best female voice/singer ?

danger boy
danger boy Posts: 15,722
edited September 2004 in Music & Movies
I borrowed this from Home Theater Forum.. since i'm not a member there...

but who do you all think has the best voice.. female singers only.

Some that come to mind for me.. in no particular order would have to be.

Annie Lennox
Babs
K.D. Lang
Anne Wilson (Heart)
Pat Benetar
Patti LaBelle
Aretha Franklin
Diane Schuur
Gladys Knight
Natalie Cole

who else do you think has a great voice? Who can do ballads as well as belt out a song, be it pop, rock, soul.. etc. Who is talented enough to do it all?
PolkFest 2012, who's going>?
Vancouver, Canada Sept 30th, 2012 - Madonna concert :cheesygrin:
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  • Danny Tse
    Danny Tse Posts: 5,206
    edited September 2004
    That's a hard one since it's hard to define "best". Hmmm....

    Linda Ronstadt (she can really belt)
    Karen Carpenter (what a voice!)
    Olivia Newton-John
    Mariah Carey (amazing when she has good material)
    Whitney Houston (see above)
    Holly Cole
    Christina Aguilera (give her good material and she can be really good)
    Yma Sumac (that's Amy Camus spelled backwards - amazing voice)
    Dionne Warwick
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  • F1nut
    F1nut Posts: 50,654
    edited September 2004
    In order:

    Annie Lennox
    Sade
    Norah Jones
    Bonnie Raitt
    Linda Ronstadt
    Aimee Mann
    Patricia Barber
    Tina Turner
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  • BlueMDPicker
    BlueMDPicker Posts: 7,569
    edited September 2004
    Tripping through the alphabet:

    Alana Davis
    Alanis Morissette
    Anita Baker
    Annie Lennox
    Aretha Franklin
    Bette Midler
    Bonnie Raitt
    Cherrelle
    Diana Krall
    Ernestine Anderson
    Joan Armatrading
    Judy Collins
    Lana Lane
    Paula Cole
    Phoebe Snow
    Sade
    Shania Twain
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  • mhardy6647
    mhardy6647 Posts: 33,908
    edited September 2004
    Hard to believe no-one mentioned Joan Baez's "achingly pure soprano", which really was so, in her youth.

    Then there are the great female jazz vocalists like Ella Fitzgerald. Diana Krall? You've got to be kidding, right? :-)

    If you like Linda Ronstadt, you oughta really like Jennifer Warnes, IMO.

    Another female vocalist of great vocal talent (generally ill-served by the material she recorded) is the recently-passed Laura Brannigan.

    Another name I haven't seen yet is Margo Timmins of Cowboy Junkies. While her recorded output gives no indication that she has any range, her voice is about as seductive and haunting as any I've ever heard.
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  • danger boy
    danger boy Posts: 15,722
    edited September 2004
    some really good women you all have listed... some of which never came to mind. but i can see why they are on your lists.

    I thought about including Dionne Warwick too. Olivia Newton John... i never really think of her as being all that good of a voice. Glad to see Tina Turner was mentioned.

    How about Carly Simon or Carole King?
    PolkFest 2012, who's going>?
    Vancouver, Canada Sept 30th, 2012 - Madonna concert :cheesygrin:
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  • shack
    shack Posts: 11,154
    edited September 2004
    Some of my favorites:

    (in no particular order)

    Kate Bush
    Sarah Mclachlan
    Bonnie Raitt
    Shirley Manson
    Pat Benatar
    Kim Carnes
    Stevie Nicks
    Ann Wilson
    Grace Slick
    Joan Osborne
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  • gidrah
    gidrah Posts: 3,049
    edited September 2004
    Billie Holiday
    Sarah Vaughn
    And that freaky little wisp of a girl from the Sugar Cubes.
    Make it Funky! :)
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  • Sami
    Sami Posts: 4,634
    edited September 2004
    Everytime anyone has tried to do a Whitney Houston song, they have failed. At least the ones I have heard. Especially on these TV show competitions, don't do a Whitney song as you will sound horrible.

    A great female voice, hers is the first that comes into my mind. Her music is not my first choice, I am only commenting on her voice.
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  • PolkWannabie
    PolkWannabie Posts: 2,763
    edited September 2004
    And in older material these come to mind ...

    Grace Slick
    Janis Joplin
    Rick
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  • danger boy
    danger boy Posts: 15,722
    edited September 2004
    Sami,

    I agree.. Whitney Houston has a truely gifted voice... she pretty much ruled the airwaves in the early to mid 80's. Everything she touched turned to gold it seemed.

    Sad that she's not at the top anymore. I really liked her too.
    PolkFest 2012, who's going>?
    Vancouver, Canada Sept 30th, 2012 - Madonna concert :cheesygrin:
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  • Sami
    Sami Posts: 4,634
    edited September 2004
    Originally posted by danger boy
    Everything she touched turned to gold it seemed.
    Turned out that Bobby Brown's touch was more powerful than hers. Sad.
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  • TheReaper
    TheReaper Posts: 636
    edited September 2004
    Deborah Harry
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  • Early B.
    Early B. Posts: 7,900
    edited September 2004
    Celine Dion (hey, you may not like her or the music she sings, but she has a gifted voice)

    Whitney Houston (better than all the rest of 'em)

    Rachelle Farrell (more range and vocal talent than any other singer on the entire planet)

    Mariah Carey (close second to Whitney)

    Phyllis Hyman (sweet & awesome)
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  • George Grand
    George Grand Posts: 12,258
    edited September 2004
    Della Reese
    Nancy Wilson
    Sarah Vaughan
    Margaret Whiting
    Anita O'Day
    Jo Stafford
    Dinah Shore
    Mildred Bailey
    Connie Haines
    Peggy Lee
    Connie Francis
    Helen Forrest
    Kitty Kallen
    Fran Warren
    Joni James
    Aretha Franklin

    Not a phony or poser in the bunch.


    George Grand (of the Jersey Grands)
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  • TroyD
    TroyD Posts: 13,077
    edited September 2004
    I gotta throw in Allison Krauss and Diana Krall.

    Now, Diana Krall, honestly, I could care LESS what she sounds like.

    She is an OUTSTANDING candidate for the ol' chloroform treatment.

    BDT
    I plan for the future. - F1Nut
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  • mantis
    mantis Posts: 17,200
    edited September 2004
    Lorenna Mckennitt
    Barbra Streisand
    Sheryl Crow
    Amy Lee
    Maire Brennan(Clannad Lore)Celtic Singer
    Dan
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  • OttoGraff
    OttoGraff Posts: 11
    edited September 2004
    Maybe I missed it, but I don't see Ella mentioned anywhere...how can you even discuss a top singers list without her name mentioned???

    Celine Deon wouldn't know an f sharp if it slapped her in the face...
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  • mhardy6647
    mhardy6647 Posts: 33,908
    edited September 2004
    Marky (that'd be me...) mentioned Ella above :-)

    Imagine a singing duel between Ella and, say, Diana Krall or Norah Jones. Either of the latter'd run sobbing into the wings, I reckon.
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  • TheReaper
    TheReaper Posts: 636
    edited September 2004
    hmmm ... no Cher, Helen Reddy or Dorris Day ... que sera, sera.
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  • gregure
    gregure Posts: 871
    edited September 2004
    Glad to see someone finally added Janis to the list. Surprised she didn't come up earlier. Not a voice to melt you, but one that gets your heart pumping. Lots of good suggestions. I think my top three are: Anne Wilson, Pat Benatar and Stevie Nicks. Those three rock my world.
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  • George Grand
    George Grand Posts: 12,258
    edited September 2004
    Todays female vocalists need to sit down and listen to the big band vocalists of the 40's and 50's. Then if they still have the NERVE to think they are in the same league, they should listen again and again until they finally realize they are NOT, and never will be.

    George Grand (of the Jersey Grands)
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  • gregure
    gregure Posts: 871
    edited September 2004
    By "today's" I'm hoping you mean the likes of Brittney Spears, Ashely Simpson, etc. Many of the women singers mentioned above are equally if not more talented than singers of the 40's/50's, it's all just a different style, different musical evolution. There were great voices then, there are great voices now. But a lot of the more popular "hip-hop" types don't hold a candle to the true rockers of today and the decades past.
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  • danger boy
    danger boy Posts: 15,722
    edited September 2004
    I don't feel a lot of the current female singers use their "voices" as a instrument to the music. they almost use what they sing as a crutch or a side dish if you will to the music. They don't have the emotion behind them to make a mediocre song, a really great one.

    Think about Ashely Simpson doing a song such as Natural Women? How bad would she sound doing such a classic as that?
    PolkFest 2012, who's going>?
    Vancouver, Canada Sept 30th, 2012 - Madonna concert :cheesygrin:
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  • George Grand
    George Grand Posts: 12,258
    edited September 2004
    The female rock vocalists from the 60's and 70's that I enjoy listening to very much, are a bunch of mad screamers compared to the ladies I listed above. There IS no comparison.

    George Grand (of the Jersey Grands)
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  • Steve@3dai
    Steve@3dai Posts: 983
    edited September 2004
    Originally posted by gidrah

    And that freaky little wisp of a girl from the Sugar Cubes.

    That would be Bjork, which has an amazing voice. She's quite talented and can do anything she wants to with her voice. I'd really recommend listening to her DVD-A of Vespertine, it's quite amazing.

    Kristy Thirsk who sung on a few Delerium songs.
    Ruth Ann from Olive and has sung on some recent Enigma tracks.
    Sanda Cretu, of Enigma
    Louise Rhodes from Lamb
    Carol C. from Si Se

    Too many ;)
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  • Loud & Clear
    Loud & Clear Posts: 1,538
    edited September 2004
    Stevie Nicks
    Anita Baker
    Dionne Warwick
    Emmylou Harris
    Joni Mitchell
    Britney Spears' ****

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  • Loud & Clear
    Loud & Clear Posts: 1,538
    edited September 2004
    Originally posted by Steve@3dai
    That would be Bjork, which has an amazing voice. She's quite talented and can do anything she wants to with her voice. I'd really recommend listening to her DVD-A of Vespertine, it's quite amazing.

    ~~ The Sugarcubes' 'Life's Too Good' also bears recommendation. Yeah, her voice, which I've also often found annoying depending upon mood and where she's at in her career, is really quite something. Should have put her on my list.

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  • mhw58
    mhw58 Posts: 359
    edited September 2004
    I'm surprised nobody has mentioned the incredible Eva Cassidy!
    Her voice is stunning. Start with 'Songird', her version of
    'Over the Rainbow' is the best ever. She also does an incredibl version of 'Fields of Gold' by Sting. I just got the Linda Ronstadt
    box set and she was amazing in her day. She could sing
    anything and make it sound great.
    Mike
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  • Loud & Clear
    Loud & Clear Posts: 1,538
    edited September 2004
    Originally posted by mantis
    Lorenna Mckennitt
    Barbra Streisand
    Sheryl Crow
    Amy Lee
    Maire Brennan(Clannad Lore)Celtic Singer

    ~~ Mantis, nice call on Loreena McKennitt & Maire Brennan. I have very much enjoyed listening to the both of them over the years.

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  • avelanchefan
    avelanchefan Posts: 2,401
    edited September 2004
    Really could not add more to an already great list of ladies mentioned.

    But I personally love the voice of DIDO. Just something about her makes me very relaxed.
    Sean
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