My son and I have been doing our share of "binge-watching" during the COVID-19 Stay-at-Home orders, and one of our treasures has been the glorious comedy “Scrubs.”
Among the other wonderful qualities of Scrubs is the superlative list of songs utilized in episode after episode. In our episodic trek, we are now into season six, within which occurred the song, “Be Yourself” by Audioslave. I annoyed my son by making him rewind three times to listen to the magical voice of Chris Cornell. We then continued the pause of Scrubs to retire to YouTube to continue the magic.
This experience made me realize that this is certainly my most favorite voice in history of rock and pop music. So as we wait for sports to return, sounds like a subject for the PantherLair to deliberate.
Who are your favorite voices in rock and roll and pop history?
This isn’t a list that is trying to define the best of all time my any critical objective measure. This is a list of the ones YOU like best. These are the voices that connect with you the most for whatever criteria you wish to use. Maybe they sound the best. Maybe they touch with you the most emotionally. Maybe these voices impress you the most by the notes they can reach? Doesn’t matter. It’s YOUR criteria.
In the spirit of college sports, I’ll offer my own top 25. Feel free to try to name your own top 25, or top 10, or top 5. Or even just your one favorite. No wrong answers here. Maybe only a few embarrassing ones.
So here goes.
1. Chris Cornell. Soundgarden. Audioslave. Solo. The emotions in his deep expressive baritone are undeniable. If you aren’t convinced, listen to him sing his version of Michael J’s Billie Jean and I dare you not to cry. Listen to: “Be Yourself”
The rest of the top 10, (in no particular order)
* Chrissy Hynde – Her beautiful alto has touched me from the moments when she rocked out until she smoothed with her crooning. Listen to: “It’s a Thin Line Between Love and Hate.”
* Bono – Sure, call him a political blowhard. But his power, influence and emotional impact can’t be denied. Listen to: “One”
* Marvin Gaye – Do I need to explain? Listen to: “What’s Going On?”
* Jeff Buckley – Imagine what we’d say about him had he not died too early. Listen to: “Vancouver”
* Ann Wilson – This exercise need not be difficult. Listen to “Crazy On You.”
* Neil Young – Never a voice anyone would consider a great instrument. Only a perfectly emotional one. Listen to: “Needle and the Damage Done
* Bjork – I always loved Bjork and this appreciation grew over time. As a part of this exercise, I really hope readers will truly listen to the song suggested. Listen to: “Stonemiker:
* Kurt Cobain – He hurt. We all hurt. Listen to: “Rape Me.”
* Sufjan Stevens – A special talent of our time. Listen to: “Mystery of Love”
Rounding out the Top 25, (not in any order)
* Dave Grohl – An extraordinary talent of this millennium. Listen to: “Everlong”
* Gregg Allman – He was never really a redneck. Listen to: “Melissa”
* Annie Lennox – A voice that was never appreciated at the extraordinary level it should have been. Listen to: “Don’t Let It Bring You Down.”
* Jenny Lewis – Another voice sprayed across so many wonderful acts including her own. Listen to: “Acid Tounge”
* Thom Yorke – Radiohead is glorious in so many ways, but only recently did I begin to really appreciate Thom’s voice. Listen to: “The Numbers”
* Anne Previn – It’s a shame that Natalie Imbruglia was famous and Edna Swap was not. Listen to: “Back on the Sun.”
* Lou Reed – I won’t explain. Instead, Listen to: “Pale Blue Eyes”
* Zach Condron – I believe Zach and Beirut are an acquired taste. I acquired it. Listen to: “Port of Call”
* Neko Case – I encourage everyone to listen to the New Pornographers. Listen to “Champions of Red Wine.”
* Paul Weller – Maybe the most underrated artist and singer of the Rock and Roll era, either from the Jam, Style Council or solo. Listen to: “That’s Entertainment.”
* Phil Collins – Yep. THAT Phil Collins. Listen to “Ripples”
* Jon Anderson – Yes. THAT Jon Anderson. Listen to “Starship Trooper”
* Michael Stipe – I Love R.E.M. Listen to: “Find the River”
* Elvis Costello – Some songwriters connect as singers in a bigger way. Listen to “Beyond Belief”
* Johnny Cash – Hundreds of reasons to mention. Listen to: “Hurt”
Among the other wonderful qualities of Scrubs is the superlative list of songs utilized in episode after episode. In our episodic trek, we are now into season six, within which occurred the song, “Be Yourself” by Audioslave. I annoyed my son by making him rewind three times to listen to the magical voice of Chris Cornell. We then continued the pause of Scrubs to retire to YouTube to continue the magic.
This experience made me realize that this is certainly my most favorite voice in history of rock and pop music. So as we wait for sports to return, sounds like a subject for the PantherLair to deliberate.
Who are your favorite voices in rock and roll and pop history?
This isn’t a list that is trying to define the best of all time my any critical objective measure. This is a list of the ones YOU like best. These are the voices that connect with you the most for whatever criteria you wish to use. Maybe they sound the best. Maybe they touch with you the most emotionally. Maybe these voices impress you the most by the notes they can reach? Doesn’t matter. It’s YOUR criteria.
In the spirit of college sports, I’ll offer my own top 25. Feel free to try to name your own top 25, or top 10, or top 5. Or even just your one favorite. No wrong answers here. Maybe only a few embarrassing ones.
So here goes.
1. Chris Cornell. Soundgarden. Audioslave. Solo. The emotions in his deep expressive baritone are undeniable. If you aren’t convinced, listen to him sing his version of Michael J’s Billie Jean and I dare you not to cry. Listen to: “Be Yourself”
The rest of the top 10, (in no particular order)
* Chrissy Hynde – Her beautiful alto has touched me from the moments when she rocked out until she smoothed with her crooning. Listen to: “It’s a Thin Line Between Love and Hate.”
* Bono – Sure, call him a political blowhard. But his power, influence and emotional impact can’t be denied. Listen to: “One”
* Marvin Gaye – Do I need to explain? Listen to: “What’s Going On?”
* Jeff Buckley – Imagine what we’d say about him had he not died too early. Listen to: “Vancouver”
* Ann Wilson – This exercise need not be difficult. Listen to “Crazy On You.”
* Neil Young – Never a voice anyone would consider a great instrument. Only a perfectly emotional one. Listen to: “Needle and the Damage Done
* Bjork – I always loved Bjork and this appreciation grew over time. As a part of this exercise, I really hope readers will truly listen to the song suggested. Listen to: “Stonemiker:
* Kurt Cobain – He hurt. We all hurt. Listen to: “Rape Me.”
* Sufjan Stevens – A special talent of our time. Listen to: “Mystery of Love”
Rounding out the Top 25, (not in any order)
* Dave Grohl – An extraordinary talent of this millennium. Listen to: “Everlong”
* Gregg Allman – He was never really a redneck. Listen to: “Melissa”
* Annie Lennox – A voice that was never appreciated at the extraordinary level it should have been. Listen to: “Don’t Let It Bring You Down.”
* Jenny Lewis – Another voice sprayed across so many wonderful acts including her own. Listen to: “Acid Tounge”
* Thom Yorke – Radiohead is glorious in so many ways, but only recently did I begin to really appreciate Thom’s voice. Listen to: “The Numbers”
* Anne Previn – It’s a shame that Natalie Imbruglia was famous and Edna Swap was not. Listen to: “Back on the Sun.”
* Lou Reed – I won’t explain. Instead, Listen to: “Pale Blue Eyes”
* Zach Condron – I believe Zach and Beirut are an acquired taste. I acquired it. Listen to: “Port of Call”
* Neko Case – I encourage everyone to listen to the New Pornographers. Listen to “Champions of Red Wine.”
* Paul Weller – Maybe the most underrated artist and singer of the Rock and Roll era, either from the Jam, Style Council or solo. Listen to: “That’s Entertainment.”
* Phil Collins – Yep. THAT Phil Collins. Listen to “Ripples”
* Jon Anderson – Yes. THAT Jon Anderson. Listen to “Starship Trooper”
* Michael Stipe – I Love R.E.M. Listen to: “Find the River”
* Elvis Costello – Some songwriters connect as singers in a bigger way. Listen to “Beyond Belief”
* Johnny Cash – Hundreds of reasons to mention. Listen to: “Hurt”
