10 singers in successful bands who really aren’t all that good
Max Steven Miller
They’ve sold millions of albums worldwide. You can’t see a movie, watch a television show, or turn on the radio without hearing their music. Don’t get me wrong, most of the following bands are pretty damn good, but something just isn’t right. You know it and I know it. We all love most of the bands on this list. Their income proves that. But it’s about time that we all admit that their lead singers aren’t actually any good. Sometimes it just doesn’t matter how bad a lead singer is. As long as you surround them with some serious talent, they’ll still succeed.
1 Anthony Kiedis of The Red Hot Chili Peppers
Anthony Kiedis began his career with RHCP rapping most of the lyrics. Then, at some point, he decided it was time to try actually singing a song. “Under the Bridge” is a great song, but since then, all he does is sing. The problem with this is, he’s not actually a good singer…The rest of the band is just that good. The thing about the Red Hot Chili Peppers is that they have SO much talent surrounding the lead singer that you could replace Anthony Kiedis with the Pants on the Ground Guy and they would still be a success. Excellent, excellent mustache though!
2 Sting of The Police
Has there ever been another lead singer who has sounded more like he was straining on the toilet during the recording of each album than Sting?! The only reason he gets a pass is because he’s probably the first guy to play the lute since Friar Tuck. That’s pretty fuckin’ commendable.
3 Steve Harwell of Smash Mouth
The most forced raspy voice in the business. Listen Harwell, there’s a reason Mo’Nique ended up in comedy instead of in music—Pudgy people with raspy voices are for laughing at. Please stop contaminating all of our movie soundtracks.
4 Adam Duritz of The Counting Crows
Along with Harwell, Adam Duritz is proof that ending up on a Shrek soundtrack isn’t a good thing. Remember what you sounded like back in junior high when you asked that girl out for the first time? Voice cracking? Nerves making you tremble? No? Just listen to Duritz sing any of The Counting Crows songs as a reminder. Little did we all know that we too could have been rock stars if we just had access to a recording studio back then.
5 Mark McGrath of Sugar Ray
If there is any band that you should choose to sing karaoke to, it’s definitely Sugar Ray. Why? Basically because Mark McGrath already sounds like he’s singing karaoke. This way you can take his mediocrity and make it your own. However, he still gets a thumbs up in my book because he has admitted on numerous occasions that he’s not that good and that he’s pretty much just a lucky bastard. Which he is.
6 Billy Corgan of The Smashing Pumpkins
Try this game at your next party: Have everyone close their eyes and play one line of Billy Corgan singing and then play another of Cartman from South Park singing. You’d be surprised how many people can’t tell the difference between the two. As an example of his Cartman-esque voice, check out Stephen Lynch doing his dead on Billy Corgan impression below:
7 Chris Martin of Coldplay
There is such a thing as too much falsetto and Chris Martin has proven that to us. It’s fine if you’re an altar boy singing in the church choir, but a full grown man shouldn’t be able to reach notes that high unless he’s just been kicked in his “altar boys”.
8 Jared Leto of 30 Seconds to Mars
If douchebag were a decibel level, then Jared Leto’s voice would be it. The music is actually pretty good, but rumor has it that you can’t actually hear Leto’s voice on any of the albums unless you turn your collar all the way up first.
9 Scott Stapp of Creed
Or as he should be dubbed, “The King of The Underbite Vocals”. Go ahead, give it a shot: Stick your bottom row of teeth out and try singing “With Arms Wide Open”. You’ll sound just like the guy. For an extra touch of authenticity, feel free to ride a lawnmower while you do the impression.
10 Dolores O’Riordan of The Cranberries
If you’ve ever stepped on your cat’s tail while underwater, then you’d know what kind of sound to expect when you pop in a CD by The Cranberries. If you manage to get through more than a minute of their song, “Zombie”, you’ll find yourself praying for an actual zombie to attack you….starting with your ears. Test it out below:
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