# Most beautiful/perfect voices in popular music **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 17, 2011, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-beautiful-perfect-voices-in-popular-music/571727 "2011-02-17T18:11:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2011, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-beautiful-perfect-voices-in-popular-music/571727/21 "2011-02-17T20:18:22Z")
> [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > Roger Daltrey > Petra Haden Even with the recent surgery on his vocal chords, Roger’s best singing days are way behind him. If he picks his material wisely, he still has a few years left. (and sadly, there’s a sense among Who fans that he may be going on without Pete) As for Jack Black’s sister-in-law, Petra’s acapella rendition of [The Who Sell Out](http://www.amazon.com/Petra-Haden-Sings-Who-Sell/dp/B00075149Y) has always been a huge favorite of mine. ---
**Author:** ![Tanbarkie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a698b9/32.png) [@Tanbarkie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tanbarkie)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2011, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-beautiful-perfect-voices-in-popular-music/571727/22 "2011-02-17T20:19:04Z")
Neko Case and Paul McCartney win it for me as general voices. Two very different eras, but both incredibly powerful and versatile singers. Jeff Buckley is close. He had the greatest falsetto in pop music history, and could alternate between gorgeous crooning and fist-in-the-air rock vocals with aplomb. I love Thom Yorke and Colin Meloy as well, although they fall more under the category of “unique and emotive” voices that suit their particular style of music perfectly rather than being exceptionally gifted. ---
**Author:** ![Steophan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steophan/32/9595_2.png) [@Steophan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steophan)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2011, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-beautiful-perfect-voices-in-popular-music/571727/23 "2011-02-17T20:39:31Z")
Some that spring to mind, with a perhaps idiosyncratic view of beautiful, perfect, and for that matter popular - Luke Kelly Linda Thompson Hank Williams Emmylou Harris Merle Haggard Robert Johnson Rob Halford Ronnie James Dio Aaron Stainthorpe Michael Akerfeldt Bruce Springsteen Tom Waits That’ll do for now. ---
**Author:** ![soulmurk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b782af/32.png) [@soulmurk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/soulmurk)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2011, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-beautiful-perfect-voices-in-popular-music/571727/24 "2011-02-17T20:46:58Z")
Maynard James Keenan. Might be stretching the definition of popular, which has limited my input so far, but I had to mention him. ---
**Author:** ![Maastricht](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a88e57/32.png) [@Maastricht](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maastricht)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2011, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-beautiful-perfect-voices-in-popular-music/571727/25 "2011-02-17T20:54:57Z")
[This vid](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m11c_wSqOdM) shows Mariah Careys five octave vocal range. I swear, she could let glass explode in het higher registers. That woman can \*sing. \* But perhaps that is more technical brilliance. As for beautiful voices, [Sinnead o Connor](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=87q5dmW6zDg) and [Nina Hagen](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9xi4O4RvlnQ) come to mind. Nina Hagen was an trained opera singer. And I just love the voices of Dolly Parton and Emmylou Harris, especially together in [this unearthily beautiful song](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uj4PCUbiId8). One more: the [female singer](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cgqOSCgc8xc) (i don’t know her name) who always sings with Damien Rice. If I could pick any voice as my own singing voice, it would be hers. ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2011, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-beautiful-perfect-voices-in-popular-music/571727/26 "2011-02-17T20:59:24Z")
Dolly Parton, of course! :smack: ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2011, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-beautiful-perfect-voices-in-popular-music/571727/27 "2011-02-17T21:00:43Z")
[Judith](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nze8B39OB0k&feature=related) [Durham](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g5pvpIvz5YQ&feature=related) ---
**Author:** ![Maastricht](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a88e57/32.png) [@Maastricht](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maastricht)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2011, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-beautiful-perfect-voices-in-popular-music/571727/28 "2011-02-17T21:08:30Z")
Thanks to those mentioning [Karen Carpenter](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dPmbT5XC-q0) and [Mamma Cass.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MWZfKcYlefE) They weren’t on my radar, and that was my loss. How about [Adele’s Rolling in the Deep?](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rYEDA3JcQqw) She’s big in Europe and UK now, has she reached the US yet? And _how_ could I forget [Kate Bush?](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9F5XHZ0NPGc&playnext=1&list=PLFCE94306B1F97572) How? ---
**Author:** ![furlibusea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/aca169/32.png) [@furlibusea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/furlibusea)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2011, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-beautiful-perfect-voices-in-popular-music/571727/29 "2011-02-17T21:15:09Z")
[KD Lang.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ngY5TFwXet8) ---
**Author:** ![Bumbershoot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bumbershoot/32/3428_2.png) [@Bumbershoot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bumbershoot)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2011, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-beautiful-perfect-voices-in-popular-music/571727/30 "2011-02-17T21:15:23Z")
KD Lang Linda Ronstadt edit: Beat me to it, furlibusea! ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2011, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-beautiful-perfect-voices-in-popular-music/571727/31 "2011-02-17T21:17:02Z")
nm ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2011, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-beautiful-perfect-voices-in-popular-music/571727/32 "2011-02-17T21:20:36Z")
Answering “Pop” rather than “Popular”, my vote is Emiliana Torrini. Also Bjork, just for Birthday (which has the best singing of all time, the subject matter, not so much.) ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Rieux](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@Dr.Rieux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Rieux)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2011, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-beautiful-perfect-voices-in-popular-music/571727/33 "2011-02-17T21:20:42Z")
Two names from the '80s that haven’t been mentioned yet: Annie Lennox Boy George. ---
**Author:** ![FeAudrey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/7feea3/32.png) [@FeAudrey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FeAudrey)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2011, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-beautiful-perfect-voices-in-popular-music/571727/34 "2011-02-17T21:25:47Z")
No such list compiled in Chicago would be complete without Bonnie Koloc. ---
**Author:** ![Maastricht](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a88e57/32.png) [@Maastricht](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maastricht)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2011, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-beautiful-perfect-voices-in-popular-music/571727/35 "2011-02-17T21:27:05Z")
Hugely popular but not in the West: [The mystery of the Bulgarian Voices](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Own4otNFnMY&feature=list_related&playnext=1&list=MLGxdCwVVULXdAIL76WSSFjrbd0Yn05jDd) [Ofrah Haza.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3iYQlSogG-E&feature=fvst) And agreed with Annie Lennox. And has someone mentioned Suzanne Vega yet? ---
**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 17, 2011, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-beautiful-perfect-voices-in-popular-music/571727/36 "2011-02-17T21:31:18Z")
Does Hayley Westenra count as “popular music”? I just sort of melt whenever I hear her. ---
**Author:** ![furlibusea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/aca169/32.png) [@furlibusea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/furlibusea)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2011, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-beautiful-perfect-voices-in-popular-music/571727/37 "2011-02-17T21:35:30Z")
> [@Bumbershoot](#): > > KD Lang > > Linda Ronstadt > > edit: Beat me to it, furlibusea! I couldn’t believe we got that far down the list without her. ---
**Author:** ![Cuckoorex](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ad7895/32.png) [@Cuckoorex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cuckoorex)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2011, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-beautiful-perfect-voices-in-popular-music/571727/38 "2011-02-17T21:47:09Z")
[Anneke van Giersbergen](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oavq8rDnJV4). She’s already married, so I’d just be happy to be married to her voice. Sends chills down my spine whenever she sings. ---
**Author:** ![Redfive](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b3f665/32.png) [@Redfive](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Redfive)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2011, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-beautiful-perfect-voices-in-popular-music/571727/39 "2011-02-17T21:48:27Z")
the always forgotten - Andy Bell of Erasure ---
**Author:** ![Rachellelogram](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rachellelogram/32/8689_2.png) [@Rachellelogram](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rachellelogram)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2011, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-beautiful-perfect-voices-in-popular-music/571727/40 "2011-02-17T21:51:45Z")
Lady Gaga acoustically, when she’s just singing and playing the piano. But she fucks around a lot with synths and voice modding in her mainstream stuff, so most people don’t see it unless they seek out her older live performances. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-beautiful-perfect-voices-in-popular-music/571727.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-beautiful-perfect-voices-in-popular-music/571727.md?page=3)