100 Greatest Singers of all time…per Rolling Stone…

I ran across this article today, not sure how old it is (2008?) but I thought I’d pass it along to see what you think.

http://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/100-greatest-singers-of-all-time-19691231

I don’t know who this “panel of 179 experts” is….but this list is pretty jacked up in my opinion. Christina Aguilera above Mariah? Bob Dylan above Stevie Wonder? Barbara Streisand, Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra, Celine Dion, Pavarotti, Bocelli and Chaka Khan completely left off? I know it’s hard to rank singers that are from different eras and genres, but still the innovators should be before the copycats. And true vocalists above showmen….showmanship and entertainment value doesn’t equate a greatest singer of all time in my book….that needs its own list so they can place Madonna, David Bowie, etc…on that one. Bob Dylan has a terrible voice…great songwriter and performer? Sure….but SINGER?

Top 25 for me would be:

1. Aretha Franklin – they had this one right.
2. Ella Fitzgerald
3. Barbara Streisand – she’s not my personal fave, but I have mad respect for her huge range and control
4. Stevie Wonder
5. Bobby McFerrin – yes the acapella genious – don’t judge off “Don’t worry, be happy” – check out his youtube performances and you’ll be BLOWN AWAY of what he is capable of producing out of just his body and a microphone.
6. Michael Jackson
7. Whitney Houston
8. Kim Burrell
9. Sting
10. Prince
11. Mariah Carey
12. Chaka Khan
13. Tina Turner
14. Celine Dion
15. Louis Armstrong
16. Steve Perry
17. Phil Collins…yes, mainstream, but I have always been a big fan.
18. Yolanda Adams
19. Steven Tyler
20. Anne Wilson
21. Sarah McLaughlin…why? Because she was the first person I heard to mix yodeling into mainstream music and her breathiness is beautiful too
22. Mavis Staples – that low range with the feel and “stank” she put on everything!
23. Jill Scott – to mix spoken word, soul, opera and jazz….she is a HUGE inspiration to me
24. Anita Baker
25. Patti Labelle

It was almost impossible to put these in any kind of order….but they are my personal faves as far as innovating style within their genres, vocal techniques and ranges. This list has NOTHING to do with their stage presence or entertainment value….just vocal abilities. Frank Sinatra and others would have definitely made my list of top 50, but….I don’t have all day to ponder these things!

Summertime is calling….

It’s halfway through May and already pretty hot here in Texas. Summer is pretty much here…. I am already living in flip flops, sandals and maxi dresses. I also have my favorite foods and music this time of year….watermelon, grilled corn, pasta salads, pina colada cake and chocolate delight dessert is a MUST have at our house!

Certain songs always bring summer memories –  some are memories from movies watched when out of school in the summer, some were played at the skating rink where I pretty much LIVED during summers and some are just always on the radio this time of year:

• Summertime – Jazzy Jeff and Fresh Prince
• I can’t wait – Nu Shooz
• Higher Love – Steve Winwood
• Cruel Summer and Venus – Bananarama
• Rock The Boat – Aaliyah
• Take My Breath Away – Berlin
• Wipeout and California Girls-Beach Boys (I know it’s cheesy, but it’s summer!)
• No Rain – Blind Melon
• Two Princes – Spin Doctors
• OPP – Naughty By Nature
• All I wanna do – Sheryl Crow
• Under the Bridge – Red Hot Chili Peppers – yep, summer I graduated HS, 92!
• Tennessee – Arrested Development – another out of high school moment!
• Stay – Lisa Loeb – yep, 92….oh the memories.
• Praise You – Fatboy Slim….you know you loved it too
• Ignition – R Kelly

What songs remind you it’s summertime????

The Voice – Big Girls Rock, pt. deaux

I’ve been watching The Voice off and on this season and caught the semi-finals this past Monday to see who was left of the pack. I was excited to see our two plus size beauties are still getting some love!

Erin Willett was beautiful as usual, but sadly I did not enjoy her performance as much as the crowd and judges did. The judges clearly ignored the fact that the entire song was pitchy and out of tune…yes, it was emotional, but it wasn’t pitchy a little here and there….it was all over the place from beginning to end. I bet she went home last night….didn’t catch the elimination show.

Katrina Parker is getting better and stronger vocally….I definitely see so much more confidence. I love her tone but her style is REALLY really close to Adele’s, the way she breaks up her phrasing and consonants….I would be interested to hear something she’s recorded pre-Adele to see if that was always her personal vocal style.

I just love the fact that America is showing them love and proving that if you have a great voice, no one cares about your size. The music industry hasn’t adopted this view as of yet, but hopefully they’ll see the light soon…..and we can add the age factor to that as well.

My favorites this year are that young guy on Cee-Lo’s team….2nd is probably Tony Lucca….and then 3rd that raspy female rock singer. Who are your favorite singers this season and who do you think will win?