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Best Singer of the Vocal Trinity? Carey, Dion or Houston?

 
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Which Vocal Legend?
Mariah Carey
23%
 23%  [ 5 ]
Céline Marie Claudette Dion
4%
 4%  [ 1 ]
Whitney Elizabeth Houston
71%
 71%  [ 15 ]
Total Votes : 21

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Genero36



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PostPosted: 01/03/18 9:22 pm    ::: Best Singer of the Vocal Trinity? Carey, Dion or Houston? Reply Reply with quote


The Vocal Trinity At or Near Their Peak

<embed><iframe width="854" height="480" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/rYgV8AAvm8g" frameborder="0" gesture="media" allow="encrypted-media" allowfullscreen></iframe></embed>

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rYgV8AAvm8g

<embed><iframe width="854" height="480" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/MzRKoE9OH7w" frameborder="0" gesture="media" allow="encrypted-media" allowfullscreen></iframe></embed>

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MzRKoE9OH7w

<embed><iframe width="854" height="480" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/zdo56mS23U8" frameborder="0" gesture="media" allow="encrypted-media" allowfullscreen></iframe></embed>

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zdo56mS23U8



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Genero36



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PostPosted: 01/03/18 9:27 pm    ::: Reply Reply with quote

<embed><iframe width="854" height="480" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/z4LikHhNy_0" frameborder="0" gesture="media" allow="encrypted-media" allowfullscreen></iframe></embed>

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z4LikHhNy_0

<embed><iframe width="854" height="480" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/WNIPqafd4As" frameborder="0" gesture="media" allow="encrypted-media" allowfullscreen></iframe></embed>

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WNIPqafd4As

<embed><iframe width="854" height="480" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/GgbkWlRaybA" frameborder="0" gesture="media" allow="encrypted-media" allowfullscreen></iframe></embed>

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GgbkWlRaybA



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Genero36



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PostPosted: 01/03/18 9:42 pm    ::: Reply Reply with quote

<embed><iframe width="854" height="480" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Cd9rQ5pu3m8" frameborder="0" gesture="media" allow="encrypted-media" allowfullscreen></iframe></embed>

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cd9rQ5pu3m8

<embed><iframe width="854" height="480" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/fUm48m4YeA0" frameborder="0" gesture="media" allow="encrypted-media" allowfullscreen></iframe></embed>

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fUm48m4YeA0

<embed><iframe width="854" height="480" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/4KhTkjv8ppA" frameborder="0" gesture="media" allow="encrypted-media" allowfullscreen></iframe></embed>

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4KhTkjv8ppA



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GlennMacGrady



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PostPosted: 01/04/18 4:24 pm    ::: Reply Reply with quote

These three are much too young to have caught my attention, way after my time. I don't recall them being in major movie or Broadway musicals. Never bought any of their 78's, 45's or 33's, although I do have a couple of Celine Dion's songs on my 1600 song Naptser playlist. So, I guess she should get my vote by default.
sambista



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PostPosted: 01/04/18 4:27 pm    ::: Reply Reply with quote

that's a pretty myopic list! or maybe it's a generational thing (like fawning over diana taurasi and giving no due to cynthia cooper). how could minnie riperton and patti labelle, just off the top of my head, not be included?



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tfan



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PostPosted: 01/04/18 5:05 pm    ::: Reply Reply with quote

All three are outstanding. But surprisingly, you will see people say on message boards (at least for Carey and Dion) that they are bad singers. And if you challenge them with how many albums they have sold they will say that the people buying them have poor taste. But it is complicated by the fact that people don't just buy a singer's album - they buy singer + songs, so better songs is also a big factor.


Dion had more singles that I liked - power pop ballads - great written songs that she sang with her distinctive tone and drama.

The sad thing these days is that if you see a "performance" from even great singers it doesn't mean that it is live, despite being advertised as such. There are videos of Celine Dion and Mariah Carey on youtube where someone tries to show when they ares lip syncing in a performance. For example:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GSQwKMgrnhA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1om5qPMihY8



It seems that singing is like athletics - you lose a step as you get older and performers are more likely to go to a lip sync.

If I had to pick one of the three I would go with Mariah Carey. She could sing with power but also had this "fluttery" style that was unique. She did what I would call a "rap sing" in We Belong Together:

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/0habxsuXW4g" frameborder="0" gesture="media" allow="encrypted-media" allowfullscreen></iframe>




Last edited by tfan on 01/04/18 5:43 pm; edited 3 times in total
tfan



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PostPosted: 01/04/18 5:07 pm    ::: Reply Reply with quote

GlennMacGrady wrote:
These three are much too young to have caught my attention, way after my time. I don't recall them being in major movie or Broadway musicals. Never bought any of their 78's, 45's or 33's, although I do have a couple of Celine Dion's songs on my 1600 song Naptser playlist. So, I guess she should get my vote by default.


Broadway musicals? Wouldn't picture you as a Broadway musical guy based on your politics. Did you just come out? Razz




Last edited by tfan on 01/04/18 5:58 pm; edited 1 time in total
Genero36



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PostPosted: 01/04/18 5:33 pm    ::: Reply Reply with quote

sambista wrote:
that's a pretty myopic list! or maybe it's a generational thing (like fawning over diana taurasi and giving no due to cynthia cooper). how could minnie riperton and patti labelle, just off the top of my head, not be included?


This isn't a greatest of all-time question. It's simply based on these three particular pop singers who starred in the 90's. Of course, Minnie Riperton could snore Mariah's best notes.



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sambista



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PostPosted: 01/04/18 6:01 pm    ::: Reply Reply with quote

Genero36 wrote:
sambista wrote:
that's a pretty myopic list! or maybe it's a generational thing (like fawning over diana taurasi and giving no due to cynthia cooper). how could minnie riperton and patti labelle, just off the top of my head, not be included?


This isn't a greatest of all-time question. It's simply based on these three particular pop singers who starred in the 90's. Of course, Minnie Riperton could snore Mariah's best notes.


ok, then.



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GlennMacGrady



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PostPosted: 01/04/18 6:56 pm    ::: Reply Reply with quote

tfan wrote:
GlennMacGrady wrote:
These three are much too young to have caught my attention, way after my time. I don't recall them being in major movie or Broadway musicals. Never bought any of their 78's, 45's or 33's, although I do have a couple of Celine Dion's songs on my 1600 song Naptser playlist. So, I guess she should get my vote by default.


Broadway musicals? Wouldn't picture you as a Broadway musical guy based on your politics. Did you just come out? Razz


I honestly have no idea what your comment means, literally or metaphorically.

The first record player Santa ever brought me was accompanied by several Broadway musical albums (33's). I was born, raised and went to college in NYC. I probably saw most of the musicals and other plays on Broadway during that era. For 15 years, one of Santa's Christmas gifts to my daughter was a pair of tickets for us to attend a Broadway or off-Broadway musical. I've gone to many revivals.

My favorite musical of all time is My Fair Lady, and I've been in love with Julie Andrews all my life. She'll win many of my favorite singer awards.

I also have absolutely no idea what musical appreciation has to do with politics. I am confident that neither you nor anyone else on this site knows my politics.
tfan



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PostPosted: 01/04/18 8:02 pm    ::: Reply Reply with quote

GlennMacGrady wrote:
I also have absolutely no idea what musical appreciation has to do with politics.


My impression is that Broadway shows are more appealing to Democratic (and gay) men, the same way I associate going to a Nascar race as a Republican thing. But I concede, in either case, there would be people of both parties in attendance. Sorry, just giving you a bad time.

GlennMacGrady wrote:
I am confident that neither you nor anyone else on this site knows my politics.


Don't you discuss politics on this site?


GlennMacGrady



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PostPosted: 01/04/18 9:59 pm    ::: Reply Reply with quote

tfan wrote:
GlennMacGrady wrote:
I also have absolutely no idea what musical appreciation has to do with politics.


My impression is that Broadway shows are more appealing to Democratic (and gay) men, the same way I associate going to a Nascar race as a Republican thing.


Good grief, I'm speechless at such "impressions".

I'll only say that it was my almost universal experience as a child and young man that musical tastes were inculcated throughout developmental ages -- often very young child ages -- long, long, long before any of us had developed any political views or even any interest in reading about, much less discussing, politics. I thought politics was a complete and uninteresting crock until I was in my 30's, and I never even voted for president until Carter in '76 or Reagan in '80 -- I forget which.

I continue to think politics is a crock.

tfan wrote:
GlennMacGrady wrote:
I am confident that neither you nor anyone else on this site knows my politics.


Don't you discuss politics on this site?


Not usually mine.

My father told me when I was in grade school that there are three sides to every argument: one guy's side, the other guy's side, and the right side. I agree with my father's general sentiment, but now being much older than he was at the time, I think he missed a few sides and neglected the fairly common situation where there is no right side.

I occasionally comment here on legal, social and cultural subjects that have political implications, but I often do so to give voice to an underrepresented but reasonable side of some argument. That's because this site at times seems to have been mostly a left wing echo chamber, with little or no attention given to the reasonable points of view of the other guy. I also believe in certain social, legal, economic and military policies, no matter who or what side adopts or opposes them, which changes from era to era.

On the basketball side, for example, I might make an argument that X should or should not be voted into the Hall of Fame or be NPOY, whereas I personally might vote contrary to my argument. I don't think there's anything wrong with that as a means to promote an interesting discussion, so long as the positions I'm putting forward are reasonable and not frivolous and are likely to be shared by others, especially if those others are a minority.

Sorry for being baited into this tangent.

Carey has (or had) a terrific voice range, but most of her songs were too syrupy and soap-operatic for my tastes.

Houston also had an undeniably great vocal range, but again her songs and presentation didn't really appeal to me. She often seemed to be shouting or showing off her voice.

So, again, it's Dion by default for me -- not that I'd listen to a full album of any of them.

I liked the jazz and big band singers of the 30's and 40's. Ella Fitzgerald is near the pinnacle. Kay Starr. Helen O'Connell. A holy quadrality of popular singers of my youth were Doris Day, Patti Page, Peggy Lee and Rosemary Clooney.

Joan Baez. Linda Ronstadt. Bonnie Raitt. Emmy Lou Harris. Theresa Brewer. Aretha Franklin. Grace Slick. Carly Simon. Shania Twain. Joan Jett. Maria Callas. Joan Sutherland. Beverly Sills. Liza Minelli. Mary Martin. Ethel Merman. Gwen Verdon. Shirley Jones.

Along with Garland and Streisand, I've just named a bunch of female singers whose music I own and to whom I listen in preference to Carey, Houston and Dion.
jammerbirdi



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PostPosted: 01/04/18 10:36 pm    ::: Reply Reply with quote

Whitney was hands down the best of that generation. And she blew Mariah off the stage at the Oscars just in case anyone had any doubts. But Mariah's best notes weren't her famous whistle register tones. She had (I doubt she still does) this low fat velvety whispery with this almost 'whistling' overtone part of her range on ballads that was really beautiful. Pretty pretty sound.


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PostPosted: 01/05/18 11:04 am    ::: Reply Reply with quote

Carey's melisma makes me want to put my eardrums out. Hold the goddamn note.



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Ay Mate



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PostPosted: 01/05/18 4:38 pm    ::: Reply Reply with quote

In order...

#1 Mariah Carey. 5 octanes, best voice of the three, and most successful of the three. She doesn’t sing as powerfully anymore due to vocal strain, but she can if she wanted too.

#2 Celine Dion. Such a pure clean powerful voice that has yet to age or crackle.

#3 Whitney Houston. Sounded great when she first hit it big, the only songs of hers I liked were So Emotional and I wanna Dance with Somebody (both great vocal performances where she sang strong and pure) then after a while, she tried too hard by signing about 100 notes for every word she sang, which made her kinda unlistenable. Then near the end, after years of being a crack whore, she sounded more like a man than a women. Actually I wouldn’t even put Whitney in my top 5. She was also too show-offy if that’s a word.

Case in point, I have every album Mariah made, nearly every album Celine ever made and no Whitney albums. Mariah and Celine are much easier to sing along with than 100 notes per word Whitney.


Genero36



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PostPosted: 07/09/19 10:18 am    ::: Reply Reply with quote

<embed><iframe width="644" height="434" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/r8Ijh2_Np5M" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe></embed>

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r8Ijh2_Np5M



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mercfan3



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PostPosted: 07/09/19 11:20 am    ::: Reply Reply with quote

My favorite voice was Carey’s by a mile. I think the choice between Houston and Carey comes down to taste. Do you like range or power? (Range, I like range).

IMO, Dion was more limited than the other two.



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CamrnCrz1974



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PostPosted: 07/09/19 12:35 pm    ::: Reply Reply with quote

Just heard (and downloaded) the following:

Kygo, Whitney Houston - Higher Love (Audio)
https://youtu.be/dTYOkcRH220

Not Houston's best work ("One Moment in Time" is always great to hear around the Olympics, as well as the national anthem at the Super Bowl).

But you can hear how pure her voice was. It gave me chills to hear her voice again, with "new" (not previously released) material.


Genero36



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PostPosted: 07/09/19 12:50 pm    ::: Reply Reply with quote

CamrnCrz1974 wrote:
Just heard (and downloaded) the following:

Kygo, Whitney Houston - Higher Love (Audio)
https://youtu.be/dTYOkcRH220


I like the song but as you said, it doesn't begin to touch her best work ('85-'93).

The song also makes me think of the original classic which can't be topped.

<embed><iframe width="644" height="483" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/k9olaIio3l8" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe></embed>

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k9olaIio3l8



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pilight



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PostPosted: 07/09/19 1:13 pm    ::: Reply Reply with quote

CamrnCrz1974 wrote:
Just heard (and downloaded) the following:

Kygo, Whitney Houston - Higher Love (Audio)
https://youtu.be/dTYOkcRH220

Not Houston's best work ("One Moment in Time" is always great to hear around the Olympics, as well as the national anthem at the Super Bowl).

But you can hear how pure her voice was. It gave me chills to hear her voice again, with "new" (not previously released) material.


Unreleased in the US, anyway. It was on international releases of her third album. I posted the unremixed version in the Covers You Love thread a while back.

http://boards.rebkell.net/viewtopic.php?p=1580431#1580431



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PostPosted: 07/09/19 10:42 pm    ::: Reply Reply with quote

Wee bit OT, but....

tfan wrote:
GlennMacGrady wrote:
I also have absolutely no idea what musical appreciation has to do with politics.


My impression is that Broadway shows are more appealing to Democratic (and gay) men, the same way I associate going to a Nascar race as a Republican thing. But I concede, in either case, there would be people of both parties in attendance.


Your 'impressions' may need an updating, with a booster of fluidity-- Very Happy Nascar/Stock Car Racing/et. al. are actually quite popular many gay men, but not in the way the Broadway worship gets ascribed to gay men. And there's a bunch of Dems that like racing.

Ohhh, the world is a-changin'!



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Genero36



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PostPosted: 11/14/19 12:06 pm    ::: Reply Reply with quote

<embed><iframe width="842" height="451" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/jOB-YreBccQ" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe></embed>

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jOB-YreBccQ



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