I haven’t done a music post for real, for real in a second. But what the hell, it’s Friday, I’m sexxy, and we don’t have anything else to do.
On Monday night, one of my girl’s friends was over at my house doing her hair and since we’re young and Black…
…Beyonce came up. I’ve come to accept that there are two schools of thought when it comes to Beyonce.
1) She cannot sing at all, she just dances hard, and has the personality of a head of lettuce.
2) She is a great singer and dances her booty off, and has the personality of a head of lettuce.
Of course, my girls’ friend was in the Beyonce can’t sing camp and it launched a discussion about who actually can sing. I won’t run down her entire list but she threw Mario in there (she said that Trey Songz cannot sing which I found odd since Trey Songz absolutely can sing and is also a better singer than Mario).
Anyway, I figured what better place to see people’s true colors than here at VSB where objectivity rules the day and biases don’t run rampant.
Ahem.
So today, I, Panama Dontavious Jackson, will illuminate your lives with a list of 10 folks whose voices need to be recognized. Since I am music (and Malcolm X) this is my charge in life. Follow me!!
1) Donny Hathaway
I swear, this is one of the few grown ass men who’s ever brought a tear to my eyes, with the other being my father after an asswhippin’. Donny had one of the most beautiful voices EVER. So clear, so beautiful. So fresh and so clean clean. In fact, Donny’s voice was so good, he didn’t feel like he deserved it anymore and jumped out of a window of a hotel in New York City in January of 1979.
2) Marvin Gaye
What can be said about Marvin Gaye except that a lot you negroes out there are here because of him. His voice was so sultry and silky that he could create an album that should have been entitled “F*ck You Anna” (real title: Here My Dear) and it still came out sounding like a gift from God. Marvin Gaye was dat nigga. That’s the only thing I can say about him.
3) Sam Cooke
“I was booooooooooooooooorn by the river…”
From “Cupid” to “Cha Cha Cha” Sam’s voice was just raw and uncut. He made the most kiddy songs sound like something you’d get you some “action” too. However, the song that still brings a slight tear to my eye is “A Change Gonna Come”. Good gracious that is a serious song. The man sang like he knew he was going to die.
Guess what?? He got shot in a hotel in Los Angeles messing with the wrong woman at the wrong time.
Guess he was somewhat of a psychic, huh???
4) David Ruffin (of The Temptations)
Neither drugs, nor hoes, nor crack cocaine, could keep David Ruffin from sharing with the world his gift of harmonious melody. However, those things did keep him from making tour dates and turned him into an a-hole. Or at least according to Otis, even though we KNOW wasn’t nobody coming to see Otis.
5) Teddy Pendergrass
From “Love TKO” to “Close The Door” to “Wake Up Everybody”, Teddy has one of the most distinct voices in music. The harsh grit mixed with the smooth lova man vibe brought many a woman to her knees. Sad too, because that’s how he ended up in a wheelchair. Word to the wise, if you must get head in your whip fellas…watch the road, mmkay???
6) Amel Larrieux
This woman’s voice gives me the chills. No really, if you listen to the song “Freedom” on the Panther soundtrack, she has like two lines and then scats towards the end; whoooooooooooooooowee I just get the heeby jeeby’s listening to her. Her voice is so beautiful and effortless I’m almost convinced she’s really an angel sent here to touch lives.
7) Lauryn Hill
Allow me to commit blasphemy for a second. I don’t think The Mis-education of Lauryn Hill is that great. Is it a good album…yes. But I’m not just goo goo for it. However, I cannot deny how beautiful her voice is. Lauryn pre-2002 was essentially the epitome of woman. Gorgeous, beautiful, lovely voice, smart, sarcastic, etc. And now she’s just nuts.
Luther Vandross
Ya know what…he doesn’t even need an explanation. Luther can best be summed up using a title of one of his songs…
“So Amazing”.
9) Beyonce
I don’t care what you say. The girl can just flat out sing. If you disagree, you are a hater and should light yourself on fire…in the desert.
10) Whitney Houston
Because before crack she was crack.
Now that list was in no particular order, but those are 10 folks who I think can/could pretty much outsing anybody. But this begs the question, as far as singers go (and ones that most folks would recognize), but let’s settle it…
…who has the best voice of all time?? And who would make your top 10 singers list?
VSB, Panama would like to know.
-VSB P aka THE ARSONIST aka TANGLE JIG P aka GIIIIIIIIIIRL, HE A 3