# Your Favorite Singer **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** music\ **Created:** [January 26, 2026, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-singer/1027063 "2026-01-26T22:46:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2026, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-singer/1027063/21 "2026-01-27T00:35:07Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > Pat Benatar She’s definitely on my short list. That woman has incredible vocal range. The only reason she beat out Madonna is a lot of her singing is well outside my own range. But she is, for me, the perfect blend of vulnerability and aggression I love in my women singers. And then there’s Ann Wilson of Heart. Did women ever rock any harder than these? > [@Prof.Pepperwinkle](#): > > Linda Ronstadt, for breadth of expression and highly flexiility in genres. I added one of her tracks to my novel playlist, “When Will I Be Loved?” I was surprised by how hard it hits given the relatively simple lyrics. But man, she makes you feel 'em. ---
**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:** [January 27, 2026, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-singer/1027063/22 "2026-01-27T00:44:21Z")
Dolly Parton Olivia Newton-John Karen Carpenter Jim Croce ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2026, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-singer/1027063/23 "2026-01-27T00:51:17Z")
> [@Dung\_Beetle](#): > > Dolly Parton I love Dolly Parton…big fan, she’s an awesome person as well as a great singer. I will say Miley Cyrus (Parton’s godchild I think) did Parton one better. I am not a Miley Cyrus fan but she nailed this one: ![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/wOwblaKmyVw/maxresdefault.jpg)https://www.youtube.com/embed/wOwblaKmyVw?feature=oembed&wmode=opaque ---
**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:** [January 27, 2026, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-singer/1027063/24 "2026-01-27T00:58:09Z")
Billie Holiday Sam Cooke Billy Stewart. ---
**Author:** ![dirtball](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dirtball/32/18772_2.png) [@dirtball](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dirtball)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2026, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-singer/1027063/25 "2026-01-27T00:58:34Z")
I’m gonna throw Frank Sinatra into the mix, with a qualification. I’m not sure I’ve heard anything of his where the songwriting or arrangement resonated with me, but homing in on the vocal performance, the dude had it going on, seriously. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2026, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-singer/1027063/26 "2026-01-27T01:00:26Z")
> [@BlankSlate](#): > > I’ve always loved Christine McVie’s voice. > [@Dung\_Beetle](#): > > Olivia Newton-John I neglected to include both of them in my honorable mention list. They both had beautiful, seemingly-effortless voices. ---
**Author:** ![Marvin\_the\_Martian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/marvin_the_martian/32/2898_2.png) [@Marvin\_the\_Martian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marvin_the_Martian)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2026, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-singer/1027063/27 "2026-01-27T01:07:34Z")
Stevie Nicks Eric Burdon ---
**Author:** ![Ulf\_the\_Unwashed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Ulf\_the\_Unwashed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ulf_the_Unwashed)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2026, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-singer/1027063/28 "2026-01-27T01:09:56Z")
Barbara Cook. Laura Benanti. Mandy Patinkin. ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2026, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-singer/1027063/29 "2026-01-27T01:34:59Z")
Another fan of both Justin Hayward and Neko Case here. Harry Nilsson. In the “brothers singing harmony” department: Ray and Dave Davies. ---
**Author:** ![P-man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/p-man/32/3606_2.png) [@P-man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/P-man)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2026, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-singer/1027063/30 "2026-01-27T01:38:45Z")
Johnny Cash KoKo Taylor Also Johnny Shines. Even after a stroke he was incredible. ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2026, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-singer/1027063/31 "2026-01-27T01:44:52Z")
Most of mine are not considered good singers in the traditional sense (and are often called much worse), but I am drawn to their vocals: - Bob Dylan - Neil Young - John Prine - Elvis Costello Less controversial favorites of mine include: - Karen Carpenter - Cat Stevens - James Taylor - Carly Simon - Daryl Hall - Linda Ronstadt mmm ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2026, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-singer/1027063/32 "2026-01-27T02:01:03Z")
> [@Ulf\_the\_Unwashed](#): > > Barbara Cook. > > Laura Benanti. > > Mandy Patinkin. Lovely! I’d include: Audra McDonald Norm Lewis Brian Stokes Mitchell ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2026, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-singer/1027063/33 "2026-01-27T02:10:24Z")
Geoff Tate Ian Gillian ---
**Author:** ![Ulf\_the\_Unwashed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Ulf\_the\_Unwashed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ulf_the_Unwashed)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2026, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-singer/1027063/34 "2026-01-27T02:23:37Z")
Oh yes! I don’t know Norm Lewis at all, but McDonald and Mitchell are both superlative. I saw McDonald in _Gypsy_ almost a year ago. What a performance. And I think I saw Mitchell in _Kiss Me, Kate_ just before 9-11. Thanks for sparking the memories! ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2026, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-singer/1027063/35 "2026-01-27T02:33:33Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > Annie Haslam Every now and then I get in a mood to put Ashes are Burning on repeat. ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2026, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-singer/1027063/36 "2026-01-27T02:42:19Z")
Van Morrison. His phrasing is up there with Bowie and Lennon, and his spirituality and “Irishness” are intriguing. The fact that he can be an asshole to his audiences means I’ll just enjoy recordings of him. It’s funny, I’ve loved his voice since Them, and Brown Eyed Girl, and Astral Weeks. So, what’s that? Almost sixty years. I went to a forty-ninth college reunion, and a guy playing in this cover band said "I remember how much you liked Van Morrison. Want to do the vocal on _Into The Mystic?"_ ---
**Author:** ![BlankSlate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blankslate/32/80_2.png) [@BlankSlate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlankSlate)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2026, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-singer/1027063/37 "2026-01-27T02:42:53Z")
Gah, how did I forget Ray Charles? A whole range of expression in what might be a simple tune in the hands of another artist. Thinking about it, a little surprising to me: Elton. He could really sing. I guess there are a lot of songs I don’t care for, but on a lot of his older stuff, he really nails it. Hmm, Natalie Merchant. Unique, interesting. Also, Yvonne Elliman. Maybe everything I always wanted a woman to sound like. Sade, too, in that vein. I guess I like a lot of voices. 🤔 ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2026, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-singer/1027063/38 "2026-01-27T03:23:09Z")
> [@Ulf\_the\_Unwashed](#): > > Oh yes! I don’t know Norm Lewis at all I first saw him on the TV show Better Things - he was a guest at a party and sang along with the piano player for just a few lines - I was blown away. He starred in Phantom of the Opera in London. [Check](https://youtu.be/bjjVcJYgIgI?si=S1cnLQ9B_MlfiMBx) him [out](https://youtu.be/Ce8dfQRDp-0?si=ZF7xurT09eUH-qJN) online! > [@Ulf\_the\_Unwashed](#): > > I saw McDonald in _Gypsy_ almost a year ago. What a performance. And I think I saw Mitchell in _Kiss Me, Kate_ just before 9-11. Thanks for sparking the memories! I am so envious! There’s a recording of the two of them singing [Sarah Brown Eyes](https://youtu.be/ggddMfQLB_0?si=YQnqHrz45tnMxXaQ) from when they were in Ragtime together that is perfect. ---
**Author:** ![Wendell\_Wagner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/8491ac/32.png) [@Wendell\_Wagner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wendell_Wagner)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2026, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-singer/1027063/39 "2026-01-27T04:14:09Z")
> [@Baal\_Houtham](#): > > Eva Cassidy And I think you all know that she’s my favorite, since this is the 59th thread in which I have mentioned her. ---
**Author:** ![Peanuthead](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peanuthead/32/360_2.png) [@Peanuthead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peanuthead)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2026, 5:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-singer/1027063/40 "2026-01-27T05:30:15Z")
Fred “Toots” Hibbert (Toots and the Maytals) Sam Cooke Willie DeVille Delbert McClinton [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-singer/1027063.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-singer/1027063.md?page=3)