[Music] Greatest female vocalists?

[hans kraay fan club]

Can only be subjective of course - there's no 'correct' answer, but personally love:

What I wrote there /\ is of course the undeniable truth, but as soon as I saw US had posted on this thread, I knew 100% before reading it, that he would state that his choice was CATEGORICALLY the BEST IN THE WORLD EVER.

I think there is little doubt that Karen Carpenter had the greatest ever female vocal. Truly from the heavens.

 

[Uncle Spielberg]

What I wrote there /\ is of course the undeniable truth, but as soon as I saw US had posted on this thread, I knew 100% before reading it, that he would state that his choice was CATEGORICALLY the BEST IN THE WORLD EVER.

Ha Ha. I have missed you

 

[Tom Bombadil]

I think there is little doubt that Karen Carpenter had the greatest ever female vocal. Truly from the heavens. Sarah McLachlan runs her a close second though

I need to ask are you a white line or a cats eye, because you seem to be dead centre in the middle of the road all the time.

 

[colinz]

This thread would suggest that there is a doubt in most posters opinions

Richard Nixon was a fan of Karen.

 

[Uncle Spielberg]

I need to ask are you a white line or a cats eye, because you seem to be dead centre in the middle of the road all the time.

I love the Stranglers so that makes me a bit edgy surely ?

 

[Bold Seagull]

Billie Holiday

Nina simone

Post number 30 until we got to Nina Simone, amazing. And Celine Dion had been mentioned before both these greats.

Those early Jazz singers, Dinah Washington, Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughan, Nina and Billie, you hear so much of their styles still coming through today, a real rawness to their voices too, perhaps because their sound wasn't over produced and is so timeless.

Nina for me, crossed a lot of genres in her career and excelled in each.

 

[NooBHA]

Never heard of Cara Dillon before. Sweet little voice, very nice; nowhere near the crystal clarity of Denny's vocals, though, or her range. She had a wide repertoire - as well as being an excellent pianist, acoustic guitarist and song-writer.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XynJtr2UpNo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=avX5VlU7MXM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=szrGtFxtWXU
and finally one of her own compositions:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XynJtr2UpNo

Sandy Denny is very good. I quite like her but Cara does have very clear vocals live

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZmJ3EpvbR5s

 

[amexer]

Joan Armatrading

 

[Bold Seagull]

I need to ask are you a white line or a cats eye, because you seem to be dead centre in the middle of the road all the time.

That did make me chuckle.

 

[Stato]

I think there is little doubt that Karen Carpenter had the greatest ever female vocal. Truly from the heavens. Sarah McLachlan runs her a close second though

I certainly can't think of anyone better...

Except for Aretha Franklin of course.

Oh and Etta James.

and Irmas Thomas, Emmy Lou Harris, Patsy Cline, Judy Garland, Debbie Harry, June Tabor, Gillian Welch, Ella Fitzgerald, Margo Timmins, Nina Simone, Dionne Warwick, Gloria Lynne, Brenda Holloway, Martha Reeves, Mavis Staples, Dusty Springfield, PJ Harvey, Sam Brown, Betty Wright, Alison Krauss, Laura Nyro, Carole King and Joni Mitchell.

She's better than Cilla Black though.

 

[METALMICKY]

Not really big on female vocalists but if I had to choose I would go for Dolores from The Cranberries. A very troubled soul and sadly the manner of her passing not a total surprise. A unique vocal style often copied ( usually by x factor wannabees) but never equalled.

As for male vocalists my top 3 is much easier :

Bruce Dickinson
Ronnie James Dio
Nat King Cole

 

[NooBHA]

she's better than cilla black though.

pmsl...………………..

 

[marlowe]

No one's mentioned Maria Callas yet so although I agree with many of the other selections I'll go with her and introduce opera into the mix.
Incidentally people's choices should be categorised into musical genres because although Callas had an amazingly beautiful voice it wouldn't have been suited to being a good rock vocalist and she wouldn't have been able to touch Janis Joplin in that genre and vice versa or even Emmylou Harris as a Country singer or Sandy Denny as a folk singer or Billie Holiday for jazz. Different voices suit different musical genres and are not always comparable.

 

[cirC]

Janice Joplin and Sandy Denny

I'll give you Sandy,great singer.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=atczbaE1m70

Listen to Tell me.........................

 

[Winker]

Tina Turner
Beth Hart

 

[Shropshire Seagull]

Karen Carpenter is/was in a league of her own.

Debbie Harry does great orals ....

 

[Molango's visa]

Very early Elkie Brooks

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c631Ul7Bhak

 

[Molango's visa]

Elizabeth Fraser

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s-5Xgw6d3h0

 

[Molango's visa]

Liv Kristine

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_-OcybaRbOY&list=PLUGH6xveAg02Wq_xX5uWaovoyThEcEYoJ

 

[Molango's visa]

Shona Laing

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cbLL5mekc34