Which singers CAN REALLY WOW sing?

[CatsNotDogs]

Inspired by a thread about bad singers. In your opinion, which singers have the best voices? I'll vote:

Michael Jackson
Stevie Wonder
James Morrison (underrated)
Christina Aguilera
Celion Dion
Mariah Carey
Whitney Houston
Joss Stone

Adele
Freddie Mercury
Whitney
Mariah
Dolly Parton
Karen Carpenter
Annie Lennox
Prince
MJ
Stevie Nicks
John Legend

Leona Lewis

Mary Black. So clear is her voice, they test speakers' clarity with her records.

Sia (Chandelier)
Alexander O'Neal (who could forget Criticize?!)

Some singers who I have seen live who CAN sing - no auto tune in sight;
Robert Palmer
Bruce Springsteen
Paul Weller
Bjork
David Sylvian
Simon Le Bon
Paul King
Michael Hutchence
Nick Beggs
Freddie Mercury
Adam Lambert

Adam Lambert for me is one of the greatest vocalists ever. Watch the Youtube video of his Who Want’s to Live Forever at IoW festival.

Also have seen live and had my socks knocked off by:
Alfie Boe
Ball and Boe together
Carrie Hope Fletcher
Carrie Underwood (a flawless acapella I Will Always Love You)
Chris Stapleton (stunned the entire o2 into silence at one point!)
Lady Gaga
Jennifer Nettles- hadn’t ever heard of her, she was the support act for Brad Paisley and I cried at Unlove You.

Generally I find country music and musical theatre has absolutely standout talent because they are such competitive fields.

Karla bonoff
Carly Simon
Miley Cyrus
Whitney Houston

Also, can’t believe this hasn’t come up yet. Idina Menzel! Have seen her in concert so got to see Let It Go and Defying Gravity in full in one night!

Liz Fraser (Cocteau Twins)

Hannah from London Grammar.

@activitythree

George Michael was astonishing..such control. His performance of Somebody To Love at the FM tribute was flawless.

This is my all time favourite piece of live music footage. In the entire world. I'm glad to see George Michael mentioned so many times on here.

It's interesting to get an idea of peoples perspective though. Talking about 'wow' singers I would not put Britney, BTS and the like anywhere near a wow list!!

And the person who said Paul McCartney not even a particularly good vocalist, let alone 'wow'

Disagree completely on macca. I was reading this thread and wondering why no Paul, he was the best singer in the best band? And only one mentions so far. I've rather fallen in love with the Beatles again over lockdown, especially Abbey Road and my god, 'golden slumbers' is just amazing. Paul's voice is incredible on it - the vocal range but also the honesty. It can bring me to tears.

I agree with you on George Michael tho!

Other names to acknowledge that I do think have been mentioned are:
Robin pecknold of the fleet foxes
Luther Vandross
Sam Cooke

George Michael & Karen Carpenter

Going further back, Frank Sinatra & Ella Fitzgerald/Etta James

also Miley Cyrus very good live

Hannah from London Grammar sounds like Judy Tzuke.

Just remembered Helen Reddy. Don't think anyone has mentioned her yet.

A few that I don't think have been mentioned so far:

Roger Daltrey
Sandy Denny
Nana Mouskouri
John Farnham (Aussie)
Montserrat Caballé
Joan Baez
Paul Carrack

Yes to Shirley Bassey. Her voice makes me think of stars or champagne bubbles. Just magnificent.

Karen Carpenter had a unique and beautiful voice. I’ve never heard anything similar.

I’m surprised no one has mentioned Anastacia. If you listen to Left Outside Alone, in the intro she sings with a pure, Celtic-sounding voice. Later on, she’s more soulful and she has such power.

@GrouchyKiwi

Bic Runga!

Sorry, I'll stop adding now.

Thank you for reminding me of Bic Runga!! I loved Sway and haven’t heard it for years!

Janis Joplin

Floor Jansen
Einar Selvik

Most of my faves have been mentioned but my 'surprise wow' singer is Nicole Scherzinger. Not a fan of her material but have heard her do other stuff on a few different things on tv and her voice is amazing.

Kelly Jones, Stereophonics

Gabrielle Aplin (not into her stuff but saw her at a festival and her voice blew me away)

Minnie Ripperton

Mariah Carey. Her rehearsal of the song Vanishing for SNL is amazing.

Jeff Buckley. As a pp said....perfection.

George Michael (sadly not in his later years as his voice started to go)
Kevin Simm (check out The Voice audition where he covered Sia's Chandelier)
Hattie Briggs (again check out her album Red or Gold and her cover of Fields of Gold)
Andrea Bocelli

Tim Buckley (I saw Jeff live twice but his dad had much more range)
Paul Buchanan
Scott Walker
Thom Yorke
Bowie
Billy MacKenzie
Marvin Hayes
Prince