Reply #52: Best voice doesn't make one the best front man/woman

[LynneSin]

I've attended enough concerts in my life and it's that lead singer that has to bring the rest of crowd into the concert. Paul Rodger's voice may be awesome but when was the last time someone got excited about seeing Bad Company or Free in concert? Or started a thread about all the Paul Rodger bands that they've seen in their lifetime. Vocally he's great but he doesn't have the draw that Freddie Mercury, the ultimate frontman, had.

Example: About 5 years ago I saw Steely Dan in concert. I've always liked their musics and a friend had an extra ticket so I figured "Why Not". The concert was great. Everyone was relaxed, sat back and enjoyed the music. As much as I enjoyed the concert though I probably wouldn't really go see them again. I'm a woman of limited means and concerts are quite the expensive endeavor these days.

Just this past year I saw Green Day in concert for the first time. Ten years ago when they came out I figured they were just some punkass fluke band that (as I told a co-worker) would be future fodder for the K-mart CD Bargain Bin. But back in August a friend was interested in going so I figured why not. I had seen their Live8 performance (which really was the first time I had ever seen them perform in a concert anywhere) and figured they were anti-war/anti-Bush so might as well support the cause. We were able to get tickets down at the Merriweather in Maryland and the show was absolutely amazing.

If it wasn't for Hurricane Katrina, I was thisclose to plopping down $200 to go see them again at the sold out show in Philadelphia (Reason I didn't was it really was after Katrina and ended up donating the money to the Red Cross). The performance mainly put on by Billie Joe Armstrong was just outstanding to watch. That guy stood up there and sold the entire concert. Vocally he's ok, his guitar playing is abysmal at best but charismatically the guy knows how to reach out to the entire audience. I swear if Freddie Mercury and Charlie Chaplin had a love child it would probably be Armstrong.

So when you say "Best Frontman/Woman" my consideration is what lead singer puts such heart into the show that I'm clamoring to go see the concert again and rave about it to my friends and here on DU. Paul Rodgers never really had that charisma that could create excitement about a show like Freddie Mercury which is why I do not consider Rodgers as a candidate for best "Frontman/Woman"