Famous songs with singer off key

I play a little guitar but can't tune by ear to save my life. I know when a string goes out of tune though.

According to a book I'm reading, the opening line of this song is off key and it was too painful for mellencamp to redo.

Can someone explain. And/or give other examples?

 

Nothing by Steely Dan

 

In post 1 is he too high or too low?

 

Sorry

 

The original Rosie and The Originals hit "Angel Baby".
It sounds like everybody is off key...but it somehow 'works'.

 

Steven Tyler has plenty of examples

Or is that just his signature voice?

 

Chet Baker has that superb vocal style of just being on the edge of off-key, and it works like a charm.

 

"The Girl From Ipanema"

 

Valarie - Jackie & the Starlites

 

Occasionally on more recent albums, Van Morrison skates a little close...
Perhaps he doesn't always playback songs just recorded.

 

There's a really bad bum note early on in Say Hello Wave Goodbye by Soft Cell at the end of a verse

 

I bought Dawes' debut album but stopped playing it because the lead singer sounds "off" to me, but it's very possible I'm the one who's off. What say you?

("My Girl To Me")

 

I also find Madonna to be generally pretty pitchy.

 

I feel like the singing in“letting go” by wings is a little bit pitchy. Funny cos Macca love him or hate him is not a guy you associate with being out of tune. Modern commercial recordings use technology to correct this so you rarely hear out of tune vocals even from singers you know aren’t that great. (I would list some here but don’t want to piss anyone off)

 

Pick any famous Neil Young song.

 

Wonderwall

 

A few songs off Scary Monsters.
But Bowie was trying to do that

 

It's not the hit studio version, but on the Live At Monterey version of "Monday Monday" by the Mamas and Papas, just after the 2nd bridge, the bass player hits a bum note that throws Michelle and Cass WAY off key. Truly cringeworthy.

 

The second verse of McFadden and Whitehead's Ain't No Stoppin' Us Now is sung a tone sharp. The instrumentation in the verse is in F minor, while the vocals are in F# minor. Still a great song, mind.

 

I have no way of knowing if anyone is singing off key or if an instrument is out of tune. I just can’t tell - which leaves me free to enjoy the music I love.

 

i sometimes find chris robinson, a little out of tune on some black crowes records! but it don't mind!!!