Her voice *is* the sound of a soul breaking. It's like gargling gravel with a shot of tequila and a Tecate with lime chaser. Somewhere, sometime, someone absolutely crushed her romantically, and we owe that person a debt of thanks because her voice, poured like thick syrup over her songs, was the end result.
There were better singers. There were prettier singers. There were more accomplished musicians. None of it matters...Johnnette was...and is...the real deal.
She's one of the few singers who can bring me to tears every time I hear certain songs. Such power in her singing.
Caroline kills me to this day. There's a song of Mexican Moon called Heal It Up that is viscously brutal in lyrical content and vocal urgency. I do not listen to it often so I can get a jolt each time I hear it. Concrete Blonde is not background music and I forgive them for that Anne Rice song!
Caroline kills me to this day. There's a song of Mexican Moon called Heal It Up that is viscously brutal in lyrical content and vocal urgency. I do not listen to it often so I can get a jolt each time I hear it. Concrete Blonde is not background music and I forgive them for that Anne Rice song!
Band I was in played Heal It Up - our singer loved (at least I think she did) that powerful chorus and the bassline was fun for me to play as well. (We also did that Anne Rice song :) )
I fell in love with them when I was doped up on cold medicine and put their 2nd album (Free) on...call it the drugs or my illness but it was near religious experience for me, and I still regard that one as one of their best (in a whole catalog of "bests"). Carry Me Away is the one song I'd always wanted to try in a band but never got to. Whenever our guitarist would break a string during a gig and had to fix it, we'd whip out Roses Grow and I'd sing/speak the lines while the drummer did his thing.
Here is one I just can't give a single answer to so i'll probably skirt around the ones no one has mentioned yet.
Joan Jett Chrissy Amplett (The Divinyls) Sarah Mcleod (The Superjesus) The Donnas Marnie Stern Shirley Manson PJ Harvey Girlschool Ari Up Polly Styrene
There is more but these are just a few off the top of my head.
Anybody mention Patty Smyth yet? The lady can rock with the best of 'em. She was approached by Eddie Van Halen to replace David Lee Roth and turned it down.
Anybody mention Patty Smyth yet? The lady can rock with the best of 'em. She was approached by Eddie Van Halen to replace David Lee Roth and turned it down.
Damn. How could I have forgotten that one? Good pick.
Little piece of van Haley buzz @Greg if you are interested. After Sammy Hagar apparently Eddie approached an australian singer called Jimmy Barnes and Barnes turned him down.
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Bic Runga
Anika Moa
Mahinarangi Tocker
I may have worn this cassette out sometime in the 90's
I fell in love with them when I was doped up on cold medicine and put their 2nd album (Free) on...call it the drugs or my illness but it was near religious experience for me, and I still regard that one as one of their best (in a whole catalog of "bests"). Carry Me Away is the one song I'd always wanted to try in a band but never got to. Whenever our guitarist would break a string during a gig and had to fix it, we'd whip out Roses Grow and I'd sing/speak the lines while the drummer did his thing.
http://www.npr.org/2014/01/12/261054457/first-listen-warpaint-warpaint
Joan Jett
Chrissy Amplett (The Divinyls)
Sarah Mcleod (The Superjesus)
The Donnas
Marnie Stern
Shirley Manson
PJ Harvey
Girlschool
Ari Up
Polly Styrene
There is more but these are just a few off the top of my head.
Sleater-Kinney
Elastica
Little piece of van Haley buzz @Greg if you are interested. After Sammy Hagar apparently Eddie approached an australian singer called Jimmy Barnes and Barnes turned him down.