[Jasper Jones]
Honorable Mentions: Ronnie Spector, Dolly Parton, Patti Russo, and Linda Ronstadt
5. Tanya Tucker/Shelly West: I was having a problem coming up with a 5th lady that I really liked, so I went with these two guilty pleasures of mine. Shelly West is best know for her series of country duets with David Frizzell. Like I have stated before, I am a sucker for a duet! She tied with Tanya Tucker for the 5th spot on my list. Tanya is one of the first ladies of country music that I really got into. Her husky voice and catchy songs won me over right away. Her public battles with a coked-out Glen Campbell are legendary!
4. Pat Benetar: She's on the list because I've had the biggest crush on her since I can remember. The first record I bought was a used copy of In The Heat of the Night when I was nine years old just because I liked the cover. Songs like "Heartbreaker", "Fire and Ice", and "Love is a Battle Field" have stuck with me since childhood, never growing tiresome. I got in trouble at work one day for playing "Hell is For Children" in my store because some mothers took offense. Rock on, Pat Benetar!
3. Patti Boyd: She never played a single note, but her influence is pretty strong. She set the hearts of just about every British musician on fire. She was married to George Harrison who claimed that he wrote "Something" about her, but changed his story after they were divorced. Next she married Eric Clapton and inspired such great songs like "Layla", "Wonderful Tonight", and "Bell Bottom Blues". Makes you wonder if she was some mythological muse to have inspired such great music.
2. Cher: I'm man enough to say it. I love Cher! Sonny & Cher period to mid 90s Cher is my favorite. Disco/techno Cher can go the fuck away. Her re-recording of "Bang Bang" in the 80s rocks like none-other. "Gypsies, Tramps, and Thieves" and "Halfbreed" are great tunes. And I must jam to "Just Like Jesse James" in my car at least twice a week. At first I was a little ashamed of my Cher love, but after a while I just didn't care who knew anymore. You know what I found out? More people like Cher, they just don't admit to it. Stop secretly singing that Cher song in the shower and let it out! You'll feel much better!
1. Emmylou Harris: Emmylou Harris is timeless. Even right now at age 61 she sounds and looks just as good as she did in 70s. I love her ability to harmonize with anyone. If you take a bad song and add Emmylou backup vocals, the song becomes something worth listening to instantly. She has the sweetest voice, with just enough of a haunting feel to it to make you come back for more. Haver you heard her and Gram Parsons sing "Love Hurts"? It will make you cry. Her partnership with Gram is instrumental in the development of the country-rock movement, and Harris served as a pioneer for female performers in the early 70s. I just picked up her 2007 box set of hand pick favorites called Songbird: Rare Tracks & Forgotten Gems and I am stoked!
[Weng Yu]
Honorable mentions:
Mariah Carey - She drops off my list because of the notable failures in her career. While "Music Box", "Daydream" and "Emancipation of Mimi" were quality albums, there's the junk that is "Rainbow" and "E = MC2 " to offset that.
Janet Jackson - It's saying a lot that my favorite Janet songs are from the 90's. I still think she's got it, but a lot of the time it seems like she can't decide whether to be an r'n'b singer or a pop singer.
Alicia Keys - She doesn't make my top five firstly because "As I am" was a huge disappointment, and secondly I think she tends to oversing when she performs live.
5. Mary J Blige: Is there any other female artist in urban music who can match Mary J Blige's longevity? Her first album came out in 1992 - that's 16 years and 8 albums where she's consistently produced quality r'n'b. For that, she makes my list.
4. Corrinne Bailey Rae: In an modern industry that often favors style over substance, it's not an exaggeration to say that I was blown away when Corrine Bailey Rae first appeared on the scene. She proved that it's possible to succeed without having to be a modern diva - her unique brand of jazzy, soulful music reminded jaded music lovers like me that it's possible to succeed on talent alone. Also she has one of the most beautiful voices I've ever heard - rich, soulful and full of emotion. Truly a unique talent.
3. Diana Krall: I'll probably cop some flak for this, but IMHO Diana Krall is one of the premier jazz musicians out there. I hate it when jazz fans turn their nose up as successful artists who have successfully crossed over into the mainstream - just because she doesn't do 20 minute improvs and eclectic solos doesn't make her any less of a musician. As a songwriter and artist she can make quality music that appeals to all, and that's good enough for me.
2. Joni Mitchell: Is there another female artist who has made such an impact on modern music. Her music has inspired countless artists over decades - not only is she a gifted guitar player but she often experimented and created works that most couldn't even comprehend. You can see her influence in all types of music ranging from jazz to pop to alternative rock, which is an amazing achievement.
1. Lauryn Hill: The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill has sold 19 million albums worldwide. 19 million!! With one album she cemented her place in music history as one of the greatest artists of all time. I realize that she hasn't had the same impact as someone like Joni Mitchell, but the Miseducation is the only album by a female artist that would rank in my top 5 albums, so this time I'm going with personal preference.
[Ian Parmenter]
5. The girls of Guitar Hero: Yeah, this is a strange entry, but they're in the game because they represent iconic views of music stereotypes... the punk bitch, the rocker grrl, the Japanese Idol, the goth-rock queen. The reason these stereotypes exist is because they're real, they're all over the industry, and the girls in the game distill the essence of those stereotypes.
4. Joan Osbourne: I may be biased, since I did a review of her latest album recently, but the woman obviously enjoys her music. She sings because she likes to, not because it makes money. She has fun with her songs, and that's something that's impossible to frown at.
3. The girls of Shonen Knife: This is as close to indy music snobbery as I get, folks. Not only can these girls rock, they're cute as buttons. Who can resist a good rockin' tune about sushi, or bike riding, or giant carp? They're the #1 entry on my 'wish I could have seen them perform live' list. Yes, even over all the obvious choices like Hendrix.
2. Madonna: Say what you will about her recently, but this is a woman without whom modern music would be completely different. And I'm not saying that in an Ameri-centrist viewpoint; world-wide, the influence she's had is undeniable.
1. Pat Benatar: To me, she will always be the be-all and end-all of a rockin' woman... even during her 'soft phase' she still turned out good music. She's gone from rock rebel to laid-back to somewhere in between, and has enough hits to make almost anyone jealous. She used to be #1 on my 'wish I could see them perform live' list before she rolled through town and stopped off to do a set at the local rib cook-off a couple years ago. She's still got it.
[Joe Rivett]
5. Christina Aguilera: She has it all: The voice, the hotness and the lack of self-destructive behavior. When "Genie in a Bottle" came out, I was in love. I expect a lot more hits from her over the next decade.
4. Ann and Nancy Wilson (Heart): As early as I can remember existing, I used to listen to my father's records. I only remember a few of them and one is the Dreamboat Annie album. This was a hell of a debut album that contained the songs "Crazy on You" and "Magic Man." Even when they became a pop group, songs like "These Dreams" and "Alone" were great.
3. Reba McIntyre: I generally only like newer country music but Reba's music is timeless. The song "Fancy" is probably the best country song. She has a powerful redneck voice along with a great accompanying band.
2. Mariah Carey: One of the first CDs I ever owned was Mariah Carey's Unplugged album which is the best Unplugged album ever. Her voice is incredible and in her prime, there was no artist best male or female. Not only has Carey produced many great albums like Music Box but she has collaborated with other artists to make great songs like "Endless Love" with Luther Vandross and "One Sweet Day" with Boyz II Men. Yes, she hit the wall some years back but she has bounced back nicely with hits like "We Belong Together" and "Shake it Off."
1. Madonna: We were told to consider sex appeal on this list and no one has more sex appeal than Madonna. Before there was Internet Porn, you had to watch a Madonna Video. Not only were some of her videos hot like "Secret" or "Cherish" but she has been able to create hits for three decades now. "Like a Prayer" is one of the catchiest songs and "Vogue" is one of the greatest dance songs. Her most underrated song is the duet with Babyface: "Take a Bow."
[Paul Hollingsworth]
Since this is a personal list, my honorable mentions are more universal.
Honorable Mentions: 3. Janis Joplin - A voice as big as Texas and twice as deep. Her short and troubled life gave us some great music. We should all be grateful that we are alive when her music is still readily available.
2. Yoko Ono- I include her because of her influence on the Beatles. Without her, I think their later career as well as the solo work of John Lennon would have been vastly different. Perhaps no better nor worse, but she had an definite impact on the biggest band ever.
1. Madonna - There's no getting around the influence of Madonna in pop music. While I personally cannot stand more than a handful of her songs, she's impacted in some way every female musician which followed. The fact that she remains sort of relevant today only adds to her influence and importance.
Top 5 List:
5. Tawny Kitaen: Kitaen remains best known as the 'jaguar girl' from the Whitesnake videos in the 80's. I was fifteen or so when I first saw them. Many records were purchased because of her influence on music. I went through several myself.
4. Missy Elliot: I'm no fan of rap or hip-hop. But in a genre that's become very bland and predictable, Elliot stands out as a very talented and interesting musician. Her videos are striking and unique and her songs add some much needed female perspective to a genre that sorely needs it.
3. Susanna Hoffs: The lead singer of the Bangles will always remain my first and only real celebrity crush. I joined the fanclub. (Way back in 1984.) Got the fake autographed picture. Still give her band's records a spin every now and then. She is also directly responsible for giving form to my 'type' of girl. Show me a girl with long dark eyes, big dark eyes and I'll show you a girl who makes the short list for being the next Mrs. Hollingsworth. The songs, also, aren't so bad on the ears.
2. Kim Deal: Deal is/was the bassist of one of the best bands of all time, the Pixies. At the time, looks, image and sex were the main ingredients to all female musicians. Deal gave a big middle finger to all that and shone as a great musician and songwriter. She was a musician who happened to be a woman, not a woman who wanted to pretend to be a musician.
1. Aretha Franklin and Loretta Lynn (I couldn't pick just one.): No two women in the history of music gave voice to the fairer sex in song than these two. Although they came from widely different backgrounds, they both understood the strength and struggles of being a woman. Listen to "Think" by Franklin or 'The Home Your Tearing Down' by Lynn if you need any convincing that these women changed the world of music for the better.
[Jacob Crogie]
So, for this week I decided to narrow the parameters down a little itty bit. My list consists of only people who are alive and have released an album within the past 5 years. OH BOY, I can tell I'm gonna get some heat for these...
5. M.I.A.: So we start my list with a revolutionary artist, who's latest album "Kala" was labelled album of the year by both Rolling Stone and Blender. She is responsible for her own production and lyrics which are never generic and always seem to make her a critical darling. While I am far from her biggest fan, there is no denying that the girl has power, she has even started her own label! She is one of few real artists left on the top 40 scene, with that, I award her the number 5 spot!
4. Rihanna: She is a hit machine goddamnit! Everything she touches turns to gold! Although she has limited impression upon her own artistic direction, there can be no doubt that her music is important. It doesn't hurt that she is damn hot either. She has had 5 number one singles and she is only 20 years old! That's good enough to be my number 4!
3. Alicia Keys: Now we get into a real artist, the amazingly talented Alicia Keys. She has had four straight number one albums, dominating the charts with every release. She has an amazing voice, and is an incredibly talented musician. Her lyrical ability is very impressive and there is still much to come from this artist.
2. Taylor Swift: YAY! Up next is the girl who is quickly revolutionizing country music! She has made country music popular again with her simple, yet sincere songs. Her new album drops today and one can easily expect a top 5 debut with #1 not out of the question. "Should've Said No" is easily in my top 10 favorite country songs...OF ALL TIME! She is only 18 and I cannot wait to follow her artistic progression through further albums!
1. Amy Lee: Here comes the flaming...I can feel it now. It burns...a little... Anyways, Amy Lee has been my favorite female artist since I was 14 years old and at an Evanescence concert. OK, so the argument could be made that I am really lame, but if you look at her compositional talent, you cannot deny that she went against the grain and came out on top. Her performance ability is amazing and her voice is...well...words fail me...it's that awesome! Amy Lee is my number one, and I impatiently wait for the release of her solo project or another Evanescence album... PLEASEPLEASEPLEASE!
[Andrew Moll]
5. Jenny Lewis: Jenny Lewis is not only an absolutely beautiful woman, but she's also been the lead singer of Rilo Kiley for a decade now, and they've been indie darlings for most of that time. She also struck out on her own in 2004 with a solo album, showing that she is more than just a pretty face. Now, admittedly, I'm not the biggest Rilo Kiley fan in the world so I chose Lewis partially because, well, have you seen Jenny Lewis?! The fact she's such a musical talent doesn't hurt her cause, either.
4. Sleater-Kinney: The three women were a sonic force that transcended gender. Even though not everyone was a fan of singer Carrie Brownstein's vocal style, but those who were fans loved it. For about a decade, Sleater-Kinney may have very well been the best punk rock band in the world. With albums like Dig Me Out and The Woods the band proved capable at kicking more ass than most all other male rock bands.
3. Patti Smith: Smith has been called the "Godmother of Punk," and it's a fitting title for one of punk rock's most influential figures. Her debut album Horses is an absolute classic, and her cover of "Gloria" is one of the best covers ever recorded. Smith made a career of combining music with poetry and by never trying hard to be a female musician. She was just a musician, and a great one at that.
2. Kim Deal: In the Pixies, Black Francis brought the visceral screams, but Kim Deal brought the melody on many Pixies songs. Her light voice was the perfect counterpoint to Francis' wailing, while at the same time highlighting classic songs like "Gigantic." Deal was able to show off her skills with The Breeders as well, proving herself as a competent songwriter, as well as bassist and singer.
1. Kim Gordon: She's been Sonic Youth's bassist for more than twenty-five years, and for the whole time, she has been the most influential female in rock music. She showed that women not only be part of on the world's best rock bands, but inject that band with a large amount of sensuality. Many of the songs in which Gordon sings are dreamy and moving, and makes Gordon stand out as a musician and singer. Gordon has been an important part of alternative rock for years, and is without a doubt one of music's essential female performers.
[Fred Richani]
5. Katy Perry: This chick has it going on. Two Top 10 hits in "I Kissed A Girl" and "Hot N Cold", a unique fashion sense, reminiscent to that of a young, rocker version of Lucille Ball—with a rebellious edge, and oh yeah, she's hot. This is one young woman that's not afraid to be different. What other female artist do you know has the guts to release a song titled "Ur So Gay"?!
4. Pink: Speaking of different, this artist was one of the first early 2000s Pop acts to infuse different elements of rock, hip-hop, and dance into her music. Sure, Britney or Christina may have bit the whole rebellious, "don't take no crap" attitude of hers, but this pink and blonde rebel continues to go strong—and Platinum. Unlike Britney Spears, Lindsay Lohan, and every other badass Pop chick, Pink is NOT manufactured and is herself. She wears her emotions on her sleeve and wouldn't have it any other why. And I wouldn't have her any other way.
3. Keri Hilson: Keri Who?! I said…Keri Hilson. As in the Keri Hilson that has been featured on songs such as "The Way I Are", "Hero", and her own hit "Energy", belting her talented vocals to the moon. Despite being a longtime songwriter as part of the lyric penning collective The Clutch (responsible for Omarion's "Ice Box" and Ciara's "Like A Boy"), she is still under the mainstream radar. Don't be fooled though, as this gal can sing and look pretty damn good doing it (search: Energy music video on YouTube).
2. Nelly Furtado: Forget Pop and Hip-Hop. Nelly Furtado is Trip-Hop, a combination of numerous genres rolled in one. After falling off of the music Earth with a sophomore slump in Folklore, she reinvented herself with Loose, providing tracks everyone could dance to like "Say It Right" and "Promiscuous"—beats courtesy of Timbaland, of course. I like women, particularly female artists, that aren't afraid to change their ways for the better. Nelly Furtado epitomizes that. Heck, she even landed a role in Max Payne and probably had the most dramatic lines in the whole film! Now that's what I call a comeback from music obscurity.
1. Beyonce': Who else would be number one? My number one is Beyonce' Knowles, formerly of Destiny's Child fame (that seems like ages ago). Never mind the numerous chart-topping hits she's had throughout her career. This young woman is ill. Besides her obvious physical….assets, she is blessed with a beautiful voice. That's a given. What most don't know is that she can actually spit 16 bars—evident in her single off of her Sasha Fierce album "Diva" (think of a female version of Lil Wayne's "A Milli"). Most importantly, she comes off humble and a sweetheart.
Her alleged husband Shawn "Jay-Z" Carter is the ultimate symbol of how awesome she is. Think about it—Hov could get any woman he wants and he settles for a woman that's not just hot, but down to earth. If she's good enough for The Roc La Familia, then she's good enough to be my number one. Case closed.
[Christine McGill]
Editor's Note: I am including this list as a favor to another writer. Take it for whatever you want. -BC
5. Yoko Ono: Imagine losing your husband in such a way as she did! A great musician herself, despite her terrible loss, she found the strength within her to protect and preserve the Beatles legacy.
4. Courtney Love: Some think she was a bad influence on Kurt Cobain. I have seen a fair amount of proof that were it not for her Kurt wouldn't have lasted for as long as he did. With her band, Hole, she went on to carve out a highly successful music career for herself, based primarily upon her abilities.
3. Britney Spears: They just won't leave her alone. Yet through it all, she endures with grace and dignity for the most part. She was a great inspiration to many a girl in their young and impressionable years. She could dance, and she had and has great musical ability. Just leave her alone already.
2. Pamela Des Barres: An insightful music journalist whose memoir introduces us to many a famous musician. Her role in the music industry was undeniable, and for anyone unfamiliar with her, you should look her up.
1. Sharon Osbourne. Her husband, while having some talent, certainly needed guidance. By the end of the 90's, he was for sure a has-been. Mrs. Osbourne, proving to be the astute businesswoman that she always was, reinvented Ozzy, turning him into a character we can all love through the reality program, The Osbournes. And sure, sometimes she has done some controversial stuff, such as re-recording a few bass and vocal tracks (who cares about that anyway… we usually listen for the vocals and guitar), or cutting Iron Maiden's power and directing an egg-and-tomato-throwing session at the band. Sometimes, though, a woman needs to have balls in this male-dominated industry. Sharon does. I look up to her.
[Joshua George]
Wow, trying to figure out my Top 5 Favorite Females Involved in Music is incredibly difficult. I'm bound to have a lot of honorable mentions, so let's start with those.
Honorable Mentions: Christina Aguilera, Imogen Heap, Whitney Houston, Shania Twain, Barbara Streisand, Beyonce Knowles, Joni Mitchell, Cher, Tina Turner, Ann and Nancy Wilson, Diana Ross, Fiona Apple, Alanis Morissette, and last but certainly not least, if nothing else for my friend Allie, Renee Fleming.
The women listed above may not necessarily be my personal favorites, but you certainly cannot deny their contributions to music, or in some cases, their amazing voices. Renee Fleming has an incredible voice that some would consider unmatched and has brought opera to a much more public eye and Imogen Heap can bring a fantastic vocal range mixed with an electronic sound that will raise goosebumps on anyone (listen especially to Hide and Seek). The others all have their perks, and I'd love to talk about them all, but I can't possibly list everyone; so let's move on to the list.
Top 5 Favorite Females Involved in Music:
5. Madonna: I don't think, no matter who you are, you can ever deny the things that Madonna has done for music and the music industry. She's not the best singer in my opinion (and that's my personal opinion), but she has done amazing things.
4. Mariah Carey: 17 albums, 18 US No 1 Singles. I feel like that's enough said, but for the music geeks in the room, she was the first one to REALLY bring whistle tone to the public. Whether or not you like her personally, her vocal range is astounding and very few can match what she has to offer vocally. Not to mention the amount of time that she's been around, I think it would be safe to say that she's not going anywhere for a while.
3. Janice Joplin: You think Britney has problems? You're clearly too young to remember back when problems were more than just shaving your head because you're stupid. Janis had a world of problems and was most known for her extreme drug use and her very, very unique vocal style. I haven't heard a single voice cross my ears that comes anywhere near Janis Joplin's, and I can safely say I don't think we ever will. Janis and her voice will always be a big part of music and will appropriately live forever in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
2. Aretha Franklin: I honestly don't think I can say the right things to honor this woman. She's amazing, she's given EVERYTHING to the industry and I honestly think that without her and my number 1, women (and especially African-American women) couldn't be where they are in the industry. Truly Aretha is a goddess in the music industry with 21 Grammys, 37 notable albums, and 17 Top 10 Hot 100 US Singles.
And finally, my ultimate Favorite Female Involved in Music is:
1. Ella Fitzgerald: Also known as "Lady Ella" or "The First Lady of Song", she is truly an amazing person in the vocal world. Ella had a vocal range of 3 octaves and could soothe anyone with her incredible pure voice. She had a jazz improv technique (scat singing) that was, and I believe is STILL, unmatched by anyone in the industry to date. She had a career spanning 57 years, and has 13 Grammys and 2 Presidential Medals (Regan gave her the National Medal of Art, and George HW Bush gave her the Presidential Medal of Freedom). With 79 albums under her belt no one could ever compare, and I don't know about you, but her songs with Louis Armstrong are among my ABSOLUTE FAVORITE. Bar none, "Lady Ella" will forever have spaces on my CD rack.
[Jesse Coy]
Honorable and All Other Mentions:
the Rude Girls- from the Slits, X-Ray Specs, and the Selecter
the First Diva- Tina Turner
the Glam Rock Glam Girl- Lita Ford
the Ass-Kicking Thrasher- Dawn Crosby (Fear of God)
the Psycho-Sex Chicks- Gen (Genitorturers), Deborah (Lords of Acid), the Great Kat, Slymenstra Hymen (Gwar)
the Tall, Dark and Beautiful- Nico
the Great Co-Pilots- Kim Gordon (Sonic Youth), Poison Ivy (the Cramps), Mary Huff (SCOTS), Katherine Whalen (Squirrel Nut Zippers), Ellen Reid (Crash Test Dummies)
the Odds and Ends- Grace Slick (Jefferson Airplane), Nena, Wendy James (Transvision Vamp), 7 Year Bitch, Linda Perry (4 Non Blondes), Shirley Manson (Garbage), Karen O (Yeah Yeah Yeahs), and Inara George (the Bird and the Bee)
the I-Hadda-Mention'em- the Cycle Sluts from Hell and Lez Zeppelin
5. L7: They sort of went unappreciated, I'd say. But on the other hand, remaining relatively under the radar as they had for so long allowed them to develop in interesting ways. Between '88 and '99, they issued six studio albums. They were an inspiration to a fair number of female musicians, rightfully so. Dig up and dig into some of their releases.
4. Siouxsie Sioux: You have your punk and you have your gothic. There's your alternative here, too. You also have a hugely influential musician. Between '78 and '95, eleven albums were issued by Siouxsie and the Banshees. I've quite recently explored several of them. For the longest time, I only had Twice Upon a Time: the Singles. Cool stuff, no doubt, but there was much cooler stuff waiting to be unearthed.
3. Debbie Harry: That would've been an interesting tour, I think, as in Blondie and Siouxsie and the Banshees on the same bill. They were doing their thing at close to the same time. Did it ever happen? So there were eight Blondie albums issued, and in addition to recording several solo albums, Debbie also did a fair amount of acting. When the man-hating, relationship-obsessed female musicians of the 90's get under my skin, all I need to do is play some Blondie. It's a refreshing antidote. And while I wouldn't go so far as to name her David Bowie's counterpart as a musical chameleon… well, almost. The band, Blondie, never shied from experimenting and adopting different musical styles.
2. Janis Joplin: so you have four main studio albums and a couple strong live releases that really showcase how she had an enormous presence. On par with Jim Morrison and Jimi Hendrix, these three musicians forming the Check-Out-at-27 Trio… Janis was unique and very talented. Is that movie in the works? I'd be quite interested in seeing her life brought to the big screen.
1. Billie Holiday: No doubt, someone will throw the same comment out there. "Oh, was anyone on your staff born before the 80's?" Of course there are some that fit that category. But let me ask, then… anyone out there who makes that complaint (seems to crop up once a week) born before the 70's? How about the 60's? How about… what does it MATTER? There's always a nice range in these lists. So here you are, going backwards in time with Billie… influential, a legend, and just great to listen to. She had it tough. She had her problems. She died in '59. Her voice was great at its peak. Her influence was far-reaching.
[Michael Adler]
Honoroable Mentions: Venolia parker - Mother of Ray Parker Jr., who wrote the awesome theme for Ghostbusters. Without her, there would be no Ghostbusters as we know it.
Editor's Note: Mr. Adler emailed me and said he was sad that he wouldn't be able to, in some way, include Parker. I told him that if he was a good writer, he would find a way to include him. And he did. Kudos to Mr. Adler.
5. Prince - Perhaps no one else in music is as enigmatic, original, and just out there as Prince. Giving us the classic Purple rain, and being one of the top guitar players snags her the number five spot.
4. Paz Lenchantin - One of my favorite bass players. Her work with A Perfect Circle was amazing, and she almost made me interested in Zwan, far more than Billy Corgan did. She's also released a few solo albums that I need to check out.
3. Patti Smith - "Because the Night"-One of the best songs ever. Smith has an amazing voice that's almost untoppable. She's also a gifted song writer, and considered the godmother of punk. Songstress, poet, amazing musician.
2. Feist - Leslie, if you're reading this call me.
1.PJ Harvey - PJ would be close to the top of my list for musicians, male or female. Her work in rock music is almost unaparalelled yet she's highly underrated. Stories from the City, Stories from the Sea" is one of the top albums every written, and other than one song, "Horses in My Dreams", is otherwise flawless. Her voice is amazing, and while her instrumental abilities aren't dazzling per se, they are solid and compliment her amazing song writing. Even her recent album, White Chalk, a bit of a mistep, nonetheless manages to still dazzle.
[Sandeep Murali]
5. Gloria Estefan: I don't care how much fire is gonna be breathed upon me for making this choice but I stand by it 100%. Show me one person who didn't find "Rhythm is gonna get you" catchy and I'll show you a liar. Estefan is amongst the top names that made Latino music popular worldwide and therefore, deserves a spot on my list.
4. Mariah Carey: If five Grammys, eighteen number one singles and a vocal range as wide as the pacific ocean mean nothing to you, take a good look at the woman. That oughta do it. One of the most gifted female singers of all time, sexy Mariah doesn't go any higher on the list thanks to her infamous nervous breakdowns and the abomination that was "Glitter".
3. Ann and Nancy Wilson (Heart): Man, could these sisters rock or what! The first time I heard "Barracuda" my jaws dropped, because I had never before seen girls rock out like that. A far cry from the mellow ABBA songs I grew up with. Which brings us to:
2. Anni-Frid Lyngstad and Agnetha Fältskog (ABBA): The half of ABBA that actually counts. The Scandinavian duo were easy on the eye, sang immensely catchy songs and their band became a household name world wide. All in a career that lasted ten odd years. Not bad, eh?
1. Madonna: You may love her, you may loathe her. But you just cannot escape from the fact that this woman has an uncanny ability to stay relevant no matter what day and age it is. Kinda like the female version of Rolling Stones or Aerosmith, if you may. Some may even call her brand of music "Paint by numbers", but the fact is, it's catchy and it sells. And unlike several in the history of the artform, fame didn't reduce her into a pathetic train wreck. The fact of the matter is, Madonna Louise Ciccone is most widely hated for the successful life that she leads and that, is an achievement in itself. Definitely the top female artist in the history of modern music.
[Chris Crowning]
There are loads of female artists I admire for their voice, but usually to get any real admiration from me, you have to be a creative force and play an instrument as well. There are a great many female artists that fit these criteria, but mainly in the areas of classical or folk music, which I'm not that into and can't realistically say any of them would be a favorite. In the rock world, I'm one of those guys who says that as a rule, 'girls can't rock' and I still hold this to be true, because playing second rate bass and pretending to be an ice maiden or playing radio friendly chart pop in a punk-y fashion, don't count as rocking, IMHO.
There are exceptions. Likewise, for all that there are some good songs produced, I can't abide Riot Grrl as a scene, because 90% of the acts keep espousing their badly thought out and fundamentally hypocritical feminine empowerment nonsense. You've got equal rights, now stop looking for preferential treatment, especially while being the vainest, most superficial bints on the block. Yes Courtney Love and company I mean you. Have I offended enough people yet? No? Ok, I think PJ Harvey is grossly overrated too. Good, now watch me note out the exceptions.....
Honorable mentions: Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey, Christina Aguilera etc. - you can't deny the power of some people's voices - not necessarily my thing, but the ability to hit the REALLY high notes and hold them, then bring it down to the middle register without cracking or sounding forced is always laudable.
Angela Gossow, Morgan & Mercedes Lander - for being the exception and showing that some girls CAN rock, and be pretty good at it to.
KT Tunstall - just because.
Annie Lennox - because of duty.
Judy Garland & Julie Andrews - because I was brought up on musicals, and I LOVE it.5. Sarah Brightman for being the original and best Christian Daae in Phantom of the Opera. Goosebumps, EVERY time.
4. Shirley Manson - for being Scottish, for being in Garbage, for being a great interview, and a better frontwoman. She is everything that Courtney Love pretends to, but could never be - intelligent, articulate and talented.
3. Alanis Morisette - not the best, but probably my favorite of the 90s female singer/songwriters, and I can play a dozen of her songs, and it makes me smile to do so.
2. Tina Turner - for being a great voice back in the day, then breaking away from her abusive man and rebuilding her career on her own terms when technically well past her sell by date - now THATS empowerment girls!
1. Kate Bush - cause she's a genuine musical pioneer, has a a lot more good songs than you think you remember, and is a complete nutter. Seriously, check her out.
[Aarón Mayagoitia]
5. Clare Torry: Pink Floyd's ‘The Great Gig in the Sky' gives me goose bumps every single time I listen to it, and it's all because of Torry's performance. Her soaring vocals take you from a state of desperation, loneliness and misery to a climatic release that feels like heaven itself, and then she takes you down to Earth again, only to remember you never quite left. I've imagined so many things when listening to this song even though there are no lyrics, and it's all thanks to Clare's spot-on performance.
4. Kim Gordon: Sonic Youth's bass player is one leggy, blonde-haired indie chick who has a great taste for bass guitars (the bass guitars' beefy body against her body shows an interesting contrast which makes her look slim and tight). I've seen Sonic Youth live once when they opened for Pearl Jam and I was mesmerized by how she got so into the music and by how she did all that with heels on. Sexy, rockin' and part of one of the coolest bands on the planet, Kim Gordon is a Top 5 chick.
3. Alison Krauss: What more could you ask for? She's a beautiful and adorable woman, she plays the fiddle and sings with the voice of an angel, and she even got to work with Robert Plant! A bluegrass queen with everything in its right place and talent to spare; her music sooths and haunts as well, giving her right to twenty one Grammy Awards and all sorts of musical accolades.
2. Mariah Carey: She's got a voice that can shatter glass and make dogs bark. It's a shame that her recent output (R&B/Hip Hop/Club/Dance puke) does not take advantage of her undeniable vocal talents. But once you get to see her in one of her skimpy outfits, you won't even remember that she has recorded so many cringe-worthy songs.
1. Jennifer Love Hewitt: She has/had a music career and it sucks/sucked. She's got a generic Pop voice that offers nothing new and she can't write a song even if her life depended on it. But her hotness will blind your judgment and you may even find yourself going to the record store in a zombie-like state to buy one of her records. You wake up when you realize that no store will sell her stuff.
[Ben Czajkowski]
The beauty and ugliness of being the last to write my list for this column is that I get to see what every else writes before me. Sometimes, I disregard what they send me, creating lists from my personal biases. Sometimes, I add things that deserve a mentioning. This week, it is a mix of both. I know there are no Top 5 lists that are going to do the female contribution to the music universe any true justice; I can only hope that we break the ice a little.
Honorable Mentions: Bjork, Sheryl Crow, Joni Mitchell, Michelle Branch, Alanis Morissette, Tori Amos, Fiona Apple, and the list goes on and on.
I think it is interesting to note that at least three of my top five females here are Canadian.
5. Jewel: It wasn't until recently that I would have considered Jewel for this spot in this Top 5. I had no idea how much of an unsung, musical success she had become (probably because I am not in tune with Country). Many people will recognize her for her mainstream, cross platform success with the song "Hands". Her first four albums went platinum a total of 18 times. That astounds me, and I greatly respect her.
4. Beth Orton: Back when I worked as an Assistant Librarian, I discovered Beth Orton. To me, she had more soul and honesty than that of Joni Mitchell. I secretly adore her folksy songwriting and her strumming guitar.
3. Sarah McLaughlin: I learn so much when I sit down to write these Top 5 lists. I learned that Sarah McLaughlin follows Jewel in that she is another multi-platinum artist. She's pushed platinum more than a dozen times over the last fifteen years. From a personal standpoint, there was a period of time when "Arms of an Angel" and "Adia" would drive my brother insane. I played them as much as I could, just to spite him. Doesn't bother him, anymore, but it is still fun to rub in his face, even now.
2. Morgan Lee Lander: Many people will know her better as the lead vocalist/guitarist from Kittie. I feel I would be amiss to let this column post without mentioning Lander. Lander has one of the most unique and one of the roughest voices in the female world, ranking up there with Candace Kucsulain of Walls of Jericho. Lander's "Brackish" is one of the reasons I even joined the rock/metal masses.
1. Jodi Benson, Lea Salonga, Paige O'Hara, et al.: An honest show of hands: Who recognizes any of these three ladies? They've never been considered platinum-selling artists or divas, yet they've been an inspiration to many of us; they're music has been stuck in my head countless of times, and I grew up with them, day after day. Maybe you'll know them better as Ariel, Princess Jasmine, and Belle: Disney "princesses". Disney has hid these voice talents away for decades so they would never escape the Mouse's grasp. I honor them today by including them as number 1 on my list.
Alright, folks. Thanks for reading. Here's what you should do. Enter your list in the comment's section. You do not have to register to comment. Here's how your list should look:
Honorable Mentions: If you have any...
5. Artist - "Song": Explanation of choice
4. Artist - "Song": Explanation of choice
3. Artist - "Song": Explanation of choice
2. Artist - "Song": Explanation of choice
1. Artist - "Song": Explanation of choice
