Best Female Vocalists

[Bob]

Past 13 years, meaning artists who debuted 1990 or later. Not including Mariah. Post your top 10, in order if possible:
BASE ON THREE CATEGORIES: range, consistency, emotive
Rank - Artist - Range, Consistency, Emotive (scale of 5), example song
1. Toni Braxton - 5,4,4 - Unbreak My Heart
2. Faith Evans - 4,4,4 - Come Over
3. Monica - 3,4,4 - For You I Will
4. Christina Aguilera - 5,4,2 - Beautiful
5. Alicia Keys - 3,5,4 - Fallin'
6. Mary J. Blige - 2,3,5 - Not Gon' Cry
7. Deborah Cox - 3,5,4 - Nobody's Supposed To Be Here
8. Lauryn Hill - 3,3,4 - To Zion
9. Kelly Price - 3,5,4 - As We Lay
10. Blu Cantrell - 4, 4, 3 - Sleep In The Middle

[Love Plastic Love]

hmm...I will not go into as much detail as you lol. But I will name female artists who I believe have proven excellent voices. Aaaaaand-I have different tastes in what makes a good voice so I hope no one laughs at some of mine

Sarah M
Christina Aguilera
Jewel
Beyonce (though lately she has been lipping a bit )
Alicia Keys

Artists who MAY make my list in the future
Delta Goodrem
Dido



I love just a clean, straightforward feminine female voice. I know I contradict that in some of my choices (especially with Christina) but I would say my favorite type of female voice is the Sarah-like voice. Not a powerful screamer, but just emotion and clarity.

[Bob]

I'll definitely agree to Sarah M, ok... Jewel... maybe... not since this last album though.

As for Beyoncé... her consistency is about a 1, mmmmaybe a 2.... but no, a 1. so that knocks her out.

[WhySoSerious?]

My favorite voices post-1990 in no order, excluding Mariah:

[/li][li]Martina McBride - This woman has more power and control than most anybody.
Vocal Showcase Song: "Where Would You Be"

[/li][li]Trisha Yearwood - Such a great song interpreter. Great power and range, and country soul.
Vocal Showcase Song: "Down On My Knees" or "I Don't Paint Myself Into Corners"

[/li][li]Mary J. Blige - Speaking of soul, she's got more of it than nearly everyone else combined. She has the tendency to get too excited and sing off key though. When she can control her voice though, it's superb.
Vocal Showcase Song: "No More Drama" (Live Grammys '02)

[/li][li]Alicia Keys - Really soulful, controlled voice. At times she can be a bit predictable, but when she lets go there's no stopping her.
Vocal Showcase Song: "If I Ain't Got You"

[/li][li]Toni Braxton - Love how dark and deep her voice is. She's the '90s Anita Baker.
Vocal Showcase Song: "Breathe Again"

[/li][li]Sara Evans - Great power and control, though at times I think she gets pretty thin in her upper register. Still, her range is wide.
Vocal Showcase Song: "Niagra"

[/li][li]Tarralyn Ramsey - Flawless voice. Powerful as all hell, huge range, and gospel trained soul. No complaints.
Vocal Showcase Song: "Up Against All Odds"

[/li][li]Monica - She's very controlled and can be emotive, but at times she comes off a bit bland.
Vocal Showcase Song: "For You I Will"

[/li][li]Natalie Maines - Again, great power and control. Never heard her hit a bad note live.
Vocal Showcase Song: "Top Of The World" or "Let Him Fly"

Sarah M. would make it, but she debuted pre-1990.

[Bob]

thx for replying T Corey... I didn't realize Sarah M. has been around that long.

I'll agree with Martina McBride, I really dislike country but her voice is amazing. I wouldn't count Natalie Maines because I haven't heard enough range, but then I haven't heard a whole lot of her.

Also really agree with the song you picked for Alicia, that's a great example. And your points about Monica and Mary are true, too.

[George Tropicana]

I like listening to Faith Hill's voice, especially when she sings "Cry" live.

[jimmy74747]

Martina McBride's "Where Would You Be" may be the best performance I've ever heard on compact disc. Amazing. She is great on "Concrete Angel" as well.

Leann Rimes is an amazing singer as well.

[Bob]

Hmmm... I forgot about Leann Rimes... yeah, maybe.

I find it interesting that nearly all the voices we're listing are either R&B or country stars-- altho maybe that's not surprising, solid-popsters generally aren't foremost in the talent department, and other genres like rock or such may rely more on group talent or on instruments more than vocals.

[jond7699]

Mariah Carey (too many examples to list)
Martina Mcbride "Whatever You Say" (is probably the most powerful country song I have heard.)
Toni Braxton (again just like Mariah there are too many to list)
Whitney Houston (see note above)
Amy Lee "My Immortal". (This chick has one pair of powerful lungs.)
Xtina "Walk Away" (Probably the best song I have heard in years.)
Shanice "Lovin You" (her version of Minnie Ripperton's famous single is among one of the best remakes of all time)
Pat Benetar (too many to list she has probably the best voice in female rock)
Blu Cantrell "The One" & "Don't Wanna Say Goodbye" (she has a very under-rated set of pipes)

[Bob]

I DEFN agree about Blu Cantrell thats why I put her on my top 10... i kinda forgot about Shanice... I may have to include that. her range is great (4), consistency is defn a 5, and emotive is probly a 3.

[George Tropicana]

Let's not forget Tatyana Ali! She almost beat Alicia Keys in our Pulse Music poll. Her voice can 'knock you out' 'everytime,' even when you're 'daydreamin'.

[Bob]

HAHAHAHAHA

[singingsparrow]

Here are some of my favorite female vocalists:

Sarah McLachlan: My favorite female vocalist out there. Her voice can either be soulful on crystal clear piano ballads, or filled with rock and roll passion. A great range that its the right keys.

Shakira: She really brings out the passion in whatever she sings. She has yet to develop more range with her English audience in her voice, but then again she barely knew English when she recorded "Laundry Service" so you have to cut her some slack. My favorite female voice in pop/rock.

Melissa Ethridge: Such masculinity fills her vocals ever so often, you get blown away by how she manages to hit those high notes in rock and roll. "Bring Me Some Water" is a best example of that.

Natalie Maines: Absolutely agree with what TCorey said about her.

Martina McBride: (Look above at Natalie Maines)

Emily Sanders (Indigo Girls): She has great harmonics that flow naturally in her songs.

Who is the female singer for Cowboy Junkies? I think she has a wonderful voice too!

Sincerely,
Noah Eaton

[Bob]

I couldn't agree with Shakira, altho I do like her... maybe it's because I've mostly (but not only) heard her English work.

didn't think about etheridge... hmm, maybe yeah, maybe.

[WhySoSerious?]

Shakira would make my worst vocalists list.

[allow that]

1. Toni Braxton - she has such a unique voice, and there's also a lot of texture to it. She has a good range too, and you can always read her emotion by her singing ("How Could An Angel Break My Heart")

2. Sarah McLachlan - she has a crystal clear voice that can be powerful when she want it to be ("Stupid") and very subtle but powerful when she needs it to be ("Do What You Have to Do") Her voice is always dripping with emotion! ("I Love You")

3. Mary J. Blige - incredibly soulful and layered voice. I just hate it when she starts shreiking. But one of the best voices of our time ("Missing You")

4. Celine Dion - she gets a little carried away sometimes, but she does have a beautiful and powerful voice. ("Don't Save it All For Christmas Day")

5. Deborah Cox - the most underrated voice of the past 10 years. ("I Never Knew")

6. Monica - very powerful set of pipes, sometimes she doesn't always know how to use them in the most suiting way but she's amazing. I love her! ("For You I Will")

7. Faith Hill - again she gets carried away sometimes, but overall her voice is one of the better ones out there. She shows emotion in her songs a lot, but sometimes it seems a little contrived. ("Breathe")

8. Sheryl Crow - I know she doesn't have a lot of range, but I think she projects her voice really well and its perfect for the type of songs she does ("Anything But Down")

9. Alicia Keys - She has a great voice, but sometimes she uses too much of it and sometimes she uses too little of it, if that makes sense. ("Butterflyz")

10. Jewel - very underrated voice, but that's because Jewel chooses not to showcase it on many of her songs because it would be out of place. However, when she does belt it out it's obvious she really does have a good set of pipes ("Down So Long")

TCorey said:

Shakira would make my worst vocalists list.

I agree. "Underneath Your Clothes" in particular, but every song of hers I heard applies.

[singingsparrow]

Wow, quite a bit of critique on Shakira's part! I personally find her to be a brave and passionate vocalist. Just thinking of how in secondary school her music teacher kicked her out of class because she sang too high of a pitch and said she'd never make it in the music world like that, wow, her teacher must regret saying that now! ;) I mean, voice is not all about being crystal clear or going from one note to another effortlessly, it's also about projecting with fervor and emotion. And Shakira, at least in my opinion, is excellent at that, and on her Spanish songs she sings even better. Oh well, everyone is entitled to their opinion! :)

I disagree with Jewel's voice being "underrated". I also think Mary J. Blige and Faith Hill's voices are a bit overrated. However, I do agree Sheryl Crow has her own signature voice I admire, and though she's fairly new, Alicia Keys by what I've heard of her has a good passionate voice.

Sincerely,
Noah Eaton

[prenatt1166]

Amy Lee of Evanescence reminds me of a young Ann Wilson (of Heart).

:)

[WhySoSerious?]

SingingSparrow said:

I also think Mary J. Blige and Faith Hill's voices are a bit overrated.

Well I don't hear many people praising Faith, but I agree. Every one of those ladies of country I mentioned plus countless other blow Faith out of the water. She has a limited range and she doesn't know how to pick songs that actually compliment her voice, instead choosing songs better suited for someone with twice her vocal talents. Every live performance during the "Cry" era was horrendous.

[Bob]

i gotta say no to sheryl crow--- you can like a voice and it may be appealing, but that doesn't mean it's good. i think her voice is quite weak.

no one is mentioning faith evans and she's one of my tops

[Devil Marlena Nylund]

I like a voice that can show raw emotion and for me, that's not something a clean, clear voice can do.

Jewel, she has a great voice, for me. 'Life Uncommon' perhaps?

Alanis Morissette, I wish she rocked out more like on 'You Oughta Know'! But she can get alittle too whiney.

Chantal Kreviazuk, specifically on her first CD. Maybe with 'Disagree'.

I can't really think of any right now but this is a good topic! There are a lot of underrated singers out there.

[Deleted]

As far as artists that debuted in the past ten years goes.

1. Faith Evans
Her voice works best on the gospel material. She can pull off smooth R&B and the really energetic gospel tunes, but the gospel is where I think her true talents shine.

Example Song: "Soon As I Get Home"
If you want some real vocal power, you need to listen to a live gospel performance, but as far as her regular R&B material goes, she works really well with this, going between the really soft, light vocals and the powerful vocals at the end.

2. Kelly Price
She debuted singing back-up for Mariah Carey. Bad Boy made her their official hook girl in the late 90's. It was no wonder why all these big names were taking Kelly under their wings. The girl is talented. Like Faith Evans, she is able to take gospel techniques and blend them into contemporary urban music.

Example Song: "As We Lay"
Few can pull off the Shirley Murdock classic and have you asking yourself if it's not better than the original. Kelly is able to reach inside and pull out some vocals from deep down. It's a rare moment that she restrains herself, but I doubt there are any complaints.

3. Deborah Cox
While she certainly hasn't flown completely below the radar, it's a shame that she's not much more successful. Her powerful vocals have produced one club anthem after another throughout the past several years.

Example Song: "Things Just Ain't The Same"
Deborah Cox sings the verses completely full voiced but keeps them subtle enough not to be overbearing. Then for that bridge, she lets her voice go all out and really shows why she deserves a spot on this list.

4. Toni Braxton
Few female tenors really make a name for themselves, but Toni Braxton definitely put her foot down in the walkway where Anita Baker took a rest. Whether it's a ballad or an upbeat track, Toni can always successfully lace a track with her distinctive vocals.

Example Song: "Unbreak My Heart"
How often do we have to hear bad karaoke takes on this one? It's time to face reality. A very small percentage of people can pull off this ballad. These vocals undoubtedly had a huge part in making this the monster hit that it was.

5. Heather Headley
Heather found her debut on Broadway's AIDA. She was becoming a legend there alone, before she put out her debut album in late 2002. It's rare that an artist should release an album when they have the vocals of a Broadway diva. Heather did though and it's no wonder that she's the reigning queen of Urban Adult radio right now.

Example Song: "I Wish I Wasn't"
If soul was a soft drink, this one would be fully carbonated, ready to explode. Heather has an epic power ballad with this one, the full version going on for nearly seven minutes. For the first few, you're really left to enjoy her soulful, yet calmed vocals. Then towards the end, she really shows off her projection, something that surely got her that place on Broadway. Two singles, one album, and the woman is already one of the most talented vocalists to find a home at radio in the past decade.

6. Monica
Too often does her street savvy image get in the way of her ability to sing the hell out of a good power ballad. Monica is known for the hip-hop tracks, but even when she turns out one of those jams, she still makes sure that you know that she can tear the hell out of one like no other.

Example Song: "For You I Will"
It's a shame that this is the only true power ballad that Monica has ever released. It goes without saying that this is a great display of her vocals. She can sing with full intensity and power, showing no signs of intimidation by any notes.

7. Beyonce
I really don't think that this girl gets the credit that she deserves. She is definitely one of the ladies out on radio today that is certainly pleasant on the ears, as well as the eyes, but we are speaking vocally here. She may go over-the-top sometimes, but all good vocalists can do that when they want. When she wants to keep it slow and sexy, she can do that too.

Example Song: "The Closer I Get To You"
If you want a song where Beyonce really lets loose, your best bet is "Work It Out". If you want some of those seductive vocals, you should take a listen to "Speechless". If you want a nice balance between the two, you need to listen to her reworking of the Roberta Flack classic.

8. Mary J. Blige
The only problem Mary J. Blige has when she's performing is holding back the raw emotion. On occasion, it can turn into a holler fest, but for that reason many people love Mary. She's one of few in urban music who can really convey her emotions into her work.

Example Song: "Missing You"
This gospel tinged ballad is definitely her shining vocal moment. Mary really keeps it soulful and powerful, yet restrains herself from stretching for anything out of her range.

9. Christina Aguilera
It's insane to say that she can't sing. She's really been overdoing it lately, and she's not using the usual way of singing. That's not a good thing either. He trademark growl is not working as of late. When she first burst out on the music scene however, she was welcomed with open arms because she has a great balance of soul and power.

Example Song: "I Turn To You"
Only Christina could turn the bland All-4-One album track into a hit power ballad. She works really nicely here keeping the vocals nice and low key at the beginning before really letting them shine while she takes the song to it's finale.

10. Alicia Keys
Femininity, masculinity, power, restraint, Alicia doesn't hold back from any type of vocal style. It's obvious why she is one of the most successful females at Urban radio right now.

Example Song: "If I Ain't Got You"
She uses many styles of vocals throughout her work, and in this one song, she really shows them all off. She can glide along a lazy series of vocals and then take control of the powerful side of her voice.

[jlh527]

I'm agreeing with a lot of the selections here. These are my choices:

Monica: "Inside" from "The Boy Is Mine", Monica utterly ripped this song to bits and pieces. She sang in her mid-range and belted where she is most confortable and held a continuous note for 8 beats.

Shanice: "Ain't Got No Remedy" from "Shanice" She totally out did herself on this track displaying her entire six octave range. Also check out "You Need A Man" from this collection.

Chante Moore: Highly underrated vocalists who can and will hang with the best. Check out any live performance she has done.

Kelly Price: Anything that Kelly touches is destined to become a vocal showcasing. People will be studying her singing technique in years to come.

Faith Evans: "Brand New Man" from "Faithfully" displays her voice in a mid-tempo calm setting that is reminiscent of jazz singers of old.

[Deleted]

Shanice doesn't count. She debuted in 1987.

[strong4PMB!]

Mineable1004 said:

Let's not forget Tatyana Ali! She almost beat Alicia Keys in our Pulse Music poll. Her voice can 'knock you out' 'everytime,' even when you're 'daydreamin'.

LOL

Great vocalists (>4 average)
1. Angela Via - 5 - 4 - 5 - Wish We Could Be Free
2. Delta Goodrem - 5 - 4 - 5 - Butterfly
3. Kaci - 5 - 4 - 4 - Butterflies Don't Lie
4. Jaci Velasquez - 3 - 5 - 5 - On My Knees
5. Christina Aguilera - 5 - 5 - 3 - I Turn To You

Other great vocalists (<4 average)
1. Lumidee - 1 - 5 - 1 - Never Leave You
2. Emeligh (Andrew Antone's counterpart) - 1 - 1 - 5 - Breathe
3. Hilary Duff - 1 - 5 - 2 - Why Not?
4. Britney Spears - 3 - 3 - 3 - One Kiss From You
5. Amanda Perez - 1 - 3 - 5 - Angel

[George Tropicana]

geoguy said:

Other great vocalists (<4 average)
1. Lumidee - 1 - 5 - 1 - Never Leave You
2. Emeligh (Andrew Antone's counterpart) - 1 - 1 - 5 - Breathe
3. Hilary Duff - 1 - 5 - 2 - Why Not?
4. Britney Spears - 3 - 3 - 3 - One Kiss From You
5. Amanda Perez - 1 - 3 - 5 - Angel

Hilary Duff is pretty good, I agree. Her song with the strongest emotion is "Inner Strength." It makes me want to cry each time I listen to it.

I forgot about Mikaila and her 32-year-old voice.

[Bob]

Rebirth, nice list I really like it. Jlh I agree with you too, and damn I almost forgot about Monica's "Inside" but that's a great example.


geoguy... hmmm... i wont pick on any of that except Lumidee. what good does consistency do if you have no range or emotion? lol.

mineable... no comment. Hahah.

[George Tropicana]

I forgot Tina Arena. I'm surprised no one has mentioned her! Epic was banking her to become the new Celine Dion with her worldwide and US #12 hit "Chains"!

[strong4PMB!]

okletthisworksvp said:

geoguy... hmmm... i wont pick on any of that except Lumidee. what good does consistency do if you have no range or emotion? lol.

[Bob]

lol two funny posts in a row