Great Songwriters, but Bad Singers

[Chantry]

Tom Waits, Bob Dylan and Willie Nelson

 

Who are some of yours?

[Tooky Slim]

John Hiatt, but his voice is perfect for his music...It's kinda like another instrument.

   I also think Tom Waits voice is perfect with his music

[Blackwater 53393]

Neil Young, probably one of the whinyest tone deaf people ever recorded!

 

Hank Williams Jr.! Flat, sharp, and never in tune!  If it hadn’t been for his daddy, he would’ve never gotten a contract.

 

Toby Keith.  Worse than HWJr.!

 

Madonna. Over sensationalized garbage that just can’t sing!

 

Niki Manaj. Along with almost every rap artist living or dead including J Lo, Beyonce, (I say “almost” because I haven’t listened to a lot of rap and surely there MUST be one of ‘em that can carry a tune) and all of the male rappers too!

 

It should be noted that rap ain’t music!! It might be performance art or poetry put on with some semblance of instrumentation in the background. IT AIN’T MUSIC!!

[Canton Chris]

Paul Williams

[Red Gauntlet , SASS 60619]

I'd add Warren Zevon to the list, except I like the singing of Waits, Dylan, and Nelson. And Zevon.

[Forty Rod SASS 3935]

I don't know but a few of thesefolks.  

 

Willies Nelson isn't a great singer, but he writes great music and puts on a fantastic show.

 

Johnny Cash was a moderately good singer and a marvelous showman.

[Smokin Gator SASS #29736]

With singer/songwriters like them I want to hear them sing their own songs. There are some terrific covers by other singers too. 

[Whitey James]

To be a truly great singer AND songwriter is a rare gift. If I had to pick one person who is an amazing songwriter but not the best singer it would be Gordon Lightfoot.

[Forty Rod SASS 3935]

2 minutes ago, Whitey James said:

To be a truly great singer AND songwriter is a rare gift. If I had to pick one person who is an amazing songwriter but not the best singer it would be Gordon Lightfoot.

Now, there's name from the middle of the last century.

[Rip Snorter]

Dave Van Ronk, Bob Dillon, Kris Kristofferson - many, but I enjoy their renditions.

[Smokin Gator SASS #29736]

I saw that John Hiatt was playing near me a couple of weeks ago. I had several of his albums and really enjoyed them. This was at the last minute at a local small theater. Tickets were in the $200+ range.

[Blackwater 53393]

A lot of people will say that John Prine couldn’t sing, but the voice and style fit the music!

 

That same thing goes for Dylan, Nelson, definitely Zevon, and Leon Russell.

[watab kid]

most i would say could pull it off given the right studio environment - im thinking of Kris Kristofferson , and i think willie held his own quite well 

[Rye Miles #13621]

Lennon and McCartney. They both wrote some great stuff but I wouldn't call either of them good singers. Paul is better than John but only slightly.

[Tell Sackett SASS 18436]

Townes VanZandt!!

Ever heard HIM sing “Pancho & Lefty”??😵‍💫