250 Greatest Rock Vocal Performances (Under Revision)

Negative Creep · **Joined:** Tue Oct 12, 2010 6:21 pm **Posts:** 13572

Did you not read my post?

Deany · **Posted:** Mon Oct 29, 2012 1:17 pm

I don't know how anyone can question "Bohemian Rhapsody" as the greatest vocal performance of all time. It kills in everything, and it's just a vocal tour de force.

Negative Creep · **Joined:** Tue Oct 12, 2010 6:21 pm **Posts:** 13572

Exactly. There has never been another vocal performance like it in rock, before or since.

Stryder · **Joined:** Sun Sep 23, 2012 9:43 pm **Posts:** 2325

1. Bohemian Rhapsody - Freddie Mercury/Brian May/Roger Taylor (Queen)
2. Child in Time - Ian Gillan (Deep Purple)
3. Love, Reign o'er Me - Roger Daltrey (The Who)
4. Grace - Jeff Buckley
5. Babe I'm Gonna Leave You - Robert Plant (Led Zeppelin)
6. Victim of Changes - Rob Halford (Judas Priest)
7. Say Hello 2 Heaven - Chris Cornell

Cruz · **Posted:** Mon Oct 29, 2012 10:48 pm

Bohemian Rhapsody is, more than any other rock song, an achievement in vocals. From the endless harmonies to the complexity of the composition to the contrast of different vocal styles. The song is nearly 40 decades old and the creativity and innovation of the vocals in this song still haven't been matched.

There are tons of amazing vocal performances, Child in Time being one of them. But Bohemian Rhapsody is the only song on this list whose vocals are historic.

Negative Creep · **Joined:** Tue Oct 12, 2010 6:21 pm **Posts:** 13572

Well put, my friend.

I'd also say that "A Change Is Gonna Come" should be top 10, without hesitation.

Stryder · **Joined:** Sun Sep 23, 2012 9:43 pm **Posts:** 2325

Rock N Herbs wrote:

Plants Strider wrote:

Herbs, are you fucking kidding?

By the way, what's the logics behind Child in Time < BR?

Control: Bohemian Rhapsody (Solid edge.)
Power: Child in Time (Slight edge.)
Range: Child in Time (Without question.)
Versatility: Bohemian Rhapsody (Without question.)
Composition: Bohemian Rhapsody (Solid edge.)
Emotion: Bohemian Rhapsody (Solid edge.)
Difficulty to Reproduce: Tie (Both were iconic vocal performances that were tough to follow, not sure which to pick here.)
Uniqueness: Bohemian Rhapsody (Slight edge.)
Total Ability: Tie (Both of their best performances.)

Bohemian Rhapsody 7-4 Child in Time.

Clear win.

This is probably the most shitty breakdown I've ever seen.

Child in Time is much harder to reproduce live.

I'd say that the only performances that outscore Bohemian are Child in Time and Love, Reign O'er Me.

Negative Creep · **Joined:** Tue Oct 12, 2010 6:21 pm **Posts:** 13572

Plants Strider wrote:

Rock N Herbs wrote:

Plants Strider wrote:

Herbs, are you fucking kidding?

By the way, what's the logics behind Child in Time < BR?

Control: Bohemian Rhapsody (Solid edge.)
Power: Child in Time (Slight edge.)
Range: Child in Time (Without question.)
Versatility: Bohemian Rhapsody (Without question.)
Composition: Bohemian Rhapsody (Solid edge.)
Emotion: Bohemian Rhapsody (Solid edge.)
Difficulty to Reproduce: Tie (Both were iconic vocal performances that were tough to follow, not sure which to pick here.)
Uniqueness: Bohemian Rhapsody (Slight edge.)
Total Ability: Tie (Both of their best performances.)

Bohemian Rhapsody 7-4 Child in Time.

Clear win.

This is probably the most shitty breakdown I've ever seen.

Child in Time is much harder to reproduce live.

I'd say that the only performances that outscore Bohemian are Child in Time and Love, Reign O'er Me.

Bo Rhap will NEVER drop from #1, do you know how many times this has been discussed in the past?
Also, it's pointless anyway because nobody cares about the vocalists forum anymore (which sucks).

But just for the hell of it, I'd actually say emotion is a tie.
Child In Time is one of the most powerful songs about war ever written, and Gillan himself always described it as "a very sad song".

Domino the Rattlehead · **Posted:** Wed Nov 14, 2012 6:19 pm

Bo Rap is WAY harder to reproduce. You'd need a full blown choir production or opera ensemble to recreate the middle section in a live setting.

Domino the Rattlehead · **Posted:** Wed Nov 14, 2012 6:48 pm

I can self-harmonize.. bass, baritone, tenor and do counter tenor all at once...what, you're saying you can't? :lol:

Domino the Rattlehead · **Posted:** Wed Nov 14, 2012 6:54 pm

Rock N Herbs wrote:

I would love to see him elaborate on that. :lol:

in all seriousness, I can sing Child in Time pretty well(took me 6 yrs now but I can do it, and the only really tough part is the scream section) Bo Rap....I still struggle with...the control alone. The inflections and dynamics are just really tough. On top of that you have a piece that is also a compositional feat and requires not only the ability to hit falsetto screams but in a much more musically advanced, less primal way. I think it wins easily.

Domino the Rattlehead · **Posted:** Wed Nov 14, 2012 7:16 pm

Rock N Herbs wrote:

Would anybody be in favor of re-doing this list? Just for the hell of it?

It'd be chore, but I'd be willing to help.

Negative Creep · **Joined:** Tue Oct 12, 2010 6:21 pm **Posts:** 13572

If influence is a part of this, I dont see Grace being quite at #2.

Negative Creep · **Joined:** Tue Oct 12, 2010 6:21 pm **Posts:** 13572

Rock N Herbs wrote:

I've already got a 13 currently being worked on:

1. Bohemian Rhapsody - Freddie Mercury/Roger Taylor/Brian May
2. Grace - Jeff Buckley
3. Love Reign O'er Me - Roger Daltrey
4. Child in Time - Ian Gillan
5. Danny Boy - Jackie Wilson
6. Guide Me Home, How Can I Go On - Freddie Mercury
7. Babe I'm Gonna Leave You - Robert Plant
8. Dreamer Deceiver - Rob Halford
9. Since I've Been Loving You - Robert Plant
10. Victim of Changes - Rob Halford
11. Mother, Father - Steve Perry
12. Reach Down - Chris Cornell
13. Nights in White Satin - Glenn Hughes

Well if we're not using influence, then it's basically "best vocal performances", which is much more subjective.

Sherick · **Joined:** Mon Oct 11, 2010 7:22 pm **Posts:** 10453

If it's pure talent then there's no way it is ever going to be accurate. Besides, those are totally not the songs to have on there if that is the case.

250 Greatest Rock Vocal Performances (Under Revision)

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