FEMALE SINGERS

[paul williams]

On what is an auspicious day for me I think the greatest female singers in the the last 60 or so years are in no particular order Streisand celine deon Houston Comments

[paul williams]

 

[Glasseye]

 

I reckon it depends on the style.... But, for me Joni Mitchell (who was also a great songwriter), and Linda Ronstadt do it for me.

 

 

 

 

 

*** Look at Rick Danko's body language in the Joni video.... He was one of the best bass players around with an incredible band. He was in total awe just to be in her presence. 

Her music will be studied decades from now.... On the level with Lennon/McCartney, Townsend, Dylan, Elvis.....

Edited November 9, 2025 by Glasseye

[Glasseye]

What a beautiful voice....

 

 

[coxyhog]

Dusty Springfield,Diana Ross,Buffy Sainte Marie,Tracy Chapman,Aretha Franklin,Joni Mitchell,Carly Simon,Janis Joplin....

not in any particular order & I'm sure there's a few I've missed.

All were wonderful.

[Glasseye]

19 hours ago, Glasseye said:

What a beautiful voice....

 

 

 

Listen to the pedal steel in this also. Mule kicking good !

 

 

Edited November 10, 2025 by Glasseye

[Binlid]

One of my favourite female singers and so so beautiful.

 

[karon steve]

Anita Baker, Sade and Annie Lennox for me.

[bexwell]

 

[Glasseye]

22 hours ago, karon steve said:

Anita Baker, Sade and Annie Lennox for me.

 

All 3 are amazing talents. Each in their own style. Anita Baker is the best true vocalist of the three. Sade. intoxicating to say the least. And Annie... hypnotic.

[Jambo]

I don't really like female rock singers. They should be fat and stick to opera.

I would go for :

Adele (for the best James Bond theme ever)

Diana Ross

Stevie Nicks (For fronting Fleetwood Mac until she lost the plot)

[Binlid]

Awesome.

 

[maipenrai]

One of my favourites, not nearly as well-known as the others mentioned here and long gone from the scene - Harriet Wheeler of the Sundays:

 

[Derek Dangleberries]

I love the B52s female vocalists on Rock Lobster .. The gurgling and squealing noises they make are quite dirty in a sexy sort of way ..

[maipenrai]

6 hours ago, Derek Dangleberries said:

I love the B52s female vocalists on Rock Lobster .. The gurgling and squealing noises they make are quite dirty in a sexy sort of way ..

I love the video for "Love Shack":

 

[Mr. Smooth]

Lots of the usual names here, and deservedly so. Karen Carpenter, with as perfect a tone as can be. Streisand, with a breath control 2nd to none, a few of her old hits like "The Way We Were", and "Evergreen", just sublime. Whitney, Anita, Aretha...etc.

One lady not yet mentioned, and who passed this last year I believe, was Roberta Flack. "Killing Me Softly" and "First Time Ever I Saw Your Face", IMO are two of the greatest vocals of all time, male or female.

A nice subject for a thread, Paul.

[galenkia]

I have always liked Heart’s Ann Wilson. I think she has a great voice.

The golden period they had in the mid to late 80’s/ early 90’s produced three great albums.

 

[Derek Dangleberries]

1 hour ago, Mr. Smooth said:

One lady not yet mentioned, and who passed this last year I believe, was Roberta Flack. "Killing Me Softly" and "First Time Ever I Saw Your Face", IMO are two of the greatest vocals of all time, male or female.

Wow, that hit me quite hard this morning.

Both songs were chosen by one of my sisters for her funeral, before she died of cancer..

[maipenrai]

4 hours ago, Mr. Smooth said:

Lots of the usual names here, and deservedly so. Karen Carpenter, with as perfect a tone as can be. Streisand, with a breath control 2nd to none, a few of her old hits like "The Way We Were", and "Evergreen", just sublime. Whitney, Anita, Aretha...etc.

One lady not yet mentioned, and who passed this last year I believe, was Roberta Flack. "Killing Me Softly" and "First Time Ever I Saw Your Face", IMO are two of the greatest vocals of all time, male or female.

A nice subject for a thread, Paul.

Karen was wonderful, and I agree about Streisand too - simply incredible. I do love Roberta Flack, too - especially the duets she did with Donny Hathaway. I remember once many years ago listening to CBC radio one night and they had a concert playing that Roberta had recorded in Toronto, and it was fantastic - she was every bit as good live as she was on record.

As for breath control, here's another fine example from another famous voice who was special in her prime:

 

 

[maipenrai]

3 hours ago, galenkia said:

I have always liked Heart’s Ann Wilson. I think she has a great voice.

The golden period they had in the mid to late 80’s/ early 90’s produced three great albums.

 

I agree that Ann had a fantastic voice, but IMHO their golden period was in the late '70s when they first became popular and Roger Fisher was still part of the group - they just went too commercial pop for my tastes later in the '80s. 

[Derek Dangleberries]

Pauline Black ... pre-pork pie hat days .....

 

 

[Derek Dangleberries]

8 hours ago, Mr. Smooth said:

Lots of the usual names here, and deservedly so.

........................................>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

 

 

[Derek Dangleberries]

We are approaching the 25th anniversary of this beautiful woman's murder ....

 

 

[Derek Dangleberries]

Not forgetting this Brazilian Beauty ... Astrud Gilberto

 

 

 

[Stillearly]