# 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:** 5
**Author:** ![Dread\_Pirate\_Jimbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dread_pirate_jimbo/32/3897_2.png) [@Dread\_Pirate\_Jimbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dread_Pirate_Jimbo)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2011, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-beautiful-perfect-voices-in-popular-music/571727/81 "2011-02-18T18:53:55Z")
I’ll go with Elvis, Freddie Mercury, and Steve Perry as male vocalists I think were fantastic. Power, finesse, range, feeling – the complete package. For the ladies, K.D. Lang is sensational. There’s a woman who could sing the phonebook and make it sound like the greatest song ever. I also get goosebumps from young, drug-free Whitney Houston, and I’ll add Celine Dion into the mix as well – as she’s gotten older she has gone more and more towards oversinging everything, but in her younger days she had great touch to go with the power and her tone just really works for me (too bad most of her song choices are such crap). ---
**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, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-beautiful-perfect-voices-in-popular-music/571727/82 "2011-02-18T18:57:47Z")
Celine’s versions of ‘The Power Of Love’ and ‘It’s All Coming Back To Me Now’ are two of my all-time favourite vocal performances. I still like her more recent stuff but vocally I think she peaked with those songs. ---
**Author:** ![Sleeps\_With\_Butterflies](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@Sleeps\_With\_Butterflies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sleeps_With_Butterflies)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2011, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-beautiful-perfect-voices-in-popular-music/571727/83 "2011-02-18T18:59:49Z")
Norah Jones ---
**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 18, 2011, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-beautiful-perfect-voices-in-popular-music/571727/84 "2011-02-18T19:11:19Z")
Clare Tory. She sang Pink Floyd’s Great Gig in the Sky. ---
**Author:** ![orderfire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/orderfire/32/10908_2.png) [@orderfire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/orderfire)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2011, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-beautiful-perfect-voices-in-popular-music/571727/85 "2011-02-18T20:02:49Z")
Total YES on Harriet Wheeler. Can I get a _whut whut_ for Rufus Wainwright? Also, Mel Torme’. ---
**Author:** ![Pandoranoid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce73a5/32.png) [@Pandoranoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pandoranoid)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2011, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-beautiful-perfect-voices-in-popular-music/571727/86 "2011-02-18T21:50:09Z")
Elizabeth Fraser of the Cocteau Twins. ETA: just saw she was already mentioned. Whoops. ---
**Author:** ![Pandoranoid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce73a5/32.png) [@Pandoranoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pandoranoid)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2011, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-beautiful-perfect-voices-in-popular-music/571727/87 "2011-02-18T21:55:26Z")
I’ll add a hometown cheer for Kelly Hogan, who fronted the Jody Grind. Amazing pipes on that broad. And another wonderful singer very few people will know: Dave Marr of a little-known, now-defunct band called the Star Room Boys. If you love Johnny Cash/Conway Twitty/etc, check them out. ---
**Author:** ![Dread\_Pirate\_Jimbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dread_pirate_jimbo/32/3897_2.png) [@Dread\_Pirate\_Jimbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dread_Pirate_Jimbo)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2011, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-beautiful-perfect-voices-in-popular-music/571727/88 "2011-02-18T21:56:47Z")
> [@multimediac17](#): > > Celine’s versions of ‘The Power Of Love’ and ‘It’s All Coming Back To Me Now’ are two of my all-time favourite vocal performances. I still like her more recent stuff but vocally I think she peaked with those songs. It really bugs me how much I like “The Power of Love” as well. That song is so over-the-top hokey, it really has no business putting a lump in my throat – but Celine’s vocal turns a mediocre Air Supply single into a tour de force. My favourite song of Celine’s is “With This Tear” from her self-titled second english album. The song was written by Prince and is poignant, tragic, and perfectly performed, with just the right amount of emotion and finesse. ---
**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 18, 2011, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-beautiful-perfect-voices-in-popular-music/571727/89 "2011-02-18T22:18:48Z")
> [@Dread\_Pirate\_Jimbo](#): > > It really bugs me how much I like “The Power of Love” as well. That song is so over-the-top hokey, it really has no business putting a lump in my throat – but Celine’s vocal turns a mediocre Air Supply single into a tour de force. I was really having trouble imagining Celine Dion covering Huey Lewis & the News. ---
**Author:** ![orderfire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/orderfire/32/10908_2.png) [@orderfire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/orderfire)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2011, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-beautiful-perfect-voices-in-popular-music/571727/90 "2011-02-18T22:38:07Z")
I don’t think Christina Aguilera has been mentioned but I’d give her a nod. Although I’m not really a fan, I am impressed with her range and power. In the Neo Soul arena: Maxwell. ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2011, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-beautiful-perfect-voices-in-popular-music/571727/91 "2011-02-18T22:55:50Z")
[Joan Armatrading.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kl3i1GMuyeU&feature=related) That was “Willow”. [“Love and Affection”](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oWPsogzYpSc&feature=related) was the first many of us heard in the 70s, and she’s still got it as this current performance shows. And of course [“Rosie”.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NaAkDzfc73Y&feature=related) ---
**Author:** ![malkavia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/malkavia/32/5621_2.png) [@malkavia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/malkavia)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2011, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-beautiful-perfect-voices-in-popular-music/571727/92 "2011-02-18T23:22:02Z")
> [@Dr.Woo](#): > > Eva Cassidy had a great voice. This is who I came in to mention, her voice is hauntingly beautiful. Honorable mention goes to 1990’s Tori Amos, though hers is a much different kind of beautiful. For the guys, I have to second Otis Redding and Roy Orbison. Honorable mention goes to Damien Rice. ---
**Author:** ![Cub\_Mistress](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ea666f/32.png) [@Cub\_Mistress](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cub_Mistress)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2011, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-beautiful-perfect-voices-in-popular-music/571727/93 "2011-02-18T23:29:50Z")
I weep to think Grace Slick has been overlooked. Alison Krauss has already been mentioned, but I have to say it: she has the most beautiful voice ever. ---
**Author:** ![Stoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stoid/32/272_2.png) [@Stoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stoid)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2011, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-beautiful-perfect-voices-in-popular-music/571727/94 "2011-02-19T01:36:33Z")
Wait… just because **[Joni Mitchell](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q7uf107t5cU)** is one of the greatest songwriters who ever lived, as well as one of the greatest musicians, that’s no reason to deny her the credit she deserves for having (at one time, before the smoking finally killed it) one of the most [perfect](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q7uf107t5cU), [exquisite](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n4DjbEyl5uA&feature=related), [pure](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DrMUFWTenVE&feature=fvwrel) voices that pop music has ever seen. (Not to mention the range! Is there a term for an [alto](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KCLOMBbRVB0&feature=related) soprano?!) And Grace Slick is shit. Watch the [rest](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=abPpq6hQ67I) of that Cavett show that Joni was on with CSNY and JA - compare her to Joni. JA starts around 7 minutes. (And check out [Stephen Stills doing 4 & 20](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RbpM9qLiozs) at around 7:00-sweet.) ---
**Author:** ![Mariemarie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/58f4c7/32.png) [@Mariemarie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mariemarie)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2011, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-beautiful-perfect-voices-in-popular-music/571727/95 "2011-02-19T02:05:06Z")
I nominate [Mandy Barnett](http://www.mandybarnett.com/). ---
**Author:** ![Stoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stoid/32/272_2.png) [@Stoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stoid)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2011, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-beautiful-perfect-voices-in-popular-music/571727/96 "2011-02-19T02:30:05Z")
> [@Mariemarie](#): > > I nominate [Mandy Barnett](http://www.mandybarnett.com/). She’s doing a pretty great Patsy Cline impression… ---
**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 19, 2011, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-beautiful-perfect-voices-in-popular-music/571727/97 "2011-02-19T03:01:23Z")
Crystal Gayle ---
**Author:** ![DummyGladHands](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/49beb7/32.png) [@DummyGladHands](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DummyGladHands)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2011, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-beautiful-perfect-voices-in-popular-music/571727/98 "2011-02-19T03:08:07Z")
Dolores O’Riordan ---
**Author:** ![Pitter\_Patter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/90db22/32.png) [@Pitter\_Patter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pitter_Patter)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2011, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-beautiful-perfect-voices-in-popular-music/571727/99 "2011-02-19T03:48:46Z")
Amy Lee of Evanescence. ---
**Author:** ![crypto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b3f665/32.png) [@crypto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crypto)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2011, 4:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-beautiful-perfect-voices-in-popular-music/571727/100 "2011-02-19T04:07:38Z")
For me, the list begins and ends with Christina Aguilera. The best pure voice I’ve ever heard. Her Grammy solo is still the single most impressive performance I’ve heard on that stage. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-beautiful-perfect-voices-in-popular-music/571727.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-beautiful-perfect-voices-in-popular-music/571727.md?page=6)