Just thought I'd check back... Owain even though you started this thread save your admonitions for the Mudcat Children's section. We're all capable adults here. Mrs. Duck, Bullfrog Jones and Waterdragon you share another thing in common besides your disagreement that Eva is/was the best...you're all wet! Mrs. Duck why don't you try typing Christina Aguilera into your search engine and get in the 21st century along with the rest of us. Bullfrog since when does one have to have 'grit' to have soul? You sound like one of those English Rocker/Art School Sissies that wanted to be black for a week(Clapton, Beck, Page, Townsend, Richards, ad nauseum). Eva had 'soul' to burn. 'Soul' being defined as 'emotional truth'. And she could be a screamer when she needed to, also. Would you be able to say Maura O'Connell or Mary Black lack soul? Patti Smith? And Waterdragon if you want strident try listening to 'anything' Celine Dion does. While one can take issue with the label 'best' I can't readily refute Owain. She was at least within the top 5 which then becomes a matter of taste...or lack, thereof.