Cassandra Wilson and Phoebe Snow. |
Back in 2010 I had cited several classical and opera performers in this thread. In the pop, folk, and jazz genres I’ll add the Australian singer Judith Durham, who was (and sporadically still is, ever since the group was formed in the 1960s) a member of The Seekers, as well as having pursued a solo career.
I find her voice to be both unusual and mesmerizing in its purity and its beauty.
Regards,
-- Al
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Sia
Her music is not for most people including me (some great songs though) but her voice is incredible. |
I scanned the thread and was SHOCKED that I did not see a mention of EmmyLou Harris until today. Unusual, mesmerizing and just plain awesome! Plus highly respected by other musicians. She's had an incredible solo career, but has also appeared as background vocalist on probably hundreds of other records. Nashville Royalty and the Queen of Alt-Country....... |
It’s like if Grace Kelly could sing. Actually she does, and plays a mean sax also, but I think you referring to someone else :) Second for Kelly Flint, who unfortunately has fallen out of sight. And Stacey Kent is a favorite. Wish she was back in the states more. Beautiful voice that has stood the test of time - Judy Collins. At 76 she still does 150 concerts a year. Unusual voice - Nico of Velvet Underground fame. |
I haven't read all the nominations on this thread, so she may have already been mentioned, but Emmylou Harris has a distinctive and unusual voice. A pretty fair amount of vibrato, which I usually distain, but for some reason doesn't bother me in her case. Her voice has a lot of texture, being very "throaty", and she really inhabits the lyrics, giving them depth and meaning. |
Stacey Kent.
Very seductive. It's like if Grace Kelly could sing.
Or maybe Kim Novak. |
Patricia Barber??? Really? Here albums are DRENCHED in artificial reverb. I have heard that with the 180 gram version, they finally got the thing to sound decent. |
For me its Sarah Vaughn. She's unusual and mesmerizing all at the same time. Many excellent tenor saxophone players wish they could play with the emotional impact that "Sassy" did. |
Kelly Flint from "Dave's True Story" fits the "mesmerizing" category which most posters seem to emphasize over "unusual". When combining unusual with mesmerizing, I can't believe that in 6 years and 114 posts that no has mentioned Patricia Barber! LUDITES! (LOL)
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Elizabeth Anka Vajagic / Stillness of this day is an incredible LP |
Take a listen to Concha Buika, the queen of flamenco fusion. Check out "La noche más larga" and "El Último Trago" with the great Chucho Valdes on piano. I also consider Cecile Mclorin Salvant on her debut album up there with the greats.
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Azam Ali is also interesting with great voice. |
That would be Sussan Deyhim. Try Madman of God album, her best.
This is not your Loreena, Ella, El.Frazer, Lisa Gerard etc. This comes from a very different culture. |
Dewller,
Agree, I have both OP CDs, really good, especially "Be my hero" and the live version of this track is a head spinner.... |
maxboy00: The entire "October Project" first album is a masterpiece. Sitting in a Sony movie theater, waiting to see Rob Roy, when they played "Return to Me". Just devastating... |
A second mention of Mary Fahl, what a fantantic singer. Check out "Going home" and " Ben Aindi Habibi" just a haunting voice.
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I just discovered Singh Kauron Amazon Prime Music. Wow. Is this heaven? |
Beth Orton has a distinctive and arresting voice.
Suzanne Vega just makes me melt into caramel and syrup every time I hear her. |
Yma Sumac's voice is mesmerizing. Yma Sumac's name was based on her mother's name, which was derived from Ima Shumaq, Quechua for "how beautiful!" although in interviews she claimed it meant "beautiful flower"; either way she was beautiful.
Enjoy the music.
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Been on a Casandra Wilson fix for a while lately... |
Molly Drake
(Nick Drake's mother!)
very similar to Nick in tone and content but with piano |
Kat Edmonson, I would add a you tube link but you'd be better off checking her out on Austin City Limits this Saturday, an encore presentation with Norah Jones in the first half of the show. |
How about Ema Sumac, the "Peruvian Princess" who's heyday was primarily in the 50's when she was an international star with a 4-5 octave range. Whether you consider her voice mesmerizing or not, she is/was to her many fans. One thing for sure though her unique voice has got to rank up there with anyone in the unusual category. Then you factor in her beauty which makes watching her, whether a fan or not, much easier. |
Martha Davis of The Motels. I can still hear her sultry voice on "Change My Mind" on the All Four One album. |
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C'mon, lot's of nice voices and talent mentioned, but none of these more unusual than Eartha Kitt, right?
I'd say pretty uniquely mesmerizing as well. |
Listen to Linda Ronstadt sing "Long Long Time" or "I Fall to Pieces" and see if you are not mesmerized. |
If Sissel's voice is "pure" (whatever that means), so is Celine Dion's and Enya's (and Barbara Streisand's for that matter). I couldn't tell the difference. But she has, or had, a body to die for, that's for sure :) |
The Norwegian singer Sissel has a voice so pure that it's mesmerizing. |
'Weightwatchers online' tv ad singer. |
Wow, a 3-year-old thread reviewed. A lot of talented names mentioned in the thread, but I feel that the type of voice like Mazzy Star, Hope Sandoval, or Laura Viers are not really unusual anymore. You could also mention Feist, and Tracey Thorn in the same category, and I'm sure a host of others that came after. All great singers, but not in a category that could be called their own. The singer that has always been in a category of her own is Kate Bush, mentioned by Audiofeil, who is absolutely both unusual and mesmerizing. There has never been (and I'd go as far as to say there will never be) a voice that could be mistaken for hers. And her song-writing talent simply dwarfs any female singer out there. Here are links to three of her songs from three different albums that should leave anyone with a heart beat mesmerized, if not incapacitated. And arrangements to die for. I recommend listening through a set of earphones. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pSCQPSrlNbkhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2YV4L-GT6oQhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SHIWyj2Bsa8 |
Laura Viers- both unusual and mesmerizing. |
As I write this I am watching the end of a Dark Matters (SCI)story about Ben Franklyn's scientific investigation of the practices of Dr Mesmer. Drifted to the keyboard and ended up here when I happened to search Concrete Blonde as I have been listening to "Bloodletting" a lot lately...Coincidence? |
Hope Sandoval, Beth Orton, and Kirsty Hawkshaw |
cindy loooper: she's so "unusual" |
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Loreena McKennitt, Siouxsie Sioux, and yes, the singer from the Cranes (stated by Synthfreek) |
I have to say Rickie Lee Jones.
Arthur |
Dusty Springfield "Son Of A Preacher Man"
Yeow... What a voice! |
Jimmdavis - thanks for Lemonflower - I ordered her CD on CDBaby (backordered there) after listening to a few of her cuts on YouTube. Beautiful voice..just lovely. If you like her then definitely try Emily Barker - "Despite the Snow" is her CD ...just gorgeous! Here's a link for her song, "Nostalgia" (the video sucks ain't great, but it's the better of the versions for the audio that I could find). Oh, and Lhasa is a great recommendation too. |
I agree with Slaw-Natalie Merchant is very smooth. I'm going to her concert Wednesday. I'm glad to see that she is touring
again. Joni Mitchell (Court and Spark) is also great, IMO. |
Some great answers so far, especially Harriet Wheeler and Caitlin Cary.
Two favorites of mine, that I'm surprised nobody has mentioned:
1. Lhasa de Sela
2. "Lemonflower"...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=vgHePGGCatA
www.youtube.com/watch?v=pf0xIR6B364 |
Some great answers so far, especially Harriet Wheeler and Caitlin Cary.
Two favorites of mine, that I'm surprised nobody has mentioned:
1. Lhasa de Sela
2. "Lemonflower"...
http://www.youtube.com/user/coffeescup#p/u/36/pf0xIR6B364
http://www.youtube.com/user/coffeescup#p/u/28/-XkK9OJBI0c
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how about wayne newton on "danke shoen"? |
Totally forgot about Alison Shaw from Cranes. She sounds like a possessed child but in a good way. |
Jax: the mood factor for hope sandoval is a critical element for me as well. this lady can have you looking for some prozac after one song if you're not in right state of mind lol!
thx again for the recommendations.....they've been added to "the list".
cheers
Lev |
