Your favorite female vocalists?

Tig*** · May 17th, 2011, 01:04 PM

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*** · May 17th, 2011, 02:24 PM

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.

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

Simone Simons of Epica is great too.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Vy73...eature=related This is a beautiful acoustic number.

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

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

**R_of_G** · May 17th, 2011, 02:55 PM

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*** · May 17th, 2011, 03:30 PM

Originally Posted by R_of_G

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*** · May 17th, 2011, 04:18 PM

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

**Tibernius** · May 17th, 2011, 05:01 PM

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

Charlotte Wessells:

Marcela Bovio:

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

Anneke van Giersbergen:

Vibeke Stene:

Spudman*** · May 17th, 2011, 05:31 PM

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

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

Spudman*** · May 17th, 2011, 05:41 PM

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

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** · May 17th, 2011, 06:23 PM

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*** · May 17th, 2011, 06:51 PM

Originally Posted by tunghaichuan

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*** · May 17th, 2011, 06:57 PM

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

Bonnie Raitt -Excellent.

**msteeln** · May 17th, 2011, 08:19 PM

Lisa Kekaula (Hawaiian - Cay-cow-lah)

piebaldpython*** · May 17th, 2011, 09:11 PM

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** · May 18th, 2011, 10:15 AM

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*** · May 18th, 2011, 10:35 AM

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** · May 18th, 2011, 10:36 AM

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

**mrmudcat** · May 18th, 2011, 10:42 AM

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!!

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

pedalbuilder*** · May 18th, 2011, 11:00 AM

Oh yeah - forgot to throw in Carla Bozulich.

**R_of_G** · May 18th, 2011, 11:58 AM

Originally Posted by Retro Hound

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

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

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