# Favorite Soothing Female Vocalists? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 14, 2020, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-soothing-female-vocalists/847953 "2020-02-14T21:13:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2020, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-soothing-female-vocalists/847953/21 "2020-02-15T02:43:58Z")
Neko Case and Tanya Donnelly need to make the list ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2020, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-soothing-female-vocalists/847953/22 "2020-02-15T02:50:23Z")
> [@Larry\_Borgia](#): > > Elizabeth Fraser and Lisa Gerrard. Elizabeth Fraser is the first one to come to mind for me, as well. ---
**Author:** ![Aspenglow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspenglow/32/76_2.png) [@Aspenglow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspenglow)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2020, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-soothing-female-vocalists/847953/23 "2020-02-15T03:04:08Z")
The all-time great, Eleanora Fagan. Aka Billie Holiday. ---
**Author:** ![DummyGladHands](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/49beb7/32.png) [@DummyGladHands](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DummyGladHands)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2020, 4:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-soothing-female-vocalists/847953/24 "2020-02-15T04:48:06Z")
> [@Aspenglow](#): > > The all-time great, Eleanora Fagan. Aka Billie Holiday. Yes, when the news or traffic makes me crazy it’s Billie. Natalie Merchant when I am having a massage works ---
**Author:** ![Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/prof.pepperwinkle/32/13627_2.png) [@Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Prof.Pepperwinkle)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2020, 4:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-soothing-female-vocalists/847953/25 "2020-02-15T04:50:13Z")
Another Norah Jones fan. Also Alison Krauss, Linda Ronstadt and Judy Collins. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2020, 5:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-soothing-female-vocalists/847953/26 "2020-02-15T05:26:26Z")
I’m not usually good at these things, but Sade (Shah-day) Smooth Operator fits the bill. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/4TYv2PhG89A/maxresdefault.jpg "Sade - Smooth Operator - Official - 1984") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4TYv2PhG89A) ---
**Author:** ![Enginerd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/bcef8e/32.png) [@Enginerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enginerd)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2020, 5:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-soothing-female-vocalists/847953/27 "2020-02-15T05:28:56Z")
Margo Timmins, [Cowboy Junkies](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fa9nN3G2CSg) ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2020, 6:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-soothing-female-vocalists/847953/28 "2020-02-15T06:13:17Z")
Cass Elliot had a pleasant voice. And I’ll echo Margo Timmins. ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Borgia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/larry_borgia/32/156_2.png) [@Larry\_Borgia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Borgia)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2020, 6:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-soothing-female-vocalists/847953/29 "2020-02-15T06:27:30Z")
> [@Gatopescado](#): > > Neko Case and Tanya Donnelly need to make the list I love both of those singers. Neko Case is one of my favorite artists. But I don’t know if I would call them soothing. ---
**Author:** ![Periwinkle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Periwinkle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Periwinkle)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2020, 8:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-soothing-female-vocalists/847953/30 "2020-02-15T08:48:43Z")
Sarah McLachlan might fit in the category. [Sarah McLachlan - Adia - YouTube](https://youtu.be/Q5wW8N4pt3U)\*\*\*\* Another one who came to mind is Patti Austin. [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/5Ktt7B4oCuk/hqdefault.jpg "Broken Dreams El DeBarge & Patti Austin") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Ktt7B4oCuk) ---
**Author:** ![GoodOmens](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/d26b3c/32.png) [@GoodOmens](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GoodOmens)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2020, 11:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-soothing-female-vocalists/847953/31 "2020-02-15T11:57:46Z")
I find Tori Amos can be very soothing, depending on the song. ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2020, 1:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-soothing-female-vocalists/847953/32 "2020-02-15T13:05:34Z")
More votes for Linda Ronstadt and Emmylou Harris. (But not Parton.) ---
**Author:** ![Novelty\_Bobble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Novelty\_Bobble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Novelty_Bobble)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2020, 1:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-soothing-female-vocalists/847953/33 "2020-02-15T13:05:53Z")
> [@EinsteinsHund](#): > > Sandy Denny: > > Fairport Convention - [Who Knows Where The Time Goes](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OkOB57UcYk8) A million times yes to this. Also to Elizabeth Fraser and Karen Carpenter. They all seem to sing as effortlessly as breathing, like they aren’t even trying and I suspect that has something to do with that soothing effect. One not mentioned but worth chucking in the mix is Kate Bush. OK, not for everything she’s done but on such as “50 words for snow” she absolutely fits the bill. ---
**Author:** ![Shoeless](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shoeless/32/7099_2.png) [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2020, 1:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-soothing-female-vocalists/847953/34 "2020-02-15T13:06:30Z")
> [@EinsteinsHund](#): > > Sandy Denny: > > Fairport Convention - [Who Knows Where The Time Goes](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OkOB57UcYk8) Sandy Denny and Linda Thompson were the first two that popped into my head. ---
**Author:** ![RunSilent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e0b2c6/32.png) [@RunSilent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RunSilent)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2020, 1:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-soothing-female-vocalists/847953/35 "2020-02-15T13:06:36Z")
Sophie Zelmani [- YouTube](https://youtu.be/VEgyDYS-iEY) ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2020, 1:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-soothing-female-vocalists/847953/36 "2020-02-15T13:19:55Z")
I’m not sure if “soothing” is precisely the right word, but Haley Westenra’s voice just sort of makes me melt. ---
**Author:** ![MortSahlFan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/3bc359/32.png) [@MortSahlFan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MortSahlFan)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2020, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-soothing-female-vocalists/847953/37 "2020-02-15T14:34:47Z")
> [@Shoeless](#): > > Sandy Denny and Linda Thompson were the first two that popped into my head. Linda Thompson - Dreams Fly Away (History Of) - The Great Valerio (live, 1975) (w Richard Thompson) ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2020, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-soothing-female-vocalists/847953/38 "2020-02-15T14:48:54Z")
Diane Schuur. Here’s a great track: ['Round Midnight](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JemtmoKmwgY) Another: [Louisiana Sunday Afternoon](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UUtdkm09EbA) ---
**Author:** ![Dancer\_Flight](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dancer_flight/32/7601_2.png) [@Dancer\_Flight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dancer_Flight)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2020, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-soothing-female-vocalists/847953/39 "2020-02-15T19:20:16Z")
Rachel Foster from the Weekend Players ([Angel](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d5C3vPLb2k0)) amongst other projects. And, of course, Tracey Thorn from Everything but the Girl ([No Difference](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GIgKIOyNof4)) and her collaborations with Massive Attack ([Protection](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Epgo8ixX6Wo)). -DF ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2020, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-soothing-female-vocalists/847953/40 "2020-02-15T20:11:03Z")
> [@Dancer\_Flight](#): > > Rachel Foster from the Weekend Players ([Angel](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d5C3vPLb2k0)) amongst other projects. > > And, of course, Tracey Thorn from Everything but the Girl ([No Difference](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GIgKIOyNof4)) and her collaborations with Massive Attack ([Protection](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Epgo8ixX6Wo)). > > -DF Oh, Tracye Thorn is a good one, especially “Protection”. It’s one of those otherworldly songs by Massive Attack only they can do. They always make their guest-singers shine. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-soothing-female-vocalists/847953.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-soothing-female-vocalists/847953.md?page=3)