NFT: Anyone else never get tired of Billie Holiday?

Cher, Clueless

never age. I'm grateful for the sacrifices many have made in the name of timeless art.

because I won't listen to her. There is an extra "something" in her voice that I just don't like. Give me Ella, Etta James, Bessie Smith, Dinah Washington, even Amy Winehouse or Janis. Pretty much in that order.

'My Man' but not sure which album/version I have. Maybe on a Greatest Hit's compilation, because I seem to hear an older Holiday imagining it, not the 22 year old who sent ripples across the Jazz world when she first interpreted it on her own way.
Holiday "My Man" Youtube - ( New Window )

In comment 14472924 manh george said:

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because I won't listen to her. There is an extra "something" in her voice that I just don't like. Give me Ella, Etta James, Bessie Smith, Dinah Washington, even Amy Winehouse or Janis. Pretty much in that order.

Overrated, a bit too nasally/back of the throat, limited and flat. As Mel Torrme said, Ella is the greatest singer on the planet, and I would strongly recommend never disagreeing with Mel Torme.

I like it that there is someone out there who agrees with me. Your description is on point, imo.

In comment 14472943 manh george said:

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I like it that there is someone out there who agrees with me. Your description is on point, imo.

Singing jazz though, or the blues, is kinda like singing Flamenco. You can throw all those opinions like too flat, back of the throat, nasal, gutteral or gravelly out the window because they don't REALLY matter.


You want great perfect voices, techniques and pitch, stick with Opera...

overplayed and she's great, so NO.

just like the women I had on my list, none of whom rely primarily on technique. Ella comes closest, of course, because she could do anything. But her scat wasn't exactly opera-like. She just had great range, great power, great warmth, great technique, and great capacity to interpret hundred of songs. Or perhaps thousands.

And Etta could interpret songs in ways that no other singer in history could. And she was no more operatic than Billie.

The fact that Billie's voice annoyed me had nothing to do with the fact that she was un-operatic.

Yeah, cause she's on like 8 times a day

my jazz listening is instrumental only, but she is my favorite jazz vocalist. I stopped buying music a few years ago - I just use Spotify premium. There is so much to pick from.

Sarah Vaughan fits the bill more than any other Jazz Vocalist.

My fav recording of hers is "Sarah Vaughan and Clifford Brown"

JMO

How do you stream Spotify Premium? Do you use your phone or an ipod or bluetooth device?

TIA

The criticisms like "lack of range" have merit. I still live to listen. She has an ability that I think of as inflection (though that's probably wrong) that hooks me. The way she bends a note just kills me. I never get tired of listening either.

What a sad, beautiful life.

In comment 14473201 Grey Pilgrim said:

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How do you stream Spotify Premium? Do you use your phone or an ipod or bluetooth device? TIA

I use my phone in the car (bluetooth) and then a Sonos play5 at home. Spotify is so worth the 10 bucks per month for premium. It's incredible.

...

Billie's voice annoyed you, but you like Janis Joplin? Says a lot !

Don't forget about Bessie Smith.

she's awesome!

Not with the music.
Count me out

Billie is far superior in my opinion.

In comment 14473012 manh george said:

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just like the women I had on my list, none of whom rely primarily on technique. Ella comes closest, of course, because she could do anything. But her scat wasn't exactly opera-like. She just had great range, great power, great warmth, great technique, and great capacity to interpret hundred of songs. Or perhaps thousands. And Etta could interpret songs in ways that no other singer in history could. And she was no more operatic than Billie. The fact that Billie's voice annoyed me had nothing to do with the fact that she was un-operatic.

Elle was a natural, singing came easy to her like talking for the rest of us. Compare her to the terrible singers of today who forcefully caterwaul and range around octaves for no reason. I would throw in Whitneys, Mariah Careys, Lady Gaga...

to my favorite Sarah Vaughan recording.

Highly recommended!


https://www.amazon.com/Sarah-Vaughan/dp/B00004NHCC/ref=asc_df_B00004NHCC/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=312186741005&hvpos=1o3&hvnetw=g&hvrand=13746557590774650430&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9004478&hvtargid=pla-527069000057&psc=1&tag=&ref=&adgrpid=60264132457&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvadid=312186741005&hvpos=1o3&hvnetw=g&hvrand=13746557590774650430&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9004478&hvtargid=pla-527069000057 - ( New Window )

In comment 14473497 Daniel in Kentucky said:

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Not with the music. Count me out Billie is far superior in my opinion.

That's an incredible statement and distinction, but I think I get it and agree. I'm much more appreciative of Billie, Carmen McRae, Abbey Lincoln, Sarah Vaughn, Dinah Washington, but never put a finger on the pulse of why Ella doesn't rock my boat like several others.

+1

In comment 14473196 Grey Pilgrim said:

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Sarah Vaughan fits the bill more than any other Jazz Vocalist. My fav recording of hers is "Sarah Vaughan and Clifford Brown" JMO

Sarah Vaughn was phenomenal. What a voice. Ella had a bit more character to her voice, and was better with blues standards, but Sarah had one of the most pure voices I've heard outside of opera.

MG, funny you should mention Amy Winehouse, the singer she always reminded me of was Billie Holiday. I love Billie's voice. She had a lot of character in her voice, although drugs really ate at her voice towards the end. I'm not sure I would put Dinah Washington near Sarah, Ella or Billie, her voice was really thin, IMO (and she was one of my mom's favorites).