Article: Axl Rose tops list of largest vocal ranges

[Dr. Blutarsky]

Nice to see our guy get some well deserved recognition:


http://www.kegl.com/articles/s-you-should-see-330053/axl-rose-tops-list-of-largest-12374198

Axl Rose tops list of largest vocal ranges

Axl Rose is leading a new list that ranks the vocal ranges of some of the world's most well-known singers.

ConcertHotels.com made note of the highest and lowest notes a number of artists hit in the recording studio, and the data shows that the Guns N' Roses frontman has an impressive range of a little more than five octaves.

It doesn't come close to the world record of ten octaves, but it does put Axl ahead of Mariah Carey.  The R&B diva, however, easily hits the highest note of any other singer on the list, while Rose hits the lowest.  The rest of the top five after Axl and Mariah includes Prince, Aerosmith's Steven Tyler, and James Brown.

Radiohead's Thom Yorke comes in at number ten, while the gravely-voiced Tom Waits surprisingly beats out the likes of Beyonce, Michael Jackson, Aretha Franklin, Whitney Houston, and Adele.  The full list and the songs at each end of the singer's range are available to browse at ConcertHotels.com/worlds-greatest-vocal-ranges.

Top Ten Vocal Ranges:

    Axl Rose
    Mariah Carey
    Prince
    Steven Tyler
    James Brown
    Marvin Gaye
    Christina Aguilera
    David Bowie
    Paul McCartney
    Thom Yorke

[willow]

Congrads Axl! It is nice too see a great Rocker on the top of that list!!

[rebelhipi]

Crazy cool!

The last thing that comes to mind about axls voice its that he can hit a lower note than anybody famous.


The should have included PJ Harvey to the list she can hit extremely high and decently low too.

[draguns]

I posted this on Face. I think this is awesome!

[slashsbaconpit]

Cuz he has the tools and da talent!

[SINSHINE]

Revised list (as per VVM) If I had to see anyone dethrone Axl, Mike Patton would be the guy 

http://www.vintagevinylnews.com/2014/05/digging-deeper-axl-rose-is-not-singer.html?m=1

[russkwtx]

I'll be glad to watch the dancers again, always entertaining !

[Gunner80]

Revised list (as per VVM) If I had to see anyone dethrone Axl, Mike Patton would be the guy 

http://www.vintagevinylnews.com/2014/05/digging-deeper-axl-rose-is-not-singer.html?m=1

Mike doesn't have much range at all as much as I love Faith No More. Plus he's shit live. Always acts like he doesn't want to be there.

I always said Axl had the pipes to be an Opera singer if he would've chosen that path. He had that one in a million voice.

[GypsySoul]

Retweeted by Axl Rose
 SPIN ‏@SPINmagazine
A letter from @axlrose regarding last week's vocal-range chart, and his status as the strongest singer in that pack http://go.spin.com/1o8fgpW

Interactive Chart Pits Thom Yorke's Vocal Range Against Mariah Carey's
Graphic also ranks Axl Rose, John Lennon, Beyonc?, Marvin Gaye, Lorde, Neil Young, and more

WRITTEN BY
Colin Joyce

UPDATE: Axl Rose himself has reponded as a result of our sharing this story. Read his letter below, in which he names his own favorite singers. Also, there's been a follow-up study to the original chart that finds Mike Patton (Faith No More, Tomahawk, Mr. Bungle, etc.) to have the broadest singing range in the popular music universe.


We've recently seen who has the biggest vocabulary in rap and who makes the most references to illegal substances, but a new chart visualizes one of the more traditional metrics of gauging the merits of a performer ? their vocal range.

The chart was compiled by comparing both the highest and lowest recorded note by a given singer and some of the results are pretty surprising. Who would guess, for example, that Tom Waits has a wider vocal range than Sam Cooke, Stevie Nicks, Taylor Swift, and Bj?rk? Or that Otis Redding is outclassed by Katy Perry?

Axl Rose, who tops out this list, has a recorded range of just over five octaves. For what it's worth, the Guinness World Record for largest vocal range is held by Tim Storms, whose range spans a full ten.

If you're into the crossover between music and statistics, it's a fun little thing to play around with. You can check out the interactive version over at Concert Hotels, and a letter from Axl Rose right here:

Big thanks to all the fans and media for the props reacting to the Spin top vocalists article.

From what I could tell, the original article was for the most part only talking about the professionally recorded vocal range of the singers they compared calling the entire group "The World's Greatest Singers." It's very flattering and humbling to be included in such an illustrious ensemble.

If I had to say who I thought the best singers were, I'd say first that I don't know there's a definitive answer as in my opinion it's subjective, and second that my focus is primarily rock singers.

That said, I enjoy Freddie Mercury, Elvis Presley, Paul McCartney, Dan McCafferty, Janice Joplin, Michael Jackson, Elton John, Roger Daltrey, Don Henley, Jeff Lynne, Johnny Cash, Frank Sinatra, Jimmy Scott, Etta James, Fiona Apple, Chrissie Hynde, Stevie Wonder, James Brown and a ton of others (predominantly 70's rock singers) and would rather hear ANY of them anytime rather than me!

Peace!

Axl

[MNGS717]

That letter is so cool!

I didn't notice this before but on the left side of chart it lists "There Was A Time" F1 (Highest Note) and on the right side of chart it lists "Ain't it Fun" B♭6 (Lowest Note).

http://www.concerthotels.com/worlds-greatest-vocal-ranges

[suicide]

Interesting. I didn't know Axl likes Michael Jackson.

[gunsbetterthanever]

Revised list (as per VVM) If I had to see anyone dethrone Axl, Mike Patton would be the guy 

http://www.vintagevinylnews.com/2014/05/digging-deeper-axl-rose-is-not-singer.html?m=1

Mike doesn't have much range at all as much as I love Faith No More. Plus he's shit live. Always acts like he doesn't want to be there.

I always said Axl had the pipes to be an Opera singer if he would've chosen that path. He had that one in a million voice.

Axl is far from an opera singer.
Mike patton definitely has more range than axl and is way closer to an opera singer. 

http://youtu.be/iDOl5q7UXfg

[draguns]

I think what Axl wrote was really cool!

[fozzie10]

Credit to Axl for that letter,very humble

[Mattgnr]

British newspaper that is very respected here published this..

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/music-news/10848713/Axl-Rose-has-a-larger-vocal-range-than-Mariah-Carey.html

Probably old news for most.. but thought it was worth posting 
Matt

[norway]

Interesting. I didn't know Axl likes Michael Jackson.

uhm, is it anyone who don't?

[rebelhipi]

Interesting. I didn't know Axl likes Michael Jackson.

uhm, is it anyone who don't?

I dont think hes that special. a few nice songs that are too overheard and thats it for me. nothing special

[norway]

oh rly, a cd-song got some press. I agree with Axl on the 70's stuff a lot but also like late 90's and omg'ish type of stuff quite a bit. And \m/ for Dan.

Interesting. I didn't know Axl likes Michael Jackson.

uhm, is it anyone who don't?

I dont think hes that special. a few nice songs that are too overheard and thats it for me. nothing special

mhm

Axl also, apparantly, has this mainstream appeal.