Discussions

Best Female Singer Of All Time. Who?

Posted by tinselgurus • 3/08/08 • Subscribe to this Discussion [RSS] • Report This Topic
Topics: celebrity, divas, singer

Clive Davis has just confirmed that Whitey Houston is going to be releasing her latest album by Christmas in time with the Holidays.

This year alone, Madonna, Kylie, Whitney and Mariah Carey are all releasing their albums.

But who makes the cut as possibly THE best Female Singer Of All Time?

You decide.

User Comments

3/08/08

gosmelltheflowers

No question - Nina Simone!

[reply]
1. 3/08/08
  
  Anok
  
  Oh I love Nina Simone!
2. 3/08/08
  
  acousticguitarist
  
  good piano player too
3. 4/10/08
  
  mugshot
  
  Nina Simone, no one comes close!
3/08/08

VioletsVintage

Bonnie Raitt

[reply]
1. 3/08/08
  
  acousticguitarist
  
  mean guitarist
3/08/08

cooper

Sarah Brightman.

Lost track of Whitney, hope she can make a come back.

[reply]
3/08/08

saxyphone

Aretha Franklin.

[reply]
1. 3/08/08
  
  gosmelltheflowers
  
  A fair one - RESPECT to you!
2. 3/08/08
  
  acousticguitarist
  
  she also sang great backing vocals on Curtis Mayfields last album...how's that for your back up
3/08/08

carlgalloway

For me it has to be Enya!

[reply]
1. 3/03/09
  
  busylizzy
  
  Love Enya, too!
2. 3/03/09
  
  lordiwanttobewhole
  
  I ♥ Enya also! beautiful voice!
3. 3/16/09
  
  Jules66
  
  I had her China Roses song as our wedding ceremony song. I love her too !
  
  I also love Jewel's and Dido's music !!
3/08/08

cooltool

alicia keys or kylie minogue or dido and ooooooh yeaaaa i love britney !!!

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3/08/08

Getty72

My respect for public opinion has just been restored when I read the first two responses. Nina Simone is absolutely the best female singer that has ever graced our soundwaves. However, I do think we have a "legend to be" in Amy Winehouse. I hope she can sort her problems out soon - she has so much more to offer the world in her writings and singing

Yey for Nina Simone!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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3/08/08

Libertine

Roberta Flack

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3/08/08

tinselgurus

I think when you want to talk about voice, Whitney Houston hs an entire ochestra going through her veins.

Aretha has got enough soul to bring millions of dead people alive.

And Nina, I mean, she is INDIVIDUALITY at its best.

[reply]
1. 3/08/08
  
  saxyphone
  
  i think this is where.. "to each his own" comes into play.
  
  Whitney does have her strong vocals, and so does Aretha Franklin.
  This topic is about Best Female Singer of All Time.. and I think Aretha Franklin maintained hers. Whitney had her "hiccups" here and there with her "not so recent" problems with drugs. So I still stand by The Queen of Soul, Aretha.
  
  But hey, that's just me.
2. 3/08/08
  
  saxyphone
  
  And yes, I would like Whitney to make a comeback. She gave us "I will always love you". Still outstanding, no matter how many times its being played.
3/08/08

fliprent

I love Nina Simone! Rachelle Farrell is awesome singer..if I spelled her name correctly. Her jazzy genre jus isn't as popular.

[reply]
3/08/08

kristilinauer

When I gave it some thought, my own answer even shocked me. But I would have to say Madonna. She has "reinvented" herself time and time again to stay current and relevant, and she's done it successfully.

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3/08/08

aningeniousname

Aretha Franklin or Eva Cassidy.

[reply]
1. 3/08/08
  
  Getty72
  
  Eva Cassidy is a great choice... such a pure voice. It's a shame we lost her so young.
3/08/08

Rozie818

Barbara :-)

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3/08/08

Aprilfreelance

Sarah Brightman, wihtout question. There's not another female singer even close to her talent vocal purity and range.

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3/08/08

FLOOG

Kate Bush

A true genius. A poet and musician

[reply]
1. 3/08/08
  
  Getty72
  
  A great choice. Kate Bush was and still is fantastic. A truly underated star!!!
3/08/08

clioandme

Best? I dunno, but Marlene Dietrich is probably my favorite. I also enjoy Marie Callas, of course.

Edit: And how about Edit Piaf?

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3/08/08

mari610

Whitney Houston-In my opinion, no one, (past or present) comes close to her vocal ability Hope her comebacks,a success

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3/08/08

Sylvia

I wont say they are the best of all time, my 3 favorite female voices are:

Stevie Nicks - Fleetwood Mac
Grace Slick - Jefferson Airplane

Martina McBride, the way she sings "Concrete Angel", it makes me cry everytime I hear her sing it.

[reply]
3/08/08

clioandme

So it looks like most of you are only reaching back to the 90s or 80s, with a few back to the 60s and 70s. And it also looks like pop music is the only genre we're considering.

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3/08/08

saxyphone

I think its probably due to the fact that a lot of us are exposed to pop all the time. Im not saying all.. but most.

And pop focuses a lot on vocal prowess and capabilities. Jazz too, but we have a lot of jazz focusing being instrumental, especially way back in the 50s. There were only very few famous lady jazz singers like, Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald and Dinah Washington, who made it to the top.

And its only recently that vocal jazz begain hitting the radios again, with some pop singers turning jazz to showcase their vocal flexibilities. Probably that is why we have a lot of pop singers amongst our choices.

[reply]
3/08/08

acousticguitarist

I'd say Billie Holliday but I like Nina Somone and Aretha

I think the most intelligent is India Arie

I also like Astrid Gilberto

Best album Ella Fitzgerald with Joe Pass - Take Love Easy

Eva Cassidy is sweet

Beat songwriter - Joni (no question about that one)

Mary Black singing No Frontiers

Billie...yeah Billie

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3/08/08

whatever45678

sarah mclachlan or vanessa carlton

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3/08/08

jackpayne

Ella Fitzgerald.

[reply]
3/08/08

daniel23

Can't think of any. Faith Hill.

[reply]
1. 5/15/08
  
  RTBjr73
  
  That's is NOT a bad thought to have. Is she serenading you?
3/09/08

tinselgurus

the spectrum of singer mentioned are so vast.

so on what grounds now are we judging it at?

THE BEST FEMALE SINGER OF ALL TIME.

-most record sales?
-most amazing voice?
-most amazing talent?
-most pesonified "diva"?
-most loved "icon"?
-most multi-talented?
-most remembered?
etc?

we suppose when we have then categorized these different aspects of being a singer or an entertainer per se and the singer of choice fits almost in every single criteria then she may after all the THE BEST FEMALE SINGER OF ALL TIME!

[reply]
3/09/08

cranelegs

i'm thinking michael jackson. but if tha doesn't count, tori amos.

[reply]
1. 3/09/08
  
  tinselgurus
  
  michael jackson. hahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha.
  
  come to think of it. yes. we somehow agree.
3/09/08

gosmelltheflowers

LOL - the gloves are off....

Boy George?

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3/09/08

doffer

Skin from Skunk Anansie:

uk.youtube.com/watch?v=Gm3z3i_xfaM

Kate Bush as a close second.

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3/09/08

PetLvr

I like K.D. Lang's version of Leonard Cohen's version of ..
1800HART.com/meme/kdlang-hallelujah.mp3

[reply]
1. 3/02/09
  
  askcherlock
  
  Absolutely the best version.
3/09/08

ThriftShopRomantic

How about good ol' Ella Fitzgerald? I love Ella.

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3/09/08

2sweetnsaxy

In my mind, without a doubt, it would be Phyllis Hyman. This woman had an awesome voice. It's sad to think that someone with so much talent would be so inwardly tormented and sad that she would take her own life.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=_HXiO951tBc

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3/09/08

globalgirl

One person absolutely certain NOT to be voted and awarded this noted award:

Me :-)

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3/10/08

Pentad

K.D. Lang is one of the best.
No one plays guitar like Bonnie Raitt. One of my all time favorites.

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3/10/08

newdiana2003

I like Enya

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3/10/08

chriswhiteley

that is a real tough one. i'm a fan of jazz singers, but to choose the best female signer of all time? how can you possibly even take a stab at that? my mind is reeling with possibilities!

[reply]
3/10/08

LimeTequila

I'll go with either Billie Winehouse or Janis Church. Although, I do love Nina Brightman.

God I could never make this choice. I love so many.

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3/10/08

gerryPlanetEarth

Nobody mentioned Patsy Cline...

[reply]
3/12/08

Houseonahill

Was going to comment but once again Pentad read my mind! Girl, you are scarin me!

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4/10/08

Switters1

Ella Fitzgerald's voice is like buttah.

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4/10/08

davet

a tough call.... i'd throw diana ross in the discussion.

[reply]
1. 3/02/09
  
  carsonfb
  
  I would have to agree that Diana Ross is one of the best female vocalists of all-time.
4/10/08

timethief

Celine Dion

[reply]
4/10/08

growhappy

Mariah Carey *runs for cover*

[reply]
1. 3/16/09
  
  Jules66
  
  LOL, I love her music too ;-)
4/10/08

MadameX

Though I wouldn't necessarily deem either of them "best" in purely objective worldwide terms, Barbra Streisand and Stevie Nicks would be on my personal "most likely to pay outrageous sums of money and travel great distances to see" list.

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4/10/08

pele1

I think Olivia Newton John has one of the most heavenly voices ever.

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4/10/08

nardeeisms

Dame Shirley Bassey

[reply]
5/14/08

tinselgurus

well paris hilton definitely does not make that list so we can definitely cross her out. r lindsy lohan or jessica simpson. or britney spears. or paula abdul. or ok...nevermind.

[reply]
5/14/08

lordiwanttobewhole

I love Melissa Ethridge's voice!
& her lyrics are amazing!

[reply]
5/14/08

blebarron

Amy Lee of Evanescence has an incredible voice and range.

[reply]
1. 5/14/08
  
  ekim941
  
  I gotta go with Amy Lee as well:
  
  www.youtube.com/watch?v=CoUOrLe4vlY
5/14/08

Donlewis

Janis Joplin or Kate Bush, depending on my mood.

[reply]
5/14/08

Naturalwoman

oleta adams

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5/14/08

kdawg68

Stevie Nicks - love that raspy voice.

[reply]
5/14/08

Truthoughts

It is very difficult to choose a fav of all time because there are so many good ones, many of them already listed here. I would like to share with you an up and commer that I really enjoy. This link is a duet and she, Jamie, comes in 2nd.

youtube.com/watch?v=Z6hPTw-Nu_4

There is a list (embedded youtube videos) of some of my all time fav songs (a lot having to do with voice) here: truthoughtstoday.wordpress.com/my-favorite-music/

One that I did not list was Christina Aguilera, she has a great voice if she sings the right songs... and great control.

[reply]
5/14/08

mikeny07

I don't know "the best" since I have not heard everyone. Some great female singers I know of that I like are:

Barbra Streisand
Bianca Ryan - great potential. 12 yr old voice on her debut album
Olivia Newton-John
Laura Branigan

All stunning voices.

[reply]
1. 5/14/08
  
  kdawg68
  
  ah, Laura "you take my self, you take my self control" Branigan. I do like her songs.
5/14/08

rightcommentary

Of all time?

Wow... I'd say I'd have to think about that... but I'd say it's someone on this list:

Ella Fitzgerald
Dinah Shore
Billie Holiday
Tina Turner
Patsy Cline
Aretha Franklin

... of this list - I'd have to say Dinah Shore would probably still kick ass today in contemporary. Her talent and range were incredible...

[reply]
5/14/08

Jeunelle

It's a toss up for me Bessie Smith or Wendy O from the Plasmatics. lmao

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5/14/08

mikeny07

Listen to Olivia Newton-John's song "Magic"

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5/14/08

jpower

Billie.

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5/15/08

cutekhartz

Whitey Houston and Celine Dion...absolutely!!!

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5/15/08

wehireu

Ella Fitzgerald. Followed by Arethra Franklin.

[reply]
1. 5/15/08
  
  acousticguitarist
  
  Ella with Joe Pass..take Love Easy
  
  Greatest ever
5/15/08

RTBjr73

Mariah Carey - BEFORE she went pop

Reba - Queen of Country

Gotta throw in Enya.

[reply]
5/15/08

legbamel

Lena Horne, then Ella Fitzgerald, then Aretha. That is, of course, ignoring opera. There is a whole other set of rules for "best singer" in that arena.

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3/02/09

madonnao2001

Madonna and Billie Holiday

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3/02/09

LynneaUrania

Sappho.

Her songs still entrance us after thousands of years.

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3/02/09

GlossGreen

My vote goes to Janis Joplin. She had such a unique sound and put a lot of feeling into her performances. Definitely one singer I could listen to anytime.

[reply]
3/02/09

gtally

Gotta go with Ella Fitzgerald. When she and Louis Armstrong sing together, it's magic.

[reply]
1. 3/02/09
  
  Stillthinking
  
  I love Ella. I used to try to copy her voice singing "Our love is here to stay"
3/02/09

powerdraw01

Mama Cass.

[reply]
3/02/09

jackpayne

On second thought:

Eva Cassidy.

[reply]
1. 3/02/09
  
  powerdraw01
  
  Oh hell yeah. Eva's voice is perfect for helping me unwind from a day at the hellhole that is the office.
2. 3/02/09
  
  acousticguitarist
  
  very sweet
3/02/09

riverstyxxx

I would recommend my favorite, but I did this with my favorite tv show and nobody cared. I'm starting to think I have nothing in common with any of you.

Here's a hint: I got her tattooed on my leg

[reply]
3/03/09

Qupid

I am also big on Mariah Carey's earlier recordings, but it's hard for me to decide who's the best! I actually have a friend who's only recorded demos, but her singing is like candy to me! You can actually hear her on MySpace karaoke... ksolo.myspace.com/actions/showUserProfile.do?uid=991637 ...not a shameless plug, just the truth!

I also really like Kate Bush in her song "Wow". I heard it while I was playing GTA: Vice City years ago and I thought she sounded amazing! Such an attractive timbre to her voice.

[reply]
3/03/09

michaelmcguerty

Tiny Tim or Billy Holiday. It's a toss-up.

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3/03/09

rileycentral

Martina McBride can sing!

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3/03/09

drjay1966

Billie Holiday

Other favorites (off the top of my head): Joni Mitchell, Nina Simone, Janis Joplin, Aretha Franklin, Neko Case, Lucinda Williams, Francoise Hardy, Emmylou Harris, Kate Bush, Patti Lupone, Gladys Knight, Chan Marshall, Michelle Shocked, Carole King, Grace Slick, Corin Tucker, Sinead O'Connor, Tanya Donnelly, Liz Phair, Diana Ross, Lauren Hill, Patsy Cline, Bonnie Raitt, Tori Amos, Tracy Chapman, Amy Winehouse...

[reply]
3/03/09

dsriharsha

Best Singer of all time is a lady called MS Subbulakshmi. Too bad most of you haven't heard her sing, but do search for her songs.

[reply]
3/03/09

sunnyberra

There's quite a few with beautiful voices. For me, though, I'd have to say Alison Krauss

[reply]
3/03/09

dosox

Norah Jones
Nelly Furtado
Faith Hill

[reply]
3/03/09

cookiejeans

Charice Pempingco....

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3/03/09

klivengood

Our very own...Charice Pempengco...see her on Youtube...

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3/03/09

CentricStudios

Wendy Rene

[reply]
3/03/09

godzilla100

Lena Horne!

[reply]
3/03/09

phantomelen

SHAKIRA shake it baby shake it

[reply]
3/03/09

thetravellerreturns

Posh Spice

[reply]
3/10/09

environmentalbooty

Me in my shower.

[reply]
3/10/09

ShockingSpoilers

I'm going with Alicia Keys

[reply]
3/10/09

BiillJonesEpicure

I vote for the following true singers, whom all deliver on KEY...

Aretha Franlin
Chante Moore
Ledisi
Diana Krall
Rachelle Farrel

[reply]
3/16/09

Seabuckthorn

Agree with Ella Fitzgerald. There are a few ultra-divas in history, but she's just a cut above.

[reply]
3/16/09

Jules66

Ok have a laugh, but I have always enjoyed JLo's songs as well(not saying she is my best singer!) ;-)

[reply]
3/16/09

ToniTMTaylor

Gladys Knight.

Her live show, her voice, and magnetism are down to earth and moves the soul.

[reply]
3/16/09

MadMadMargo

Etta James

[reply]