# 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:** 14\ **Page:** 8
**Author:** ![multimediac17](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/839c29/32.png) [@multimediac17](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/multimediac17)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2011, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-beautiful-perfect-voices-in-popular-music/571727/141 "2011-02-21T22:51:08Z")
> [@Agent\_Foxtrot](#): > > Wow, no love for Enya? I love Enya so much that it’s a little embarrassing. Yesterday there was a massive storm and I put on her _Watermark_ album and the whole scene was just perfect. It’s weird though, I rarely think of her when talking about pop voices because I don’t really consider her a traditional vocalist, she’s sort of more like an instrument that is woven in with all these other sounds and textures. She doesn’t lead a song, she’s just a part of it, one of the elements. ---
**Author:** ![Scribble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scribble/32/3317_2.png) [@Scribble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scribble)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2011, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-beautiful-perfect-voices-in-popular-music/571727/142 "2011-02-22T04:14:40Z")
How about [Elis](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5zad6mrNNLY) [Regina](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V1M7nzKTstM)? Or [Rahat Fateh](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=glbT1-lu5Uw) [Ali Khan](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HANAMH0K8YM&playnext=1&list=PLE7576ED5530117E8)? Or [Charles](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wU8e3pCYunc) [Aznavour](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZP8HXx3695s)? I second (third? fourth?) the suggestion of kd lang. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2011, 9:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-beautiful-perfect-voices-in-popular-music/571727/143 "2011-02-22T09:59:43Z")
> [@Superdude](#): > > Good call. [Andrea Corr](http://www.google.com/images?hl=en&safe=off&q=andrea+corr&um=1&ie=UTF-8&source=og&sa=N&tab=wi&biw=1600&bih=799) is superhot, too. True, she is definitely [beautiful](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cnBBBxivBKo). Sorry - couldn’t resist. ---
**Author:** ![DfrntBreign](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f6c823/32.png) [@DfrntBreign](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DfrntBreign)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2011, 11:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-beautiful-perfect-voices-in-popular-music/571727/144 "2011-02-22T11:38:31Z")
How about [Glenn Hughes?](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7YtSfj3Enq4) Beautiful? Perfect? Popular? Has anyone mentioned [Sade?](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_WcWHZc8s2I) And did I miss [Seal?](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xd2ayCVmqy0) ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2011, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-beautiful-perfect-voices-in-popular-music/571727/145 "2011-02-22T16:51:59Z")
> [@Superdude](#): > > No mention of [Dido](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j-fWDrZSiZs) yet? > > In the “haunting but beautiful” category, let me nominate [Geoff Tate of Queensryche](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jhat-xUQ6dw). [Here’s](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PPJW9O0_w3E) a clip of him doing the national anthem. And [this](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lcwQlGjNqrs) is him singing a cover of Simon and Garfunkle’s “Scarborough Fair.” He’s the first person I thought of… and oddly enough, although it may not be “popular music”, Glenn Danzig. Those guys can sing… and you might not even know it if you’re not a rock/metal fan. ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2011, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-beautiful-perfect-voices-in-popular-music/571727/146 "2011-02-22T16:55:54Z")
Not a huge fan of hers, but [Sinead O’Connor](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_bDW-YQZVLw) belongs on the list. The link is to a slow acoustic version of “House of the Rising Sun”. I still think her best song is [Nothing Compares 2U](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iUiTQvT0W_0&feature=related), stupid title nothwithstanding. But the first person I thought of when I saw the thread title was [Neko Case](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zXl870NoF4E). Allison Krause has a beautiful voice, as does Bonnie Raitt. Natalie Merchant deserves a vote or two as well. I also love the voice of [Margo Timmins](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zXl870NoF4E) of Cowboy Junkies. This version of Lou Reed’s “Sweet Jane” is just haunting. ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2011, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-beautiful-perfect-voices-in-popular-music/571727/147 "2011-02-22T17:01:01Z")
For male singers, I think [Burton Cummings](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gOpiwsi5RKE&feature=related) of the Guess Who had one of the best voices in rock music. He was also purported to have one of the widest ranges of any male vocalists at the time. He’s over 60 now, and still has his range: [I Will Sing a Rhapsody](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_B40uId-NpQ&feature=related). ---
**Author:** ![PunditLisa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/4af34b/32.png) [@PunditLisa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PunditLisa)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2011, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-beautiful-perfect-voices-in-popular-music/571727/148 "2011-02-22T18:34:02Z")
> [@Sam\_Stone](#): > > I still think (Sinead O’Connor’s) best song is [Nothing Compares 2U](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iUiTQvT0W_0&feature=related), stupid title nothwithstanding. I thought so, too, but she also does a bang-up job on “Ode to Billie Joe.” Her voice is as haunting as the song. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Conqueror\_Worm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/2bfe46/32.png) [@The\_Conqueror\_Worm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Conqueror_Worm)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2011, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-beautiful-perfect-voices-in-popular-music/571727/149 "2011-02-22T19:18:05Z")
Since others are pushing the boundaries of what “popular music” is I’m going to make my suggestion; [Loreena McKennitt](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mXtrqHrHcI8&feature=related). I guess operatic training helps. ---
**Author:** ![rocking\_chair](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocking_chair/32/2918_2.png) [@rocking\_chair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rocking_chair)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2011, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-beautiful-perfect-voices-in-popular-music/571727/150 "2011-02-22T19:19:03Z")
> [@Agent\_Foxtrot](#): > > Wow, no love for Enya? not to mention her sister maire. lorena mckennett is very good and in the same league; sings and plays quite a few instruments. ---
**Author:** ![Agent\_Foxtrot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9fc29f/32.png) [@Agent\_Foxtrot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Agent_Foxtrot)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2011, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-beautiful-perfect-voices-in-popular-music/571727/151 "2011-02-22T19:51:26Z")
> [@The\_Conqueror\_Worm](#): > > Since others are pushing the boundaries of what “popular music” is I’m going to make my suggestion; [Loreena McKennitt](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mXtrqHrHcI8&feature=related). I guess operatic training helps. Hee. I was going to mention her when I mentioned Enya, but I thought of Enya as slightly more mainstream. ---
**Author:** ![Jaledin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Jaledin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jaledin)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2011, 4:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-beautiful-perfect-voices-in-popular-music/571727/152 "2011-02-23T04:42:32Z")
No George Jones yet?? I’m not a huge country fan but his voice (and his delivery) were in their prime some of the best in radio-friendly music, to understate the matter. Well, him, and repeat Ray Charles, Sam Cooke, Aretha Franklin, not necessarily in that order. ---
**Author:** ![It\_s\_Not\_Rocket\_Surgery](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/it_s_not_rocket_surgery/32/312_2.png) [@It\_s\_Not\_Rocket\_Surgery](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/It_s_Not_Rocket_Surgery)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2011, 4:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-beautiful-perfect-voices-in-popular-music/571727/153 "2011-02-23T04:48:56Z")
What about [Kurt Elling](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DDhgGFBMcIE)? ---
**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 23, 2011, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-beautiful-perfect-voices-in-popular-music/571727/154 "2011-02-23T13:34:21Z")
Brad Delp of Boston. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-beautiful-perfect-voices-in-popular-music/571727.md?page=7)