I think you've got one more "don't" in there than you intended. You believe people Do recognize the exceptional quality of the singing - but still don't appreciate or enjoy it.

The reason I put quotes around "don't care for" is that I think those who don't appreciate opera, don't "get" opera. It is the highest form of performing art; it isn't for anyone to dismiss, wholesale. A person who will open their ears and their heart will learn to appreciate opera.

Anyway, my main point is that good and not-so-good singing is an objectively determinable thing - to someone who knows how to listen.

stargazing by the neighborhood

I’m thinking vocal wise Steve Perry or maybe Luciano Pavarotti because I’m not thinking you could think of anybody with a more powerful voice

American songbook

Crooner?

Electricity, Ibibio Sound Machine

I don't understand how Billie Eilish became popular.

Care to share what you do like? I’m curious.

Funny enough, he has a PhD in Astro physics too

Nat King Cole, Billie Holiday, Etta James, Ruth Brown, Pavarotti, Frank Sinatra, both Crosby brothers, Patsy Cline, Christmas Aguilera, Kelly Clarkson…

… just to name a few who are better.

That definitely is a bold statement, especially when you're mentioning Aretha Franklin in the same comment . . .

But I applaud you for selecting someone who isn't just some " High tier singer " on some non-existent Technique-based scoreboard where people think technique and range is all that matters in singing.

The same bland people list Whitney Houston - Mariah - Celine Dion and Freddie Mercury on repeat. Like, undeniably strong techniques but fuck are you all drinking the same Koolaid where you think only one type of voice sounds good?

So it's cool that you actually picked someone you felt deserved some appreciation.

Fair enough, I guess I’m looking for reasons beyond lowest and highest note achievable for why he always shows up in conversations like this. I never really liked Faith No More, I’m not going to go scouring through their albums to find what I’m missing, so I typically ask for suggestions in cases like this from fans. In the case, maybe I asked the wrong question.

>how much knowledge of music theory do you have?

None.

Keep in mind I never said any of this music is bad, just that I find it either ho-hum (Bowie/Cohen), good but not great (Fleetwood Mac), or good but not to the point that I want it in my music library (Pink Floyd/Led Zeppelin). I've just never been much of a fan of the mainstream greats. You might disagree with me on this one, but I believe that in order to have mainstream appeal there needs to be a certain middle-of-the-roadness to your music. It has to appeal to a wide audience. I think Rumours exemplifies this perfectly. Yeah, it's a solid album, but in a mainstream, radio-friendly, not too edgy or different kind of way. That's just not the kind of music I crave.

Typhoon did Springsteen’s Nebraska

Queen consorts aren't the same since Freddie died

Sir Brian, Dr May rolls better.

I know it’s easy to make fun of Wham, but I’d rather listen to Last Christmas than most non-classic Christmas songs. Everyone I know personally likes it. Also, his vocal performance on that song is pretty great, so I’m not sure you are making the point you think you are making.

I don't think most people who "don't care for opera" also recognize that the singers are exceptional. The quality of singing ability is not the reason they don't like it.

Bono gave his sunglasses to the pope. That’s pretty entitled. Also there was an interview in the Rolling Stone that cast Bono as an oblivious, petulant child that bitched about piracy as his limo drove through war-torn Ireland.

Oh and he got the time wrong on “Pride” “Early morning, April 4…” and I think it was “Vertigo” where Bono counted incorrectly: Uno, Dos, tres...catorce

Solid choice 👍

Mike just doesn’t do those types of songs. Probably the closest you’ll find is the Faith No More cover of Easy.

Radiohead - Airbag from OK Computer. One of the most underrated from the album.

U2 was my 1st concert as well, Joshua Tree tour in 1987, what an awesome show that was

Here’s another great, more recent vocalist. Merrill Garbus is a powerhouse, and has got loads of style. I like to highlight her vocal skills every chance I get, since she never seems to enter the conversation of best modern vocalists.

https://youtu.be/FpmJSnmyFqk

Maybe Otis Redding