Fan poll: 5 greatest pop-punk vocalists of all time
Being a great pop-punk singer is marked as much by personality as it is vocal ability. For the best in the biz, they’re able to belt out vocal runs with a side of theatrics and can seamlessly move from fast-paced anthems to towering ballads. Of course, determining the best pop-punk vocalists is a weighty ask in a genre that has extremely devoted fandoms — everyone has their favorites.
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With so many show-stopping vocalists to choose from, we asked our readers to choose the greatest pop-punk vocalists of all time. Largely, artists from the last 30 or so years were represented the most, and the top five fan picks are ranked accordingly below.
5. Gerard Way – My Chemical Romance
Gerard Way channels Freddie Mercury with his theatrical pop-punk vocals, which make each of his songs feel epic. The My Chemical Romance bandleader uses that power to make choruses haunting, creepy and unparalleled. From the operatic “Helena” to the anthemic “Welcome to the Black Parade,” Way’s vocals always manage to make each track an immersive experience.
4. Billie Joe Armstrong – Green Day
You can recognize Billie Joe Armstrong‘s syrupy vocals anywhere. The Green Day bandleader is known for largely his lower range and doesn’t necessarily belt like some of the others on this list, but that it’s what’s given many of the band’s hits their palpable grit. Green Day’s songs have more of a punk sheen than pop because of Armstrong, but that’s their appeal.
3. Patrick Stump – Fall Out Boy
There’s something distinct about each pop-punk singer’s vocals, and when it comes to Patrick Stump, he brings a soulful swagger with him. The Fall Out Boy bandleader’s ability to deliver a piercing falsetto that’s jazz- and blues-tinged makes songs like 2005’s “Sugar, We’re Goin Down” and 2007’s “This Ain’t a Scene” particularly cinematic.
2. Hayley Williams – Paramore
Beyond being a great pop-punk vocalist, Hayley Williams is generally just a talented singer. Toying with her tone, timbre and delivery, the Paramore bandleader has one of the most versatile voices out there. Whether she’s pouring her disappointment into her sharp, wailing vocals on the Twilight soundtrack hit “Decode” or belting her rage into a track about someone’s ex in 2007’s “Misery Business,” Williams’ tone never falters and always leaves us wanting more.
1. Avril Lavigne
The “motherfucking princess” of pop punk earned the top spot on this list. For over 20 years, Avril Lavigne has seamlessly moved between defiant pop-punk tracks and tender ballads. But her vocal prowess transcends genre: The Canadian singer delivers clean vocal runs whether she’s singing snappy tracks like the 2007 hit “Boyfriend” or the 2002 emotive ballad “I’m With You.” Her versatility is what’s made her more than a princess, and instead the queen of pop-punk vocalists.
