which female artist has the best voice?

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  • adam2434
    adam2434 Posts: 995
    edited February 2007
    As mentioned - Aretha Franklin, Billie Holiday, and Patsy Cline - their talent and style will not be duplicated.

    Also have to mention k.d. lang - I only own her Live by Request DVD, but that's enough for me to know that she's got some serious chops.
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  • pblanc
    pblanc Posts: 261
    edited February 2007
    I would have to agree with you on all three counts, but would rate Patsy #1, Aretha #2, Billie #3 ( and Peggy Lee honorable mention).
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  • daboyz
    daboyz Posts: 5,207
    edited February 2007
    Did RuPaul ever sing?
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  • bikezappa
    bikezappa Posts: 2,463
    edited February 2007
    pblanc wrote:
    You know, when I was younger and in college, I never, ever dreamed that one day I would be sitting around with a bunch of guys argueing about which female had the best voice. VOICE?!??


    Just wait to see what you will be doing in ten yeras from now.
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  • pblanc
    pblanc Posts: 261
    edited February 2007
    Probably in the nursing home, drooling, and arguing with the "boys" over which nurse gives the best ****.
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  • powerlord
    powerlord Posts: 310
    edited February 2007
    HTrookie wrote:
    There are so many good out there; I love female vocals; here are a couple that have great voices and probably no one would mention here:

    Cristina Aguilera
    Julie Andrews

    You speak the truth! Aguilera is hands down in the top five,people just don't realize.:o
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  • Nelson57
    Nelson57 Posts: 190
    edited February 2007
    I would add Sarah Vaughn's to the list.
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  • fazer
    fazer Posts: 9
    edited February 2007
    I would have to say the single most incredible female voice in music today is
    Karin Bergquist of Over The Rhine.

    If have not heard them please do so.
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  • steveinaz
    steveinaz Posts: 19,538
    edited February 2007
    shack wrote:
    Alison Krauss and Karen Carpenter have the best voices IMO. Sarah McLachlan, Kate Bush, LeAnn Rimes, Joan Osborne, Pat Benatar, Ann Wilson, Shirley Manson, Linda Ronstadt, Aretha Franklin and Tina Turner (among many others) are noteworthy.

    BING-frickin-GO Shack-master, exactly what I was thinking.
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  • pblanc
    pblanc Posts: 261
    edited February 2007
    Although Joni Mitchell may not have the best voice to a purist, I love to listen to her sing. Agree with Karen Carpenter, Pat Benatar, Joan Osborne, and I believe Ella Fitzgerald has been mentioned more than once.
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  • shack
    shack Posts: 11,154
    edited February 2007
    Carly Simon could sing pretty good as well. I haven't heard any of her recent stuff but I have several of her early albums.
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  • bikezappa
    bikezappa Posts: 2,463
    edited February 2007
    I think I read or heard some where that many of the great women singers of the past and present had the ability to sing at a lower range. If I remember correctly they used Judy Garland as one of the examples. Wish I could remember more about that story.
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  • Lsi9
    Lsi9 Posts: 616
    edited February 2007
    Its amazing that no one else besides me has mentioned Ella Fitzgerald, I f you have not heard her, please do so. While Billie Hoiday is great she can't hold a candle to Ella.

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  • Bill Ayotte
    Bill Ayotte Posts: 1,860
    edited February 2007
    How about Joss Stone or Amy Lee? They are from different genres, but they both have amazing voices. Joss Stone was called the next Aretha Franklin in a couple of reviews.
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  • markmarc
    markmarc Posts: 2,309
    edited February 2007
    Allison Krauss currently has the purist voice in music. Historically speaking several come to mind, it's just too bad the recording equipment was so primative for greats like Billie Holliday, etc.

    For straight rock n roll in the past 20 years Melissa Etheridge gets my vote, followed by Annie Lennox.
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  • snow
    snow Posts: 4,337
    edited February 2007
    Wow some really great replys here. It has turned into a great thread for me at least. Some names i wasnt aware of but now i have the oppurtunity to listen to. Others i have listened to and they bring back good memorys. GREAT JOB GUYS REGARDS SNOW
    Well, I just pulled off the impossible by doing a double-blind comparison all by myself, purely by virtue of the fact that I completely and stupidly forgot what I did last. I guess that getting old does have its advantages after all :D
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  • pblanc
    pblanc Posts: 261
    edited February 2007
    Billie Holliday was hampered early in her career by mediocre recording equipment. Toward the end of her career her voice was gone through self-abuse.
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  • MLZ
    MLZ Posts: 214
    edited February 2007
    Prudence Johnson has a distinctive and wonderful silky voice, especially on jazz standards.
    My wife & I often listen to Prairie Home Companion while cooking dinner on Saturday evenings and Prudence is a regular on that show and sings all genres. We heard her live with Garrison Keeler a few years back and so I started searching for her recordings and found several excellent jazz CDs. “Moon Country: The Music of Hoagy Carmichael” is in heavy rotation at our house – last night my wife commented that she was her favorite singer. We also listen to “S'Gershwin” often.
    Her albums are well worth the search.
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  • BrickBryan
    BrickBryan Posts: 10
    edited March 2007
    IMO Norah Jones. Great voice and sexy as hell, with that shy not wanting to look into the camera look. MMM MMM mmm.
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  • surfntomm
    surfntomm Posts: 185
    edited March 2007
    you guys should break out of the norm from the ella and norah and try some regina spektor and amy winehouse. a bit of a newer sound so some of you old folks might not dig it but great voices none the less. go www.allmusic.com and type in their names to listen to a free sample.
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  • lancer
    lancer Posts: 26
    edited February 2008
    TroyD wrote: »
    Eva Cassidy.

    BDT

    I'm not saying she's the best (there are so many good female artist) but those that haven't heard her should give her a listen. Amy Lee, Allison Krauss, Celine Dion, Jewel, Karen Carpenter, etc
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  • dkg999
    dkg999 Posts: 5,647
    edited February 2008
    Just spent an enjoyable evening listening to Margo Timmons and the Cowboy Junkies. For what she lacks in vocal ability she makes up for in spirit and connection with the song.
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  • Hi-Buy
    Hi-Buy Posts: 110
    edited February 2008
    I have to go with norah.
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  • fatchowmein
    fatchowmein Posts: 2,637
    edited February 2008
    +2 Sarah Brightman. Remember those "Is it live or is it Memorex" ads where the champagne flute shatters? Makes me think of Brightman.

    I also love listening to Norah Jones, Natalie Merchant, Ella Fitgerald, Diana Krall, Chrissie Hynde, Annie Lennox, Nelly Furtado, and Gwen Stefani. All great voices but in the end, I can only endure so many hours of one particular voice which is why I have a playlist labeled "Divas".

    Okay, must confess I can listen to Krall forever. :p
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  • treitz3
    treitz3 Posts: 19,184
    edited February 2008
    Snow, you suck! Where you at bro?
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  • cmy330go
    cmy330go Posts: 2,341
    edited February 2008
    For amazing range and power it's hard to beat:
    Barbra Streisand
    Eva Cassidy
    Whitney Houston

    Some of my personal favorites though are:
    Eva Cassidy
    Diana Krall
    Schuyler Fisk (Amazing Live)
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  • cmy330go
    cmy330go Posts: 2,341
    edited February 2008
    pblanc wrote: »
    Billie Holliday was hampered early in her career by mediocre recording equipment. Toward the end of her career her voice was gone through self-abuse.

    :eek: Maybe that's why I can't sing.:confused:

    :D:D:D
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  • vonnie123
    vonnie123 Posts: 326
    edited February 2008
    Karen Carpenter is hard to match. Natalie Merchant from 10,000 Maniacs has a real special voice as well.
    [
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  • danger boy
    danger boy Posts: 15,722
    edited February 2008
    RuPaul has the best female voice I think :eek: :p
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  • candyliquor35m
    candyliquor35m Posts: 2,267
    edited May 2008
    I tip my hat to Amy Winehouse. Her cd Frank is mauvalous.
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