Because to me, it doesn't sound like it. I think she is a very affecting singer, however, but I wouldn't really call her voice pleasant-like Ella's or Dinah's

I agree.

I guess I'm not old school enough. But her voice does nothing for me.

Her voice is definitely an acquired taste

scriptgirl said:

Consider delivery, timing and mood as well. These are parts of her charm.

Aren't delivery and timing the same thing?

Flowerpower said:

Indeed, me as well. meh.

i think you need to know her story to appreciate them. a lot of her lyrics are heartbreaking.

scriptgirl said:

don't get technical on me!

The thing 2 understand is that Billie was a blues singer with a jazz sound. With her it wasn't about octaves and scatting, all she had 2 do was put her life in the words and that's what she gave us...

sinisterpentatonic said:

I am familiar with her story and her voice still does nothing for me. the 2 are unrelated.

shes proof you dont need range to be an amazing singer

kenlacam said:

please explain the pic.

dearmother said:

That's right. Look at ladies like Gwen McCrae, Etta James, Joi, Mavis Staples, Mahilia Jackson...

kenlacam said:

it's the prelude to smackdown

Well, dinah washington didn't have a good range, either, did she?
I thought Billie was a jazz singer?

scriptgirl said:

The style she sang was jazz, but the way she sang and lived was all blues.

scriptgirl said:

True that, it took a lot for me to really appreciate her.

Exactly-I never got into Billie until one christmas when I was working a godawful retail gig

SupaFunkyOrgangrinderSexy said:

She's so unique. I find that style of sliding between the notes adds a real amotional resonance to the songs. She's remarkable. It's not a technical thing, it's a feel thing.

Today in the age of auto-tune, you'd never have a singer like that. Can you imagine auto-tuning Billie Holiday to perfect pitch???

Range? Not so much. She did one particular thing and uptempo stuff wasn't her strength. But she did it masterfully, which is enough.

bobzilla77 said:

Agreed. IMO her strength was the ability to emote sadness in such a way that hasn't been matched by anybody else. Obviously there are numerous soul singers who have been able to emote (joy), pain and sadness, but listening to Billie sing I'll Be Seeing You or Don't Explain for example is really something in it's own realm.
[Edited 8/14/09 14:23pm]

Shiningstarr26 said:

Good Morning heartache gets me every time.

Good morning heartache, sit down

An absolutely dire singer. As for needing to know her story to appreciate her, what a load of crap! She had an awful braying tone to her voice, a limited range and no emotional attachment to what she was singing. People buy into the story (a la American Idol) and she's the ultimate proof of the power of suggestion; most people these days are unable or unwilling to formulate their own opinions and will quite gladly adopt a publically voiced (as in her supposed vocal gifts which music history perpetuates) opinion in order to avoid seeming ignorant.

If you want a voice that was imbued with sadness and visceral emotion, nobody touches Donny Hathaway.

Mong said:

yes, this post was exactly that.

bobzilla77 said:

This is basically it ^

For the person who said Billie had no emotional connection to what she was sining about, did you ever hear her sing "God Bless the Child"

I guess we are told to like Old school legends but everytime I hear Billie I cringe I'm sorry.

Mong said: