Let's Get a Good Debate Going -

[jennythereader]

Who is the greatest singer American popular music has produced? That is, pretty much every musical style except opera and other classical forms.

I'll cast my vote for Ella Fitzgerald.

Comments

[seawasp]

The problem is that there's a lot of different kinds of "great singer". An opera singer can do things that many pop singers can't, but often couldn't manage to sing a popular song with anything other than laughable over-acting, so to speak.

Overall I think I'd cast my vote for the inimitable Barbra Streisand, though there's others who had amazing voices -- Madonna, for instance, despite the mockery given to her, demonstrated a tremendous range and power of voice AND -- unlike many others -- a great versatility in style and approach.

[jennythe-reader.livejournal.com]

I'd definitely put Barbara Streisand on my short-list of greats. Madonna... might go on the expanded list.

[nounsandverbs]

Sinatra. Hands down.

[jennythe-reader.livejournal.com]

For me he's a very, very, very, very, very close second. Separated by maybe 1/1000000th of a point. Maybe less.

[nounsandverbs]

Let's call it a tie. Or separate it into women's and men's categories, like a marathon. :)

For me Sinatra is the greatest overall. There are others I LIKE better, that are better for certain types of music, that have a more emotive or flamboyant style, etc. etc. etc. But when I think of someone to interpret the Great American Songbook, Frank is the first one who leaps to mind.

[jennythe-reader.livejournal.com]

That works. :)

[seawasp]

I used to practice singing to Sinatra albums. However, I learned a lot more about *how* to sing from our neighbor who was an opera singer and teacher. Though I used a lot of her teachings for evil.