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Post by Rick Henry on Oct 8, 2008 13:54:51 GMT -5
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Post by wisejester7 on Oct 9, 2008 6:30:38 GMT -5
We may never hear the world's greatest singer.
For all we know, he or she has already come and gone and never been recorded ... or , at least, not broadcast to a wide audience.
Perhaps, the world's greatest singer might yet not be born.
Of course, this is a purely subjective subject.
My personal favorites are just that ... personal.
In my "time" , I put Karen in the higher upper echelon of singers. There are a slim few who have really captured my attention.
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Post by Rick Henry on Oct 9, 2008 11:34:26 GMT -5
We may never hear the world's greatest singer. For all we know, he or she has already come and gone and never been recorded ... or , at least, not broadcast to a wide audience. Perhaps, the world's greatest singer might yet not be born. Of course, this is a purely subjective subject. My personal favorites are just that ... personal. In my "time" , I put Karen in the higher upper echelon of singers. There are a slim few who have really captured my attention. |
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Post by beaner on Oct 14, 2008 5:31:58 GMT -5
Karen Carpenter's voice, to me, is obviously one that I think a lot of and have most of my life bit I honestly cannot say she is the world's greatest singer. Her voice is most beautiful especially when I hear her sing songs like Ave Maria and such - she was truly magnificent.
However, some other singers who I think are fantastic would be Michael Buble, Anne Murray, Julie Andrews, Ella Fitzgerald (in her prime), Donna Summer, Whitney Houston and the great Bing Crosby too. This is just to name a few of the GREATS!!!
Beaner
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Post by ps11932 on Oct 15, 2008 16:38:51 GMT -5
You are right, it is all subjective; the greatest singer might have lived in the 13th century before technology allowed the gift to be passed on to us. You all have mentioned some of the best of best singers of all (I would add Judy Garland to the list) but I am quite certain that from my subjective point of view no voice will ever be in the class with Karen.
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Post by YesterdayOnceMore on Oct 16, 2008 10:03:27 GMT -5
  Truly is an interesting statement. I'll have to say it this way...to me, Karen Carpenter is one of the singers in my time that propels to the very top of the list. I would prefer to listen to Karen over most others. Yes, I think she definitely has a place in American society as one of the worlds greatest singers. There are more "great" singers....many have been mentioned here. Striesand, Andrews, Buble, Fitzgerald...there are so many more - Sarah Vaughan, Nancy Wilson, Lena Horne, Mel Torme, Cheryl Bentyne and Janis Siegel (Manhattan Transfer) - Chet Baker....each has a place in my world. Honestly, I'm sure I've only actually heard a handful that appeal to me but I'm equally as sure there are LOADS of singers out there that I just have not heard sing..... Karen is by far is at or very close to the top of MY list..... |
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Post by wisejester7 on Oct 17, 2008 8:49:04 GMT -5
Many of you have named some other singers. I agree that some of these people are pretty good. I like Whitney Houston, Barbra Streisand, and, of course, Judy Garland!  For me, a great singer is someone who has the ability or the canny knack to get 'under the radar' of our defenses and touch us on emotional levels, leaving a permanent, indelible mark on our soul/psyche. Some singers are not really all that talented at singing. For example, Madonna. Her singing talent is what I would call "average". I like her songs, but in the hands of a Judy Garland or a Karen Carpenter I think the songs would be so much richer. Madonna IS very talented at promoting her image in the public. She seems to have her finger on the pulse of what many people want to hear ... and she is not afraid to push the edge, either. Another example of a popular "singer" is Bob Dylan. The man can't sing! We just buy into the ideals and ideas he "sings" about. |
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Post by YesterdayOnceMore on Oct 17, 2008 9:36:31 GMT -5
Many of you have named some other singers. I agree that some of these people are pretty good. I like Whitney Houston, Barbra Streisand, and, of course, Judy Garland! For me, a great singer is someone who has the ability or the canny knack to get 'under the radar' of our defenses and touch us on emotional levels, leaving a permanent, indelible mark on our soul/psyche. Some singers are not really all that talented at singing. For example, Madonna. Her singing talent is what I would call "average". I like her songs, but in the hands of a Judy Garland or a Karen Carpenter I think the songs would be so much richer. Madonna IS very talented at promoting her image in the public. She seems to have her finger on the pulse of what many people want to hear ... and she is not afraid to push the edge, either. Another example of a popular "singer" is Bob Dylan. The man can't sing! We just buy into the ideals and ideas he "sings" about.  I agree with you, wj7 - and some of what I was attempting to say was this....yes, there are those who are just "one of a kind" which I suppose is a better choice of words - but as we think of quality, then Karen definitely floats to the top of my list. And, a perfect example for me of what you are saying is Billy Joel. I didn't list him as one of the great singers, because he's not. He's very talented, and he CAN, indeed, sing. But it's his ability to deliver (like you mentioned about Dylan) that called to me. Well said. Thanks. |
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Post by Rick Henry on Oct 17, 2008 10:52:09 GMT -5
Many of you have named some other singers. I agree that some of these people are pretty good. I like Whitney Houston, Barbra Streisand, and, of course, Judy Garland! For me, a great singer is someone who has the ability or the canny knack to get 'under the radar' of our defenses and touch us on emotional levels, leaving a permanent, indelible mark on our soul/psyche. Some singers are not really all that talented at singing. For example, Madonna. Her singing talent is what I would call "average". I like her songs, but in the hands of a Judy Garland or a Karen Carpenter I think the songs would be so much richer. Madonna IS very talented at promoting her image in the public. She seems to have her finger on the pulse of what many people want to hear ... and she is not afraid to push the edge, either. Another example of a popular "singer" is Bob Dylan. The man can't sing! We just buy into the ideals and ideas he "sings" about. A lot of truth in what you say WJ7... very insightful... In another sense there are singers like Edith Piaf or maybe Tina Turner, who technically are not that great singers... but it's the emotion they give and the use of what they have that makes them great in their own sense. So far all the singers we've mentioned are from decades ago... I wonder why that is so. Could it be that singers today just aren't as rich in vocal ability and presence as from 20 years ago and further back? Do singers today rely more on image than vocal ability. I recently read in the newspaper in an article on Tina Turner... they said, "Tina Turner theoretically past her prime still beats a half-dozen Christina Aguileras by a wide margin." I had to agree with this comment. Aguilera is considered one of today's best vocalists, but when you put her next to someone like Donna Summer or Aretha Franklin, she doesn't really compare. Oddly enough some of today's finest vocalists are not as well known... such as my current favorite Liam McKahey... he has a fantastically rich and soulful voice. Click Here to listen to Liam McKahey I like the comment on Bob Dylan... he truly is not that good of a singer, but his music is still extremely popular because of his thoughts and ideas which so many relate to. I enjoy music that makes a social commentary... it certainly has it's place in our culture. Though, speaking in the technical sense of vocal ability even Madonna with her immense popularity and phenomenal talent as an entertainer or Bob Dylan with his great sense of social view just do not fit into the mold of what a great singer truly is... In my travels in music I have gathered bits and pieces of what a (technically) great singer possesses... Clarity, depth (full-bodied) and richness in tone Consistency of Pitch Timing and consistency (such as a voice that has a dragging sound just is not good... a crisp voice that moves along from note to note is outstanding) Larynx muscle coordination Breath control Ability to sing on key Personality in voice Clear articulation, enunciation Vibrato Projection Ease and comfort in vocal projection Ability to sing several notes in one breath or phrase Resonation Natural creative interpretation Ease in shifting through registers and octaves Smooth delivery Range (although, this isn't as important as other factors, but strength, control and knowing how to use the range you possess is very important) More can be added to this list... but I think I've covered most of the important basics of a great singer. You, notice loud is not one of them.  |
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Post by YesterdayOnceMore on Oct 17, 2008 11:40:32 GMT -5
Many of you have named some other singers. I agree that some of these people are pretty good. I like Whitney Houston, Barbra Streisand, and, of course, Judy Garland! For me, a great singer is someone who has the ability or the canny knack to get 'under the radar' of our defenses and touch us on emotional levels, leaving a permanent, indelible mark on our soul/psyche. Some singers are not really all that talented at singing. For example, Madonna. Her singing talent is what I would call "average". I like her songs, but in the hands of a Judy Garland or a Karen Carpenter I think the songs would be so much richer. Madonna IS very talented at promoting her image in the public. She seems to have her finger on the pulse of what many people want to hear ... and she is not afraid to push the edge, either. Another example of a popular "singer" is Bob Dylan. The man can't sing! We just buy into the ideals and ideas he "sings" about. A lot of truth in what you say WJ7... very insightful... In another sense there are singers like Edith Piaf or maybe Tina Turner, who technically are not that great singers... but it's the emotion they give and the use of what they have that makes them great in their own sense. So far all the singers we've mentioned are from decades ago... I wonder why that is so. Could it be that singers today just aren't as rich in vocal ability and presence as from 20 years ago and further back? Do singers today rely more on image than vocal ability. I recently read in the newspaper in an article on Tina Turner... they said, "Tina Turner theoretically past her prime still beats a half-dozen Christina Aguileras by a wide margin." I had to agree with this comment. Aguilera is considered one of today's best vocalists, but when you put her next to someone like Donna Summer or Aretha Franklin, doesn't really compare. Oddly enough some of today's finest vocalists are not well known... such as my current favorite Liam McKahey... he has a fantastically rich and soulful voice. Click Here to listen to Liam McKahey I like the comment on Bob Dylan... he truly is not that good of a singer, but his music is still extremely popular because of his thoughts and ideas which so many relate to. Though, speaking in the technical sense of vocal ability even Madonna with her immense popularity and phenomenal talent as an entertainer or Bob Dylan with his great sense of social view just do not fit into the mold of what a great singer truly is... In my travels in music I have gathered bits and pieces of what a (technically) great singer possesses... Clarity, depth (full-bodied) and richness in tone Consistency of Pitch Timing and consistency (such as a voice that has a dragging sound just is not good... a crisp voice that moves along from note to note is outstanding) Larynx muscle coordination Breath control Ability to sing on key Personality in voice Clear articulation, enunciation Vibrato Projection Ease and comfort in vocal projection Ability to sing several notes in one breath or phrase Resonation Natural creative interpretation Ease in shifting through registers and octaves Smooth delivery Range (although, this isn't as important as other factors, but strength, control and knowing how to use the range you possess is very important) More can be added to this list... but I think I've covered most of the important basics of a great singer. You, notice loud is not one of them. You've made some excellent points here, Rick. I agree with what you've said. Look at Britney - not a good singer - all hype. Christina, though I have to admit can actually sing, is NOT what I would consider a "good" singer. And your comment about our choices being singers of the "past" is so true. Of today's really good vocalists, though I am not a fan of much of her catalog of work, I do feel she has the best voice of today's (female) vocalists, and that is Beyonce. I think she'll be another one of those that in later years, people will list alongside Streisand, Groban (who just isn't in my top 10), and others. Some outstanding points, too, about the things that help to comprise a good vocalist. Those characteristics are mega important, and if that list is applied to many, they drop off quickly. Those that remain after applying the criteria you've listed, are awesome vocalists. Thanks for your insightful posts. |
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Post by Rick Henry on Oct 17, 2008 12:03:45 GMT -5
You've made some excellent points here, Rick. I agree with what you've said. Look at Britney - not a good singer - all hype. Christina, though I have to admit can actually sing, is NOT what I would consider a "good" singer. And your comment about our choices being singers of the "past" is so true. Of today's really good vocalists, though I am not a fan of much of her catalog of work, I do feel she has the best voice of today's (female) vocalists, and that is Beyonce. I think she'll be another one of those that in later years, people will list alongside Streisand, Groban (who just isn't in my top 10), and others. Some outstanding points, too, about the things that help to comprise a good vocalist. Those characteristics are mega important, and if that list is applied to many, they drop off quickly. Those that remain after applying the criteria you've listed, are awesome vocalists. Thanks for your insightful posts. |
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Post by carpentersgermany on Oct 17, 2008 17:52:36 GMT -5
Hmm, is Karen Carpenter the world's greatest singer? In MY world she definitely is..
I can't make any other judgements..
Some of you mentioned some artists who may not be excellent singers but who are nevertheless able to touch the listeners hearts - for whatever reason..
That's true, for sure. But I think Karen's voice combines both sides.
Technical brilliant voices often have a tendency to sound cold, boring maybe, without emotions.. In Karen's voice I find technical brilliance AND the ability to touch the listeners heart, my heart like no other.. That's what makes Karen Carpenter my No1 singer&artist..
Anyhow, there are 2 or 3 other singers that I absolutely love and that are some of my favourite artists, like..
Christina Aguilera - even though I'm not too much a fan of todays Mainstream Pop music, Christina has something about her that I loved since the release of her first album. I can't really explain it, but I love the whole package - her songs, her shows.. I saw her Back to Basics Show live and it was just perfect entertainment!
Amy Winehouse - even though she's only at the beginning of her career (I still hope it's not the end already!) I have to say that she is one of my favourite artists. Her first album Frank was good but Back to Black was the most amazing album I heard in the last years. Just because of that work I can say that she is one of my favourite female artists. It's just like made for me : )
Candan Erçetin - she has a brilliant technique (studied opera), but can't be compared to a classic Pop Singer, even though she sings Pop and Chanson, too. I love her personality..
So, I love the voices and songs of all 3 singers I mentioned, I especially love Christina's entertaining qualities, Amy's emotions and Candans variety and personality but thinking of Karen Carpenter, I find it all. I can't name any highlights - it's just everything that makes her the greatest singer in MY world..
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timo
NEW TO THE FAMILY
Posts: 29
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Post by timo on Oct 18, 2008 13:32:07 GMT -5
Karen was a great singer. There's no denying.
I'm curious why nobody has mentioned Sinatra in their answers? I kinda like him a lot, don't know if he was the greatest? But at least from 1955-1959 he was great!
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