1/27/2019 11:48:07 AM
If you were banished to a Desert Island

12/2/2017 1:48:17 AM
What type of voice do you prefer for singers.

12/2/2017 1:48:17 AM

What type of voice do you prefer for singers.
My sister has been having voice training and often tells me what the coach says. Yesterday she was explaining how to get rid of croaks, some technical way of relaxing the throat. I thought it was a shame because I quite like singers who have raspy voices. The men sound more rugged and the women more sexy. I know operatic voices are supposed to be perfect but I don't really like that sound.

I like Macy Gray and Kim Carnes even Eartha Kitt, Rod Stewart, Leonard Cohen and Tom Waits. My sister prefers Christina Aguilera and Demi Lovato and singers from stage musicals like Sarah Brightman.

I do like the sound of Dolly Parton's voice however and that is certainly not croaky.

12/2/2017 10:18:08 AM

I like a voice that is on the right pitch without autotune.

12/2/2017 12:05:51 PM ---- Updated 12/2/2017 12:27:41 PM

I also like raspy voices. Some of my favs are

Dylan, Tom Petty, Lennon (who had the perfect blend of clear and raspy) Bob Seger, Kim Carnes, Tom Waits, Mleissa Etheridge, Rod Stewart, Bryan Adams, the Gallagher brothers, Joe Cocker, Janus Joplin, Mick Jagger, Bruce Springsteen, well you get the idea.

Unfortunately this style of singing is hard to find any more. The trend in singing seems to revolve around an aspiration to be on broadway rather to rock out with wild abandon and raspy soul. Vocal training is good for protecting the voice and improving pitch but it tends to sanitize the voice which makes it more generic and less unique.

Rock is the people's music because it's human and humans are fallible. Perfection is the enemy of authentic rock. I still love singers who sing on pitch but I love the ones who reach the notes in a creative way. It's a very nuanced and subtle thing. Tambre and tone are extremely important. Rasp and soulfullness go together very well.

Singing like you mean every word is the ultimate way to sing (imo) Of course there is a wide spectrum of degrees of rasp. A singer doesn't have to sing raspy through the whole song but a good singer knows which words and phrases need to be sung with that edgy rasp that gives the words a poignant meaning. John Lennon was a vocal genius who could sing everything from If I Fell to Twist and Shout with equal skill and authenticity.

I admire the singing of broadway and opera singers but it's not my cup of tea when it comes to rock.

12/2/2017 12:46:42 PM

Good morning Open Book and great post question! I am joining your sister's camp. Sarah Brightman is incredible and in the same universe with her are the Aussie Hayley Westenra and Brit Kate Bush. My wife has difficulty with these though, as she says that women can hear higher pitches and they become too shrill for her. (I do like some of the works of Karnes and Stewart, but not my main cup-of-tea. I cannot stand the voice of one woman in this thread, not mentioned by you. I won't say the name because I'll get a lot of flack. But I would rather listen to fingernails or chalk screeching against a chalk board.)

Having said that, I absolutely adore Ashley Norton's voice and that is one of the reason I am on such a Whitherward high. Please do check them out here at IMP. I really enjoy the sweet, feminine voices of Francesca and Monica as well.

As far as male voices go, to me there is no one like Justin Hayward, the lead vocalist, guitarist, and songwriter of The Moody Blues. He ranges from belting out rock songs to the most incredibly gentle ballads that bring me to tears. The Moodies are currently 2nd in the fan voting for the 2017 Class of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. The fan voting ends Dec 5, and the Top 5 bands/artists move on. Here at IMP, I am drawn to the vocals of Richard Scotti and David Nyro. So, all 7 people of my featured artists here have amazing voices. That must be pretty important to me, eh?

12/2/2017 1:49:59 PM

favorite voices ever

1. Karen Carpenter
2. Karen Carpenter (in other words no contest)
3. Marilyn McCoo (of 5th Dimension)
4. Al Green
5. Elvis (the King)
6. David Gates of Bread

12/2/2017 3:04:22 PM ---- Updated 12/3/2017 3:29:39 PM

My two faves on your list, FT are #1 (2) and #6. I have a friend who was totally in love with KC back in the day. Yes, DG has that type of soothing voice reminiscent of Mr. Hayward.

Well, down in the Man Cave the rest of the day to watch the REAL FOOTBALL, college version! I need to find that football thread and have your back in there, my friend. That kick-ball sport some call "football" and that I call "sock-her" is lame. A bunch of boys wearing their short pants and knee socks.

12/2/2017 8:18:24 PM

I like soulful voices with power. Voices like Marvin Gaye's are my absolute favorite., that is porbably why he continues to be my favorite all time singer. Other examples of the kind of voices I like are. As a vocal coach I strive to give my students a strong education about the mechanics of singing.

Luthor Vandros
Stevie Wonder
Teddy Pendergrass
Al Green
Phillip Baily
Patti Labelle
Jennifer Hudson
Maxwell
Bruno Mars
Babyface
After Seven
Rance Allen
Alicia Keys
Beyonce
Curtis Mayfield
Smokey Robinson

12/3/2017 2:22:56 PM

To me it depends on the song, of course.

Can't imagine Jim Morrison doing 'Don't Worry, Be Happy'. Just wouldn't be the same song.

Glenn

12/3/2017 3:30:12 PM

12/3/2017 3:30:41 PM

Ha ha; good one, Glenn!

12/4/2017 2:14:20 PM

There is no one type. Here is a list containing a variety of types, and I like them all:
Choirs
Opera
Otis Redding
Elliott Smith
Billie Holiday
Bon Scot
Janis Joplin
Drake
Michael Jackson young and old
Bob Dylan
Sly Stone
Marvin Gaye
Al Green
Frank Sinatra
Patsy Cline
Johnny Cash
Joni Mitchell

12/4/2017 2:16:31 PM

That’s just a short sample
Also like these in rap:

All of Wu Tangs nine vocalists
Chuck D from Public Enemy
Qtip

12/4/2017 2:18:43 PM

Or what about those great Brazilian singers like Joao Gilberto or his wife?

What about the Carter Family?
Isaac Hayes
Curtis Mayfield
Robert Plant

12/4/2017 2:23:04 PM

To list all the voices I like would take me at least an hour and would be incomplete. I like my own. I like many of yours, and I like the sound of just about any child singing. Birds and coyotes, too.

12/4/2017 2:25:17 PM

Streisand

12/4/2017 2:27:04 PM

James Brown
Both main singers in Los Lobos
All three singers in Tres Aces
Bradley from Sublime
Marley Tosh and Peter
All the Beatles
Keith and Mick

I gotta stop

12/4/2017 2:28:03 PM

I could name a few famous singers I don’t care to hear, but why bother?

12/4/2017 2:29:29 PM

All the singers on the Jesus Christ Superstar album are wonderful
Wonderful? Stevie

12/4/2017 2:34:28 PM

King Sunny Ade
Pavarotti
So many broadway singers- I love those kinds of voices
Many who sang for Disney kid movies sound great to me
The singers for both the Sex Pistols and the ramones
Iggy POP
Bowie
David from Talking Heads
Cat Stevens
All of CNS and Y
Everley’s
Ella
Not an Eagles fan but what a voice on Henley

12/4/2017 2:39:19 PM

Muddy Waters
Woody Guthrie
Karen C
Dusty S
Carole King
George Clinton
Hank Williams
Louis Armstrong

I see no end in sight...

12/4/2017 2:42:08 PM

Frank Black from pixies
Kurt Cobain
Kim Deal from pixies
Both singers in Sonic Youth
Smokey
Tony Bennett

12/4/2017 2:43:41 PM

And the winner is:

Mel Blanc

12/4/2017 2:45:01 PM

Still just a fraction

12/4/2017 3:35:34 PM

But seriously...

12/7/2017 2:33:55 AM

Wow Bob! That is an impressively growing list you have there!

12/7/2017 7:24:37 AM

Speaking of Curtis Mayfield, his name did come up, man that Superfly is a great record, listened the other night, I've loved it since it came out.

12/7/2017 5:04:49 PM

Yes, that was an awesome recording. So was Marvin Gayes Trouble man. The Blaxploitation movies of the 70's did bring forth some great compositions even though it set us back culturally due to the many negative stereotypes it spawned. But in the midst of that came forth artists like Issac Hayes, Marvin and Curtis. I don;'t there ever been another vocalist/ songwriter quite like Curtis Mayfield. My favorite of his is "We People Who Are Darker Than Blue". That song brings me to tears almost every time I hear it. It feels like he is singing directly to me about me. What a songwriter!

Much Respect,
Stoneman

12/7/2017 5:17:38 PM

my favs are

JOHNNY MATHIS

JONI MITCHELL

12/7/2017 9:43:28 PM

Well, there’s more voices I like a lot

Bing
Sting
Biz Markie
Lefty Frizzel
SZA
Don’t care much for Journey but that guy has a cool voice
StevenTyler’s Voice is cool, too

On that subject of Curtis Mayfield, a Pandora station based on him delivers great soul

12/7/2017 9:51:39 PM

Nat King Cole
The guys from Yes especially Anderson, what a voice
Robert Johnson
Elvis
Elvis Costello
Lauryn Hill
Ray Charles
Chrissie Hynde
The guy from Squeeze
Martha from The Motels
El DeBarge

12/7/2017 9:52:23 PM

What’s not to like of any of those voices?

12/7/2017 10:10:02 PM

Riki Lee Jones
Bjork
Diana Ross
Joe Cocker
Mavis Staples
The woman on oooo child
The woman in Sly and the family stone

12/7/2017 10:13:39 PM

Prince
Elton

12/7/2017 10:17:27 PM

The kids singing “Christmas Time Is Here” on Charlie Brown
Charles Brown
John Michael Talbot
Larry Norman
Todd Rundegren
Guy who sang “Man of Constant Sorrow” for the Coen’s movie

12/7/2017 10:19:34 PM

EWF
David Gates
Rod Stewart
Rod McKuen

12/7/2017 10:21:18 PM

Glen Campbell
Harry Nielsen

I like to hear people sing.

Kids in my class are great

12/7/2017 10:21:48 PM

Tom O’Brien

12/7/2017 10:46:18 PM

Peter Gabriel

12/7/2017 10:47:05 PM

Paul Westerberg (replacements)

12/7/2017 10:54:28 PM

We need to start a thread for the ones you don't like. :D

12/7/2017 11:21:56 PM ---- Updated 12/8/2017 12:24:11 AM

12/7/2017 11:58:56 PM ---- Updated 12/8/2017 12:24:30 AM

12/8/2017 12:10:38 AM ---- Updated 12/8/2017 12:24:45 AM

12/8/2017 3:45:11 AM

Gwen Stefani, Shirley Manson, Sandra Nasic, Kurt Cobain, Shirley Bassey, Michael Jackson, Marilyn Monroe, Lana Del Rey, Floor Jansen, Alejandro Sanz, Britney Spears, Shakira, Johanna Kurkela, Chino Moreno, Serj Tankian, Ilta, Helen Hoffner, Seal, Ville Valo, Lauri Ylönen...

I like voices that I can recognize right away.

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