# 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:** 6
**Author:** ![AskNott](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asknott/32/5790_2.png) [@AskNott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AskNott)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2004, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-singers-voice-makes-you-weak-in-the-knees/262281/101 "2004-09-02T18:36:51Z")
Somebody on page 1 said **k.d. lang** couldn’t compare to **Patsy Cline** , and I can only point out that lang’s band is called **The Reclines.** I thought we were talking about living singers. **LeAnn Rimes** struck a lot of sparks, at first, when she was channeling Patsy. Now that we’re including classical singers, I’d like to say that anytime I hear **Kathleen Battle** or **Cecilia Bartoli,** I instantly know that nothing else that day will be any better. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![stpauler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9d8465/32.png) [@stpauler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stpauler)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2004, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-singers-voice-makes-you-weak-in-the-knees/262281/102 "2004-09-02T21:02:13Z")
Based on some of the posts in here, I went out and bought Caetano Veloso’s **A Foreign Sound.** It’s his most recent album but I did notice that it’s only one of two of his english speaking albums (according to [allmusic.com](http://allmusic.com)). Did I start off with the wrong one? Because that was pretty close to excruciating (esp. the **Nirvana** cover) ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2004, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-singers-voice-makes-you-weak-in-the-knees/262281/103 "2004-09-02T21:45:39Z")
> [@Carnac the Magnificent!](#): > > Wow. That’s a name I didn’t expect to see. Great taste. > > Add to the list: Philip Quast, Nancy Wilson, Lani Hall and Holly Cole. I too love Holly Cole. Not sure she makes me weak in the knees, but she does indeed have a wailin’ voice. ---
**Author:** ![kelly5078](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/6f9a4e/32.png) [@kelly5078](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kelly5078)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2004, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-singers-voice-makes-you-weak-in-the-knees/262281/104 "2004-09-02T22:05:28Z")
Sandy Denny Maddy Prior Emmylou Harris Kathleen Battle ---
**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:** [September 3, 2004, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-singers-voice-makes-you-weak-in-the-knees/262281/105 "2004-09-03T00:59:32Z")
> [@Loopydude](#): > > I don’t get turned on by men’s voices, but there is one song sung by a man that has got to be my favorite sex song of all time. It’s “Swing It Low”, sung by Mark Sandman (if there’s a God, Mark, you’re in the celestial band) of Morphine. Basically, it makes me think of gettin’ busy. Plus, it’s a fucking awesome song. Or an awesome fucking song? “Whisper” is the one that always does it for me. I can’t believe I forgot about Mark Sandman. Jarvis Cocker, too. Lovely deep voices. ---
**Author:** ![dancefan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ebca7d/32.png) [@dancefan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dancefan)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2004, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-singers-voice-makes-you-weak-in-the-knees/262281/106 "2004-09-03T01:53:54Z")
Marc Anthony (Mr. J Lo III) has a beautiful voice and is a wonderful singer. ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2004, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-singers-voice-makes-you-weak-in-the-knees/262281/107 "2004-09-03T03:23:00Z")
> [@stpauler](#): > > Based on some of the posts in here, I went out and bought Caetano Veloso’s **A Foreign Sound.** It’s his most recent album but I did notice that it’s only one of two of his english speaking albums (according to [allmusic.com](http://allmusic.com)). Did I start off with the wrong one? Because that was pretty close to excruciating (esp. the **Nirvana** cover) Wow. I’m listening to it now. It hasn’t been out of the CD player in six months. I burned another copy so I could also listen to it at work, which I do damn close to daily. I’m guessing you’re under the age of 30? Don’t really care for show tunes? I was going to accusing you of lacking irony – but some of it needs to be taken at face value. (His version of “So in Love” is pretty definitive.) Would it help to know that “The Carioca” is from Fred and Ginger’s first movie together, _Flying Down to Rio_? That one you can take ironically. ---
**Author:** ![stpauler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9d8465/32.png) [@stpauler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stpauler)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2004, 4:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-singers-voice-makes-you-weak-in-the-knees/262281/108 "2004-09-03T04:19:06Z")
> [@twickster](#): > > I’m guessing you’re under the age of 30? Don’t really care for show tunes? I was going to accusing you of lacking irony – but some of it needs to be taken at face value. (His version of “So in Love” is pretty definitive.) Would it help to know that “The Carioca” is from Fred and Ginger’s first movie together, _Flying Down to Rio_? That one you can take ironically. I’m 31 😛 , I love crooners but not showtunes (it’s a fine line, ain’t it?) Maybe it’s a grower and not a shower too… I’ve been stuck on one CD I didn’t like at first (Badly Drawn Boy’s “One Plus One is One”) and after over a month of waking up to it in my alarm clock, I really love it. I think my expectations for Caetano were a little high (and I wasn’t anticipating irony, either). I’ll keep it spinning, any others of his I should listen to? ---
**Author:** ![Lochdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/edb3f5/32.png) [@Lochdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lochdale)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2004, 5:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-singers-voice-makes-you-weak-in-the-knees/262281/109 "2004-09-03T05:26:56Z")
Some great singers here but allow me to add: Joey Ramone Also, how Elvis Presley hasn’t been mentioned is beyond me. His range was almost inhuman. Compare Mystery Train to Solitare or the live version of How Great Thou Art. Supreme majesty are the only words that can be used. ---
**Author:** ![choie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/choie/32/7829_2.png) [@choie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/choie)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2004, 5:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-singers-voice-makes-you-weak-in-the-knees/262281/110 "2004-09-03T05:43:00Z")
Ooh! **twickster** ’s mentioning of showtunes reminded me of two more who make me melt. 1. Gordon McRae, especially in _Oklahoma_ when he’s softly singing to Laurey at the end of “Surrey with the Fringe on Top.” Dreamy sigh! 2. Howard Keel, for example in _Kiss Me, Kate_ when he sings the aforementioned “So in Love” or “Where is the Life that Late I Led?” Lusty sigh! The musical theater women who can make me feel melty and swoony (although not in the same way that the lads do) include Bernadette Peters – especially singing Sondheim – and Barbara Cook, singing anything she damn well pleases. ---
**Author:** ![Lazlo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lazlo/32/9678_2.png) [@Lazlo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lazlo)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2004, 10:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-singers-voice-makes-you-weak-in-the-knees/262281/111 "2004-09-03T10:34:34Z")
Nothing to add at this time. I just wanted to flag this thread. ---
**Author:** ![MandaJo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ac91a4/32.png) [@MandaJo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MandaJo)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2004, 10:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-singers-voice-makes-you-weak-in-the-knees/262281/112 "2004-09-03T10:55:59Z")
Lillian Leech, especially the song "Smoke From Your Cigarette. " ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2004, 12:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-singers-voice-makes-you-weak-in-the-knees/262281/113 "2004-09-03T12:17:53Z")
**stpauler** (you young whippersnapper 😉 ) – Caetano Veloso has been a massively productive artist for more than 35 years – I’m only somewhat familiar with a few of his albums, and am still working my way through his oeuvre myself. (If anyone has some recommendations, I’ll be happy to follow up on them.) [Link](http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&token=ADFEAEE4791FDB47A57020CE873B5DDEB17AF501CA4EFB803E2D595B92B63E45911E7AE84AF095C4AEF96AB679AFFB62AC500ED3C0EB52ECAD1B&uid=SUB030409030810&sql=11:b1u06j4h71e0~T2) to his AMG discography – note that you can listen to samples of songs if you click on albums. There were also samples on the page I linked to in the OP. Another album I enjoy a lot is [_Tropicalia 2_](http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&token=ADFEAEE4791FDB47A57020CE873B5DDEB17AF501CA4EFB803E2D595B92B63E45911E7AE84AF095C4AEF96AB679AFFB62AC500ED2C0EA53ECAD1B&sql=10:3sj20r5at48v~T1), an album he did with Gilberto Gil, another Brazilian great (who is now, I believe, the Minister of Culture there). And remember – it’s the voice. I described it once as something I wanted to rub big handfuls of all over my body. Keep listening – I’ll be curious to find out if it grows on you. And – BTW – I still don’t know wtf to make of his version of “Feelings.” ---
**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:** [September 3, 2004, 12:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-singers-voice-makes-you-weak-in-the-knees/262281/114 "2004-09-03T12:42:54Z")
> [@twickster](#): > > an album he did with Gilberto Gil, another Brazilian great (who is now, I believe, the Minister of Culture there). As I had mentioned in one of my previous posts. 😃 Anyway, if you want a good overview of some of the best MPB (Musica Popular do Brasil) you should look into getting [Brazil Classics 1: Beleza Tropical](http://www.luakabop.com/brazil/index.html), and [Beleza Tropical 2: Novo! Mais! Melhor!](http://www.luakabop.com/brazil/cmp/index6.html). The [Samba](http://www.luakabop.com/brazil/cmp/index2.html) and [Forro](http://www.luakabop.com/brazil/cmp/index3.html) albums from Luaka Bop are also very good. Forro sounds like a Brazilian version of Zydeco. My personal favourite Caetano album is the one where all the songs are live performances with his sister Maria Bethania, called: [Maria Bethania & Caetano Veloso ao Vivo](http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:1ghe4jj73wal). ---
**Author:** ![N.Sane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/f19dbf/32.png) [@N.Sane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/N.Sane)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2004, 12:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-singers-voice-makes-you-weak-in-the-knees/262281/115 "2004-09-03T12:46:37Z")
**Chris Isaac** definitely makes me go weak in the knees. If I were ever to hear him live, all that would be left of me is a puddle on the floor. And I don’t know if it’s so much the voice, or the combination of everything, but **James Marsters** as Spike. **Izzybella** has been playing the soundtrack for “Once More With Feeling” at least twice a day for the last month at work, and every time I hear Spike sing the line, “If my heart could beat, it would break my chest,” my knees quiver. Well, since I’m at work, now I have to try to calm down. Lessee . . . [Austin Powers]"Margaret Thatcher naked on a cold day![/Austin Powers] eeeeuuuuwww ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2004, 1:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-singers-voice-makes-you-weak-in-the-knees/262281/116 "2004-09-03T13:29:52Z")
> [@Mycroft Holmes](#): > > As I had mentioned in one of my previous posts. 😃 Is that where I heard it? :smack: ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2004, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-singers-voice-makes-you-weak-in-the-knees/262281/117 "2004-09-03T13:32:37Z")
Oh, and **Mycroft** – what do _you_ think of _A Foreign Sound_? ---
**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:** [September 3, 2004, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-singers-voice-makes-you-weak-in-the-knees/262281/118 "2004-09-03T14:30:46Z")
> [@twickster](#): > > Oh, and **Mycroft** – what do _you_ think of _A Foreign Sound_? Well, it’s … ummmm. different? it definitely grew on me, but I’m not that big a fan of Morelenbaum (the cellist and main arranger on the album). Then again he has Carlinhos Brown on percussion, and I love his music. Have you heard "[Tribalistas](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B00008D1NF/103-2175363-3963034?v=glance) " yet? It’s probably the best Brazilian album of the last two years. Anyway, if I’m in the mood for Caetano (which isn’t always the case), I prefer “[Noites do Norte](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B000059LXU/103-2175363-3963034?v=glance)” or “[Fina Estampa](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B0000015VO/103-2175363-3963034?v=glance)” Getting back up on topic of “Which singer’s voice makes you weak in the knees”, how could I have forgotten [Amália Rodrigues](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Am%E1lia_Rodrigues), the queen of the Fado. ---
**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:** [September 3, 2004, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-singers-voice-makes-you-weak-in-the-knees/262281/119 "2004-09-03T15:45:54Z")
Of those mentioned: Beth Gibbons Elizabeth Fraser (before I finally got arount to the Cocteau Twins, my first acquaintance with her was through Massive Attack’s single “Teardrop.” I absolutely melt everytime I hear that song.) Bjork (especially the a capella work on her new album, _Medulla_.) Neko Case Of those unmentioned: Jane Birkin (especially her work with Serge Gainsbourg) Brigitte Fontaine Isabelle Adjani (I’m not totally convinced I like the music, but her voice on “Pull Marine” sends chills up my spine.) ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2004, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-singers-voice-makes-you-weak-in-the-knees/262281/120 "2004-09-03T15:51:41Z")
> [@ReadMore](#): > > Perhaps a bit of a highjack, but… for me, it’s the particular track/single comprising the right voice plus the right lyric plus the right production plus… (well, you get it) that makes me feel all squooshy inside. (And it’s obvious I haven’t updated my CD collection lately. Argh.) > > Roy Orbison - _Running Scared_ > Peter Gabriel and Paula Cole - their _Secret World Live_ duets > Bruce Springsteen - _Thunder Road_ and _Jungleland_ > Andrea Bocelli - _Con Te Partiro_ (no - thank you - I really don’t need to hear the _Time to Say Goodbye_ version with Sarah Brightman) Ohhh, a lot of the knee-weakage involved lyrics/production/etc. So, why didn’t you include Sugarcubes _Birthday_😕😕😕 It totally blows away anything else by them or Bjork, whereas Emiliana Torrini _sometimes_ comes close, but the mood created by the production and the music elevate Birthday to a plane higher than even good chanteuse ballads. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-singers-voice-makes-you-weak-in-the-knees/262281.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-singers-voice-makes-you-weak-in-the-knees/262281.md?page=7)