Top 10 Singers Whose Songs Are Difficult to Sing
These singers don't make it sound easy. Welcome to MsMojo, and today we’re counting down our picks for the singers’ whose discography can often be challenging for even the most well-trained vocalists.
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00:00🎵To tell the story, I can't breathe all the time🎵
00:05Welcome to Ms. Mojo, and today we're counting down our picks for the singers whose discography
00:10can often be challenging for even the most well-trained vocalists.
00:14🎵Never mind, I'll find someone like you🎵
00:21Number 10, Steven Tyler.
00:23Maybe you're a huge Aerosmith fan.
00:26Maybe you grew up listening to songs like I Don't Wanna Miss a Thing and thought,
00:29hey, I could totally nail that.
00:31Well, what if we told you that Tyler, the group's frontman,
00:34earned himself the nickname the Demon of Screamin'?
00:36🎵'Cause even when I try my best🎵
00:40🎵The sweetest dream will never die🎵
00:43Not so confident anymore, huh?
00:45As a tenor with an incredible chest voice, he effortlessly navigates the vocal scale.
00:50His gritty falsetto belt is a trademark in countless Aerosmith songs.
00:54🎵You drive me crazy, crazy🎵
01:01We know Tyler makes it all look so easy, but believe us, it is anything but.
01:06Still think you can handle it?
01:07We wish you luck, but honestly, you should probably just dream on.
01:11🎵Save my heart, save my heart, save my heart, ah🎵
01:18Number 9, Beyoncé.
01:20Bey is renowned for her powerful sound and ability to navigate a wide range of notes.
01:25One journalist even described her voice as,
01:27quote,
01:28"...one of the most compelling instruments in popular music."
01:31🎵Still don't know where he drops, still don't know where I find🎵
01:34Her voice is beautiful, strong, smooth, rich, and slightly edgy.
01:39She can sing with phenomenal vibrato and belt out impassioned tunes with all her heart.
01:44🎵When I'm thinking that you're there, seem like you're everywhere, it's true🎵
01:48🎵Gotta be having great time for🎵
01:50Songs like Deja Vu require exceptional control and the ability to hit high notes.
01:55Countdown starts with next-level vocal runs and doesn't let up from there.
01:59🎵Boy, oh, killing me softly🎵
02:06Don't even get us started on Love on Top.
02:08The power, stamina, vocal mastery,
02:11range, those seemingly never-ending key changes.
02:15We're gonna need a minute.
02:16We're already out of breath.
02:17🎵Finally, you put my heart on top🎵
02:20🎵Baby, you're the one that I want🎵
02:23🎵Baby, you're the one that I need🎵
02:25Number 8, Christina Aguilera.
02:27Aguilera is a vocal force.
02:30Her range stretches from deep smoky lows that rumble in your chest
02:33all the way up to whistle notes that could pierce the stratosphere.
02:36Aguilera controls it all with the precision of a laser
02:39and sometimes bounds straight over octaves like some kind of a vocal acrobat.
02:43🎵Like you're all too afraid🎵
02:46🎵Just trust the voice with me🎵
02:50Her powerful voice can shine anywhere on the vocal scale
02:53and few can match her stunningly fast runs and swoops.
02:57🎵I'm always, always, on your side🎵
03:03If her voice were an acrobatic performance,
03:06her melismas would be the jaw-dropping finale that sends chills throughout your body.
03:10Xtina has some great tunes,
03:12but just be careful not to hurt yourself if you're thinking of giving them a try.
03:16🎵And I've hurt myself by hurting you🎵
03:24Number 7, Celine Dion.
03:26Dion's voice was once described as, quote,
03:28🎵Like an iron fist in a velvet glove🎵
03:30She truly is a force of nature,
03:32effortlessly switching between powerhouse money notes and intimate whispers.
03:36🎵My heart will go on🎵
03:43She belts out high notes with ease and can hold them forever.
03:46But her voice can also be smooth and delicate,
03:49seamlessly transitioning between crystal-clear low and high notes.
03:53While experts admire her flawless technique,
03:55it's the raw emotion she pours into every note that truly sets her apart.
03:59🎵Freeze all🎵
04:04Her deep emotional delivery makes her voice unmistakable,
04:07but it also makes her songs incredibly tough to master.
04:11One bum note and your audience will leave you all by yourself in no time.
04:15🎵I don't wanna live by myself, by myself anymore🎵
04:23Number 6, Prince.
04:25Prince is often considered one of the best and most influential artists
04:28of the modern age, and that title is well-deserved.
04:32He used many personalized vocal techniques, like falsetto,
04:35growls, rapid vibrato, and quick transitions between different vocal registers.
04:40🎵To rule my whole world🎵
04:42🎵I'd love to take you to the stars🎵
04:45🎵And look at the horizon🎵
04:47Believe us, that's not as easy as he makes it look.
04:50His songs often have intricate melodies with leaps,
04:53quick runs, and sustained notes that need precise pitch control and breath support.
04:58🎵But with you, I'll just go wild🎵
05:03This incredible vocal skill set let him switch between genres
05:06and even create new musical hybrids.
05:08His songs are tough enough, but when you add his electrifying stage presence,
05:12they become an insatiable beast that would leave any mere mortal breathless.
05:17🎵Insatiable something when it comes to you🎵
05:23Number 5, Axl Rose.
05:25In one independent assessment of vocal ranges,
05:28this artist was crowned world's greatest singer.
05:31While he may not endorse the title himself,
05:34there are strong arguments placing him in the top 10, as we did.
05:37🎵So what'll happen to us, baby?🎵
05:40🎵Guess we'll have to wait and see🎵
05:47His widely recognized five-octave range spans from the lowest depths to nearly the highest peaks,
05:53enabling him to effortlessly shift from powerful belting to delicate, emotive verses.
05:58🎵You're a rockin' queen, oh yeah🎵
06:00🎵I think about me too much, but honey, you're a bit obscene🎵
06:04His performances are marked by nuanced touches like bends,
06:07scoops, and other vocal flourishes that demand exceptional breath control and a keen ear for melody.
06:13You'd need to pull out the big guns to give any of his songs their fair shot.
06:17Although get it right, and you might find yourself showered with roses.
06:21🎵Nothing lasts forever🎵
06:23🎵Even cold November rain🎵
06:26Number four, Aretha Franklin.
06:28The Queen of Soul is rightly celebrated as one of the greatest and most emotive singers of all time.
06:34🎵I want you all to🎵
06:36🎵And I got it to🎵
06:38🎵What you need to🎵
06:40🎵You know I got it to🎵
06:41Her vocal range was truly exceptional,
06:44effortlessly moving through scales with a stunning sound quality.
06:47But what sets her apart isn't just her flawless technique,
06:50it's her ability to really connect with her audience.
06:53🎵Let your mind go, let yourself be free🎵
06:56🎵Oh, freedom, freedom🎵
06:59🎵Freedom, freedom🎵
07:01🎵Freedom, yeah, freedom🎵
07:04Take Think, for example.
07:06It starts strong and just keeps building,
07:08hitting those incredible high notes and that powerful belt that grabs your attention.
07:12Also, there ain't no way we'd ever try and replicate
07:15her ethereal vocal wail and impressive runs.
07:18🎵Oh, baby, don't you know that I🎵
07:22🎵Woo-hoo, I need you🎵
07:24There's a reason few dare tackle these songs.
07:27If you can nail any of Franklin's discography,
07:29you definitely deserve all the R-E-S-P-E-C-T.
07:33🎵R-E-S-P-E-C-T🎵
07:37🎵R-E-S-P-E-C-T🎵
07:38Number three, Kate Bush.
07:40This British singer possesses one of the most distinct voices in music.
07:44Often classified as a soprano,
07:46Bush's voice carries a dreamy quality often described as surreal.
07:49🎵Do you feel it?🎵
07:52🎵It's me, I can't feel it🎵
07:54🎵I don't know🎵
07:55🎵So how?🎵
07:57The singer explained how she experimented with her voice much like she did with dance,
08:02shaping her sound through an evolving understanding of movement.
08:05Bush sings a lot in a high range,
08:07hitting notes that might sound thin or squeaky for most singers.
08:10🎵We're looking at the end🎵
08:18Even when she's not hitting those super high notes,
08:21her songs usually stay in that higher register.
08:23She often uses her voice dramatically,
08:25employing pitch and volume shifts to convey various emotions.
08:29This demands precise control and strong breath support to avoid strain.
08:33🎵Down that road🎵
08:35🎵There are no nails🎵
08:38🎵With no growing hair🎵
08:41Number two, Mariah Carey.
08:42Mariah Carey isn't nicknamed Songbird Supreme for nothing.
08:46🎵Fly like a bird🎵
08:48🎵Take to the sky🎵
08:49🎵I need you now, now🎵
08:51🎵Carry me high🎵
08:52She's been wowing audiences with her five octave range since she entered the music scene.
08:57But it's so much more than just about hitting the right notes.
09:00She has this incredible control and agility,
09:02moving between them smoothly.
09:04It's like she got a built-in Pitch Perfect setting.
09:06🎵You will always be the only one🎵
09:14That's all before you even consider her phenomenal embellishments and penchant for key changes.
09:19Of course, her signature element is hitting those super high notes,
09:22often in her whistle register, which earned her a Guinness World Record.
09:26It's like a whole other level of singing that most people can't even reach, let alone sustain.
09:31Except maybe Ariana Grande.
09:37Few people can carry a tune like Mariah.
09:47Before we unveil our top pick, here are some honorable mentions.
09:50Jeff Buckley.
09:51This singer left no stone unturned across his impressive four octave range.
09:56🎵I was always here🎵
10:03Demi Lovato.
10:04Let us point you to Heart Attack.
10:06Need we say more?
10:07🎵I'm flying too close to the sun🎵
10:10🎵And I'm bursting to flames🎵
10:16Freddie Mercury.
10:17This singer had an incredibly wide vocal range,
10:20hitting both deep bass notes and high soprano notes with power.
10:23🎵So you think you can love me and leave me to die🎵
10:28🎵Oh, baby🎵
10:32Tina Turner.
10:33Being able to sing across the musical spectrum helped
10:36Turner cement her reputation as the queen of rock and roll.
10:39🎵Call it mad good, oh🎵
10:42🎵Wow, mad good, uh-huh🎵
10:45🎵Mad for a shit-load of time🎵
10:48Tom Yorke.
10:48His ability to go from incredibly high and clear to intense and emotional,
10:53with a bit of roughness at times, makes him a modern music GOAT.
10:57🎵Mad for a shit-load of time🎵
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11:20Number 1.
11:21Whitney Houston.
11:22She's nicknamed the Voice for good reason.
11:25Need we say more?
11:26Still, we never tire of singing her praise, although we couldn't hit her notes on our best day.
11:31🎵I don't wanna run to you🎵
11:39Whether effortlessly hitting soulful lows or soaring to breathtaking heights,
11:43Houston owned every note with precision and power.
11:46Her performances were not just about hitting the right notes.
11:49They were about captivating hearts with delicate verses and roof-shattering belts.
11:53🎵I will always love you🎵
12:01And let's not forget her flair for intricate melodies,
12:04embellished with runs, riffs, and raw emotion.
12:07Singing her songs isn't just a walk in the park.
12:10It demands the stamina of an athlete.
12:12If you think you have nothing to lose giving her songs a go, think again.
12:16🎵I have nothing, nothing, nothing🎵
12:22Which singer's discography do you think is the most challenging to master?
12:26Let us know in the comments.
12:27🎵I just can't take it again and again and again and again🎵
12:36Do you agree with our picks?
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