Grace Slick has a fantastic voice, it's a shame she retired from the music industry. Joni Mitchell’s voice back in the 1960s and 1970s was just beautiful and crystal clear. I also love the huskiness it eventually took on due to her heavy smoking. Cass Elliot was also a wonderful singer. Janis Joplin’s voice was unique, honest and passionate. Stevie Nicks, much like Janis Joplin, isn’t a singer of great octave range but is a highly unique and passionate singer. Bette Midler is a vastly underrated singer who is mostly known for The Wind Beneath My Wings and not her vastly superior earlier work.
Jennifer Warnes. Her voice on the album called Famous Blue Raincoat is so meaningful. Almost like she is singing just for you.
Barbara Streisand. Wonderful voice.
Maria Callas. Warming.
Joan Baez. She sings and it is meant!
Emmylou Harris. Beautiful.
There are a few lesser known females singers from the 1950's 1960's who sadly didn't quite hit the big time. I can't quite recall their names at present but great voices.
Sometimes such as in this clip http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TYl8GRJGnBY there is little doubt in my mind that hers was the definitive recording... With a singer like her, when everything is in perfect place it really is something very special.
But at other times she can just leave me cold to be honest...
I've already mentioned Sandy Denny, but a few more for me: Nina Simone, Dusty Springfield, Kate Bush, Elizabeth Fraser, kd lang, Joni Mitchell, Laura Nyro, Alison Goldfrapp, Fiona Apple, Janelle Monae...did I say a few?!
For me it's a toss up between Karen Carpenter & Alison Krauss.
Very different from each other, but equally breathtaking IMO.
I expect to be slated for this, but Adele has got a hell of a lot of potential TBH.
I know it's been played to death, but her Brits performance of SLY was stunning, especially the first time you watched it IYKWIM?
I think what is worse is that they don't care and accept mediocrity as the norm...
Thank goodness I'm not alone in that! had an argument some days ago with a FM about that...
I would second Emmylou Harris, Ella Fitzgerald and Sandy Denny for the popular music genres.
For classical I would say for me, it would be between Lucia Popp and Cecilia Bartoli. There's no denying the talent or legacy of Callas, but for my personal tastes there are just other voices I prefer that's all.
Never been a fan of her music but I have to admit Alison Moyet had one hell of a voice but I'm surprised no one has said Shirley Bassey yet or Diana Ross
I'll listen to music of any era, as long as the standard of musicianship and singing is good and it's an enjoyable tune.
Aside from opera and classical my musical tastes also date back to the 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s and to a lesser extent the 60s and 70s.
I really started to lose interest when production methods allowed less talented performers a foot in the door and people thought it was OK for "performers" to mime their way through live performances!
Fortunately as we see in this thread there are still some artists with integrity!
Comments
Ann Wilson sounds as great today as she did back in the 1970s.
Jefferson Airplane (Grace Slick) - White Rabbit
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WANNqr-vcx0
Joni Mitchell - River (Live, 1970)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fCwlEnuXYsE
Cass Elliot - He's a Runner
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BOTUGr9zqIs
Janis Joplin - Little Girl Blue (Live, 1969)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FVpDOIPx_sY
Fleetwood Mac (Stevie Nicks) - Rhiannon (Live, 1976)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MtPyk8_onO8
Bette Midler - Midnight In Memphis
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uxJb1rT8jho
And another great Ann Wilson performance:
Even It Up (Live, 1982)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CcCEVxkNVRY
Ella Fitzgerald
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RF1yQMPMEMo&list=PL80B2BB20A16BE1A4
Sarah Vaughan
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qNi6M_A9AzU
Diana Krall
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_z7X8fbNIkI
First names that spring to mind
K D Lang. Such a smooth voice.
Jennifer Warnes. Her voice on the album called Famous Blue Raincoat is so meaningful. Almost like she is singing just for you.
Barbara Streisand. Wonderful voice.
Maria Callas. Warming.
Joan Baez. She sings and it is meant!
Emmylou Harris. Beautiful.
There are a few lesser known females singers from the 1950's 1960's who sadly didn't quite hit the big time. I can't quite recall their names at present but great voices.
Nice to Natalie Merchant getting a mention. A lovely tone.
Took longer than I was predicting...
A bit of a strange one for me.
Sometimes such as in this clip http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TYl8GRJGnBY there is little doubt in my mind that hers was the definitive recording... With a singer like her, when everything is in perfect place it really is something very special.
But at other times she can just leave me cold to be honest...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Sn3bN2_nJY
Of the more contemporary.
Jane Monheit. Singing live. Few can do it these days and stay in tune.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zjgkAHt38NA
And this one is constantly under-rated in my opinion.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e7f1ZB91kPg
Nina Simone
Edith Piaf
Annie Lennox
Patti Smith
Amy Winehouse
Nico
Beth Gibbons
They all have such distinctive voices and singing styles.
Do - Daughters
Do- Only Girl in the World
Both sung live.
I think that's somewhat genre dependent and something of a prerequisite for an opera singer.
I second this. Just listen to her sing 'Solitaire', 'Superstar,' 'Song for You' or 'Goodbye to Love'.
Very different from each other, but equally breathtaking IMO.
I expect to be slated for this, but Adele has got a hell of a lot of potential TBH.
I know it's been played to death, but her Brits performance of SLY was stunning, especially the first time you watched it IYKWIM?
Sara's phrasing and improvisation, sets her apart.
What ever genre it is, staying in tune and just as importantly, being able to hold a note, is essential.
A lot of contemporary pop singers can't.
Here's another who can do both.
Janis Siegel.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c3GDy_6RfaI
You misunderstood...
My point was that in some genre you simply wouldn't have a career full stop unless you could sing in tune.
Quite clearly there are other genre where that isn't the case regardless of whether it should be.
Yes, I appreciate there are some genres, where the audience wouldn't know the difference.
Thank goodness I'm not alone in that! had an argument some days ago with a FM about that...
I would second Emmylou Harris, Ella Fitzgerald and Sandy Denny for the popular music genres.
For classical I would say for me, it would be between Lucia Popp and Cecilia Bartoli. There's no denying the talent or legacy of Callas, but for my personal tastes there are just other voices I prefer that's all.
This is true.
I'll listen to music of any era, as long as the standard of musicianship and singing is good and it's an enjoyable tune.
Trouble is, most of the "best" tunes were written a long time ago.
Here's a favourite of mine.
Helen Forrest with Artie Shaw.
Given by the comments, even some of the younger generations can appreciate it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=glER9761rZc
I really started to lose interest when production methods allowed less talented performers a foot in the door and people thought it was OK for "performers" to mime their way through live performances!
Fortunately as we see in this thread there are still some artists with integrity!