I have step in and make my obligatory reference to Eva Cassidy.
For me, four women, four songs …
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Mary Wells singing “My Guy;” especially during the closing of the song where her voice turns really milky " … There’s not a man t’day who …" .
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Carly Simon singing “Nobody Does it Better.”
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Annabella Lewin from Bow Wow Wow singing “I Want Candy;” especially when she says, " … so sweet you make my mouth water … " going high and squeaky on the word “sweet.”
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okay, the embarrassing one … Stacy Q. singing her one '80s pop hit “Two of Hearts;” especially when she sings " … hot baby …"
Nitpick: It’s Annabella L’Win. I only correct you b/c I had a crush on her so many years ago.
Speaking of old crushes, how could I forget Kim Gordon of Sonic Youth? Ah, Kim…
And here’s a vote for P.J. Harvey. (Surprised no one has mentioned her yet)
cass elliot singing “dream a little dream of me”
mavis staples singing “i’ll take you there”
joan osbourne singing “at last”
mahalia jackson singing “oh holy night”
last winter, i had to stop and pull to the side of the road. our local classical radio station played frederica von stade singing shubert’s ave maria with the mormon tabernacle choir. i was moved to tears by the beauty of the magnificent performance.
Karen Carpenter.
It’s not so much a weakness in the knees than a shiver down the spine. Especially on “Superstar”.
I have a serious weakness for baritones and bass-baritones. sigh
opera:
Samuel Ramey
Dmitri Hvorostovsky
non-operatic:
Bryan Ferry
Jim Morrison
I almost forget…Rebekah Del Rio. (Of Mulholland Drive fame)
Oh! Wait! Wait! One more:
Kim Deal. On Surfer Rosa. The song “Gigantic.” The line “What a gas it was to see him.” Sigh.
And for that matter, on Last Splash, the entire song “Drivin’ on 9.” (assuming that’s Kim and not Kelley).
Celine Dion.
Only because my knees always go weak when I hurl.
:eek:
Oh.
Seriously now.
Another vote for Karen Carpenter. Finest female voice of the Twentieth Century.
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.
Anneke van Giersbergen of The Gathering.
Oh my yes. I so agree. I much prefer her rendition of “Fields of Gold” to Sting’s.
Don’t know if anyone else has mentioned her, but Annie Lennox is my musical goddess.
Sorta embarrassing to admit it, but Barry White’s voice just gets me all aflutter. Sure, his music sucks balls, but that deep, deep voice . . . oh!
Now, another voice that makes my knees weak would be Diamanda Galas, not out of sex appeal but because it sounds like something that would presage the Apocalypse. Damn, I love Diamanda Galas, but she scares the fuck out of me.
David Sylvian. You can currently hear him singing “Somewhere” from West Side Story in a commercial for some sort of insurance thing that aired a lot during the Olympics. He also did the theme to “Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence” among others…
I’ll see your Liz Phair, Natalie Merchant and Kim Deal and raise you Michael Stipe (R.E.M.) and Peter Gabriel.
Peter Blegvad (The Golden Palominos, solo career).
Matt Johnson (a.k.a. The The).
Damon Albarn (Blur, solo career).
Dan Wilson (Semisonic).
Adrian Belew (King Crimson, many other artists, and solo career).
Robyn Hitchcock (The Soft Boys, solo career, The 'Boys redux, and now back to the solo thing.)
Stephen Malkmus (Pavement, Preston School…, solo career).
Mark Lanegan (The Screaming Trees, and a much better solo career).
Jarvis Cocker (Pulp).
Norman Cook (The Housemartins, solo career as “Fatboy Slim”).
Going back a ways:
Paul and George (sorry John and Ringo!), at least on certain tracks.
XTC’s Andy Partridge and Colin Moulding.
Ray Davies.
Morrissey.
Bono.
Daniel Ash.
Ric Ocasek.
Al “The Year of the Cat” Stewart, fer Pete’s sake.
Unfortunately for me, I have a soft spot for Brits (didja notice?) and many of my faves are on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean. But I have one thing in my corner; most of my current male faves are (professionally) single and unattached! 
I also second the vote for David Sylvian.
That’s not Elvis Costello? :eek:
Sting His voice is like silk rubbing against my nekkid thighs
Luther Vandross His voice is like creamy buttah on a piping fresh roll
Steve Perry His voice is like a fine vintage cabernet, ever so slightly chilled
I’ll add my vote for Karen Carpenter. Her voice had such depth and warmth. Each time I hear it, I always think of what a waste her death was. How sad that someone with such talent thought of herself in such a negative way.
Malkabat, I’ll second Raul Malo. Oh, wow! Oh, What A Thrill–when he sings the line, “Woman, words fail me,” I really do go weak in the knees.
And I absolutely love Don Williams.
Cecilia Bartoli. Oh, my god.