If you could sing like anyone in the world, who would it be?

I, myself, can't actually sing (without scaring the dog...)But if I could, I'd want to sing like Patsy Cline. Who's voice would you want?

-- Anonymous, September 29, 2000

Answers

I sing so badly that when I am in a crowd that is supposed to sing "Happy Birthday," I just lip synch! The voice I would want would be a mix of the strong, clear alto voice of Karla Bonoff mixed with the soulful voice of Phoebe Snow. - -

-- Anonymous, September 30, 2000

Ella Fitzgerald, probably.

-- Anonymous, September 30, 2000

Kiri Te Kanawa. Hands down.

-- Anonymous, September 30, 2000

I can sing OK, but I really have no power. I want the cute twang of a Dixie Chick! Well, sometimes anyway.

-- Anonymous, September 30, 2000

Etta James or Teena Marie.

-- Anonymous, October 01, 2000

Keely Smith.

-- Anonymous, October 02, 2000

I was a little too quick to post. I also meant to say: Sarah Vaughan, Dinah Washington, Kate Bush, and Nina Simone.

-- Anonymous, October 02, 2000

Julie Andrews.

-- Anonymous, October 02, 2000

Karen Carpenter, Billie Holiday, the aforementioned Sarah and Dinah, and kd lang. I actually blurted to kd, when I talked to her on a radio interview thingie, "Ohmygawd, if I could sing like you, I'd never shut up! I'd sing everything! I'd sing my order at McDonalds!"... which was not only totally dorky, but completely stupid, considering kd's PETA involvement....

-- Anonymous, October 02, 2000

Damn good topic! Let's see... my favorite singers are female, but that would kinda suck, to all of a sudden have a female voice coming out of me. :-) I like Sammy Hagar's voice (but not necessarily how he uses it), Nat King Cole, Andrea Bocelli, John Lennon on "Rock and Roll Music" and "Twist and Shout" (in other words, screaming), Harry Connick, Jr. ... Oh, you know who else it might be fun to sing like? Ray Charles. :-) Just thinking out loud, I guess....

Good choice on Patsy Cline, Gardanna - she's my all-time favorite female country artist.

-- Anonymous, October 02, 2000

Roy Orbison. I already sound like Leroy Parnell according to my wife. (In the shower and in the truck only, of course.)

-- Anonymous, October 02, 2000

Patsy Cline, her voice, and her songs rock my world.

But I would love to be able to sing "Son of a Preacher Man" ala Dusty Springfield.

And love her or hate her, I like Sinead O'Connor's voice and especially her cover of "All Apologies," plus I think she and I sing in the same key, so her songs are good shower-time singin' fer me.

Liz Fraiser (sp?) of the Cocteau Twins had a good gig as well.

Others: Annie Lennox, Laurie Anderson, Julee Cruise, Koko Taylor. And several more.

(Can you tell I'm a frustrated (non)singer--at least not within earshot of anyone else.)

-- Anonymous, October 04, 2000

Ah, Nancy, another Patsy Cline fan! :-) I never really thought of Laurie Anderson as a "singer" so much as a "speaker", you know? And I like Liz Fraser also, but I figuring out her lyrics might take so long you'd never get around to actually singing.

-- Anonymous, October 04, 2000

Patsy Cline's voice is so unique.

-- Anonymous, October 04, 2000

I'd like Yma Sumac's six-octave range. Whether I'd sound anything like her is debatable.

-- Anonymous, October 06, 2000

As a woman, I'd have to say Dusty Springfield too. As a man, Kevin McMillan, the baritone. He is the most expressive soloist I've ever seen/heard. I sit in the 3rd row of Symphony and he just lifted me out of my chair...that's a nice memory.

-- Anonymous, October 06, 2000