20 of the most unique voices in all of music

Joni Mitchell spent her entire life honing her distinct singing style, and there's no artist with a voice quite like hers. She's got an incredible ability to convey emotion in both her lyrics and vocal tone, evidenced in songs like "A Case of You." 

Though some may find her style of music too avant-garde, there's no denying the purity and power of Icelandic singer Bjork's truly unique voice. For a particularly fascinating showcase of her sound, listen to 2004's "Medulla," in which layers and layers of vocals stand in for (most of) the instruments. 

Plenty of folks may not appreciate the nasally, folksy vocals of Bob Dylan, which were heavily influenced by a bout of vocal-cord swelling in the 1960s, but there's no denying that his voice helped shaped a generation in songs like "Blowin' In The Wind" and "Tangled Up in Blue." 

Colombian singer Shakira has a sound like no other, influenced by both her home country and her Lebanese heritage. And though her unique vibrato has been the source of derision at times, it's also propelled her to be one of the most distinctive — and long-lasting — pop stars of her generation. 

Late Soundgarden frontman Chris Cornell is widely considered to be one of rock music's most legendary vocalists, with a vocal range spanning more than four octaves. He also had an uncanny ability to use his voice to convey a wide range of emotions, evidenced in fan favorites like "Black Hole Sun," and his beloved cover of Prince's "Nothing Compares 2 U." 

Raspy and full of bluesy twang, Janis Joplin broke the mold for rock vocals in the 1970s, bringing her distinctly swampy sound to legendary songs like "Piece of My Heart" and "Me and Bobby McGee." 

Though most folk fans agree that Neil Young is a once-in-a-lifetime songwriting talent, his voice is decidedly more controversial. And though Jimmy Fallon's impression of Young's voice may inspire laughs, it's still the backbone of some of folk's finest tunes. 

Put simply: there is no vocalist in any genre of music quite like the late, great Freddie Mercury. The Queen frontman dabbled in rock, pop, and opera throughout his career, and in doing so, pulled off some truly timeless vocal performances. Need proof beyond "Bohemian Rhapsody?" Just listen to "Barcelona," his remarkable duet with opera icon Monserrat Caballe. 

During both her time in Fleetwood Mac and as a solo artist, Stevie Nicks has cultivated a vocal sound all her own. Her vibrato is legendary, and her emotional intensity in songs like "Rhiannon" and "Silver Springs" is unmatched. 

Whether you're talking about "Short People" or "You've Got A Friend In Me," the song he composed for Disney's "Toy Story" franchise, a Randy Newman song is immediately recognizable thanks to his completely unique singing voice. 

Powerful and wide-ranging, Nina Simone's voice has inspired countless vocalists via her expressive, jazz-and-blues influenced recordings of songs like "Feelin' Good" and "I Put A Spell on You." 

Since the 1960s, Robert Plant has been one of rock music's most recognizable vocalists, and he's got range. From his time as the frontman of Led Zeppelin to his acclaimed duets with country singer Alison Krauss, Robert's Plant's vocals are reliably great — and undeniably distinct. 

Boasting the most recognizable contralto voice in popular music, Cher has been blazing her own trail as a vocalist, performer, and actress since the 1960s. Her unique sound has inspired countless comedic impressions, but no one's denying that Cher's got a hell of a voice. 

As the lead singer of Pearl Jam, Eddie Vedder's bold baritone powers some of the best rock songs of the 1990s. And though some may complain that they have a hard time understanding the lyrics of songs like "Jeremy," their emotional power is obvious. 

As frontwoman of The Cranberries, Irish singer Dolores O'Riordan infuses the influence of her homeland's traditional music directly into her voice, evidenced in songs like "Zombie" and "Linger." 

Often haunting and always unique, David Bowie was an individual in every sense of the word, and that extends to his unique singing style. But he was always able to hold his own, even when harmonizing with the great Freddie Mercury on 1981's "Under Pressure." 

Though his style is often softer and more subtle than many of rock's most lauded vocalists, Smashing Pumpkins singer Billy Corgan still boasts one of the genre's great voices. He's also fully capable of bringing out the power on songs like "Bodies." 

With a voice that can range from rich deep tones to breathy and breezy, Lana Del Rey has a singing style that's all her own with plenty of jazz and classic pop influence. Listen to "West Coast" for more laid-back Del Rey, or "Summertime Sadness" to hear more of her emotional range. 

Even when she was starring as Hannah Montana on the Disney Channel, Miley Cyrus has always boasted a seriously powerful voice, as evidenced on songs like "Wrecking Ball." And though she has plenty of natural talent, having Dolly Parton as a godmother surely can't hurt in that department, either. 

Though there were plenty great crooners in the 1950s and 1960s, few have reached the cultural ubiquity of Frank Sinatra, whose voice soundtracks many of the American songbook's most recognizable songs, from "Come Fly With Me" to "New York, New York."