Cher and Christine

[sue]

Originally Posted by Macfan4life

I don't think Chris sounded like Cher and vice versa. IMHO her voice is very similar to Steve Winwood. The first time I heard One In A Million on the radio I did not even notice it was a duet because their voices are so similar. When I got the album and saw the credits is when I realized it was Steve.

They do have a common sound which may have something to do that they grew up just 20 minutes apart.
Similar accents.
Christine grew up in Smethwick, Steve in Kingstanding both districts of Birmingham in the Midlands (the Black Country)
Also their musical background is the British blues sound of the 1960s.
Both have that smokey bluesy sound.

[jbrownsjr]

Originally Posted by sue

They do have a common sound which may have something to do that they grew up just 20 minutes apart.
Similar accents.
Christine grew up in Smethwick, Steve in Kingstanding both districts of Birmingham in the Midlands (the Black Country)
Also their musical background is the British blues sound of the 1960s.
Both have that smokey bluesy sound.

Why do they call it the "Black Country"? Dark forests like Lord of the Rings?

[sue]

Originally Posted by jbrownsjr

Why do they call it the "Black Country"? Dark forests like Lord of the Rings?

Mmmm..no not quite.
It was the birthplace of the Industrial revolution, consequently there were many chimneys from foundries and factories polluting the atmosphere…causing discolouration of buildings.
Also coal mining was prevalent in the Birmingham area both underground and open cast….
Hence the name Black country
Obviously both are now part of history but the name stuck.
(Though I prefer your description)

[Macfan4life]

Originally Posted by sue

Mmmm..no not quite.
It was the birthplace of the Industrial revolution, consequently there were many chimneys from foundries and factories polluting the atmosphere…causing discolouration of buildings.
Also coal mining was prevalent in the Birmingham area both underground and open cast….
Hence the name Black country
Obviously both are now part of history but the name stuck.
(Though I prefer your description)

BTW, in 1986 Steve's hit Freedom Overspill I would always imagine Chris singing it. The organ and his mannerisms how he sings the song let alone they have a similar sound.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xgva5e6UAsw&t=162s

[sue]

Originally Posted by Macfan4life

BTW, in 1986 Steve's hit Freedom Overspill I would always imagine Chris singing it. The organ and his mannerisms how he sings the song let alone they have a similar sound.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xgva5e6UAsw&t=162s

They have a similar sound on the whole, and very similar way of playing.
But Christine has a rounder more mellow voice.

I have a soft spot for Spencer Davis…
I won a little dancing competition at a local dance hall.
And the prize was a three of their singles ..

[GypsySorcerer]

Oh, wow...talk about some names from the past. Mary Anne was super sweet. I thought of her when Christine passed and wondered if she would post here around that time.

On another note, I always thought Christine sounded similar to Barbra Streisand, minus the vibrato (if that makes any sense).

[nicepace]

One of the reasons I loved Christine's voice so much is no one else ever reminded me of her. Ever. Other singers have similar ranges, of course, but there's a quality to her voice that was hers alone. Not being a musician or singer I don't know the vocabulary for it, but I know what I mean.

[Macfan4life]

Originally Posted by sue

They do have a common sound which may have something to do that they grew up just 20 minutes apart.
Similar accents.
Christine grew up in Smethwick, Steve in Kingstanding both districts of Birmingham in the Midlands (the Black Country)
Also their musical background is the British blues sound of the 1960s.
Both have that smokey bluesy sound.

Yes that explains it.