Just passing a lazy Saturday afternoon while Tropical Storm Harvey does what it will do outside. Have been surfing YouTube listening to music most of the afternoon. Listening to different artists I boiled down a couple of my favorites. Tough to choose as there are so many great vocalists out there
Cowboy Junkies / Margot Timmins (A Horse in the Country, To Live Is to Fly, Angel Mine, others) Connie Francis (Tennesse Waltz) Patsy Cline (Crazy, I Fall to Pieces, Back in Baby's Arms, Three Cigarettes in an Ashtray, others) Sissel (Shenandoah) Rene Fleming (Classical/Opera) Maria Callas (Classical/Opera)
Hoping some other folks share their top picks also as a way to learn about new artists and expand musical horizons.
I don't know "new" artists, so I'll go with my oldie goldies. (Keep in mind, I might not like their music but damn can some sign! ) Janis Joplin Mariah Carey Tina Turner Etta James Annie Lennox
+1 for Annie Lennox. She did the vocal track that plays during the end credits of Apollo 11. Beautiful.
Also Nina Simone and Nana Mouskouri. About as different style-wise as you can get, but both are truly gifted. As far as more contemporary artists go, Pink and kd lang have genuine singing chops. You can trust their voices 100%.
In no particular order: Tori Amos Sarah McLaughlan (early stuff) 'Fay Fife' from the Rezillos, especially 'Top of the Pops' Belinda Carlisle from Germs, Go Go's, and solo Casey Chambers, real country twang from Australia! Emmy Lou Harris, 'Heaven Only Knows' Adele can nail it in an annoying sort of way Karen Carpenter Christina Gagularia Freda from Abba Pink Ann Wilson Shania Twain, 'From this moment' Chrissie Hyne from The Pretenders, Talk of the Town and the Christmas song.
My list would be too long... each name that popped into my head led me to several others. Grace Slick, Olivia Newton John, Tammy Wynette, Crystal Gayle, Loretta Lynn, Emmy Lou Harris, Allison Krauss, Tanya Tucker, Linda Ronstadt (en Espanol! ) Juice Newton... Kim Deal, Shirley Manson... , Dolores O'Riordan, Natalie Merchant... good golly, there is no end to the awesomeness. Some are poppy, some are rocky, some are edgy, some are sappy... I love parts of all those.
Stevie Nicks Pat Benatar Garbage lead singer Lady Gaga from her "The Fame" disc Sarah McLaughlin from the 1990s era But the best is probably Gwen from No Doubt.