Man v. Woman!

[Patrick]

Not a new competition - Although it could be I suppose - Nominate your favourite singers and we put it to the vote etc? No, what I was thinking was this; Who do you prefer to hear singing? I'm often gently teased for my preference of female music artists, it's certainly not a conscious thing by any means, but over the years I have picked out more girls than boys. How about you?

[aubrey]

Sandy Denny - her most famous song:



(An awful lot of her songs seem to be about time passing. Almost as if she knew she didn't have long.)

Dagmar Krause:







The next one hots up about a minute in:





And this one stays the same all the way through:




And a final Dagmar (the keyboard player screws up the intro of this):




And and and - Kate and Anna McGarrigle:





One male singer:



("My lungs BURST to cry..."

Hammill is one of the few male singers I really like (Mark E Smith is a vocalist); most "Good" male singers - even white ones - use soul-type modes and styles, and that kind of thing doesn't appeal to me. I have always found it strange though, that Hammill is considered to have a strange voice, when he just sings like a white, middle-class man.

[everso]

Whose voices do I like?

Nat King Cole
Dean Martin
Ella Fitzgerald
Billie Holiday
Peggy Lee

[Deleted]

I don't think i have a preference for male or female vocals weither way..

[riotgrrl]

I'm not sure I have a preference either Costal.

I tend to like groups rather than solo singers, and the ideal group is, of course, 4 skinny white boys in black leather jackets. But I also like some of the sort of Le Tigre vibe type female singers.

Rock and Roll has been such a sexist industry for so long. I once had a magazine column printed about my views on this (entitled something like 'no tampons on the tour bus'). The cliched role for women as 'groupies' is part of it, along with some of the 'standard' lyrics (Rolling Stones 'Under My Thumb' comes to mind).

When punk came along it tried to challenge that sexism, and had some success, so now we see mixed gender bands, female lead singers, etc., which is good. But there's still sexism around. Just ask any young girl who is trying to enjoy herself in a crowded moshpit. There's always some sleazy guy who uses it as an opportunity to try to touch her up.

As in life.

[Alpha Hooligan]

I have to say that about 95% of my CD collection consists of male artists/lead singers.

I'll probably get moaned for this, but I really like female backing vocals more than leads.


AH

[trubble]

Maybe that's to do with your taste in genre, Alph..but I find that stat a bit hard to believe. One word, Alph: Blondie. An one more for luck,: Kylie.

[trubble]

And I just bet you loved the Bangles.

[trubble]

Banana.... ha, you can't help but finish that word off. You LOVE IT!

[Alpha Hooligan]

I do have "The Best of Blondie" actually.

Own everything by "The Breeders" as well...because Kim Deal rocks my world.

Have all The Primitives work on CD

Also have "The Best of the Bangles"

I own quite few other female CD's as well, just not loads of 'em.


AH

[Alpha Hooligan]

AH

[trubble]

I'm often gently teased for my preference of female music artists, it's certainly not a conscious thing by any means, but over the years I have picked out more girls than boys.

I bet that's a genre rather than gender issue as well, in most cases.

There aren't any female bands that spring to mind so the bands I've liked tend to be mainly male but if we are just talking specific vocalist preference, I think I must like both men and women in equal amounts. Every man I think of has a female equivalent to my ears, and vice versa. Kirsty McColl - Elvis Costello; Peggy Lee - um... I'll get back to you. Kate Bush - er.. hold on.

[trubble]

Didn't you also have a thing for Kim Wilde, Alph? Remember? That summer you now fondly call your rite of passage.

[Patrick]

OK, then;

Bangles, all albums + some 12" and a picture disc
Primitives - albums x2
Voice of the Beehive 3 Albums
The Darling Buds - album and a 12"
(Don't shoot me, but) Beverley Craven
Yes, Blondie (hasn't everyone?)
Suzanne Vega 2 or 3 albums
(From my wasted teenageness): 3 Bananarama (Pre S.A.W)
Eurythmics - 3 or 4 albums - though feel a bit conned since I saw her on Jonathan Ross being so up herself she doesn't deserve an audience.
Nina Simone
Cardigans
Sixpence None the Richer
K T Tunstall
(and most recently) Marina and the Diamonds.

The few men in my lot - not counting the Jazz legends in the collection;
Robert Palmer
(early) Elton John
Pet Shop Boys (several albums)
From my twenties: Huey Lewis.

..........and that's off the top of me head.

[Patrick]

Alpha - are you using Bow Wow Wow as an example or do you have it in your collection somewhere - Trubble is a bit worried about you. Actually, I think we all might be! ;D

[Alpha Hooligan]

Bow Wow Wow ROCKS!!!

(don't own them on CD though)

Oh, I also have a Suzanne Vega album.


AH

[Alpha Hooligan]

I've got loads of Stereolab as well...amazing band










AH

[swl]

I find myself drawn to Lady GaGa at the moment. Her singing is OK, but it's as an artist I think she excels. This is rather jolly -

[riotgrrl]

This messageboard is not big enough for me to list every band whose CD, casette, vinyl or MP3 download I possess.

In terms of good women bands though, currently I'm still enjoying bits of Florence and some M.I.A.

[riotgrrl]

Oh, and Paloma Faith.