By Vandelron (24.44.20.172) on Saturday, April 26, 2003 - 06:28 pm:

Over--Elton John(cant take much more),Eminem,Aretha(depending on herself-can also move to most underrated),Janet Jackson(so she can dance),Michael Jackson(much of the time)Shania Twain,Martha Reeves(since 1979).

Under-THELMA HOUSTON,Cissy Houston, Jean Terrell,Mary Wilson,Sam Harris,David Peaston(give that man a contract),Mary Wells(listening to her yesterday-soft,sexy,strong,seductive--copied by many),Brenda Holloway(she should b a star in a just world);Patti LaBelle(most exciting entertainer Ive ever seen--she scares some critics--with Nona and Sara: dont know if Id survive it).

By Rated (151.197.41.97) on Saturday, April 26, 2003 - 08:09 pm:

Over rated-- Ashanti(please) Aretha (now)
Ja Rule(yecccchhhh) Enrique Iglasius, White Stripes, Avril Lavigne(ouch)Anita Baker
Kirk Franklin, Justin Timberlake, Kelly Clarkson

Under rated--Patti Labelle, Mary J. (current)
Yolanda Adams,Mos Def,Joan Osborne, Ruben Studdard

By medusa9e (66.73.6.237) on Sunday, April 27, 2003 - 08:48 am:

..and I really think Sweet James & The Fantastic Four, Enchantment. Lauryn Hill, Jill Scott, Rockie Robbins, Dramatics, LJ Reynolds, Dorothy Moore, Miles Jaye , Angie Stone,2 name a few R very much UNDERated! These people can really sing & perform

OVER_RATED:Madonna, Eminem, Ashanti, 50 cents, Brandy, Missy Elliot, N Sync, Michael Bolton, (when he was on the scene). Alicia Keys, Eve, Brittany Spears, Nelly, Mystical, Destinys Child, Miariah Carey. To me if all of the voice altering technology that's used 2 record was taken away, what do U think they would sound like???

By dvdmike (12.84.96.213) on Sunday, April 27, 2003 - 09:03 am:

One the most underrated singers in my own humble opinion was Walter Jackson. Particularly in the Okeh years. Early Jerry Butler as well. Jerry in those days had this very smooth, milky baritone that could knock your socks off.

As far as overrated singers, there are probably too many to try and decipher.

By fayette (152.163.188.68) on Sunday, April 27, 2003 - 12:29 pm:

overated, michael jackson, usher,destiny child,
kelly rowland(can't sing worth 2 cents)
madonna, cher(can't sing either i think it's
she style). diana ross in the earlier days,
i thought her singing was too nasal.
underated,peabo bryson freddy jackson,margie
joseph,stephanie mills,michael macdonald

By MichaelOH (24.157.156.82) on Sunday, April 27, 2003 - 12:59 pm:

Under rated- The Three Degrees! Their version of "Maybe" is enough to make a grown man weep...

By Soul Sister (65.43.153.219) on Sunday, April 27, 2003 - 02:42 pm:

Underrated I agree with all but most especially about the late & very great Walter Jackson, also add Derek Martin, Timothy Wilson, & Big Maybelle. Groups: The 5 Keys, The 5 Stairsteps, & The Madlads.

By Soul Sister (65.43.153.219) on Sunday, April 27, 2003 - 02:42 pm:

Underrated I agree with all but most especially about the late & very great Walter Jackson, also add Derek Martin, Timothy Wilson, & Big Maybelle. Groups: The 5 Keys, The 5 Stairsteps, & The Madlads.

By Nish (66.119.34.39) on Sunday, April 27, 2003 - 09:04 pm:

Under - Deon Jackson, Brenda Holloway, Barbara Jean English, 70s Supremes, Barbara Mason (great songwriter, one of the first female soul artists to write her own stuff regularly), Radiants, Originals, Fabulous Pearls, early Whispers (great harmonies), Barbara McNair, Kenny "Klook" Clarke, Five Stairsteps, post-Smokey Miracles, Laura Nyro, Mary Wells

Over - Ashanti, Kelly Clarkson, Bob Dylan, Beatles, Madonna, Janet and Michael, rappers, Britney, Christina, Alicia Keys, Justin Timberlake, pop stars in gen'l, Anita Baker, Sade.

By DJ (130.156.140.2) on Tuesday, April 29, 2003 - 02:33 am:

Overated As singers and performers: The Erica Badoo(s)and Jill Scotts,


Underated: Richard Street
Jordan Knight
Justin Timberlake
Janet Jackson
and Soft sounding singers in general are all underated(Good singing does not equal yelling and screaming period.)

By LaJolla (67.24.159.251) on Tuesday, April 29, 2003 - 07:59 am:

Overated: Ashanti, Usher, Destiny's Child, 50 cents (singer??), Nora Jones (sorry...no voice here). Alicia Keys (can she OPEN her mouth when she sings?)Eminem. White Stripes. Janet Jackson, Actually, a fair share of the current crop.

Underated: 70's Supremes, Three Degrees, Ronnie Dyson

By Randy Russi (169.139.180.100) on Tuesday, April 29, 2003 - 01:05 pm:

Underated: Definitely MARY WELLS!!! After leaving
Motown she was all but forgotten in THEIR history
book for years! The material she did at Jubilee
Records (written & produced by her & husband Cecil
Womack) should have received & to this day SHOULD
receive much more recognition.

Underated: DEE DEE SHARP--to this day sounds
incredible. Never has received her just dues--
especially at Phil. Int. label.

By Common (209.2.55.169) on Tuesday, April 29, 2003 - 01:08 pm:

Hello everyone,

Randy: I love Dee Dee Sharp's version of "I'm Not In Love" by Ten CC. She tore it up!

Peace!

By Randy Russi (169.139.180.100) on Tuesday, April 29, 2003 - 02:23 pm:

Hey Common, you've got that right!!!

By Vandelron (24.44.20.172) on Tuesday, April 29, 2003 - 08:49 pm:

Randy u go. To this day Ms Dee Dee's version of Id Really Love To See You Toinight gives me goose bumps-she's in the same league as Cissy and Darlene.

By stephanie (66.54.1.38) on Tuesday, April 29, 2003 - 09:02 pm:

DAMN!! Im glad the people on this board didnt forget Walter Jackson he should have been a big star!! Nish I agree with you on what you said in everything......

Underrated - Boz Scaggs, Deon Jackson right nish!!!!!, Phoebe Snow, Patti Austin, as a singer and a songwriter Patrice Rushen, definitely Thelma Houston..I cant agree with some on Diana Ross she has a unique voice not strong but unique and strong when she wants it to be..in her hey day Flo Ballard......I know some of you may kill me on this one but I dont think Mary Wells was overrated on Motown but on the stuff she did when she LEFT Motown she is underrated. I think the material she did when she left Motown vocally was much better. Musically I think Smokey did her a favor. Kim Weston is a fantastic vocalist and Brenda Holloway should have been the queen of
Motown as far as Im concerned nothing against Miss Ross but Holloway got the shaft!!! If you listen to her and saw her presentation in the early days there is no reason why that woman shouldnt have been a hitmaker..listen to When Im Gone.

Vandelron!!!!
Under-THELMA HOUSTON,Cissy Houston, Jean Terrell,Mary Wilson,Sam Harris,David Peaston(give that man a contract),Mary Wells(listening to her yesterday-soft,sexy,strong,seductive--copied by many),Brenda Holloway(she should b a star in a just world);Patti LaBelle(most exciting entertainer Ive ever seen--she scares some critics--with Nona and Sara: dont know if Id survive it>>>>>>>>>>>

I dont know why Sam Harris is not a star this brother can sing!!! He was one of the best people and things that Star Search had to offer.
Stephanie

By Handsome (170.118.157.133) on Wednesday, May 21, 2003 - 06:04 pm:

Overrated-Destiny's Child

Underrated-Will Downing, Rachelle Ferrell, Peabo Bryson,Rahsaan Patterson, Thelma Houston, The Sweet Inspirations, Martha Reeves & The Vandellas

By Sly fan (67.115.73.2) on Wednesday, May 21, 2003 - 06:25 pm:

Handsome: thank you for mentioning Rahsaan Patterson!!! That dude can sing I have both of his albums...he is a great live performer too..

I agree with all of the underrated acts posted!!

You might wanna add Syl Johnson , OV Wright, Shirley Brown, Candi Staton to the "under dog" list as well..

By Sly fan (67.115.73.2) on Wednesday, May 21, 2003 - 06:27 pm:

Avril is a cutie...

Bobby Womack..criminally underrated as a musician and singer!!

By Sly fan (67.115.73.2) on Wednesday, May 21, 2003 - 06:33 pm:

One more "undie": Rance Allen.

By DELL (12.14.39.66) on Wednesday, May 21, 2003 - 06:45 pm:

UNDERRATED - PHIL PERRY

OVERRATED - ASHANTI

By WaltBaby (64.12.97.7) on Wednesday, May 21, 2003 - 06:47 pm:

Overrated: I just knew someone would say Keith Sweat!!!

By Handsome (170.118.157.133) on Thursday, May 22, 2003 - 11:11 am:

Thanks Sly-Mr. Patterson is the MAN (Spend the nite & It's Alright Now-good songs).
And how did I forget my Donny Hathaway as underrated? My favorites song are, Take a Love Song, Love, Love, Love & You've lost that Lovin' Feelin' (w/Roberta Flack).

By R&B (138.238.41.118) on Thursday, May 22, 2003 - 11:32 am:

UNDER...DION JACKSON,MINNIE RIPERTON,FREDDY NORTH,LOUIS PRICE,RUBY ANDREWS,THE OPALS.OVER...NO THAT LIST IS TOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO LONG!

By Handsome (170.118.157.133) on Thursday, May 22, 2003 - 11:52 am:

Hmm...Didn't Freddie North record a song back in the 70's (I think on a green & yellow label) called "She's all I got"? My great Grandmother used to love for me to play that song when I was younger.

By R&B (138.238.41.118) on Thursday, May 22, 2003 - 11:57 am:

YEP,THAT FREDDIE NORTH,SOUNDS LIKE GREAT GRANDMA WAS SOULFUL.

By Common (209.2.55.171) on Thursday, May 22, 2003 - 12:00 pm:

Hello everyone,

Handsome: that sounds familiar. I think I have the same record on 45. I think it goes something like "Please don't take her, she's all I got", or something like that. Sounds like the same person, I think.

Peace!

By Handsome (170.118.157.133) on Thursday, May 22, 2003 - 01:44 pm:

Hey R & B:Big Mama was quite soulful, ha ha!

Common: You're on the money...That's the lyrics! Brings back memories!

By Common (209.2.55.171) on Thursday, May 22, 2003 - 03:28 pm:

Handsome: Just like I thought no one ever heard of CheeChee & Peppy was, R &B & you come up with Freddie North. SD never ceases to amaze me!


Peace!

By keith.rylatt@tesco.net (213.104.88.104) on Thursday, May 22, 2003 - 04:03 pm:

Sorry to be inspired by the negative but Mick Hucknall of Simply Red is a spetentious poser. Yes, he was encouraged by Roger Eagle, DJ at the Twisted Wheel, the UKs premier R&B club of the 60s but when he describes himself as a Soul singer I just want to puke my ring. Someone like Tommy Tate is a SOUL singer. Yours, bitter & twisted. Keith