was performing, I was just another fan, clapping and singing to the songs. Now, I realize there was much more going on than a pep song at a basketball game. My niece plays ball for a tiny little school in a dusty town population 434; they have a 6 piece band that plays We Are The Champions….in 2009. I find that to be intimate evidence of the longevity & value of the Music Queen has given us. I know this has nothing to do with his “voice” but his “voice” is just a small part of the total package. The Music is eternal.
Sorry to all the Zep fans out there but I have to agree with the folks from Cleveland. Mercury’s voice is far superior. Ask yourself this. If the roles were reversed, could FM pull off the Robert Plant vocals at a tribute concert? Without a doubt! Robert Plant said it himself when he said nobody sings as well as Mercury.
Sorry Mike, I have to agree with the folks from Cleveland. Mercury’s voice is far superior. Ask yourself this. If the roles were reversed, could FM pull off the Robert Plant vocals at a Led Zep tribute concert? Without a doubt!
Freddie was invariably NOT a broadway ham. He was at best, an opera buff, or perhaps opera snob (not to confuse words, but I’m not meaning opera buffa for those who know classical music).
Freddie was a more talented singer than Robert Plant, and Robert Plant would admit that himself. He faked his way through a lot of songs, and I’m speaking in terms of using headvoice and falsetto for his high notes. Freddie could reach most high notes with his chest voice, and not fake it.
Freddie was also incredibly versatile. Try listening to El Ensueno with Monsterratt Cabelle and tell me if you can even tell he’s a rock singer in that song. He sounds closer to Andre Bocacelli then any thing else. Fred sang in several languages as well.
Bohemian Rhapsody came from a rock singer in a rock band, but make no mistake about it, that is a piece of proper art.
Since we are talking about Greatest Voices in Rock, not whose band we like best, thank you Spence for putting it into perspective voice to voice. On the other hand, Michael Galluci’s comments were so far off base that all comments make more sense than his. So thank you all for your sanity here.
you ask “how did their late singer place above Robert Plant (No. 2), the greatest rock singer of all time?
The answer is sm=imple…becuase Mr. Mercury was a much better singer. Plant has (had) dynamincs (on loan from Janis Joplin for one) and was no slouch in the banshee wail department. Yeah, I like the guy, but come one…Freddie was truly a great vocalist with much more depth and variety. The real question is, where the hell is Robin Zander on that list???? Or John Lennon???? Steve Mariott????? Then again…who really gives a shit about a stupid radio listeners poll. Go back to sleep.
I honestly could have written a 1,000 word response to this article, debunking your weak opinion (concering Mercury Vs Plant); but I think EVERYONE in the comments already did it. This article can be compared to a debate of: Michael Jordan Vs Luke Walton.
Smh @ you Michael Gallucci
I have to disagree with you on a lot of things here. To begin with, I feel that Freddie Mercury was indeed a much better vocalist than Robert Plant. This is true for several reasons. Perhaps most importantly, Freddie Mercury had much better tone as a singer than Robert Plant. Both singers can hit the high notes. When Mercury does it, however, the result is quite pleasant to the ear. On the other hand Plant’s tone is quite screechy, something that is never good.
Mercury was also superior to Plant when it comes to vocal versatility. While Plant pretty much sounds the same on every record with that high, screechy tone, Mercury sounds different from track to track (and often on the same track!) For instance, a lot of people mistakenly believe that “Crazy Little Thing Called Love” is an Elvis song. When “Another One Bites the Dust” first came out, it was quite popular on black radio, and many listers mistakely thought that Queen was a black group. I can’t imagine anyone mistaking the pasty white Robert Plant for a black singer.
Perhaps the most important reason for why Mercury is a better vocalist than Plant involves his level of expression. Although he displayed almost superhuman technical abilities (including a four octave range), Mercury always delivered his songs in a way that was very genuine, real and human. In contrast, Robert Plant often reminds me of an android or some kind of robot.
You say a couple of things that me think that you do not know much about Queen. For instance, you claim that “Radio Ga Ga” was their last hit. While that may in fact be the case in the United States, Queen were one of the highest selling international acts of the 1980s. They just didn’t do so well in the US.
You suggest that Mercury has a major advantage over Plant due to the fact that he died at a relatively early age. On the other hand, Plant has an advantage over Mercury in the sense that he was a heterosexual male, whereas Mercury was gay. I would argue that being gay is, in particular, is a major hurdle for a hard rock/heavy metal artist. That Mercury manages to come out on top in a genre that is dominated by heterosexual males is further testament to his greatness as a singer.
I have to disagree with you on a lot of things here. To begin with, I feel that Freddie Mercury was indeed a much better vocalist than Robert Plant. This is true for several reasons. Perhaps most importantly, Freddie Mercury had much better tone as a singer than Robert Plant. Both singers can hit the high notes. When Mercury does it, however, the result is quite pleasant to the ear. On the other hand Plant’s tone is quite screechy, something that is never good.
Mercury was also superior to Plant when it comes to vocal versatility. While Plant pretty much sounds the same on every record with that high, screechy tone, Mercury sounds different from track to track (and often on the same track!) For instance, a lot of people mistakenly believe that “Crazy Little Thing Called Love” is an Elvis song. When “Another One Bites the Dust” first came out, it was quite popular on black radio, and many listers mistakely thought that Queen was a black group. I can’t imagine anyone mistaking the pasty white Robert Plant for a black singer.
Perhaps the most important reason for why Mercury is a better vocalist than Plant involves his level of expression. Although he displayed almost superhuman technical abilities (including a four octave range), Mercury always delivered his songs in a way that was very genuine, real and human. In contrast, Robert Plant often reminds me of an android or some kind of robot.
You say a couple of things that me think that you do not know much about Queen. For instance, you claim that “Radio Ga Ga” was their last hit. While that may in fact be the case in the United States, Queen were one of the highest selling international acts of the 1980s. They just didn’t do so well in the US.
You suggest that Mercury has a major advantage over Plant due to the fact that he died at a relatively early age. On the other hand, Plant has an advantage over Mercury in the sense that he was a heterosexual male, whereas Mercury was gay. I would argue that being gay is, in particular, is a major hurdle for a hard rock/heavy metal artist. That Mercury manages to come out on top in a genre that is dominated by heterosexual males is further testament to his greatness as a singer.
Freddie was by far a greater singer, performer and artist than plant could ever be. Freddie could wake up and “hauk a loogie” better than anything plant could ever come up with in his whole life.
The people have spoken. R.I.P. Freddie. You’re still the best and always will be.
I’m into soulful singers so I would place Plant over Mercury, although I’m aware that Freddie was much better from a technical point of view. For me it comes down to musical preferences really a combination of soulful singer with R&B/heavy blues/soul/hard rock music will always win in my book over pompous operatic style of Freddie Mercury.
Having said that on my list there is another guy who I would place higher than Robert Plant. No doubt he’s my favourite singer, the Gov’nor of blue-eyed soul, a FANTASTIC and truly one-off little Steve Marriott. Even Plant wanted to be like Steve in the late 60’s – early 70’s – here is the proof http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vrvWFn-Eb7o .
Marriott was a guy all those rock giants were looking upon, yes Stewart and Rodgers too. If someone is not familiar with Steve’s music, please check his two bands:
Small Faces
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wcKZoFRpZCI…
and Humble Pie
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LqsMKvkzdwc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6A3Zyjlv4xg
Not many people know that Marriott was a first Page’s choice when he tried to form a band in 1966 with Moon, Entwistle, Beck and Hopkins. Steve didn’t agree. Marriott was Page’s benchmark when selecting a lead singer, it’s obvious when we look at his choices Terry Reid and further Robert Plant. Jimmy couldn’t have Marriott so he tried to find similarly sounding voice.
I think all the people arguing for freddie are leaving out some important facts. Not that I disagree, but for one, they sang different styles. Freddie sang in an operatic style, so people who are students of the voice generally would say that he’s better. Everyone who says robert plant just screemed are missing a lot of his work. Yes, he was known for that, but he was able to do really tender vocals on songs like Going to California, Tangerine, or Babe please come on home (little known song from led zeppelin’s album Coda). I would say though that Freddie was better on tender songs (examples, love of my life, bohemian rhapsody). But plant was better at the belters.
Another fact a lot of people are missing has to do with live performances. They say freddie’s better, because all led zeppelin’s videos are from later in their career. For those who don’t know, Robert plant lost a lot of the range from his voice in 73 due to excessive touring, and vocal surgery. Listen to bootlegs of him before then and the live performances are incredible.
I get where you’re coming from i guess. Robert Plants style is absolutely crazy good and unique but in terms of who’s actually more talented Freddie Mercury did have a way better vocal technique, control, range etc. I think the reason people hate on Queen is because they were never elitist or high and mighty like most bands people consider “good” or classic. They played for ordinary people, whether they were critics, music lovers/musicians or just ordinary people out for a good time. Like they always changed and didn’t really take themselves too seriously and just loved their fans and saw themselves as being on the same level as their fans and some people don’t like that.
AHHAHAHAH Plant superior to Mercury… ahhahaha…. what did you smoke? _D