Top 10 female non-opera singers of all time - what are yours?

[mvd]

Ten of my favorites (this is hard for me, so I didn't make it definitive by any means) -

Patsy Cline
Aretha Franklin
Alison Sudol (A Fine Frenzy)
Andrea Corr
Annie Lennox
Sarah McLachlan
Stevie Nicks
Gladys Knight
Debbie Harry
Michelle Branch

[BuelahWitch]

1. Mine

Ella Fitzgerald
Judy Garland
Gloria Estefan
Karen Carpenter
Peggy Lee
Barbara (do you have to ask?)
Patsy Cline
Donna Summer
Wynonna Judd
Aretha

[Forkboy]

2. Ok, here's 5.

Lou Rhodes, formerly of Lamb, now on her own (and just as good).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wOvOVJ2Iqxg&feature=related

Maria Christopher from the band 27
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=50UA7q83Fqk&feature=PlayList&p=A68844B435139162&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=21

Dana Schecter from Bee and Flower. She's recorded with both Nick Cave and Leviathan (that shocked me more than it will you as you don't know Leviathan. Let's just say his stuff is NOT like Bee and Flower, putting it mildly.)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=toENaCy_u1I

Julie Christmas from Made Out Of Babies. Christmas covers all the bases. She can be sweetly pretty and vulnerable one minute and tearing your face off the next. If I had to pick one favorite singer, she's it, male or female.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cnmedj0fYTQ

Eve Libertine from Crass
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y_HOYk9ED9Q
(One of the most powerful things ever recorded. Religious people steer clear.)

[mvd]

3. I'll check these out - thanks, Forkboy

I'd probably have to do a top 20 in this category to have a representative list. But most DUers would probably like a simple 10, so I did it that way.

Just realized I had no Cyndi Lauper, Kay Hanley, Kelly Clarkson, Joan Jett, Susanna Hoffs, Grace Slick, Dusty Springfield, Patty Loveless, Natalie Maines, Etta James, Alicia Keys, Alison Krauss, etc. They certainly rank with these 10.

[Forkboy]

4. I could have picked a lot more.

Ella Fitzgerald and Aretha Franklin are gimmies, for sure. I wanted to post some lesser known ones.

[mvd]

5. Thanks for mentioning Ella!

Both Ella and Etta are fabulous.

[Forkboy]

6. Not all of my musical taste is insane.

Just 93% of it. ;)

And yes, Etta is fantastic as well!

[Liberal_in_LA]

21. The last one was pretty intense.

[Forkboy]

25. Doesn't exactly beat around the bush, does it?

I actually got chills the first time I heard it. I don't want to say how long ago that was, though. ;)

[Flaxbee]

7. I'll add Etta James, Bonnie Raitt, kd lang

to the others posted

[_dynamicdems]

8. Billie Holiday

Janis Joplin
Loreena McKennitt
Sinead O'Connor
Enya
Doris Day
Pat Benetar
Bonnie Tyler
Linda Ronstadt
Joan Baez

[mvd]

9. Very nice list. Enya and Loreena can be pretty magical

Janis, one of the great raw voices. And Sinead is a great rocker.

A modern one who gives off that Patsy Cline vibe is Neko Case - "that voice" indeed.

[_dynamicdems]

10. Enya & Loreena are the ones I listen to most often.

Neko Case is kinda modern folk, isn't she? Nice sound. Reminds me of coffee house music.

[mvd]

11. Kind of - somewhat alt-country, too

I think she has a sound of her own, though.

[madamesilverspurs]

12. Julie Andrews

[Manifestor_of_Light]

30. Julie Andrews sang opera when she was a kid.

I think this is the most amazing vocal performance I've ever heard.
Check out the Polonaise from Mignon by Ambroise Thomas, by Julie at 12.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iV2-YGGn0y4


Julie at 15 singing The blue Danube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e_7nlVqR6KA&feature=related


I think Julie is the best non-operatic female singer I've ever heard. My voice teacher (a tenor who sang mostly opera) told me her technique was perfect.

[Captain Hilts]

44. This is really interesting. Thanks!

I, too, think Andrews has a very good voice.

[Tikki]

13. Ten

Exene Cervenka
Dolly Parton
Suzi Quatro
Chrissie Hynde
Deborah Harry
Joan Jett
Cyndi Lauper
Paula Pierce (RIP)
Lena Lovich
Nina Hagen


Tikki

[bif]

14. Ella, Sarah Vaughn...

Emiliana Torrrini, Natalie Merchant, Grrace Slick, Bjork, Hope Sandaval, Doris Day, Enya, and John Anderson.

[Pool Hall Ace]

32. There's a female singer named John Anderson?

[bif]

41. Joking

He's the singer from Yes.

[Captain Hilts]

46. I voted for Ella and Sarah also. Nice to see Doris Day mentioned. nt

[Parche]

15. i know it aint Alan ass Morrissette

:rofl: :rofl: :hi: :hug: :hug:

[mvd]

16. Hi, Parche

:hi:

[Captain Hilts]

48. Full on four this morning, aren't you, Parche? Good one! nt

[mvd]

51. Alanis is an acquired taste; I happen to like her

:hi:

[Captain Hilts]

53. Go for it. That's why music - and this thread - is fun!

[Glorfindel]

17. Nobody has listed Judy Collins? She's my all-time favorite

n/t

[Captain Hilts]

45. I like her a LOT, but she's not as versatile as most the top tier folks. But she's great.

I agree.

[DBoon]

18. Corin Tucker of Sleater Kinney

On edit : I'd also add PJ Harvey

[dysfunctional press]

19. johnette napolitano, skye edwards, natalie merchant, and liesje sadonius would all be on my list.

[sarge43]

20. Mine

Bessie Smith
Lena Horne
Nina Simone
Janice Joplin
Edith Piaf
Billie Holiday
Carol King
Ella Fitzgerald
Aretha Franklin
Joan Baez

[Captain Hilts]

49. NINA and Edith - OF COURSE!!!!

[Sugarcoated]

22. My favs:

Linda Ronstadt
Patty Griffin
Gladys Knight
Joni Mitchell
Anne Wilson
Maria McKee
Janis Joplin
Marilyn McCoo
Ella Fitzgerald
Barbra Streisand

honorable mentions:
Carly Simon
Kate Pierson

[BulletproofLandshark]

23. Ann Wilson

Aretha Franklin
Patsy Cline
Pat Benatar
Alison Krauss
Kate Bush
Dusty Springfield
Dolores O'Riordan
Diana Ross
Tina Turner

[carpetbagger]

24. Roberta Flack or Karen Carpenter?

Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald, Patsy Cline, Roberta Flack, Janis Joplin, Karen Carpenter, Annie Haslam, Carly Simon, Natalie Merchant, and then an odd tie between Peggy Lee and Rita Lee.

[Captain Hilts]

50. Wow! This long to see Peggy Lee listed. And, still good to see Carpenter mentioned.

What happened to Natalie Merchant? She's really good and she seems to have fallen off the edge of the earth and been consumed by dragons.

[Inspired]

26. I'll always think Barbra Streisand has one of the loveliest voices.

[Captain Hilts]

43. It's Barb, Ella, then everyone else is 2nd tier. They set the standard.

Every song they sing - becomes 'their' song.

And they can sing ANYthing.

And it's interesting to note that before SONY/BMG let Cowell into signing Boyle, Sony sent a big time voice coach to run laps with her an give her a workout and the coach came back and noted that Boyle was one of THE most talented singers she'd worked with. So, it will be interesting to see how that story evolves.

[RFKHumphreyObama]

27. Good question MVD

Again, I hesitate to put this in any particular order:

1. Cristy Lane (Gospel singer)
2. Joan Baez
3. Emmylou Harris
4. Stevie Nicks
5. Deborah Harry
6. Enya
7. Tammy Wynette
8. Susannah Fellows
9. Aretha Franklin
10. Mary Black

[mvd]

52. Thanks, RFK

I don't disagree with any of the choices (that I know) that you mentioned. Emmylou and Tammy have two of the best country vocals. :hi:

I'll look up the ones I don't know.

[BlueJazz]

28. Stacey Kent

[Skittles]

29. Karen Carpenter would be tops

[Captain Hilts]

47. She has a terrific voice. I agree she is vastly under-rated. Nice to see her mentioned. nt

[pink-o]

31. It took 'tll post #23 to mention Dusty Springfield!

For those of you that have never heard her, just check out "Look of Love" and tell me it doesn't send shivers up your spine!

[mvd]

34. I mentioned her early in the thread

Really there are some virtual ties, but for the topic, I had to pick ten.

[Muttocracy]

33. Ani DiFranco, Neko Case, Annie Lennox

will keep thinking - many of my favorite singers are men.

[DFW]

35. Just to be a little politically incorrect......

Enya
Bonnie Raitt
Ann Wilson (of Heart)
Annie Lennox
Miriam Makeba
Maddie Pryor
Aretha Franklin
Edith Piaf
Joni Mitchell
Mary Black

[SoxFan]

36. Sinead O'Connor

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IdeMkywlS54

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LCQv22HOXd4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C0wkhRmLQCU

[SwissTony]

37. Thea Gilmore (English folk/rock singer)

Loreena McK
Joni M
Sarah McLachlan
Aretha
Connie Dover (American folk singer)
Bonnie Raitt
Moya Brennan (Clannad)
Sandy Denny
Mary O'Hara

[mvd]

38. I commend you on your choice of Thea

:hi:

[SwissTony]

39. Thank you for your commendation

Thea is an undiscovered world treasure.

mvd...there is an unreleased Thea album called Ambitious Outsiders which contains B-sides, one-offs and various other orphans. It was only sold at concerts, I believe. But it's available as a BitTorrent. Thea's really cool about downloading her stuff...so go for it.

[mvd]

54. Thanks, SwissTony, and welcome to DU!

I don't have BitTorrent P2P, but I would like to add to my Thea collection.

[guitar man]

40. ....

in no particular order

Ann Wilson
Bonnie Bramlett
Norah Jones
Sarah Vaughn
Koko Taylor
Etta James
Aretha Franklin
Gladys Knight
Eva Cassidy
Carly Simon

[Captain Hilts]

42. Okay, Ella, Ella, Ella, now the other seven...

Keely Smith
I do like Judy Garland
Sandy Denny** doesn't get enough cred
Patsy Cline
Deborah Harry "one way or another..." 'nuff said!
Sarah Vaughan - I like to bossa nova albums a lot
Anita O'Day

[SydneyBristow]

55. Why has no one mentioned Marian Carey?

Personal issues and such aside, she can freakin' blow! One of the few who can make whistle singing as good as Minnie Riperton. For sure, one of the best singers. Also, Diana Krall rocks my socks, so sexy.

[mvd]

56. Not a fan, but to each his own

I like a lot of her early songs, though.