# Singers that make you reach for the dial **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** music\ **Created:** [February 12, 2024, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singers-that-make-you-reach-for-the-dial/997480 "2024-02-12T16:46:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 7
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2024, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singers-that-make-you-reach-for-the-dial/997480/121 "2024-02-19T17:10:22Z")
For me it makes the song and sends chills up my spine. I believe it’s her take on Irish keening, which is a type of Irish funereal wail. I’m not sure if that exact technique is typically used — none of the traditional songs I was able to find have exactly that technique — but it does have the sound of a tortuous lament/cry of grief. To me, it sounds like someone so stricken with grief they have spasms of trying to catch their breath while crying uncontrollably. ---
**Author:** ![xtenkfarpl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/c2a13f/32.png) [@xtenkfarpl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xtenkfarpl)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2024, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singers-that-make-you-reach-for-the-dial/997480/122 "2024-02-19T17:16:38Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > I believe it’s her take on Irish keening, which is a type of Irish funereal wail. You could well be right. But it’s just fingernails on the chalkboard to my ears, I’m afraid. De gustibus non est disputandum, and all that… ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2024, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singers-that-make-you-reach-for-the-dial/997480/123 "2024-02-19T17:26:18Z")
Understood. You were wondering how any producer could let them get away with it, though, so I let you know. It’s kinda part of her trademark sound, and many find it quite emotive. ---
**Author:** ![xtenkfarpl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/c2a13f/32.png) [@xtenkfarpl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xtenkfarpl)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2024, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singers-that-make-you-reach-for-the-dial/997480/124 "2024-02-19T17:32:01Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > You were wondering how any producer could let them get away with it Right, I didn’t phrase that very well. What I meant was, if I had been the producer, I’d have been asking rather firmly: do you REALLY want to put that particular vocal feature on this track? Oh well, it was a hit. You can’t argue with success, I guess… ---
**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 19, 2024, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singers-that-make-you-reach-for-the-dial/997480/125 "2024-02-19T19:03:50Z")
I don’t want to hear Stevie Ray Vaughn anymore, ever. ---
**Author:** ![xtenkfarpl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/c2a13f/32.png) [@xtenkfarpl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xtenkfarpl)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2024, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singers-that-make-you-reach-for-the-dial/997480/126 "2024-02-19T19:22:31Z")
That’s a bit unkind isn’t it? He was a competant player and singer, had a feel for blues rock. Not the most innovative but he carried the torch well, I thought? ---
**Author:** ![Maserschmidt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maserschmidt/32/18829_2.png) [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2024, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singers-that-make-you-reach-for-the-dial/997480/127 "2024-02-19T19:23:36Z")
> [@Dung\_Beetle](#): > > I don’t want to hear Stevie Ray Vaughn anymore, ever. - Vaughan ---
**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 19, 2024, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singers-that-make-you-reach-for-the-dial/997480/128 "2024-02-19T19:26:05Z")
Him neither! 🙂 ---
**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 19, 2024, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singers-that-make-you-reach-for-the-dial/997480/129 "2024-02-19T19:26:48Z")
He’s probably fine as far as all that goes. But I don’t like his voice, and thus I reach for the dial. ---
**Author:** ![xtenkfarpl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/c2a13f/32.png) [@xtenkfarpl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xtenkfarpl)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2024, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singers-that-make-you-reach-for-the-dial/997480/130 "2024-02-19T19:37:28Z")
All personal preference. I would agree that his voice was not that great (but of course the blues is not about technical vocal skill). And on guitar… he was very capable but didn’t come up with anything really new: Clapton and BB King had pretty much written the book by then. Still, he was a very good second-rater. No Hendrix, though… ---
**Author:** ![velomont](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/8491ac/32.png) [@velomont](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/velomont)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2024, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singers-that-make-you-reach-for-the-dial/997480/131 "2024-02-19T19:49:02Z")
> [@Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](#): > > Also Mariah Carey and J.Lo. Agree, and any others of their ilk as well, and their male counterparts (IMO) such as Michael Jackson, Justin Bieber etc. The other day on our car radio “the kiss” (or whatever it’s called) by Prince came on and I tried forcing myself to listen to it; I almost felt nauseous and had to switch channels. ---
**Author:** ![Maserschmidt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maserschmidt/32/18829_2.png) [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2024, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singers-that-make-you-reach-for-the-dial/997480/132 "2024-02-19T22:32:44Z")
> [@xtenkfarpl](#): > > And on guitar… he was very capable but didn’t come up with anything really new: Clapton and BB King had pretty much written the book by then. Yeah, Clapton and BB King pretty much covered all the blues between the two of them. ---
**Author:** ![Jaycat.again](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jaycat.again/32/11525_2.png) [@Jaycat.again](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jaycat.again)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2024, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singers-that-make-you-reach-for-the-dial/997480/133 "2024-02-19T22:58:59Z")
> [@Maserschmidt](#): > > Yeah, Clapton and BB King pretty much covered all the blues between the two of them. Thank God we don’t have to listen to Robert Johnson, Howlin’ Wolf, Muddy Waters or Elmore James. Thanks, Eric and B.B.! ---
**Author:** ![Maserschmidt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maserschmidt/32/18829_2.png) [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2024, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singers-that-make-you-reach-for-the-dial/997480/134 "2024-02-19T23:11:59Z")
> [@Jaycat.again](#): > > Thank God we don’t have to listen to Robert Johnson, Howlin’ Wolf, Muddy Waters or Elmore James. Thanks, Eric and B.B. Hubert Sumlin learned everything he knew from Eric! ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2024, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singers-that-make-you-reach-for-the-dial/997480/135 "2024-02-19T23:22:10Z")
> [@Dung\_Beetle](#): > > I don’t want to hear Stevie Ray Vaughn anymore, ever. If I had a Christmas Card list, you would be _OFF!_ > [@xtenkfarpl](#): > > Still, he was a very good second-rater. You wouldn’t have ever made it _ON!_ ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2024, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singers-that-make-you-reach-for-the-dial/997480/136 "2024-02-20T00:04:01Z")
You might like the remakes by Tom Jones, or the lesser known one by Age of Chance. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2024, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singers-that-make-you-reach-for-the-dial/997480/137 "2024-02-20T00:10:14Z")
To be honest, I never understood the Clapton adulation. I find his playing, frankly, boring, and his voice even worse. But I’m not a guitar player, I suppose. All my guitar playing friends like him well enough, so I guess I’m just missing something. I find Stevie much more fun. ---
**Author:** ![Maserschmidt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maserschmidt/32/18829_2.png) [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2024, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singers-that-make-you-reach-for-the-dial/997480/138 "2024-02-20T00:31:17Z")
I also find Clapton boring, maybe a little less so in Derek and the Dominoes, but even then the best parts aren’t his. SRV is okay, I do find “Travis Walk” to be standout/fun to try to play. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/LcsF1wPa2zc/hqdefault.jpg "Stevie Ray Vaughan Travis Walk Live In Night Music") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LcsF1wPa2zc) ---
**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 20, 2024, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singers-that-make-you-reach-for-the-dial/997480/139 "2024-02-20T01:19:06Z")
> [@Gatopescado](#): > > If I had a Christmas Card list, you would be _OFF!_ Ah, don’t take it too hard. I barely like music anymore. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2024, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singers-that-make-you-reach-for-the-dial/997480/140 "2024-02-20T01:20:47Z")
Try turning it up louder. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singers-that-make-you-reach-for-the-dial/997480.md?page=6) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singers-that-make-you-reach-for-the-dial/997480.md?page=8)