Your Favorite Female Singers

PenguinHead · #1 02-28-2015, 05:06 AM

No doubt that we all share a devotion to Stevie. It would be interesting to see the commonalities we might share with other female singers. Even more interesting would to see the diversity of tastes among us.

Here's my initial list of songstresses who have lingered around my life in varying degrees of significance.

Janis Joplin
Cass Elliot
Michelle Phillips
Grace Slick
Dusty Springfield
Joni Mitchell
Carly Simon
Linda Ronstadt
Ann/Nancy Wilson
Suzanna Hoffs
Edie Brickell
Chrissie Hynde
Maria McKee
Alanis Morrisette
Tori Amos
Aimee Mann
Sheryl Crow
Sam Phillips
Amy Winehouse
Christine McVie - duh!

**SisterNightroad** · #2 02-28-2015, 05:44 AM

Janis Joplin
Patti smith
Ann Wilson
Carole King
Debbie Harry
Grace Slick
as singers but not songwriters:
Christina Aguilera
Lana Del Rey

PenguinHead · #3 02-28-2015, 06:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SisterNightroad

Janis Joplin
Patti smith
Ann Wilson
Carole King
Debbie Harry
Grace Slick
as singers but not songwriters:
Christina Aguilera
Lana Del Rey

Carole King! Debbie Harry! I missed them.

Initially I was thinking just singer/songwriters (like Stevie), but then I had to acknowledge amazing artistry of vocalists such as Dusty Springfield, Cass Elliot and Linda Ronstadt.

**SisterNightroad** · #4 02-28-2015, 06:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PenguinHead

Carole King! Debbie Harry! I missed them.

I initially was thinking just singer/songwriters (like Stevie), but then had to acknowledge amazing vocalists such as Dusty Springfield, Cass Elliot and Linda Ronstadt.

And I missed Pat Benathar and a lot of italian female artists like Mia Martini and Loredana Berté etc.
These lists could go on to eternity, but since it's the favourite singers I skimmed and left all the singers that have emotional impact on me.
But I feel I have to add Gianna Nannini and Mina to represent italian great female vocalists:

nicole21290 · #5 02-28-2015, 07:06 AM

I guess the easiest way to do this is to go through my iPod quickly. I'll include those who I have several complete albums from (that I listen to regularly) rather than every female singer/artist, obviously. I listen to a lot of music so...

Agnes Obel
Alela Diane
Alison Goldfrapp (from Goldfrapp)
Alison Krauss
Ane Brun
Ann Wilson (from Heart)
Anna Ternheim
Annie Clark (aka St. Vincent)
Annie Lennox
Anouk
Aoife O'Donovan

Bat For Lashes
Beth Orton
Bonnie Raitt
Brandi Carlile

Carole King
Cat Power

Dusty Springfield

Eddi Reader
Édith Piaf
Elena Tonra (from Daughter)
Ella Fitzgerald
Emmylou Harris
Etta James

Feist
Florence Welch (from Florence + The Machine)

Gillian Welch

(Este, Daniella + Alana) Haim
Hayley Williams (from Paramore)
Holly Throsby

Imogen Heap
Ingrid Michaelson

Janelle Monáe
Janis Joplin
Jessie Ware
Joan Baez
Johanna and Klara Söderberg (First Aid Kit)
Joni Mitchell
Joy Williams (from The Civil Wars)
Julia Stone (from Angus + Julia Stone)

Karen Carpenters (from The Carpenters)
Karen Marie Ørsted (aka Mø)
Kate Bush
Kate Rusby
Kimbra

Lana Del Rey
Laura Marling
Laura Mvula
Linda Ronstadt
Lisa Hannigan
Lissie
Lou Doillon
Lucinda Williams
Lykke Li

Marina Diamandis (aka Marina & the Diamonds)
Marissa Nadler
Marketa Irglova (solo, from The Swell Season)
Missy Higgins

Neko Case
Nina Simone

Paloma Faith
Patti Smith
Patty Griffin
PJ Harvey

Rickie Lee Jones
Regina Spektor
Roberta Flack
Roseanne Cash

Sandy Denny (from Fairport Convention)
Sara Bareilles
Sarah Jarosz
Serena Ryder
Sia (Furler)

Thea Gilmore
Tori Amos
Tracy Chapman
Tristan Prettyman

PenguinHead · #6 02-28-2015, 07:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SisterNightroad

And I missed Pat Benathar and a lot of italian female artists like Mia Martini and Loredana Berté etc.
These lists could go on to eternity, but since it's the favourite singers I skimmed and left all the singers that have emotional impact on me.
But I feel I have to add Gianna Nannini and Mina to represent italian great female vocalists:

Wow! Did/do these singers have long careers and wide acclaim in European markets?

Jondalar · #7 02-28-2015, 07:17 AM

Joni Mitchell
Patti Griffin
Karen Carpenter
Whitney Houston
Dusty Springfield
Bjork
Trisha Yearwood
Dolly Parton
Celine Dion
Nina Simone
Ann Wilson
Courtney Love
Loretta Lynn
Tracey Chapman
Ella Fitzgerald

**SisterNightroad** · #8 02-28-2015, 07:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PenguinHead

Wow! Did/do these singers have long careers and wide acclaim in European markets?

Mina is one of the few italian artists that were acclaimed in foreign countries since the 60's, she's even been a musical muse for director Federico Fellini, but she's been retired for a long time and doesn't do public appearances anymore. Now, even if she keeps recording and is regarded as a legend, she doesn't get much attention and her records are niche products, much like Joni Mitchell.
Gianna Nannini is a 70s icon, the one that brought punk and rock in Italy and still is the only woman representative of the genre here. She's been and continue to be known in the UK and keeps on recording but is above all an elderly new mom.

Danielle · #9 02-28-2015, 08:09 AM

Streisand
Joni Mitchell
Nina Simone
Diana Krall
Lila Downs
Lana Del Rey
Norah Jones
Annie Lennox

And I love Madonna, maybe not musically, but I love her.

PenguinHead · #10 02-28-2015, 09:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Danielle

Streisand
Joni Mitchell
Nina Simone
Diana Krall
Lila Downs
Lana Del Rey
Norah Jones
Annie Lennox

And I love Madonna, maybe not musically, but I love her.

That's funny

I'm glad Madonna didn't get hurt when an apparel mishap yanked her off the stage and she stumbled to the ground at the beginning of her performance at the Brit Awards. Did you see the brief video clip?

Luckily she was not injured. She got up and finished the song. The incident reveals that she was not lip-syncing. The second she fell and lost hold of her mike, the vocal stopped, but the band continued. It would have made a bad situation worse if her voice was still "singing" while she's several feet away from her mike.

I'm not a fan, but she is very impressive.

FuzzyPlum · #11 02-28-2015, 10:09 AM

Christine McVie
Carole King
Kate Bush
Barbra Streisand
PJ Harvey
Tracy Chapman
Dolores O'Riordan

DauphineMarie · #12 02-28-2015, 11:23 AM

Annabella Lwin (Bow Wow Wow)
Cass Elliot
Debbie Harry
Dusty Springfield
Edith Piaf
Florence Welch
Grace Slick
Janis Joplin
Lana del Rey
Nina Simone
Patti Smith

sorcerer999 · #13 02-28-2015, 01:25 PM

In order of "obsession"...

1. Stevie Nicks
2. Kate Pierson/Cindy Wilson of the B-52's (Looooooooove how they harmonize)
3. Sade
4. Patti Smith
5. Dolly Parton
6. Cyndi Lauper
7. Johnette Napolitano of Concrete Blonde (soooooo powerful)
8. Debbie Harry
9. Janis Joplin
10. Kate Bush

and my other favorite ladies...
Belinda Carlisle, Bessie Smith, Alison Goldfrapp, Ann Wilson, Laura Nyro, Loretta Lynn, Madonna, Patti LaBelle, Nina Simone, Rickie Lee Jones, Siouxsie Sioux, Suzi Quatro, Tina Turner, and Tristen.

And Tori Amos' first 5 albums...

FuzzyPlum · #14 02-28-2015, 02:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sorcerer999

In order of "obsession"...

3. Sade

Ah yes. One of the most under-rated artists of all time.
A voice as smooth as silk.

Rod~A~Little · #15 02-28-2015, 03:59 PM

My main Femme Fatales!

Stevie Nicks
Johnette Napolitano
Pat Benatar
Ann Wilson
Annie Lennox

...and many more, but these are the ones I find myself listening to the most!