Inspired by the thread about worst voices. Adele? Whitney? Mariah? Kelly Clarkson?
Which famous singers have the best voices?
by Anonymous | reply 109 | February 19, 2019 4:22 AM |
Babs
by Anonymous | reply 1 | December 15, 2014 8:24 AM |
Your question is pretty vague. Are you referring to current singers or singers from the past?
Off the top of my head, some Pop singers who I think had/have great voices are.............
Ella Fitzgerald
Billy Eckstine
Sarah Vaughan
Margaret Whiting
Fran Warren
Rosemary Clooney
Buddy Greco
Eydie Gorme
Johnny Mathis
Barbara McNair
Kim Weston
Patti LaBelle
Chaka Khan
Maureen McGovern
Jennifer Holliday
Tamia
Kelly Clarkson
Just a few off the top of my head. Versatile singers who could sound pretty but also belt 'em out.
by Anonymous | reply 2 | December 15, 2014 9:46 AM |
Julie London
by Anonymous | reply 3 | December 15, 2014 10:33 AM |
K.D. Lang
by Anonymous | reply 4 | December 15, 2014 10:35 AM |
Dinah Washington
by Anonymous | reply 5 | December 15, 2014 10:43 AM |
Karen Carpenter
by Anonymous | reply 6 | December 15, 2014 10:45 AM |
The late Eva Cassidy was astounding. That voice was so pure and precise and versatile, tender one moment and powerful the next.
by Anonymous | reply 7 | December 15, 2014 10:51 AM |
Taylor Swift
by Anonymous | reply 8 | December 15, 2014 12:53 PM |
Ann Wilson
Pat Benatar
Whitney Houston
Mariah Carey
by Anonymous | reply 9 | December 15, 2014 1:16 PM |
In popular music as we have understood it for the last several decades, I'd go with Kelly Clarkson, Whitney Houston (at her peak, '85 to '92), Mariah Carey during her first four albums, Ann Wilson of Heart, and K.D. Lang. And over on the R&B side, Chaka Khan and Aretha at their respective bests.
Susan Boyle hit that high water mark once, with her famous "I Dreamed a Dream" live vocal on the Brit Talent show, but her subsequent recordings didn't quite live up.
by Anonymous | reply 10 | December 15, 2014 1:27 PM |
Top three voicves for me are Whitney, Babs, and Phyllis Hyman.
by Anonymous | reply 11 | December 15, 2014 6:57 PM |
Are these voices or singers? In my opinion they are two totally different things.
by Anonymous | reply 12 | December 15, 2014 7:25 PM |
A lot of people mentioned here aren't singers. Many are moaners, screechers, and/or screamers.
by Anonymous | reply 13 | December 15, 2014 7:31 PM |
Whitney in her prime.
by Anonymous | reply 14 | December 16, 2014 1:34 AM |
r3 - Julie London is criminally underrated. She could do sad just as well as sexy, but she's mostly remembered for the latter, a side effect of the album covers, I suppose. One of my all-time favorites.
by Anonymous | reply 15 | December 16, 2014 1:44 AM |
My favorite is Linda Ronstadt.
by Anonymous | reply 16 | December 16, 2014 1:45 AM |
George Jones is my favorite for mournful country.
by Anonymous | reply 17 | December 16, 2014 1:51 AM |
Judy Garland, Shirley Bassey, Eydie Gorme, Linda Ronstadt, Karen Carpenter
Tony Bennett, Johnny Mathis
by Anonymous | reply 18 | December 16, 2014 3:10 AM |
Judy Garland in her prime (1935 - 61). No one else comes close.
by Anonymous | reply 19 | December 16, 2014 3:35 AM |
Annie Lennox
by Anonymous | reply 21 | December 16, 2014 9:58 AM |
And no mention of moi?
Fuck all of you damn hussies and the horse you rode on!
by Anonymous | reply 22 | December 16, 2014 11:35 AM |
Colbie Caillat, Amy Grant.
I like soothing voices.
by Anonymous | reply 23 | December 16, 2014 11:44 AM |
Dusty Springfield
by Anonymous | reply 24 | December 16, 2014 11:44 AM |
R22 Dionne, dearest, no, NOT your wispy willow woman voice. It's what kept people from buying all those nice Bacharach-David songs all those years.
by Anonymous | reply 25 | December 16, 2014 2:09 PM |
DONNA!!!!!
by Anonymous | reply 26 | December 16, 2014 3:56 PM |
Renee Fleming
Linda Ronstadt
Ed Ames
Paulo Szot
Roberta Peters
Larry Gatlin
Rosemary Clooney
Barbara Mandrell
Robert Goulet
by Anonymous | reply 27 | December 16, 2014 11:44 PM |
Christina Aguilera.
However, she has serious technical faults in her singing (though at the same time, some of those give her her signature sound). Nonetheless, I do think she has one of the best voices for sure.
by Anonymous | reply 28 | December 17, 2014 8:13 AM |
Eva Cassidy had a great voice, but there was absolutely nothing behind it. She could've been a robot.
by Anonymous | reply 29 | December 17, 2014 8:22 AM |
Geri Jewell
by Anonymous | reply 30 | December 17, 2014 8:29 AM |
[quote] but there was absolutely nothing behind it.
Sadly, there was cancer behind it.
by Anonymous | reply 31 | December 17, 2014 8:36 AM |
Sandy Denny
by Anonymous | reply 32 | December 17, 2014 9:18 AM |
Adam Lambert. Adam Lambert. Adam Lambert. And may I just say - ADAM LAMBERT.
by Anonymous | reply 33 | December 17, 2014 12:08 PM |
Dusty Springfield, Sarah Vaughan, Cassandra Wilson, David Bowie
by Anonymous | reply 34 | December 17, 2014 12:16 PM |
Ann Wilson absolutely rules this. Seeing her live is absolutely amazing.
Natalie Merchant was great back in the day.
Jim James of My Morning Jacket
I LOVED Layne Staley as the lead singer of Alice in Chains.
by Anonymous | reply 35 | December 17, 2014 1:05 PM |
George Michael Freddie Mercury Steve Perry
by Anonymous | reply 36 | December 17, 2014 1:10 PM |
I love Joni Mitchell's voice in her prime 1970s years
Aretha Franklin, also at her best in the 1960s
Joan Armatrading's 70s albums were bliss and I still love them now
Dusty Springfield
Barbra in her 1960s prime
Miss Peggy Lee
Dionne and Petula were good then too, and Cleo Laine.
Nancy Wilson
Judy Garland in both A Star Is Born and I Could Go On Singing.
I also flirted with Ella, Sarah, KD Laing, Bette and Liza, and Annie Lennox.
by Anonymous | reply 37 | December 17, 2014 1:11 PM |
Donna Summer, Chaka Khan, Linda Ronstadt, Karen Carpenter, Barbara Streisand, K.D. Lang.
by Anonymous | reply 38 | December 17, 2014 1:11 PM |
George Michael and Jack Jones (again in the 1960s) had the best male voices for me, plus Marvin Gaye and Smokey Robinson.
Stevie Wonder in his great 1970s period and Donny Hathaway.
by Anonymous | reply 39 | December 17, 2014 1:13 PM |
NANCY Wilson, R37?
by Anonymous | reply 40 | December 17, 2014 1:16 PM |
r8 is clearly completely deaf.
by Anonymous | reply 41 | December 17, 2014 1:34 PM |
Yes, Nancy Wilson r40 - chanteuse of all those Capitol albums and concerts and nightclubs, maybe a lesser Peggy Lee but certainly a great singer and stylist.
by Anonymous | reply 42 | December 17, 2014 1:36 PM |
Oh R42. Not THE Nancy Wilson. I didn't realize there were two. Your reference was well before my time.
by Anonymous | reply 43 | December 17, 2014 1:38 PM |
George Michael is great. I love his "I can't make you love me" cover.
by Anonymous | reply 44 | December 17, 2014 4:44 PM |
Tina
One of the greatest voices ever. So much passion and unbreakable energy conveyed when she sings.
by Anonymous | reply 45 | December 17, 2014 4:56 PM |
Where's Stevie Nicks?
This is one of her greatest songs at the peak of her career: "Storms." Her voice was (and still is) so unique, with incredible tone. I love how she goes for the whisper effect here and sells the song completely. One of the best female singer songwriters of all time.
by Anonymous | reply 46 | December 17, 2014 5:01 PM |
I wonder what Stevie's pussy looks like.
by Anonymous | reply 47 | December 17, 2014 5:04 PM |
Is there a reason why whenever there are one of these singing threads on here that mostly only females are ever listed?
What am I chopped liver???
by Anonymous | reply 48 | December 17, 2014 5:21 PM |
Yes, you are, R48. But at least you're hung like a donkey.
by Anonymous | reply 49 | December 17, 2014 5:40 PM |
Patsy Cline, Karen Carpenter, Annie Lennox, Don Henley, Chris Isaaks, James Taylor, John Fogerty, Eric Burdon, Grace Slick, Gladys Knight, Joni Mitchell, Elvis Presley, Roy Orbison, Doris Day, Dean Martin, Tom Jones, Freddie Mercury, Otis Redding, Ray Charles, Peggy Lee
by Anonymous | reply 50 | December 17, 2014 6:39 PM |
Elvis's early recordings, he was sensational.
by Anonymous | reply 51 | December 17, 2014 7:16 PM |
I used to love Linda Ronstadt too r16 but now that I am older I realize that she did a bit too much hollering. She was best when singing country where hollering isn't appropriate or needed. That's where you can hear the beauty of her voice.
And r12 has a good point there is a difference between having a good voice and being a good singer. That is why I get frustrated with the singing competitions. People get up there and don't know how to sing a song. I haven't listened to Clarkson enough to know if she can sing. She has a good voice though. And Whitney and Babs both were/are great singers.
If you don't hate Streisand the best example I can think of to hear how to sing a song is to listen to her Yentl CD. She gives each song emotion and interpretation. It's a good class in how to emotionally engage the listener.
Whitney you could listen to her love songs to hear it.
by Anonymous | reply 52 | December 17, 2014 7:27 PM |
Stevie Wonder
Brian McKnight
Paul McCartney
Tim Curry
by Anonymous | reply 53 | December 17, 2014 7:31 PM |
Ella Fitzgerald
Frank Sinatra
k.d. lang
Leontyne Price (opera)
They have something beyond perfect tuning -- they have CHARISMA. They know when to intone, raise/lower the voice, pause, etc., so that you BELIEVE what they're singing.
by Anonymous | reply 54 | December 17, 2014 7:31 PM |
Carly Simon and Daryl Hall have amazing voices. I heard them sing together in Carly's pool house on the Vineyard with only 2 or 3 pieces behind them. They were sensational, clear as a bell, and completely unfiltered or produced.
by Anonymous | reply 55 | December 17, 2014 7:32 PM |
Freddie Mercury & Rob Halford.
by Anonymous | reply 56 | December 17, 2014 7:32 PM |
That's what I call knowing how to sing a song r54. That's what makes someone who has a good voice a good singer.
by Anonymous | reply 57 | December 17, 2014 7:34 PM |
Was that part of Daryl's tv show he produces r55?
by Anonymous | reply 58 | December 17, 2014 7:35 PM |
R54: I am glad someone finally added Sinatra. The only change I would make to your list would be to add Peggy Lee.
by Anonymous | reply 59 | December 17, 2014 7:44 PM |
Dear 58. No, it was a private party that Carly was throwing for the Cuomos.
by Anonymous | reply 60 | December 17, 2014 7:58 PM |
Boy George had fantastic voice when younger.
by Anonymous | reply 61 | December 19, 2014 7:22 PM |
Joan Baez, Harry Belafonte in the late 1950s and 1960s.
by Anonymous | reply 62 | December 20, 2014 5:44 AM |
DL fave Dolores Gray, whose voice was variously described as "warm brandy" and "a freight train slathered in honey".
by Anonymous | reply 63 | December 20, 2014 6:09 AM |
Karen Carpenter for the win. Perfection. Ann Wilson of Heart for rock. Linda Ronstadt for canciónes. Sarah Vaughn and Ella Fitzgerald for jazz.
by Anonymous | reply 64 | December 20, 2014 6:21 AM |
[quote]Yes, you are, [R48]. But at least you're hung like a donkey.
Too bad Groban also looks like a donkey.
R52, I read a great article that I've kicked myself many times for not saving. The writer talked about the difference between having a good voice and knowing how to sing. He said two examples of people who know how to sing but don't have the instrument are Bob Dylan and Willie Nelson.
I would add Lucinda Williams, whose voice has been described as gorgeously flawed. She's wonderful to listen to.
I think it's why so many people with good voices are so boring I can't listen to an entire album of theirs.
by Anonymous | reply 67 | December 20, 2014 6:54 AM |
Thank you R50! Finally, someone said Gladys Knight!!
I saw her this past summer at the Hollywood Bowl, and was completely blown away by how rich her voice still sounds, at 70 years old.
by Anonymous | reply 68 | December 20, 2014 7:06 AM |
Maurice White. For sure, this song just doesn't sound the same without him......
by Anonymous | reply 70 | December 20, 2014 7:42 AM |
Loleatta Holloway. Volcanic. OTT in the best way - she always sounded like she meant it, not empty showboating.
by Anonymous | reply 71 | December 20, 2014 7:45 AM |
Yes, R61, he really did. Of all the new wave stuff I listened to as a teenager, my mother (who was very much of the Big Band/WW2 generation) LOVED Culture Club! She thought Boy George had a great, croony voice, and "I can actually understand what he is saying."
For Christmas one year, in the mid-90s, I gave her a Culture Club greatest hits cd. We still throw it on now & then, and she still loves it. (at 88) "He has such a nice voice...."
by Anonymous | reply 72 | December 20, 2014 8:08 AM |
Many superb selections. Many more singers were mentioned that I ever imagined when the thread started.
by Anonymous | reply 73 | December 20, 2014 6:39 PM |
It's funny I played Lucina Wiliams' Car Wheels on a Gravel Road and Joni Mitchell's Blue to someone in our "getting to know you" phase and they bitched about both ladies' voices... We're no longer together.
by Anonymous | reply 74 | December 20, 2014 7:26 PM |
Elvis Presley, Mario Lanza, Howard Keel, Doris Day, Gogi Grant, Rosa Ponselle, Amelita Galli-Curci, Jack Jones, John Gary, Robert Merrill
by Anonymous | reply 75 | December 20, 2014 8:03 PM |
Ann Wilson, Jackie Wilson, another vote too for Elvis Presley but esp. early 60's Elvis.
by Anonymous | reply 76 | December 20, 2014 8:14 PM |
For female singers here is who I thought were the best:
Smoothness: Karen Carpenter because her voice was incredibly relaxing. Versatility: Linda Ronstadt. She probably could have done even disco but she would have never touched it. Strength: Whitney Houston. She did sing from her heart and gut. Underrated: Donna Summer, Carly Simon and Gloria Estefan. Better singers than critics think.
For male singers: Smoothness: Frank Sinatra and Michael Buble. Easy listening and mellow. Versatility: Freddy Mercury. He could have done anything Strength: Josh Groban. He feels from the heart as well. Underrated: Elton John, Billy Joel and Barry Manilow.
Singers today that will be legends in the future: Carrie Underwood, Adele, Kelly Clarkson.
Singers that are not great (good voices though) but make great music: Madonna, Cyndi Lauper, Dolly Parton, Diana Ross, Olivia Newton-John.
Singers that I would never want to hear from again: Michael Bolton, Justin Beiber, Jonas Brothers, Britney Spears
Overrated: Bruce "I swallowed a tire iron" Springsteen!
by Anonymous | reply 77 | April 28, 2015 2:28 AM |
I can't stand the screaming banshees of today. We can hear you all...in China.
by Anonymous | reply 78 | April 28, 2015 2:34 AM |
Jo Stafford
Sarah Brightman
Rise Stevens
Ella Logan
by Anonymous | reply 79 | April 28, 2015 3:07 AM |
Nancy Lamott
by Anonymous | reply 81 | April 28, 2015 3:39 AM |
Joan Osborne is very underrated.
by Anonymous | reply 82 | April 28, 2015 5:01 AM |
Tierney Sutton
by Anonymous | reply 83 | April 28, 2015 6:15 AM |
Bowie has a stunning vocal range
by Anonymous | reply 84 | April 28, 2015 6:42 AM |
Jo Stafford had smash hit records, as
A member of a vocal group, (The Pied Pipers)
As half of a duo, (with Gordon McRae; Frankie Laine)
A comedy team, (Jonathan and Darlene Edwards)
A hillbilly, (Cinderella G. Stump) And as Jo Stafford, "Feudin' Fussin' and Fightin'
Folk music, (Black is the Color)
Hymns, including Christmas classics.
Multi-track, "Make Love to Me"
Jazz
Country
by Anonymous | reply 85 | April 28, 2015 7:25 AM |
Besides most of those mentioned, I enjoyed:
Etta James
Etta Jones
Billie Holiday
Teresa Brewer
Celine Dion
Kay Starr
Lee Wiley
Mildred Bailey
Della Reese
Ruth Brown,
and many more.
by Anonymous | reply 86 | April 28, 2015 7:29 AM |
Nancy Wilson
Dakota Staton
Ethel Waters
Lena Horne
Mary Ford
by Anonymous | reply 87 | April 28, 2015 7:34 AM |
Many fantastic voices have already been listed.
Alison Moyet should also be on this list for her voice.
by Anonymous | reply 88 | April 28, 2015 7:35 AM |
Don't forget Eydie Gorme - even Aretha raved about her.
by Anonymous | reply 89 | April 28, 2015 7:40 AM |
Ann Wilson, Cass Elliot, Linda Ronstadt, Karen Carpenter, Janis Joplin, Pat Benatar, Kate Pierson, Cindy Wilson, Siouxsie Sioux, Susanna Hoffs, Theo Kogan, Heidi Ore, Terri Nunn, Patti Smith, Courtney Love, Kat Bjelland, Kristin Hersh, Johnette Napolitano, Janet Bean, Catherine Irwin, I enjoy Barbra, Whitney, Donna Summer too but I wanted to name some who sing their own damn way and maybe with the driving electric Thundah! of guitars and drums in accompaniment.
by Anonymous | reply 90 | April 28, 2015 8:25 AM |
I could listen to Steve Perry (whether in his high or later lower registers) and Peter Cetera sing the phone book. Also Dean Martin up to at least the late sixties, and his voice was absolutely sublime in his prime.
by Anonymous | reply 91 | February 6, 2018 1:21 PM |
La Streisand of course!
by Anonymous | reply 92 | February 6, 2018 1:27 PM |
Frank Sinatra
by Anonymous | reply 93 | February 6, 2018 1:28 PM |
Linda Ronstadt
Whitney Houston
by Anonymous | reply 94 | February 6, 2018 1:41 PM |
Keely Smith, Kay Starr and Melissa Manchester.
by Anonymous | reply 95 | February 6, 2018 3:13 PM |
Fans are adorable.
by Anonymous | reply 96 | February 6, 2018 3:25 PM |
I love Stevie but this is for "best voice" alone. Linda Ronstadt, Agnetha Faltskog, Ella Fitzgerald, Nancy Wilson, Dinah Washington, Judy Garland.
by Anonymous | reply 97 | February 6, 2018 4:57 PM |
Streisand, Garland, Franklin, Piaf, voices, artists, musicians- many others, Ella, Sarah, Peggi Lee (stylist), Lena, Whitney (great pipes never sang anything much good however-just pop and a bit of hip hop stuff), Celine (lousy material like Whitney), KD, the singer song-writers like Joni, Judy Collins. Eddie Gorme and Shirley Bassey are impressive, but harsh for my ears.
What about Nat King Cole- sublime, Sinatra was good but I just can't get by his being such a jerk. Love George Michael- Ray Charles is basically the template for all rock singers. Many wonderful niche singers among the guys like BB King, Luther V, Sam Cook
Leontyn Price- majestic
Pavarotti, Boccelli (sp?)
by Anonymous | reply 98 | February 6, 2018 5:50 PM |
Randy Rainbow
by Anonymous | reply 99 | February 6, 2018 5:52 PM |
Amy Grant--warm tone that envelops you
Patty Griffin--amazing strength, range and clarity
by Anonymous | reply 100 | February 6, 2018 6:06 PM |
[quote]Agnetha Faltskog
Truly, unforgettable!
by Anonymous | reply 101 | February 6, 2018 6:19 PM |
[R101] Yes! Chiquitita, The Day Before You Came, The Winner Takes It All, SOS, One of Us, Soldiers and many more - all amazing performances by Agnetha. The power of the voice, the beauty of the tone, the range, the incredible flexibility, the emotional quality, the ability to be tough and tender, etc.. Peerless in the realm of Pop.
by Anonymous | reply 102 | February 6, 2018 6:36 PM |
OMG!
I thought "Agnetha Faltskog" was someone drunk-typing "Aretha Franklin"
by Anonymous | reply 103 | February 6, 2018 6:49 PM |
Jessye Norman
Kathleen Battle
maria Callas
If you put Edith Piaf on this list you have to include Billie Holliday. They had similar styles.
by Anonymous | reply 104 | February 6, 2018 7:13 PM |
[R103] Funny :)
by Anonymous | reply 105 | February 6, 2018 7:16 PM |
Liz Fraser from the Cocteau Twins
by Anonymous | reply 106 | February 19, 2019 3:18 AM |
Whitney Houston. Her live concerts, ballads, totally cleared all comers.
by Anonymous | reply 107 | February 19, 2019 3:33 AM |
In terms of PURE tonal quality, resonance, clarity,timbre,power, pitch and intonation----60s-70s Barbra and 80s/early 90s Whitney are in a class all their own. And of the two I MUCH PREFER the sound and interpretative quality of Barbra. To me, all things considered, she still has THE greatest voice ever.
by Anonymous | reply 108 | February 19, 2019 3:37 AM |
Gosh, Streisand is great, but there is no arguing that Whitney had far more range and power. Also Streisand really sings like a white lady, Whitney had a bigger diversity in her ability to interpret her stylistic techniques. What is important is that they both respected each other.
by Anonymous | reply 109 | February 19, 2019 4:22 AM |