News

Turns out Mike Patton, and not Axl Rose, is the greatest singer of all time

on May 25, 2014, 4:00pm

Last week, we published a list of the best singers as ranked in order of their respective octave ranges. Amid a list of powerhouse vocalists like Adele, Whitney Houston, Aretha Franklin, Alicia Keys, and more, one Axl Rose reigned supreme with a mighty range of five octaves. However, if you thought it a little odd that the title of “greatest living singer” went to this guy, you aren’t alone; VVN Music went ahead and dug a little deeper into other singers’ ranges. As it turns out, Rose may want to wait to order those new business cards.

For their purposes, VVN expanded on the original criteria established by Concert Hotels, which drew its sample from Rolling Stones’ list of the 100 Greatest Singers, the nominees for this year’s Billboard Music Awards, and those singers who’d been analyzed by The Range Place. Because of that somewhat strict criteria, a rather sizable chunk of singers were originally excluded.

So, now who stands atop the mountain of crooners and songbirds? That distinction goes to Mike Patton, who has a doubly impressive range of six octaves. (Again, for comparison, world record holder Tim Storms has a range of 10 octaves.) Surely, Rose must still rank fairly high according to VVN’s revised list, right? He’s actually slipped to number four, behind Avant-garder singer Diamanda Galás and Mr. David Lee Roth. While Rose, Galás , and Roth each have a range of five octaves, both Galás and Roth have ranges that are just a few notes higher.

In fact, if you count those extra notes on top of the singer’s base octave range, it helps re-shuffle a majority of the list. Here’s some other interesting tidbits gleaned from the revised list:

– The remainder of the new top 10 features Paul McCartney, Roger Waters, Mariah Carey, Phil Anselmo, German singer Nina Hagen, and Devin Townsend. In fact, Waters, Anselmo, and Townsend weren’t anywhere on the original list. Nor was the new King of the Sing, Patton.

– Several acts have fallen further down on the list. That includes Marvin Gaye slipping from the top 10 to the top 30; Steven Tyler landing out of the top five and into the top 20; James Brown tumbling from #6 to the top 25; Freddie Mercury falling to the 35th spot; and Justin Bieber, who previously ranked in the bottom 10, has been pushed off the list entirely.

– Other notable additions include: Jon Bon Jovi and Deftones’ Chino Moreno in the top 12, each with a range of four actives and 2-1/2 notes; Serj Tankian in the top 20 with a range of four octaves and one note; Maynard James Keenan reaching the top 30 with a range of four octaves; Nick Cave in the top 40 with a range of three octaves and 5-1/2 notes; and Karen O landing securely in the top 50 with a range of three octaves and 4-1/2 notes.

– Several A-list singers even share the same rage (three octaves and four notes): Damon Albarn, Beyoncé, Kate Bush, Chris Cornell, Geddy Lee, Michael Jackson, and Cedric Bixler-Zavala.

– Somehow, Michael Bolton and Eminem have the same exact vocal range of three octaves and two notes.

– Let this sink in: John Lydon, a.k.a. Johnny Rotten, has the same exact range as Dolly Parton and Robin Gibb.

– In news you didn’t see coming, Captain Beefheart (with four octaves) has a greater range than Lorde, Whitney Houston, AdeleAlicia Keys, and Katy Perry.

Head over to VVN Music for the entire list, which also includes John Lennon, Elvis Presley, Rihanna, Dave Gahan, Bruno Mars, Ray Charles, and many, many more. Below, enjoy a few samples from the top five.

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dannycheese
May 27, 2014 at 4:28 am

Attila Csihar has a larger range than any of these I think

ontheupside
May 27, 2014 at 4:17 am

Rob Halford and King Diamond are still not on this list!!

Anonymous
May 27, 2014 at 4:06 am

Dax Riggs!

codi
May 27, 2014 at 10:56 am

I knowwwww.

¤\( `⌂´ )/¤ (@di0__0ib)
May 27, 2014 at 3:54 am

King Diamond?

Oddy
May 27, 2014 at 2:51 am

Yma Sumac?

Anonymous
May 27, 2014 at 1:14 am

What about the guy from Pavement?!!!!!

Will
May 27, 2014 at 12:37 am

I don’t think anyone could seriously base ‘Greatest singer of all time’ on range alone. There’s tone, pitch control, purity, clarity, diction, resonance and ability to express emotion.
Of all those singers, I’d put Freddie Mercury and Mike Patton above the rest.

Anonymous
May 27, 2014 at 12:21 pm

Truth and I would agree on both points.

Pick
May 26, 2014 at 11:47 pm

Matthew Bellamy?

Tony
May 26, 2014 at 11:45 pm

Jeff Buckley….

Anonymous
May 27, 2014 at 4:03 pm

Seriously…

Scott
May 26, 2014 at 10:34 pm

Bruce Dickinson, Rob Halford, Michael Kiske?

Ping Gee
May 26, 2014 at 10:08 pm

I’ve heard that Tim Foust, from Home Free, winner of season 4 of THE SING-OFF has a vocal range of 5 octaves. Is he any where on your list?

martino
May 26, 2014 at 8:34 pm

What about Gene Ween?

Nick King
May 26, 2014 at 8:17 pm

Um, hello… ROB HALFORD???

MintyT
May 27, 2014 at 12:00 pm

Said Patton is better then him.

Anonymous
May 26, 2014 at 7:08 pm

It’s about fucking time someone recognized Diamanda Galas AND Nina Hagen!

timothy monti
May 26, 2014 at 4:45 pm

Not that i am a fan…but shouldnt Celine Dion be tjee somewhere?

timothy monti
May 26, 2014 at 4:47 pm

Sorry..on *there…

Stinsonmusik
May 26, 2014 at 3:45 pm

King Diamond tho?

Monte Belle
May 26, 2014 at 3:16 pm

I love this list.
The recognition of Nina Hagen and other singers who are not exactly top 40 music is awesome. I especially Love Mike Patton being number 1. Faith no more has so much more than people heard on the radio.

Anonymous
May 26, 2014 at 7:51 pm

J. Benny Hill (@JBennyHill)
May 27, 2014 at 2:34 pm

Faith No More was but a drop in the bucket for Patton.

Anonymous
May 26, 2014 at 2:33 pm

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bobby_McFerrin four octaves and he can sing polyphonic

Anonymous
May 26, 2014 at 2:25 pm

Bobby mcferin? Not sure how many octaves but it’s up there

Anonymous
May 26, 2014 at 2:17 pm

what about Tim Buckley, Yma Sumac, Sister Odetta, Johm Martyn? just to name a few…

Gayna Thrones
May 26, 2014 at 2:14 pm

How about Miles Kennedy?

Anonymous
May 26, 2014 at 1:20 pm

Picking the greatest singers of all time simply based on octave range is a bit ridiculous. It says nothing of the quality of those notes, or the use of them to actually make music. On that basis, the piano and violin become the “best” instruments based on their range.. regardless of WHO is playing them. And I’ve heard some awful violinists vs. great saxophone…for example. Musicality and quality of those notes are given no value. So, of course you are going to find some crazy juxtapositions! Otherwise this list is about as valid as answering 5 questions to find out how much of a genius you are.

Anonymous
May 26, 2014 at 7:50 pm

Anonymous
May 26, 2014 at 12:12 pm

How about Yma Sumac?

Anonymous
May 26, 2014 at 10:58 am

Chris Cornell

Anonymous
May 26, 2014 at 9:01 am

Yeah cool I love faith no more!

Anonymous
May 26, 2014 at 8:13 am

Problem is that you are including falsetto on the high end and growls on the low. That isn’t natural range. Anyone can learn the tricks it takes to use a false voice relatively easily. Actually achieving a natural range over 3 or 4 octaves takes a tremendous amount of skill and practice. Most of your top 20 wouldn’t even be near that list.

Gerrit Karafiat
May 26, 2014 at 12:45 pm

I´m still impressed…

Anonymous
May 26, 2014 at 5:33 am

“– In news you didn’t see coming, Captain Beefheart (with four octaves) has a greater range than Lorde,”

Lorde only has one range;That range is the sound of stones shaken in a tin coffee can. She is awful! Patton is a GOD. Second… The guy from Wolfmother.

Anonymous
May 26, 2014 at 7:22 pm

Kinda of ironic that Mike Patton hates wolfmother. Look it up

Anonymous
May 27, 2014 at 1:29 am

Having the singer from Wolfmother in the 2nd spot, after Patton, IS the joke of the first post. If people have seen that short interview clip of Patton at the festival ,while Wolfmother is playing, should see the humor of that post.

Anonymous
May 26, 2014 at 1:49 am

diamanda is great great great

Ian Brewer
May 25, 2014 at 11:44 pm

How about Harry Nilsson?

senor t mohnay
May 25, 2014 at 11:16 pm

Straight up- thank you for revisiting this list & including Patton. Cheers for doing the right thing!

Anonymous
May 27, 2014 at 4:24 pm

I think Patton & Cornell got it covered!!!!