Originally Posted by kane

If we are just talking about voice range and pure, natural vocal talent then of course you have to put Mercury up near the top of the list. He was also a great showman and a great all around front man. But to me an effective singer doesn't need to have a great range. They do need to have range enough to cover the songs they are singing and then need to be able to evoke emotion from the words and captivate an audience. If that is the standard we set I think there are a few people that would rank above Mercury.

Here is my top 5

1. Bono - flat out the greatest front man in the history of rock. He can bring the house down with a crashing song full of noise and effects and sound then the next song can be deep, personal and quiet and he can make a 50,000 seat arena seem like 50 seat club. Bono has charisma in spades which makes him accesible to the crowd.

2. Jagger - in his prime there were few better. The songs are amazing and his voice was solid back then. He is the showman's showman.

3. Eddie Vedder. Maybe the best vocalist in rock. Note I did not say singer. There is a big difference. He doesn't have a huge range, but he has a power and honesty to his singing that few have ever matched.

4. Bruce Springsteen - Again, like Vedder, not a great singer, but a powerful vocalist. When Bruce lays his head back and sings Thunder Road from the back of his throat there is no finer moment in rock.

5. Mercury - for all the reasons I stated above he is amazing. The problem with queen, and I will catch shit for this, is that some of their albums are not that great. They have some amazing songs - some legendary songs. But they also had some real crap.