exceptional voices of female singers (non-classical)


What I'm talking about here is what critics of classical singing refer to as "the instrument": the exceptional beauty or uniqueness of the timbre of the voice qua voice.  For the moment, put aside preferences w.r.t. repertoire, interpretation, performance, style, delivery, etc., and just consider the *sound* of the voice.  We're *not* talking about favorite female artists here, because that kind of preference is based on a whole amalgam of factors.

I suspect some of the top figures in the category I've tried to define often aren't very popular among audiophiles, because of those many other factors.

My first three nominations: Barbra Streisand, Linda Ronstadt, Eva Cassidy.

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Showing 3 responses by ozzy

Beth Hart??  Please... she screams and swears with a foul mouth but has no vocal range. 
At least in my opinion.

ozzy
slaw,

Perhaps I am. I have several CD’s and a live recording. And all of them are full of foul mouth obscenities with a voice that even Janis Joplin could not tolerate.

ozzy
Linda Ronstadt rendition of "Blue Bayou" is awesome.
Dusty Springfield had such a unique voice its very sexual...

ozzy