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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.

128x128twoleftears
guswatte
6 posts
 

Ella
Celine Rudolph
Maria Bethania
Beyonce
Whitney Houston
Trisha Yearwood

guswatte
6 posts
 
Should add that Celine Rudolph is German jazz singer based in France who has training in African and Brazilian music in addition to jazz. Check out her legant vocals on her album with remarkably talented jazz guitarist Lionel Louke titled Obsessions. The music is beautiful, intimate, and playful.

Maria Bethania is a singer, a mega-star, from Brazil; her music spans styles from samba to bossa nova to jazz. Check out Santa Barbara, the first track from her 2009 album Encanteria. Gorgeous vocals. Beautifully recorded.

G
toolshedamps's avatar
toolshedamps
2 posts
 
Aziz Ali, Gillian Welch.......
rhodes
123 posts
 
Great question., most surveys by highly regarded voice coaches consider Karen Carpenter the finest contralto voice ever recorded. Just released complete set of new vinyl albums.  Feb 4 will be 35 years since she died.   
jssmith
312 posts
 
These are the only ones I've heard who belong in the top tier of "as close to vocally pure as possible".

Ann Wilson
I saw her in concert in her prime and when she sang Dream of the Archer it just sent chills through me. She lost it by the late 80's.

Oceans of Slumber's Cammi Gilbert
Check out their song Sunlight (Live) on Youtube, or their new song The Banished Heart
(caution: Metal, but I think most can handle it. It's mild.)

Bonnie Raitt
I don't know why her voice sounds so much better on ballads, but her rendition of I Can't Make You Love Me is stunning. Adele attempted this song and butchered it. Only Bonnie can pull it off.

Whitney Houston
Celine Dion
Not my style, but I appreciate their stunning talent.
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