Who is widely considered the greatest British singer of all time?

Freddie Mercury is the most commonly cited answer in professional polls and public votes. Classic Rock magazine voted him the greatest rock singer in history in 2009. His Live Aid performance in 1985 is consistently named the greatest live rock performance ever. He had a documented four-octave vocal range and was described by David Bowie as the only performer who could "take it over the edge." However, this is genuinely contested: David Bowie, Amy Winehouse, Adele, and John Lennon all have credible claims. The 98types British Music History guide covers all of them in depth. Cast your vote above to add your voice to the debate.

What made Freddie Mercury's voice exceptional?

Freddie Mercury had a documented vocal range of approximately four octaves. A 2016 study by Czech and Austrian researchers, published in the journal Logopedics Phoniatrics Vocology, found that Mercury’s vibrato was faster and more irregular than a typical operatic singer’s, and that he used a technique called "subharmonic singing" more commonly found in throat singers than rock vocalists. His voice was also uniquely expressive — combining power, vulnerability and theatrical projection in a way that was entirely self-taught. Read more in the 98types Freddie Mercury guide.

What is the argument for David Bowie over Freddie Mercury?

The argument for Bowie rests on longevity, range and originality. Bowie reinvented himself seven times across five decades, producing artistically significant work from 1969 to 2016. His final album Blackstar, released two days before his death, received universal critical acclaim — no other British artist had ever done that. He was intellectually ambitious in a way Mercury was not: his lyrics reference Nietzsche, William Burroughs and Kabuki theatre. His 1972 Ziggy Stardust persona influenced the visual language of pop music more profoundly than any other British performer. Browse the Rock Songs collection for Bowie lyric prints.

Is Amy Winehouse considered a great British singer?

Among musicians, Amy Winehouse is frequently cited as the greatest British female vocalist of the 21st century. George Michael called her the best female vocalist he had ever heard. Tony Bennett said that of all the artists he recorded with — a list that includes Judy Garland, Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday and Frank Sinatra — only Amy Winehouse brought him to tears. She recorded Back to Black at 23 and won five Grammy Awards in a single night. She died at 27 in 2011. Her 98types birthday tribute covers her full career. Her bronze statue stands 200 metres from our Camden Market studio.

Which confirmed lyric prints are available for the singers in this vote?

The 98types collection includes confirmed products for: Oasis (Wonderwall), The Beatles (In My Life), Eight Days a Week, When I’m Sixty-Four as individual confirmed products. Queen, David Bowie, Elton John, George Michael, Fleetwood Mac, ABBA, Tina Turner, Ed Sheeran, Harry Styles and Amy Winehouse are all available via the Rock Songs A–Z and Pop Music collections. For any specific song not currently listed, use the custom print option. All from £3. Buy 3 get 1 free.