mtd music: Top 100 Favorite Singers 50-41

I've decided to compile a list of my favorite singers of all time. I'm grabbing them from any genre. It's important to note, these aren't necessarily the best singers of all time. That list, to me, would be too easy. As everyone would simply put the standard Elvis Presley/Aretha Franklin/Frank Sinatra singers etc. In fact, none of those singers made the cut. They have to singers who have personally evoked a bit of emotion and shared a bit of their soul with me. Sure, I like Elvis. Just like I like vanilla ice cream. But I much rather have a scoop of some crazy peanut butter moose track minty marshmellowy surprise concoction. The following is a countdown from 50 to 41.

The first time I heard Bryan Ferry was the song that plays during the ending credits of the movie, Legend. What an incredible song and airy, almost dreamy sound Ferry produces when he sings. You almost feel like your floating. Or maybe you've made a wrong turn somewhere an you happened upon heaven, because you can hear angels singing. If you don't think so, check out this Roxy Music, the band Bryan Ferry fronted, classic. "More Than This".

Stephin Merritt is the man behind Magnetic Fields. I've loved his voice since the very first time I heard it, which was on a mixed CD my friend made involving the theme of craziness. The song was "Absolutely Cuckoo". I've included "Grand Canyon" here because it seems to be the best littlest simplest example of Stephin Merritt and the Magnetic Fields, including Merritt's witty lyrics. Other great Magnetic Fields songs would be "Long-Forgotten Fairytale", "Absolutely Cuckoo", "Nothing Matters When We're Dancing", "Epitaph For My Heart" and tons of other songs all in the box set 69 Love Songs.

Lee Mavers is the lead singer (and basically only member) of the La's. As I mentioned in a prior hub, the La's were only around for one album, the self-titled 1990 album, due in large part to the genius of Lee Mavers, which basically makes the La's sound but also keeps them firmly in limbo. Regardless, this is an incredible album. It features their international hit song, "There She Goes", but virtually every song is nearly perfect and highly infectious. I've included a strip down live version of my favorite La's song, where you can hear the rawness and strangely magical voice of Lee Mavers.

KD Lang has an incredible voice! Period! Or Exclamation mark! I was blown away a long time ago by KD Lang's voice. Way back when she arrived on the Country scene with her crazy cowgirl get-ups and verily freaking everybody out with her manic antics. In the early 90's she left all that silly stuff behind, and came out of the closet and released her masterpiece album, Ingenue, featuring her signature song "Constant Craving." The album is a definite must-have. With that said, I've decided to give an example of her more flamboyant time period, with one of my favorite songs of hers, "I Got A Big Big Love". Man! I can't find it! Okay, here's "Constant Craving" at the 1993 Grammy's.

I've always been moved by Neil Young's enchanting voice. It's digs deep like an ice cold wind sending chills through your body. No. I'm not gay. Anyway, Neil Young doesn't appear the way he sounds. He looks like he might sound like thunderous baritone ready to bowl you over, but instead is like high pitched tenor. The song I chose to include here is his theme song for the film Philadelphia, performed live at the 1994 Oscars. I consider this song to be a masterpiece. Especially since it drove me to tears the first hundred times I heard it. And the feeling is only enhanced when coupled with the film.

I've always been a sucker for old country music. I used to find myself entranced by the old infomercials of old country music compilations. But the first time I heard George Jones was even before that, in the 80's when I heard "The Old Man No One Loved". I was an instant fan. I've always been moved by the soulful emotion and pain Jones is so effortlessly able to summon. Here's one of Jones' classics, "He Stopped Loving Her Today".

The first time I ever heard Joe Cocker would have to be sometime during the early 80's when I heard his song "You Are So Beautiful" then the obviously more poppy, "Up Where We Belong". but it wasn't until I started watching The Wonder Years , when I heard his rendition of the Beatles classic, "With A Little Help From My Friends," the theme song for The Wonder Years . Since then, I've enjoyed another Beatles cover, "She Came In Through The Bathroom Window." I've decided to use Cocker's legendary performance of "With A Little Help From My Friends," from Woodstock. (BTW, check out the interpretations of Cocker's lyrics on the video - ABSOLUTELY HILARIOUS!)

The first time I heard Elvis Costello was during the late 80's when he scored a hit with "Veronica". This was a great song, sure, but once I dove into his earlier work, that's when I really discovered the genius. I started with the first albums, My Aim Is True and Armed Forces. Then a greatest hits collection spanning the first decade or so of his music. So many great songs! And what a driving voice! I decided to use the little known hit, "Man Out Of Time" from a live performance on Letterman in 1982.

The quintessential punk voice of the Clash's Joe Strummer, far exceeds expectation, and makes you wanna get up and do something, which is precisely the point. The first time I heard Strummer was when I heard "Rock The Casbah". Eventually acquired all their albums. It's important to note, while Strummer sang lead on hits like "I Fought The Law" and "London Calling", Mick Jones had his fair share of hits on lead vocals with "Should I Stay Or Should I Go" and "Train In Vain." Here's Strummer at his best, singing "I Fought The Law."

I first heard Elton John when I was kid in the early 80's. In fact, whenever I hear "And I Guess That's Why They Call It The Blues" I'm instantly transported to the 80's. And let me tell you, I'm grateful for anything that takes me back to the 80's. Admittedly, I don't know if I'm the biggest Elton John fan to ever walk the earth, but I might be the biggest fan of his absolute masterpiece song, "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road". This particular clip is from a 1976 show. I prefer to use live clips than albums cuts. They're hit and miss, but often much more intimate.