Who has the silliest vocal in music?

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I mean REALLY silly, like the musical equivalent of Nic Cage's voice in Peggy Sue Got Married.

― @d@ml (nordicskilla), Sunday, 11 January 2004 22:43 (twenty-two years ago)

Napoleon XIV.

― Nom De Plume (Nom De Plume), Sunday, 11 January 2004 22:46 (twenty-two years ago)

Rikki Lee Jones and/or Joni Mitchell.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Sunday, 11 January 2004 22:48 (twenty-two years ago)

Bobby Conn.

― @d@ml (nordicskilla), Sunday, 11 January 2004 22:48 (twenty-two years ago)

There was a guy on Death Row a few years ago who had his vocal chords totally fucked up in an accident and he sounded terrifying (and silly at the same time). Can anyone remember who that was?

― @d@ml (nordicskilla), Sunday, 11 January 2004 22:48 (twenty-two years ago)

the d.o.c?

ja rule's pretty silly

― mullygrubber (gaz), Sunday, 11 January 2004 22:50 (twenty-two years ago)

Yes, the DOC! thanks.

― @d@ml (nordicskilla), Sunday, 11 January 2004 22:52 (twenty-two years ago)

Dose One
Robert Smith
Stuart Staples
Morrissey
Dizzee Rascal

NB. I inequivocally LOVE all of the above, but they have all frequently been known to sound daft.

― CharlieNo4 (Charlie), Sunday, 11 January 2004 22:53 (twenty-two years ago)

I had a friend who must have never heard ragga/dancehall vocals before because I played him a Buju Banton album and he just couldn't believe that people sing like that. I guess he lead a pretty sheltered life.

― @d@ml (nordicskilla), Sunday, 11 January 2004 22:55 (twenty-two years ago)

Richard Butler

he sounds like he's hooked up to a respirator and a naughty nurse put a clothespin on his nose.

― Orbit (Orbit), Sunday, 11 January 2004 22:57 (twenty-two years ago)

Lil Markie

― Michael Dubsky, Sunday, 11 January 2004 23:10 (twenty-two years ago)

that guy from the darkness
geddy lee is silly too but at least he rocks

― fkjsd, Sunday, 11 January 2004 23:19 (twenty-two years ago)

We're talking about people who aren't trying to sound silly, right?

The lead singer from Canned Heat.

And to quote Bongwater, "Boy does he have a big one."

― Ernest P. (ernestp), Sunday, 11 January 2004 23:24 (twenty-two years ago)

if kermit covered goin up the country it'd sound identical

― mullygrubber (gaz), Sunday, 11 January 2004 23:26 (twenty-two years ago)

Stop pretending, Tom Waits ownz.

― omg, Sunday, 11 January 2004 23:32 (twenty-two years ago)

Tom Verlaine or Rob Halford

― the music mole (colin s barrow), Sunday, 11 January 2004 23:36 (twenty-two years ago)

Bryan Maclean wins the 'voice most like a muppet' prize hands down

― Oliver Pyper (stickthrower), Sunday, 11 January 2004 23:54 (twenty-two years ago)

Tom Waits ownz
god, yes.

and that guy from Destroyer (Bejar?)

― Will (will), Sunday, 11 January 2004 23:56 (twenty-two years ago)

Brian Poole of "Renaldo & the Loaf"

Lead singer of Macabre ("Dahmer", "Sinister Slaughter")

Taco teh Wonder Dog

― lone nut, Sunday, 11 January 2004 23:57 (twenty-two years ago)

oh yeah, and obviously:
Captain Beefheart and Dave Thomas from Pere Ubu

― lone nut, Sunday, 11 January 2004 23:58 (twenty-two years ago)

Florence Foster Jenkins
Conor Oberst
ODB
Wing

― Jeremy (Jeremy), Monday, 12 January 2004 00:00 (twenty-two years ago)

geddy lee is silly too but at least he rocks

i second the first part of this statement.

― t\'\'t (t\'\'t), Monday, 12 January 2004 00:17 (twenty-two years ago)

>Rikki Lee Jones and/or Joni Mitchell

i second the first part of this statement.

but the beauty that is Joni has no business being mentioned under this thread title.

― bahtology, Monday, 12 January 2004 00:31 (twenty-two years ago)

Norwegian "rapper" MC Ravi ;)

― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Monday, 12 January 2004 00:32 (twenty-two years ago)

I'm so confused trying to grasp a meaning of the word "silly" as it regards vocal stylings that Tom Waits might "ownz" it.

― nickalicious (nickalicious), Monday, 12 January 2004 00:35 (twenty-two years ago)

Stan Ridgeway is mighty silly

― A Nairn (moretap), Monday, 12 January 2004 00:56 (twenty-two years ago)

yeah nick, Tom Waits is not silly at all.

― A Nairn (moretap), Monday, 12 January 2004 00:57 (twenty-two years ago)

the girl from the cranes.

― keith m (keithmcl), Monday, 12 January 2004 01:21 (twenty-two years ago)

Richard D. James. (Hint: the vocals on "Milkman" were not pitch-shifted.)

― Curt1s St3ph3ns, Monday, 12 January 2004 01:50 (twenty-two years ago)

Also: Brad Roberts of Crash Test Dummies

― Curt1s St3ph3ns, Monday, 12 January 2004 01:53 (twenty-two years ago)

J Mascis

― Kenan Hebert (kenan), Monday, 12 January 2004 02:10 (twenty-two years ago)

I'm listening to Ted Leo right now, and his voice is pretty silly.

― Debito (Debito), Monday, 12 January 2004 02:43 (twenty-two years ago)

Louis Armstrong

― Curt1s St3ph3ns, Monday, 12 January 2004 02:57 (twenty-two years ago)

Ogre
Stan Ridgway
Mark E. Smith
Jon Anderson
Johns Flansburgh and Linnell

― d.w., Monday, 12 January 2004 03:17 (twenty-two years ago)

-Daniel Johnston? (tho I like him)
-the girl from Missing Persons sounds pretty silly.
-David Tibet (tho I like Current 93 as well)

When I think "silly" I guess I'm thinking "would be amusing to mock/imitate". In that regard, lots of people I enjoy could probably be interpreted as having silly voices at least some of the time.

― Blood and sparkles (bloodandsparkles), Monday, 12 January 2004 03:35 (twenty-two years ago)

Bryan Ferry's "early" voice can be amusing. A friend of mine used to sing Joe Dolce's "Shaddap Your Face" in Ferry's wobbly tremolo and it was very funny. You had to be there.

― LondonLee (LondonLee), Monday, 12 January 2004 03:39 (twenty-two years ago)

No one mentioned that guy from System Of A Down.

― Johnny Badlees (crispssssss), Monday, 12 January 2004 03:45 (twenty-two years ago)

Jello Biafra. Also belongs on the list of 'Look hard but sound soft', with Mick Jones.

― Sasha (sgh), Monday, 12 January 2004 03:47 (twenty-two years ago)

Why Mr. Doctor of course.

― James Slone (Freon Trotsky), Monday, 12 January 2004 07:38 (twenty-two years ago)

Mike 'my ass is on fire' Patton.

― nickalicious (nickalicious), Monday, 12 January 2004 07:40 (twenty-two years ago)

Michael McDonald, whose “I Keep Forgetting” is perfect, has a voice ripe for mirthful imitation, as proven by SCTV’s classic imagining of the recording session for Christopher Cross’s “Ride Like the Wind.”

― dylan (dylan), Monday, 12 January 2004 08:21 (twenty-two years ago)

Dose One, Ja Rule, Bobby Conn
OTM!!!

Tom Waits ownz
WTF???

also:
The girl from Alive With Worms.
That midget that Lou Reed used to hang out with.
Apache Indian.
MC Paul Barman.
Kevin Blechdom.

― Jay Kid (Jay K), Monday, 12 January 2004 11:49 (twenty-two years ago)

Mike 'my ass is on fire' Patton.

WTF???????????????????????????????????????????????????!!!!!!!!!!!!!

He's like, one of the most talented singers ever! Show me someone else who can easily span from Ozzy Osbourne to Lionel Richie - and who still has his own, distict style, mind you!

― Jay Kid (Jay K), Monday, 12 January 2004 11:51 (twenty-two years ago)

Canibus, though his rapping doesn't probably resemble his actual manner of speaking. If it does, imagine having small talk with him...

― Tuomas (Tuomas), Monday, 12 January 2004 12:28 (twenty-two years ago)

Stuart Staples is hilarious. Tom Waits is just irritating.

― Dadaismus (Dada), Monday, 12 January 2004 12:49 (twenty-two years ago)

CALVIN JOHNSON. God bless him.

― Francis Watlington (Francis Watlington), Monday, 12 January 2004 12:57 (twenty-two years ago)

Actually, the silliest vocal performances in music history can all be found on one album and in consecutive songs: Lou Reed's "The Bells". These are:

1. "With You" - jabbering Cockney chimpanzee meets Woody Allen on crystal methedrine vocal.

2. "Looking For Love" - Bruce Springsteen after frontal lobotomy and round-the-clock injections of bull semen vocal

3. City Lights - vinyl recording of John Malkovich attempting sprechsang played back at 16rpm vocal

― Dadaismus (Dada), Monday, 12 January 2004 12:59 (twenty-two years ago)

Dieter Meier of Yello! (Though some of his vocals were obviously electronically processed.)

― Tuomas (Tuomas), Monday, 12 January 2004 13:08 (twenty-two years ago)

sizzla

― Dave Stelfox (Dave Stelfox), Monday, 12 January 2004 13:33 (twenty-two years ago)

Paul Barman raps like Megan Mullally.

This is a positive.

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Monday, 12 January 2004 13:35 (twenty-two years ago)

Scott Walker
Bjork (obviously)
Jason Pierce (well, just crap non-voice really)
Shaun Ryder
Gary Numan

― Enrique (Enrique), Monday, 12 January 2004 13:48 (twenty-two years ago)

Scott Walker????

― LondonLee (LondonLee), Monday, 12 January 2004 14:12 (twenty-two years ago)

Seriously Scott Walker. Rep him to the fullest and all, but c'mon, he sounds silly.

― Enrique (Enrique), Monday, 12 January 2004 14:13 (twenty-two years ago)

Not half as silly as Edith Piaf.

― LondonLee (LondonLee), Monday, 12 January 2004 14:14 (twenty-two years ago)

Bob Dylan
Mark Hollis
Bjork
Kate Bush
Tom Verlaine
Neil Young
Randy Newman
Bert Jansch

I like a lot of these people, except for Bjork of course.

― Dadaismus (Dada), Monday, 12 January 2004 15:32 (twenty-two years ago)

silly but glorious - the shouty man from the sugarcubes.

i'm sure he has a name. i don't know what it is.

― hobart paving (hobart paving), Monday, 12 January 2004 15:35 (twenty-two years ago)

Jay Kid, I'm not saying he's not talented, he's like one of my favorite musicians evar! I'm just saying he is quite apt at the silly. Fr'instance, the secret song between "Carry Stress in the Jaw" and "Desert Search for Techno Allah" on Disco Volante. Or the squawking at the end of Bungle's version of "Oops I Did It Again".

― nickalicious (nickalicious), Monday, 12 January 2004 15:41 (twenty-two years ago)

Einar. See also the guy from Aqua.

Stuart Staples seconded!

TINY TIM!

― Tico Tico (Tico Tico), Monday, 12 January 2004 15:42 (twenty-two years ago)

Tiny Tim IS silly but so much more profound and moving than either Stuart Staples or Tom Waits

― Dadaismus (Dada), Monday, 12 January 2004 15:45 (twenty-two years ago)

Yes I absolutely agree. But he still wins for silliness too.

― Tico Tico (Tico Tico), Monday, 12 January 2004 15:46 (twenty-two years ago)

Einar Örn seconded.
The guy (René Dif) from Aqua seconded.

― Jay Kid (Jay K), Monday, 12 January 2004 15:48 (twenty-two years ago)

nickalicious,
yeah, i guess you're right. i would call it weird and idiosyncratic and kind of scary before i would call it downright silly, though.

― Jay Kid (Jay K), Monday, 12 January 2004 15:53 (twenty-two years ago)

The Mad Stuntman

― Enrique (Enrique), Monday, 12 January 2004 15:54 (twenty-two years ago)

Whoever it was that mentioned David Tibet further up the thread is OTM. Lovely band, risible vocal delivery.

― aldo_cowpat (aldo_cowpat), Monday, 12 January 2004 16:26 (twenty-two years ago)

Daniel Danielson of the Danielson Famile (who might just be Tiny Tim incarnate)
Anna Oxygen
All members of Gravy Train!!!!

― MattR, Monday, 12 January 2004 16:29 (twenty-two years ago)

Female, Cyndi Lauper; male, Billy Guy, who used to do all the really clownish stuff on The Coasters old records.

And I mean silly in the good sense - I LIKE these singers.

― Scott Bloomfield, Monday, 12 January 2004 20:58 (twenty-two years ago)

Shaggy. Almost too obvious to mention. But not quite.

― Jason J, Monday, 12 January 2004 21:08 (twenty-two years ago)

the vocalist from Immortal

Mr. Doctor

― manuel (manuel), Tuesday, 13 January 2004 10:34 (twenty-two years ago)

Is there a thread on C4's series THE VOICE? If so please point it out.

― the blissfox, Tuesday, 13 January 2004 15:48 (twenty-two years ago)

Jonsi from Sigur Ros.

― nickalicious (nickalicious), Tuesday, 13 January 2004 15:50 (twenty-two years ago)

Kevin Rowland.

― Philip Alderman (Phil A), Tuesday, 13 January 2004 16:17 (twenty-two years ago)

gene ween, when he's in helium-voice mode. (and i'd also rate him an absolutely fantastic singer.)

― fact checking cuz (fcc), Tuesday, 13 January 2004 16:59 (twenty-two years ago)

the suede guy

― 2425, Tuesday, 13 January 2004 17:38 (twenty-two years ago)

jonsi
sal solo (of classix nouveaux)
stuart staples
midge ure
bryan ferry
neil young

(note that silly does not necessarily = bad)

― Eisbär (llamasfur), Wednesday, 14 January 2004 05:08 (twenty-two years ago)

oh, i can't believe i forgot glenn danzig!

― Eisbär (llamasfur), Wednesday, 14 January 2004 05:09 (twenty-two years ago)

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