I love the clear pure sound of Dionne's voice when she had it, but I am gospel at heart so I'm drawn to that Baptist lilt Aretha brings to Say a Little Prayer. It's a tough call and really on a song by song basis because for instance I don't think I'd like Aretha's voice on Wives and Lovers, that's perfect for Dionne. Of course, Dionne grew up in the church too (not great audio, play with your speakers):

I love the clear pure sound of Dionne's voice when she had it, but I am gospel at heart so I'm drawn to that Baptist lilt Aretha brings to Say a Little Prayer. It's a tough call and really on a song by song basis because for instance I don't think I'd like Aretha's voice on Wives and Lovers, that's perfect for Dionne. Of course, Dionne grew up in the church too (not great audio, play with your speakers):

http://www.youtube.c...h?v=-CO8eYwDsiw

Yes, Dionne can sing gospel too. I don't think the two should be compared. As I've pointed out, Dionne was tailor made for white audiences. Columbia tried to do that with Aretha and it didn't work. Atlantic Record let Aretha be herself and that's when she took off.

Edited March 5, 201114 yr by MontyB

That's interesting, I didn't know that a. Stevie "I done sung at errybody's funeral" Wonder wrote that, and b. Gladys was his first choice to record it.

Stevie's version would not be heard until his 1977 Anthology album:

<iframe title="YouTube video player" width="480" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/JyiEr8PXuvw" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Edited March 5, 201114 yr by Y&RWorldTurner

I know she's much more than a soul artist, but what do I say to someone who says that Aretha tends over sing(I'm still reeling from that one. Patti Labelle oversings).

I agree about Patti, and she by far is one of the worst offenders of over-singing, but I think Aretha is guilty of it too.

It's really apparent when Aretha sings with others on stage. Like the Divas '98 performance or the Waiting To Exhale medley at the '97 Grammy's. I guess it's part of her competitive nature.

Aretha has cover a many song and have made them better than the original.

I'm not saying none of her covers are good, but when it comes to Bacharach/David productions or songs like The Shoop Shoop Song, I don't think her delivery suits them at all.

Say what you will about Aretha, but no one has come close to taking her title.

She IS The Queen of Soul, I would never argue otherwise. However, I still hold that superior soul and gospel singers have existed. Mahalia Jackson being one of them.

Yes, Dionne can sing gospel too. I don't think the two should be compared. As I've pointed out, Dionne was tailor made for white audiences. Columbia tried to do that with Aretha and it didn't work. Atlantic Record let Aretha be herself and that's when she took off.

I wouldn't compare them, as I've said, but the fact they've both covered I Say A Little Prayer lends to some of that.

But ironically, Aretha's commercial comeback album on Arista, 1985's Who's Zoomin' Who? was very pop-oriented and perhaps the most pop-based album of her career, and really her last big commercial album.

Edited March 5, 201114 yr by Y&RWorldTurner

That Stevie version sounds great. Now he unfortunately is someone who could be accused of oversinging these days. He goes nuts with those growls and riffs that are a little sloppy and silly. He really doesn't need to do all that, he sounds so perfect when he just sings a song straight. His was the highlight performance at MJ's funeral, imo (and that sounds like such an effed up thing to say about somebody's funeral, I know ).

Patti is one of the few I can tolerate, sometimes enjoy, oversinging from. She just has such a naturalness to all she does that it seems like a natural part of her and not just showing off (even if it is showing off). I tend to like her songs best when they're a mixture of both.

I think what made Mahalia great, not unlike Aretha, was again the timbre of her voice, no one sounds like Mahalia (except for Joshua Nelson, and again, that's on purpose). Aretha can't do all of the crazy vocal stuff Karen Clark Sheard can do, but even in Karen (particularly when she was young) you can hear the influence of her fellow Detroit native and idol, Aretha. Marion Williams was another gospel great and influence on Aretha, she performed when Marion got her Kennedy Center honor. But even as great as Yolanda Adams is, her voice is not as unique as Aretha's.

And with Patti, oversinging/being OTT has become her brand. People get so tickled to see and hear her go crazy:

She probably isn't comparable, but the Queen of Jazz, Ella Fitzgerald, who was also an influence on Aretha, has one of the most distinctive voices EVER. Her voice is like buttah. No Jazz vocalist has come close to her delivery and style.

I've heard Aretha cover some of Ella's signature songs, and I don't think she comes anywhere close or is any good singing Jazz standards as well.

I would agree. I do prefer Sarah Vaughan to Ella though.

She probably isn't comparable, but the Queen of Jazz, Ella Fitzgerald, who was also an influence on Aretha, has one of the most distinctive voices EVER. Her voice is like buttah. No Jazz vocalist has come close to her delivery and style.

I've heard Aretha cover some of Ella's signature songs, and I don't think she comes anywhere close or is any good singing Jazz standards as well.

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Edited March 5, 201114 yr by MontyB

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And?

It's all up for opinion. Aretha's strengths, in my opinion, are in gospel and R&B. Her delivery in pop and jazz standards on the other hand? Not that good. I think she gets way too much credit for the alleged versatility of her voice and recordings, as I've said.

Here's Aretha singing one of Ella's signature songs at an Ella tribute, and really, I do not think she connects with the song, and certainly not near the league of Ella while singing it.

<iframe title="YouTube video player" width="480" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/ejGk4pu_t3c" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Ella singing it:

<iframe title="YouTube video player" width="480" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/2d-l7_TGnIE" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

And?

It's all up for opinion. Aretha's strengths, in my opinion, are in gospel and R&B. Her delivery in pop and jazz standards on the other hand? Not that good. I think she gets way too much credit for the alleged versatility of her voice and recordings, as I've said.

Here's Aretha singing one of Ella's signature songs at an Ella tribute, and really, I do not think she connects with the song, and certainly not near the league of Ella while singing it.

<iframe title="YouTube video player" width="480" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/ejGk4pu_t3c" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Ella singing it:

<iframe title="YouTube video player" width="480" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/2d-l7_TGnIE" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

It's comparing apples to oranges. Two totally different singers and styles. You don't "respect" Aretha. That's fine.

She probably isn't comparable, but the Queen of Jazz, Ella Fitzgerald, who was also an influence on Aretha, has one of the most distinctive voices EVER. Her voice is like buttah. No Jazz vocalist has come close to her delivery and style.

I've heard Aretha cover some of Ella's signature songs, and I don't think she comes anywhere close or is any good singing Jazz standards as well.

Aretha can't come close to Ella.