Friday Fire: Where Are the Songbirds?
Since you men won’t let the Top Ten Sexiest chill on ice, I thought I’d take this opportunity and turn 
your attention to music. Who makes your soul shake with a mere whisper of her voice? I like the ones who soothe with their vocal and spiritual sensuality and give me songs I listen to over and over in my head. Got to be jazzy or fiery or lovely or just straight talented. Yo, be nice fellas. That last post ya’ll were wilin’ but I get a laugh every time I read it like Matthew Fudge says. Here’s mine in no particular order. Do not hate because there’s a lot of local flavor oozing out of my proverbial Philly transplanted Radio Raheem box. (D Energizas?) Just sit back and enjoy the sounds of the vocal fine kind signifying the end of your work week and sending you home with a jazzy weekend smile. Jill and Alica would be on my list without question, but since they were prominent in the other post, I thought it would be redundant. Here’s my modern eight plus the aforementioned two. Somebody come with some underground talent.
Phyllis Hyman
In my eyes, no one matched her everything. Her soul speak turned me on to jazz in 1987 with Living All Alone. There was Betcha By Golly Wow , When You Get Right Down to it and also Oh Friend, but I truly fell in love with her talent after Meet Me On the Moon dropped and echoed through my conscious forevermore. Miss you Phyllis. Miss you a lot. I feel you whenever I walk the glistening mirrored streets of night time Philly. Oh Phyllis, where did your smile go…
Rachelle Ferrell
Six octaves and change? What? Who can sing like that? Rachelle is the most slept on singer of this generation. Guess what? She’s from Philly as well and she’s definitely not the last one from the city on my list. Waiting, My Funny Valentine, Sista, Nothing Has Ever Felt Like This and of course I Can’t Explain are all what makes her face sings where it sits, but Nothing In the Middle lets me fly alone amongst the stars, a couple of times backwards around Mars and finally drops me back into the car with eyes closed feeling different every time. She’s the perfect soundtrack for that after 7 dinner Saturday night walk when the Autumn Leaves fall to flirtatious laughter in the park.
Sade Adu
Love Is Stronger Than Pride. I guess we found that out Tuesday huh? I tell you what though, this chick right here helped temporarily fill the void of shock when Phyllis passed. I never liked Sweetest Taboo, but Never As Good As the First Time, I Couldn’t Love You More, Like a Tatoo and Jezebel put me where I’m supposed to be when I need to feel just like the music should. Keep Looking is what I would bang on a drive around the country side…Up and down the hills of Southeastern Pa. Nodding my head clear of whatever stress was going on at the time. Cherish the Day is the track that gives me the fortune of her half closed yes stare coming out of the club dancing close by the jeep.
Erykah Badu
Didn’tcha Know Erykah was a bad girl? She’s the talent from around the way who was always on chill but when she performed was always on blast. She makes the most of what she has been given. She pulled us in with On and On, beat us upside the head with Tyrone and had empathy for us in Other Side of the Game. She’s Honey. She’s a Bag Lady, She’s the Love of My Life.
Mary J. Blige
Anyone hear the bass line to What’s the 411? The initial time I heard it I was done and even though Puba ripped it, of course I was waaay more interested in the hardcore lady spittin’. She created a new genre of music. I Reminisce over you Sweet Thang, because you are All I Need. Mary J was the gangsta chick who rode with the fellas at every turn, took no shorts and became the one you missed when she went home. Now she is the classy icon whose face is stamped on a generation. I’m very proud of her career. Be Happy Mary J because you’re Beautiful and you sing to My Life.
Amel Larrieux
Amel Larrieux is Obama strong. When Groove Theory dropped Tell Me, I knew Amel was For Real and more than a one hit wonder. Here vibe is smooth and I fall into whatever track she’s on. She inspires you to Get Up because You Will Rise through the Sweet Misery and if you fail, Keep Tryin‘. Amel wants us all to succeed. Her voice is the helping hand which hopefully will ultimately become a plan. It’s all up to you. I love what Amel does for the younger generation through her music. She deserves a lot more shine.
Floetry
West Philly. It’s a shame these talented minds went their separate ways because their Imagination, creativity and sound was always sensual, soft and just right. Their mix of hip hop, jazz and spoken word made them Superstars in my opinion. Don’t you wanna Say Yes every time your significant other asks you to dance when you hear something Floetic? Such a pity it was Getting Late in their business relationship or this duo would have really done some damage. We can Fantasize they are still together right? Marsha, Marsha Marsha! AG, where’s your interview with Songstress?
Beyonce Knowles
Yeah, yeah. I know most of you are saying about time, but remember these aren’t in any order. Hov’s peoples is the top female in the game right now. She can act, dance and sing while ya’ll act like ya’ll dance and sing. She will go down as one of the best because of her versatility. Her camp did a great job of marketing her assets from the gate and Jay most definitely capitalized.
Sphere: Related Content
November 7th, 2008 at 2:33 pm
Ledisi definitely deserves some shine on this list, as does Chaka Khan and my personal favorite right now, Ms Cassandra Wilson.
November 7th, 2008 at 2:41 pm
You know how I do. Just wanna get the conversation started.
November 7th, 2008 at 2:50 pm
Here’s my list (in no particular order):
1) Whitney Houston (pre-Bobby Brown)
2) Sade
3) Toni Braxton
4) Mary J. Blige
5) Alicia Keys
6) Beyonce
7) Jill Scott
November 7th, 2008 at 3:42 pm
as per Mizzo’s request, Imma stay away from the typical and drop the 2 sleepers on y’all: Philly born and bred Res and the sensual 6′ Alice Smith. Res is lots of rock with true sex appeal yet very soulful. Smith….well, let me give you an analogy: ever see a cobra get hypnotized by a snake charmer? Well, when you’re listening to Smith, you’re the cobra and she’s the snake charmer.
November 7th, 2008 at 3:54 pm
DreddedOne, Alice Smith sounds like Sunshine from “Harlem Nights”. She’ll have dude callin’ home, “Honey, just want you to know, I’m never coming home again. Goodbye.” CLICK!!
November 7th, 2008 at 3:56 pm
mine are rock msic singers because hell that’s what I listen to.
1: Elyse Rogers and Karina Deniké from Dance Hall Crashers. Every time i hear them I am reminded of sitting on the beach just enjoying summer.
2: Cristina Scabbia from Lacuna Coil. Try finding “Heaven’s A Lie” and see.
3: Tarja from Nightwish. Over the Hills and Far Away is something awesome.
4: Amy Lee from Evanescence.
November 7th, 2008 at 4:09 pm
EXAACTLY, FUDGE!!!
November 7th, 2008 at 4:25 pm
Aaliyah could always do it for me with four songs…Rock The Boat, The One I Gave My Heart To, Can I Come Over and I Care For You…
But since she’s past from our world….Alica Keyes….any woman that can drop the vocals that she can is a winner…roll out the bed and look beautiful…a winner…but damint she does not even have to sing…just break out a piano and play til her heart is content…now THAT’S beauty…
November 7th, 2008 at 4:32 pm
I definitely messed up omitting Aaliyah. At Your Best was my jawn so was Can I Come Over. Aaliyah and Tank killed it.
November 7th, 2008 at 4:33 pm
And Alicia doesn’t even have to show the laffy taffy. She has that much talent.
November 7th, 2008 at 4:35 pm
Good googa!!
http://alicesmith2.ning.com/photo/2095604:Photo:17
November 7th, 2008 at 4:37 pm
Personally, I don’t like Beyonce’s voice. Am I missing something? Can someone recommend a song that I should hear to alter my opinion?
OR:
Am I just better off sticking with what I like — Jill Scott,
Alicia Keys, Cassandra Wilson, Dianne Reeves and others who actually interpret the song.
Thoughts?
November 7th, 2008 at 4:49 pm
It’s not ya beauty, it’s ya booty….
November 7th, 2008 at 4:50 pm
Temple, Alice is lacking in the chesticles, but she’s still fine as frog hair.
November 7th, 2008 at 4:51 pm
It’s my duty to please that booty!
November 7th, 2008 at 5:20 pm
Matthew:
I’m off that duty…with twins and new duty to clean them dookies.
November 7th, 2008 at 5:21 pm
Rachelle Farrell - WOW!!!! What a voice!!
November 7th, 2008 at 5:23 pm
Yeah man. She is so SLEPT ON!
November 7th, 2008 at 5:25 pm
Hold it down fellas. I’m about to crash after I get this Sixers piece up on SLAM. Can the brothas please stay out of the 70’s background music DVD isle with this one? Please?
Especially Okori and Origin…damn!
November 7th, 2008 at 6:57 pm
Bom Chicka Wah Wah
In order:
Chaka Khan — Sweet Thing for real. She set the gold standard.
Layla Hathaway — Its all in the genes. If you don’t know, start with When Your Life Was Low.
Anita Baker — The veteran. The smooth taste fooled many.
Teena Marie — The only woman that could tame Rick James.
Angie Stone — Chocolate elegance.
India.Arie — Underrated as both singer and songwriter because she writes intelligently.
SLEEPERS — Leela James. Small woman, big voice.
Jennifer Hudson (God bless her and fam) Big voice, needs better material.
REALLY? — Cyndi Lauper. Don’t believe me? Go back and listen to Time After Time. A brilliant song writer.
COME HOME — Lauren Hill. Please come back. Could spit lyrics and cut your heart out in the same song.
Okay, that’s all I got. Discuss amongst yourselves.
p.s. — Whitney Houston was a hood rat before she hookt up with Bobby. He just enabled her.
November 7th, 2008 at 9:05 pm
Chaka Khan…still the queen of my life.
I used to wish and dream I was part of Rufus back in the day. I would have carried their bags for free just to be around when Chaka sang..
I love Chakas latest with Lewis and Jam. very enjoyable to me as is all she has every done…from the rated to the panned. I like it all.
Phyllys Hyman and why do these things happen. what a magnificent woman, and singer.
Similarly Minnie Ripperton!
of the currents, I cant get over Keisha Coles intensity and soul. she has this way of attaching herself to your soul with her spirit. incredible!
I love every thing about Toni Braxton… and India Arie..a strong and sweet blac woman, who embodies all that rich and fecund about blac women.
Eryka badu the wraith and green reed blowing in the wind of an early-summer day, all cool and glorious sunshine, the grass still green from the spring rains and the birds picking the grass seeds their feet-web being hooked in the reeds as you approach and they cant fly away in fear… and you unhook them and help them to fly away.
that’s how I fell when I hear: “ooo, aah ah…am trying to decide…. which way to go…I made a wrong turn back there somewhere?
Eryka is so light and feathery I slip away with her into summer dreams. Incredible!
Regina Belle, most feminie, all the strenght and humanity..and vulnerability of women, the chances they take in love… as exemplified in the video of her first hit song “Show Me”
I fell in love with Regina Belle from that song
Faith Evans is another I feel for, for reasons I cannot pinpoint.
Jody Watley..saucy and ambitious, determined.
btw I used to like Beyonce Knowles until she she produced that song about to the left, everything yu own in a bag to the left.
I know that kind of gender musical exploitation game and while I could deal with “Tyrone” I cant deal with Beyonces left side nonsense…and she herself anymore.
talented and beautiful…but it shud have some meaning. I can find none!
November 7th, 2008 at 9:31 pm
Chaka Khan kissed me once - maybe twice - outside of Nell’s in New York!!
Oh, my! (Dick Enberg voice.)
November 7th, 2008 at 9:48 pm
Can’t even be mad at you.
November 7th, 2008 at 10:10 pm
I’m gonna ride with:
Lauryn Hill
A. Keys
Angie Stone
Jill Scott
Tweet
Tamia
Actually one I argue with folks about is Christina Aguilera… yeah she’s not a sista but mighty mouse can blow. The cracked up beehive from across the pond can as well.
November 7th, 2008 at 11:53 pm
Maybe its cuz I’m from Detroit, but what about
Anita Baker? sweetest voice in the game, still. call it what u will but she’s fire…Rapture, Giving you the best that I got, I could continue but y’all call me a homer
Faith Evans: underrated voice
Toni Braxton: “Love shoulda brought you home”
Mizzo, you know I’m on board with Phyllis, Mary J and Sade
November 8th, 2008 at 1:15 am
Anita Baker- has brought me joy since ‘86 when I tasted her sweet love
Sade Adu- perfect melding of voice, material, and beauty
Chaka Khan- saw her earlier this year in concert with Jill Scott and should have left after her set
Res- Ice King was the song that set me up for life with her and the fact she’s from Philly doesn’t hurt either
Cassandra Wilson- the first time I heard New Moon Daughter must be like the first someone takes peyote because I never knew a human voice could sound so different yet so beautiful
Alice Smith- saw her for the first time last year when she opened for Citizen Cope(google him and you’ll like what you hear) and bought her CD from concessions after her first song. She may lack the chesicles but that azzicle don’t stop, won’t stop, can’t stop
Sarah Vaughn- I know, keep it current, but there’s always a place for the inimitable Ms. Vaughn
Big Maybelle- if you’re a certain age you remember this one from the Cosby Show which made me spend a lot of my teenage money on finding her stuff
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jVFMw7qyhNw&feature=related
November 8th, 2008 at 4:40 pm
1. Anita Baker
2. Sade
3. Phyllis Hyman
4. Lauryn Hill
5. Mary J.
6. Jaguar Wright
7. Monica
8. Angie Stone
9. Eryka Badu
10. Alicia Keys
Of course in no particular order.
November 8th, 2008 at 6:16 pm
Dick Enberg eh! lucky muther!
Anita Baker! Wow!
who limited this list to 10? what about one of 20..better yet 30?
on the other side what abourt Fergie? I have heard some sweet sounds from her mouth. is she real or am I hearing things?
and Jay LO, opposite the ‘beast,’ Jah Rule! or is it just the terrific sexual implication I like?
November 8th, 2008 at 7:03 pm
My oldest son’s Mom is a better looking Chaka Khan. She can sing her ass off too.
That’s why Chaka didn’t appear on my list
I blew that one fellas.
Get your mind out of the gutter Navin!
November 8th, 2008 at 7:33 pm
Mizzo, I know you addressed to the fellas, but I decided to chime in anyway. You know you my boy, my ace…but I just don’t think Beyonce belongs on this list. Commercially, she is dynamite and a helluva performer. She’s a very graceful black woman, but when I think of Beyonce, I don’t think, “soul.” In my opinion, Mariah makes this list waaaay before Beyonce. Beyonce has not sung one song as soulfully as Mariah banged “Vision Of Love.”
(And to leave off Chaka, you need your pass revoked)
I’mma throw a few others out there worthy of consideration:
- Tina Turner. Fantastic performer, unusually deep, but poignant voice. Her cover of “Let’s Stay Together,” is like dat.
- Kelis. I know, a total wildcard. But I feel all her albums are completely slept on, especially her first joint.
- Kelly Price. How many of us testified to “It’s Gonna Rain?”
- Should Lauryn Hill be in this conversation? Jus’ askin’…
- Me’Shell Nedegeocello. Her album “Cookie,” is breathtaking.
- Shirley Murdock. “As We Lay” … “Go On Without You”… enuff said. Altho, if the rumors are true, I’m not sure if she can qualify in the ladies category. Moving on…
- Now, you know I’m extra offended you didn’t put my girl, Teena Marie in the top-10.
Oh and whoever brought up Res is on point. Completely underrated.
November 8th, 2008 at 7:56 pm
I knew you were coming and also knew who you would say but damn my pass is revoked?
I kinda put modern in my post as a disclaimer but had to pay homage to my girl Phyllis.
Res is the truth. She takes me back and also gives a They Say Vision taste of the future in every track.
Now you of all people know Teena is my girl. Shangri la, Sunny Skies, Out On a Limb….oh and trust my next ex is gonna sing Portuguese Love the next day after I get my hands on her lol.
You are a Casanova Brown girl though right?
Uh…can I get Bubba Chuck back? We kinda need him here right about now.
November 8th, 2008 at 8:02 pm
Don’t know how I forgot about Mariah. I’m giving myself a time-out.
November 8th, 2008 at 9:33 pm
yes man! revoke his pass! first for Chaka…really! man leaves out Chaka?
then for gutterising my natural reaction to Jay Lo of the famous buttock.
how else would a real man react to Jay Lo’s needful, cat and claws reaction to the ready and standing potential of mighty Jah Rule?
wishing you were him in that situation is one way.
ha ha ha ha ha!
November 13th, 2008 at 8:13 pm
Navin I inadvertently deleted your comment on the other thread. Please resubmit. Sorry about that.
November 14th, 2008 at 12:23 am
Mizzo
I think Phyllis Hyman’s “Betchabygollywow” should have retired the song for all time. And Old Friend, simply spectacular. IMO, she was the greatest soul female singer of all tiime.
I’ve always ben troubled by Ms. Ferrell. She has a stupendous range, although a slightly forgettable tembre, and great musical training. Still it always seemed to me that she has struggled to find her true musical voice if that makes any sense to you.
Despite a very limited voice and frankly, no range to speak of, MJB is to me the greatest Hip Hop artist of all time. I agree completely with you about “What’s the 411″ and her subsequent career. Her honesty, wistfulness juxtaposed with toughness and incredible rhythmic sense have simply been a great force for almost 2 decades now. I absolutely love her.
I’m gonna echo others here and make special note of Toni Braxton, Regina Bell and Minnie Ripperton.
HD
Thanks for the Cosby Flashback. After “The Wire.” Cosby is my favorite TV show of all time and I’ve seen each episode at least 5 times over the years
Ms Hill.
On Teena Marie, we finally can agree on something.
Now Ya’ll know me, so I’m gonna go old school for just a minute and bring some of the big 3 female Jazz singers and one who just misses that vaunted cut.
1. Billie-IMO, the greatest American singer of all time. She had only a 13 note range on her best day and as she aged, due to her lifestyle, that became even lessened. But she seemed to have 5 different tembre’s and her rhythymic sense has only been matched in American musical history by the greatest Jazz musicians. Add to that her ability to reflect, echo and amplify every moment in black American history, from 1619 to 2008 in her unique approach to the songs she sung and IMO, it’s not even close.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=thSfGPZGmnQ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JxVXNWdHDq8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sOspCve9hY8
2. Sarah Vaughn
A Whiskey tembre with the warmth of a fireplace in a snowstorm in the mountains with a complete fluidity throughout 4 octaves, swung like Nobodies business and was one of the, if not the, only singer able to keep up completely with BeBop musicians
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q0nIkXH4fVU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YTUlXF9Kzpw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x8cFdZyWOOs
3. Ella Fitzgerald
an even fuller range than Sarah, as much fluidity, not the rhythmic sense, sung more straight. But had such a beautiful tembre, like a crystal clear day when you cna see forever.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6m6vtHIXzF8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VuHgGsP1eOA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZOpl-glNGiA
4. Dinah Washington
She was a modern throwback, a crooning Jazz singer who was juxtaposed Billie Holiday and Bessie Smith and then threw in a little Sarah for good measure. Completely underrated.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ivUpwfFpkXg
With Clifford Brown
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MhvOmUlsj7Y
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fL4La5uoQLU