Would you say she is more in the style of Dinah Washington or more a Dorothy Dandridge/Lena Horne cafe society type? Y'all think she had true talent?


Here is sample:

I usually think of her as more of a vocal stylist than an actual singer.

To me, half of the joy of listening to one of her records is the sassy attitude that she exudes. She may not be the best technical "singer" but she's got a hellofa voice

HELL YEAH!

She's a stylist singer, like Billie Holiday, Nina Simone, Sade, Grace Jones, Dinah Washington, Louis Armestrong.

ALL of them mastered the art of distinction IMO. And like Grace Jones, people fussed about her flamboyant attitude and forgot that she was a gifted artist,,,,hell, I don't even think she treated her talent kindly 1/2 of the time.

What is the difference between a vocal stylist and a singer?

scriptgirl said:

Artist with a style of their own, completely.

scriptgirl said:

to me, it means that it's someone who is an interpreter of songs and imbues them with their own attitude and personality to great effect, whether they are gifted with a great singing voice or not.

Harlepolis said:

THIS IS NOT MENT TO BE BRIA BASHING.

I think the girl's voice would have passed the test with fans if she was a vocal stylist. Vocal stylists may have very little range but they can emote a song. Their personality comes straight through in the way they interpret the lyrics. Had Bria been able to show her personality more with all the cooing it would have been much more interesting to listen to.

This thread is not about Bria, it is about Eartha. I fail to see how Bria rates a mention in this thread.

scriptgirl said:

I was trying to define what a vocal stylist is and sometimes that is by defineing what it isn't or where it is lacking and may have helped. I wasn't trying to open a Pandora's Box. Phyllis Hyman was both a great singer and a vocal stylist in my book. She is one of the biggest losses in music, I love the way she sings Betcha By Golly Wow. Even Prince doesn't touch her IMO.

Eartha to me was like a singing Mae West with her play on words. I can hear Eartha singing "I use to be Snow White but then I drifted". She could be very sexual without being skanky and that seems to be a lost art. Eartha is in a class all by herself IMO because I can't think of anyone like her except maybe the previously named Grace Jones.

Original & Sexy voice...