The best singers of all time: Bono
Place 32. Bono, U2
Lyrics by Billie Joe Armstrong
I would describe Bono’s singing as 50 percent Guinness, ten percent cigarettes – and the rest is religion. He is a physical singer, like the leader of a gospel choir, losing himself in the music of the moment. Bono then goes to a place outside of himself, especially in front of an audience and when he sings those high notes. That’s where his power comes from, that’s pure, unadulterated Bono. Of course he believes in the things he talks about, the global economy or AIDS relief in Africa, but that voice always comes first, that’s where his truest beliefs lie.
He has so many role models. You can hear Joe Strummer, Bob Marley, Otis Redding, Elvis Presley, even John Lennon. And he has the same vocal range as Robert Plant. The first notes of “Sunday Bloody Sunday” are sheer madness. But the Irish choir boy has everything under control. “The Joshua Tree” shows how masterfully Bono controls his voice and what he learned from punk, new wave and American musicians like Bob Dylan. In the quiet moments of “With Or Without You,” you can imagine him sitting under the stars. And when he starts the chorus, a hailstorm breaks out.
A lot of Bono’s unconventional singing has to do with the band’s rhythms and the church bell feel of Edge’s guitar. Bono surfs through it very elegantly, even if it seems completely natural. And he’s not afraid to push his limits, like the falsetto vocals in “Lemon” or “Kite.” You never get the feeling that he’s manipulating his voice to make a fool of himself.
You never get the feeling that he’s manipulating his voice to make a fool of himself. Bono is always looking for ways to do something new and different. That’s something I learned from him: never rest on your laurels. Listen, keep learning. That’s what makes a singer – and Bono has it in spades.” Birthday: May 10, 1960. Key songs: “One”, “With Or Without You”, “Where The Streets Have No Name”. Inspiration for: Eddie Vedder, Chris Martin.