Voices

I haven’t understood a bar of music in my life, but I have felt it.
–Igor Stravinsky, Russian composer

I’m pretty sure music lovers all have favourite bands, singers, and songs. I wonder how many, like me, favour certain artists for their distinctive voices?

Female vocal

I have never been able to decide whether I like Kate Bush’s voice or Björk’s more. Bush’s voice has matured since her debut with Wuthering Heights in 1978. Back then, critics described her voice as a high-register soprano (coloratura soprano), recognised for its emotional range. Over time, it deepened and developed into a mezzo-soprano, apparently due to her smoking habit.

Kate Bush frequently uses dance movements to convey emotion, which she learned from Lindsey Kemp, who also taught David Bowie. The song I have chosen below is from 1989.

Björk is considered to be a light soprano. From her early, highly energetic all-girl punk band roots with Spit and Snot to her solo career, her native Icelandic still shines through. Her vocals can sound chaotic at times, and she frequently experiments with vocal sounds.

I chose two songs below. It’s Oh So Quiet from 1995, a 1948 big-band cover of Und jetzt ist es still, originally sung by Horst Winter and made popular by Betty Hutton in 1951. Jóga is a less chaotic 1997 song that blends electronica with a lush string orchestra.

Male vocal

Although there are far too many contenders, I found this choice much easier. The late Chris Cornell, formerly of Soundgarden, Audioslave, and Temple of the Dog, had a warm baritone that contrasted with the usual high tenor voices of other grunge singers. His voice stands out to me more than anyone else’s.

I chose two songs to highlight his powerful vocal range. Pretty Noose is from the 1996 Soundgarden album Down on the Upside. When Zack de la Rocha left Rage Against the Machine, Tom Morello and the remaining members formed the band Audioslave with Chris and released Show Me How to Live on the debut self-titled album.

Vocal collaboration

My choice of favourite voices won’t be complete, however, without a duet. One of the earliest duets that still holds a special place in my memory is Islands in the Stream by Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton. However, I just can’t get over Tori Amos and Tool frontman Maynard James Keenan singing Tori’s hit Muhammad, My Friend from Tori’s album Boys for Pele. They come from vastly different musical backgrounds, yet the duet works so well.

I think I would be remiss not to acknowledge Tori Amos and Dolly Parton as special mentions for favourite female vocals.

Speaking of special mentions, Chris Cornell created a band in 1990 with future Pearl Jam members, Stone Gossard, Jeff Ament, Mike McCready, Matt Cameron and Eddie Vedder, as a tribute to his friend Andrew Wood of Mother Love Bone, who died of a heroin overdose earlier that year.

The collaboration was known as Temple of the Dog and produced one album on which Chris and Pearl Jam frontman Eddie Vedder sing Hunger Strike. The song gives me goosebumps every time I listen.

My final special mention is Paul Simon collaborating with Ladysmith Black Mambazo, a male choral group with multiple Grammy Awards from South Africa The choral harmonies are mesmerising.