Songs with strong vocals and minimal accompaniment
October 3, 2015 10:12 PM Subscribe
Please suggest songs featuring a strong vocalist and minimal accompaniment.
I heard Adele's "Someone Like You" for the first time this week and have fallen in love with it (timely, I know). My listening habits generally focus on guitar centric music and symphonies, never straying too far from my iTunes library. I haven't listened to the radio in years, if that isn't obvious already.
Please suggest songs that feature a strong vocal performance with minimal accompaniment. I am also interested in songs that start minimally and build, similar to Nina Simone's "Feeling Good" even though the song gets busier as it progresses. I don't really care about genre. I prefer women vocalists, but male vocalists are fine too if you have a strong suggestion. I am looking forward to filling my ears with your favorites. Thanks!
I heard Adele's "Someone Like You" for the first time this week and have fallen in love with it (timely, I know). My listening habits generally focus on guitar centric music and symphonies, never straying too far from my iTunes library. I haven't listened to the radio in years, if that isn't obvious already.
Please suggest songs that feature a strong vocal performance with minimal accompaniment. I am also interested in songs that start minimally and build, similar to Nina Simone's "Feeling Good" even though the song gets busier as it progresses. I don't really care about genre. I prefer women vocalists, but male vocalists are fine too if you have a strong suggestion. I am looking forward to filling my ears with your favorites. Thanks!
Best answer: Alibi by 30 Seconds to Mars. (One of my favorites that builds to a passionate crescendo.)
Multi-post warning. I'll probably add more as I find the links.
posted by The Deej at 10:33 PM on October 3, 2015
Multi-post warning. I'll probably add more as I find the links.
posted by The Deej at 10:33 PM on October 3, 2015
Fiona Apple
posted by matildaben at 10:49 PM on October 3, 2015 [2 favorites]
posted by matildaben at 10:49 PM on October 3, 2015 [2 favorites]
Best answer: Sandy Denny, with just her own guitar as accompaniment:
Https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=HVWVd9xw
ZBY
...and with just her own piano:
Http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=PQiWL0HfIJs
posted by mysterious_stranger at 11:04 PM on October 3, 2015 [2 favorites]
Https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=HVWVd9xw
ZBY
...and with just her own piano:
Http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=PQiWL0HfIJs
posted by mysterious_stranger at 11:04 PM on October 3, 2015 [2 favorites]
Best answer: Alison Krauss!!!
Her main style is country/bluegrass, but she does a lot of other things, too. She mainly fronts for the band "Union Station", but she also works with other people, like Robert Plant.
And she covers all kinds of stuff, like Paul Simon.
Her stuff isn't exclusively vocal, though she has an astounding voice. She's also a world-class fiddle player as well as playing guitar and mandolin.
posted by Chocolate Pickle at 11:07 PM on October 3, 2015 [5 favorites]
Her main style is country/bluegrass, but she does a lot of other things, too. She mainly fronts for the band "Union Station", but she also works with other people, like Robert Plant.
And she covers all kinds of stuff, like Paul Simon.
Her stuff isn't exclusively vocal, though she has an astounding voice. She's also a world-class fiddle player as well as playing guitar and mandolin.
posted by Chocolate Pickle at 11:07 PM on October 3, 2015 [5 favorites]
Best answer: Sandalwood - Lisa Loeb
Jezebel - 10,000 Maniacs
Winter - Tori Amos
posted by The Deej at 11:09 PM on October 3, 2015
Jezebel - 10,000 Maniacs
Winter - Tori Amos
posted by The Deej at 11:09 PM on October 3, 2015
Best answer: Hozier's cover of Sweet Thing
posted by mysterious_stranger at 11:09 PM on October 3, 2015
posted by mysterious_stranger at 11:09 PM on October 3, 2015
Best answer: Prince did a touching acoustic rendition of "Reflections" on the Tavis Smiley show a decade ago, with just him and Wendy on guitars and him singing. The only decent quality version I can find is on a site other than YouTube that some people might not want to visit.
I love how intimate the vocal is; Prince as vulnerable human being rather than rock star. And the faces Wendy makes at him are so expressively adoring.
posted by mysterious_stranger at 11:16 PM on October 3, 2015 [1 favorite]
I love how intimate the vocal is; Prince as vulnerable human being rather than rock star. And the faces Wendy makes at him are so expressively adoring.
posted by mysterious_stranger at 11:16 PM on October 3, 2015 [1 favorite]
Best answer: Very popular songs often get live/acoustic arrangements that remind me of your example, e.g. ...
Possession (Piano Version) - Sarah McLachlan
Diamonds (Piano Version) - Rihanna
Lights (Piano Version) - Ellie Goulding
Call Me Maybe (Acoustic Guitar / Mandolin Version) - Carly Rae Jepsen
How to Be A Heartbreaker (Acoustic Guitar Version) - Marina and the Diamonds
posted by Monsieur Caution at 11:17 PM on October 3, 2015
Possession (Piano Version) - Sarah McLachlan
Diamonds (Piano Version) - Rihanna
Lights (Piano Version) - Ellie Goulding
Call Me Maybe (Acoustic Guitar / Mandolin Version) - Carly Rae Jepsen
How to Be A Heartbreaker (Acoustic Guitar Version) - Marina and the Diamonds
posted by Monsieur Caution at 11:17 PM on October 3, 2015
Best answer: Someone mentioned Joni Mitchell, but she's got a huge catalog and not all of her recordings have minimal accompaniment, not by a long shot. That Song About the Midway is one of my favorites of hers, and fits the bill.
posted by mysterious_stranger at 11:22 PM on October 3, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by mysterious_stranger at 11:22 PM on October 3, 2015 [1 favorite]
Best answer: Regina Spektor, anything up to Begin to Hope. (and about 2/3 the songs on that album too)
posted by ApathyGirl at 11:33 PM on October 3, 2015
posted by ApathyGirl at 11:33 PM on October 3, 2015
Best answer: Incarcerated, by Todd Snider. Hard to sing, can be performed with two chords.
posted by andrewpcone at 11:34 PM on October 3, 2015
posted by andrewpcone at 11:34 PM on October 3, 2015
N'thing Fiona Apple, Allison Krauss, (especially with Robert Plant), Regina Spektor, and Hozier, and adding "James Blake".
posted by lovableiago at 11:43 PM on October 3, 2015
posted by lovableiago at 11:43 PM on October 3, 2015
Best answer: Judy Collins' "Farewell To Tarwarthie" is the canonical example of this, followed closely by Eva Cassidy's "Over The Rainbow".
"Family Affair by Abra Moore
"Goodbye To You" (Buffy version) by Michelle Branch
"He Darked The Sun" by Linda Ronstadt, with harmony by Bernie Leadon
"Angel" by Sarah McLachlan
"Where You Are" by Clare Burson
posted by Johnny Wallflower at 11:55 PM on October 3, 2015 [1 favorite]
"Family Affair by Abra Moore
"Goodbye To You" (Buffy version) by Michelle Branch
"He Darked The Sun" by Linda Ronstadt, with harmony by Bernie Leadon
"Angel" by Sarah McLachlan
"Where You Are" by Clare Burson
posted by Johnny Wallflower at 11:55 PM on October 3, 2015 [1 favorite]
Best answer: Ahmedo by the amazing Aynur Doğan. Listen on loud
posted by runincircles at 12:03 AM on October 4, 2015
posted by runincircles at 12:03 AM on October 4, 2015
Best answer: Off the top of my head:
Sinéad O'Connor:"I Am Stretched On Your Grave"
Seven Mary Three:"Punch In, Punch Out"
Siléas:"Puirt-a-buel"
Daniel Bedingfield's acoustic version of "Gotta Get Thru This"
REM (with Kate Pierson): "Fretless"
posted by Mister Moofoo at 12:37 AM on October 4, 2015 [2 favorites]
Sinéad O'Connor:"I Am Stretched On Your Grave"
Seven Mary Three:"Punch In, Punch Out"
Siléas:"Puirt-a-buel"
Daniel Bedingfield's acoustic version of "Gotta Get Thru This"
REM (with Kate Pierson): "Fretless"
posted by Mister Moofoo at 12:37 AM on October 4, 2015 [2 favorites]
Best answer: I love Fay Wolf's cover of Your Love by The Outfield - I think that it might fit both of the things that you're looking for. There's also Kiesza's cover of What is Love.
Anything by Neko Case is amazing, but I think that At Last more specifically meets your interest in minimal accompaniment.
I also really love Sara Bareilles's voice and she has some great acoustic versions of her songs out there. I Choose You is my favorite. She's also done some beautiful covers: Chandelier, Goodbye Yellow Brick Road.
posted by yeahyeahrealcute at 1:23 AM on October 4, 2015
Anything by Neko Case is amazing, but I think that At Last more specifically meets your interest in minimal accompaniment.
I also really love Sara Bareilles's voice and she has some great acoustic versions of her songs out there. I Choose You is my favorite. She's also done some beautiful covers: Chandelier, Goodbye Yellow Brick Road.
posted by yeahyeahrealcute at 1:23 AM on October 4, 2015
Best answer: You might like Kate Rusby. Here she is singing her version of You Belong to Me for example.
If you like Nina Simone's version of "Feeling Good" you might like this live take on "I Got Life"
Listen to some of the song interpretations by Bobbie Gentry - for example Hushabye Mountain.
Many French singers - past and present - fit this description - a little randomly, you might like Camille (Ta Douleur), Zaz (theme from Belle et Sebastien), Hiripsimé (le Somnambule), Coeur de Pirate (Comme des Enfants), Emily Loizeau (Je Ne Sais Pas Choisir)
posted by rongorongo at 1:57 AM on October 4, 2015
If you like Nina Simone's version of "Feeling Good" you might like this live take on "I Got Life"
Listen to some of the song interpretations by Bobbie Gentry - for example Hushabye Mountain.
Many French singers - past and present - fit this description - a little randomly, you might like Camille (Ta Douleur), Zaz (theme from Belle et Sebastien), Hiripsimé (le Somnambule), Coeur de Pirate (Comme des Enfants), Emily Loizeau (Je Ne Sais Pas Choisir)
posted by rongorongo at 1:57 AM on October 4, 2015
Elliott Smith. Nick Drake. Jose Gonzalez.
posted by persona au gratin at 2:08 AM on October 4, 2015
posted by persona au gratin at 2:08 AM on October 4, 2015
Best answer: Stina Nordenstrams' "Little Star" - another song that keeps on building.
Marissa Monte - Este Melodia - and fellow Brazilian, Virginia Rodriguez: Adeus Batucada
Lhasa de Sela - La Fronterra
Liz Fraser: for example her version of Song to the Siren.
Joan as Policewoman - for example - The Ride.
posted by rongorongo at 3:20 AM on October 4, 2015
Marissa Monte - Este Melodia - and fellow Brazilian, Virginia Rodriguez: Adeus Batucada
Lhasa de Sela - La Fronterra
Liz Fraser: for example her version of Song to the Siren.
Joan as Policewoman - for example - The Ride.
posted by rongorongo at 3:20 AM on October 4, 2015
Best answer: First thing that comes to mind is Wild Seeds - All This Time. Saw them in a club in Dallas way back in the late 80s, and backup singer Kris McKay blew us all out into the street (metaphorically) when she took center stage for this number. I've listened to this many times over the ensuing years, and it's by far the most obscure entry in my all-time favourites playlist.
posted by HillbillyInBC at 5:21 AM on October 4, 2015
posted by HillbillyInBC at 5:21 AM on October 4, 2015
Best answer: Frida Hyvonen
Judee Sill
Sibylle Baier
posted by bonobothegreat at 7:01 AM on October 4, 2015
Judee Sill
Sibylle Baier
posted by bonobothegreat at 7:01 AM on October 4, 2015
Best answer: Rhiannon Giddens has many songs like this. This recording of Cry No More is especially powerful (her accompaniment is a choir singing in unison and a hand held drum). That particular recording was her response to the massacre in South Carolina.
posted by ocherdraco at 7:48 AM on October 4, 2015
posted by ocherdraco at 7:48 AM on October 4, 2015
Best answer: Speak Low - Sarah Vaughn, 1958, live at The London House
It's my favorite version of this song. Vaughn worked with a lot of big bands, but here there's just piano, bass and drums quietly buoying along her magnificent voice. To my ears, it's the perfect arrangement for the lyrics. Sublime!
posted by Orange Dinosaur Slide at 8:07 AM on October 4, 2015
It's my favorite version of this song. Vaughn worked with a lot of big bands, but here there's just piano, bass and drums quietly buoying along her magnificent voice. To my ears, it's the perfect arrangement for the lyrics. Sublime!
posted by Orange Dinosaur Slide at 8:07 AM on October 4, 2015
Best answer: I always suggest this, but I have a feeling you would love Over the Rhine. Try Drunkard's Prayer, Infamous Love Song, All My Favorite People Are Broken...I could go on and on. Karin Bergquist's smoky, sultry voice is magnificent, and her husband Linford Detweiler usually on piano, along with a rotating cast of musical friends, meld with it perfectly.
Probably the most "perfect" voice I've ever heard: Vienna Teng. She has many other gorgeous songs (see previously, etc.) but for some reason I keep coming back to My Medea.
posted by spelunkingplato at 9:12 AM on October 4, 2015 [1 favorite]
Probably the most "perfect" voice I've ever heard: Vienna Teng. She has many other gorgeous songs (see previously, etc.) but for some reason I keep coming back to My Medea.
posted by spelunkingplato at 9:12 AM on October 4, 2015 [1 favorite]
Best answer: Daniel Knox is usually just him and his piano. Sometimes, as in Chores, someone plays a saw or something.
A warning: Some of the imagery in his songs can be quite dark (dark enough that I add a warning), but it's that contrast to his big, golden, often jaunty voice that I like so much.
posted by cmoj at 9:41 AM on October 4, 2015
A warning: Some of the imagery in his songs can be quite dark (dark enough that I add a warning), but it's that contrast to his big, golden, often jaunty voice that I like so much.
posted by cmoj at 9:41 AM on October 4, 2015
Best answer: A different interpretation of your criteria occurs to me. I don't know if these will count for you.
tUnE yArDs. Merrill Garbus' voice has to qualify, but she's accompanied with looped vocals, drums, and other stuff. Live, it's a pretty bare-bones band, but it all ends up having a pretty rich sound.
There's also Zap Mama... Some of their albums are mostly acapella (plus bottle) like this.
Back to the original interpretation, is Sam Smith too obvious? Mostly drums and piano?
posted by cmoj at 9:56 AM on October 4, 2015
tUnE yArDs. Merrill Garbus' voice has to qualify, but she's accompanied with looped vocals, drums, and other stuff. Live, it's a pretty bare-bones band, but it all ends up having a pretty rich sound.
There's also Zap Mama... Some of their albums are mostly acapella (plus bottle) like this.
Back to the original interpretation, is Sam Smith too obvious? Mostly drums and piano?
posted by cmoj at 9:56 AM on October 4, 2015
Best answer: On the bluegrass gospel side of things, the Johnson Mountain Boys version of Get Down on Your Knees and Pray features pretty minimal instrumentation that drops out as the multipart vocal harmonies build.
On the a capella side of bluegrass gospel stuff, there's Doyle Lawson's take on John the Revelator, which is four-part a capella with some of the voices essentially playing rhythm between choruses.
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 10:18 AM on October 4, 2015 [1 favorite]
On the a capella side of bluegrass gospel stuff, there's Doyle Lawson's take on John the Revelator, which is four-part a capella with some of the voices essentially playing rhythm between choruses.
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 10:18 AM on October 4, 2015 [1 favorite]
Best answer: Regina Spektor, anything up to Begin to Hope. (and about 2/3 the songs on that album too)
Especially some of the songs on Begin to Hope:
Field Below
Samson
posted by John Cohen at 10:32 AM on October 4, 2015
Especially some of the songs on Begin to Hope:
Field Below
Samson
posted by John Cohen at 10:32 AM on October 4, 2015
Best answer: Stay - Rihanna
If It Kills Me - Jason Mraz (Casa Nova Sessions Acoustic Version)
If I Ain't Got You - Alicia Keys
Land Locked Blues - Bright Eyes
(And I think a lot of Bright Eyes might fit the bill if you like their indie sorta sound.)
Landfill - Daughter
Ed Sheeran - Thinking Out Loud
Sam Smith - Stay With Me
Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down) - Nina Sinatra
Lonestar - Norah Jones (and a lot of her other stuff.)
posted by Crystalinne at 1:13 PM on October 4, 2015
If It Kills Me - Jason Mraz (Casa Nova Sessions Acoustic Version)
If I Ain't Got You - Alicia Keys
Land Locked Blues - Bright Eyes
(And I think a lot of Bright Eyes might fit the bill if you like their indie sorta sound.)
Landfill - Daughter
Ed Sheeran - Thinking Out Loud
Sam Smith - Stay With Me
Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down) - Nina Sinatra
Lonestar - Norah Jones (and a lot of her other stuff.)
posted by Crystalinne at 1:13 PM on October 4, 2015
Best answer: Last day of our acquaintance - Sinead O'Connor
posted by inviolable at 1:13 PM on October 4, 2015
posted by inviolable at 1:13 PM on October 4, 2015
Best answer: Utada Hikaru's Sakura Nagashi is always my first recommendation when I hear a request like this. She is a phenomenal bilingual singer-songwriter, English translation of lyrics by the artist herself here.
Ella Fitzgerald's rendition of Black Coffee is my absolute favorite jazz standard performance, hands down.
posted by yueliang at 1:48 PM on October 4, 2015
Ella Fitzgerald's rendition of Black Coffee is my absolute favorite jazz standard performance, hands down.
posted by yueliang at 1:48 PM on October 4, 2015
Best answer: I love this type of music. I highly recommend Birdy -- she has a beautiful, strong, emotive voice and many of her songs have pretty spare accompaniment. Many of her songs are covers that I have ended up liking more than the originals. Try Skinny Love, People Help the People, White Winter Hymnal and Terrible Love.
posted by imalaowai at 2:51 PM on October 4, 2015
posted by imalaowai at 2:51 PM on October 4, 2015
Best answer: To Know Him is To Love Him - Amy Winehouse
(I Can't Get No) Satisfation - Cat Power
Rootless Tree - Damien Rice
New York State of Mind - India Carney (I know it's from The Voice, but she is incredible!)
The Art Teacher -Rufus Wainwright
Sweet Memories - Dawn Sears
posted by SarahElizaP at 7:14 PM on October 4, 2015
(I Can't Get No) Satisfation - Cat Power
Rootless Tree - Damien Rice
New York State of Mind - India Carney (I know it's from The Voice, but she is incredible!)
The Art Teacher -Rufus Wainwright
Sweet Memories - Dawn Sears
posted by SarahElizaP at 7:14 PM on October 4, 2015
Also, Low.
posted by persona au gratin at 1:02 AM on October 5, 2015
posted by persona au gratin at 1:02 AM on October 5, 2015
Best answer: Grandma's Hands - Meg Mac (Bill Withers cover)
posted by h00py at 5:36 AM on October 5, 2015
posted by h00py at 5:36 AM on October 5, 2015
Best answer: I've been enjoying listening to some of the other suggestions in this thread. So here are a few more of mine:
Ted Hawkins - Watch your Step - incredible voice accompanied usually just by his acoustic guitar.
Ayab Ogada - Obiero
Hindi Zahra - Imik Si Mik
Carol Kidd - When I Dream
And since you say you don't listen to the radio any more - you could try the Parisian station FIP which plays a lot of this with no interruptions for commercials and only minimal contribution from DJs.
posted by rongorongo at 6:40 AM on October 5, 2015
Ted Hawkins - Watch your Step - incredible voice accompanied usually just by his acoustic guitar.
Ayab Ogada - Obiero
Hindi Zahra - Imik Si Mik
Carol Kidd - When I Dream
And since you say you don't listen to the radio any more - you could try the Parisian station FIP which plays a lot of this with no interruptions for commercials and only minimal contribution from DJs.
posted by rongorongo at 6:40 AM on October 5, 2015
Best answer: Steve Knightly, Romeo & Juliet (Dire Straits cover)
posted by Pirate-Bartender-Zombie-Monkey at 8:17 AM on October 5, 2015
posted by Pirate-Bartender-Zombie-Monkey at 8:17 AM on October 5, 2015
Best answer: Mariah Carey - Vanishing
(if she is not your normal type, try it; this is from her first album and is very stripped and shows her undeniably stunning voice)
KD Lang's cover of Hallelujah
posted by nakedmolerats at 12:35 PM on October 5, 2015
(if she is not your normal type, try it; this is from her first album and is very stripped and shows her undeniably stunning voice)
KD Lang's cover of Hallelujah
posted by nakedmolerats at 12:35 PM on October 5, 2015
Best answer: No mentions of Ani DiFranco?
Her more recent albums have more musicians (and some of those arrangements are fantastic - the backing horns on "So What" are one of my favorite things in the world), but the earlier stuff tends to feature just Ani and her guitar. Some possible starting places:
"Not a Pretty Girl" or "Sorry I Am" from Not a Pretty Girl
"4th of July" or "Willing to Fight" from Puddle Dive
Lots of great stuff in her whole catalog, but those are some of the albums with stripped-down instrumentation.
posted by kristi at 10:29 AM on October 6, 2015 [1 favorite]
Her more recent albums have more musicians (and some of those arrangements are fantastic - the backing horns on "So What" are one of my favorite things in the world), but the earlier stuff tends to feature just Ani and her guitar. Some possible starting places:
"Not a Pretty Girl" or "Sorry I Am" from Not a Pretty Girl
"4th of July" or "Willing to Fight" from Puddle Dive
Lots of great stuff in her whole catalog, but those are some of the albums with stripped-down instrumentation.
posted by kristi at 10:29 AM on October 6, 2015 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: Thank you so much for all of the suggestions. I cannot wait to start listening.
Yueliang if you are still around, any language is fine.
posted by Silvertree at 1:57 PM on October 6, 2015
Yueliang if you are still around, any language is fine.
posted by Silvertree at 1:57 PM on October 6, 2015
Best answer: Vashti Bunyan: more a unique than a strong voice - but with minimal accompaniment: Window over the Bay.
posted by rongorongo at 2:49 AM on October 7, 2015
posted by rongorongo at 2:49 AM on October 7, 2015
Best answer: Almost anything by Tuck and Patti will fit this criteria... one of my favorites is "I will"
Also: Tears in Heaven, Time After Time
(and, thanks to everyone for these suggestions... good stuff!)
posted by HuronBob at 8:00 PM on October 9, 2015
Also: Tears in Heaven, Time After Time
(and, thanks to everyone for these suggestions... good stuff!)
posted by HuronBob at 8:00 PM on October 9, 2015
Best answer: And... Audre Mae's version of Forever Young might suit you.
posted by HuronBob at 8:07 PM on October 9, 2015
posted by HuronBob at 8:07 PM on October 9, 2015
« Older I can taste the fear in their eyes - I love cooked... | Book recommendations for junior fantasy Newer »
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by yueliang at 10:24 PM on October 3, 2015