Your Favorite Singer

Cafe Society
21

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?

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.

22

Dolly Parton
Olivia Newton-John
Karen Carpenter
Jim Croce

23

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:

24

Billie Holiday
Sam Cooke
Billy Stewart.

25

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.

26

I neglected to include both of them in my honorable mention list. They both had beautiful, seemingly-effortless voices.

27

Stevie Nicks
Eric Burdon

28

Barbara Cook.

Laura Benanti.

Mandy Patinkin.

29

Another fan of both Justin Hayward and Neko Case here.

Harry Nilsson.

In the “brothers singing harmony” department: Ray and Dave Davies.

30

Johnny Cash

KoKo Taylor

Also Johnny Shines. Even after a stroke he was incredible.

31

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

32

Lovely!
I’d include:
Audra McDonald
Norm Lewis
Brian Stokes Mitchell

33

Geoff Tate
Ian Gillian

34

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!

35

Every now and then I get in a mood to put Ashes are Burning on repeat.

36

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?"

37

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. :thinking:

38

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 him out online!

I am so envious! There’s a recording of the two of them singing Sarah Brown Eyes from when they were in Ragtime together that is perfect.

39

And I think you all know that she’s my favorite, since this is the 59th thread in which I have mentioned her.

40

Fred “Toots” Hibbert (Toots and the Maytals)

Sam Cooke

Willie DeVille

Delbert McClinton