Choir boys

Last night we were listening to some songs and I heard one of my most recent downloads, "Moon River" sung by Andy Williams (not the original singer Mancini). Featured most recently in the Elizabethtown flick by Cameron Crowe, I have always loved the way his voice floats around the words and carries them to the end of the song like a poet. My husband and I are always noticing really good singers we like....not just the innovators of music (Beck, Radiohead, for example) but the guys who just have unique voices - the ones we listen to and go Wow- every time.
Here are some of my own top choir boys....
Jeff Buckley- died too early drowning in the Mississippi River about a decade ago, when we play his album "Grace" it is truly like we are in church listening to angels. His version of Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujiah" is magic and "The Last Goodbye" the best love song ever written. His voice was operatic for such a whispy- thin young man, and every now and then I still check out his fan sites to see if there are any new lost recordings they may find so I may further indulge.
Jack White - like a pale faced-hillbilly lost boy, Mr. White has the gift of many personalities musically. His voices shrieks, howls, grinds, wails, and then can softly sing like some boy band pop star (sorry Jack). "There's no room for you here girl" is a great F-you song that showcases how fast he can go from a timid plead to a shouting demand - when Jack says "leave", girl, you better!
Brandon Flowers - Lead singer of the Killers, there is something fresh about this robotic, Talking Heads/Morrissey sounding guy that makes you wonder. He doesn't "over-act", he could be Keanu Reeves twin in music, because he repeats words like a mantra and keeps this emotionless mask on during most of his performances. I like that his voice doesn't match his body...he looks like a 15 year old prep school boy, but sings like a seasoned pro, with a deep voice to match.
Otis Redding- this is old school and I don't want to delve to deep in that genre (Sinatra, etc) of the great classic crooners- but this guy doesn't just sing- he cries while he is singing...or comes close enough. Put on "These Arms of Mine" or "I've been loving you" and indulge in rich smooth love letters. I'm gonna cry now, damnit.
Johnny Cash- I have him on about every other night. It's like a glass of whiskey without having to really sip on one. His voice is made for cold winter nights (like the ones we had for two years in Nashville). He seemed big and strong with that deep voice, but there's always some fear that comes through his words, like he was still afraid of the dark after all his success.
Chris Cornell- halfway through "Collateral" there is a pause, a scene with two wild dogs on a dark street, and Cornell's voice rises through the moment like a phoenix. Good for director Michael Mann to recognize that Cornell can bring a fast paced action movie to a soulful intermission and it actually adds depth to the movie. He was great in Soundgarden, as a solo, and in Audioslave (we got to catch him in Lollapalooza's last moving tour with Jane's Addiction) and is one of the best blue's voices ever. His songs have spiritual tones and his range is like a dog growling to a cat howling at midnight in an empty alley.
Dave Grohl- we saw FF last year and were blown away by this dude. On "Razorblade" he sings softly and sweetly, and then on "In Your Honor" wails like a crazy man. His voice is the best, in my opinion, of any "rock" group so far in music history. When he grits his teeth he know what he's about to scream is something you need to hear, and remember.
Alan Jackson- if you don't believe this, listen to "Like Red on a Rose" someday and get back to me. Also his figurative half brothers, George Strait and George Jones.
Willie Nelson- another regular boy in our home, his voice is like sand in your bathing suit.. it sticks to you, is gritty, and it reminds you what a fun day you had. He clinches his mouth like a true Westerner and I love the twang in his voice. Hope he comes to visit by our fire someday.
Special Honorary Choir Boy- Johnny Depp for "Sweeney Todd"- when we revisit this movie, we are usually speechless. Besides all the gore, the crazy Londoners eating meat pies and such, there is Johnny singing like a beautiful troubadore. Who knew?? He's a really really good singer.
Ya'll have a good day....stay out of the wind and rain today! JLM