# Which singer's voice makes you weak in the knees? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 30, 2004, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-singers-voice-makes-you-weak-in-the-knees/262281 "2004-08-30T18:39:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Yookeroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yookeroo/32/323_2.png) [@Yookeroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yookeroo)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2004, 5:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-singers-voice-makes-you-weak-in-the-knees/262281/41 "2004-08-31T05:28:54Z")
Bjork on **Pagan Poetry** Sarah McLachlan, but only on the Hybrid remix of **Fear** Dido on **Aria** ---
**Author:** ![JThunder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e95f7d/32.png) [@JThunder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JThunder)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2004, 5:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-singers-voice-makes-you-weak-in-the-knees/262281/42 "2004-08-31T05:48:11Z")
Jodi Benson, dangit. ---
**Author:** ![Ranchoth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranchoth/32/1066_2.png) [@Ranchoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranchoth)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2004, 6:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-singers-voice-makes-you-weak-in-the-knees/262281/43 "2004-08-31T06:11:07Z")
•[Hayley Westenra](http://www.towerrecords.com/product.aspx?pfid=2973699) (esp. her [Wuthering Heights](http://mfile.akamai.com/3171/wm2/muze.download.akamai.com/2890/us/uswm2/349/516349_1_13.asx?obj=v40405&urlid=60ff908b332a1873228d)\_ •Origa (Music sample [here.](http://www.ghostintheshell.tv/multimedia.php) Kinda.) •Bjork •Connie Francis ---
**Author:** ![Mockingbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c68b51/32.png) [@Mockingbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mockingbird)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2004, 7:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-singers-voice-makes-you-weak-in-the-knees/262281/44 "2004-08-31T07:58:14Z")
> [@CBCD](#): > > [Dusty Springfield,](http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&token=ADFEAEE47E16DE4FA97E20C79A2D4DDAA076FE0BE147FF9812294475C5B43947824375EE51E9A5C9FB812EED27FBB326BB590FCCC8EE56F89064373984E4A465285E36&sql=11:u2jw7i6jg78r) especially singing the magnificant tear-jerker [I Can’t Make It Alone.](http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&token=ADFEAEE47E16DE4FA97E20C79A2D4DDAA076FE0BE147FF9812294475C5B43947824375EE51E9A5C9FB812EED27FBB326BB590FCCC8EE56F89064373884E4A463285E36&sql=33:3bkcufysan5k) What about her cover of The Windmills of Your Mind? ---
**Author:** ![sturmhauke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e47c2d/32.png) [@sturmhauke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sturmhauke)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2004, 8:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-singers-voice-makes-you-weak-in-the-knees/262281/45 "2004-08-31T08:23:33Z")
> [@Muad'Dib](#): > > Sarah McLachlan - a my lovely Irish rose, you will one day be mine… She’s from Nova Scotia, which is populated mostly with Scots, which would make her a… thistle, I guess. Or heather maybe. ---
**Author:** ![Cicero](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cicero/32/3594_2.png) [@Cicero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cicero)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2004, 10:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-singers-voice-makes-you-weak-in-the-knees/262281/46 "2004-08-31T10:04:33Z")
> [@Shagnasty](#): > > Karen Carpenter has (had) a beautiful haunting voice that I have loved ever since I was a little kid. She had the sweetest voice that I can recall. A ‘Come to Bed’ voice- Norah Jones, any female singing "Help Me Make It Through The Night’. Apart from Madonna. ---
**Author:** ![Small\_Clanger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9fc348/32.png) [@Small\_Clanger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Small_Clanger)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2004, 10:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-singers-voice-makes-you-weak-in-the-knees/262281/47 "2004-08-31T10:46:28Z")
No vote yet for Stevie Nicks? OK then: **Stevie Nicks** If I was of a differently gendered I’d go for [Jackie Leven](http://www.jackieleven.com/), especially back in the Doll by Doll days. ---
**Author:** ![Kitchen\_Wench](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f08c70/32.png) [@Kitchen\_Wench](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kitchen_Wench)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2004, 10:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-singers-voice-makes-you-weak-in-the-knees/262281/48 "2004-08-31T10:50:21Z")
Oooh, there are so many… here are a few off the top of my head: Ian Astbury of The Cult Stevie Ray Vaughan- Everyone talks about his stellar guitar abilities and not his voice! Ella Fitzgerald Robert Plant- coupled with his movements and facial expressions, he just oozes sex. Luciano Pavarotti- my fantasy: I meet him on the street (yeah, that’s so likely) and he breaks into song… I get all woozy and he has to take me into his arms to keep me from falling. _sigh_ Hey, a girl can dream. Oh. I also love the sound of monks chanting. ---
**Author:** ![Small\_Clanger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9fc348/32.png) [@Small\_Clanger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Small_Clanger)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2004, 10:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-singers-voice-makes-you-weak-in-the-knees/262281/49 "2004-08-31T10:58:16Z")
> [@Small Clanger](#): > > If I was of a differently gendered . . . What? It made sense when I typed it. While I’m here: Not saying that they’re _good_ singers, but I’ll add Kate and Cindy of the B52s when they sing harmony, yum. ---
**Author:** ![Mycroft\_Holmes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a5b964/32.png) [@Mycroft\_Holmes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mycroft_Holmes)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2004, 12:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-singers-voice-makes-you-weak-in-the-knees/262281/50 "2004-08-31T12:00:42Z")
> [@twickster](#): > > OTOH, the very sound of [Caetano Veloso](http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&token=ADFEAEE4791FDB47A57020CE873B5DDEB17AF501CA4EFB803E2D595B92B63E45911E7AE84AF095C5AEF975AB7BAFFF2AE85805D0CEE453F5CC0640&uid=SUB040408301434&sql=11:h82gtq0ztu48~T3)’s voice is enough enough to get me to lie back and think “Oh baby, take me now.” Well, in that case: Vai minha tristeza Go, my sadness E diz a ela que And tell her that sem ela não pode ser without her it is not to be Diz-lhe numa prece Tell her, in a prayer Que ela regrese to return to me Porque eu não posso mais sofrer for I can’t bear this suffering anymore Chega de saudade No more blues 😃 As for me, it would have to be the incomparable [Elis](http://www.elisreginavive.cjb.net/), or another woman who’s voice just exudes “sex”(and happens to be Caetano’s sister :eek:): [Maria Bethania](http://www.slipcue.com/music/brazil/bethania.html). No one in the world can resist her and [Gal Costa](http://www.galcosta.com.br/) singing _ **Sonho Meu** _ together. ---
**Author:** ![todd33rpm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a5b964/32.png) [@todd33rpm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/todd33rpm)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2004, 12:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-singers-voice-makes-you-weak-in-the-knees/262281/51 "2004-08-31T12:01:02Z")
**Cassandra Wilson** is the Barry White of jazz. Pretty much _anything_ she’s done for Blue Note since 1993 will make me weak in the knees, though I’d say a good starting point for the uninitiated is either _Traveling Miles_ or _New Moon Daughter_. Anyone who can make Cyndi Lauper’s “Time After Time” sound sultry is okay in my book. **Diana Krall** , especially on the albums _Love Scenes_ and _All For You_. She does things to David Frishberg’s “Peel Me A Grape” that are almost undiscussable in public. **Jeff Buckley** , definitely. The reissued _Grace_ album (which came out last Tuesday) provides even more reasons, not the least of which is a little-seen sense of humor in the studio. (The expanded reissue of _Live At Sin-e_ provides even more evidence in a concert context - listen especially for his attempt at “Smells Like Teen Spirit” in the style of Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan…and on the hot side, his cover of “Calling You” is a jaw dropper.) **Rufus Wainwright**. Only a heart of stone couldn’t like his work, especially on _Poses_ and _Want One_. “Greek Song” is a swooner. Latter-day **XTC** , pretty much anything after _Skylarking_. Andy Partridge has an awesome vocal instrument, most notable on “Summer’s Cauldron” and “Mermaid Smiled” on the above. _Apple Venus Volume One_ is another good starting point, ear candy with substance. ---
**Author:** ![Mycroft\_Holmes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a5b964/32.png) [@Mycroft\_Holmes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mycroft_Holmes)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2004, 12:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-singers-voice-makes-you-weak-in-the-knees/262281/52 "2004-08-31T12:03:22Z")
That was supposed to look like this: Vai minha tristeza E diz a ela que sem ela não pode ser Diz-lhe numa prece Que ela regrese Porque eu não posso mais sofrer Chega de saudade Go, my sadness And tell her that without her it is not to be Tell her, in a prayer to return to me for I can’t bear this suffering anymore No more blues So much for being smooooootttttthhhhhh with the ladies, huh? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![look\_ninjas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/b2d939/32.png) [@look\_ninjas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/look_ninjas)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2004, 12:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-singers-voice-makes-you-weak-in-the-knees/262281/53 "2004-08-31T12:07:18Z")
Gotta be Elvis Costello. ---
**Author:** ![ErinPuff](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/dbc845/32.png) [@ErinPuff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ErinPuff)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2004, 12:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-singers-voice-makes-you-weak-in-the-knees/262281/54 "2004-08-31T12:50:13Z")
Definitely **Anthony Warlow**. Hearing his voice makes me melt into a puddle of goo. ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2004, 1:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-singers-voice-makes-you-weak-in-the-knees/262281/55 "2004-08-31T13:23:04Z")
> [@Mycroft Holmes](#): > > No one in the world can resist her and [Gal Costa](http://www.galcosta.com.br/) singing _ **Sonho Meu** _ together. Okay, for heart-rendingly gorgeous duets, how 'bout Virginia Rodriques and Nasciemento doing Caetano’s _Sol Negro_ on VR’s album of the same name? ---
**Author:** ![Caprese](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a9a28c/32.png) [@Caprese](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Caprese)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2004, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-singers-voice-makes-you-weak-in-the-knees/262281/56 "2004-08-31T14:26:55Z")
**Warren Zevon** **Nanci Griffith** ---
**Author:** ![Labdad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/439d5e/32.png) [@Labdad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labdad)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2004, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-singers-voice-makes-you-weak-in-the-knees/262281/57 "2004-08-31T14:29:24Z")
Alison Krauss, Natalie Merchant, Nora Jones (for sure), and believe it or not, Lucinda Williams! ---
**Author:** ![Guy\_Incognito](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guy_incognito/32/3920_2.png) [@Guy\_Incognito](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guy_Incognito)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2004, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-singers-voice-makes-you-weak-in-the-knees/262281/58 "2004-08-31T15:35:51Z")
A lot of my favorites have been mentioned so far: Kate Bush Stevie Nicks Norah Jones Alison Krauss How about: Aimee Mann Eddi Reader Christine McVie ---
**Author:** ![Kizarvexius](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/da6949/32.png) [@Kizarvexius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kizarvexius)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2004, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-singers-voice-makes-you-weak-in-the-knees/262281/59 "2004-08-31T16:05:16Z")
- Lucia Popp - Custer LaRue (of the Baltimore Consort) - Julianne Baird - Sumi Jo - Kathleen Battle (hate the ego, but God, what a voice) - Joanna Kozlowska (her performance in Gorecki’s 3rd brings me close to tears every time) Okay…so I have a thing for lyric sopranos. And on the non-classical side of the fence: - Nina Gordon - Loreena McKennitt - Sandi Patti - Sarah McLaughlin ---
**Author:** ![malkabat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/46a35a/32.png) [@malkabat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/malkabat)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2004, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-singers-voice-makes-you-weak-in-the-knees/262281/60 "2004-08-31T16:53:59Z")
**Raul Malo.** Omigawd, Raul Malo. Is it hot in here? ::swoons:: [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-singers-voice-makes-you-weak-in-the-knees/262281.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-singers-voice-makes-you-weak-in-the-knees/262281.md?page=4)