Apologies to those that may have read this in another (now defunct) blog life of mine but worth reviving I think.
I’ve always been a sucker for women singers across a wide range of genres in a way that their male colleagues have never quite achieved. Of course I have my favorite male singers and bands but there’s some je ne sais quoi about contemporary musical divas that strikes a deeper chord.
So I thought I’d share some of them with you and hope you too derive some of the pleasure I get from their work.
Lisa Gerrard – Of course I had to start with an Australian and there is nothing more exotic and unmistakable than her ethereal vocal range. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FIoJ5MNOihY
Patti Smith – Not only is ‘Free Money’ one of the great rock songs of all time, Patti has been a pioneer over decades. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9kNj8nOIc28
Patty Griffin – A great songwriter and a beautiful voice that crosses musical boundaries. Long Ride Home is a beautiful example. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pdlFXfm7sQY
Chrissie Amphlett – Tragically no longer with us but an iconic Australian rock singer who pushed all the boundaries. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I5SeYI_FoxA&list=PLPajZHHF-q8-lljEDlI8mnULF0V-whxP1&index=120&t=0s
Odetta – A timeless folk voice https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vXQokJSqNWA
And finally, I have to include an English contender.
Dusty Springfield – Part of the soundtrack of my youth was Dusty songs like ‘You Don’t Have to Say You Love Me’. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YmoIywxxFFA&list=PL587A0831D47BAF57&index=13&t=0s
Join in the hit parade of great women singers.
Edith Piaf, nickname the little sparrow? She can move this hardened heart to tears.
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Me too, Hobbo. How could I have failed to mention her.
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Pleased that you finally got the link!
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I have posted this comment once but it magically disappeared! I sometimes think that WP stands for Writings Pulverised!!!
Anyway, one of my favourite singers is Edith Piaf. Nicknamed ‘little sparrow.’ She can still bring a tear to my eye. Here is a clip…
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Don’t get me started on the eccentricities of WP and their new blockhead editing tool.
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Good call; I’d put Emmy Lou- at her best- there too, Mavis Staples, Dusty undoubtedly. Larkin Poe of late are consistently putting out fine fine stuff.
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I agree about Emmylou at her best; always been patchy for me. Heard of Mavis but never really listened. Hadn’t hear of Larkin Poe but had heard of the Lovell sisters. Thanks, Obb. Some fine listening coming up.
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I’m a bit more modern … Vika and Linda Bull have dynamite voices
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Totally agree on Vika and Linda but modern? I remember them well from when they worked with Joe Camilleri in The Black Sorrows in the 80’s and they’re about the same age as Lisa Gerrard and Patty Griffin 😉 But you’re right to the extent that for reasons unfathomable I don’t listen to music much anymore, except for when I’ve had a couple of reds and tune into Youtube, put on the headphones and crank up my ‘old time’ favorites. However my wife has introduced me to Uyanga Bold, a Mongolian-born singer whose done soundtrack work for many movies and has similar qualities to Lisa Gerrard. Check her out https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_tf5ohTCmRs
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I guess I think them modern as they’re still putting on concerts ☺️
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🙂
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