I listen to a lot of chick music. The best female singers have voices that harness their emotions in a way that male singers simply can’t do, IMHO.
My favorites :
Tori Amos - the one and only
Chantal Kreviazuk - amazing. I can’t believe most people here in the U.S. have still never heard of her.
I have a few more, but I want to hear some of yours.
Carole King.
There is Carole King then there are all the others.It isn’t even close.
Perhaps that is a little severe Joni Mitchell springs to mind.
Here are some other notables but not really in the same league
**Joan Baez **
Nina Simone
Bonnie Raitt
Stevie Nicks
Janice Ian
Natalie Marchant has done well but needs to keep going a few years .
Chrissie Hynde (of the Pretenders) hands down,
personally speaking.
I saw a few of their shows (before the orginal
members began to die prematurely) and she was
stunning, IMHO
I suspect I’m going to be lambasted for this, but I like Courtney Love, and Janis Joplin. But as far as the female voice goes, I don’t think anyone can hold a candle to Ella Fitzgerald.
Sheryl Crow and Bonnie Raitt are two of my favorites.
Maybe I’m too young to appreciate her, but I cannot STAND Carole King. She’s fine as a songwriter, but her voice has the same effect as fingernails on a chalkboard. I’m sure that’s blasphemy to many of you, but I can’t help it.
I also despise Joni Mitchell’s voice. Blame my mother - she couldn’t stand that kind of music. I grew up listening to Motown and disco.
Hear hear.
I second Tori Amos (and I’d be interested to hear your second choice sing.) And: Audra McDonald. The great and wonderful Audra. Three Tonys before she’s 30.
Tori Amos. The rest is far behind.
Sharp, witty songs without a trace of self-pity, from a woman who knows exactly what she’s about and doesn’t intend putting up with any crap, but isn’t (usually) hostile or defensive in the least. Her voice and delivery are amazing without (usually) turning cartwheels to get attention. Probably the one thing she’s done (as a vocalist) that people are most familiar with is her duet with Shane MacGowan on the Pogues’ “Fairytale of New York”. Those who remember Tracy Ullman’s “They Don’t Know” may not realize that Kirsty wrote and produced it (along with producing the rest of Ullman’s You Broke My Heart in 17 Places and writing the title track). Kirsty’s versions of each of these are better than Ullman’s.
In later years, she’s collaborated with a variety of co-writers, including the Smiths’ Johnny Marr, Pete Glenister and Jem Finer of the Pogues, on a number of songs, but has almost uniformly produced high quality work. Even the occasional cover she’s done has been interesting: Ray Davies’ “Days”, Billy Bragg’s “A New England”, Cole Porter’s “Miss Otis Regrets” (with the Pogues), Kate and Anna McGarrigle’s “Complainte pour Ste Catherine”, etc.
I’m always amazed that she’s not better known and appreciated. It’s not as if there’s anything at all inaccessible about her work.
Whenever I hear Tori Amos, I cant help thinking of Kate Bush. Tori is great though.
If I may, I’d like to add Aimee Mann to the list. Great tunes, clever lyrics.
I also think Jonatha Brooke deserves a mention, and Patricia Barber (?), who is more in the jazz style, but very cool.
I must check out some of the names mentioned here…
Crap! I forgot Shawn Colvin, and Lucinda Williams,and Victoria Williams.
What was I thinking?
Patti Smith - her lyrics are a bit dramatic for me, but she has an outstanding voice and she is one of the best performers (male or female) I’ve ever seen, (and I see music a lot).
Also, Liz Phair.
I’m with uberDave. Chrissy Hynde is the queen of Rock and Roll.
One more vote for Lucinda Williams.
Stacey Earle has a great voice and very good songs.
I don’t know if she’s strictly a singer-songwriter, but she sings and writes great songs - Moe Tucker.
Also a singer from Melbourne, Sal Douglas.
HenrySpencer.
Patti Andress (of Tuck and Patti)has a terrific voice, although I must admit I like her covers of Beatles and Stevie Wonder tunes more than her original stuff. Well, except for “High-heel Blues,” which is greatness itself.
Plus another vote for Joni Mitchell and Bonnie Raitt!
ani difranco.
Carole King is truly amazing. She’s in the generation before me, so I don’t think I have a solid appreciation of just how great she is/was…but from what I’ve seen and heard, holy Moses!
From the most recent crop, I must say I’m growing more and more impressed with Sheryl Crow. I have three of her albums, and each time I listen to any of them I gain new appreciation for her lyrical and musical skill. I do believe she will be one from this generation that manages to live on as her talent allows, as Bonnie Raitt and King have done.
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Tori Amos? Isn’t she the redhead that humps her piano and nearly reaches orgasm every time she performs? (Just teasing…I saw an SNL skit where someone impersonating her did just that–it was damn funny!)
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Singer/Songwriters:
Stevie Nicks from 1973 through 1983 inclusive.
Chrissie Hynde (Pretenders)
Christine McVie 1968 through 1986 inclusive
Bonnie Raitt
Joni Mitchell until about 1980
Tracy Chapman
Singers Only:
Pat Benetar
Debbie Harry
Madonna
Sade
Karen Ramirez
Ani Difranco
Accept no substitute.
Just for the record, IMHO, if you compare Carole King’s version of “It’s Too Late” to anyone else’s (Gloria Estefan, Amy Grant, et al.), technically, her voice isn’t as refined…but the emotion she invests…whew! …baby, that…is…ART.
Otherwise:
Karla Bonoff
Cilette Swann
Chrissie Hynde