Why female backing vocalists?

[diamondsnake]

I don't care for Stevie's female backing vocalists on a number of her albums. Is there any chance she would opt for male backing vocals on her next solo album? I've been listening to Christine's new solo record "In the Meantime" with male backing vocalists and it sounds so much better- much warmer...

Comments anyone?

[Kelly]

would Stevie ever get rid of Sharon and Lori. They have been with her forever, Sharon was around well before Belladonna. I just cannot see her ever doing a studio album without them. She calls the girls "her band". I do agree, her voice sounds stunning when combined with a male vocal. I was just listening to "Insider" last night and Stevie sounds so awesome with Tom. She can make it work with anyone it would seem.

[darklinensuit]

I love Sharon, Lori, and company. I've never disliked them on a song. Some songs such as Gold And Braid and All The Beautiful Worlds are made by their vocals, IMO.
Years ago Stevie said in an interview that with her singers she was trying to achieve the sound of a female Commodores group. She has achieved this, and it's a hallmark of her solo albums.
Plus there's something cool about looking up from your seat and seeing Sharon onstage with her year after year. I love the shows where the audience goes wild when her name is introduced. How many back-up singers experience this?

- Jake

[Nixxxed]

Besides what has already been said, I think it has to do with subject matter: Stevie's songs, for the most part, are about men. Can you imagine a man singing the line, "Come back ... little boy" on "Nothing Ever Changes"?

Although I love Say You Will, every time I listen to "Everybody Finds Out", I CRINGE when I hear Lindsey singing the "You can't love him, you can't have him, I do have him..." lines. Yes, the harmony sounds good and as always their voices blend beautifully, but I would have preferred several layers of Stevie vocals instead of the duet. Hearing a man sing that part is just weird to me (in the context of the song and The Mac) ... and I'm gay.

[darklinensuit]

Originally Posted by Nixxxed

Besides what has already been said, I think it has to do with subject matter: Stevie's songs, for the most part, are about men. Can you imagine a man singing the line, "Come back ... little boy" on "Nothing Ever Changes"?

Although I love Say You Will, every time I listen to "Everybody Finds Out", I CRINGE when I hear Lindsey singing the "You can't love him, you can't have him, I do have him..." lines. Yes, the harmony sounds good and as always their voices blend beautifully, but I would have preferred several layers of Stevie vocals instead of the duet. Hearing a man sing that part is just weird to me (in the context of the song and The Mac) ... and I'm gay.

Not that there's anything wrong with that.

- Jake

[gldstwmn]

Originally Posted by diamondsnake

I don't care for Stevie's female backing vocalists on a number of her albums. Is there any chance she would opt for male backing vocals on her next solo album? I've been listening to Christine's new solo record "In the Meantime" with male backing vocalists and it sounds so much better- much warmer...

Comments anyone?

I don't know. Maybe when they do the casino gig next month they could have some male background vocalist/dancers, naked to the waist in tux ties and tight pants.

[darklinensuit]

Originally Posted by gldstwmn

I don't know. Maybe when they do the casino gig next month they could have some male background vocalist/dancers, naked to the waist in tux ties and tight pants.

Great, now Jason is preparing audition material.

- Jake

[Nixxxed]

Originally Posted by gldstwmn

I don't know. Maybe when they do the casino gig next month they could have some male background vocalist/dancers, naked to the waist in tux ties and tight pants.

Why stop at the waist? One of the best shows I've seen in recent years is a musical called "Naked Men Singing". (Or maybe it was "Guys" or "Boys" ... the important part was that they were totally "Naked" the whole time.) Of course, a big draw for the show was the apparent sleaze factor, but after the show started (and after all the men in the audience "adjusted" themselves for the first 20 minutes), you practically forgot they were naked because the music was so good. Really!

[diamondsnake]

Originally Posted by Nixxxed

Besides what has already been said, I think it has to do with subject matter: Stevie's songs, for the most part, are about men. Can you imagine a man singing the line, "Come back ... little boy" on "Nothing Ever Changes"?

Although I love Say You Will, every time I listen to "Everybody Finds Out", I CRINGE when I hear Lindsey singing the "You can't love him, you can't have him, I do have him..." lines. Yes, the harmony sounds good and as always their voices blend beautifully, but I would have preferred several layers of Stevie vocals instead of the duet. Hearing a man sing that part is just weird to me (in the context of the song and The Mac) ... and I'm gay.

I noticed Lindsey singing "I do have him" on EBFO also. It is strange because his backing vocals are so obvious, but I also think it is kind of cool. I have never had a problem with it.

I mean, no one seems to have a problem with Stevie saying she would "bleed to love her".

[Johnny Stew]

I love the female backing vocalists and always have.
The vocal presence of Sharon & Lori (and the various others) gives the songs an added ethereal quality that I dig.

As a matter of fact, I kind of wish that Marilyn Martin would come back into the fold. In my opinion, Stevie, Sharon, Lori & Marilyn created a sound together that was peerless.

[GardenStateGirlie]

I love Lori, Sharon, Mindy (and Greg loves Elisecia ) and I think Jana has been an excellent replacement for Mindy. I can't imagine an album that DOESN'T include Sharon and Lori vocals and I can't imagine a tour without Sharon. Also, on some of Stevie's solo albums, there have been male backing vocals...just not on tour. Personally, I think a lot of her solo songs would sound pretty dumb with guys

[DeadliestPoison]

ElisEcia owns. Jana sucks. :P

I could've sworn she had a male background singer on one of her albums before. OSOTM & SA, maybe? I'm too lazy to check.

[Kelly]

Can you imagine Stevie trying to do a song like Eo17 or Stand Back WITHOUT Sharon? Sharon's vocals on Stand Back are one of my most favorite parts of the song. She has such a unique sound that anyone else trying to do the "Stand Back" part would sound odd. Lori MAKES certain songs too like Nightbird and B and the B. Even on the song SYW..Sheryl's voice adds something to the song. I agree with everyone who says that Stevie would feel foolish singing about men with a man. She is obviously conscious of it, remember Leather and Lace with Lori and Sharon? She changed the lyrics to make sense without a man singing with her?

[darklinensuit]

Originally Posted by Kelly

remember Leather and Lace with Lori and Sharon? She changed the lyrics to make sense without a man singing with her?

I love this version.

- Jake

[GardenStateGirlie]

Originally Posted by DeadliestPoison

ElisEcia owns. Jana sucks. :P

I could've sworn she had a male background singer on one of her albums before. OSOTM & SA, maybe? I'm too lazy to check.

Well....this is going to make me seem like the biggest nerd on Earth BUT...for the greater good of the thread, here goes....

Bella Donna - Henley does backing vocals on The Highwayman and of course, they duet on Leather and Lace

The Wild Heart - Petty is the only guy with vocals on the album in I Will Run To You

Rock A Little - I Can't Wait, Sister Honey, The Nightmare, If I Were You... all have male backing vocals (Rick Nowels and some other guy)

OSOTM - Bruce Hornsby appears on Juliet

Street Angel - David Crosby appears on Street Angel and there are some guys on Destiny

TISL - Rick Nowels is on I Miss You

Da da.