30 Of The Most Overrated Singers Of All-Time – These Singers Are A Let Down When Seen Live
Whether it's their lyrics, stage presence, or vocals, some singers are downright overrated. Even some of the most popular artists around, such as Taylor Swift, shouldn't be regarded as "the best," thanks to their cookie-cutter way of songwriting.
When it comes to these singers, people can agree to disagree, but they're some of the most overrated artists around.
Katy Perry
Katy Perry is known for her stage presence of colorful costumes, eye-catching makeup, an average voice, and a personality as bright as her outfits. Perry's live performances sound flat, and her voice lacks range, something she tries to cover up while practically shouting all of her songs.
Yes, she has awards, but it doesn't detract from the fact that she's a so-so artist.
Ozzy Osbourne
Ozzy Osbourne cannot sing. The "Prince of Darkness" was more famous for his TV show co-starring his wife, Sharon. Osbourne's on-stage high jinks distracted audiences from a lack of singing talent.
While he is a one-of-a-kind frontman, his onstage theatrics were always the showstopper, not his singing talent.
Camila Cabello
Like many other singers, Camila Cabello puts on a good show but offers not much else in the talent department.
Cabello was in the all-girl band "Fifth Harmony," an equally talent-deprived group, before breaking them up by going solo. Cabello's charisma and dancing are more of her claims to fame than her actual musical abilities.
Axl Rose
Is it Rock-music blasphemy to say Axl Rose is an overrated singer? Rose sang lead vocals for "Guns N' Roses, one of Rock and Roll's greatest bands of all time.
Rose lacked any type of vocal strength. Guitarist "Slash" was the real talent in the group, and his hair had more talent than Rose too.
Dave Matthews
Dave Matthews, a brilliant and talented songwriter, sings lead vocals for the group bearing his name.
Fans of the band could care less about Matthews' low, monotone, and uninspiring vocals behind the microphone. It was Matthews' songwriting that made them one of the most successful artists and touring bands ever.
Lou Reed
Lou Reed sang and wrote for the Avant-garde band from the 60s "Velvet Underground." Reed's singing style has often been described as more like spoken word and poetry than singing.
Reed had independent appeal to his fans, and the singer made no effort to achieve financial or commercial success.
Liam Gallagher
Oasis lead singer Liam Gallagher has widely been accused of sounding like John Lennon.
Oasis' songs began sounding all the same, and the band's success suffered as a result. Gallagher's brother Liam wrote the band's best songs and played guitar. The brothers infamously did not get along backstage.
Britney Spears
No doubt that singer Britney Spears is one of the biggest-selling music artists of all time.
The Princess of Pop topped commercial charts with her hit songs in her heyday and wowed audiences with spectacular concert performances but little else. Sadly, her onstage presence is pretty much all Spears has going for her.
Adam Levine
Adam Levine is the recognizable face and voice of the group Maroon 5. Levine's appeal and signature voice fooled audiences into falsely believing in his singing abilities.
Winning Grammy Awards was not enough proof of Levine's talent. Audiences quickly grew tired of the singer's nasally and high-piched voice.
Rihanna
For nearly a decade, Rihanna blazed every music chart that featured her songs. With over 250 million album sales worldwide, Rihanna has put together quite an amazing career.
While nobody is questioning Rihanna's talent, putting her in the same breath as Mariah Carey and Beyonce is a huge mistake and one people don't tend to make.
Bono
Bono is U2, and U2 is Bono. Other than trailblazing and fantastic live performances, Bono fails to separate himself from the band.
Bono used to have an average level of singing credibility earlier in his career, but has not hit notes like on "Joshua Tree", since its debut.
Selena Gomez
Although Selena Gomez looks nothing like Britney Spears, their careers and talent levels are mirror images of each other.
Gomez is a former Disney star turned mega star in the world of music. Gomez proves her album sales and sold-out concert tours were the results of great stage presence and popularity from her Disney Channel days.
Sid Vicious
Any Sid Vicious fans out there? You would first need to have been a follower of the "Sex Pistols" to know who Vicious was.
Vicious lived the stereotypical rockstar lifestyle to the fullest, and his voice reflected it. He was all about screaming and not really about honing his voice into something unforgettable.
Janet Jackson
When it comes to concerts, there are few who can put on a better live show than Janet Jackson.
While she was known for having extravagant movie sets for concert stages, an average voice trademarked Jackson's career. Even so, it didn't stop people from attending her shows or buying albums.
Kurt Cobain
Kurt Cobain will always be linked to starting "Grunge" music and being the lead singer of "Nirvana."
Cobain's main appeal as a singer was more about the lyrics of the band's songs rather than their singing capabilities. Cobain's raspy and whiny voice was the extent of his average talents.
Miley Cyrus
Depending on who is asked, Miley Cyrus is not even the most talented or overrated in her own family. Her raspy voice might be appealing to some, but it is a huge turn-off when compared to other performers who came off of Disney Channel.
The cookie-cutter lyrics of many of his songs doesn't help matters.
Avril Lavigne
"Sk8er Boi" was an example of why Avril Lavigne was successful early in her career.
Loud, angry, and abrasive vocals were matched only by her lyrics, Lavigne had a good thing going early in her career, and she capitalized on it. Alas, the grunge-era of the early 2000s came and went, and so did people thinking Lavigne was anything other than a mediocre singer.
Chris Martin
Chris Martin and his band Coldplay are the victims of being typecast as unoriginal more than anything.
Martin's singing has been accused of sounding like The Smiths, U2, and Oasis to most audiences and listeners. His loud voice is really nothing more than that: loud with nothing to show for it.
Bob Dylan
Do not mistake the uniqueness of Bob Dylan with being talented. Dylan is a cultural and folk icon that earned fame and success for his songwriting and not his singing.
Dylan had a grainy and mumbling way of singing, but is considered by many to be a poetic genius.
Taylor Swift
In the 21st century, Taylor Swift is arguably the world's biggest music star, thanks to her numerous hit songs. Swift has successfully blended her quirky personality with average displays of her musical talent.
Her songs are cookie-cutter, and there is little to be admired when it comes to her soft vocals and lack of range.
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran looks like the average man and has just as much musical talent as one too. While Sheeran is not completely deprived of being gifted, powerful ballads and memorable lyrics will never be confused with his lack of vocal ability.
Sheeran's appeal is his tattoos, songwriting, and guitar skills.
Madonna
Over 300 million albums sold worldwide should exclude Madonna as being overrated instead of enhancing it. Madonna first attracted her fans with her average teenager look and lyrics that cried out on behalf of misunderstood teens everywhere.
Madonna's success was from the guarantee of a spectacular live performance and not necessarily stellar vocals.
Justin Bieber
As far as singing goes, Justin Bieber is mediocre at best. Honestly, his popularity really stems from his audience of younger girls who like his want-to-be bad-boy persona.
While his concerts tend to be sold-out extravaganzas, it doesn't detract from the fact that he is vastly overrated and only popular, thanks to fangirls and boys.
Jennifer Lopez
Jennifer Lopez is a hard-hitting performer with all of the right dance moves and no vocal talent to back it up.
While her popularity skyrockets her to superstardom, both onstage and even on the silver screen, she is not the most talented singer out there and is vastly overrated when compared to others in her genre.
Jim Morrison
Jim Morrison is best known for being the songwriter and lead singer of the rock band The Doors.
Morrison's style is mostly described as more poetic than musically inclined. Morrison distracted his fans with a range that included random moments of yelling as well as spoken words, something that would probably not fly in the modern day.
Anthony Kiedis
Anthony Kiedis of the Red Hot Chili Peppers is known for his low voice, cross-over lyrics, and singing about random subject matters, including his childhood and life in California.
Kiedis befriended and eventually recruited his fellow band members from his high school. The Red Hot Chili Peppers are in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Jon Bon Jovi
One of the lead stadium rockers of the 1980s, Jon Bon Jovi of the band Bon Jovi, might be great to watch live, but listening to him sing really is nothing more than a whole lot of shouting over guitar rifts.
Even so, the band and its lead singer somehow found fame.
Bruce Springsteen
Citizens of New Jersey's opinion aside, Bruce Springsteen is overrated and over-achieved in his career.
"The Boss" sang about the common man's struggles while strumming his guitar and not much else. While the subject matter might resonate with some people, it's the monotone vocals that are really offputting, making him overrated.
Mick Jagger
Mick Jagger is as iconic as the signature logo of the Rolling Stones. Jagger's signature dance moves and style have been credited with influencing artists and performers across many different genres.
Even with his legacy, Jagger never could carry a tune and typically relied on his moves to carry performances.
Chad Kroeger
Somehow, Chad Kroeger of Nickelback and his unique voice dominated the grunge and rock genres for nearly a decade.
That being said, there is a reason people can't stand the band, and it has everything to do with Kroeger's vocals and his straightforward, stereotypical lyrics that have zero depth to them.
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