Best Vocal Performance of All Time ?

trashcan · 10-10-2021 12:16am #1

Watching the Simon and Garfunkel night on BBC and it reminded me that I consider Art Garfunkel’s vocal on Bridge Over Troubled Water is probably the best vocal I’ve ever heard. So pure and faultless.

10-10-2021 12:33am

I think Elvis did it better.

trashcan · 10-10-2021 12:26pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117999408#Comment_117999408

Get out !!

Xander10 · 10-10-2021 12:35pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058212414/best-vocal-performance-of-all-time

The harmonies on sound of silence, live at Central Park, has to be right up there

magicbastarder · 10-10-2021 2:46pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118000424#Comment_118000424

check out elvis's performance from las vegas. which i assume is the performance being referred to; s'good:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mLbOBoa8vD8

Conall Cernach · 10-10-2021 4:41pm

Elvis's If I Can Dream from the '68 Comeback Special is one of his best.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u-pP_dCenJA

trashcan · 10-10-2021 6:01pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118001006#Comment_118001006

Nah, not for me. Doesn’t hold a candle to Artie.Then again, I’ve never been gone on Elvis.

Rikand · 10-10-2021 6:04pm

Anything by Freddie is better than anything else ever

DJ_Eoghan · 10-10-2021 8:52pm

Lorraine Ellison "Stay With Me"

https://youtu.be/5TOaUxgkLSg

Record only because Frank Sinatra cancelled a booking and she happened to be in the studio at the time.

tritriagain · 10-10-2021 9:00pm

Bono at Shane in the outro/intro transition from all I want is you into where the streets is amazing. Was at the gig and was a very very special moment.

Still stihl waters 3 · 10-10-2021 11:13pm

Roy Orbison another exceptional vocalist, Gladys Knight and Tina Turner deserve a mention, Levon Helm on the night they rode ol dixie was a performance he left it all out there on, Elvis had a huge range but by far and away for a vocal performance Freddie has to be number one

For folksie stuff Paul brady on his earlier stuff was phenomenal as was Derek mcormack

anewme · 10-10-2021 11:22pm

Great to see the feedback and Elvis recognised for the vocals rather than the tacky movies. A talent ahead of his time and not coping with the restrictions set on him. The 68 show stands the test of tine today.

As regards vocals though, Freddie Mercury has to have it. The range, the feeling.

Closely followed by George Michael look at the rehearsal for the Freddie concert (someone to love) and he is just outstanding.

And yes, Roy Orbison has to be up there too.

10-10-2021 11:26pm

A Song for You, Donny Hathaway

trashcan · 11-10-2021 10:13am

I appreciate the replies, but I was thinking in terms of a single performance, rather than your nominations for favourite singer. So, for example, those saying Freddie Mercury, what one performance in particular would you pick ? Art Garfunkel wouldn’t necessarily be my favourite, but his vocal on BOTW is just outstanding in my view. I was also thinking in terms of recorded work, rather than live performance. Sorry to be so picky 😀

Be right back · 11-10-2021 10:17am

Frank Sinatra, my way or Queen's it's a hard life.

banie01 · 11-10-2021 10:23am

Freddy's vocal on show must go on is exceptional IMO.

Even more so when one considers his health at the time, and its position on the final Freddy/Queen album and the emotion and power it evokes.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=rSvpdej2OlA

11-10-2021 10:32am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118001006#Comment_118001006

The exact performance I was talking about :)

sydthebeat · 11-10-2021 10:36am

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IuUDRU9-HRk

one of his best

The Mighty Quinn · 11-10-2021 10:56am

Pavarotti put in a smasher of a performance on U2's "Miss Sarajevo".

Bowie & Mercury put down a fabulous vocal on "Under Pressure", there's an acapella version on youtube somewhere, good listen - days before autotune!

Completely not what anybody is looking for here, but "Rap God" by Eminem has a fabulous vocal performance.

Art Garfunkel on BOTW is a good shout, but so is his performance on "El Condor Pasa"

magicbastarder · 11-10-2021 11:01am

this is a cracker, especially for someone aged 73 and who had not been enjoying good health.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qz2efshhuq4

11-10-2021 4:23pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118001332#Comment_118001332

This was dedicated to MLK. It was recorded in December and it was planned that he would sing something festive to close the show but he insisted on this.

trashcan · 11-10-2021 7:50pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118003618#Comment_118003618

Speaking of Pavarotti, his Nessun Dorma is also exceptional of course. Would be a close run thing for my No 1.

Thrashssacre · 11-10-2021 7:53pm

https://youtu.be/ecvHBLadaxM

Absolutely incredible vocal performance, pity he went off the radar for nearly a decade, probably had a few more great albums in him.

thesultan · 11-10-2021 8:07pm

Love reign o'er me the who. Daltery on fire

jpfahy · 11-10-2021 9:15pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118006254#Comment_118006254

Nah, Mario Lanza blows him away. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kJZ2XA84MPI

trashcan · 13-10-2021 12:25am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118006561#Comment_118006561

He really doesn’t.

josip · 13-10-2021 12:43am

Wuthering Heights for me

Capt'n Midnight · 13-10-2021 12:53am

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SG87iCN_o0Q&t=40s

Edda Del'Orso sings "ah" in the epic scene of trying to find a grave in a graveyard.

lintdrummer · 13-10-2021 2:20am

"Grace" by Jeff Buckley is up their as one of my favourite recorded vocals of all time. The notes he hits and holds at the end are mind blowing. Epic stuff.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A3adFWKE9JE