Who is the best singer that ever lived?

[theogt]

Good question.

The answers are yes and no.

I disagree. I am not amazed when I hear him sing. I think he has an other-worldly tone to his voice, but in terms of pure singing talent, I'm not sure that he does much. I could be wrong. I haven't listened to enough of his work to know and it could be that he is merely restrained.

 

[67CowboysFan]

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Anne Murray and Karen Carpenter are right behind her.

 

[DallasGirl50]

When I was a kid the Carpenters were really big time and I remember thinking some of their stuff was kind of lame. I don't think so anymore. Karen had a great voice and that was a very talented duo. It's so sad that she died so young. One always wonders what else might she have done?

And for the ones that mentioned Nat King Cole..he was a masterful singer. I'm not much for jazz but I know Nat was a jazz guy. To me his voice is just beautiful.

 

[Joe Realist]

Wow. It is impossible to answer this definitively. There are so many wonderful singers male and female. You can't go wrong with any of these.

Females

Sarah Brightman
Barbra Streisand
Karen Carpenter
Whitney Houston
Celine Dion
Ella Fitzgerald
Aretha Franklin
Billie Holliday
Patsy Cline

For sheer guts and get me out of my seat power I still love Janis Joplin. Hers was not a technically perfect voice like some, but it was magical.

One I am betting most in here have never heard of is Annette Strean of Venus Hum. Talk about power in a voice, she can blow you out of your chair when she let's loose.



Males

Frank Sinatra
Roy Orbison
Bing Crosby
Art Garfunkel
Freddy Mercury
Steven Perry
Vince Gill

The guy who never ceases to simply move me though is Andrea Bocelli. Perhaps the purest voice I have ever heard.

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I agree on Andrea Bocelli and not enough people know about Sarah Brightman. She is incredible.

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[JohnnyTheFox]

Been some great ones mentioned along with some duds.
Just gotta mention Phoebe Snow who also sadly passed away a couple of days ago.
She had a huge hit in 1975 with poetry man
http://music.msn.com/music/article.aspx?news=643162

 

[jubal]

Best Country voice....I have to say George Jones....he can hit all the notes in the same song. I love listening to him sing. George Strait may be my favorite country singer, but no one can throw down country and western the way the Possum can. After Jones, Randy Travis, Marty Robbins, and George Strait follow....at least for me.

I know she wont win any contests, but one of my favorite voices to listen to is Dolores ORiordon of the Cranberries. I just love her voice, always have.

Finally a kindred spirit.
Josh Turner, Leann Rimes when she sings country after the style of Patsy Cline.

 

[YosemiteSam]

Thats easy.

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[Cajuncowboy]

Elvis Presley.

The guy is still churning out number 1s 3 decades after he died.

 

[DFWJC]

I disagree. I am not amazed when I hear him sing. I think he has an other-worldly tone to his voice, but in terms of pure singing talent, I'm not sure that he does much. I could be wrong. I haven't listened to enough of his work to know and it could be that he is merely restrained.

Pavarotti in his prime then?

BTW, I do not disagree that Aquilera is strong...just giving you hard time.

 

[CowboyDan]

Pavarotti in his prime then?

BTW, I do not disagree that Aquilera is strong...just giving you hard time.

I don't understand why opera is always valued above other forms of singing. I mean, sure you gotta have pipes, but could Pavarotti sing Paradise City? Plus that shake voice just gets annoying after 5 minutes. Aye Aye Aye!

 

[DFWJC]

I don't understand why opera is always valued above other forms of singing. I mean, sure you gotta have pipes, but could Pavarotti sing Paradise City? Plus that shake voice just gets annoying after 5 minutes. Aye Aye Aye!

Love me some Paradise City!

BTW, speaking of rock voices.
When Chris Cornell is on, he can be amazing...imo.

 

[CowboyDan]

Love me some Paradise City!

BTW, speaking of rock voices.
When Chris Cornell is on, he is amazing...io.

Yeah buddy....Badmotorfinger is the perfect example

 

[TheCount]

I agree that Aretha Franklin is the best, you ask great singers who they aspire to sing like and more often than not, they'll say Aretha.

As far as Christina, she's much improved. When she first started, her voice was just a sledgehammer she tried to club people over the head with but she's developed her range. I still can't sound the way she sounds when she's going for it though, she sounds like she's growling or screaming usually, one of the two.

 

[Sarge]

Ronnie Wood

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[rynochop]

This guy

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Yes, that should do next years Superbowl. Gives me goosebumps

 

[theogt]

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