# 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:** 3
**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, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-beautiful-perfect-voices-in-popular-music/571727/41 "2011-02-17T21:57:45Z")
> [@Cuckoorex](#): > > [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. Ooh! This thread keeps delivering treasures. She’s Dutch? And K’s choice, whose singer Sarah Bettens comes from Belgium. [She has the most deliciously husky dramatic voice.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cklb7L0OA1c&feature=list_related&playnext=1&list=MLGxdCwVVULXcCIM9XMluqqqtPTE4tPjRo) ---
**Author:** ![SeldomSeen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7ba0ec/32.png) [@SeldomSeen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SeldomSeen)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2011, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-beautiful-perfect-voices-in-popular-music/571727/42 "2011-02-17T22:00:42Z")
Emmylou Harris…gawd, I’ve been in love with the woman & the voice for 30 years or more. Bonnie Raitt…not a classically beautiful voice, but a perfect blues voice Ian Tyson…Canadian folk singer, of Welsh descent with a classical Welsh baritone before illness damaged his vocal cords George Donaldson…The Scottish lead singer for Celtic Thunder ---
**Author:** ![Equipoise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/equipoise/32/151_2.png) [@Equipoise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Equipoise)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2011, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-beautiful-perfect-voices-in-popular-music/571727/43 "2011-02-17T22:19:18Z")
[This post with links better fits this thread.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=13470641&postcount=3) Seriously, I know people are tired of me not shutting up about her, but I can’t, I just can’t. It’s hard to get a voice much more perfect and beautiful. And her music is interesting and original And her lyrics are thoughtful and phychological and fascinating (certainly to me) AND she’s an amazing person with an interesting backstory. And she’s one of the most decent, nicest people I’ve ever known. So, forgive me please, but it must be done. ---
**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, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-beautiful-perfect-voices-in-popular-music/571727/44 "2011-02-17T22:20:37Z")
> [@Maastricht](#): > > Ooh! This thread keeps delivering treasures. She’s Dutch? Yep, former lead singer for The Gathering, now with her own band, Agua de Annique. For a real treat, track down The Gathering’s album, “Sleepy Buildings”, it really highlights Anneke’s voice. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2011, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-beautiful-perfect-voices-in-popular-music/571727/45 "2011-02-17T22:32:30Z")
Gotta add Brian (in his prime) and Carl Wilson, and Justin Hayward ---
**Author:** ![Alka\_Seltzer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c89c15/32.png) [@Alka\_Seltzer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alka_Seltzer)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2011, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-beautiful-perfect-voices-in-popular-music/571727/46 "2011-02-17T23:16:02Z")
Hmm, think I’ll nominate [Guy Garvey](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B_5aypcf_Yw) of Elbow. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2011, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-beautiful-perfect-voices-in-popular-music/571727/47 "2011-02-17T23:20:03Z")
> [@blondebear](#): > > Even with the recent surgery on his vocal chords, Roger’s best singing days are way behind him. That’s probably true, but when he was good, he was damn good. > [@](#): > > 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. I wasn’t deliberately going for a Who connection. The only bits of her _The Who Sell Out_ I’ve heard have been live clips on youtube. I love her voice on the studio recordings; not powerful or overly processed, just warm and clear and very human sounding. a cappella covers can really bring out a voice sometimes. Ever hear The Bobs cover of _White Room_ back when Janie Bob sang lead on it? In person, she could belt out that song and lay waste to entire villages. ---
**Author:** ![Mona\_Lott](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ee7513/32.png) [@Mona\_Lott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mona_Lott)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2011, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-beautiful-perfect-voices-in-popular-music/571727/48 "2011-02-17T23:24:04Z")
I think Marilyn McCoo has a perfect voice. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Woo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7c8e57/32.png) [@Dr.Woo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Woo)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2011, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-beautiful-perfect-voices-in-popular-music/571727/49 "2011-02-17T23:48:06Z")
Eva Cassidy had a great voice. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2011, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-beautiful-perfect-voices-in-popular-music/571727/50 "2011-02-18T00:53:36Z")
Some of you know that the OP is asking for perfect/beautiful voices, not your favourite singers, right? I am becoming very impressed with Adele - I’m thinking about looking into a whole album by her. I’d also have to second k.d. lang - I can’t think of anyone who has a smoother voice than she has. Darryl Hall back in the day was a phenomenal singer. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2011, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-beautiful-perfect-voices-in-popular-music/571727/51 "2011-02-18T01:00:27Z")
Another vote for Annie Lennox. “Into the West” (the closing song from “Return of the King”) came up on my iPhone earlier today. That song, and her performance, can bring tears to my eyes. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2011, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-beautiful-perfect-voices-in-popular-music/571727/52 "2011-02-18T01:16:58Z")
Too many choices to narrow it down. female voices would be Patsy Cline, Sinead O’Connor, Aretha Franklin, Barbra Streisand. Male voice would be Roy Orbison, Frank Sinatra, Ray Charles, and Otis Redding. Trying to think of people who could sing without any background music and sound good. ---
**Author:** ![multimediac17](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/839c29/32.png) [@multimediac17](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/multimediac17)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2011, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-beautiful-perfect-voices-in-popular-music/571727/53 "2011-02-18T02:15:28Z")
Okay, I’m trying to stick to the OP here as best I can, so here are some who I think have perfect voices as opposed to voices I like because of other reasons (so that’s Madonna and Neil Tennant out). Note that these people don’t always sing like angels (Michael Jackson and George Michael especially can do both “pure” and “dirty” singing really well). George Michael (perhaps my favourite male voice, check out his incredible cover of Stevie Wonder’s ‘[They Won’t Go When I Go](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6UmoCbWIZBY)’) Boy George Michael Jackson Annie Lennox Kate Bush Björk (when she’s not singing all throaty and gravelly on purpose that is) Mariah Carey (in the early years) Agnetha & Frida from ABBA ---
**Author:** ![BACI](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ce73a5/32.png) [@BACI](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BACI)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2011, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-beautiful-perfect-voices-in-popular-music/571727/54 "2011-02-18T02:39:39Z")
kd lang sang Hallelujah on a pokey awards night thing that was telecast here a year or so back. I got goosebumps, then tears. I figured I was just tired. Saw it replayed the following morning, in the cold harsh light of day. More goosebumps, more tears. What an incredible beautiful and perfect voice. ---
**Author:** ![tr0psn4j](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/958977/32.png) [@tr0psn4j](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tr0psn4j)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2011, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-beautiful-perfect-voices-in-popular-music/571727/55 "2011-02-18T02:44:57Z")
What no Johnny Cash? ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2011, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-beautiful-perfect-voices-in-popular-music/571727/56 "2011-02-18T02:50:18Z")
Left out Melissa Etheridge in my choices. I’d rate Sinead O’connor the most pleasing voice of any of them though. ---
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2011, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-beautiful-perfect-voices-in-popular-music/571727/57 "2011-02-18T03:08:50Z")
Minnie Riperton had range. ---
**Author:** ![Ring](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Ring](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ring)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2011, 5:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-beautiful-perfect-voices-in-popular-music/571727/58 "2011-02-18T05:11:01Z")
Why no pre-Bobby Whitney Houston? Remember “I Will Always Love You”? [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/fSBNi8PCb7Q/hqdefault.jpg "Whitney houston- I will always love you, live") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fSBNi8PCb7Q) ---
**Author:** ![Jeff\_Lichtman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jeff_lichtman/32/1531_2.png) [@Jeff\_Lichtman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jeff_Lichtman)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2011, 7:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-beautiful-perfect-voices-in-popular-music/571727/59 "2011-02-18T07:14:01Z")
If you want to include folk singers, how about [Jean Redpath](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9WjccsBqoGE)? ---
**Author:** ![njtt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ecd19e/32.png) [@njtt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/njtt)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2011, 9:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-beautiful-perfect-voices-in-popular-music/571727/60 "2011-02-18T09:23:08Z")
> [@GargoyleWB](#): > > . . . > David Bowie > . . . Oh, come on! I admire Bowie as a songwriter, as a performer, as a cultural entrepreneur, and even as a (sometimes) expressive and creative vocal stylist (and no doubt this list of his talents could be extended), but a “beautiful/perfect voice”? You’ve got to be kidding!! Somebody also mentioned Van Morisson, who is is 1,000 times the vocalist that Bowie is. But again, his genius is in the expressiveness and range of expressiveness of his voice (and the control he has over it). Its sound in itself it is very far from beautiful or perfect (although he does beautiful things with it). [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-beautiful-perfect-voices-in-popular-music/571727.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-beautiful-perfect-voices-in-popular-music/571727.md?page=4)