What singers best convey the raw emotion in the lyrics of their songs?

Sos by disturbed is contrived and the singer sounds constipated. S and G version is superior and conveys the raw emotion better

I mean, c'mon...

Pretty much the entire Sinead O'connor album "lion and the cobra" especially Jackie, just like you said it would b, drink before the war

And of course from her second album "nothing compares to you"

Also, why have at least 3 of the songs mentioned been written by someone other than the performer?

I think that should disqualify them. This ain't the best karaoke singer competition.

Jim Morrison-Roadhouse Blues

"Please Tell My Brother" by Golden Smog (Jeff Tweedy) is brilliant.... simple, sad, homesick and entirely relatable:

https://youtu.be/SzCp_CspIDY

Since you referenced Johnny Cash signing a Nine Inch Nails song I'd like to mention "Closer" by Nine Inch Nails.

I felt like Trent Reznor really, really wanted to F her like an animal.

Henry Rollins

Lenny Leonard wrote:

Also, why have at least 3 of the songs mentioned been written by someone other than the performer?

I think that should disqualify them. This ain't the best karaoke singer competition.

Because the op made the rules and writing th song wasn't part of the rules. Feel free to make up your own game with your own rules

In my opinion, Isaac Brock of Modest Mouse is the GOAT singer when it comes to conveying raw emotion. Some songs that really highlight this are Bankrupt on Selling, The Ocean Breathes Salty, Third Planet, and Gravity Rides Everything.

Bjork is a close second

I'm not really a huge Rilo Kiley fan, but I remember seeing this live version of Better Son/Daughter and being pretty moved by Jenny Lewis's emotional display during the main part of the song. It's pretty clear that the song is really honest.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lh6liDtDThk

Eminem - Love the Way You Lie featuring Rihanna

I think they both captured the emotions of the song since they had both been involved in abusive relationships.

Eminem is very good at displaying anger in his lyrics.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uelHwf8o7_U

No thank you wrote:

Lenny Leonard wrote:

Also, why have at least 3 of the songs mentioned been written by someone other than the performer?

I think that should disqualify them. This ain't the best karaoke singer competition.

Because the op made the rules and writing th song wasn't part of the rules. Feel free to make up your own game with your own rules

"Convey the raw emotion in the lyrics to their songs"? Debatable. At what point does a song's lyrics become "theirs"

Since the OP asked for singers and not so much specific songs, here are a few others:

Elliott Smith

Righteous Brothers

Bill Withers

Freddie Mercury

Etta James, I rather go blind [live with the blond kid on guitar]

she does the best Misty Blue as well

This Guy wrote:

Freddie Mercury

EOT

Simon and Garfunkel

James Brown ... Listen to his live versions of its a mans world

Morrissey listen to I know it's over live

Bo diddley..... Hey bo

Black Francis from the pixies.... Listen to caribou or where is my mind

you want some real raw emotion, play Lennon's first solo album. Listen to Mother. Abandoned by both parents while a boy, he was starting to rebuild a relationship with his mum. Then she was hit by a car and died, so he lost her twice.

Mother, you had me

But I never had you

I wanted you

But you didn't want me

So

I, I just got to tell you

Goodbye

Goodbye

Father, you left me

But I never left you

I needed you

But you didn't need me

So

I, I just got to tell you

Goodbye

Goodbye

Children, don't do

What I have done

I couldn't walk

And I tried to run

So

I, I just got to tell you

Goodbye

Goodbye

Mama don't go

Daddy come home

Mama don't go

Daddy come home

Mama don't go

Daddy come home

Mama don't go

Daddy come home

Mama don't go

Daddy come home

Mama don't go

Daddy come home

Mama don't go

Daddy come home

Mama don't go

Daddy come home

Mama don't go

Daddy come home