THE 100 GREATEST LEAD SINGERS. This post: #2. Concludes tomorrow.
As the focal point for the groups they sing out front of, these figures loom larger than the other members. Caffè Lattè pays tribute to the all-time…
100
GREATEST LEAD SINGERS
2
🎤Mick Jagger
[The Rolling Stones]
Even at 78, Jagger can occupy a stage just as effectively as he did in his youth when The Stones broke through in the 1960s. Drawing from soul performers and bluesmen, he created his individual style. He is part sexual, confident and showman. As a lead vocalist, he can wow you with his genre-spanning talent. This is most evident on Stones classics such as “Satisfaction”, “You Can’t Always Get What You Want”, “Angie”, “Sympathy For The Devil”, “Fool To Cry”, “Paint It, Black”, “She’s A Rainbow”, “Wild Horses” and “Street Fighting Man”. Jagger’s resumé also includes solo albums and film roles.
U2 broke through internationally
in 1981. The Irish rock band’s first 3 albums were produced by Steve
Lillywhite. These discs spawned thrilling singles such as “I Will Follow”, “Gloria”
and “New Year’s Day” respectively. This early phase reached its zenith with the
anthemic “Sunday Bloody Sunday”. As U2 approached its fourth album, a radical
shift was implemented. The group explored a new musical direction. U2 recruited
producers Brian Eno and Daniel Lanois. ‘The Unforgettable Fire’ added a new
dimension to the band’s music. With Eno and Lanois at the helm, U2 mined new
soundscapes. Lead vocalist Bono stretched his range, as best witnessed on the
track “Pride (In The Name Of Love)”. It was the title track, however, that saw U2
reinvent its sound. This was a daring move, as the group was in the process of
breaking through into the mainstream. U2 would use this tactic again and again
on subsequent albums, such as ‘The Joshua Tree’, ‘Rattle And Hum’, ‘Achtung
Baby’ and ‘Zooropa’. “The Unforgettable Fire” was an influential song for U2
and other groups. The track gave the band a unique sound that helped elevate it
to an increased fan base. The song and its parent album served as a bridge from
U2’s origins to the huge success of follow-up album ‘The Joshua Tree’. The
group was on its way to becoming one of the leading acts in rock music.
Prince was a unique musician. He
was prolific, there are likely to be countless unreleased songs still in the
vaults. As a musical virtuoso, he mastered many instruments. Prince was astute
in drawing from past performers such as Sly & The Family Stone, Jimi
Hendrix, James Brown, Marvin Gaye, Michael Jackson, George Clinton, Jackie
Wilson, Al Green and Sylvester and creating his individual hybrid. This melting
pot crossed genres such as soul, pop, funk, rock, psychedelia and R&B. By
1984, Prince had been a regular on charts around the globe, with hits such as “1999”,
“Little Red Corvette” and “Controversy”. Next, Prince unleashed his film project
‘Purple Rain’. The motion picture and its soundtrack album magnified his profile.
Prince was an acknowledged international star. At the time, Michael Jackson was basking in
the phenomenal success of ‘Thriller’. Prince suddenly emerged as a serious rival
on the charts. The soundtrack contained some of his best work: “Let’s Go Crazy”,
“I Would Die 4 U” and the title track. Its lead single was “When Doves Cry”. Prince
wrote the lyrics, composed the music and produced the track. He also performed
all of the instruments. That single elevated Prince into the pop pantheon. The
song’s lyrics are filled with imagery like the mention of doves and the colour
violet. “When Doves Cry” became Prince’s first #1 single in America, Canada
and Australia. Finally recognized as a musical force, his star never waned. 