Poll: Male or female singers?

[Vox Imperatoris]

Two questions: are you male or female, and do you prefer/have the majority of your music by male or female singers? I think it will be interesting to see how they're related (or not).

[ShaKri]

i really have no preferance...

Synth/Power Metal
Tarja - Nightwish (i know there is a new chick... i prefair Tarja ;p)
LaBrie - Dream Theater

Pop/Soft Rock
Chris Marten - Coldplay
Avril Lavigne - Avril Lavigne

Heavy Metal and heavyer (heavyer being black metal, hardcore, folk metal(aka, viking metal/battle metal))
Randy Blythe - Lamb of God
Angela Gossow - Arch Enemy


For every style of music i like there are equaly as tallented musicians from both sexes ... and i like them both.

ps. im male

[Guy_At_A_Keyboard]

I generally don't like singing voices that conform to classical standards of beauty (nothing ideological, they're just not as interesting to me). Among the kinds of music I like, many more men than women have 'ugly' singing voices (e.g. Michael Stipe, Joe Strummer, Bob Dylan), and so I would have to say that I prefer male singers.

[ShaKri]

I generally don't like singing voices that conform to classical standards of beauty (nothing ideological, they're just not as interesting to me). Among the kinds of music I like, many more men than women have 'ugly' singing voices (e.g. Michael Stipe, Joe Strummer, Bob Dylan), and so I would have to say that I prefer male singers.

you would love Macy Grey then... her voice is so unusual yet its brilliant and AC/DC ... unless thats not what you mean :S ??

[Kizyr]

I had to pick no clear preference. It really depends on the genre, region, and just the quality of the singer. And even then sometimes I won't have any preference. If it's a more melodic song, usually I prefer female vocalists.

For South Asian music in particular, I prefer male vocals. For some reason, female vocals in South Asian music tend to be really, really high-pitched. I never liked it. Also, Qawwali is my favorite specific genre from the region, and that depends on a low and powerful voice, so it's all male vocals there.

Elsewhere, I don't have a lot of preference. I can tend to find examples on either end of any genre that comes to mind. KF

[1337geek]

Most of the music I listen to is by male singers, but the singers I think have the best voices are female.

[telcontar42]

I generally don't like singing voices that conform to classical standards of beauty (nothing ideological, they're just not as interesting to me). Among the kinds of music I like, many more men than women have 'ugly' singing voices (e.g. Michael Stipe, Joe Strummer, Bob Dylan), and so I would have to say that I prefer male singers.

I agree and would add Tom Waits to the list.

[TheAmazingRando]

Most music I like has male singers. That's a lot of indie-folk stuff, and metal. Men are pretty predominant in metal, and I'm not much for goth/symphonic stuff like Nightwish, and I thought Arch Enemy were laughably bad when I saw them live. The only metal band I like with a female lead singer is (was) Thorr's Hammer, though you'd never know she was female from her vocals (and it doesn't hurt that the music is some of the heaviest metal I've ever heard), and I like the female vocals in maudlin of the Well's songs.

Gregor Samsa has some great female vocals, as far as post-rock goes. A lot of indie-folk has female singers in a few songs that are good, but I can't think of any I listen to that have a female lead singer. I'm fine with female singers, if they're good, I think they can sound great (Inmates, by The Good Life, for example, has a female singer, and is one of my favorite songs that Tim Kasher has written). They just don't seem to flock to the vocal styles I prefer (Will Sheff, or John Darnielle, for example. Or someone like Will Oldham).

[Ashbash]

A lot of my music is by male singers, but that's because of cultural norms I guess. I like music with both male and female vocals, but especially those with *strange*/crooked voices. Also those on the other end, with hauntingly beautiful ones (especially good harmonisers). Favourites include Tom Waits, Björk, Mark Knopffler, Dylan, Inga Liljeström, Imogen Heap, James Brown, David Byrne, Simon and Garfunkle, CSNY, Sufjan Stevens.

Oh and Keith Jarrett


Actually, woah, there's a lot more guys in that list. But I do appreciate the female voice more, for some reason.

[cypherspace]

I mostly listen to rock and indie, which have predominantly male vocals. But I don't prefer one or the other, just generally the type of music they're associated with. Skin of Skunk Anansie's voice is one of the best I've ever heard, and Bjork and Imogen Heap I love.

[SirMustapha]

The majority of my collection has male vocals, but I really have no preference. I generally don't listen to music for vocals - the vocals end of being incidental. Ok, so there are a few exceptions - Björk is one of the few people that just does it for me simply by singing. There are several other people who have great singing, like Thom Yorke and Liz Frasier, but I'm more into it for the music.

A few favourites: Thom Yorke (Radiohead), David Byrne (Talking Heads - I really love that guy), Lætitia Sadier and Mary Hansen (Stereolab), Björk, Jónsi Birgisson (Sigur Rós), Wayne Coyne (Flaming Lips), Freddie Mercury (Queen) and Liz Frasier (Cocteau Twins).

[Hyperfried]

Yeah, no real preference here. Each person's voice is particularly suited toward the type of music that they happen to perform. (Unless it's bad, in which case I don't listen to it. ) I'll admit, yes, the majority of my music probably has a male lead singer, but, well, statistically, that's just how it usually is. But it's all good to me.

[Guy_At_A_Keyboard]

...and AC/DC ... unless thats not what you mean :S ??

No. That's not what I mean. Screeching is just as dull to me as is crooning.

[b.i.o]

I'm male and I prefer having no singers.

[Ashbash]

Yeah, but doesn't everyone?

Well, they should.

[ChocloManx]

Man, that is a tough question. I think I prefer the female voice, but the great majority of girl singers sings like crap to me, and also the music I listen to rarely has them...

[AtomicCow]

See I have specifics. Like I love Lacey Mosley from Flyleaf, Kristen May from Vedera (previously Veda), and Karen Carpenter from The Carpenters (seriously, something about her voice chills me). I suppose if I listen to a female voice it has to be "haunting". I don't enjoy female voices in pop, or R&B, I like it with a band. I need a guitar somewhere. Which is why I liked Rihanna when she did that song with Maroon 5 (not a favorite band of mine, but I liked the song). I can't stand like Mariah Carey (who's voice is magic) but she's type cast to the same song every time. Not every song needs to hit every range within human hearing ability. Rihanna has done so many different things. I mean she did do Umbrella (the kind of repetitive songs I hate) but a song like Disturbia (which has an amazing video btw) is made for her, not her molded to it.

I can't believe she's 20, and from Barbados. Thank you Wiki for your glorious facts.

But mostly in rock (and most offshoots of rock) I feel like males generally translate emotions and meanings to me easier. (Warning: sexism ahead) A lot of female singers feel like whiners, not like their spilling their heart, but showing you what happened to it before putting it away quickly.

Example: Eric Clapton. I mean comparing him to a lot of newer artists is unfair, but his delivery is amazing. Tears in Heaven still makes me cry (Please, don't pander your conspiracy theories about this song here).

[Adalwolf]

I'm a male, and I prefer male singers by far.

[Hyena]

i'm male and have no real preference over anything, except for metal (roaring). that is something that i've only ever heard men do exceptionally well at (and this is taking Angela Gossow into account).

[D.martin]

I cant say that I like female or male singer, I like the singer that sings well no mater male or female. I think the thing to notice is his/her voice is good for that particular song or not.
If voice is correct then only to enjoy the song and music.

[fersrs]

I'm female, and I like both male and female singers. However, I've found that there are more good male vocals than there are female vocals. That's not to say there aren't any female singers at all, just that I listen to more male than female vocals.

[Sandry]

I would, in theory, prefer female singers, since I'm a soprano, and singing along with many male-fronted bands ends up with me jumping octaves in retarded places. In practice, what I actually listen to is pretty much half-half.

Female vocals are just not the same as male vocals for the feel of a group, and so I sort of enjoy them on orchestral metal stuff and folk stuff, but they just aren't quite right on things like industrial. Then again, I guess in most genres where that bothers me, the vocals aren't necessarily the emphasis.

[Essah]

in order of awesomeness judged on their skills and singing style rather than their music.

Amy Lee(Evanescence),
Aaron Weiss (Mewithoutyou)
Jónsi ( Sigur Rós),
Florence ( Florence + the Machine)
James Blunt( Yes i think he's a great singer),
Dolores O'riordan ( The Cranberries)
Marshall Mathers ( Eminem)
Mike Skinner ( The Streets)

[The EGE]

Male here. I generally prefer male singers to female, but I prefer a small number of female singers - notably Grace Slick of Jefferson Airplane - to just about anybody.

[Microscopic cog]

Women don't sing the music I listen to.


Dammit I went to check and I don't have any bands with female vocalist. Only some who use female vocalists frequently but still male the majority of the time.

I am sad.

[sje46]

This is a horribly designed poll. I have no preference, but have a clear majority for male singers. So I answered male/male singers, but now that makes it look like I prefer male singers. Which is not true. I prefer 60s rock, which makes up about 80-90% of my music, and is predominantly male. I do like Grace Slick's voice. Janis Joplin. Dorothy Moskowitz. Nico. That's all of the 60s female rockers I can think of. There are more, but the amount is just so much lower than the male singers. Female singers were more popular for pop music back then.

That said, I actually like the Mamas and the Papas.

Anyone have any female singers from the 60s/70s I would like?

[Microscopic cog]

Jefferson Airplane!

Totally forgot that one. Amazing hippiness. Also as suggestion for above poster.

[Pez Dispens3r]

I have a friend who despises female vocalists, and it made me realize how little of my music I could share with her. There are countless male vocalists I enjoy listening to but most of the singers I follow closely are female: Amanda Palmer & Brody Dale, for example, are two of my favourites. So, male with definite preference for female, but it's more a 60/40 thing.

[achan1058]

It depends on the style. Classical Russian basses are wonderful (they are very deep), but otherwise I prefer female voices.

[sje46]

Jefferson Airplane!

Totally forgot that one. Amazing hippiness. Also as suggestion for above poster.

Yeah, Grace Slick sung for Jefferson Airplane...but thanks anyway

[Microscopic cog]

Jefferson Airplane!

Totally forgot that one. Amazing hippiness. Also as suggestion for above poster.

Yeah, Grace Slick sung for Jefferson Airplane...but thanks anyway

Oh. Didn't even know that.

[Apeiron]

Male, prefer female. i prefer their voices and i'd rather Madonna tell me i make her feel like a virgin than David Gahan saying he feels me. But it's mostly the voices. Would i rather wear a shirt made of fine cotton or burlap? Would i rather drink fine wine or mud with rocks in it? That's generally what it comes to for me.

My favorites:
Love Spirals Downwards/Melodyguild's Suzzanne Perry (heavenly)
Velocity Girl's Sarah Shannon (opera singer power/control sining indie pop)
Siouxsie Sioux (not as pretty, but powerful/dramatic)
Tori Amos (earlier the better)
Bjork (exuberant)

Male Vox:
Morrissey
David Gahan of Depeche Mode
VNV Nation's Ronan Harris
Yes, i'm olde

Over the past 10 years or so i've been listening to lots of rap, mostly Nerd Core and Beastie Boys. Starting to dig Run DMC (can i get a witness?). Male voices seem to capture the attitude and power behind rap. One of my favorite examples is the Judgement Night sountrack. It was 90's metal and grunge bands playing for ganster rappers. Seriously intense stuff.

[Dirk]

I never quite understood why someone would have a preference in gender of the singer.

[Apeiron]

I never quite understood why someone would have a preference in gender of the singer.

It might not be preference, so must as tendency. i don't seek female vox, but they tend to appeal to me more often and more than male voices.

Then there are people who think that the music they like says something about them, so they learn toward or away from certain genders or what have you.

[achan1058]

I never quite understood why someone would have a preference in gender of the singer.

Most male singers aren't sopranos, and most female singer aren't basses. If you prefer a particular voice range or timbre, you will obviously have a preference.

[RabbitWho]

I don't know, most of my favourite singers are men.. I like a good rasp... love Courtney Love

[Zanmanoodle]

Personally, I tend to prefer singers that put a lot of soul into it. But aside from that, it's whoever is singing with the right style of music I listen to (punk, garage, blues, hard rock). I suppose I end up listening to more male than female, though. It comes with the music.

Here's a quick list of faves:

Female:
Karen O
Florence Welch
Aretha Franklin
Alanis Morrisette
Grace Slick
Janis Joplin
Ann Wilson
KT Tunstall

Male:
Robert Plant
Freddie Mercury
John Lee Hooker
Elvis
Iggy Pop
James Brown
Howlin' Pele Almqvuist
Jim Morrison

[Random-person]

Male/male. For every good female voice, there are at least a hundred equally good male voices. Same thing applies to bands: the reason girl bands are called just that isn't just because of discrimination, but because most girl bands... sounds like girl bands, rather than just good bands.

Though this could be because I mostly listen to hard rock and heavy metal, where there almost aren't any good female musicians at all. (No, Joan Jett would be nothing if she was male and seriously don't even bring up those horrible 80s hair metal bands).

[Retne]

I only care if the music sounds good. Never really care which gender is making with the mouth noises. I do wish there were more female death metal lead singers though.