These Singers Are Completely Overrated

Mick Jagger (The Rolling Stones)

It can be argued that the music produced by The Rolling Stones is repetitive, lacking depth, and sometimes annoying. Mick Jagger’s unique voice is certainly divisive among listeners, yet falls short when compared to contemporaries such as Paul McCartney or Freddy Mercury. While some hail ‘Satisfaction and ‘Gimme Shelter’ as great songs, with 30 studio albums to date, a few good songs just isn’t enough.

Machine Gun Kelly

Machine Gun Kelly is a rising star in contemporary rock music, but not everyone sees that as a positive. He has commercial success and media attention primarily due to his social media engagement. You could argue he’s not a completely genuine musician and just an advertiser-friendly attempt at commercial hip-hop.

Bruce Springsteen

Bruce Springsteen’s music has garnered immense praise and a devoted fan base, but critics argue it’s overrated. Some believe his style lacks ground-breaking innovation, overshadowing other artists. Add to this that tickets for Springsteen’s latest performances have an average price of $250, it seems The Boss may not be worth it.

Justin Bieber

With his smug demeanor and cheesy music, Justin Bieber has always sparked mixed feelings. Despite the catchiness, his career has been marred by questionable, offensive actions. Some argue fame and negative influences played a role, as the Canadian popstar became famous at a very young age. Opinions on the Biebs remain divisive, leaving fans and critics to question his success.

Bono (U2)

U2 haters point out Bono’s transition from rock star to perceived savior of the world. While the band’s music remains successful, his extensive charity work overlaps with his role as a musician. Bono and U2 have always been politically vocal, with early hits addressing social issues. From Band Aid and Live Aid, to fighting poverty and AIDS awareness, Bono’s activism has remained a central part of his identity – yet his god complex overshadows the band’s music.

Beyoncé

While acknowledging Beyoncé’s undeniable talent, you could argue that her vocal abilities are at times exaggerated, creating a perception of being overrated. Her powerful performances and vocal runs may mask occasional over-singing and a lack of emotional depth in certain renditions. Her well documented marital issues with Jay-Z don’t help her public image either.

Cardi B

Cardi B’s rise to fame has been accompanied by both praise and criticism. While some appreciate her authenticity and outspokenness, she is clearly overrated due to limited lyrical depth, controversial behavior, and industry hype. Opinions vary on her musical impact and whether she truly lives up to the immense acclaim she has received.

Gene Simmons (KISS)

These four musicians were showmanship experts, evident in their flamboyant attire. However, beneath the flashy exterior lies an unremarkable sound and Gene Simmons’ poor vocals. While they capitalized on an excellent opportunity and crafted catchy music, their overall impact may not extend beyond that. Their professionalism and visual appeal contributed to their success, but their music lacks substantial depth and complexity.

Ian Curtis (Joy Division)

Joy Division’s appeal can be challenging for some. While not lacking in musical skill, their edgy sound dominated their repertoire, potentially limiting their broader appeal. For the band’s late lead singer Ian Curtis, for all the love and admiration he deserves, it can’t be said his singing ability was out of this world. Despite this, they garnered a devoted following within that niche so at least there’s that.

Britney Spears

Britney Spears gained fame as a young sex symbol with catchy pop songs but received criticism for her lackluster singing voice. Despite once being a major pop culture icon, her voice has fluctuated from soft to squeaky to merely speaking. Today, she remains relevant but not at her previous peak level of influence.

Ice Spice

Ice Spice is a relatively fresh face in the music industry, and her appeal doesn’t extend to everyone. She is known for her TikTok origins, with a style marked by repetitive rhythms and provocative lyrics, yet some question whether her artistic talents extend beyond the confines of the platform.

Ian Brown (The Stone Roses)

British indie band The Stone Roses were arguably the best-loved band of the late 80s ‘Madchester’ scene. However, you don’t have to listen too hard to notice how thin Ian Brown’s voice is. I Am The Resurrection may soar on the record, but if you’ve ever heard him sing it live, it’s typically cringe-inducing. Brown’s got swagger in abundance, but he can’t hit the notes.

Chris Brown

Since emerging in the early 2000s, singer and rapper Chris Brown has enjoyed such huge commercial success that some have dubbed him the King of R&B – a label clearly designed to draw comparisons with the late King of Pop, Michael Jackson. Is Brown really all that great a singer, though? His vocal style is a bit limited and predictable, and often sounds far too auto-tuned.

Ed Sheeran

As a somewhat nerdy-looking red-haired young Englishman, Ed Sheeran was always an unlikely candidate for pop superstardom based on appearances, but this hasn’t kept him from selling over 150 million records worldwide. Of course, no one achieves that level of success without also attracting criticism, and many feel – perhaps reasonably so – that Sheeran’s somewhat dull, inexpressive voice doesn’t seem to warrant such widespread adulation.

Sam Smith

After releasing their debut album in 2014, Sam Smith enjoyed a meteoric rise to fame, winning both an Oscar and a Golden Globe for The Writing’s on the Wall, the theme song to 2015 James Bond movie Spectre. Many questioned how fitting a candidate the high-pitched Smith was to sing a Bond theme. Indeed, many find Smith’s shrill, pitchy tones very off-putting in general.

Lewis Capaldi

Scottish singer-songwriter Lewis Capaldi arrived on the music scene in 2013, and has since built a huge fanbase, enjoying UK number one hits with Someone You Loved and Before You Go. He is known for his distinctive, raspy singing style, which some fans feel has a soulful quality, but others find a bit grating.

Matty Healy (The 1975)

British pop-rock band The 1975 have enjoyed huge sales and acclaim around the world, with the first two albums going multi-platinum. Still, it’s fair to say singer Matty Healy hasn’t been universally accepted into the upper echelons of great rock front men. His often overly breathy, mannered vocal style strikes many detractors as forced and off-putting.

Katy Perry

Since breaking through with her 2008 album One of the Boys, Katy Perry has been one of the biggest names in pop, enjoying hit after hit. Still, while she may be one of our greatest pop stars, the Californian’s merits as a vocalist are debatable. She pretty much just yells most of her songs, her voice lacking much in the way of nuance and emotion.

Morrissey

A cult icon thanks to his time with 80s indie rock pioneers The Smiths, and a successful solo artist for decades since, Morrissey has always been a divisive figure (and that’s without even getting into the man’s outspoken personal beliefs). For some, his distinctive voice and angst-ridden lyrics capture the spirit of adolescent alienation; to others, he’s whiny, boring and painful to listen to.

Rihanna

With mind-blowing career sales of over 250 million records, Barbadian singer Rihanna is one of the top ten highest selling musical acts ever, and the second highest selling female artist. This is all the more impressive considering her vocal range is rather more limited than a lot of her contemporaries, many feeling her music’s success owes more to flash production than raw talent.

Robert Smith (The Cure)

One of the pioneering bands of the Goth scene, downbeat British post-punk band The Cure emerged in the late 70s and have remained massively popular ever since. In all that time, front man Robert Smith has remained the only constant member. Fans love him; everyone else winces at his painfully whiny, squealy vocals.

Patrick Stump (Fallout Boy)

As soon as the word ’emo’ entered the vernacular, critics immediately associated it with pretentious, whiny young men whose attempts at emotional depth just come off supremely annoying. Case in point: Fall Out Boy, and front man Patrick Stump. The American singer’s pitchy style may epitomize the early 2000s punk-pop sound, but it’s like nails on a blackboard to many of us.

Axl Rose (Guns N’ Roses)

Guns N’ Roses became the biggest rock band in the world in the late 80s, and Axl Rose’s distinctively screechy vocals were a big part of that success. Perhaps the American singer’s signature scream is a good fit for hard rock, but – at the risk of sounding like grumpy senior citizens – are we alone in saying that after a while it gives us a headache?

Madonna

Madonna’s meteoric rise to fame in the 80s is the stuff of legend, and since we lost her peers Michael Jackson and Prince, she’s the last true pop icon of the era to still be with us. Alas, Madonna’s vocal ability has always been extremely limited. Listen to any live recordings, and it’s rare that her voice doesn’t crack whilst approaching higher notes.

Lana Del Rey

Thanks to her old-fashioned approach and a focus on singing at the lower end of the register than many singers, Lana Del Rey has a fairly distinctive voice which has seen her dubbed one of the most influential singer-songwriters of her generation. Still, while some consider the American vocalist’s style haunting and compelling, others find her – well – a bit lifeless and dull.

Henry Rollins (Rollins Band, Black Flag)

Thanks to his time with pioneering 80s hardcore punk band Black Flag and later Rollins Band, Henry Rollins has long been a hugely influential figure in the alternative rock scene. His stage presence, energy and confidence may be infectious, yet you don’t have to listen too hard to tell that Rollins really can’t hold a tune, and simply spent most of his career shouting.

Dave Grohl (Foo Fighters)

After drumming with Nirvana, Dave Grohl took frontman duties with his new band the Foo Fighters and took them from indie darlings to global stadium superstars. Grohl’s reputation as the nicest guy in rock has served him well, and he knows how to write a catchy tune – but let’s face it, when it comes to vocals he doesn’t know how to do much besides screaming.

Chris Martin (Coldplay)

Since their emergence in 2000, British rock band Coldplay have been simultaneously one of the most popular yet most widely detested groups in the world. Most of the backlash against the band is related to Chris Martin, whose nasal vocals and ill-advised attempts at a falsetto (not to mention his perceived smugness) have made him one of the mostly widely mocked singers in recent history.

Adam Levine (Maroon 5)

Maroon 5 skyrocketed to fame with breakthrough album Songs About Jane in 2002, and have since sold over 135 million records worldwide. Still, the band’s blend of pop, rock and soul doesn’t go down well with everyone, and the vocal stylings of Adam Levine are a big part of that. His somewhat monotonous and nasal style has basically remained unchanged throughout the band’s run.

Billie Eilish

When Billie Eilish emerged in her early teens, she attracted mainstream success and widespread praise for a distinctive style and a sense of sophistication beyond her years. However, the very thing that sets Eilish apart as a singer – her low, soft approach – is what makes her overrated in the eyes (and ears) of many. Is her style emotive and haunting, or is she just mumbling?

Liam Gallagher (Oasis)

The success of Britpop band Oasis owes a lot to charismatic frontman Liam Gallagher, whose aloof, arrogant persona and growly vocals pitched him somewhere between John Lennon of the Beatles and John Lydon of the Sex Pistols. However, Gallagher’s limitations as a vocalist were obvious immediately, hence his brother Noel wound up singing most of the more challenging songs like Don’t Look Back in Anger.

Marilyn Manson

Marilyn Manson has long been an extremely divisive and controversial figure for reasons that have little to do with his music. Indeed, some might say that, were he not that he deliberately courts outrage at every step, Manson probably wouldn’t have got very far in the business, as his music is pretty generic industrial metal and his weak voice is propped up by studio trickery.

Brandon Flowers (The Killers)

US rock band The Killers broke through in a big way with their 2004 breakthrough smash Mr. Brightside – and some would say they’ve spent their entire career basically recording variations on that exact same song ever since. The band’s middle-of-the-road feel has a lot to do with singer Brandon Flowers, whose somewhat whiny voice has long since grown repetitive and annoying.

Gavin Rossdale (Bush)

British alt-rock band Bush conquered America in the mid-90s, and Gavin Rossdale quickly became one of the era’s most celebrated frontmen. Bush’s popularity always bewildered detractors, not least due to how thin Rossdale’s vocals are compared to many of his contemporaries (e.g. Chris Cornell, Eddie Vedder). The fact that the English singer so blatantly apes and American style only makes him come off more disingenuous.

Billy Corgan (Smashing Pumpkins)

As the founder, songwriter and lead guitarist of 90s rockers Smashing Pumpkins, Billy Corgan has always been an ambitious, inventive and technically proficient musician – but he most definitely bit off more than he could chew by also serving as the band’s lead singer. Corgan’s guitar chops may be impressive, but his shrill, nasal vocals can be extremely off-putting.

Adam Durtiz (Counting Crows)

Counting Crows’ folk-tinged rock saw them enjoy huge popularity and multi-platinum sales in the 90s. To some ears, singer Adam Duritz’s voice conveys plenty of emotion. To others, however, his almost painful whine is offensive to the ears, and only serves to make the band’s upbeat, radio-friendly stylings all the more irritating.

Tom DeLonge (Blink-182)

When Blink-182 broke through with 1999 hits What’s My Age Again? and All the Small Things, they became one of the most popular and influential punk-pop bands of the era. Tom DeLonge and Mark Hoppus shared vocal duties, and it was never hard to tell the singers apart; when Hoppus sings, dogs don’t start howling down the street.

David Lee Roth (Van Halen)

80s rock legends Van Halen were always renowned as virtuoso musicians, and David Lee Roth was a hugely charismatic frontman – but his vocal ability never measured up. Watch any live video, and Roth is always putting more emphasis on showboating than hitting the notes, often missing his cues altogether. Small wonder Van Halen wound up replacing him with Sammy Hagar.

Ozzy Osbourne

From both his time with groundbreaking heavy metal band Black Sabbath and his own stellar solo career, Ozzy Osbourne is a bona fide rock icon. Still, while the English singer’s wailing vocals were a good fit for the doomy sound that Sabbath pioneered, but he’s never had much in the way of nuance or range, particularly when contrasted with later Sabbath frontman Ronnie James Dio.

Diana Ross

Diana Ross rose to fame as part of 60s girl group The Supremes, and eventually became the trio’s figurehead, and subsequently enjoyed huge solo success outstripping most of her peers. While her voice is pleasant enough, many critics have complained her limited range pales in comparison to many of her peers, not least her one-time fellow Supreme Florence Ballard, who many feel was unfairly sidelined.