Karaoke Forums

Who are the most talented singers, or skilled singers that most of us know in the different contemporary styles ?

I don't know about talented or skilled, but the one I envy is Mariah Carey... and the thing I envy is her supposed SEVEN OCTAVE RANGE!!!!!

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Martina McBride (big surprise from me, huh?)

what a POWERHOUSE! she's just incredible!! and she's just as good live (so I hear)

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Off the top of my head, if I had to pick only one female vocalist who I like, I think It'd be Linda Ronstadt. Yet I have to give this alot of thought I really like the warmth of Karen Carpenters voice too. Yet for male vocals in the blues realm, I like Gary Moore. For easy listening ballads, I like the smooth voice of Seal. Rock styles, I'd love to have a voice that could match the vocal qualities of the groups Boston, or the Scorpions vocal styles. Older classic rock I liked the vibrant powerful voices of Burton Cummings, and David Clayton Thomas. Voices that I feel have a tastefull amount of grovel, and amazing power.

I have a friend that has a seven octave range (I think it is seven...could even be eight!!).

She is amazing. She can sing Led Zepplin's black dog like no one else's business....along with all the mariah songs !

She sings Try a Little Tenderness....and she hits this one INCREADIBLE high note during the song....she just blows me away

Plus, she is my good karaoke pal...so when she gets famous, I can say I sang with her ! That is who I envy the most.

Envy no more!! Mariah's vocal range is below 7 octaves. I don't think it's humanly possible. Credible sources claim it goes up to 5 octaves. The only reason I know is because we discussed this a while back in another thread and I'm a nosey sort and had to check it out....

Female I admire the most - Bette Midler
Male - never thought about it!

EDIT: Thanks a lot Roo! Now nosey me is going to have to go check that out. I remember long ago when I was sang in choir with an opera singer, she sang 'Happy Birthday' to me and on the last note went so high it just kind of 'hung' there for a while.

female : cyndi lauper, so underated yet so versatile even in the worst girls just wanna have fun.

patti smith, pat benatar, donna summer, gabrielle, tracey chapman, joan armatrading, amy lee of evanescence, kirsty macoll.

male: steve perry former journey, peter gabriel, phil collins, whats his face out of free , gary moore, bob dylan yes bob dylan, simon and garfunkel....errrrr god the list is so big....otis reading, percy sledge...will add on laters

ahh another couple...graham bonnet of rainbow...ian gillan deep purple.

do i admire all these too right i do cause ma vocals don't come anywhere close to these people...i so wish i could sing rock! kirsty macoll is perhaps the closest type of voice to my own...and mine will never ever never be as good as hers no matter how much i rub a brass rub lamp hoping for ma wish to be granted hehehe

Well my curiousity was peaked here...so I went to her official website...and checked her bio!

This is taken directly from her website -
Possessing a spectacular seven-octave range, Mariah has proven that she is equally at home with sweeping ballads and pop, often incorporating elements of dance and hip-hop into the mix. Perhaps even more impressive, she composes all of her own material.


Now it should be said that while doing a google search on it...people's opinions vary that she has a 3 octave to 5 octave range.....BUT her people claim otherwise...

And in answer to the other questions...hrmmm

Female...Barbra Streisand ...she just gives me CHILLS...Martina McBride...and Amy Lee from Evanescence..dayum!

Male...Andrea Bocelli, Josh Groban......and my all time favorite...Garth Brooks......

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mariah carey 7 octives...aye and i'm the virgin mary

she does have incredible range but thats pushing it...i got a high pitched voice and stubbing ma toe i couldnt hit 3 octives higher lmaooooo

Some of my idols in the past.. Julie Andrews... there's a name from the past haha... Olivia Newton John, Linda Ronstadt, Carly Simon, Debra Harry for her growl... what I listen to more currently... Eva Cassidy, Annie Lennox, Jewel... and echoing Crystal and Nic.... love Martina! All of 'em different in styles and strengths... yet great!

Male... hmmm... Willie Nelson, Steve Perry, Trace Adkins, Bono... now there's some different styles !

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Logically now. If someone has a 7 octave range, they'd be able to sing in real voice, Bass, Baritone, Tenor, Alto, and soprano. When I wrote arrangements for a glee club. I seem to recall even the 2 1/2 octave range to be an exceptional range in "real" voice. Once in awhile I found a talented male vocalist who could sing upper baritone range, 2nd tenor, and some first tenor going into a falsetto so smoothly, it was difficult to hear the transition. Yet that was VERY rare.

The 88 keys on a piano only comprise a little over 7 octaves.

Show me someone who can Solfege, or pitch match all 88 keys of a piano, and I will hook up my Camball, and give you all a Live performance of me swallowing a babygrand without any water !

Elisha, you are always so informative! Thanks for taking the time to explain that. I'd have to say Mariah is up there with my other faves like Olivia Newton-John, Barbra Streisand and Celine Dion....and of course, YOU!!

BTW, you got those blinkies stacked up so high there, it's resembling Times Square!!

Paul Rogers. Their big hit was "All Right Now". Free formed in 1971. A few years later Paul Rogers became the voice of "Bad Company".




Whitney Houston, and Celine Dion used to have decent ranges of between 3-4 octaves I think. I don't recall them getting into that weak whistling range. Minnie Ripperton used to have an amazing range as well, yet her supposed "real" high end soprano area sounded like screaming.

, thats why I said *SUPPOSED* 7 octaves....

well, however many she has, its still ahell of a range!!!!!

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Geeez all this Mariah talk (makes me sick ) I honestly dont like her....just never could really grasp her as a vocalist...just something about her voice i dont like... yes, she has great range but i just personally dont admire her...

As far as who I do admire...
Martina McBride (of course)
Mandy Barnett
Anastacia (love the uniqueness of her voice...to hear that voice coming from her body is freaky!)
Reba McEntire
Etta James
Trisha Yearwood

Males:
Garth Brooks
Joe Nichols (after hearing him live I just adore him)
John Mayer (i like his vocal style...its different)

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Whom I envy: Martina McBride (damn why she gotta be a great singer, and so lil and pretty?!!) and then Christina Aguilera for her range and power.

I am so sick of the media with the octave this, and the octave that. All it does is makes me feel like anyone with just 2 is like useless.

And Jazzy I can't read music so how do I find out how many I gots? Oh geez it's prolly 2 anyway.....

I admire:

Female
1. Carly Simon
2. Karen Carpenter
3. Barbra Streisand
4. Sarah McLachlan
5. Celine Dion

Male
1. James Taylor
2. Steve Perry
3. Freddy Mercury
4. Andrea Buccelli
5. Jimmy Buffet


Diverse, I know! But.. I listen to a little of everything.

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Shotgun.... Jimmy buffet has a singing ability? Well, he DOES have the ability to make me wince.. and, hell, at least he is consistant... even his live cds sound just as bad as his studio recordings.......


oh oh.. run, hide gilly...

No offense Jac darlin... you know I luv ya. But, thanks for saving me some typing, Jazzy The whole 'range' debate has been a 'pet-peeve' of mine since I first started learning to sing a couple of years ago and was told I have an usually good range (for an untrained singer), so I started researching vocal ranges online and learned... well pretty much what you've just said. I believe the largest vocal range *ever* recorded (and it's up for debate in many places) is that belonging to Yma Sumac. If you folks have never heard one of her recordings, they are well worth finding.

Oh, and I'm not sure what his range is, but Morten Harket (of A-ha) has an INCREDIBLE range in the song 'Take On Me'. I've heard several (fairly knowledgable) people argue that the super high note is actually digitally produced, but it sure doesn't sound like it to me. Can any of you folks post what the range is in that song? I've always wondered.

I would love to hear your friend, btw Atomic... does she have anything online?

Oh um... singers (only going to list a few).. Girls: Jewel, Sarah Maclaughlin, Tori Amos, Olivia Newton-John, Pat Benetar, Deborah Harry, Annie Lennox. Guys- Freddy Mercury, Van Halen, David Bowie, Chris Isaak, Paul Simon & Art Garfunkle... uh... well ok & lots of others.