Female Singers

[nc42acc]

Who are your top two female vocalists regardless of musical genre?

[Shadowfax]

from the hip, Annie Haslam and Mary Fahl

[Dizzie]

Beth Hart and I have to think about number 2. Depends on what day it is.

[FDPDK]

Melody Gardot , and Norah Jones

[Jack]

Beth Hart and Susan Tedeschi

[Shadowfax]

Beth Hart and I have to think about number 2. Depends on what day it is.

That's why mine was from the hip. I was just listening to Beth and Joe this morning.

[Mike]

Eva Cassidy
Alison Krauss


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Oly]

Zoe Colotis (Caravan Palace) and Tanja Thulau (Luke, Cantoma). I made my choices based on additional qualities beyond simply having a great voice. ��

[still-one]

I agree with several choices noted above. To be included in my list the artist must exhibit feelings either in her recordings or live performances. For example we one saw Celine Dion in concert and hated her wooden performance.

In addition to Alison Krauss, Eva Cassidy, Melody Gardot, and Mary Fahl all previously identified. I would add:
Mary Chapin Carpenter
Shelby Lynne
Katherine Jenkins
Linda Eder
Sissel

[Phil A]

There's so many - here's another not many people know about:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QZg9glHNdHE

[Kuoppis]

Like all the above, excellent choices, I think Rickie Lee Jones is still missing. And of course Ella Fitzgerald.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[Mr Peabody]

Definitely Eva Cassidy. I would add nancy Wilson. I'm also an Ella fan. A closet Doris Day fan.

She may not have ever made this list, but, I like Janis Joplin for the raw emotion and pain I can hear in most of her songs.

I listen to Patricia Barber often, not sure if it's her voice or the unique style she has.

I like

[nc42acc]

Eva Cassidy and Holly Cole at the moment for me. Glad to see others saying Eva Cassidy, she was tragically taken too soon.

[bart]

Ella Fitzgerald
Sarah Vaughan
(Billie Holiday)

It hurts me to have to omit all the classical divas (la Callas for example).

[audio.bill]

An interesting story to share regarding Eva Cassidy and her rendition of Sting's "Fields of Gold". Sting was being interviewed before one of his shows and was asked whether this performance would include his classic "Fields of Gold". He responded that after hearing Eva Cassidy's version that there really wasn't any point. That's quite an endorsement!

[RickS]

Sophia Pfister

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l2ggL7OpWcQ

[Dizzie]

Eva Cassidy and Holly Cole at the moment for me. Glad to see others saying Eva Cassidy, she was tragically taken too soon.

Another taken too soon. Kate Wolf

Her "words fell like rain on the dry desert plain
Precious and so quickly gone"

[GSOphile]

An interesting story to share regarding Eva Cassidy and her rendition of Sting's "Fields of Gold". Sting was being interviewed before one of his shows and was asked whether this performance would include his classic "Fields of Gold". He responded that after hearing Eva Cassidy's version that there really wasn't any point. That's quite an endorsement!

I saw Michelle Kwan skate to this piece in an Olympic exhibition after somewhat tragically missing Gold in the competition. I remember thinking, "Who is that singing??!!"
Beautifully choreographed:

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

[still-one]

Another taken too soon. Kate Wolf

Her "words fell like rain on the dry desert plain
Precious and so quickly gone"

+1 I forgot Kate in my list.

[CPP]

All great choices, I'm going to add Linda Ronstadt, sad that Parkinsons interrupted her life and career.

[Mr Peabody]

Jim, if you don't have Mindy Smith - One More Moment, you should check it out.

Jewel is another I forgot about

+1 I forgot Kate in my list.

[Nikhil]

Linda Ronstadt and Beth Hart for me at the moment.
Ella Fitzgerald is very close but gave Linda the edge.

[Kingsrule]

Lately it's been Grace Slick. Airplane days of course

[tube-vds]

pop:
- Ann Wilson
- Stevie Nicks

classical:
- Joyce DiDonato

[Dizzie]

Emmylou Harris

[Priaptor]

Check out Hilary Gardner on "The Great City". Excellent album and nice and mesmerizing voice. Something different than the usual.

[Yamaki]

Alison Krauss - Indie
Agnes Obel - Indie
First Aid Kit - two sisters - Indie
Emmylou Harris - C&W
Carly Simon - Pop
k.d. lang - Not really sure
Basia - Salsa/Jazz
Haim - three sisters - Pop
Jennifer Warnes - Contemporary

Sorry...I couldn't pick two

[Alpinist]

Who are your top two female vocalists regardless of musical genre?

Jazz - Julie London and Ella Fitzgerald
Opera - Elena Garanca

I know, it’s three.

Ken

[mauidan]

https://cyrillemusic.com/music/

[pdub]

Margo Timmins
Hope Sandoval

[Mechnutt]

Eva Cassidy
Linda Ronstadt

Honorable mention-
Etta James
Ann Wilson
Margo Timmins-Cowboy Junnkies
Hope Sandoval-Mazzy Star
Sara Bareilles
Stevie Nicks
Carol King

[dufferdan]

Aretha Franklin. Power, range, passion. Across so many genres.

I disagree with Stevie, Linda R and others. Stevie has a unique voice, but technically speaking, not a lot of range or variety. Similar with Linda, though Linda is better. Her album with Aaron Neville a prime example.

As another top 2, I mean you really are looking at Ella Fitzgerald. Range, control, and power again.

The question becomes, if a voice is instantly recognizable, does that make it good, or are we responding to the flaws, as attractive as they may be? Stevie Nicks voice had an attraction, especially surrounded by Fleetwood Mac. Highly skilled, but a sound sculpted by Lindsey Buckingham in the prime. I loved the sound of Grace Slick, Janis Joplin. Chrissy Hynde. All unique and brought a sound and power. But technically flawed in a way that resonates with the fan base.

I look at greatness this way. Could Aretha mimic Stevie Nicks with the throaty/nasally performance, and could Stevie mimic Aretha on one of her songs. SN limitations would not permit her doing so, but Aretha could find a way to replace Stevie in Fleetwood Mac.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[Mr Peabody]

Although I don't fully agree with your assessment of Nicks vs Franklin, I did wonder about the perspective of the style of music the vocalist sings. As I mntioned in my post regarding Patricia Barber. As another example, I didn't see anyone mention Mariah Carey who has to be one of the great female vocalist but may not get the respect due to being a Pop star. Or, even Whitney Houston.

Aretha Franklin. Power, range, passion. Across so many genres.

I disagree with Stevie, Linda R and others. Stevie has a unique voice, but technically speaking, not a lot of range or variety. Similar with Linda, though Linda is better. Her album with Aaron Neville a prime example.

As another top 2, I mean you really are looking at Ella Fitzgerald. Range, control, and power again.

The question becomes, if a voice is instantly recognizable, does that make it good, or are we responding to the flaws, as attractive as they may be? Stevie Nicks voice had an attraction, especially surrounded by Fleetwood Mac. Highly skilled, but a sound sculpted by Lindsey Buckingham in the prime. I loved the sound of Grace Slick, Janis Joplin. Chrissy Hynde. All unique and brought a sound and power. But technically flawed in a way that resonates with the fan base.

I look at greatness this way. Could Aretha mimic Stevie Nicks with the throaty/nasally performance, and could Stevie mimic Aretha on one of her songs. SN limitations would not permit her doing so, but Aretha could find a way to replace Stevie in Fleetwood Mac.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[shadowlight]

Some more addition to the ones already mentioned - Katie Melua, Vienna Teng
https://www.youtube.com/embed/hPvFxbnPr1Q
https://www.youtube.com/embed/XlpZNcXTBZ0

[jbtrio]

I’m surprised no one said Natalie Merchant. Her voice just does it for me.
To many good ones to pick just two!

[hkval]

Chantal Chamberland "Dripping Indigo" album(all albums)

Sharon Robinson - Backup singer and songwriter for Leonard Cohen

[Randy Myers]

There are so many that I am sure I will miss some. I love listening to female vocals... top of my list for sure... here are just some of my favorites;

Norah Jones, Ann Wilson, I'm surprised no one has mentioned Emilie Claire Barlow, or Jacintha, or Vanessa Fernandez, Patricia Barber, Shelby Lynn, Lyn Stanley, Natalie Merchant, Stevie Nicks, Melissa Menago, Rickie Lee Jones, Susan Wong, Meiko, Pat Benatar, Carly Simon, Karen Carpenter, Rebecca Pidgeon, Celine Dion, almost forgot Barbara Streisand, and Sade....

And I know I forgot many.... but there are so many wonderful female vocalist that it is hard to narrow down to just a couple... I can listen to any of these most any time I sit down to listen to some good music!

[veindoc]

Adele, Idina Menzel,Joan Osborne, Amy Winehouse, Etta James, and Joni Mitchell.

[mauidan]

http://www.cecilemclorinsalvant.com/

[nc42acc]

I was listening to Joni Mitchell and Jennifer Warnes last night. Two great accomplished female vocalists. Anybody heard this CD?

[nc42acc]

Karen Carpenter had an amazing voice too. Cannot say I have heard another female sound anywhere close to her since.

[Mechnutt]

There are so many that I am sure I will miss some. I love listening to female vocals... top of my list for sure... here are just some of my favorites;

Norah Jones, Ann Wilson, I'm surprised no one has mentioned Emilie Claire Barlow, or Jacintha, or Vanessa Fernandez, Patricia Barber, Shelby Lynn, Lyn Stanley, Natalie Merchant, Stevie Nicks, Melissa Menago, Rickie Lee Jones, Susan Wong, Meiko, Pat Benatar, Carly Simon, Karen Carpenter, Rebecca Pidgeon, Celine Dion, almost forgot Barbara Streisand, and Sade....

And I know I forgot many.... but there are so many wonderful female vocalist that it is hard to narrow down to just a couple... I can listen to any of these most any time I sit down to listen to some good music!

I like most of these women.

One of my current fav's that I forgot to include is Heather Reid from London Grammar, not great range but she has a fabulous voice. Give a listen.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nMEH...eohjT9&index=3

Dufferdan it is not who has the best voice or range. I have about 30 female vocalists that I like to listen too and I am sure not everyone would like them. I love Linda Ronstadt and grew up with her. He collaboration with the Nelson Riddle orchestra is fabulous. Fleetwood Mac, one of my favorite groups would be a shadow of itself without Stevie Nicks unique voice.

The newest female vocalist that I like is Coco Scott with Blue Coast records, just awesome-

https://bluecoastmusic.com/coco-scot...r#.XBFzdHRKhPY

[Randy Myers]

Karen Carpenter had an amazing voice too. Cannot say I have heard another female sound anywhere close to her since.

I agree... a new Carpenters album was recently released... A redo of many of their songs, integrating her singing with The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.

"Richard Carpenter has made a new album of Carpenters classics at London's prestigious Abbey Road Studios.

He has teamed up with The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra for a new album, to be released via Universal. The album will feature his late sister Karen Carpenter's iconic vocals placed on top of brand new orchestral arrangements."

I have not listened to it yet, but I do plan on doing this when I get home today.

[Mechnutt]

I agree... a new Carpenters album was recently released... A redo of many of their songs, integrating her singing with The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.

"Richard Carpenter has made a new album of Carpenters classics at London's prestigious Abbey Road Studios.

He has teamed up with The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra for a new album, to be released via Universal. The album will feature his late sister Karen Carpenter's iconic vocals placed on top of brand new orchestral arrangements."

I have not listened to it yet, but I do plan on doing this when I get home today.

My wife is a huge Karen Carpenter fan. She was on a Carpenter kick a few months ago to the point of nausea because she kept playing them over and over, LOL. She does have a great voice though.

[shadowlight]

@nc42acc, yes. Celestial Echo, Magnetic Lies and Turner's Ship couple of songs on the album that are family favorite on the Malia Convergence album.

[Mr Peabody]

Checked them out, I like Teng

Some more addition to the ones already mentioned - Katie Melua, Vienna Teng
https://www.youtube.com/embed/hPvFxbnPr1Q
https://www.youtube.com/embed/XlpZNcXTBZ0

[Dizzie]

I was listening to Joni Mitchell and Jennifer Warnes last night. Two great accomplished female vocalists. Anybody heard this CD?

Marty, Joni Mitchell and Jennifer Warnes are two of my favorite singers also. I love stories and dislike lounge singers whom I term "pretty voices with nothing to say".

Do you have an original Malia/Blank CD or the CD-R version that Amazon offers? I wonder about the sound quality and longevity of CD-R copies. Amazon buried the this under editorial reviews instead of the product description. "When sold by Amazon.com, this product will be manufactured on demand using CD-R recordable media."

Unfortunately a lot of CDs recommended in this thread are not readily available.

[Mechnutt]

Damn, how can I forget Joni Mitchell. Definitely in my top 5. I prefer her earlier folk music.

[Dizzie]

Damn, how can I forget Joni Mitchell. Definitely in my top 5. I prefer her earlier folk music.

Me too. Her early works had something to say and were quickly covered by other singers like Judy Collins, Tom Rush, Ian & Sylvia, and Buffy Sainte-Marie. My favorite all-time story song is "Urge for Going". Especially poignant for those who grew up in places where seasonal changes were dramatic and winter winds blew icy cold.

[RDSChicago]

Love Tom Rush’s version of “Urge for Going.”