In reply to irene46.

Yes, training helped me immensely, I started with very little talent whatsoever, though with a naturally large voice in volume and range. What I lacked was control and precision.

Anyway, why you prefer Christina's voice is a matter of taste. I do like Christina - sometimes - in songs like the original recording of "What a girl wants" that is in a lower key and keeps the vocal acrobatics to a minimum, or in other similar things where she croons. It is when she tries to do things she does not have the vocal ability to really handle properly, that I truly dislike her.

But my point was that tone by itself does not make a voice a superior instrument. Take for example Karen Carpenter or Judy Garland...both wonderful tones, rich, warm, etc...but one cannot say in all honesty they had better instrument than someone like Mina Mazzini or Aretha Franklin, whose tones are not as "nice" but their voices show far more possibilities.