I guess logically there isn't a correlation but there seems to be a tendency for the less poster-body singers to actually be better than the "fit" ones, weird to be honest.

Paul Potts

No correlation at all.

Marianne Faithful was very good looking in her heyday and had a beautiful pure voice. And then there's Debbie Harry and Diana Ross. Whereas Janis Joplin had a great voice but..........

The Beatles main singers (John and Paul) were not that bad looking either.

Can't see any connection between good looks and vocal chords. Only thing I would say is that maybe those, who are particularly aesthetically challenged, might have experienced more pain and disappointment in their lives, which could give a greater depth to their performance.

Two words - Lyle Lovett.

Did you know that while Judith Durham was good looking in her day she thought she wasn't pretty, and that she was overweight In the 60's, she didnt fit the image of Twiggy type models.
Judith had a beautiful voice when she was young, and even today at 65/66 she has the same pure voice

There is certainly some correlation between physical attributes and the voice... Joan Sutherland in interview described herself as having "a big mouth" as she so delicately put it.

Likewise the main reason Hollies voice will fill out over the next few years is because she will change physically.

However I totally refute the idea that you can’t be attractive and sing well…

Deanna Durbin was a very pretty woman and few could even come close vocally.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hju5YFPH_eA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s_0MRbhk7Qk

Anna Netrebko is a very striking woman and has a wonderful voice. I believe some women find Rolando Villazon in the second clip attractive too…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MwuNqcKUxto
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pa58TdbRGJ4

Amy Winehouse isn't good-looking but I think she is quite attractive.

One of the most wonderful clips you'll see on YouTube is this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YAqk5qT5OY0

As a small boy I had a bit of a crush on Judith

That's not strange! She was very pretty in her day.
That clip is wonderful

Ian Dury
Jacques Brel

It's just an expectation. Pop singers being manufactured their authors always go for the good looking ones. It also takes attention away from music

Lionel Ritchie!

Ian Dury wasn't exactly an oil painting and didn't sing very well either but he still produced some cracking records with the Blockheads!

I'm visually impaired and female, but I think Jordin Sparks is both very talented and beautiful, especially because she doesn't conform to what is generally considered the "glamorous" look.

Not sure the gold teeth do much for DJ Talent though :P

BTW has anyone seen a pic of a young Susan Boyle? I'm assuming this thread was started with her in mind (correct me if I' wrong though!) but all the examples of less attractive singers given are older - and so is Susan. If she looked like Katherine Jenkins etc wouldn't we be calling her mutton dressed as lab?

xxxx

Those young pictures of Susan, she reminds me of Sheena Easton when she first started out.