i liked the theme song too.
I know people are very familiar with pop stars, so I’ve tried to post as many, live, unvarnished performances as possible, which can make the casual fan reassess (I know it was a performance solo by Gaga at a piano that made me completely reassess my view of her).
Sometimes, it’s not possible. The technology of recording has reached a point that a street performance can sound like a studio recording. Imagine being able to hear the teenage Piaf singing on the streets of Paris…
Here’s a modern street performance by ZAZ ( Isabelle Geffroy) in Montmartre.
Linda Perry:
Whitney Houston’s mother, Sissy Houston. Here she is hitting an impossible note on Aretha Franklin’s “Ain’t No Way”
Ruby Wilson, the Queen of Beale Street:
Others have posted about Ann Wilson of Heart, but I’d like to add Mistral Wind to the thread.
I’ve posted about this singers before.
Tan Jing on the Chinese version of King of Masked Singer. America, this is how it’s done!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FIe4eQi8Ars
Kim Seul Gi and Im Ha Nui from Duresori. Duresori is the real choir from the Korean National School of Traditional Arts. Seul Gi is a pansori (traditional Korean storytelling singer) and I’m not sure about Ha Nui. https://youtu.be/JkfxgTHUuG0?t=307, but both were students.
Duresori is still active, but no one since 2010 when Duresori Story was first sung and 2011 when Duresori: The Voice of East was released, no has ever sung Ha Nui’s solo part.
In this version, Seul Gi is literally how I imagine angels would sound. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vkaElvPfdTQ](두레소리 이야기(2) - YouTube)
Well, if we are doing non-English (and we should) here’s my friend (I’m exaggerating but I do know her personally) Lavinia Mancusi - on the left - from Rome with Simona Sciacca from Sicily. For me Lavinia has the edge, but both of them are great singers.
(The real “belting” starts in the second part)
A couple of Swedish teenagers covering a song from their favorite band. Apparently, when they were little, their father told them that the most important thing was sing so loud that even somebody behind a wall could hear it. (Spoiler: they took his advice and did pretty well with it)
Stepping on my own toes, let’s see what a Jersey girl can do…
Here’s Rhiannon Giddens belting out Waterboy (the singing starts at 0:50):
A little Puccini, anyone?
I really like Amy Lee of Evanescence, if you like the harder stuff (some call it “goth metal”), and also the band Texas, fronted by Sharleen Spiteri.
Evanescence live in Argentina 2012: Evanescence live in Argentina (21-10-12) [EVTEAM] - YouTube
Texas, “Mother’s Heaven”: Texas - Mothers Heaven - Area Reservada / TVE2 - YouTube
Sadly (IMHO) after their first two albums Texas did a 180 and went much more pop-ish. Their first two albums, however, are great.
No Nina Simone mentioned yet? Lots of greats listed in this thread but y’all missed some really low hanging fruit on this one. The very definition of belting it out (Aretha Franklin might have her beat).
Melody Gardot. Doesn’t exactly belt, but has an exquisite voice and musical sensibility. I had a very hard time choosing one song. If you like the sound, but don’t care for the cover, try one of her own compositions, like “If the Stars Were Mine.” She also has a remarkable background.
Haley Reinhart covering “Creep” with Postmodern Jukebox.
She can wail.
Rebecca & Megan Lovell of Larkin Poe. Rebecca sings lead, but Megan is no slouch at all.
and
I don’t care what anyone says Ethel Merman was a great singer.
Elaine Paige is even better.
Looks like I’m the first to mention Lara Fabian - her main body of work is not in English, but I could listen to her English debut album over and over again, and she can BELT (really kicks in around the 3:10 mark).
How about Maria Brink?
Or The Pretty Reckless?
I came across this tune while travelling about the rabbit hole we know as YouTube. I don’t speak much Spanish and don’t know who this group and singer are, but man oh man, can she belt it out! Excellent harmonica too!
I found Lauren Ruth Ward through a profile in LA Weekly, before it was bought and turned into…well whatever it is now. Here’s her COVID-lockdown cover of Gimme Shelter. Starts slow and then she gets going hard by the end.
Karla Devito
