Lately I can’t get these chanteuses out of my head! These are some of the women of the world with the most beautiful music. Old and new.
Corinne Bailey Rae (UK) – In a day and age where a good voice alone can provide you with a golden ticket, it is refreshing to see that Rae has not only written or co-written every song on her debut, she also contributes guitar, bass, keys, and percussion to the tracks. Her songs have some room to mature, but as a new recording artist in her mid-20s, so does she. Soul lovers, pass the word: this is one impressive debut.
Amy Winehouse (UK) – A cross between Billie Holiday and Lauryn Hill, British soul singer Amy Winehouse’s U.S. debut, Back To Black hits the US amid a flurry of accolades, radio and TV buzz unprecedented in recent years for a young siren.Her brassy mix of emotive vocals tinged with 60′s girl-group stylings, sly funk, and anguished jazz, sparked the New York Daily News to crown Back To Black a “marvelous debut that would do Etta James proud” while New Yorker Magazine called her “a fierce English performer whose voice combines the smoky depths of a jazz chanteuse with the heated passion of a soul singer,” and Spin Magazine affirming “there’s never been A British star quite like her.”
Bjork (Iceland) – Call her crazy, but you can’t deny the beauty and power in her voice. It’s a shame I’ve only recently discovered her, but now she gets heavy rotation around here. Her new album Volta is set to be released on May 7th.
Utada Hikaru (Japan) – Utada’s first album release in four years. She dominates the charts in Japan whenever she releases a single or album. I love love love her voice! Ultra Blue is well created masterpiece that will blow rest of her hits away! Her angelic voice and distinct style is represented with her impressive talent.
