Best female vocalists of all time

[Naga]

MARTINA McBRIDE I love to hear her sing, she may be country, but man her voice is unreal! Ive seen her 3 times in concert, blown away every time!

I don't understand why anytime someone praises a country artist, song, etc., it has to be given a disclaimer like country is somehow an inferior form of music. Growing up with a father who played in country bands and cutting my teeth on country, I can tell you that it takes just as much talent and artistry to pull off as anything else. Some of the best musicians in the world are Nashville session cats. I know a lot of country musicians who would take many of the self-important rock musicians to school, and even then, they'd still have to stay after class for credit just to pass.

Sorry for the rant. I just see those type of posts here all of the time, and it annoys me.

Agreed, Paul! A lot of country goes beyond what modern rock and metal can touch. It's not my preference, but I've got respect for country

I have to add my friend Jess to this list too since she's -hands down- the BEST female metal singer I've ever heard (she could kick a few guy's butts at it too!)

Hell yes! Jessica is my first vote!

Anyway, I'm gonna throw a rather large, mixed up list here. Mostly metal, basing off my influences. Bare with me...


Jessica, my friend and bandmate
Sue, my friend and bandmate
Angela Gossow
Jessicka
Morgan Lander
Tarja Turunen
Sharon den Adel
Sarah Jezebel Deva
Liv Kristine
Nell Sigland
Simone Simons
Cristina Scabbia
Amy Lee
Lita Ford
The Wilson sisters
Sarah McLachlan
Jewel
Mariah Carey
Martina McBride
Donna Lewis


There are DEFINITELY more, but off-hand, my mind is drawing a little bit of a blank. Oh well

[BDR]

Christina Aguilera ... phenomenal, crazified voice.

r:>)

[redawg]

Good pick BDR. Christina is a great singer. You can hate them for whatever reason but the Dixie Chicks are great singers as well. Saw a bunch of vids of them on youtube. GREAT three part harmonies. Please don't flame me too bad.

[metalchurch]

I really like Ann Wilson's voice alot, she has an amazing range. Although I've heard "Crazy on you" hundreds of times, I get chills when she sings the bridge section.

I like Amy Lee alot, and also Grace Slick has a nice voice as well.

[PStl]

For one of the purest sounding voices, you can't beat Karen Carpenter.

Word. Karen carpenter was AWESOME, no doubt.

The best Christmas album of all time.

Billie Holiday great jazz vocalist, incredible emotion in her voice.

In an era with so many differnt styles ready to go off in so many different tangents, one female voice stood alone!

Some worth mentioning: Dido, Kate Bush, Pat Benatar.

Carole King; my favorite! uhh, singer, songwriter, pianist, . . . .ahh . . . .

[CCdrums]

Carole King; my favorite! uhh, singer, songwriter, pianist, . . . .ahh . . . .

I think practically everyone had or has her album "Tapestry". Very talented lady.

Speaking of Mama Cass, (how's that for a segue) check out this video of the mamas and the papas doing "Monday Monday" live at the Monterey pop festival. I'm sure she was pumped full of drugs, but if you listen to her vocals once the song starts kickin' in, you can see why she's such an incredible talent. She starts off a little "pitchy" like Randy Jackson says, but her higher harmonies are beautiful later in the song. Her recorded voice is just awesome, I loved her...what a shame that she passed away so early in life.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K9fW1v2H55s

[mistikalvalkrie]

I do own a copy of Tapestry on vinyl...its an amazing album.

And I have to give another vote to mama Cass...I forgot about her the first time around...god, what a voice on that girl!!!

[homerski]

For one of the purest sounding voices, you can't beat Karen Carpenter.

AMEN 1,000,000,000,000,000,000 Times

And she was a damn good drummer too!

If she wasn't a Superstar living in California, and then went and killed herself with anorexia, I would have definitely married her.

I just loved everything about her.

JH

[Banned]

In no particular order...
Stevie Nicks
Karen Carpenter
Ann Wilson
Pat Benatar
Shania Twain (I Know she's a sell out but, she's got a great voice)
Grace Slick
Chrisse Hynde
Patsie Cline
Debbie Harry


And at risk of being verbally abused, I am compelled to mention that I will never understand how Janis J. ever made "Dime One" as a vocalist.

[bsaller]

Patsy Cline
Linda Ronstadt
Martina McBride
Lydia Pence

[homerski]

Ooo-Ooo I almost forgot...

Elvis Costello's wife - Diana Krall

http://www.dianakrall.com/

JH

[Banned]

In no particular order...
Stevie Nicks
Karen Carpenter
Ann Wilson
Pat Benatar
Shania Twain (I Know she's a sell out but, she's got a great voice)
Grace Slick
Chrisse Hynde
Patsie Cline
Debbie Harry


And at risk of being verbally abused, I am compelled to mention that I will never understand how Janis J. ever made "Dime One" as a vocalist.

Oh yeah.. And Fergie has a hell of a voice as well... When she's actually singing.

[DirtySanchez]

And at risk of being verbally abused, I am compelled to mention that I will never understand how Janis J. ever made "Dime One" as a vocalist.

I agree. This chicks voice is bleh.

That fuckin crybaby song is the worst.

[CCdrums]

And at risk of being verbally abused, I am compelled to mention that I will never understand how Janis J. ever made "Dime One" as a vocalist.

I agree. This chicks voice is bleh.

That fuckin crybaby song is the worst.

To each his own, but I think you guys are missing the boat on why she was so good. It wasn't the quality of her voice per se, it was the emotion and feel she brought to the music and her performance. "Take another little piece of my heart" is an example. If she was singing in a local club and you had the good fortune to be in the audience, I guarantee you'd be blown away like everyone else was back in her day.

[Banned]

To each his own, but I think you guys are missing the boat on why she was so good. It wasn't the quality of her voice per se, it was the emotion and feel she brought to the music and her performance. "Take another little piece of my heart" is an example. If she was singing in a local club and you had the good fortune to be in the audience, I guarantee you'd be blown away like everyone else was back in her day.

I respect eveything that she has accomplished, and the fact that she has inspired so many other female vocalists to do what they do speaks volumes. However, that does not change the fact that every time I hear her singing anything including "Take Another Little Piece Of My Heart" I want to throw myself in front of a moving train. So, I would respectfully like to "Agree To Disagree" on this one.

[CCdrums]

To each his own, but I think you guys are missing the boat on why she was so good. It wasn't the quality of her voice per se, it was the emotion and feel she brought to the music and her performance. "Take another little piece of my heart" is an example. If she was singing in a local club and you had the good fortune to be in the audience, I guarantee you'd be blown away like everyone else was back in her day.

I respect eveything that she has accomplished, and the fact that she has inspired so many other female vocalists to do what they do speaks volumes. However, that does not change the fact that every time I hear her singing anything including "Take Another Little Piece Of My Heart" I want to throw myself in front of a moving train. So, I would respectfully like to "Agree To Disagree" on this one.

I respect your opinion. Thanks for saying it in an intelligent, tactful and thoughtful way without the use of profanity.

[bfoust]

Fergie?

Def. Amy Lee

Lacey Mosley (Flyleaf)

[YankeeRose]

How about The Andrews Sisters? I can still hear my grandma singing along to some of their tunes.

[CHICKSINGA]

Bekka Bramlett, Etta James, Ann Wilson, Susan Tedeschi, Renee Austin, Denise Williams, and when she's soulfull and bluesy, Christina Aguilerra
and of course, Janis

[Banned]

How about The Andrews Sisters? I can still hear my grandma singing along to some of their tunes.

+1 on the Andrews Sisters! I remember watching them on the Abbott and Costello movies when I was a kid. Even back then I thought they were kinda hot...Oh yeah, and they sing good too.

[moxham123]

Sharon Corr, Andrea Corr, and Caroline Corr from The Corrs

[BDR]

To each his own, but I think you guys are missing the boat on why she was so good. It wasn't the quality of her voice per se, it was the emotion and feel she brought to the music and her performance. "Take another little piece of my heart" is an example. If she was singing in a local club and you had the good fortune to be in the audience, I guarantee you'd be blown away like everyone else was back in her day.

I respect eveything that she has accomplished, and the fact that she has inspired so many other female vocalists to do what they do speaks volumes. However, that does not change the fact that every time I hear her singing anything including "Take Another Little Piece Of My Heart" I want to throw myself in front of a moving train. So, I would respectfully like to "Agree To Disagree" on this one.

I respect your opinion. Thanks for saying it in an intelligent, tactful and thoughtful way without the use of profanity.

Yeah, I hear what you're saying about the "emotion" and "feel" and stuff like that, but bottom line is, her voice was horrible and I wouldn't have been in the club in the first place to experience it. Same with Dylan, Springsteen and others who plainly are not good singers. I liken it to going to your kid's junior high band recital. They put a lot of hard work and emotion into what they're trying to do, but let's be honest, most of those shows are just painful to sit through.

r:>)

[MoonManTom]

Right at the Moment, My daughter got me hooked on this song!

http://youtube.com/watch?v=oEyuPD9I-f8&feature=user

The Singers name is Dawn Richardson! My daughter saw them in concert last year, and said they rocked! I hope to see them this year!

[Wiggus]

Did no one say kd lang?? kd lang anyone?

That's all I'll say then.

kd lang.

[CCdrums]

Yeah, I hear what you're saying about the "emotion" and "feel" and stuff like that, but bottom line is, her voice was horrible and I wouldn't have been in the club in the first place to experience it. Same with Dylan, Springsteen and others who plainly are not good singers. I liken it to going to your kid's junior high band recital. They put a lot of hard work and emotion into what they're trying to do, but let's be honest, most of those shows are just painful to sit through.

r:>)

I understand your point and it's well taken, since this IS a thread about favorite female vocalists, so I guess performance and feel and emotion don't play as much of a part in the choosing of your favorite as going strictly on vocal quality does, but ...Janis isn't a legend for nothing... I don't think her voice was horrible and I think that she has a legitimate place in this category. Just my opinion... I guess we agree to disagree.