Female vocals - boosting prog?
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Topic: Female vocals - boosting prog?
Posted By: aapatsos
Subject: Female vocals - boosting prog?
Date Posted: February 07 2006 at 21:12
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I was listening to several songs and came to the conclusion that female vocals give a different feeling in many songs and probably convert them from very good songs to masterpieces. Examples from prog metal can be seen in Suite Sister Mary (no need to mention the band) and Ayreon's Isis and Osiris (these are the first that come into my mind, sure there are a lot more) Note: I don't mean bands that have a permanent female vocalist (Gathering etc.) which most of them are great IMO (never listened to a 'crappy' prog band with female vocalist thus far) so does anyone feel the same? any further examples, thoughts, disagreements... |
Replies:
Posted By: Bern
Date Posted: February 07 2006 at 21:21
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For some reason, I always prefered men vocals in a band. Sure there are some greats woman vocalists that are great to listen to but it always seems to bug me after a while. Often, female vocalists are chosen for their fantastic vocal perfomances but I prefer to hear singers that don't have those «perfect» voices. It may be a bit weird but it is my opinion. (sorry for my bad english) -------------  
RIP in bossa nova heaven. |
Posted By: BePinkTheater
Date Posted: February 07 2006 at 21:27
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I honeslty can't say I've heard any prog with female vocals( except for SFAM). But it ihnk it could be alright
Ususally i tend to thing that girl's vocies in rock sound out of place. Great example is Barracuda. Its a great song, and even though her voice is really strong, it would be better asa guy. ------------- I can strangle a canary in a tin can and it would be really original, but that wouldn't save it from sounding like utter sh*t. -Stone Beard |
Posted By: Yanns
Date Posted: February 07 2006 at 21:30
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I greatly enjoy Ayreon's albums, and that is owed greatly to the female vocals. I think they meld perfectly with what Lucassen wants to do. Vocals work where they work. They can't be forced. If something is meant to be sung with female vocals, then there could be no other way. And, I must mention Renaissance, as I do in all threads related to female vocals in prog. Annie Haslam is the greatest. |
Posted By: Bern
Date Posted: February 07 2006 at 21:32
RENAISSANCE 
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RIP in bossa nova heaven. |
Posted By: AngleofRepose
Date Posted: February 07 2006 at 22:16
| Voice of an angel: Annie Haslam. |
Posted By: ClemofNazareth
Date Posted: February 08 2006 at 01:03
Wow, appreciate your opinion, but I have to totally disagree. "Barracuda" is a very good song, but I can't imagine how it could have been better with a man singing it. Ann Wilson has one of those voices that will always get my attention. IMHO, a female voice in any band, but particularly progressive, metal, and symphonic bands is nearly always an asset to the music. The various Ayreon and Ambeon works are great examples (so are a bunch of collaborations Jah Wobble has done with female singers). The Gathering, Thinking Plague, Stream of Passion, Nightwish, Renaissance, Amon Düül 2, Babe Ruth, Gong, Art Bears, Curved Air, Mostly Autumn, Iona,... too many bands to mention whose music wouldn't be the same without the women whose voices help make their music special. On the non-prog side, Heart, Jefferson Airplane, Kate Bush, Pretenders, Cranberries, Belly, Chicken Shack, Ramatam, Lone Justice, Rilo Kiley, SSQ, The Killjoys, The Arcade Fire, Blondie, Walls of Jericho, 10,000 Maniacs, Cowboy Junkies, Blondie, Cocteau Twins, Portishead, are all bands who wouldn't be nearly as good as they were/are without their female members. There are far fewer male singers (again, IMHO) who really stand out for their vocal abilities than there are women. Steve Walsh, James LaBrie,
Okay, there's two. Not many others.
------------- "Peace is the only battle worth waging." Albert Camus |
BePinkTheater wrote:Posted By: Guests
Date Posted: February 08 2006 at 01:12
Lets face it female vocals work so well in prog , I agree I can`t think of one crappy prog band with a female singer .. not one 
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Posted By: Ricochet
Date Posted: February 08 2006 at 01:16
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ANNIE HASLAM ALL THE WAY! She did wonders with Renaissance.Simply wonders!!  ------------- 
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Posted By: video vertigo
Date Posted: February 08 2006 at 01:23
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although a small part I love Time Stand Still by Rush with Aimee Mann ------------- "The rock and roll business is pretty absurd, but the world of serious music is much worse." - Zappa |
Posted By: Sweet Prog
Date Posted: February 08 2006 at 01:58
| Heh thanks for this thread. I've always thought so, but i've never really heard many female vocals outside of Ayreon. Luckily some of the band name drops in this thread are leading me to investigate something that'll hopefully reap solid rewards. |
Posted By: Thufir Hawat
Date Posted: February 08 2006 at 02:28
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I’m not trying to be sexist but I don’t think the female Voice is very well suited to prog. ------------- "I can't see through my eye lids" |
Posted By: Tony Fisher
Date Posted: February 08 2006 at 02:40
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Annie Haslam has a great voice - no doubt about it. She's been one of my favourites for 30 years. But Heather Findlay of Mostly Autumn is even better. She has a more varied emotional range and a similar purity. The other female vocalist who compares is Karen Mathieson of Capersaillie (not prog but very good). |
Posted By: Oxygen Waster
Date Posted: February 08 2006 at 03:19
I dont think I could say that female vocals make a materpeice but I think that they have a definately have a wonderful place in prog yet sadly they have yet to fill that place.They mostly seem to make small appearances through many prog albums yet never(rarely) are lead vocalist.A damn shame really. Didn't Curved Air have a Female Singer??
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Posted By: martinprog77
Date Posted: February 08 2006 at 03:21
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[QUOTE=Thufir Hawat]
I’m not trying to be sexist but I don’t think the femaleis very well suited to prog. Voice 
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Posted By: aapatsos
Date Posted: February 08 2006 at 07:54
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I think its the first time I agree with you in any topic thus far |
Posted By: Guests
Date Posted: February 08 2006 at 08:04
 
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Posted By: Politician
Date Posted: February 08 2006 at 09:27
There have been many hundreds of progressive bands over the years with female lead vocalists. |
Posted By: Sekkyoku
Date Posted: February 08 2006 at 10:59
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Kaipa (on their latest albums) and Glass Hammer, for example, have very good female singers that contribute to the music in a great way. Of course the female voice is as suitable for progressive music as the male voice, people are just not used to hearing it often enough within these genres to fully accept it. There is a great need for more female prog singers, I think. |
Posted By: Igha
Date Posted: February 08 2006 at 11:10
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I just don't like female vocals...don't know why, it's stronger tham ne. And I don't like male voices sounding feminine. |
Posted By: aapatsos
Date Posted: February 08 2006 at 17:12
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there are many bands that need your attention IMO Posted By: ambriz
Date Posted: February 08 2006 at 22:56
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HELL YEAH!!!!!! Prog is more interesting with female beauty around. Simone Simons from Epica is the new Queen!!! ------------- Progressive music, a kind of life. |
Posted By: memowakeman
Date Posted: February 09 2006 at 11:29
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And what about Marcela Bovio !!! ------------- Follow me on twitter @memowakeman |
Posted By: aapatsos
Date Posted: February 09 2006 at 11:32
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Posted By: ANDREW
Date Posted: February 09 2006 at 12:07
| Sonja Kristina (CURVED AIR), Annie Haslam (RENAISSANCE), Linda Hoyle (AFFINITY), Anna Meek (CATAPILLA), Carol Grimes (DELIVERY), Inga Rumpf (FRUMPY, ATLANTIS), Shirley Kent (GHOST), Cathy Pruden (JULIAN'S TREATMENT), Jessica Stanley-Clarke (MARSUPILAMI), Anne Matthews (PANAMA LIMITED), Aletta (SATURNALIA), Ann Stewart (TUDOR LODGE), Ashley Holt (WARHORSE), Silvana Aliotta (CIRCUS 2000), Donella Del Monaco (OPUS AVANTRA), Jenny Sorrenti (SAINT JUST), Silvana Ida (APOTEOSI), Fiamma Dello Spirito-Doris Norton (JACULA), Donatella Luttazzi (LOGAN DWIGHT), Silvia Bizzotto (SLOGAN), Liliana Bodini (ZAUBER), Sofia Baccini (PRESENCE). Great female vocalists!!! |
Posted By: limeyrob
Date Posted: February 09 2006 at 13:08
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Totally agree with Ambriz. Epica are superb - Playing them now actually - Superb. IMHO - I am not too certain about Marcela Bovio. Yes she was great on Human Equation but has a tendancy to be 'whiney' on a couple or so tracks on Embrace the Storm. Track 3 is her best performance demonstrating her harmony The female vocal does sound great in the right setting. Don't forget Tarja as well. |
Posted By: Seinfeld
Date Posted: February 09 2006 at 13:52
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Please do yourself a favour and listen to Renaissance. They are astonishing, Annie Haslam is an angel, there's no doubt about that.
I suggest At the Harbour  , phenomenal song!
Also, Mother Russia, Black Flame, The Vultures Fly High, Ocean Gypsy, Scheherazade, and the list goes on... |
Posted By: ShW1
Date Posted: February 09 2006 at 14:21
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new female voices: Thinking plague - Deborah Perry. she is divine. Sleepytime gorilla museum - Karla Kilstedt. sings as second singer along with male voice, more bjork style. |
Posted By: lunaticviolist
Date Posted: February 09 2006 at 14:31
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SANDY DENNY!!!! And that's the first time I've ever used huge, bold fonts. ------------- My recent purchases: 
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Posted By: aapatsos
Date Posted: February 10 2006 at 08:34
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wow that's a big list... Andrew, do you really know all these bands ? I see many Italian girls in there... |
Posted By: NotAProghead
Date Posted: February 10 2006 at 19:18
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Seems it's a small mistake to include Ashley Holt in female singers' list. ------------- Who are you and who am I to say we know the reason why... (D. Gilmour) |
Posted By: ClemofNazareth
Date Posted: February 10 2006 at 20:34
I don't know this band, but according to Google this is apparently Ashley Holt:
------------- "Peace is the only battle worth waging." Albert Camus |
Posted By: NotAProghead
Date Posted: February 10 2006 at 20:55
As I know, Ashley Holt of WARHORSE is the same guy who sang in RICK WAKEMAN's "Journey..." and "King Arthur". ------------- Who are you and who am I to say we know the reason why... (D. Gilmour) |
Posted By: cobb
Date Posted: February 10 2006 at 20:56
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Ashley Holt is male. He also appeared on Wakeman's Journey to the Centre and Myths and legends. [edit] someone beat me to it |
Posted By: cobb
Date Posted: February 10 2006 at 21:01
Disagree... Listen to Heart Live in Seattle. Annie does Blackdog better than Mr Plant. Nobody has mentioned The Gathering. If you haven't heard them, better pull your finger out. |