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WookieMan says

I've never heard a good acoustic, no mic singer, ever

What about opera?

stfu says

WookieMan says

I've never heard a good acoustic, no mic singer, ever

What about opera?

No mic... They have overhead mics so you can hear it. It's processed. 100%.

WookieMan says

After recording 3 albums, I don't know what is real anymore. 70's after is all bull shit male or female in my world. I'm a live guy and most women can't pull it off, even the chart toppers or perceived good voice singers.

Everything is processed in studio or live for the past 40 years at least. I've done it. I'd play to a click track recording and they could move individual snare hits to the click. They'd toss effects and autotune on the lead singer/guitarist. Hell, music is the first form of AI really if you think about it.

There are good female singers out there. When I was in my prime, we'd audition singers with torture tests of female vocals. Out of 20 applicants, maybe one would do OK. I agree - live is the acid test, raw vocals. You either got the pipes or you're shit. Fuck them, all they gotta do is fucking sing - they don't have to spend a decade or more of mastering their instruments.

Frankly, voices are largely born, not made. There are the flukes like Sass Jordan or Tina Turner, but women are either born with it (a lot like their SMV) or not. For males, unless you're a tenor or a baritone, then GTFO.

stereotomy says

Frankly, voices are largely born, not made. There are the flukes like Sass Jordan or Tina Turner, but women are either born with it (a lot like their SMV) or not. For males, unless you're a tenor or a baritone, then GTFO.

I agree with the born part. You have it or you don't. Males can get away with unique voices. AC/DC. Metallica. Korn. Bob Dylan. At no point is anyone calling them good singers, but they fit the genre.

Women singers are almost exclusively pop. Dime a dozen. They also very much come across whiney when singing. Adele is good. Still processed though on albums. Haven't watched live. I do think Christina Aguilera can sing acoustic without a mic and nail it. But the likes of Brittany Spears or Taylor would embarrass themselves without techs mixing the vocals.

https://nitter.poast.org/MikeBenzCyber/status/1864809846240866422#m

On PatNet, many years ago, Dan was gushing all over Taylor Swift. In a way, I didn't care because ... 'hey, whatever'. But then, when Dan and others (outside of PatNet) started saying that she was today's Debbie Harry, that's when I blew a gasket.

The answer is a resounding NO! Debbie Harry is a great female singer/songwriter (and a gorgeous pop/rock woman at that, esp before her 50s).

Dan only knew of 'Heart of Glass' and even there, Swift doesn't have an equivalent song of mass appeal. Seriously, what classic did Swift put out?

So here's a short list of songs where Debbie trumps Taylor w/o even trying:

Detroit 442
One Way Or Another
Heart of Glass
Atomic
Union City Blues
Dreaming
Call Me
Rapture
Tide Is High (cover)
Hanging On The Telephone (cover)

And her version of 'For Your Eyes Only' blows away that Sheena Easton/Bill Conti crap from the 80s. Debbie's version was turned down by the studios in place of an inferior song.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y2Y-hCydiXA

FYI, Debbie Harry is even more popular in the UK than in the USA. Claire is also one of her devotees.

Underwood has been highly acclaimed for her vocals. David Wild of Rolling Stone has praised her voice, saying that "she can hit any note".[393] Her vocal range has been described as "enormous", with critics highlighting her ability to hold notes for an extended period of time. Billboard describes her vocal ability as "freakish".[394] Concert critics have pointed out that "she'll let loose with an improbably long note that runs through more octaves than you knew existed - Wikid

Ms Underwood may be able to hit any note, but what's her content?

Even Debbie Harry did covers for others where she got to showcase her vocals. Here's 'Calmarie', where she just lent out her voice & presence:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EDe4GdSkzmY

In contrast, Deb wrote songs (sure, in collaboration w/ the band) in rock, punk, funk, pop, dance, etc. That's a territory that folks like Swift will never achieve.

Apples and oranges, I think. Harry was part of a band. Not sure if she released solo albums. Harry came up when punk and new wave was happening. Underwood came up through American Idol, I think. But look at Underwood’s Wikid page. Pretty accomplished. And yeah, Harry was a sex symbol at the time. I only know Underwood from Sunday Night Football. Boing!

Al_Sharpton_for_President says

Harry was part of a band. Not sure if she released solo albums. Harry came up when punk and new wave was happening.

She did both, though she's mostly remembered for her band's work.

Al_Sharpton_for_President says

Harry was a sex symbol at the time.

That, she is ...

Rin says

In contrast, Deb wrote songs (sure, in collaboration w/ the band) in rock, funk, pop, dance, etc. That's a territory that folks like Swift will never achieve.

I've said it before, Swift is basically a white trash computer where she's auto tuned and her programmer write the songs.

My former bands had more creative lyrics and would actually sing them. Dan didn't understand music and was into the T&A not understanding she's a white trash spoiled brat probably with herpes.

I have no problem admitting I'm sexist when it comes to music. I'm sure I've heard a bunch of Debbie Harry songs. I just don't think you write lyrics and are called a musician. At least write a bass line, guitar or even drums. I wrote our drum parts but I don't take credit for writing the song. With singers that's for some reason normal to take credit for usually doing 1/5th of the work.

Soul sound and singing is about the only place I'll give women credit. Usually fat black or white women. Soul is not pop and they're not good looking so no one listens to it outside of a few. We had fat women do backing vocals on one album. It sounded good. Skinny bitches don't have it generally.

Never knew Harry was a pussy flasher. A notorious flasher was Celine Dion.

Al_Sharpton_for_President says

Never knew Harry was a pussy flasher.

The key is to make it look accidental and not intended. As a matter of fact, she even sang that 'Accidents Never Happen' ...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7J_zKhegOy4

Anyways, the point of this whole post was to say this ...

Debbie Harry >>>>> Taylor Swift

And that's that.

You can add Connie Francis, Billie Holiday, Terri Nunn, Pat Benatar, Linda Ronstadt, Ann Wilson, Carrie Underwood, Whitney Houston, Kate Bush, Chrissy Hyndes, Stevie Nicks, Donna Summer, Celine Dion, Laura Branigan, Amie Mann, and a slew of others on that list where they're better than Taylor Swift.

Talyor Swift, in a nutshell, sucks!

FYI, Donna Summer and Amie Mann are both from Boston. Yes, we always support our local artists.

Amie Mann is a critics’ favorite.

And the lovely, versatile Linda rode the country rock train to stardom. I watched interviews with Jackson Browne and the late JD Souther, and both complained that she was a notorious song stealer.

Linda had soul and good pipes, too: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kp9G0zkorio

Linda could rock: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=flLoj5qxURw

Al_Sharpton_for_President says

Amie Mann is a critics’ favorite.

And the lovely, versatile Linda rode the country rock train to stardom. I watched interviews with Jackson Browne and the late JD Souther, and both complained that she was a notorious song stealer.

Linda had soul and good pipes, too: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kp9G0zkorio

Linda could rock: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=flLoj5qxURw

Notice how Taylor Swift is no longer in the conversation.

As for Linda, her cover of Buddy Holly's "It's So Easy" is actually better than the legend's original.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=__627t2bzJM

And Buddy Holly is the only thing that my dad and I ever had in common. Bud was the original, true genius of Rock n Roll.

Rin says

As for Linda, her cover of Buddy Holly's "It's So Easy" is actually better than the legend's original.

Male/Female a lot of covers are better than the original. We could play, but we knew our short comings. We were B talent. A talent would have had 1-2 hits with the same songs. At least one hit wonder type stuff. Lead singer guitarists voice was too unique. Not bad, but sounded weird.

I'd love to share, but anyone on this site would immediately be able to know who I am. Kind of pisses me off because I'm proud of the work, but I don't need the drama from ass hole lurkers. I trust most regulars here.

Here's my ex-GF's doppelganger, Alanis Morissette's "Uninvited" from the 'City of Angels' soundtrack:

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

Once again, completely blowing away anything Taylor Swift ever did in her life.

Rin says

Once again, completely blowing away anything Taylor Swift ever did in her life.

Agree. I don't like layered vocals though. Doing your own backing track is not possible live. I'm a live guy. So that song is impossible live to sound similar.

With the right producer anyone on patnet with any musicianship could record an album. Will it sell, who the hell knows, but you could make it sound good if you have the $$$$ and impress people.