13 Replies to “Katie Noonan – Blackbird”

  1. Your challenge is impossible Dave, and we both know it!

    That was just sublime. Sarah McLaughlin’s version was my favie song ever, but this is just fantastic. (And Zeke agrees, he was totally mesmerised).

  2. Pingback: The Knock Box » Blog Archive » dave just made my day.

  5. hey geoff – i’ve been to george like 4 times – dig them!!

    okay – i’ve check out regina. she’s good. cute, but i don’t think as pure and versatile as katie.

    so official score.

    katie 3 – everyone else 0

  7. i guess i’m thinking more of global contemporary – but especially australian contemporary… male or female.

    but i do think it’s difficult to compare male voice to female voice.

    as far as all-time female – i dig all the videos you linked to, odetta was a bit weird, but i’m familiar with ella and aretha and think they’re the goods.

    but i don’t know them well-enough to know how versatile they are. do they cross into different genres in the same way that katie does? that’s what i dig – she is very good at many things.

    what do you think?

  9. I’m sorry – how, exactly, do you define a “better singer”? It’s all subjective. Katie’s is a good voice, matched to an excellent song. THAT’S the combination that makes this light up so well. Your challenge, using YouTube evidence, really begs for examples of the perfect match between voice and song.

    And that can be done with voices that, on the surface, may never come across as a “better singer” than Ms Noonan.

    Five, then, for your consideration, then… no conventionally “good” voices… in no set order.

    Bjork, “Hyperballad” live… Live TV is a very hard medium for singers who “can’t sing,” which makes this take all the more special…
    http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=kSJ4d3JBJCo&feature=related

    A boy for a change? Johnny Cash, covering NIN’s “Hurt”. This makes me cry almost every time…
    http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=SmVAWKfJ4Go

    David Bowie – a later song (“The Rays”), again, live… proving that the Hillsong crew still have a thing or two to learn about setting an atmosphere…
    http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=F30uTxTOhNw

    Massive Attack, featuring Tracy Thorn (from Everything But The Girl), “Protection”… understated, understated, but sooooo cool. Video is an Escher dream.
    http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=UIp–5E3AbY

    Marianne Faithfull “The Ballad Of Lucy Jordan”… one of the best examples I know of a voice – and body – broken by abuse, and yet… If you know something of Faithfull’s story (more hardcore than Keith Richards), the song is both surprising and very, very apt.
    http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=0KV-PTK0UZ4&feature=related

    Well, that’s five that I rate well above Ms Noonan. But then again, that’s taste, isn’t it? Keep the suggestions coming in. Somebody should put Amy Grant’s “El Shaddai”… shouldn’t they???

  10. By the way – Christopher, your choice of Odetta’s “Water Boy” is gold. Easy to pick “gospel” songs for gospel singers… but Odetta was an absolute powerhouse. Legend choice, brother.

  11. bjork – pretty good. very ethereal. but got nothing on katie
    cash – that is a great song! i’m a fan of johnny. but not sure if i’d say is worn out voice has it on katie!
    bowie – maybe i was too young in the 80s to really appreciate, but not sure how that song made it on your list!!
    MA – i like them – tear drop is still my favourite…
    mary chick – hadn’t heard of her – but not bad – but voice a bit wavery.

    i think i liked chris’ list better too…

    but as you say – it’s subjective!

    thanks for sharing the links.

    peaceout amigos

  12. It all gets down to personal preference, doesn’t it ?
    I love Katie Noonan, and Renee Geyer, and Anastacia, and Ella, Sarah ………….. They all give me Goose Bumps, and that is my criteria !

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