Best singer

[prometheus]

I have a good idea who the main guys are on; piano, guitar, violin, drums and some other instruments also.

But what about voices? This is really hard. Everyone can sing, but it seems this 'instrument' is the hardest to master. Perfectly sung songs are hard to find. I always find imperfections.

So who are the best male and female singers?


Males:
Ustad Salamat Ali Khan
Ustad Sarahang

Females:

I don't even know who to name. I can't say I like any female singer from eastern music. But I do like some western singers. Maybe Minnie Riperton.


I don't know any good western classical singers. I don't like opera and I don't like the thick vibrato they for some reason need to put on every note.

[musik_man]

I'm going to do it for both Classical and modern music since the vocal styles are so different

Male Classical- Fritz Wunderlich (he's amazing on Das Lied von der Erde)

Female Classical- Christa Ludwig

Male contemporary- Jon Anderson, he's the lead vocalist for Yes.  His voice is very high pitched and he puts very little emotion into his singing, which gives his voice a purity that most singers don't have.

Female Contemporary- Anne Haslam, vocalist for Renaissance.  She has an enormous range and a very clear voice.

[aqu01rius]

Modern pop singers,
I like LeAnn Rimes the best 

[pianonut]

rebecca luker - jazz renditions (cole porter songs) 
i like her album "anything goes"

renee fleming
josh groban   www.joshgroban.de/

[thalbergmad]

My old mum introduced me to a singer called Yma Sumac and i was completely stunned.

She has got the most incredible voice and a high note that is just beyond belief.

Check her out.

On the male front, you can't beat Al Jolson

swaneeeeeeeeee   

swaneeeeeeeeee

how i love you, how i love you etc

[pianonut]

just listened to yma sumac's 'taki rami.'  reminds me of certain singers that sang with elvis at times (beach scenes) and in old movies.  she has a lot of depth to her singing.

al johlson - he's jazz, right?!  (going to listen)

[thalbergmad]

I'd walk a million miles for one of your smiles

pppiiiiiiaaaaaaaannnnnnooooooonnnuuuuuuuuhhhhhhhhttttttt

[janne p.]

Bobby McFerrin. No question about it.

[pianonut]

thalbergmad, you are mad!  just like i am a nut.  i listened to jolson.  what a jolt.  travelling back in time (before my time - i might add).

goes to listen to bobby mcferrin.

ps  a million miles?  you're going to be too tired from all that mountain climbing.  how well do you swim?  well, anyway, here's what makes me smile:

you and bob's posts
people who are crazy
people who ride bicycles
people who sing at random moments or try to imitate radio personalities
children who call you mom or dad - and try to live at your house
a quiet evening when dinner burns and suddenly the fire alarm goes off and you have firemen at the house and the neighbors think something awful happened
people who try to get your attention by asking if you know where such and such a store is at the mall (when the map of the mall is right nearby)

[pianonut]

jannne,  oh yes!  that guy that sings 'don't worry, be happy'

what i never heard was the song 'from me to you'  that has overtones that are sung right in the music.  gotta listen.  on amazon. 

yes, i could listen to him easily for a couple of hours.  love the bass.

[silverpeal]

OPERA:

Ruth Ann Swenson - I just love her voice.  Her tone is just effortlessly beautiful.  I heard her sing Lucia at the Met a few years ago and her voice was indistinguishable from the flute she duetted with.  She's a coloratura soprano but there is a lot of lyric there in the voice too.  I could listen all day to her.

Beverly Sills - First class singer and a first rate human being.  Few singers emanate the height of sheer joy and thrill that she did when performing.  Coloratura soprano.  Revived much of the forgotten bel canto repertoire.  Famous for her portrayal of Donizetti's queens.

Magdalena Kozena - She's a very light, lyric mezzo-soprano.  A very tasteful singer with a sensational voice.  Wonderful in Mozart and in French repertoire.

Waltraud Meier - German dramatic mezzo-soprano.  Huge, steely voice.  Kind of like burnished copper.  Not always purely "beautiful" but incredibly dramatic singer.  Her version of Mahler's "Kindertoden" lieder will tear your heart out.

Bryn Terfel - Absolutely delicious Welsh baritone.  Wonderful in Mozart.  Rich, decadent voice.

Ramon Vargas - Italian tenor.  Warm, sweet voice.  Delightful in bel canto.

JAZZ:  Jane Monheit; if you haven't heard Jane, you are missing out on a real treat.

FOLK:  Joni Mitchell - she's a classic in her own right.  Enough said.

OTHER:  Anonymous 4; I listen to them when I want to relax.  4 women singing a cappella medieval music.  They do all kinds of scholarly research on everything they record.  They are brilliant.  The purity of their sound and the harmonies they weave--all I can say is WOW!

.....ok I'll stop now!  LOL

[pianonut]

good taste!

cecilia bartoli is a nice mezzo soprano (or is she contralto?)  anyway, nice voice.

or, how about the swingle singers.  you can hear them on amazon:

listen to swingle singers bach is back

[dave santino]

James LaBrie of Dream Theater, without a doubt. Classically trained, awesome singer, great stage presence.

[Teddybear]

I haven't heard many, but I'd say Ella Fitzgerald. What a beautiful voice she had.

And she sang in tune. 

T

[c18cont]

Of interest perhaps...

I have the orig. 10 inch, 33 and 1/3 album of Sumac, with autograph, on Capitol label...My mother got it for me thinking I might like it when I was a pre-teen...(!)..(about 8 or 9). Since she was my first piano teacher at age 5, she pressed me in all classical and ethnic music, as a building block...

It isn't really worth much, probably, but is interesting in that some have become interested in her voice again in recent years....She did indeed have a range....

John

[Teddybear]

Of interest perhaps...

I have the orig. 10 inch, 33 and 1/3 album of Sumac, with autograph, on Capitol label...My mother got it for me thinking I might like it when I was a pre-teen...(!)..(about 8 or 9). Since she was my first piano teacher at age 5, she pressed me in all classical and ethnic music, as a building block...

It isn't really worth much, probably, but is interesting in that some have become interested in her voice again in recent years....She did indeed have a range....

John

You mean Ella?

T

[janne p.]

or, how about the swingle singers.  you can hear them on amazon:
listen to swingle singers bach is back

I think they're quite funny, but not the best when it comes to voice vontrol. Both their intonation and timbre lack the best quality.

[thalbergmad]

thalbergmad, you are mad!  just like i am a nut.  i listened to jolson.  what a jolt.  travelling back in time (before my time - i might add).

goes to listen to bobby mcferrin.

ps  a million miles?  you're going to be too tired from all that mountain climbing.  how well do you swim?  well, anyway, here's what makes me smile:

you and bob's posts
people who are crazy
people who ride bicycles
people who sing at random moments or try to imitate radio personalities
children who call you mom or dad - and try to live at your house
a quiet evening when dinner burns and suddenly the fire alarm goes off and you have firemen at the house and the neighbors think something awful happened
people who try to get your attention by asking if you know where such and such a store is at the mall (when the map of the mall is right nearby)

Last year i reported my car stolen and then realised i walked to work.

Does that make you smile??

[c18cont]

I'm sorry,

No...Yma Sumac...(Sumac in my last post)...But I have several recordings of Ella Fitzgerald, and continue to enjoy her great voice, so well supported..(Of course, she had the body for that support...) and pitch...really great....!

Regards,   John

[prometheus]

I once saw this video with the incredible line-up: Pat Metheny, Jaco Pastorius and Micheal Brecker. But there was one more person: Joni Mitchell.

I still don't understand why they played together. It was rather a waste of talent. Neither her singing, guitar playing or songwriting impressed me. I guess I was wrong or something.

But overal, singers are such blunt musicians...Really strange considering how close they are to their instruments.

[pianonut]

yes, thalbergmad.  it doesn't take much.

[Jacey1973]

Ian Bostridge

He has such a beautiful voice - seen him in Bach's St John Passion and recently on 1st night of the Proms in Tippet's A Child of Our Time 



Looks rather sweet there i think, has amazing and quite scary cheek bones.

[dave santino]

Sorry, forgive my last post, I was horribly mistaken; what I should have said was Jeff Buckley. Anyone that's ever heard the man's voice can attest to the fact that he is incredible. Not to mention him would be an unforgiveable crime on my part.

[classicarts]

Neil Diamond. 

[mikey6]

I don't believe this! no one's mentioned the master of the lieder - Dietrich Fischer-Diskau? He's done counltess recordings or pretty much all the standard lieder.
Pop-wise, I like Sammy - he's got a huge voice for a tiny man!

[chopiabin]

Opera :

 Maria Callas - My favorite opera singer - her voice is extremely rich, fluid, and full, even at really high notes. Her performance of "The Queen of the Night" aria from The Magic Flute is my favorite piece of opera to listen to.

 Erna Sack - A singer with an absolutely astounding range - she hits the C three octaves above middle C! Even her highest notes have no trace of strain. Check out this website for some astounding singing: https://www.dutchdivas.net/frames/highC.html.

Andrea Boccelli - He really is amazing. His voice is rich and full, and he has an astounding range - at least an F an octave and a fourth above middle C.

Broadway:

Idina Menzel - The original Maureen from RENT is an astounding belter.

Raul Esparza - another great singer.

Heather Headley - The original Aida, her voice is soulful and beautiful.

Adam Pascal - very expressive voice that sounds Broadway, but with an edge.

Everything else:

Erykah Badu - She is simply amazing. Her music is awesome and her unique voice just has an amazing fluidity that I love.

Lauren Hill - Listen to her music and watch Sister Act 2. You WILL be a fan.

The lead singer from the Cranberries - Can't think of her name but she has a really cool voice.

The lead singer from Better Than Ezra.

Daryl Palumbo from Glassjaw - I really like his vocal style.

Chino Moreno from the Deftones.

Nina Simone - amazing jazz singer

The singer for Deathcab.

Yma Sumac

ummm......

That's what I can think of right now.

[mikey6]

Has Boccelli done any decent non-classical/pop stuff? coz If I hear 'the prayer' one more time i'm gonna go on a muderous rampage!

[chopiabin]

He's recorded a lot of arias I think.

[silvaone]

Ray Charles is definitely up there.... that guys voice was an intrusment and he mastered it!

[randmc]

Not many people have mentioned much RnB or Soul....
My personal favorites are:
 1. John Legend-He's my #1 idol. Even though I shouldnt, I try to mimic him in my music, thinking, and lifestyle. Matter of fact, I have my own fan website for him; come visit sometime JohnLegendfanz.proboards30.com

2.Donny Hathaway-One of my all-time favorites. His voice, his playing, his lyrics, all wonderful.

3.Stevie Wonder-Gotta love him. Wonderful lyricist, pretty good voice, and good music in general. For anyone who cares, he recently came out with a new album.

4.Ray Charles-What can I say? He's got good vocals, lyrics, music, everything!

[brahmsian]

James Labrie- Vocalist from Dream Theater
David Lee Roth
Geddy Lee (how the &$#* does he sing so high)

[perfect_pitch]

My favourites are Billy Joel, Ray Charles Macy Gray. Only because they wrote all (or practically all) of their music by themselves, instead of handing money to some big corporate fat cat in the 33rd floor of some building.

Jessica Simpsons voice is pretty damn powerful and when I heard her sing the American National anthem on Newlyweds, her pitch was absolutely perfect. She has a beautiful voice.

[abell88]

Andreas Scholl...if you like countertenors.


https://www.andreasschollsociety.org/tracks.htm

[silvaone]

Not that I particularly like her but Mariah Carey's singing range covers 5 octaves!

pretty impressive

[leahcim]

David Lee Roth

? It works in context I guess [like Ozzy], but I would never have thought either would make an entry in "best singer"

There are lots that work in context like that though - Captain Beefheart / Bon Scott / Mark Knopfler / Steve Tyler, that I wouldn't consider the best singers, but their songs lose a lot if they don't sing them, even if the singer is "better"

Freddie Mercury - probably more for showing how bad a lot of the others are who have tried to sing his stuff since he died - especially G4.

For similar reasons, although I'm not a fan, Tom Jones has upstaged many current singers whose bands he's joined for a duet.

Graham Bonnet's one of the best of the "shout in tune" lot. SINCE YOU BEEN GONE!

Annie Lennox / Kate Bush.