I completely and utterly love the sound of women singing ...

A quick scan through my mp3 collection reveals the following female songsters ...

Audrey Hepburn.
Cyndi Lauper.
Diana Ross.
Eva Cassidy.
Joni Mitchell.
Minnie Riperton.
Roberta Flack.

There's just something in a female voice that isn't there in a male one. So who is your favorite female vocalist ... any particular tracks you like !? ...

Alison Moyet singing Love Letters or That Ole Devil are both favourites of mine.

Gladys Knight (With Pips) singing Midnight Train to Georgia is another classic song.

Annie Lennox - unmistakable

Though i have been listening to Norah Jones and Katie Meliua (maybe spelt wrong)

Tori Amos
Skye (from morcheeba)(really soothing voice)
Beth orton
Jayne Taylor, not that you'll know her. She's a friend of a friend from home (crosby). Got a voice that you'd wan't to hug!

Errrrmmm..... Can't think to well right now, will get back to this one.

Originally posted by fuzzy
Annie Lennox - unmistakable

Though i have been listening to Norah Jones and Katie Meliua (maybe spalt wrong)

Yeah ! ... I've just been listening to Nora Jones too ... very nice :-)

Don't you think there's something very healing and soothing about a good female singer ?

Stevie Nicks
Cher
Mariah Carey
Gloria Estefan
Andrea Corr
Debbie Harry
Kate Bush
Tori Amos
Sade
Tina Turner
Whitney Houston
Sheryl Crow
Bonnie Tyler
Celine Dion
Carole King
Maria McKee
Fiona Apple
Joni Mitchell
Diana Ross
Sheena Easton
Skin


Please note that not all of these are my personal favourites but I appreciate and recognize their talent.

I don't have that many women singers in my CD/MP3 collection only:

Alanis Morisette (very good) Album: Supposed Former Infatuation Junkie, Dido (dreadful), Sophie B. Hawkins (1 track) v. good, Chapman, Sleeper (The It Girl)-I like it-loads of people take the p**s out of it!

Alex

If you want to add another female vocalist to your list with a fantastic voice look up Martha redbone on google. She's not heard of in England Yet but big in the US.

Ani Difranco - bloomin amazing folky / alternative type stuff.

Here's a couple of contrasting voices

Janis Joplin - rips your heart out
Karen Carpenter - puts it back together again.

Bjork
Katie Jane Garside (Daisy Chainsaw/ Queen Adeena)
Tori Amos
Dolores Mary O'Riordan Burton (Cranberries)
Nina Persson (Cardigans)

i cannot BELIEVE noone has mentioned Nina Simone, incredible voice, Ella Fitzgerald, me (jokin), ani difranco, kate rusby, alanis morisette(not so much for the voice but the emotion in the voice) and many many more but too tired to think!

Katie Melua

Patti Russo

erm... cant think of anymore

What about Julie London, Connie Francis, Eva Cassidy, Nora Jones, Kitty Kallen, Kay Star?

My personal favourites are :

Eva Cassidy
Ella Fitzgerald
Norah Jones
Alison Moyet (old devil called love - what a song)
Skin (skunk anansie)
Karen Carpenter
Alison Goldfrappe
Annie Lennox

Dont forget Heather Nova, Kathryn williams, Anja Garbarek, Kirsty hacksaw? and the wonam who sings on Banco de Gaia's albums!

Delta Goodrem, fka Nina Tucker in Neighbours.

She has an excellent voice IMO, shame she has Parkinson's Disease :(

Originally posted by mimicraze
alanis morisette(not so much for the voice but the emotion in the voice)

I'd also put sinead o'conner in that grouping ... a very expressive and emotional voice.

two songs I really like are:

Carole King - It's too late
Carly Simon - You're so vain

great to sing along to, too

I like unusual voices me like: her from that band Lamb, her from the Cardigan's, Bjork, Tori Amos, Alanis Morrisette, her who sings on Goldie's Timeless album and you know stuff like that. I don't like all this teeny-bop and manufactured singing stuff though. I think it's rare that you come across unique singers with raw talent nowadays innit.

By the way would anyone recommend any other females singer's similar to those above??

Kirsty McColl sadly no longer with us.

Yeah I agree with some of the other woman singer's you have mentioned e.g.

Norah Jones
Katie Melia
Tori Amos
Ella Fitzgerald
Karen Carpenter/Carpenter's in general

But what about the ones you haven't

Joss Stone
Brandy
Monica

Katie Melua <--Spawn of Satan.


Good female singers,

Kate Rusby (although I wish she'd cheer up)
Nancy Kerr (and she even taught me 'the flamingo dance')
Julie Murphy (amazing amazing voice)
Tina Dico

That;s all for now. Smell ya later!

Hey dont forget - Joan Armatrading???!?!!!! Come on, Love and affection is an all time classic woman wailing tune!!!

Etta James kicks ass, as does Sade n Tracy Chapman (voice wise, love or leave their music), I have to admire Shirley Basseys Style too!! Now theres a woman who could light up a stage in a FULL sequined evening gown if ever I saw one - perhaps a note to the talentless trash who keep parading, oiled up in hotpants?? Its not necessary!!

I always liked Tracey Thorn on the seminal Walking wounded LP. In particualer MirrorBalls and Before Today. However I went out with this lass who reckoned she was a whinging cow! Turned out that she was!!!!!!!!!!!:mad:

our very own tegwen roberts

www.tegwenroberts.com

and hazel leigh

aretha franklin
tammy wynette
julie london
peggy lee
koko taylor
dolores keane
pj harvey

Originally posted by Reidstar
I like unusual voices me like: her from that band Lamb, her from the Cardigan's, Bjork, Tori Amos, Alanis Morrisette, her who sings on Goldie's Timeless album and you know stuff like that. I don't like all this teeny-bop and manufactured singing stuff though. I think it's rare that you come across unique singers with raw talent nowadays innit.

By the way would anyone recommend any other females singer's similar to those above??

The woman out of Lamb..she can do no wrong - her name's Lou Rhodes (sp?). You could also try their Voodoo Sessions album - its got a few other women singers on there - nina simone and others remixed I think and sounds great! Also try Kosheen...Maybe you remember Portishead (sorry don't know how old you are?!) - another great female voice there. Finally the woman out of Shivaree and PJ Harvey as suggested above (may not be what you're after though)...too much music..too little time...

OK, I'll admit to liking Katie Melua and Norah Jones. But by far the best is still the wonderful Belinda Carlisle. When she came to Sheffield as part of the Here & Now tour a couple of years ago she brought the house down at the arena! I've never seen another live performer quite like her either before or since.

I managed to catch up with her again in Cambridge this summer and met her after the show. I've been told she's a bit unsociable with fans, but that wasn't my experience of her at all. She happily signed her autograph (which I'm always being told she doesn't do).

If you want the chance to catch Belinda live yourself, then get on down to the Arena box office. She's back as part of the Here & Now Christmas Tour in December. I'll be there!:)

Edie Brickell (was on early version of windows 98 upgrade I think Good times)

Sui Vesan from Czech Republic

A post thats not about yourself Jamie?

Originally posted by dragonsoup

A post thats not about yourself Jamie?

Yes but it is about his other favourite subject - Women:hihi: ;)

Others not mentioned
Joss Stone has an amazing voice for her age.

Another local girl Rosalie Deighton - although she is London based now, she is from Barnsley but you would think she was straight out of Nashville.

Eddi Reader
Lisa Hannigan - The very moving voice who sings with Damien Rice (http://www.eskimofriends.com/lisa.asp)

Broadband users only listen to her sing Cannonball (http://www.eskimofriends.com/mp3/EF_cannonball_lisa.mp3)

Margarita Prakatan - a unique voice.:thumbsup:

Originally posted by mikey
Yes but it is about his other favourite subject - Women:hihi: ;)

Others not mentioned
Joss Stone has an amazing voice for her age.

Another local girl Rosalie Deighton - although she is London based now, she is from Barnsley but you would think she was straight out of Nashville.

Eddi Reader
Lisa Hannigan - The very moving voice who sings with Damien Rice (http://www.eskimofriends.com/lisa.asp)

Broadband users only listen to her sing Cannonball (http://www.eskimofriends.com/mp3/EF_cannonball_lisa.mp3) remember thinking about her on that Fairground attraction track WHAT a sexy voice. Then she appears on TOTP the image of a left wing, lesbian , social working ,teacher type ,from the haircut right down to the shoes . More like something huddled in the corner at quiz nights than something youd want to get close to if you get my drift.


Dragon

Originally posted by Lestat
Margarita Prakatan - a unique voice.:thumbsup:

That's true - never heard of her so I did a search, its Pracatan BTW:hihi:

have a listen (http://www.margaritapracatan.com/newcd.htm)

Originally posted by dragonsoup
remember thinking about her on that Fairground attraction track WHAT a sexy voice. Then she appears on TOTP the image of a left wing, lesbian , social working ,teacher type ,from the haircut right down to the shoes . More like something huddled in the corner at quiz nights than something youd want to get close to if you get my drift.


Dragon

Hmmm I know what you mean, but nobody said they had to be diva's too.
Her latest reincarnation is singing Rabbie Burns songs:loopy:

Ella Fitzgerald
Karen Carpenter
Dusty Springfield
Kathlene Ferrier
Janet Baker
Peggy Lee
Edith Piaf
Marlene Dietrich

Hmmm...showing my age again ;)

Originally posted by quent
our very own tegwen roberts

www.tegwenroberts.com

and hazel leigh

Thanks for this Quent - not come across them before. Good music for a relaxing mood with just a vocal and guitar.
If they've been on Jonathan Ross they must be good..?!

Reminds me a bit of Gillian Welch who is also very good.

I have to admit that I mainly listen to male-fronted indie/rock bands as a rule, but there are some female voices that I love and could listen to happily for hours:

Edith Piaf
Stevie Nicks
Bjork
Whitney Houston (duck!) :)
Katie Melua (and again!) :)
Cerys Matthews

I first heard Cerys Matthews sing when Catatonia supported the Manics on a UK tour a few years ago, and was blown away by the clarity of her voice.

I'll second StarSparkle's list, and add :

Tori Amos
Anastacia
Natalie Merchant (10,000 Maniacs)
Margot Timmins (Cowboy Junkies)
Patsy Cline
Lee Anne Rimes

I'n sure your choices have amazing voices, but Please listen to LINDA EDER.

Ella Fitzgerald
Bonnie Raitt
Emmylou Harris
love them all

Lots of country singers mentioned, but I just love Martina McBride, although she's more of a pop cross-over (she sang the theme tune for 'Runaway Bride') than strictly country. She has won bucketloads of awards for her vocal range. Tiny, tiny lady with a huge voice.

Lou from Lamb. Voice of an angel.

Roisin from Moloko.

Suzanne Vega. Sinead O Connor.

Did anyone hear Linda Eder Yet ? let me know what you think,
she has a voice to beat all voices.

Lucie Silvas has an amazing talent she can sing.
I also like the american pop idol woman who's name escapes me, she has an amazing voice too.
Alisha keys is an exellent singer as well.

an old thread but i was bored and cant belive you've all missed the best!


ann wilson of heart.....she can do any style and simlply has one of the most powerfull and emotional female voices you would ever hear. they were known as the female led zeppelin in there early days...it all got a bit big hair and silly after a bit but the music never suffered.

most known for the hit ALONE so grab a copy of that and tell me the woman aint the best you've heard ;) and if you like that get 'crazy for you' and 'these dreams' as well

p.s. im pretty sure mariah carey is in the guiness book of records for best vocal range. but i dont like her stuff..

in addition, Julie London.

"cry me a river"....

Originally posted by Phanerothyme
in addition, Julie London.

"cry me a river"....

Agreed, she was on my list. I would add Sarah McLachlan and (after listening to her album 'Coverage'... go out and buy it!) I would have to add Mandy Moore too.

My best of the missing singers on the list.
Mahalia Jackson. Summertime,Newport Jazz festival.

MARIE FREDRICKSSON (ROXETTE)

STEVIE NICKS (FLEETWOOD MAC)

ALISON MOYET (YAZOO)

CELINE DION

BONNIE TYLER

ANNI-FRID LINGSTAD/AGNETHA FALSKOG (ABBA)

Aimee Mann
Tori Amos
Nerina Pallot
Martha Tilson
Thea Gilmore
Kitka
Poe
Catie Curtis
Missy Smith
Jewel

Beverley Knight is pretty amazing

Pat Benatar

Patti Smith

Four pages already, and Kylie's not had a mentiom! Shame on you all people of Sheffield :rant: :help: :D

K x

Yoko Ono!! :D

#9. #9. #9. #9. etc :hihi:

What about Judy Garland? Just watched this movie. They show it every Easter.

http://www.zianet.com/jjohnson/easter.htm

Dinah Washington?

Her version of "Make Me a Present of You" is one of my favorite Christmas songs.

http://www.alamhof.org/washingd.htm

Billie Holiday?

http://www.cmgww.com/music/holiday/

Patsy Cline?

http://www.countrymusichalloffame.com/inductees/patsy_cline.html

Janis Joplin?

http://www.janisjoplin.net/

Love them all. Wish I could sing like that.

:) Sierra

Annie Lennox,
Mariah Carey,
Beyonce Knowles,
The blonde haired one from G4.

....................................

Don`t forget
Siouxsie
Debbie harry
and that lass from Beautiful South dont know her name

Joss Stone, Celine Dion, Annie Lenox, Whitney Houston(before all of the drugs), and Pat Benatar!!

Originally posted by jayjay

and that lass from Beautiful South dont know her name

Which one, they are on the 2nd one.

Didnt realise that there had been 2.They both sound alike

thanks for letting me know,
not an avid fan but occasionally dig cd out if i`m feeling that way inclined,
guess it would be the first one then

Glad to see Piaf's name appearing a couple of times.
The best for me---- her voice always conjures up visions , I think , anyway , of cobbled streets in Paris and smoky French cafes and bistros , smelling of coffee , wine , food and cigarettes.
Can't imagine her , somehow, singing a song about MacDonalds.

Reading another post got me thinking. I thought it was abouttime I shamelessly plugged my friend again. A good album for the ladies as a christmas present, or in fact anyone that like something a little funky.
have a listen to the tracks.
http://www.martharedbone.com/

Edith Piaff
Marlene Deitrich
Jacqui McShee (Pentangle - late 60's)
Sandy Denny (Fairport Convention)
Joan Armatrading
Joni Mitchell
Carol King
Carly Simon
Janis Joplin
Gladys Knight
Aretha Franklin
Roberta Flack
Nina Simone
Marsha Hunt
Patti Smith
early Madonna
Cerys Matthews
Roisin Murphy
Alison Goldfrapp
KT Tunstall
Amy Winehouse

part of original post by Fareast
Glad to see Piaf's name appearing a couple of times.
I'll agree with that, Fareast... When she sang about hard times, she knew what it meant, she'd lived through them!

Some of my faves....


Mariah Carey
Beyonce
Aaliyah
Ciara
Whitney Houston

Erykah Badu
Sade
Amy Winehouse
Dusty Springfield
Nina Simone
Shirley Manson
Norah Jones
Floetry (Natalie & Marsha)
Aretha Franklin
Minnie Ripperton

They're a few of my favourites

Glad to see most of my faves have been mentioned:

Marie Fredriksson
Dolores O'Riordan (except when she overdoes the wailing)
KT Tunstall
Aretha
Dusty
Nina Simone
Billie Holiday
Shirley Manson
Alex Parks
Darlene Zscech and most of the Hillsongs Australia people
Eva Cassidy
Skin
Kylie
Alanis Morissette
Cerys Matthews
Tracy Chapman
and probably several others I've forgotten.

But someone else who has a beautiful voice is the woman who sings on Damien Rice's 'O' - does anyone know her name and if she's done anything else?

The best for me has to be Emmy lou Harris and Alison Krauss:)

MTheo rightly points out Ann Wilson from Heart (and if he hadn't mentioned her I admit I would have forgotten about her).

Her performance on 1987's Alone is nothing short of stunning. The emotion in her singing is precisely what being a lead singer should be all about (I also liked These Dreams released in 1988).

As for the others, my personal favourites are Eddi Reader - forget Perfect, listen to her other stuff, both with and without Fairground Attraction. She has a beautiful, slightly husky voice that has child-like qualities. Fabulous range also.

Dusty Springfield - arguably the finest British white singer. Again, she could make something out of nothing. Listen to songs like I Close My Eyes And Count To Ten or Going Back. A voice in a million, perfect diction, phrasing and all with such feeling. Her voice, despite its strength had a vulnerability.

Karen Carpenter. Quite possibly the most beautiful female voice ever. So soothing, so pure. And with the benefit of being able to sing some of the best songs ever written.

Tracy Chapman - a slightly hurt voice. Quite how she let Boyzone make Baby Can I Hold You into some top ten teenybop run-of-the-mill record, I don't know.

Alison Moyet - Brilliant and somewhat overlooked. She did an album of covers which included Windmills Of Your Mind. Her version of Love Letters is better than Kitty Lester's original IMO.

Olivia Newton-John. Have you heard her sing Sam, A Little More Love or Xanadu? Wonderful voice. Her omission on this thread is startling.

Two final points. Not the best voice but one with a certain va-va-vroom is Suzanna Hoffs of the Bangles. Sexy, sexy, sexy little fox. Listen to In Your Room guys (1988) but keep a damp flannel with you.

One to look out for is - albeit more in the realm of Classical Music - Hayley Westenra. A 17 year old with the most beautiful voice and clarity.

Ani DiFranco (particularly the early and middle albums; some of the later ones are a bit too much on the jazzy side for me. Not bad, just different.)
Tori Amos (Little Earthquakes is stunning and remains her best).
Alanis Morissette (It's ten years since Jagged Little Pill...)
Sophie B Hawkins (Timbre was woefully under-rated)

Reading another post got me thinking. I thought it was abouttime I shamelessly plugged my friend again. A good album for the ladies as a christmas present, or in fact anyone that like something a little funky.
have a listen to the tracks.
http://www.martharedbone.com/

She's playing at the Jazz cafe in March!


http://www.meanfiddler.com/displayPage.asp?ArticleID=2761&URLID=19

My favorites are


Mariah Carey
Annie Lennox
Whitney Houston
Madonna
Diana Ross
Charlotte Church :thumbsup:

And the one and only Cilla Black :hihi: :loopy:

Dusty Springfield, Aretha Franklin and Ella Fitzgerald.

Only one mention for Beth Gibbons (Portishead)?!

If my calculations are correct they haven't released a new album for 9 years. Are they still going?

A friend from uni let me borrow some PJ Harvey and I have to say I'm very impressed with her work.

Outstanding voice!

Only one mention for Beth Gibbons (Portishead)?!

If my calculations are correct they haven't released a new album for 9 years. Are they still going?

Beth Gibbons brought out a solo album, not a patch on Portishead though, and I was told that there was a new Portishead album in the pipeline.

One of my favourite bands. I loved that whole Bristol scene.

Delta Goodrem, fka Nina Tucker in Neighbours.

She has an excellent voice IMO, shame she has Parkinson's Disease :(

She does? First I've heard of it... unless you mean Hodgin's?

Anyway, my vote has to go to Kelly Clarkson at the moment, got her new album on constantly lol. And after watching her series of American Idol she was fantastic in that.

Kelly Clarkson has a superb voice - something which doesn't always come through on her more 'rockier' songs. People slate shows like Pop Idol, but no one can deny they have produced some superb singers - will young, kelly clarkson, ruben studdard, shayne ward etc.

Listening to Corrine Bailey Rae at the moment. I guess not an amazing voice, but very good, soulful, unique and quirky. Check out the song 'Put Your Records On'.

Madonna! Noone's mentioned her. Ok she may not be the best singer but she is iconic!


60/70s Carole king, Karen Carpenter, Anna Fried from Abba, Debbie Harry Dusty Springfield, Diana Ross in the Supremes
80s Kirsty Macoll, Tracey Thorn, Suzanne Vega, Eddi Reader, Sam Brown, Annie Lennox, Alison Moyet,Helen Terry, Julia Fordham, Mari Wilson, Julianne Reagan
90s Jacqui Abbott (ex TBS) Lisa Stansfield, N'dea Davenport,(BNH)
Alanis Morissette, Beth Orton
00's Norah Jones, Natalie Imbruglia and I quite like KT Tunstall but she's not got a brilliant voice.

Listening to Corrine Bailey Rae at the moment. I guess not an amazing voice, but very good, soulful, unique and quirky. Check out the song 'Put Your Records On'.

Brilliant vocalist, she used to be the main singer for the band, The Stix! :thumbsup:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/emmabuntonpix

Kelly Clarkson has a superb voice - something which doesn't always come through on her more 'rockier' songs. People slate shows like Pop Idol, but no one can deny they have produced some superb singers - will young, kelly clarkson, ruben studdard, shayne ward etc.

Listening to Corrine Bailey Rae at the moment. I guess not an amazing voice, but very good, soulful, unique and quirky. Check out the song 'Put Your Records On'.

I forgot Jacqueline Abbot and Beth Orton of my list. How could I?!?

Brandy is fantasic also
aliyah (spelling)
Mary j bliege
Norah jones
Gwen stefani
All the TLC/ SWV ladies
Am sure I have missed someone

I did alica keys

They don't come any better than Aretha Franklin!

Aimee Mann
Ani DiFranco
Fiona Apple
Hope Sandoval
Kathryn Williams
Nerina Pallot
Sheila Nichols
Shelby Lynne
Stina Nordenstam
Thea Gilmore
Tracy Bonham

Jennifer Charles (Elysian Fields, Lovage)

I'm also loving Corinne Bailey Rae, hope the album lives up to the hype!

I also love:

Mariah Carey
Charlotte Church
KT Tunstall
Kelly Clarkson
Alicia Keys
Bjork
The woman from Fleetwood Mac
Joss Stone
Mary J Blige
Texas
Eva Cassidy

and many more that I cant think of right now!!!:) :) :)

Plus Diana Ross!!!
Chrissy Hinde

thats it for another few minutes!

heather nova
pj harvey
hope sandovahl

The lead singer of "The Scarlet Tuesday"

And the "Long Blondes" (as a whole)

Brandy is fantasic also
aliyah (spelling)
Mary j bliege
All the TLC/ SWV ladies
Am sure I have missed someone

I did alica keys

Pretty much my choices too with;
Anita Baker
Aretha
Tamia
Billy Holiday
Brenda Russell, Alicia Keys and a current favourite is Corrinne Bailey Rae

So many wonderful voices...

Jocelyn Brown
Thelma Houston
Loleatta Holloway
Sade
Nina Simone
Tina Turner
India Arie
the other India (of MAW fame)
Diana Ross
Linda Clifford
Gwen McCrae
Gwen Guthrie
Sister Sledge
Taana Gardner
Nesreen Shah (Sheffield's best vocalist)
Aya
Erykah Badu
Kimblee (of Solu music)

...the list goes on...