Why She is One of the Greatest Singers On The Planet

**Oneironaut Zero** · 10-07-2009 12:08 AM

I just recently saw Christina Aguilera perform "It's a Man's World" [James Brown] on the Grammy's, back in 2007.

I've been convinced that she is one of the greatest female vocalists I've ever heard, for quite some time, and this pretty much confirms it. Lol. Goddamn.

(In before "this is old")

**slayer** · 10-07-2009 01:03 AM

My god her voice is amazing!

**Oneironaut Zero** · 10-07-2009 05:04 AM

Originally Posted by slayer

My god her voice is amazing!

You're damn right it is!

**slayer** · 10-07-2009 09:42 PM

The only part that I liked the least was her screaming.

**Oneironaut Zero** · 10-07-2009 11:25 PM

Originally Posted by slayer

The only part that I liked the least was her screaming.

Yeah, that part is pretty "hate it or love it." I can appreciate what she tried to do there. That high E, with such force, is such a hard note to hit that I can't think of anybody else that could hit it (besides maybe Mariah, in her early days - but I doubt even she could do it with the grittiness Christina was going for). She didn't nail the note, right off - which I believe is the main reason it grates on the ears; it was a little flat in the beginning - but she did hit it by the time she was done holding the note. That is an unbelievably hard thing to do, and I think the only reason she even attempted it there was to pay homage to James Brown's gritty, raspy scream that he normally does.

But yeah, despite its level of difficulty, it really was a sore spot in an otherwise flawless performance.

**CRAZY BONE** · 10-07-2009 11:43 PM

Yeah she's pretty damn good. However, the screaming at 2:04 was hilarious! Only Mariah can hit those high notes

**Oneironaut Zero** · 10-08-2009 12:22 AM

Originally Posted by Maverick

Only Mariah can hit those high notes

Yeah, but she could never hit them with that much force.

(And don't get me wrong; I was always a huge Mariah fan, so I'm not bashing her, or even trying to compare the two overall. She's definitely lost her spark, though, since she's made her 'comeback'.

)

**Oneironaut Zero** · 10-10-2009 03:01 AM

You know what, though? With all of the people I've seen around here that "only appreciate good music", it amazes me to see that no one else has commented on this performance.

This must have been at least the 20th time I've watched this vid, and it just doesn't get old....

D'oh well!

**grasshoppa** · 10-10-2009 03:04 AM

I watched it without sound. While jewel was on the TV...So pretty good?

**Taosaur** · 10-10-2009 03:08 AM

She's in the ballpark, but she doesn't touch Billie Holiday or a dozen other jazz vocalists.

**slayer** · 10-10-2009 03:09 AM

God this song is so awesome.

**Oneironaut Zero** · 10-10-2009 03:15 AM

Originally Posted by grasshoppa

I watched it without sound. While jewel was on the TV...So pretty good?

...I don't get it.

Originally Posted by Taosaur

She's in the ballpark, but she doesn't touch Billie Holiday or a dozen other jazz vocalists.

By "on the planet", I meant living. But yes, I love Billie Holiday too.

[Edit] And you know what? I don't know if I would say she so much 'surpasses' the greats like B.H., but 'touch?' Yeah. She definitely does that - especially at her age.

[/Edit]

**DeeryTheDeer** · 10-10-2009 03:42 AM

She was totally pitchy and off on that high note, just trying to scream it as best she could. Personally I'm not a fan of her "growling" style either, when basically every pop star or American Idol singer tries to sing like this, with all the trills and yelling, just to try so hard to beef up the performance, and in effect sounding exactly the same with no personality. Opinions are subjective, but I would never say she's one of the best on the planet. For starters, Maria Callas is thousands of miles out of her league.

**grasshoppa** · 10-10-2009 03:44 AM

Originally Posted by Oneironaut

...I don't get it.

That's becuase I'm retarted. I also have no headphones or speakers...

Seriously though, she is a great singer. I think there are probably a lot of better singers though, just not well known due to the genre they preform in as Taosaur mentioned.

**Oneironaut Zero** · 10-10-2009 04:01 AM

Originally Posted by DeeryTheDeer

She was totally pitchy and off on that high note, just trying to scream it as best she could.

Messing up on half of a 5-second note, in an - otherwise stellar - 4:00 performance is nothing that I would discredit someone for. But yes, opinions are definitely subjective. So don't think I'm trying to discredit yours, because you're right. She completely fudged that note. But that note was one that only a handful of people could have actually hit, and she went for it.

Originally Posted by DeeryTheDeer

Personally I'm not a fan of her "growling" style either, when basically every pop star or American Idol singer tries to sing like this, with all the trills and yelling, just to try so hard to beef up the performance.

Some of the greatest performers in history have "tried so hard to beef up the performance." Most performers call it "challenging themselves". I see why you dislike it, believe me, but I think it was a bold move - even for a singer of her caliber - and, considering it was live, I think she did alright.

Originally Posted by DeeryTheDeer

Maria Callas is thousands of miles out of her league.

In her own genre, yes. I believe you're right. In funk/soul/R&B, I'm not convinced. There is a lot to be said for that grittiness/"growling", when you love the genre it fits into.

[Edit: And you'll have to forgive me. I'm not trying to be combative. Just stating my opinion.]

Originally Posted by grasshoppa

Seriously though, she is a great singer. I think there are probably a lot of better singers though, just not well known due to the genre they preform in as Taosaur mentioned.

Agreed.

I could have been more PC by saying "one of the greatest mainstream singers on the planet", but hey...

**Tarsier** · 10-10-2009 10:48 AM

I'm not even going to say anything.

**Kiza** · 10-10-2009 11:36 AM

You don't need to, Tarsier. It's pretty obvious right off the bat what you are going to say.

**Lseadragon** · 10-10-2009 02:19 PM

I agree with Taosaur. Most mainstream vocalists of her type sound the same to me; but I don't think this is because of any lack of skill or such like that. It's the demands of the music, the public, the culture. She's not going to start shredding death growls.

**Taosaur** · 10-10-2009 10:27 PM

Originally Posted by Oneironaut

By "on the planet", I meant living. But yes, I love Billie Holiday too.

[Edit] And you know what? I don't know if I would say she so much 'surpasses' the greats like B.H., but 'touch?' Yeah. She definitely does that - especially at her age.
[/Edit]

Honestly, I was being generous with "ballpark." I watched both videos again, and she just doesn't do anything for me. I would give Alanis Morisette on a good day more credit. Someone else singing that first song would be very moving, but with her, to me, it just sounds soulless.

**YULAW** · 10-10-2009 10:48 PM

Christina is a very powerful singer but there were only a few that could hit an A Register note, Mariah Carey being one of them along with Minnie Rippleton and Denise Williams.

**Oneironaut Zero** · 10-10-2009 10:52 PM

Originally Posted by Taosaur

I would give Alanis Morisette on a good day more credit. Someone else singing that first song would be very moving, but with her, to me, it just sounds soulless.

Wow.

**Lëzen** · 10-11-2009 08:39 AM

Originally Posted by lseadragon

Most mainstream vocalists of her type sound the same to me

This. Seriously, whenever I hear some mainstream song with a female lead, I'll be like "Umm...Britney Spears?" when it's really Jessica Simpson or someone else. There's just something about female singers' voices that strikes me as indistinguishable from one to the next. No uniqueness factor. It seems the only female vocalists I can truly appreciate are Tarja Turunen (formerly of Nightwish) and the singer from Heart, because they've got those "in your fucking FACE" kind of vocal abilities.

And it's not that I'm just bad with recognizing vocalists in general; I can distinguish James Hetfield's, Dave Mustaine's, David Draiman's, Warrel Dane's, Axel Rose's, Tim McIlrath's, Alexi Laiho's, and countless other male vocalists' voices out of a crowd. They've all got unique styles of singing that makes their voices totally different from one another.

**CoLd BlooDed** · 10-11-2009 09:55 AM

Dude, what about Grace Slick for Jefferson Airplane? She's right up there with Heart.

Btw, I thought Christina Aguilera did superbly. Mainstream or not, I'd like to see anyone of us here sing like that.

**Oneironaut Zero** · 10-11-2009 10:48 AM

Originally Posted by Lëzen

This. Seriously, whenever I hear some mainstream song with a female lead, I'll be like "Umm...Britney Spears?" when it's really Jessica Simpson or someone else. There's just something about female singers' voices that strikes me as indistinguishable from one to the next. No uniqueness factor. It seems the only female vocalists I can truly appreciate are Tarja Turunen (formerly of Nightwish) and the singer from Heart, because they've got those "in your fucking FACE" kind of vocal abilities.

And it's not that I'm just bad with recognizing vocalists in general; I can distinguish James Hetfield's, Dave Mustaine's, David Draiman's, Warrel Dane's, Axel Rose's, Tim McIlrath's, Alexi Laiho's, and countless other male vocalists' voices out of a crowd. They've all got unique styles of singing that makes their voices totally different from one another.

I hate to say it like this, but there's really no other way to say it:

If you can't tell the difference between Christina Aguilera and Britney Spears/Jessica Simpson, you're not listening. Period.

On what planet do Britney, Jessica, or any of those other no-talent pop chicks sound like this?