Top 10 Male Artists with the Highest Singing Voices

#10: Frankie Valli

The Four Seasons formed in 1960 with Frankie Valli as their lead vocalist. Over the years, he developed a reputation as one of the greatest falsetto vocalists in pop. It became a defining feature of The Four Season’s sound. An argument could be made that falsetto wasn’t cool until Valli brought it into the mainstream, encouraging countless others to follow. Unlike a lot of high-voiced singers who lose their talents with age, Valli is in his 90s and still nailing tunes. His career’s lasted over 70 years, and he’s made a legacy for himself that’s likely to endure centuries.

#9: Jeff Buckley

In the 90s, Buckley attracted a cult following before releasing his only studio album, “Grace” in 1994. In 1997, Buckley tragically drowned in the Wolf River while swimming. After this tragedy, his music grew significantly in popularity. Now he’s considered one of the finest vocalists of his generation. Buckley possessed a phenomenal talent for casually reaching high notes. His cover of “Hallelujah” is a perfect example of how effortlessly he traversed the higher registers. Tons of artists were inspired by his style, such as Thom Yorke and Matt Bellamy, both considered some of the greatest falsettos.

#8: Justin Timberlake

They don’t call him the “Prince of Pop” for nothing. Timberlake’s career has lasted over 40 years, and in that time, he’s sold over 117 million records. Timberlake’s been nailing the high notes since he was a member of NYSYNC in the '90s. His sound is defined by his impressive falsetto control, which flawlessly blends with his R&B grooves. While his newer music isn’t as critically acclaimed as his earlier work, his voice is still a force to be reckoned with. Of course, he was hugely influential, inspiring modern artists like The Weeknd and Bruno Mars.

#7: The Weeknd

One of the defining artists of the 2010s was easily Canadian singer The Weeknd. By the time he released his 2016 album “Starboy,” he was a household name globally. He’s developed one of the most immediately recognisable voices of the century so far. Rather than relying on falsetto, he sings with his full voice in the upper tenor range, something most male vocalists find nigh on impossible. Unlike his predecessors, his music sounds way darker than any pop falsetto before him. This pioneering style has made him one of pop and R&B’s biggest names.

#6: Axl Rose

Guns N’ Roses is one of the most famous bands globally, becoming titans of the hard rock scene in the late 80s and maintaining that position for decades after. Since their formation in 1985, Axl Rose has been their lead vocalist. He’s notable for having one of the widest ranges in rock history, able to combine belting high notes with powerful rock delivery. Rose’s range is roughly 5 octaves wide, which is considered one of the greatest ranges ever. Unfortunately, his vocal chords have been seriously damaged over the years, and his voice is nowhere near as amazing as it once was.

#5: Justin Vernon

Bon Iver’s frontman has an almost ethereal voice, which often sounds otherworldly. Instead of being a bit of a vocal stuntman like Axl Rose, his vocals are subtly angelic, creating an almost transcendent experience. Rather than prioritising technical complexity, atmosphere and vibe are Vernon’s main concern. Numerous Bon Iver tracks are entirely falsetto, which can be a challenge to nail, but not for Vernon. His talents have made high and delicate male vocals a staple of indie rock. Their music has become majorly influential, even inspiring the works of Taylor Swift, who collaborated with them on “Folklore” and “Evermore.”

#4: Thom Yorke

Few musicians achieve even half the success and influence Radiohead has acquired. They made it big in the early 90s grunge scene, particularly because of their track “Creep.” Afterwards, their music got increasingly experimental, becoming defined by frontman Yorke’s boundary-pushing vocals. This has made his upper register not simply unique, but a defining aspect of an entire genre. Yorke spends entire songs effortlessly thriving in the falsetto range. A whole generation of vocalists has been inspired by him, including mainstream artists like Muse’s Matt Bellamy. If it weren’t for Yorke and Radiohead, the modern alternative rock scene would arguably look completely different.

#3: Prince

In the late 70s, guitarist and singer-songwriter Prince began releasing music. In the 80s, he achieved global fame and released multiple hit tracks. One of his most mind-blowing talents was his vocal range, which some believe was at least 5 octaves. Prince had a high register that wasn’t just technically impressive, but eventually became culturally iconic. Few vocalists could match his precision and control. Throughout his life, he’d consistently nail his most demanding vocal parts live, while simultaneously dancing or shredding his guitar. It would be a challenge to find an artist in the genres of funk, pop, or R&B who wasn’t influenced by Prince in some way.

#2: Freddie Mercury

We can’t write a list about the greatest male vocalists without mentioning Queen’s frontman Freddie Mercury. His vocal range was astoundingly wide, but it was his unmatched ability to deliver high notes with immense power that made him so iconic. Mercury could pivot between genres and styles with ease, showcased in “Bohemian Rhapsody,” one of Queen’s most iconic creations. On stage, not only did he replicate his studio vocals, but he would often surpass them. Additionally, he’d bring a huge amount of energy with him, making Queen shows some of the most exciting experiences in history.

Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.

Barry Gibb

As One Third of the Bee Gees, Gibb’s Voice Became Integral to Their Style

Børns

His Elegant Falsetto Makes His Voice Instantly Recognizable

MAX

His Voice Sits Comfortably in the Falsetto Range in a Way Many Are Jealous Of

Justin Hawkins

The Darkness’ Lead Singer Shies Away From Vocals That Aren’t Exceptionally High

Chris Martin

The Voice of Coldplay’s Frontman Is Rarely off the Charts

#1: Michael Jackson

If someone claimed Michael Jackson was the most influential artist in pop’s history, few would argue that’s an unreasonable opinion. He’s frequently called the King of Pop, and for good reason. Jackson rose to prominence as the Jackson 5’s lead singer, debuting when he was only 6 years old. Nailing falsetto was no challenge for him, but he also possessed a remarkably strong chest voice. Replicating his next-level vocals also wasn’t an issue; sometimes, he’d even improve on them while effortlessly dancing the entire time. Across his almost 45-year career, he reshaped the entire pop landscape, inspiring generations of artists.

Were there any mindblowing falsettos we failed to mention? Let us know in the comments below!