not annoying, nothing to write home about either. she's done quite well with it. mediocre

Some albums have showcased whatever voice she has better than others. I think she sounded good on Erotica and Like A Prayer, but still juvenile at times on Like A Virgin. Madonna sounded youthful, trying, just putting it out there.

Erotica used rougher takes of her vocals, which worked against the more street vibe mix on the record. Lotta grit, purposeful lack of refinement.

I think her voice improved going into Bedtime Stories but still reminded me of Erotica. She had a great vocal coach for EVITA, and that certainly worked for her on Ray of Light. She soars on the title track, "Candy Perfume Girl," "Little Star," and "Drowned World." I think she sounds great on Confessions on a Dance Floor too. Strong album, good vocals.

I think she got a little comfortable after ROL and I'm not sure she continued any coaching or help with Music and beyond. She also loves to manipulate her voice on record (she's stated as much), and does it a lot on albums like MDNA, Rebel Heart or Madame X.

I hated her voice and the whole record of American Life. I dismiss it overall in her discography.

She is who she is. Frankly, I think Miley Cyrus's voice is worse. (Just as a comparison to someone newer.) I can't stand the tone or her inflections. It irks me to hear her speak, much less sing. Can she carry a tune? Probably. But Madonna, not even coming from a music family, pulls off her songs better than Cyrus.

As a singer, she's slightly above mediocre. She's improved over the years. Her tone has changed a bit, her approach to vocals are totally different. I'm sure she uses some autotune. Many do so she's not unique in that. It takes out a lot of vibrato and other uniqueness in people's singing. But with folks like Madonna, you aren't buying that album the way you are a Celine Dion, Basia, or Linda Eder album. You're buying it because she's Madonna with (mostly) good producers.

What she lacks in technical skills she more than makes up for with raw emotion. Up until that last few years, where she's become too reliant on autotune, her voice was filled with personality and depth. Give me Madonna's voice over a Whitney or Mariah any day.

alphastreet said:

I find her voice comforting and familiar cause of being a lifelong fan

As a singer she is ordinary, passable. Now remember this is setting the bar at professional singer, superstar level. Comparing her to the creme de la creme I think she is able to record and perform to an acceptable level but she is not remarkable.

She has a pleasant tone to her voice in ballads. This is showcased in songs such as "Crazy For You" "This used to be my Playground" "Live to Tell" , "Take a Bow" Her voice my have improved technically when she performed songs from "Evita" for instance but I think the aforementioned songs capture the pretty and distinctive quality of her voice. You can tell it is her and enjoy her singing those songs.

Recently I saw a video on youtube of "The Like a Virgin tour" I enjoyed her songs even though technically some of the songs may have been sung with weak or limited vocals. The short answer is song choice is King and the she nailed those songs and carried the energy and fun in the vocals that made them smash hits. I think of songs like "Get into the Groove" "Lucky Star" "Borderline" "Holiday" and later on songs like "Cherish" Do I enjoy these songs, YES. Would I want these songs redone by an opera singer or a soul diva to improve them, NO. The songs work and it is the performance and charisma of the performance rather than dazzling with technical ability.

She is able to perform a range of songs, "Secret" , "Erotica" "Human Nature" "Papa Don't Preach" "Deeper and Deeper" "Like a Prayer" "Bad Girl" "Human Nature" "La Isla Bonita" with style charm, sex appeal, some vocals are song/spoke, some songs tell a story. She can perform songs.

The above is looking back why I gave her the vocals the edge over Janet Jackson in the Cyndi, Madonna, Janet, Paula Abdul question.

Madonna could perform distinctive vocals that sold the song. Is she a Diva, a virtuoso, know but she does what is needed to make hits. Something that is lost on some singers who are otherworldly talents but just can't get the right songs.

Singing doesn't matter in pop.

daingermouz2020 said:

hollywood0024 said:

daingermouz2020 said:

hollywood0024 said:

Honestly, I don't.

I was listening to Something To Remember and Bedtime Stories tonight while quilting.

I realized that she's actually really good on a ballad. Something To Remember is full of them. Listening to the remix of "Love Don't Live Here Anymore," or "One More Chance," "Live To Tell," "Take A Bow," and "Crazy For You." Those are really solid works.

"You'll See" was a sequel video for "Take A Bow," and proved to be what I think is one of her bed songs. That, and "One More Chance" were written by David Foster. "Take A Bow" also served, later, as an audition for EVITA, since the film was still over a year away. Madonna was vying for the role in 1994, with that long infamous letter to Alan Parker.

So that set of ballads, I think, show she had potential for more, and eventually reached a new level (although not Mariah territory) of ability with her voice.

TrivialPursuit said: