UKC Forums - Exquisite female singers

Exquisite female singers

This topic has been archived, and won't accept reply postings.

The Lemming 25 Jan 2016

Beauty is in the ear of the beholder, however which female singers do you rate as having divine voice?

Any chance of a youtube or better link to hear your suggestions?

Alison Krauss
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1SCOimBo5tg&list=RDEMkin_sZLj5zjkGgvnJDCteg

Tracey Chapman
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kjRo_CHSdt0&list=RDEMNnVvzpdXR7ZDCioZE2fe6w

Annie Lennox
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3TrSMaOZm3Y&list=RDEMM1bA9MEos4DXvLgyT0istQ

edit
Forgot to add Sissel
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g2s8kagz43E&list=RDEMw_Ral-3nUS3DUOV_sHti5w

Doh....

Post edited at 13:31

Owen W-G 25 Jan 2016

In reply to The Lemming:

Natalie Merchant I could listen to forever

Doug 25 Jan 2016

In reply to The Lemming:

Maybe not divine, but I have a soft spot for Sandy Denny, eg

or

OP The Lemming 25 Jan 2016

In reply to Doug:

I've been trying to remember the song about Alaska and it took a while.

I shall have to listen to a bit more from Michelle Shocked, as this is the only song I know of.

OP The Lemming 25 Jan 2016

In reply to Doug:

> Maybe not divine, but I have a soft spot for Sandy Denny, eg

>

An exquisite voice and how could I have missed that one. However I raise you Kate Rusby
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=No5FkAmTaJY&list=RDEMKBUA-IKgH1zJEPhFp6...

Removed User 25 Jan 2016

In reply to The Lemming:

Shout out for the ethereal tones of Meg Baird:

ThunderCat 25 Jan 2016

In reply to The Lemming:

Goldfrapp

Liz Fraser

Doug 25 Jan 2016

In reply to The Lemming:

was about to add June Tabor & Nina Simone, then thought that the list would get too long so stopped at one

lummox 25 Jan 2016

In reply to Doug:

Mairead ni Mhaonaigh and Karen Matheson. Like water tumbling down a stream.

sbc_10 25 Jan 2016

In reply to The Lemming:

Yma Sumac could warble a bit.

Removed User 25 Jan 2016

In reply to The Lemming:

Maybe not 'divine' , but Beth Orton and Lana del Ray have - I think - listenable voices.

balmybaldwin 25 Jan 2016

In reply to The Lemming:

Nina Simone gets my vote

Carless 25 Jan 2016

In reply to The Lemming:

> I shall have to listen to a bit more from Michelle Shocked, as this is the only song I know of.

Get Short Sharp Shocked - almost every song is great

Hat Dude 25 Jan 2016

In reply to The Lemming:

Joni Mitchell could hit a note or 24

OP The Lemming 25 Jan 2016

In reply to The Lemming:

While listening to some new stuff, well to me anyway, from Annie Lennox I discovered this. Quite unexpected.

robert-hutton 25 Jan 2016

In reply to The Lemming:

I like Priscilla Ahn

climber34neil 25 Jan 2016

In reply to The Lemming:

For me it would be the singer of kosheen, don't know her name though!

JJL 25 Jan 2016

In reply to Owen W-G:

> Natalie Merchant I could listen to forever

Whilst I like her compositions and 10,000M are talented musicians, she seems to sing slightly flat much of the time, which grates a bit.

broken spectre 25 Jan 2016

In reply to The Lemming:

Karen O (for that is her surname), gets my vote.

cb294 25 Jan 2016

In reply to The Lemming:

Natalie Merchant,
Gillian Welch,
Catherine Irwin
and for classic, Tuva Semmingsen.

CB

Mark Harding 25 Jan 2016

In reply to The Lemming:

Karen Carpenter

... and you get that great Tony Peluso guitar solo.

OP The Lemming 25 Jan 2016

In reply to Mark Harding:

> Karen Carpenter

> ... and you get that great Tony Peluso guitar solo.

I also love listening to Rumer.

And Joss Stone does it for me too. Not an angelic vibe, more like sex on a stick vibe to her voice.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MmduDP-JNLQ&index=13&list=RDEMax_oHvcj-CnBe...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P7ECdYboOVA&index=19&list=RDEMax_oHvcj-CnBe...

Post edited at 16:49

5tormin' 25 Jan 2016

In reply to The Lemming:

This is a voice.

kevin stephens 25 Jan 2016

In reply to The Lemming:

Beth Orton
Grace Slick

Yanis Nayu 25 Jan 2016

In reply to The Lemming:

Cheryl Cole

OP The Lemming 25 Jan 2016

In reply to Yanis Nayu:

> Cheryl Cole

Don't be silly.

Taylor Swift is far superior.

And then there is Aurora
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d_HlPboLRL8&list=RDd_HlPboLRL8#t=5

Post edited at 18:05

Timmd 25 Jan 2016

In reply to The Lemming:

Sometimes Bjork

pneame 25 Jan 2016

In reply to The Lemming:

Good thread, Lemming -

How about Bridget St John

and
Shelagh McDonald

and a rather poignant bittersweet story for the latter
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shelagh_McDonald

felt 25 Jan 2016

In reply to The Lemming:

Grace Slick on "Lather"

Doug 25 Jan 2016

In reply to pneame:

long time since I've heard/seen anyone mention either of those, you must be at least as ancient as me to have even of heard of them

coinneach 25 Jan 2016

In reply to Doug:

Lianne Carroll . . . . . . Just google or you tube search.

Great piano player. Stunning voice.

I used to know her well. Got her gigs up North.

She and Peter Kirtley toured together and one of my greatest regrets is that they asked me to play with them and I said no!

I wasn't confident enough in my own ability at the time.

Chance missed !

mike123 25 Jan 2016

In reply to Doug:
Margo Timmins ( cowboy junkies ) ( anything from the trinity session or black eyed man , or well anything )

All of the be good Tanya's , frazey ford on her own , po girl ...again lots of choice but heres one ..

Laura Cantrell

Post edited at 19:11

John Ww 25 Jan 2016

In reply to The Lemming:

Cara Dillon
Mary Chapin Carpenter
Nanci Griffith
Julie Fowlis
Carole King

JW

Clarence 25 Jan 2016

In reply to The Lemming:
It has always been the divine Kate Bush for me. She can even read out the digits of pi and cause stirrings...

Post edited at 19:17

tspoon1981 25 Jan 2016

In reply to The Lemming:

A great thread. Some interesting choices too

Lhasa de Se la

First aid kit, 2 sisters, but beautiful voices

Lissie

Madelaine Peyroux

mike123 25 Jan 2016

In reply to The Lemming
Cat power ( variable but some corkers)

Julia stone

Dusty Springfield ( anything off dusty in Memphis )

Doug 25 Jan 2016

In reply to mike123:

Dee Dee Bridgewater must be one of the best singers I've seen recently rather than just listened to on records

andymac 25 Jan 2016

In reply to The Lemming:
Kirsty McColl
Alison Moyet
Cyndi Lauper
2 ladies from The Beatuful South
Dionne Warwick.her version of Heartbreaker is brilliant
Barbara Dickson

And just so you don't think I'm stuck in the 80s;

Gabriella Climi
Florence Welch
Adele (obviously)
Dusty Springfield.

One could go on and on

Post edited at 19:54

loose overhang 25 Jan 2016

In reply to The Lemming:

Lucinda Williams

Here's a live version from the exquisite, late 90s, Car Wheels On A Gravel Road album:

And another live track from her latest 2015 album:

She might be better known for her song writing than her voice, but I think she puts a great range of emotion into her performances.

John Ww 25 Jan 2016

In reply to The Lemming:

And Petula Clarke...
And Karen Matheson...
And Olivia Newton John...

JW

Removed User 25 Jan 2016

In reply to tspoon1981:

> A great thread. Some interesting choices too

> Lhasa de Se la

Ohh yes. One of the most gutting things was finding out that I'd missed seeing Lhasa in Edinburgh about 12 years ago, then shortly afterwards finding out that she'd died

I'm amazed no-one has mentioned Maddy Prior.

Others that do it for me:

Savina Yannatou:

China Forbes:

Emma Härdelin: (Play this one loud)

Natacha Atlas:

abseil 25 Jan 2016

In reply to The Lemming:

Gloria Gaynor:

Diana Ross:

gerryneely 25 Jan 2016

In reply to The Lemming:
For me it's gotta be this:-

What a song, what a woman and what a band!

Post edited at 19:56

tspoon1981 25 Jan 2016

In reply to Removed User:

> Ohh yes. One of the most gutting things was finding out that I'd missed seeing Lhasa in Edinburgh about 12 years ago, then shortly afterwards finding out that she'd died

She's one artist I regret not seeing when I had the chance too, she is also far too underrated.

Sarah McLachlan has a stunning voice.

flopsicle 25 Jan 2016

In reply to The Lemming:

Mangles me.

Pbob 25 Jan 2016

In reply to The Lemming:

Kate Rusby

Or anything else she's ever done...

Jon Stewart 25 Jan 2016

In reply to flopsicle:

Amazing. Never heard that before, thanks.

Giles Davis 25 Jan 2016

In reply to The Lemming:

Jerry Burns -

and Kirsty Hawkshaw - pretty much any Trance track she's put vocals on and this one in particular . . .

Unknown Climber 25 Jan 2016

In reply to The Lemming:

Contrasting styles but each divine in their own way:

Etta James:

Kim Gordon:

Jon Stewart 25 Jan 2016

In reply to The Lemming:

Few favourite clips here, generally from the jazz/soul side of things:

Big Ger 25 Jan 2016

In reply to The Lemming:
I cannot believe the gorgeous and ethereal Lisa Gerrard hasn't had a mention.

We used this track as the "bridal procession" music at our wedding. Still makes me feel all gooey.

Post edited at 20:54

yeti 25 Jan 2016

In reply to The Lemming:

Amy Lee

KT Tunstall

OP The Lemming 25 Jan 2016

In reply to andymac:

>

> Adele (obviously)

I missed her out. The woman is worth a fortune so why is she so miserable with all her albums?

OP The Lemming 25 Jan 2016

In reply to The Lemming:

Am I a bad rodent for liking Sarah Brightman?

Pursued by a bear 25 Jan 2016

In reply to 5tormin':

No it isn't, it's a link.

Tsk, etc.

T.

mountainbagger 25 Jan 2016

In reply to The Lemming:

Because you used the adjectives exquisite and devine in the OP, I've gone for Emma Kirkby, e.g.

Pbob 25 Jan 2016

In reply to The Lemming:

I lost my heart to a starship trooper....

All time classic

Gordon Stainforth 25 Jan 2016

In reply to The Lemming:

If we're talking about all-time classics, as we are, this has to be here.

Roberta Flack

Rob Exile Ward 25 Jan 2016

In reply to The Lemming:

OP The Lemming 25 Jan 2016

In reply to Gordon Stainforth:

And probably the second finest love song "In the world"

pneame 25 Jan 2016

In reply to Doug:

> long time since I've heard/seen anyone mention either of those, you must be at least as ancient as me to have even of heard of them

I think you may have me beaten slightly on years - I listened to them in my mid teens - along with Sandy Denny (of course) and

Jacqui McShee

and Maddy Prior

pneame 25 Jan 2016

In reply to Jon Stewart:

> Few favourite clips here, generally from the jazz/soul side of things:

On the jazz side - Norma Winstone has to be on the list

Although some of her more experimental stuff I find "challenging"

Post edited at 22:34

OP The Lemming 25 Jan 2016

In reply to Gordon Stainforth:

> If we're talking about all-time classics, as we are, this has to be here.

Would this meet your requirements for an all-time classic?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IRpNpfFi_ok&list=PL8CCD3FEC40BD06EB&...

Gordon Stainforth 25 Jan 2016

In reply to The Lemming:

Your link doesn't work.

Gordon Stainforth 25 Jan 2016

In reply to The Lemming:

Then of course there's this, somewhere in the stratosphere:

Ella Fitzgerald:

flopsicle 25 Jan 2016

In reply to The Lemming:

Heady vintage.... exquisitely aged.

OP The Lemming 25 Jan 2016

In reply to Gordon Stainforth:

> Your link doesn't work.

Quite a few don't work for me either on this discussion.

I was trying to link to Fleetwood Mac and songbird.

MusicalMountaineer 25 Jan 2016

In reply to The Lemming:

Kerry Katona

MonkeyPuzzle 25 Jan 2016

In reply to The Lemming:

Really enjoying Kate Stables of This Is The Kit at the moment:

Tom Last 25 Jan 2016

In reply to The Lemming:

Maddy Prior
Sandy Denny
PJ Harvey

Dauphin 25 Jan 2016

In reply to The Lemming:

Hardly known. Brilliant.

D

Tom Last 25 Jan 2016

In reply to Gordon Stainforth:
Not to seem excessive, but I really hate that cover. Popularising it whilst simultaneously stripping out all the beautiful nuance of the original.

Post edited at 23:42

Doug 26 Jan 2016

In reply to pneame:

> I think you may have me beaten slightly on years - I listened to them in my mid teens - along with Sandy Denny (of course) and

Not sure when I first heard of Sandy Denny/Fairport but was before I was 16 (so early 1970s)

John Ww 26 Jan 2016

In reply to The Lemming:

And Julie Andrews of course!!

JW

graeme jackson 26 Jan 2016

In reply to The Lemming:

Kate and Joni have already been mentioned so I'm going to throw Judee Sill into the mix. Brief and tragic career but a sublime voice. can't do youtube so you'll just have to google.

Carole King too..

OP The Lemming 26 Jan 2016

In reply to The Lemming:
For some reason my youtube links do not work on this site. However I'd like to nominate the Lead Singer of Capercaillie, Karen Matheson

And just in case the link works if you cut and paste.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pyxOh6MO0dI&list=PLB4662D4A14B31199

Doh.

A few have nominated her already.

Post edited at 11:16

krikoman 26 Jan 2016

In reply to The Lemming:

I've always thought this was very underrated

Thrudge 26 Jan 2016

In reply to The Lemming:

Eva Cassidy has a voice that raises the hairs on the back of my neck:

OP The Lemming 26 Jan 2016

In reply to krikoman:

BAD man!

fred99 26 Jan 2016

In reply to :

Mama Cass could do with a mention.

john arran 26 Jan 2016

In reply to The Lemming:

Divine voices don't necessarily have to be sweet and innocent:

Moley 26 Jan 2016

In reply to The Lemming:

Roberta Flack, very sexy voice in her early years.

OMR 26 Jan 2016

In reply to The Lemming:

This thread has gone on quite long enough without mentioning kd lang. Lots of good stuff, but her 'Songs of the 49th Parallel' album is just sublime. (Sorry about the lack of links)

TMM 26 Jan 2016

In reply to The Lemming:

Sarah Nixey (Black Box Recorder)

Graham Mck 26 Jan 2016

In reply to The Lemming:

some good suggestions above. I also like Lisa Hannigan:

Name Changed 34 26 Jan 2016

In reply to The Lemming:

Kiri Te Kanawa

maria callas

cb294 26 Jan 2016

In reply to cb294:

Totally forgot about Hope Sandoval (Mazzy Star), unforgivable!

And now to stir the pot:

<troll hat>

Maddy Prior beats Sandy Denny hands down.
Emmylou Harris beats Joan Baez.

<troll hat>

CB

Paul Evans 26 Jan 2016

In reply to The Lemming:

Flipping heck. All this way down the thread and no one has yet mentioned Aretha Franklin.
Well now I have....

climbingpixie 26 Jan 2016

In reply to The Lemming:

Haven't read the full thread but has anyone mentioned Agnes Obel yet?

Also, the girl from the Last Town Chorus has a beautiful voice

Mark Bull 26 Jan 2016

In reply to The Lemming:
A lot of my favourites have already been mentioned (Karen Matheson, Julie Fowlis, Lisa Gerrard, Roberta Flack, Eva Cassidy, Alison Krauss) but here are a few more:

Eddi Reader
Leontyne Price
Mari Boine

Post edited at 17:32

cb294 26 Jan 2016

In reply to Mark Bull:

Mari Boine is a great call!

In terms of opera, Tuva Semmingsen is my absolute favourite. Hope to see her live next time I am in Copenhagen or Lund:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1SUmW9qNekY&index=7&list=PL56DC7B31...

CB

loose overhang 27 Jan 2016

In reply to The Lemming:

Susan Tedechi

She certainly can sing, but she is superb, I'd say exquisite on guitar:

wercat 27 Jan 2016

In reply to cb294:
To Maddy Prior may I add Judith Durham?

My wife played our kids some children's songs by Nena which she sang wonderfully.

Always found Elkie Brookes quite appealing and soulful.

Also Catherine Anne Mcphee - a voice that flies free as a bird, divinely

Post edited at 09:24

OP The Lemming 27 Jan 2016

In reply to The Lemming:

How could I forget Lianne La Havas.

Smooth and sexy voice. Just think Sade but more refined voice.

Pete Dangerous 27 Jan 2016

In reply to The Lemming:

Beth Gibbons
Janis Joplin - not angelic, but powerful and soulful.

Pete Dangerous 27 Jan 2016

In reply to Hat Dude:

I'm gorging on Joni Mitchell albums at the moment. What a voice and writer!

hokkyokusei 27 Jan 2016

In reply to The Lemming:
Bic Runga

Patti Page

Post edited at 13:32

KevinD 27 Jan 2016

In reply to hokkyokusei:

Karine Polwart
Emilini Torrini

Hat Dude 27 Jan 2016

In reply to The Lemming:

Linda Ronstadt

cb294 27 Jan 2016

In reply to Hat Dude:

That reminds me of my childhood, my father was listening to LR all the time!

CB

mav 27 Jan 2016

In reply to The Lemming:

Two sprung to mind before even opening the thread. Liz Fraser of the Cocteau Twins was reply number 2, but unless I missed it, no-one has mentioned Hope Sandoval of Mazzy Starr yet. If I had to pick one track, it would probably be five string serenade.

Smythson 30 Jan 2016

In reply to The Lemming:

Good list. I'd add Andra Day -

Removed User 30 Jan 2016

In reply to The Lemming:

another vote for Liz Fraser, but this has to be in the mix-

Boris's Johnson 30 Jan 2016

In reply to The Lemming:

Rozi plain. London based singer song writer. Not an epic voice but an interesting sound, very pleasant to my ears. Walked into a gig she,was doing in Wakefield last year and was intrigued, been a fan ever since.

FactorXXX 31 Jan 2016

In reply to The Lemming:
Sinead O Connor: _

Loads more...

Post edited at 02:34

Yanis Nayu 31 Jan 2016

In reply to The Lemming:

Beth Hart
Karen Carpenter
Joni Mitchell

drmarten 31 Jan 2016

In reply to The Lemming:

A lot of my favourite singers have already been mentioned but it would be unfair if Camille O'Sullivan was left off the list. She mainly (only?) covers other artists songs, Nick Cave, Waits, Bowie, Brel etc and she is very good at it, I'd recommend Ship Song, Are You The One That I've Been Waiting For, Next and Revelator which are among the standout tracks for me.

Murderous_Crow 31 Jan 2016

In reply to The Lemming:

Janelle Monae. Her voice is amazing.

Rob Naylor 01 Feb 2016

In reply to The Lemming:
Some great suggestions here, particularly some of the less well-known ones (in UK at least) such as Marie Boine. But as far as I can see we're missing Tarja Turunen:

Post edited at 09:13

Mark Bull 01 Feb 2016

In reply to Rob Naylor:

Another Scandanavian:

Eivør Palsdottir

paulcarey 01 Feb 2016

In reply to The Lemming:

No one has mentioned Gladys Knight??
I'm shocked....

Bjartur i Sumarhus 01 Feb 2016

In reply to The Lemming:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3su4q5fVGQg

Amy, 49 seconds in.

14m 26 secs in
24m 10 secs in

Post edited at 12:12

drmarten 01 Feb 2016

In reply to The Lemming:
Damn I forgot Mrs Miller! Here she absolutely smashes "Downtown". I recommend her album "Will Success Spoil Mrs Miller?"

Post edited at 13:44

felt 01 Feb 2016

In reply to The Lemming:

Bulgarian State Women's Choir:

robert-hutton 03 Feb 2016

In reply to The Lemming:

Some of the northern soul female singers had outstanding voices.too many to list

keith-ratcliffe 03 Feb 2016

In reply to The Lemming:
I don't think she would be described as exquisite but I heard today that there is a film about to be released about the life of Janis Joplin. Showing in some art cinemas from later this month.

Pok 05 Feb 2016

In reply to The Lemming:

It's not everyone's cup of tea, but this clean microphone feed (no other instruments on the track) of Sia blows my mind.

nr 05 Feb 2016

In reply to The Lemming:

Kathryn Joseph:

malk 05 Feb 2016

In reply to The Lemming:

Julie Driscoll:

Removed User 05 Feb 2016

In reply to felt:

> Bulgarian State Women's Choir:

Good shout. I saw them c.15 years ago, I was knocked out.

Vaartina are worth a mention:

Also can't believe I forgot Cesaria Evora:

felt 06 Feb 2016

In reply to Removed User:

Karen Dalton, difficult life, difficult voice, but oh my!

Sean Kelly 06 Feb 2016

In reply to Pok:

> It's not everyone's cup of tea, but this clean microphone feed (no other instruments on the track) of Sia blows my mind.
>

....as you said, not everyone's cup of tea, and who's the muppet on her right? Very strange cover on the CD I saw the other day.
...and no mention of Enya yet!

Post edited at 16:56

wercat 06 Feb 2016

In reply to Sean Kelly:

Nor Lene Lovich!

New Topic

This topic has been archived, and won't accept reply postings.

Latest Jobs 3 New

Jobs Climbing Team Leader

Elsewhere on the site

Photography UKC/UKH Photography Awards 2023 - Winners

Gear News The Art of Climbing – Out Now

Fri Night Vid Le Toit de Ben - Quebec 1958

This week's Friday Night Video whisks us back to Val-David, Quebec, in the Autumn of 1958. Two daring young climbers embark on the ascent of a route that seemed unattainable, resembling a roof suspended in the air, defying all the conventions of the time....

3 May

Podcast Factor Two - S2 Ep.5: Patch Hammond - No More Heroes?

UKC Advertising