Not looking for your favorite vocalists. I want to know particular songs where you think the singer just nailed it.

Whether it's the vocal chord shredding performance of Lennon doing Twist & Shout or the perfect phrasing and interpertation of a particular Sinatra song, what vocal performances knock you out?

Steve

these . . . arms . . . of .. . .. mine, they long to hold you.
-Otis


kills me, every time.

Bjork- Harm of Will from Vespertine, just beautiful.

Right now it's The Chills "True Romance" from the new disc.

these are good

Hendrix--"Drifting"
Skeeter Davis--"The End of the World"
Pollard--"Port Authority"
Slick--"Hey Frederick"
Wilson--"Crazy On You"

Jenny Lewis constantly breaks my heart. not really kills, but i guess its close

Crazy -- Patsy Cline

Paula Frazer "The Only One" is the first that comes to mind.

Maynard - A Perfect Circle's "Judith"
Enigk - The Fire Theft's "Sinatra"

Bono - The Unforgettable Fire

Obviously - Jeff Buckley - about 5 or 6 songs, most notably Hallelulah, Dream Brother.

Lucinda Williams - Right In Time
Shirley Horn - Fever
Ella Fitzgerald - Cry Me A River
Johhny Hartman - Lush Life
Toots Hibbert - Pressure Drop
Otis Redding - Try A Little Tenderness
How Soon Is Now - The Smiths (Morrissey)
My Generation - The Who (Roger Daltrey)

don't forget the screams in "grace" and "mojo pin". yikes.
Robert plant's scream at the end of "Since I've Been Loving You"
"Because" by the Beatles
"Oh Comely" Neutral Milk Hotel
"I Didn't Understand" Elliott Smith
"Too Bad About You" Eleni Mandell
"Exit Music For a Film" Radiohead

just to name a few

Neko Case on "Letter From An Occupant" - I've heard that this song takes her to the absolute top of her register, and it's perfect
Iron & Wine - "Promising Light" - so plain and soft that it lets the sentiments do the appropriate damage

more later

in light of the fact I am going to see westerberg on Saturday -

he gives me shivers on a ton of 'mats songs.

Ours - Red Colored Stars

Here's two one-off lightning strikes that totally slay me:

Katy Moffat on Country Dick Montana's "Hurt By Love"
Romy Kaye on Buddy Blue's "Missing You"

Both of those are instances of guest vocalists on an album completely shredding a song. I've never heard of Romy Kaye before or since, but by the end of "Missing You" she's howling like the baby has just entered the birth canal.

And Katy Moffat's own albums are dull folk/country, but set loose by Country Dick she turned into the reincarnation of Janis Joplin (but in tune).

forgot...

Rave On - Buddy Holly

jeff buckley lover, you should've come over
hefner i stole a bride

and mike patton at his throat shredding best on faith no more's cuckoo for caca

Massive Attack "Unfinished Sympathy"
Neko Case "I Wish I Was The Moon"
A-Ha "Take On Me"
The Beach Boys "Good Vibrations"

Simon & Garfunkel (Art sings) - "Bridge Over Troubled Water" Sam Cooke - "You Send Me" Otis Redding - "These Arms Of Mine" and you're gonna roll your eyes, but... Neutral Milk Hotel - "Jesus Christ" (pure, unfiltered emotion)

bjork - hunter (the part where she says "I thought I could organize freedom, how scandinavian of me," and the vocal stuff afterward)

also, a friend of mine is a singer/songwriter, and has an amazing voice. I saw her perform a few weeks ago, and she blew me away. On her slower songs she will sing very calmly, but will throw in little vocal things here and there that make you feel like there is this great power is behind the soft singing. I can't quite describe it, it just sends shivers down my spine.

Johnny Rotten 'Anarchy In The UK'

Jeff Buckley - You and I
Chris Cornell - Jesus Christ Pose

Alex Chilton, "The Letter" | He was what 16-17 at the time? Dayum.
Steve Winwood, "Gimme Some Lovin'" | See Alex Chilton.
Levi Stubbs, "Bernadette" | One of several
Wilson Pickett, "Land of 1000 Dances" | Ungh. Need somebody help me.
Ray Charles, "America The Beautiful" | Not to suck off a dead horse or anything.
Willie Nelson, "Always On My Mind" | Fuckin' A Right.

I'll have more later, after I wake up a bit.