Your favorite female vocalists?

[Tig]

It might be interesting to share and hear other's choices for favorite female vocalists. List as many as you'd like, any genre, etc.
I may not enjoy the music of some vocalists, but the voices can't be discounted. I wonder how many I'll read and think, "How did I forget her?"

For soul/R&B, I've always loved Aretha Franklin. Such a powerful, soulful voice. There are so many great soul/R&B women, we could dedicate a thread just for them.

For jazz, I think Lena Horne comes to mind first. Ella Fitzgerald has to be mentioned as well.

For rock, I like Ann Wilson of Heart. She sounds better now than in the 70's. Strong pipes with a voice that is incredible. I also liked Grace Slick when she backed off the power. I can't forget Pat Benatar and her multi-octave voice.

Stage and opera goes to Sarah Brightman. When I hear anyone else try to sing any Phantom of the Opera songs, they come up short by a mile. Simply one of the most beautiful voices ever.

Speaking of most beautiful voices, Barbra Streisand, The Voice.

Annie Lennox. Period.

[Spudman]

Here is some new stuff for most of you...probably.

Floor Jansen gets me going. She's got a heck of a range and kicks booty. She's on the top of my list.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fjm4BrNAf6s

This is a duet she does with her sister Irene. They sing beautifully together.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i9-YHK9nAq4&feature=related

Simone Simons of Epica is great too.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6y2IroJQZyA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Vy735jNAyg&feature=related This is a beautiful acoustic number.

Heather Findlay from Mostly Autumn is great too. Her voice is just beautiful.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SljxG7krDAI&feature=related

This is a song she does with James Labrie from Dream Theater

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uIT6vdjsqsc

[R_of_G]

My favorite female vocalist of any genre is Etta James.

Honorable mention:

Emmylou Harris
Neko Case
Alison Krauss
Bessie Smith
Nina Simone
Sharon Jones
Alexis Krauss (Sleigh Bells)

[Tig]

My favorite female vocalist of any genre is Etta James.


Great choice! I really need to dig deeper into her recordings.

Sadly, she is in the hospital for a blood infection and UTI. I read that she is also suffering from leukemia and dementia. We'll likely never see her sing on a stage again. Hopefully she'll pull through.

[tunghaichuan]

Johnette Napolitano of Concrete Blonde. One of the best voices for rock ever.

[Tibernius]

I'll have to skip a couple since Spud's already posted Floor and Simone... :)

Charlotte Wessells:
g-X-9UNu3Nw

Marcela Bovio:
FW9UALTrtoo
(sorry for the bad audio quality, it's the only one I could find...)

Anneke van Giersbergen:
P8JzHsfJzow

Vibeke Stene:
WgRGAkchn84

[Spudman]

Nina Persson from the Swedish group The Cardigans is also a favorite of mine.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fqd3VVdztsA&feature=related

She looks great with some makeup too in this video with Tom Jones.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FYuFIrSLD84&feature=fvwrel

[Spudman]

Tibernius - Charlotte Wessells! Wow, I hadn't heard of her or the band. Thanks.:AOK

I'm glad to see you like Anneke too. In the past I've felt she was a little inconsistent and only got one of their albums. What album is your video from? I really like it.

Vibeke has a heck of a range too. I didn't know about her.

[sunvalleylaw]

Lots of great choices already. I don't disagree with any here, though I am not sure about Grace Slick. I got tired of her in the late '80s. Etta, Ann Wilson, Nina Persson are some of my favorites from the above list. 'Retha I like but in measure, same with Ella.

Some others:
Brandi Carlile - That girl can rock, can croon, can belt it out, and can sadly whisper. She is great live.
Nathalie Merchant (I like that sultry coffee house thing)
Kim Deal (The Breeders) good stuff, love that punky rock snarl.
Bonnie Raitt - has that weary blues thing down and can sure pull a heart string

I could keep thinking of many others if I kept going. I love a good female voice. One sub-genre I always enjoyed was the voice of the 80's girl band groups. I don't even know their names mostly. Of course there is Belinda Carlile, but also the girl from "The Waitresses", Nena, "Bow Wow Wow", Romeo Void, Blondie, (ok 70s but whatever) etc. Heck, I was in my late teens and they were like singing to me from the TV. LOL! OK, not the "favorite" female vocalist of all time, but these women deserve to be remembered darn it.


EDIT: I forgot to mention Marian Call. She is my cousin's daughter, but she is dang good. Stanford Chorale, and degree in composition and vocal performance. Huge range, really cool note choice due to all that training, building some good sultry heart and soul as she adds years to her young life. I bet she will be really good.

[Tig]

Johnette Napolitano of Concrete Blonde. One of the best voices for rock ever.

Excellent! I love her voice.
She is one of those "how did I forget her?" vocalists.

[Tig]

Nathalie Merchant -Yep, her voice has a unique, velvety texture and style.

Bonnie Raitt -Excellent.

[msteeln]

Lisa Kekaula (Hawaiian - Cay-cow-lah)

kmiG0RUaoR4

[piebaldpython]

Andra Faye of Sapphire-The Uppity Blues Women. She can do gutsy blues or the old Patsy Kline standard, CRAZY. Damn good fiddle, mandolin and bass player too.

[Retro Hound]

I'm a HUGE fan of female vocals. I like them to be distinct.

Janis Joplin
Sinead O'Connor
Ashley Cleveland
Aretha Franklin
Mahalia Jackson
Shirley Ceasar
Johnette Napolitano from Concrete Blonde
Jewel
Etta James
Ruth Brown
Grace Slick (her early stuff)
Patsy Cline
Reba
Susan Tedeschi
Anita Baker
Patti LaBelle
Mavis Staples
Allison Crowe
Shirley Manson of Garbage
Stevie Nicks
Amy Lee from Evanescence
Rhonda Vincent
Alice Cooper
Molly Hatchet ..wait a minute... I'm getting carried away.

[pedalbuilder]

Been listening to a lot of Sharon Jones lately. Also Jill Scott. I really liked Lauryn Hill in both the Fugees and post-breakdown on her 2-disc live unplugged set (much more gravelly voice, understated but deep). Annie Lennox always had a voice I really loved also. Linda Perry was great with the 4 Non Blondes. PJ Harvey was great. I never liked Joan Jett but I always wished I did. Pat Benetar was my childhood crush.

I love working in bands with female vocalists too - I'm in one now where we are splitting vocal duties and it works out fantastically - really gives us a lot of breathing room when writing a vocal parts.

[Retro Hound]

How could I forget Maria McKee?!! This KNOCKS ME OUT!

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[mrmudcat]

Stevie Knicks and J.Joplin were some favs. of mine. Bonnie Rait, Grace,Pat,Ann were some good ones also.I also have a guilty pleasure for loving Jewel.I know Tig bite your lip brother!!:bootyshake

J. Jett and Lita ford what can I say, both together in the Runaways and solo...hubba hubba!!!

[pedalbuilder]

Oh yeah - forgot to throw in Carla Bozulich.

[R_of_G]

How could I forget Maria McKee?!! This KNOCKS ME OUT!

jnaANP3cxDg

If you like Ms. McKee, I highly recommend Neko Case.

[msteeln]

J. Jett and Lita ford what can I say, both together in the Runaways and solo...hubba hubba!!!I guess you never saw... Jackie (bass) Fox's mom = :dance

[Tig]

I also have a guilty pleasure for loving Jewel.I know Tig bite your lip brother!!:bootyshake


Hey, while I don't own any of her albums, at least she can write her own music, which isn't too bad. Besides, she's kinda' cute!
http://www.celebrific.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/Jewel-Closeup-In-T-Shirt.jpg

[Tig]

Who is Jeff Beck's go-to female vocalist?
Imelda May


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AlO_6zkB4Dg


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IsoDamu2dX4

[Spudman]

[QUOTE=Tig;207343]Who is Jeff Beck's go-to female vocalist?
Imelda May

It used to be Rod Stewart.:rollover

[guitarhack]

Judy Garland, Billie Holiday, Dusty Springfield, Alison Krauss, Patty Loveless, Annie Haslam, Laura Nyro

[Tibernius]

Tibernius - Charlotte Wessells! Wow, I hadn't heard of her or the band. Thanks.:AOK

I saw Delain live at the first show of their current tour (also their first show ever with their new guitarist) and they were just as good live. They used very little in the way of backing tracks as well, for 99% of the gig it was just what they were playing/singing.


I'm glad to see you like Anneke too. In the past I've felt she was a little inconsistent and only got one of their albums. What album is your video from? I really like it.

It's from "If then else". I haven't heard all of their catalogue yet but that's definitely my favourite of their albums that I've heard.


Vibeke has a heck of a range too. I didn't know about her.

Unfortunately she's no longer singing with Tristania. From what I could find she's turned to teaching singing. :( I'm not keen on her replacement in Tristania either, she just doesn't have the same power.

While I'm here, I forgot a really obvious one last time:

Christina Scabbia:
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[aeolian]

Some of my favorites are Nina Persson and Shirley Mansion, both of which had already been mentioned in this thread. One female singer that I really like is Tina Dico. You may not have heard of her; I found out about her from her participation in the group Zero 7. She writes great songs too.

IDWrERW2PS0&NR=1

If you want to hear some more look her up in Youtube for her doing John Lennon's "Working Class Hero" and her version of "Triad."

[piebaldpython]

Hey, while I don't own any of her albums, at least she can write her own music, which isn't too bad. Besides, she's kinda' cute!
http://www.celebrific.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/Jewel-Closeup-In-T-Shirt.jpg

Plus.....plus......plus....at some point, somewhere......she was photo'd holding a metal reso. Be still my heart!!!

[mrmudcat]

Joss Stone is another guilty pleasure of mine. Her Jeff Beck and Tal on bass, i've died and gone to heaven!!!:zzz

[deeaa]

Mm,

Aimee Mann
Sheryl Crow

I know these because their 'band' is under the same name. As a rule I don't know the names of people in bands I like except a few biggest ones like Dickinson etc.

Carrie Akre ( I had to google who sang in Hammerbox)

Yep those are the top ones! Lots of good ones out there, like the lady from Heart etc. but those three are my faves, not only by voice but songwriting etc. as well.

And, yeah, gotta love Pink's voice&attitude too. That gal from No Doubt is also cool, can't be bothered to google the name.

[mrmudcat]

Qwen Stefani is her name!!!

[deeaa]

Right! Stefani! You know, we used to have a version of No Doubt's I'm just a girl but in Finnish and also of course I sang it as I'm just a boy; audience loved the version...I just remember it was pretty exhausting to sing, quick rather high patter for a loong time.

[marnold]

I will always have a special place in my heart for Pat Benatar. I'd love to hear her do an album of blues covers. I had a huge crush on her back in the day.

[Katastrophe]

+1 for Pat Benatar... Her husband, Neil Giraldo, is a heck of a guitar player, too!

Ann and Nancy Wilson of Heart get a vote, here, too!

[tunghaichuan]

I will always have a special place in my heart for Pat Benatar. I'd love to hear her do an album of blues covers. I had a huge crush on her back in the day.

She did make a blues album, True Blue (http://www.amazon.com/True-Love-Pat-Benatar/dp/B000006SV9/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1305822902&sr=1-1)

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/31AJ3C8RKML._SL500_AA300_.jpg

Hard to believe it is 20 year old.

[marnold]

She did make a blues album, True Blue (http://www.amazon.com/True-Love-Pat-Benatar/dp/B000006SV9/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1305822902&sr=1-1)

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/31AJ3C8RKML._SL500_AA300_.jpg

Hard to believe it is 20 year old.
And how in the world have I gone this long without knowing that?

[ibanezjunkie]

Anette

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GdZn7k5rZLQ

[Commodore 64]

Suzy Bogguss. If you don't like country, check out her Sweet Danger Album. Here's a cut that album, a Chicago cover.

MTpI3cY7IGw

[tunghaichuan]

And how in the world have I gone this long without knowing that?

It's pretty good. My wife has it. Of course there is lots of tasty guitar playing on that album.

[tunghaichuan]

While I'm here, I forgot a really obvious one last time:

Christina Scabbia:
uTZFwLOoS1U

+1 on Lacuna Coil & Christina Scabbia. Great voice and easy on the eyes. :dance

[poodlesrule]

Anita Baker.
Great voice, real person, sweet and warm personality.

Not sure what she is up to now.
A live perfomance, up here, back early 90's was just a fun, fun evening, as the fan audience absolutely adored her -and whoever was not a fan yet became one!

[Tig]

Anita Baker.


Yes, an incredible voice!
If you like her, check out Phyllis Hyman. She died 16 years ago, but we still have her music.

[Tig]

Look for True Love, not True Blue.

[NWBasser]

Good stuff here.

My all-time favorite is Ann Wilson.

I'm getting to like K.T. Tunstall. Our band is even covering some of her stuff.

It's been pretty cool playing in a band with two female vocalists. They both have awesome voices.

[marnold]

Good stuff here.

My all-time favorite is Ann Wilson.
Good call. I think she sings Led Zeppelin live better than Robert Plant ever did. Her voice seems to get stronger as she gets older.

[hubberjub]

Are we seriously on the third page of this thread with no mention of Grace Potter?

[BlackAngusYoung]

The lady I credit with getting me into the blues without me even knowing it... long before I heard BB King's version:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=34snusKjalA
Of course, there's:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jYpcFHtxm60
Daisy DeBolt of Fraser & DeBolt. Only video of her I've seen:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GF9yHx7la9I
And I love Yoko. Many don't. Who couldn't love this video?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a0EjS7tLmkg&feature=related
And of course many others, many mentioned here already. I've always been into female vocalists more than any other type of musician, so a real list would have to be extremely long. Nina Simone, Marianne Faithfull, and Janis Joplin would definitely be at the top (with Judy.)

[Retro Hound]

Great timing: This just came in my Wolfgang's Vault newsletter, Legendary Ladies of Rock http://www.wolfgangsvault.com/playlists/legendary-ladies-of-rock/playlist-2239818.html Has Martha Reeves, Lesley Gore, Mary Wells, Shirley Alston Reeves, Freda Payne, Brenda Lee, and Ronnie Spector.

[sumitomo]

Queen of the Blues KoKo Taylor!,and Candye Kane.There are a lot here I've never heard of and they are very good.Sumi:D

[Tibernius]

There's another that, truth be told, is my favourite singer. Ryann Donnelly, formerly of the band Schoolyard Heroes. She's got an incredible voice and probably the largest range I've heard from any non-operatic singer.

However, their songs are in a genre of music that is definitely not to most people's taste: Horror Punk (think bands like the Cramps and the Misfits). That's why I didn't mention her before.

If you're interested, check out pretty much anything off the "Abominations" album; most of it's on youtube.

[Tig]

There's another that, truth be told, is my favourite singer. Ryann Donnelly, ....

However, their songs are in a genre of music that is definitely not to most people's taste: Horror Punk (think bands like the Cramps and the Misfits). That's why I didn't mention her before.

Hey, there are no rules so feel free to mention anyone you're into.
(I'm not worried about any Lady Gaga or Brittany Spears entries!)

[marnold]

Hey, there are no rules so feel free to mention anyone you're into.
(I'm not worried about any Lady Gaga or Brittany Spears entries!)

Actually, Tig, I found a redeemable quality in Lady Gaga--evidently she's a huge Iron Maiden fan (http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=158211), so she's got that going for her. With her, Spears, Madonna, et al, it's more about the schtick than the vocal talent anyway.

[BlackAngusYoung]

I am getting into Lady Gaga, but wouldn't consider her a great voice. A great curiosity.
Carla Bozulich is awesome.
Anyone mention Edith Piaf yet? Marlene Dietrich? Ute Lemper, for that matter?

Anyone heard of Canadian singer Oh Susanna? Sort of in the Neko Case area, I think. This video's good but the album to look for (with this song) is "Johnstown." Not a bad song on it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FcIMGTX5vvc"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FcIMGTX5vvc

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=giFcOCMMVRo"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=giFcOCMMVRo

[Tig]

The person that she is, I have no problem with. All the people who have met her or know her say she's a wonderful person.
The music and over the top production, on the other hand, well... I'll be nice! :notme

[R_of_G]

Her career was brief, but I love the vocals of Betty Davis (nee Betty Mabry), former wife of Miles Davis.

She had the attitude to sell funk in a way others couldn't touch and a session band culled from members of Sly & The Family Stone, Graham Central Station and the Tower of Power horn section, not to mention Neal Schon on guitar and the Pointer Sisters on backing vocals.

It was Mabry who introduced Miles to the work of Sly and Jimi which impacted greatly on his own music. For that I owe her a debt of gratitude as she started the ball rolling towards the eventual Miles bands featuring Pete Cosey on guitar.

[NWBasser]

Oh, I just remembered Joni Mitchell (from the Canadians thread)!

She has quite a voice.

[Tig]

From the How Did I Forget? department:

Chrissie Hynde
http://www.bobgruen.com/files/asst/R.332%20CHRISSIE%20HYNDE-1980.jpg

[The Fender Bender]

Heres an awesome female singer from DownUnder, "Renee Geyer" It's a Man's Man's World.
http://youtu.be/MAUXvEfLzlg

[R_of_G]

From the How Did I Forget? department:

Chrissie Hynde
http://www.bobgruen.com/files/asst/R.332%20CHRISSIE%20HYNDE-1980.jpg

+1

Always did dig the Pretenders.

One more I'd be remiss to leave off of my list is Regina Spektor. I like the vast majority of her work, but in particular there were a few songs on her most recent album produced by Jeff Lynne. An excellent combination.

She's also quite a good pianist and plays a bit of guitar as well.

DJw19KKjOEM

[syo]

Anyone mention Edith Piaf yet? Marlene Dietrich? Ute Lemper, for that matter?


I was set to mention all three of those myself. Didn't expect anyone to come up with those.

Another to come to mind (that I havent noticed listed) is the late great Sandy Denny

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Plus, Janis Joplin, PJ Harvey and the truly, well...what can I say...brilliantly original, Nina Hagen:

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Great thread Tig!

[wingsdad]

+1+ Pat Benatar, Bonnie Raitt, Ann Wilson, Chrissie Hynde and Aretha, for sure.

Guess I'll show my age with a few that stole my heart in puberty:

Ronnie Spector, the Ronnettes...interesting video remix here with good Wall O' Sound audio:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cKWmSHuJc4U&feature=related

Ahhh...then there was Motown....

Diana Ross: Check out the Funk Brothers, Jamerson on bass, bunched in the background....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PycKSdKG_74&feature=related

Martha Reeves, with the Vandellas:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CdvITn5cAVc

I was well past puberty when this gal got to me...Linda Ronstadt could cover a wide range of material and genres, but on stage here with Andrew Gold, Dan Dugmore and the core of the band that backed her doing this cover off the 'Heart Like A Wheel' album that really jetted her career after Don Henley/Glenn Frey got away from backing her in the studio... :

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hr9vKWLgZzo

[Retro Hound]

How could I forget about Linda?

[sunvalleylaw]

From the How Did I Forget? department:

Chrissie Hynde
http://www.bobgruen.com/files/asst/R.332%20CHRISSIE%20HYNDE-1980.jpg

Also plus one. I was just thinking the other day how much I liked the Pretenders. Their last effort a year or two ago was good too. I saw them live in a smaller venue in Tacoma, back in the mid to late 90's and it was just a great show!

[Jimi75]

Q3Kvu6Kgp88

[Blaze]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fCwlEnuXYsE

[kidsmoke]

Are we seriously on the third page of this thread with no mention of Grace Potter?

Just found this thread, and as I turned to page 3, that's about what I was thinking, thought I'd get to drop one in here, she's great, and in the vein of two of my other faves, Bonnie Raitt and Susan Tedeschi.

So many great vocalists of different styles mentioned here that get affirmative nods. Others, based on my own playlist from over the years:

Joan Armatrading!!
Emmy Lou Harris
Karin Bergquist (Over the Rhine)
Bettye LaVette
Neko Case
Lauryn Hill
Tracy Chapman
Alison Krauss
Annie Lennox
Natalie Merchant
Margo Timmins (Cowboy Junkies)