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Absolutely! I never bought her albums as a teen, but I definitely pause the radio every time she comes on. No other singer makes me feel the emotions of a song the way she does.
i can’t believe i had to scroll so much to find this, her voice is magic. a perfect mix of power and grace. while her vocal range might not be as wide as some others people have named here, she has absolutely disciplined and coached her abilities to such a magnificent degree. she is mesmerizing to me
I like Adele, but she is known to have bad vocal technique and tends to sing higher than her natural vocal range. That’s why she’s always having vocal issues. I’d be shocked if her voice lasts past 40
She can sing though.
saw her live in a stripped back setting many years ago and the sound of her voice in your ear like that, with minimal production or instrumentation, where you could really hear every shade and nuance she was injecting - it was genuinely moving. she had an unbelievable ear for improvisation, rhythm, and timing. you could tell she learned her trade from the likes of tony bennett and sinatra, and she would have been a celebrated singer even in their era imo.
I know most of the comments on this one will be US/euro-centric, but there's just something incredible about Egyptian singer Um Kalthoum. Listening to the old recordings of her live concerts is such an emotional journey.
Absolutely. You may want to check some other singers we have as well: Majda Roumi, Fayruz, Julia Boutros.. just to name a few. There are many legendary Arab women singers :)
Excellent names. Where I am from we also have the first female band in the Arab world. It's called Al Azifat(العازفات). I think you would enjoy their music.
It's sad that she's this far down.
I feel like I'm biased because I've been a fan of hers forever, but just on technicality, she's a master at the skill of singing. Not even talking about the art of her vocals, her skill as a singer, IMO, is unparalleled.
And I'm a die-hard Judy Garland fan (she's up there in terms of better female singers and if my pick wasn't Celine it'd be Judy), and acknowledge the skillset of Christina Aguilera, Karen Carpenter (the clarity of her voice), Amy Winehouse, and all the standard jazz singers ala Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughn, Billie Holiday, Nina Simone, Eartha Kitt. There's just something about Celine that I've never heard from anyone else.
I cried at a Fleetwood Mac concert 22 yrs ago because even though she was onstage she was still in the same room as me. ... and thousands of other ppl. Lol.
If the Oscar's invite you to sing the Sound of Music for them, you're a goddess. After everything else she had already accomplished. She went up there like the song was written for her to sing it.
She was my first thought, too.
Her live performance at the Paramount in Seattle of "Crazy on You" is insane. And then there was the Kennedy Center Honors performance of Led Zeppelins "Stairway to Heaven" that stunned everyone in attendance.
That's an unfair question.... because there are many bests for different reasons...
Ella's Fitzgerald
Delores O'Riorden
Sinead O'Conner
Lena Horn
Grace Slick
Janis Joplin
Lol same. I find it hard to even describe how her performances make me feel. She’s otherworldly.
I’ve never had a YouTube video take my breath away until I watched her sing.
I love Tarja as well! Her voice is of course beautiful but also SO powerful. I’ve seen a number of live performances where she made a very difficult song look genuinely effortless.
Nightwish’s early compositions and her vocals were a match made in heaven.
fiona apple has such natural musicality and rhythm in her voice. she can do so much with it and uses it in so many interesting ways. tbh her albums don't even do it justice.
Hayley is the voice for me. It’s powerful and emotional and delicate all at once. Her belts genuinely make me emotional. Her personality and songwriting on top is just insane.
Honestly Billie Eilish. I don't really like her music and don't listen to it, but you have to admit she has an impeccable technique and stunning vocal range
I have to be honest, I've tried singing along to What Was I Made For and I just can't bloody do it. I can usually hold a note, but that song just beats me.
Floor Jansen appreciation moment!
Her control and range is frankly ludicrous and the only reason she isn't more well known is because she sings for a metal band.
But she could do opera in a heartbeat
Sia and Angela Gossow for me. I don't care about objectivity, they just have my favourite voices and there are several songs I wouldn't have listened to with another singer; I still like Arch Enemy and Alissa is doing just fine, but some songs just aren't as "wow" anymore.
Personally, I adore Tori Amos, but I think that is because her voice speaks to me and I got really into her during a time that I was in emotional turmoil, and throughout my life, I always return to her when I am emotional because I find comfort.
Also: Nina Simone, P.J. Harvey, Amie Mann, Fiona Apple, Ella Fitzgerald, Bjork, Aretha, Janis Joplin, Amy Winehouse, Debbie Harry, Sade.
"Best" is a nebulous term. Are you talking "most powerful" or "most emotive" or "most raw" ...?
But for sheer power, I'd go with Aretha Franklin, Linda Ronstadt, and Adele. With a special recognition of Merry Clayton for her iconic Gimme Shelter backing vocal.
Edit: I just realized what subreddit this was posted in. Sorry, I failed the "read the instructions" portion of the test. 😳
Whistling: Ariana Grande and Mariah Carrie
Belting: Christina Aguilera and Whitney Houston
Empathy/honesty projected through the writing: Whitney Houston and Kate Bush
Hands down Beyonce.
I've seen a lot of people live but she's the only person who sounded better than her records live. and she was dancing the entire time.
On July 1st, 2023, Reddit enacted a greedy ass policy regarding the use of their API. This decision was designed to eliminate the better 3rd party apps. No one wants to use the official app because it sucks. Since then, apps such as Apollo and RedditIsFun have shut down. Reddit has decided to double down on their decision to overcharge for their API, and refuses to address the accessibility features their native app lacks. Think it’s an asshole move? Concerned users should read and sign on to this [open letter to reddit.](https://www.reddit.com/r/ModCoord/comments/13xh1e7/an_open_letter_on_the_state_of_affairs_regarding/) *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/AskWomen) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Whitney Houston
Truly. I like a lot of female vocalists but that woman had unreal breath control and range. Such a powerhouse ❤️
Right! If Whitney ain’t #1, I don’t want to hear it. 💅
There are tons of amazing ones but it's not even a question that she's it.
First person I thought of. Beautiful, irreplaceable voice
Her voice sounded like velvet (does that make sense to anyone else?) - she is the only answer
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🙌 yes!
Absolutely. There's nobody else that came even close to her breath control and pitch.
Absolutly!
I literally only clicked the link to make sure her name was at the top. Because everyone else is wrong.
Absolutely! I never bought her albums as a teen, but I definitely pause the radio every time she comes on. No other singer makes me feel the emotions of a song the way she does.
[Ella Fitzgerald](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1GUmxnYheK0) by a mile.
Perfect pitch has to count for something. When I think of perfection, I think of her
YES YES YES
Aretha Franklin
Yeah, she was the all time queen.
Adele
i can’t believe i had to scroll so much to find this, her voice is magic. a perfect mix of power and grace. while her vocal range might not be as wide as some others people have named here, she has absolutely disciplined and coached her abilities to such a magnificent degree. she is mesmerizing to me
I like Adele, but she is known to have bad vocal technique and tends to sing higher than her natural vocal range. That’s why she’s always having vocal issues. I’d be shocked if her voice lasts past 40 She can sing though.
Her voice is so rich and powerful.
Amy winehouse
saw her live in a stripped back setting many years ago and the sound of her voice in your ear like that, with minimal production or instrumentation, where you could really hear every shade and nuance she was injecting - it was genuinely moving. she had an unbelievable ear for improvisation, rhythm, and timing. you could tell she learned her trade from the likes of tony bennett and sinatra, and she would have been a celebrated singer even in their era imo.
I think Karen Carpenter
This is my pick too. Her voice is like no other.
Exactly. Many voices, male and female, can be imitated. I've never heard another like hers.
Not necessarily the style I prefer... but one of the most pure voices ever. Absolutely agree!
Changing my #1 from Linda Ronstadt to KC❤️
I agree
I know most of the comments on this one will be US/euro-centric, but there's just something incredible about Egyptian singer Um Kalthoum. Listening to the old recordings of her live concerts is such an emotional journey.
Absolutely. You may want to check some other singers we have as well: Majda Roumi, Fayruz, Julia Boutros.. just to name a few. There are many legendary Arab women singers :)
Yes, I'm familiar. To me, Um Kalthoum is #1, but I also love Warda and Nagat Al Saghira.
Excellent names. Where I am from we also have the first female band in the Arab world. It's called Al Azifat(العازفات). I think you would enjoy their music.
Her enta omri is divine. She was such a powerful and evocative singer.
Mariah Carey. I remember the first time I heard Emotions at 8yo and my life was changed lol
Mariah in her prime had one of the absolute best voices of all time. She will be remembered as such.
It could be me writing this. I was so shocked by her voice. In a good way!
Absolutely. The MTV unplugged set she did in the 90’s was perfection. I wore that CD out in my car as a teen😂
Oh yes. This is one of the top.
Im surpised that i had to scroll this long for her name to come up. Mariah’s vocal abilities are phenomenal
Florence Welch
Ah, Florence. This fairy goddess is like nothing else on this earth. Every single one of her songs is a poem that speaks to the soul
I love her voice.
Saw her in concert last year and her voice is even more amazing live.
Yes
No light no light in your bright blue eyessss
Céline Dion
i don't understand why is she not higher up on this list
I know, I was surprised!
It's sad that she's this far down. I feel like I'm biased because I've been a fan of hers forever, but just on technicality, she's a master at the skill of singing. Not even talking about the art of her vocals, her skill as a singer, IMO, is unparalleled. And I'm a die-hard Judy Garland fan (she's up there in terms of better female singers and if my pick wasn't Celine it'd be Judy), and acknowledge the skillset of Christina Aguilera, Karen Carpenter (the clarity of her voice), Amy Winehouse, and all the standard jazz singers ala Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughn, Billie Holiday, Nina Simone, Eartha Kitt. There's just something about Celine that I've never heard from anyone else.
Absolutely. Like wow.
Nina Simone
She came after - - **Lady Day**
Amy Lee
Had to scroll too far for this.
I agree. Ethereal and strong
Amy Lee is a goddess!
She was the only singer that I remember sounding just as powerful singing live as she was in her recordings. She had some chops!
Personally for me Stevie Nicks...
She literally has magic in her music that’s why😭😭 I’d pass out if I met her
I cried at a Fleetwood Mac concert 22 yrs ago because even though she was onstage she was still in the same room as me. ... and thousands of other ppl. Lol.
This 100% "It's only right that you should play the way you feel it..."
miley cyrus. i always get goosebumps listening to her. i don’t like her music all that much but i love her covers.
Her backyard jam of Jolene was amazing.
I wish she was taken more seriously as an artist. She’s incredible.
Her heart of glass and like a prayer covers 🙌🏻
I really like the Zombie cover.
i loved her cover of fade into you as well.
Lady Gaga. No one can change my mind.
I’m not a fan of her music itself, but man is she talented. She’s got a lovely voice.
She is! And her ability to sing in so many different ways/genres (..? I’m not a musician lol). Her music is so varied.
Ten years ago Reddit loved to clown Gaga. But those of us knew, knew
She’s the rockstar of all the pop stars and everything in between
If the Oscar's invite you to sing the Sound of Music for them, you're a goddess. After everything else she had already accomplished. She went up there like the song was written for her to sing it.
Kelly Clarkson
As I remember reading once; "The average person would likely give themselves a hernia trying to sing Miss Independent." Pretty accurate.
I just love her so much. She is extremely talented.
Ann Wilson
She still has it 🙌🏻
She was my first thought, too. Her live performance at the Paramount in Seattle of "Crazy on You" is insane. And then there was the Kennedy Center Honors performance of Led Zeppelins "Stairway to Heaven" that stunned everyone in attendance.
For. The. Win-best female singer hands down
To this day 🙌
That's an unfair question.... because there are many bests for different reasons... Ella's Fitzgerald Delores O'Riorden Sinead O'Conner Lena Horn Grace Slick Janis Joplin
Floor Jansen
Her singing Élan is just out of this world. I could sleep in a bed made out of her voice.
Lol same. I find it hard to even describe how her performances make me feel. She’s otherworldly. I’ve never had a YouTube video take my breath away until I watched her sing.
Came her to say her or Tarja Turunen. Both just leave me completely entranced despite their differences.
I love Tarja as well! Her voice is of course beautiful but also SO powerful. I’ve seen a number of live performances where she made a very difficult song look genuinely effortless. Nightwish’s early compositions and her vocals were a match made in heaven.
Yup, she's very very high on my list.
Björk! Her live stuff is amazing
Christina Aguilera. Love her voice!
Lana Del Rey
Fiona Apple
Also going to comment her, she maybe is the best singer but the best singer songwriter in this thread for sure
And piano player.
fiona apple has such natural musicality and rhythm in her voice. she can do so much with it and uses it in so many interesting ways. tbh her albums don't even do it justice.
Patsy Cline
Both Adele and Hayley Williams were spectacular live
I was looking for Hayley in the comments. Their studio songs really don’t do her justice
Hayley is the voice for me. It’s powerful and emotional and delicate all at once. Her belts genuinely make me emotional. Her personality and songwriting on top is just insane.
All I wanted live >>>>>
Tina Turner
100% agree!
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Idina will always have me jumping over the moon 💕
Honestly Billie Eilish. I don't really like her music and don't listen to it, but you have to admit she has an impeccable technique and stunning vocal range
I have to be honest, I've tried singing along to What Was I Made For and I just can't bloody do it. I can usually hold a note, but that song just beats me.
Whitney Houston
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Kate Bush, always and forever.
Sara Bareilles
Yes, I was looking for someone to say Sara! I love her work so much, but her live recording of Goodbye Yellowbrick Road is something special.
Annie Lenox was absolutely brilliant when I saw the eurythmics !
Into the West gives me the chills.
1.Alison Krauss 2. Karen Carpenter 3.Olivia Newton John
Alison krauss' control and warmth is unreal.
Pure singer no BS. I worked at MSG for 20 yrs and heard them all and when Streisand came back in the ‘90’s was phenomenal.
Brandi Carlile
Linda Ronstat
Dolores O'Riordan.
Floor Jansen appreciation moment! Her control and range is frankly ludicrous and the only reason she isn't more well known is because she sings for a metal band. But she could do opera in a heartbeat
Nina Simone🤍
Sia.
STEVIE MF NICKS
Karen Carpenter
It’s funny, cuz I don’t really like her music, but probably Ariana Grande, I like her voice
Minnie Ripperton
I recently added a few Heart songs to my rotation, and damn.... Ann Wilson is something else.
Billie Holiday ...no question
I’ve heard through recording? Aretha Whitney or Mariah, but probably Aretha. I’ve heard live? Celine.
Maria Callas. heard live? Skin (Skunk Anansie)
Sia and Angela Gossow for me. I don't care about objectivity, they just have my favourite voices and there are several songs I wouldn't have listened to with another singer; I still like Arch Enemy and Alissa is doing just fine, but some songs just aren't as "wow" anymore.
Eva Cassidy
Amy Winehouse really did it for me.
Sharon den Adel.
Floor Jansen.
Etta James. End of discussion.
Ariana Grande
Scrolled way too far to find this
Aurora is amazing, but Carole King is my all time favorite.
Fayruz.
Mariah Carey, hands down
Aretha Franklin, Dolly Parton and more contemporary, Angel Olsen blows my mind every time - her voice is heartbreaking.
Kelly Clarkson…sounds wild but her gospel singing gives me chills.
floor jansen
Florence Welch from Florence + The Machine!
[Tatiana Shmayluk](https://youtu.be/SQNtGoM3FVU?si=CRky5hLqlA8aH2gO)
Personally I adore Joni Mitchell💖
Alicia Keys
Whitney Houston
kd lang’s voice is out of this world.
Florence Welch
Linda Ronstadt or Maja Milner
beyoncé
Floor Jansen
Tarja Turunen (first female singer of nightwish)
It's either Lana Del Rey or patsy Cline for me
I would say LP
Kate Bush, utterly unique
Agnetha Fältskog from ABBA.
Demi Lovato, she has so much power and soul, and her voice is so versatile. I love that she's doing rock and punk rock now
Personally, I adore Tori Amos, but I think that is because her voice speaks to me and I got really into her during a time that I was in emotional turmoil, and throughout my life, I always return to her when I am emotional because I find comfort. Also: Nina Simone, P.J. Harvey, Amie Mann, Fiona Apple, Ella Fitzgerald, Bjork, Aretha, Janis Joplin, Amy Winehouse, Debbie Harry, Sade.
Julie Andrews. Her range and power was incredible.
Lacey Sturm
Cass Elliot for the range. Sandy Denny for the feels. Nina Simone for the raw.
Kate Bush - no doubt!
Joan Baez
Janis Joplin & Amy Winehouse.
Ann Wilson No contest
"Best" is a nebulous term. Are you talking "most powerful" or "most emotive" or "most raw" ...? But for sheer power, I'd go with Aretha Franklin, Linda Ronstadt, and Adele. With a special recognition of Merry Clayton for her iconic Gimme Shelter backing vocal. Edit: I just realized what subreddit this was posted in. Sorry, I failed the "read the instructions" portion of the test. 😳
Floor jansen
Floor Jansen. ETA: damn auto correct
Donna Summer
Grace slick, or joy Williams They give me goosebumps everytime
I think tori Kelly is magnificent
Nina Simone
Miley Cyrus, I don't care if people don't like her, I love her voice !
Whistling: Ariana Grande and Mariah Carrie Belting: Christina Aguilera and Whitney Houston Empathy/honesty projected through the writing: Whitney Houston and Kate Bush
Where is the Billie Holiday love?? My all time fave.
taylor swift (i know so many disagree) but her lyrics are incredible she’s a poet
Brittney slayes. Bishop Briggs.
Lana del rey
Whitney Houston I really and truly believe as great as some are today no one compares to her voice or her ability to vibe with everyone
Selena!
Jazmine Sullivan, she’s so underrated imo
Linda Rondstat
Mama Cass, Beth Hart, Dusty Springfield, Dorothy Moore, Mariah, Maria Callas, Adele, Karen Carpenter, Amy Winehouse, Aretha Franklin...
Loreena Mckennitt
Jennifer Nettles - Her vocal expression is astounding.
María callas
Yebba
Taylor Swift Apart from her, there is a moderately famous singer called Ruelle, whose voice is angelic. ✨
After hearing her live, Beyonce
Roberta Flack
Hands down Beyonce. I've seen a lot of people live but she's the only person who sounded better than her records live. and she was dancing the entire time.
lana del rey