Singers that sound similar to Stevie
 

In a recent post someone mentioned Maria McKee from Lone Justice had a sound similar to Stevie. Here is a link to a little know band called Vesper Sparrow from Fort Lauderdale, Florida that I have been following since 1988. I have always felt that the lead singer sounded similar to Stevie. My uncle dated the lead singer of Vesper Sparrow and she gave him their demo tape in '88 which I had for years. The tape broke a few years ago so I tracked down the lead singer and she sent me a cd. The song that I feel sounds a lot like Stevie is called "Don't Give Your Love Away" and also "Highway" The songs are in the middle of the page if you want to listen to them.
Link:
http://www.reverbnation.com/vespersparrow

Wow the lead singer definitely has a Stevie tinged sound to her voice.Her voice especially reminds me of Stevie's circa Bella Donna. One new singer who kind of has that same register as Stevie would be Lissie. She's kind of rock n' roll I guess.I don't think her and Stevie sound identical but there's definitely some kind of similarity there. She's definitely better than some of the top 10 out there today:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p7OWdB2Pj28

I would also argue that Adele sounds kind of like her too. Especially on "Someone Like You". OK and I just thought about something. What about Karen Carpenter. I know that their lyrics left something to be desired most of the time but I feel like there was something similar in her and Stevie's vocals...they were both altos for starters and they both were able to convey a lot of emotion in their voices. I feel as if I'm way off here but maybe...?

But I have to say I have not found a singer that can measure up to Stevie's in terms of being mystical or especially in her vulnerability. That's something that is Stevie's all her own.:angel:

some people have compared Lissie to Stevie... check out "In Sleep" and "When I'm Alone"

Have any of you heard Claire Maguire?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TpDjO3NQxdY

Sounds a bit more like Cher to me than Stevie :shrug:

I adore Clare but I don't think she sounds anything like Stevie. I saw her live earlier in the year, too and she definitely didn't then.

Belinda Carlisle. Same shakey, nasal tones (in a good way!) recorded lots of Rick Nowels tunes and had a very healthy coke habit.

IMO, No one in truth sounds similar to Stevie. She truly has a one of a kind instrument, whether back in her youth or fast forward to today. Her sweet, smokey, whiskey and honey tones are practically patentable.

One of the Wilson Sisters (I get them mixed up all the time, so I can't remember which one... I want to say Nancy?) sounds exactly like Stevie on one of their new songs... but apart from that, I can't think of anyone else, off the top of my head.

I agree with you and feel that Stevie is always # one with her beautiful voice and mystical style. She is definately one of a kind.

I really like Lissie & have never heard this before. Thanks!

Miley Cyrus has the husky vibrato going on, something about her voice reminds me of Stevie's at times, although definitely a low-grade version.

Tiffany sounded a bit like Stevie on Should've Been Me from her debut album and as someone mentioned Belinda Carlisle, post Go-Go's. I used to think Circle In The Sand was recorded by Stevie. It wasn't until much later that I realized why.

Don't Give Your Love Away sounds great and I am definitely reminded of Stevie, also Paulette Carson(formerly of Highway 101) and Emmylou Harris and perhaps, a little Bangles. Thanks for sharing this.

I've not heard any similarities but Karen Carpenter had a beautiful voice.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h4Q4_YMUy0E

I used to think Stevie was doing uncredited backing vocals, because of how much Courtney can sound like her at times.

Great song! I've not heard that in ages... :thumbsup:

I have to agree.

Lady Gaga channeled Stevie a bit on the duet she did with Elton John earlier this year for that Gnome movie.

But, I agree with everyone else, that Stevie's voice and style is pretty much unmistakable...

The first time I heard thesong Waterfalls by TLC I thought it was Stevie. Not sure which one has the voice like hers but it sure sounds like her.

WOW that is awesome, not necessarily because it sounds a little like Stevie, but because they have a cool sound in their own right. I liked "Especially Tonight." Thanks!

I agree that there are not many who come close to Stevie (I had mentioned Maria McKee earlier) but recently on youtube I came across Florance and the Machine doing a slow version of her recent hit "Dog Days Are Over" for the Noble Peace Prize...it is sooooooooo Stevie So beautiful...check it out

I totally agree. The only thing that maybe a little similar would be the vocal range...but other than that our girl's in a league all her own:angel:

As a harmony singer I always thought Stevie and Emmylou Harris had a similar style and gift.In fact when I first heard "Gold" on the radio in the summer of 1979 I thought the harmony singer was Emmylou before the end of the song I knew it was Stevie though.I think it was the "ewww yeah" part that convinced me.

Some of her outfits are very Stevie-esque as well. She was on GMA in a reddish outfit with chiffon sleeves like the red version of the Rumours cover outfit.

rubylounge, thanks for your post about Vesper Sparrow, I went to their link on reverbnation and listened to the songs listed there, and was really taken with their music. Clicked on their Amazon link and purchased their cd, wow, got 30 songs with it! I am so loving their music!

thanks for posting this ,I have been trying to remember Maria's last name and band , now to find some of their music what I had from the 80's is lost

I've seen them in concert and I knew she was a big, big Stevie/Fleetwood Mac fan but this girl has been watching some old youtube videos or something. I mean, she copies Stevie (I mean that lovingly) so much! She was doing Rhiannon moves and SOTM moves and that show and I turned to my friend and said "All she needs now is a tambourine" and I looked back and she had picked up a tambourine. Her influences are clear and she's been very honest about that....She's amazing in her own right too but I'm glad she's clearly influenced by my fave. :thumbsup:

I know that when Stevie's first "Silent Night" was released, at least one of the reviewers pointed to this singer as a possible influence:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0LhZOziDjWI


- Jake

I think just about any well-rounded contralto with a touch of reediness or vibrato is going to enter Stevie territory on a phrase here and there. For me, I hear it in (as others have said) Belinda Carlisle and Susanna Hoffs. A little Maria McKee. I adore Karen Carpenter, but don't hear it there. There's the odd glimpse in Natalie Merchant, too.

The only soundalikes...
 

The Pierces. imo.



P.S. Lissie=bitch.that is all.

If we can cross the gender barrier.. then.. I've always thought (Grown up) Taylor Hanson actually has a similar sound to Stevie, only, male. Lots of vibrato, some rasp, a slight reed-like quality at times, characteristically nasal... as far as pronunciation - equally hard to understand, emphasis on weird sounds (s's and h's) hah. Except, he sings higher than she does, nowadays. :lol:

I always got a kick out of people who deliberately tried to imitate Stevie. The worst is Quarterflash who called themselves the "updated FMac" and completely tried to imitate "Dreams" with their song "Harden My Heart". I was so happy when everything after that flopped and they faded into obscurity. The cheek!

Wow, I'll have to go to Amazon and get that cd. I only have 10 of their songs on disc. I like their lyrics too! I'm glad you like their music!

You mean Maria McKee from Lone Justice?

Been playing Vesper Sparrow today and my DH said, "I've never heard these Stevie songs before." Told him it wasn't Stevie and he didn't believe it. He kept saying, " you are kidding me right? This is Stevie and you're just fooling with me." Got to say, after listening many times to the songs, she does sound like a young Stevie, (when Stevie had the higher range.) Even the sound of the songs and music are so like Stevie and FM. Even the guitar riffs in the songs are so like Lindsey B., great music a real good find I would say!

I just youtubed that song and... good lord, what a piece of crap. :laugh: If they were comparing themselves to Fleetwood Mac... well, they certainly had a high opinion of themselves.

Thank you, I've always thought the same thing too.

I'm glad someone agrees! Now I don't feel so crazy for connecting the two :) :thumbsup:

Janis Joplin at Monterrey Pop fest 1967. Doing Big Mama Thornton's "Ball and Chain" Moreso the performance, than voice