Prettiest singing voices

[the_wolfs_howl]

(Inspired by the thread about whether male or female voices are more appealing.)

Who has the prettiest singing voice you've ever heard? This isn't necessarily confined to female voices. But do confine it to "pretty" voices - much as I love Breaking Benjamin, Creed, and Demon Hunter, their singing isn't really what I would call "pretty."

Here are the two singers that I think sound the most like angels:

"Ave Maria" sung by Chloe Agnew

"La Nuit" sung by Jean-Baptiste Maunier

[armeck]

Leigh Nash
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5iUCh30tgDI

and Lacey Mosley
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bl2t5kBqsLw

[Okami]

I actually find Ryan Clark's (Demon Hunter's) voice to be extremely beautiful. Also Toby Morell (Emery), he has a gorgeous voice. And Trever Mcnevan (Thousand Foot Krutch/FM Static) and Josh Brown (Day of Fire) would be on this list for me, as well.

I have to second Lacey Mosley (Flyleaf) and would also add Dawn Richardson/Michele (Fireflight).

[Xeno]

Haley Gibby (does vocals on a number of Kaskade tracks), Hayley Williams (Paramore), Mavie Marcos (Andain), Justine Suissa (OceanLab), Rob Thomas (Matchbox Twenty), and Alison Sudol (A Fine Frenzy).

[Scarecrow]

Tarja Turunen from Nightwish

Sharon Den Adel from Within Temptaion

Simmone Simmons from Epica

Can't think of anyone with more beautiful voices than that trio.

[Warrior 4 Jesus]

The three DuPree girls in Eisley,
also those mentioned in the above post (Scarecrow's).

[Kaori]

Sylvia McNair.

[rocklobster]

My votes:
Female:
Tori Amos
Pat Benatar
Paula Cole
Bette Midler
Celine Dion
Janis Joplin (yes, she was raspy, but there was a lot of passion in there too)
Annie Lennox
Amy Lee from Evanesence
Male:
Meatloaf
Paul Simon
John Lennon
Bono from U2

[Atria35]

Josh Freakin' Groban

.... Yeah. I've never heard anyone that can match him. His music just moves me like no one else's.

Although a close second is Enya. She has a great voice.

[rocklobster]

Oh yes, Enya is spellbinding. I heartily agree, Atria.

[Scarecrow]

Ah!! Enya, how could I forget about her?! Oh and another one that I was reminded of when you said Enya... Loreena McKennitt... *sigh* If trees could sing, they'd sing like Loreena

[acgifford]

This is gorgeous....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_jRSPeKfZm4

[K. Ayato]

Sarah Brightman

[Lynna]

It's sad I can't send a link, but I have a classmate who has an absolutely angelic voice.
However, I find that some Japanese singers also have some highly lovely voices, KOKIA being one of them:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vHQDNqhzKr0

[K. Ayato]

The late Ofra Haza.

[Scarecrow]

She sang the song in the Prince of Egypt, correct? The river lullaby? Yes, she did have a very nice voice. Always like that part in the song with her singing.

[rocklobster]

Here's a couple I forgot:
Dawn Michelle from Fireflight
Lacey Sturm from Flyleaf
Both of these are quite passionate and very good singers, IMHO.

[Warrior4Christ]

Brooke Fraser (self-taught), and seconding Eisley girls and Lacey Sturm.

[rocklobster]

Major facepalm moment. I totally forgot David Bowie. That guy has amazing talent. What I like best about him is that he's in a class by himself. You can't really find a typical song by him because he has none.

[the_wolfs_howl]

Sharon Den Adel from Within Temptaion

Aw, you beat me to it! XD She would be my second choice - and that's my absolute favorite Within Temptation song, too!

Josh Freakin' Groban

Does he sing in a Disney movie? 'Cause...he really needs to. Liek rite nao.

Although a close second is Enya. She has a great voice.

Dude, she even sounds good when she's humming. Not everyone can say the same

This would be my "second tier," if you will:

Vienna Teng - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X8nypWKa_aU

David Hodges - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EsNnMWxwJEo&feature=related

[Blacklight]

(Am I too late to avoid gravedigging? I don't think I am... I hope I'm not...)

Rowan London of Virgin Black: "A Poet's Tears of Porcelain
Easily my preference to Josh Groban. (Please don't kill me.)
For that matter, Samantha Escarbe (I think it's her singing), also of Virgin Black: "Midnight's Hymn"
(Vocals start at 1:09)

Seconding Tarja Turunen (formerly) of Nightwish: "Bless the Child"
(Verse starts at about 1:39.)

Sarah Brightman: "Figlio Perduto"
(I'll admit that this and Phantom of the Opera are the only songs I know of her singing... Discovered through my sister.)
(Vocals start about 55 seconds in.)

An example of Ryan Clark's (of Demon Hunter) "pretty" singing: "Carry Me Down"

Those are the ones that come to mind.

[Adorima]

I'm surprised no one has mentioned Katherine Jenkins or Kathleen Battle there's also Barbara Bonney who sings the best rendition of Schubert's Ave Maria I also love Emma Kirkby's Where Sheep May Safely Graze I summon the courage to say, though I'm not as good as them (of course!) I'm not bad either.

[ABlipinTime]

Karen Carpenter is my family's preference, except for my brother, who likes Mary Ford. Of course, neither of these women are alive any more.

I can't think of any male voices that I thought were beautiful or eloquent, except one boy I heard on American Idol some years ago. I don't remember the kid's name, though.

[Xeno]

Going to have to add Florence Welch of Florence + The Machine to this.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2EIeUlvHAiM&ob=av2n

[Kaori]

For that matter, Samantha Escarbe (I think it's her singing), also of Virgin Black: "Midnight's Hymn"
(Vocals start at 1:09)

That’s a guest soprano, Susan Johnson.

I'm surprised no one has mentioned Katherine Jenkins or Kathleen Battle there's also Barbara Bonney who sings the best rendition of Schubert's Ave Maria

I second you on Kathleen Battle—I’m hardly an expert on classically trained vocalists, but she is one of my favorites out of those I have heard. And I hadn’t previously heard of Barabara Bonney, but you’re right, that is a really beautiful recording.

[Blacklight]

That’s a guest soprano, Susan Johnson.

THANK YOU for telling me that. I was wondering for a long time and could never find out for sure who was singing. Do you know if she's also the one singing in the other songs?

[armeck]

Dolores O'Riordan of the cranberries XD

[AnimeGirl]

Prettiest voices?

Lacey Mosley (Flyleaf)
Celtic Women
KOKIA
Josh Groban

I'll list more later, but I'm drawing a blank XD!!

[A_Yellow_Dress]

I really like Imogen Heap's voice. But there are a lot of other talented singers, too.

[Kaori]

THANK YOU for telling me that. I was wondering for a long time and could never find out for sure who was singing. Do you know if she's also the one singing in the other songs?

You’re welcome.

I am pretty certain that Susan Johnson did all of the female solo vocals on that album (and Fortissimo as well). The list of musicians in the liner notes credits her as the soprano and credits Escarbe only with guitars, whereas London is credited for tenor and piano both, so I think that if Escarbe had done any singing at all, she would be credited for it in the liner notes. Besides, singing like that usually requires quite a bit of training—hence the classically trained guest vocalist.