Your Favorite Best-Ever Female Vocal Performance

[saltpoint]

No restrictions on style, genre, era, etc.

Beverly Sills. Petula Clark. Ella Fitzgerald. Emmylou Harris. Billie Holiday. Lena Horne. Joni Mitchell. Dusty Springfield. Nina Simone. Patsy Cline. Dar Williams. Mary Black. Shirley Bassey. Aretha Franklin. Janis Joplin. Grace Slick. Barbara Streisand.

--Just a handful to get the ideas flowing.

Go for your single favorite best-ever performance -- the song and the recording -- so others can track it down if they want.

Fire away.

===
edited to add 'performance'

[BlueEyedSon]

1. Clare Torry, "Great gig in the sky"

2. Ann Wilson "Crazy on you"
3. Pat Benetar "Hell is for children"
4. Anything by Janis Joplin

Yes, I'm old, and a rocker.

[saltpoint]

14. BlueEyedSon, you are never going to be old as long as --

-- you have people like that on your stereo system. The Joplin choice especially is indication of a sound mind. You rule.

[alarcojon]

21. Agreed on Clare Torry

I also love the live version with the three female vocalists - the second one sends shivers down my spine.

[markus]

28. Wow, thanks for that name

I've never known who that was, and was wondering if I was coming in here to post "that chick on Dark Side of the Moon."

Absolutely anything by Janis Joplin.

Flora Purim rocks, but you have to dig that late 60s/early 70s progressive jazz fusion thing.

[7th_Sephiroth]

74. #1 Aoi Tada, "Papa Plastic"

#2 Faye Wong "Tian Xhi"
#3 Mai Yamane "blue"

[MrSlayer]

2. Wendy O. Williams.

[greendog]

3. Kyla Vuotti Uutta Kuuta....

....by Varttina.

[Wickerman]

4. Nina - 99 luft Balloons

lame as it was, the German version of that song moved me - when i was young. It kinda sucks now. The video was hot - she was such a poseur punk rocker, and so punky cute.

In real life? Emmylou with Gram on Love Hurts jumps to mind.

[greendog]

8. Love Hurts...

...Jennifer Warnes did a great version of that one!

[saltpoint]

9. Oh, yes. Emmylou & Gram. No question.

[Pale Blue Dot]

5. Kate Bush - Moments of Pleasure

k.d. lang - The Air That I Breathe
Maria McKee - Show Me Heaven

[saltpoint]

42. Yes. Where did k.d.'s voice come from?

It's super-human.

[Red State Rebel]

96. Kate Bush - This Woman's Work

[Jade Fox]

6. "No One In the World" Anita Baker---right at the end of the song....

she does this thing with her voice that makes me go nuts every time I hear
it. Otherwise, just an okay song.

[saltpoint]

16. But you've got it -- it's that talent that makes a --

-- relatively plain song sound so incredible. It's where I hoped the post would go. You nailed it.

[Skittles]

7. Karen Carpenter

absolute simple elegance.

[saltpoint]

11. Yes -- even people who didn't care for the --

-- repertoire still liked that voice. Water-smooth and rich.

[blondeatlast]

52. I love "Rainy Days and Mondays;" so many current vocalists

could learn from her restraint. I'm not the least bit ashamed that I was and still am a huge fan.

[Ladyhawk]

65. I should have your attitude.

People have dissed me too often because I love her effortless, rich voice. I've never heard a finer female vocalist.

[Ladyhawk]

60. Some of the repertoire is pretty good.

I get tired of the "bubble-gum" stuff, though, like "Top of the World." Some of my favorites:

"Don't Cry for Me, Argentina"
"Bless the Beasts and the Children"
"Goodbye to Love"
"Solitaire"
"Ave Maria" --You MUST hear this one!
"Now"
"Desperado"
"I Can't Make Music"
"Crescent Noon"
"A Song for You" (I find this one eery in light of her early demise.)
"Crystal Lullaby"

[Jade Fox]

18. She really was a terrific vocalist...

too bad she didn't live to do some more interesting stuff

[Skittles]

33. she did break out on her own when her brother was in rehab

alas, by then the poor gal was deep into her devastating illness and she never recovered. It was a huge loss.

[blondeatlast]

53. Too bad that she was made to feel that that God-given voice wasn't

enough.

What a sick culture that is.

[Ladyhawk]

56. I agree...and I'm a vocalist.

Her best ever: "Don't Cry for Me, Argentina."

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

10. Annie Haslam of Renaissance in "Ashes Are Burning" (nt)

[Burma Jones]

106. "Carpet of the Sun" is my particular favorite

[cosmokramer]

12. Etta James...

...AT LAST...

Beautiful!

[acmavm]

20. Yep, I was leaning toward Etta, but I am just mesmerized when I see the

old film showing Billie Holiday singing 'Strange Fruit' Not only was that an amazing song (words written by Abel Meerpool, the man that adopted the Rosenberg boys), but the courage for a black woman to go on stage in front of white audiences and sing that song defies definition.

[cosmokramer]

23. Lady Day...

...was fabulous!

It is a difficult choice for me between Etta James, Billie Holiday, and Mahalia Jackson. They were all amazing. But Etta's "Aaaaaaaaaaat Last" is one of the most beautiful sounds ever recorded.

[Bertha Venation]

32. Oh, yes.

Excellent request. Just lemme warm up the juke box.... got a quarter?

[NC_Nurse]

13. Elizabeth Frazer

of the Cocteau Twins on the entire Victorialand album. Beautiful.

[everythingsxen]

15. Marlene Dietrich - Lili Marlene

I love Marlene Dietrich. :loveya:

Her voice.. *sigh*

[saltpoint]

17. Yes. That voice.

[everythingsxen]

25. Darn you Ghost Consul....

Darn you to heck!!!

Now I am stuck listening to Lili Marlene on an endless loop..

Next I will have to listen to Falling in Love Again, again. :evilgrin:

[saltpoint]

26. A sweet, sweet torture, yes?

[everythingsxen]

29. Ah very true..

:D

[Bertha Venation]

19. Allison Krauss & Bette Midler.

Allison Krauss -- just about anything she ever recorded.

Bette Midler -- just about anything she ever recorded.

Both are goddesses.

[alarcojon]

22. Allison Kraus

with Yo Yo Ma on "Simple Gifts" - what a recording!

[Bertha Venation]

36. Would you believe I haven't heard it?

What CD?

I saw Allison Krauss & Union Station a couple of years ago at Wolftrap, an open-air amphitheatre. Poor Allison swallowed a bug. ;)

[alarcojon]

101. Classic Yo-Yo

A couple of years old.

[Red State Rebel]

117. Where can I find that?

[alarcojon]

118. See # 101

I bought it at Borders

[saltpoint]

27. No argument from either one.

I heard A. Krauss in Clearwater, Florida two years ago. Blew me away.

[Catshrink]

24. R-E-S-P-E-C-T

By the one and only Aretha!

[blondeatlast]

41. Have you heard the two I mention in post #38?

If not, you MUST. The very reason she earned the title.

[MidwestMomma]

30. Annie Lennox

Can't pick a favorite....love her voice and her songs.

[opiate69]

31. Johnette Napolitano

The live version of "Tomorrow, Wendy" on the Recollections CD. Hon. mention to her version of "Mercedes Benz", from the same disc.

[saltpoint]

34. Help me out, opiate69 --

-- I've not heard of her. Would appreciate a brief summary of genre, style, etc.

Thank you.

[opiate69]

39. Always glad to help...

Johnette was/is the lead vocalist of the band Concrete Blonde. They scored a minor hit in the early 80's with the song "God is a Bullet", and had a charting CD called "Bloodletting" a few years later. Her voice has been compared to people like Janis Joplin, but without the "scratchiness". Very, very powerful voice.... I'm not really sure how to classify their music.... there are elements of goth, punk, folk, old standards... all gelled into basically well written songs... here's a link to their "official" website.

http://www.concreteblondeofficialwebsite.com/home.html

Hope you find this helpful..

on edit: I just checked their links page for the first time... great links, including: Rockers against Bush and presidentmoron.com

[saltpoint]

46. I'm always trying to find some good stuff --

-- so I'll check this out.

Thanks for taking the time to post the link & info.

:)

[blondeatlast]

48. She's also very intelligent and charming.

Saw her live with X several times; she loved to get out into the crowd.

In the '80s, she was often compared to Chrissie Hynde (a fave of mine) but I never saw the resemblance.

[Beaker]

113. johnette is by far my favourite too...

I've seen Blonde 4 times when they've been in Chicago, including one very sad & scary performance at Metro, where Johnette was very, VERY, VERY drunk, and the band wasn't even able to get thru a single song.

[Dookus]

35. Ella Fitzgerald

"Mack the Knife" from Live in Berlin.

[phaseolus]

40. Hey, *I* was gonna mention Ella Live in Berlin...

...only my pick was "How High the Moon"

[Catshrink]

49. That is one great album....

I love the Mack the Knife...I always loved this part:

"What's the next chorus, to this song now?
This is the one now, I don't know!
But it was the swingin' tune, and it's a hit tune
So we tried to do Mack the Knife.

Ah, Louie Miller, ah something about cash
Yeah, Miller, he was spinnin' out trash
And McHeath dear, he spends like a sailor
Tell me tell me tell me now,
Could that boy do something rash?

Ah Bobby Darrin and Louie Armstrong
They made a record, ah but they did

And now Ella, Ella, and her fellas
We're makin' a wreck, what a wreck
Of Mack the Knife!"

[tishaLA]

69. I agree with How High the Moon

[saltpoint]

45. Dookus and phaseolus --

-- One of the most compelling reasons for scientists to invent a Time Machine is so the three of us can retur to Berlin and hear this woman sing that night.

And we should bring all our friends, too.

Ella is transcendent.

[Dookus]

58. a few months ago

somebody posted a thread positing exactly that - time machine. Go anywhere at anytime. What do you pick?

I picked that night in Berlin.

[saltpoint]

72. Oh Jesus, that's incredible.

Well, I pity the fool who tries to argue with your choice.

[oxymoron]

68. Ella at her peak.

This has to be my favorite performance of all time. No one can compare.

[tishaLA]

71. I'd nominate the "Mack the Knife" she did with Duke

on Ella and Duke at the Cote d'Azure (1966). Even though she knew the words then--so "forgetting" them was impossible--she tore up some scat choruses and left the guys in Duke's band in stitches.

[Dookus]

85. yeah, also good

and of course she knew the words. But getting them wrong was so much more fun.

She had a few hundred amazing vocal performances recorded. Thousands more live, I'm sure.

I have never heard a singer who could actually SING a song better than her. Today's hags like Whitney, Mariah, Christina, etc. all have vocal talent, but not one of them knows HOW to sing a song. It's all showing off. It's all about them, not the song. Ella put the song ahead of herself, and a hundred years from now, people will still be listening to Ella, not the others.

[OneBlueSky]

90. anything by Ella is better than . . .

anything that's not by Ella . . .

[asjr]

37. Roberta Flack and Etta James

Flack for "The First Time Ever I saw your Face."
James for "At Last."

[blondeatlast]

59. Etta with the perfect sexy love song--what a combo!

Hubby has become a fan even though his taste runs to Hip-Hop...

:evilgrin:

[blondeatlast]

38. Aretha Franklin--

Forget "Respect," try these:

Dr. Feelgood--if that don't get ya struttin' and h***in!, nothing will. The last phrase is an orgasm in song lyrics...

I Never Loved a Man (The Way I Loved You). Lust and anger and the Queen of Soul--Blows everyone else outta the water.

I'm a huge Etta James fan, too, but Aretha tears 'em all with these two.

[NightTrain]

77. Ya beat me to it!

:hi: :yourock:

[TroubleMan]

43. Anita Baker

Damn near any of her songs...take your pick.

"Giving You The Best That I Got" is my favorite.

But there's this moment in a song called "Room" - which absolutely blows my mind. Right at the end. It nearly brings me to tears not matter how many times I've heard it.

[Jim Sagle]

44. Carole King. Her Tapestry album was the best.

[saltpoint]

47. Hard to argue with the performances on that album --

-- and the songs sound as if they were written this morning.

[Jim Sagle]

79. Someone did a remake of "It's Too Late" about a year ago. It was lame.

[saltpoint]

83. I've heard it -- and I'm glad people are still --

-- doing her music, but I love her originals best.

Her "Up on the Roof" is beyond belief.

[KenLayedOff]

50. Kate Bush

period

[blondeatlast]

51. Pretenders (Chrissie Hynde)--Back on the Chain Gang

and Message of Love...

[grannylib]

98. And '2000 Miles' I love that song

[Ladyhawk]

54. I'll get bashed for this.

Karen Carpenter - "Don't Cry for Me, Argentina"

Let the bashing commence.

[Catshrink]

57. Well, after a few gin and tonics I can do a great Evita also.

So I won't bash you.

[blondeatlast]

62. NONONONONO bashing from here--I loved KC; still do.

That voice was a rare gift we were given for too short a time.

I read a critic once who said that if you couldn't appreciate Karen Carpenter's gift, you had no business calling yourself a music lover.

[saltpoint]

55. Let me throw in a couple here...

"Don't Sleep in the Subway" by Petula Clark

"From Boulder to Birmingham" by Emmylou Harris

"Mississippi God Damn" by Nina Simone

and

"Think" by Aretha Franklin

[Catshrink]

61. A classical choice here: Kiri Te Kanawa singing Gabriel Faure's

Pie Jesu. She is awesome!

[saltpoint]

63. Oh wow. I have most of the instrumental / choral work of --

-- Faure, but not this one.

I will have to hunt it down.

Thanks for the suggestion!

[Catshrink]

66. It's from his Requiem....

It's one of my favorite classical works. In paradisium is also phenomenal.

[saltpoint]

70. Ok. Thanks. Have you heard the choral arrangement --

-- of The Pavanne?

[Catshrink]

75. Yes! It's fabulous.

Faure was such an interesting character! I remember reading a story about him needing a piece for a concert. He'd procrastinated and been out drinking all night the night before the deadline. He sat down and composed a piece for it -- and it won. I think it was the Cantique de Jean Racine, but can't remember for sure.

[SiobhanClancy]

64. Kate Smith~God Bless America

:evilgrin:

[scarlet_owl]

67. Big Mama Thornton

"Cotton Pickin' Blues" and "They Call Me Big Mama" are my favorites.

[DS1]

73. The one the reader likes best

[saltpoint]

81. Help me out, DS1 --

-- "the one the reader likes best" ?

[DS1]

93. I'm saying it's all relative

the reader, being you, thinks the one you like best is the best ever

:7

[Ysabel]

112. yeah...

and they're all great... :)

[tishaLA]

76. Sarah Vaughan "Maria"

on Sassy Swings the Tivoli

Ella doing St Louis Blues in Rome, 1958 or C-Jam Blues with Basie and the JATP, Santa Monica 1972 or How High the Moon, Berlin 1960 or Stompin' at the Savoy on Ella at the Opera House, 1957. (I can go on)

Emmylou Harris "Icy Blue Heart" from Bluebird

Betty Carter doing "A Tisket a Tasket" at an Ella Fitzgerald tribute concert where I saw her two weeks before her death.

Streisand doing "Don't Rain on My Parade" on Broadway Cast of Funny Girl or doing "Cry Me a River" on The Barbra Streisand Album.

(and I could still go on) LOTS of good choices above

[NightTrain]

78. Since Aretha's "Respect" has already been mentioned...

...I'll pick a few other all-time faves:

I'D RATHER GO BLIND, Etta James
MAYBE, The Chantels
WISH SOMEONE WOULD CARE, Irma Thomas

[saltpoint]

80. 3 huge stuffed animal prizes to the man on the all-night --

-- radio. Great list, NightTrain -- not surprising coming from you.

Thanks.

[stanwyck]

82. Patsy Cline

singing "Crazy" or "Sweet Dreams" or anything else. I'm strictly rock n roll but Patsy had the voice of an angel.

[saltpoint]

84. Yes, she did. You're not alone as a rocker who --

-- likes Patsy's voice. Most of my friends are rock and rock only, but stop in their tracks for Patsy Cline.

[MissMillie]

102. My nod goes to Sweet Dreams

There never has been and never will be a voice like Patsy's.

[Burma Jones]

107. "I Fall To Pieces"

I read something in Esquire once while in a waiting room, a thing about the 100 or so best things about America published shortly after 9/11. One of the things that stuck with me was this entry:

Patsy Cline: If you ever forget what red neon lights look like reflected on a rainy street at 2 AM in some small town, listen and you will remember...(paraphrased)

[Gildor Inglorion]

86. Judy Collins

"Amazing Grace" or anything else. Her voice is perfect.

#2: Grace Slick "Somebody to Love"

[saltpoint]

89. I'll take half a dozen of both, Gildor Inglorion.

I heard Judy Collins at Florida Atlantic University. She soared. It looked as if she was just standing on the stage, but believe me -- she SOARED.

[populistmom]

87. Sarah McLachlan or Janis Joplin (depends on my mood)

Soft, sweet, romantic, and melancholy or pissed-off-woman-in-your-face who's ready to kick your ass!!!

[ProfessorGAC]

103. Sarah On "Sweet Surrender"

That is an absolutely marvelous vocal performance! The phrasing at the end of the word "Sweet" in the chorus is precious! She is right on the beat and changes and then holds the word "too long" is just the perfect way.

I love that song. Not because i think it's a great song, (it's a good song, but not great) but her performance just knocks me out.
The Professor

[populistmom]

115. That's a good one

My favorite of hers will always be Possession. Love that song.

[Spider Jerusalem]

88. Nina Simone's version of "I Shall Be Released". (n/t)

[Mrs. Venation]

91. There Are Too Many To Name Just One

I love all kinds of music. For those of you who are into folk music, I'd suggest Priscilla Herdman's recording "And The Band Played Waltzing Mathilda" and Meg Davis' "Captain Jack and the Mermaid" I don't know if Priscilla's recording is still available; I haven't heard it for about 30 years, but I do know that Meg Davis has her own web site where you can order her recordings. Also, for those of us who love to laugh, there is no one better than Christine Lavin.

Country music -- well there's the obvious one, Emmylou Harris. Her voice is smooth as velvet and improves with age like fine wine. Suzy Bogguss is a very under-rated singer and song writer. Shedaisy is a sister trio with fantastic harmony. The Dixie Chicks are awesome. I saw them in concert before they really made it to the big time, and I can tell you these women not only sing, they are superb musicians.

Opera -- check out Denyse Graves. You'll be glad you did.

Jazz -- Diana Krall. She comes close to Ella Fitzgerald with her vocal clarity.

My favorite of all (let the flames begin) -- Barbra Streisand. 'nuff said.

[saltpoint]

92. Hi, kpharmer. The Freepers don't like Streisand's --

-- politics. They especially don't like the money she generously gives to our candidates.

But no Freeper I ever heard can sing like Barbara Streisand. I like her politics, I like her generosity, and I like the 35-octave range she brings to pop standards.

Stick to your guns -- you've got it right.

[Zomby Woof]

94. Bessie Smith - "Downhearted Blues"

Or Bonnie Raitt, "I Can't Make You Love Me", from 'Nick of Time'.

Or Dale Krantz, "Tashauna", from the Rossington-Collins Band's 'This Is The Way'.

[nickgutierrez]

95. Beth Gibbons of Portishead, on "Dummy"

[nofurylike]

97. ALL of the above, literally, and

Pirate Jenny, by Nina Simone


peace

[saltpoint]

99. People, your musical tastes may vary, but --

-- you have a spectacular range. What a great list.

I think we should use this list of recordings for a time capsule. Light years from now, a future civilization will know we at least had some of the best music you can put in a cranium.

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

100. Julia Migenez-Johnson in the film version of the opera Carmen

She is a fantastic, sexy Carmen, both vocally and visually. Her voice is a treasure. Placido Domingo is also fantastic. If you have never seen this movie and think you hate opera, you will be amazed at how wonderful an experience this movie is.

[chiburb]

104. "People" by Barbra....n/t

.

[Burma Jones]

105. Ellen Santaniello of the Zorgina Vocal Ensemble

Doing "Mari Stanko" with Ensemble Unicorn. It's a Traditional Syrian Christian Hymn. It starts slow and quiet and ends raucous and joyful. Her singing is incredible.

Available on Naxos 8.553132


you can hear a sample at:

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00000144X/qid=1078517035/sr=2-1/ref=sr_2_1/102-1770210-0320901

[Snow]

108. Okay, for pop stuff, the little sparrow - Edith Piaf - "non regrettez"

or however you spell that silly french - recordings of her Singing it when she was older really gives it weight.

For classic or opera, oh, man, how can I choose? Probably my favorite at the moment is Hymn to the Sun - ummmm, from the Golden Cockeral, Rimsky-korsakov? Favorite performer for that? Siiiiiggghhhh! Kathy Battle, bless her ornery, ill-tempered, spoiled child little heart. She does have the most wonderful silvery shimmering tones.

[Snow]

109. Oh, another - "Amazing Grace", Jessye Norman.

[terrya]

110. Barbra Streisand at the Academy Awards two years ago.

At the end of the telecast, Barbra sang "You'll Never Walk Alone" backed up by a choir. The Oscar telecast commemorated 09/11.

Her performance gave me goose bumps. Seriously. It was the best vocal performance I've ever heard.

Terry

[regularguy]

111. kd lang: "Three Days". Gives me goosebumps everytime.

Honorable Mention: Sarah, Dinah, Ella.

[geniph]

114. Janis, 'Summertime' or

maybe Sinead O'Connor, 'The Foggy Dew.'

on edit: SHIT! I forgot Joan Osbourne's incomparable cover of 'What Becomes of the Brokenhearted'

[arwalden]

116. Judy Garland: The Man That Got Away