# How do I tell these singers apart?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-tell-these-singers-apart/411099
**Category:** Cafe Society
**Created:** [July 9, 2007, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-tell-these-singers-apart/411099 "2007-07-09T21:06:23Z")
**Posts on this page:** 4
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@sciurophobic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sciurophobic)
#### Post date: [July 9, 2007, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-tell-these-singers-apart/411099/1 "2007-07-09T21:06:23Z")
They’re all young, thin, black female singers with one name (e.g., Rihanna, Ciara, Mya). Are they all interchangeable pop creations, or do one or more of them have different singing styles?
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### Author:  [@TLDRIDKJKLOLFTW](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TLDRIDKJKLOLFTW)
#### Post date: [July 9, 2007, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-tell-these-singers-apart/411099/2 "2007-07-09T21:38:20Z")
They’re entirely interchangeable. Think of it as a RAID configuration for pop music.
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### Author:  [@Hey\_It\_s\_That\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hey_It_s_That_Guy)
#### Post date: [July 9, 2007, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-tell-these-singers-apart/411099/3 "2007-07-09T23:21:06Z")
Mya seems to have dropped off the radar. She had a small role in the movie version of Chicago (suggesting she has musical theatre aspirations), but I haven’t heard a new single from her in years. Ciara is definitely the most prolific of the current R&B girls (or her songwriters and producers are, I should say), and she has a low, husky voice. Rihanna has hip-hop impresario Jay-Z in her corner, and her voice is a lot more nasal and whiny, if you ask me. Then there was Cassie, who was Diddy’s protege, who had one forgettable single, “Me and You” (or possibly “Me N U,” as is the style of the day), which was perfect for doing The Robot to and not much else.
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### Author:  [@velvetjones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/velvetjones)
#### Post date: [July 9, 2007, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-tell-these-singers-apart/411099/4 "2007-07-09T23:23:51Z")
It’s a sure sign that I’m getting old when I haven’t heard of any of these singers. Of course I’ve been into jazz lately so I can use that as my excuse.