Top Female Vocalists

[SuiteMadameBlue]

Can't forget the women of Rock

I don't see Zan's name on the list, but it should be added

Criteria: - These Modern Rock Female vocalists are rated by their ability, in their prime,
for vocal range, power, versatility, uniqueness, ability to convey emotion, and lasting popularity.
(This list is comprised of female vocalists generally considered hard rock, soft rock, punk, alternative,
indie, new wave, folk rock, psychedelic rock, and similar sub-genres. It does not contain female vocalists
generally considered pop, country, blues, new age, soul, R&B, hip-hop, and similar sub-genres.)

http://www.digitaldreamdoor.com/pages/b ... ts-fe.html


1. Janis Joplin
2. Grace Slick (Jefferson Airplane)
3. Ann Wilson (Heart)
4. Stevie Nicks (Fleetwood Mac)
5. Tina Turner
6. Pat Benatar
7. Debbie Harry (Blondie)
8. Annie Lennox (Eurythmics)
9. Kim Gordon (Sonic Youth)
10. Joni Mitchell
11. Chrissie Hynde (The Pretenders)
12. Patti Smith
13. Melissa Etheridge
14. Bjork
15. Nico (Velevet Underground)
16. Alanis Morrisette
17. P. J. Harvey
18. Kate Bush
19. Tarja Turunen (Nightwish)
20. Ani Difranco
21. Delores O'Riordan (Cranberries)
22. Shirley Manson (Garbage)
23. Patty Smyth (Scandal)
24. Rickie Lee Jones
25. Sandy Denny
26. Martha Davis (Motels)
27. Fiona Apple
28. Meredith Brooks
29. Christina Scabbia (Lacuna Coil)
30. Tanya Donelly (Belly)
31. Liz Phair
32. Terri Nunn (Berlin)
33. Alannah Myles
34. Sheryl Crow
35. Exene Cervanka (X)
36. Suzi Quatro
37. Suzanne Vega
38. Debora Iyall (Romeo Void)
39. Kim Deal
40. Kat Bjelland (Babes In Toyland)
41. Christine McVie (Fleetwood Mac)
42. Lita Ford
43. Joan Jett (Blackhearts)
44. Siouxsie Sioux (Siouxsie & the Banshees)
45. Skin (Skunk Anansie)
46. Brody Armstrong (The Distillers)
47. Karen O (Yeah Yeah Yeahs)
48. Gilly Smyth (Gong)
49. Kate Pierson (B52's)
50. Jann Arden
51. Gwen Stefani (No Doubt)
52. Mary Margaret O'Hara
53. Lana Lane
54. Alison Moyet (Yaz)
55. Nina Gordon (Veruca Salt, Solo)
56. Maggie Bell
57. Annie Haslam(Renaissance)
58. Corinne Drewery (Swing Out Sister)
59. Beth Gibbons (Portishead)
60. Nina Hagen
61. Susanna Hoffs (Bangles)
62. Mia Zappata (Gits)
63. Nancy Wilson (Heart)
64. Melanie
65. Shawn Colvin
66. Doro Pesch (Warlock)
67. Jane Siberry
68. Nanci Griffith
69. Patty Griffin
70. Amanda Marshall
71. Joss Stone
72. Rita Coolidge
73. Linda Perry(4 Non Blondes)
74. Sas Jordan
75. Hope Sandoval (Mazzy Star)
76. Carrie Akre (Hammerbox)
77. Kristen Hersh (Throwing Muses)
78. Harriet Wheeler (The Sundays)
79. Lee Aaron
80. Sarah Shannon (Velocity Girl)
81. Amy Lee (Evanescence)
82. Signe Anderson (Jefferson Airplane, '65-'66)
83. Holly McNarland
84. Dorothy Moskowitz (United States Of America)
85. Jonnette Napolitano (Concrete Blonde)
86. Katrina Chester (Luxx)
87. Judy Henske
88. Annette Peacock
89. Maria Azevedo (Battery)
90. Patti Santos (It's A Beautiful Day)
91. Laetitia Sadier (Stereolab)
92. Paula Cole
93. Jennifer Herrema (Royal Trux)
94. Margo Timmins (Cowboy Junkies)
95. Kim Richey
96. Jennifer Warnes
97. Candice Night (Blackmore's Night)
98. Courtney Love (Hole)
99. Maria Mckee (Lone Justice, solo)
100. Avril Lavigne

[jrnyman28]

Ann Wilson
Janis
Shirley Manson
Pat Benatar
Melissa Etheridge
Alison Moyet
(Glad to see) Amy Lee



Fiona
Sinead

[Zan]

Can't forget the women of Rock

I don't see Zan's name on the list, but it should be added

Now you're just sucking up!
(Not that there's anything wrong with that - and seeing as how they seemed to just list ALL female vocalists, it isn't too far off base!)

And No Madonna or Britney? hahaha...

OK, here I go:

Eva Cassidy
Karen Carpender
Anne Wilson
Christina Aguilara (hate to admit it)
Bonnie Raitt
Sarah McLaughlin
Sheryl Crow
Melissa Etheridge
Annie Lennox
Allison Kraus
Alanis Morissette
Whitney Houston
Grace Jones
Janis Joplin

[Soloud]

And some of mine are:

Anneke van Giersbergen (The Gathering)
Julliette Kiss (Trance of Mine)
Marcela Bovio (she guested on an Ayreon cd)
Sharon den Adel (Within Temptation)
Wilson sisters (Heart)
Christina Scabbia (Lacuna Coil)
Rachel Jones (Karnataka)

[Abitaman]

My top 5

Stevie Nicks
Pat Benatar
S. Crow
Ann Wilson
Melissa Etheridge (use to be my faovrite, but since her coming out, her music has taken a back seat.)

ERIC

[Greg]

1. Ann Wilson
2. Amy Lee
3. Celine Deion
4. Cher
5. Pat Benatar
6. Sheryl Crow
7. Sarah Mclachlan
8. Gwen Stefani
9. Grace Slick
10. Tina Turner
11. Avirl Lavinge

[bugsymalone]

Rock voices:

Joni Mitchell (ok, she is more folk, but one of my faves)
Joan Baez (ditto)
Ann Wilson
Grace Slick
Melissa Etheridge
Martha Davis
Karen Carpenter (Amazing voice!! Not rock, but who cares?)
Terri Nunn
Lita Ford
Pat Benatar

Good all around powerhouse voices:

Christina Aguilera (uck!!)
Kelly Clarkson
Joss Stone

Honorable mention: ZAN!!!

Bugsy

[DarrenUK]

Stevie Nicks
Ann Wilson
Pat Benetar
Zan
Froy

[styxmike]

MINE ARE -
AMY LEE (OHHHH)
KATE BUSH (OOHH)
STEVIE NICKS
SHARON DEN ADEL (OOHH WHAT A VOICE) WITHIN TEMPTATION
CANDICE NIGHT

DARREN UK wrote
Stevie Nicks
Ann Wilson
Pat Benetar
Zan
Froy
NOW THATS FUNNY

[jrnyman28]

SHARON DEN ADEL (OOHH WHAT A VOICE) WITHIN TEMPTATION

I like the music but I have not heard anything to suggest she is a very strong singer. Her voice sounds thin to me. Maybe I need to pull out some more of their CDs because I seem to keep listening to Silent Force.

[Soloud]

SHARON DEN ADEL (OOHH WHAT A VOICE) WITHIN TEMPTATION

I like the music but I have not heard anything to suggest she is a very strong singer. Her voice sounds thin to me. Maybe I need to pull out some more of their CDs because I seem to keep listening to Silent Force.

Actually I think you are right on target. It was on Silent Force that I think she finally sounded better than average. First few cds before that have some good songs but she just didnt seem to grab attention

Another good singer in that style is Tarja from Nightwish

[NealIsGod]

I love the first three No Doubt albums. Gwen's voice on Tragic Kingdom blew me away. It's a shame she had to go in the pop/dance direction.

[jrnyman28]

Another good singer in that style is Tarja from Nightwish

Too operatic for me.

[jrnyman28]

I love the first three No Doubt albums. Gwen's voice on Tragic Kingdom blew me away. It's a shame she had to go in the pop/dance direction.

Ya know, I am still enjoying what she is doing. And at least she is doing that on solo material. Hopefully No Doubt won't have that sound if/when they record a new CD.

What I hate is that I actually get a kick outta Hollaback Girl....B-A-N-A-N-A-S!!

[SuiteMadameBlue]

Here's my top 10 female vocalists:

Pat Benatar
Alanis Morissette
Ann Wilson
Gwen Stefani
Chrissie Hynde
Kim Wilde
Terri Nunn - she still sounds & looks great today
Lita Ford - great hard rockin' voice
Kelly Clarkson - kids play the cd all the time
Karen Carpenter (good one Bugsy & Zan, one of the best voices ever)


I love No Doubt!!!

jrnyman28 says

What I hate is that I actually get a kick outta Hollaback Girl....B-A-N-A-N-A-S!!

LOL, I can't believe you admitted that on this board, just kidding. They play that video over and over on VH1 in the morning. I feel like getting my old cheerleading uniform on and dancing when it comes on - LOL Just kidding for those who just took a sip of soda thinking of me in a cheerleading uniform


Zan says:

Now you're just sucking up!

You seriously have a GREAT voice!!!!

[jrnyman28]

LOL, I can't believe you admitted that on this board, just kidding.

Me either!

They play that video over and over on VH1 in the morning.

Fortunately I only hear it occassionally so it hasn't been killed for me yet.

I feel like getting my old cheerleading uniform on and dancing when it comes on - LOL

I could see that!
It is kinda of like this generations "Mickey" by Toni Basil...

[Zan]

Zan says:

Now you're just sucking up!

You seriously have a GREAT voice!!!!

Thanks, babe! I do appreciate the compliments, as weird as they are to take. Tho, I've promised myself never to stop singing until I can sing as well as Eva Cassidy. Now that girl could sing! wow...

[DarrenUK]

David Cassidy's Gran ?

[onestilllearning]

No listing of Todd Sucherman in thge drummer section..http://www.digitaldreamdoor.com/pages/b ... mmers.html
I wonder how these list are compiled, what one person or group of people decide and what are thier credentials ? Styx individuallualy and as a group never got due respect from thr music media. Why is that (maybe this should be a new thread) after 3 consecuative platinum albums they are still not accepted by the media?

[classicstyxfan]

Where's Christine McVie ? if Stevie Nicks is #4, how can Christine not even make the top 100 ?

Do a run down of Fleetwood Mac's greatest hits....a bunch of em featured CMcV on vocals.....

a HUGE oversight, imo !

[Zan]

David Cassidy's Gran ?

http://www.npr.org/ramfiles/asc/asc14.cassidy.asx

This is the only audio clip I can find that's longer than 30 seconds. I have a few on file if you're interested. LOL

[Ash]

This is a great list and all... but let me ask the unspoken question..... which female vocalists AREN'T on the list.

When you talk top lists and you're dealing with hundreds - everyone after about #25 is the subject of intense debate (and heck for that matter everyone above 25).

However - is it possible for me to take a list seriously that has Courtney Love on it in the top 100? Out of all the female vocalists? That beggs the question - just which females were omitted from this list to where a talentless hack and media whore like Courtney Love can make it?

Say what you want about Avril Lavigne, but as bad has her reputation is to many true rock people - she has 10 times the voice of Courtney Love... I'm just sorry, but it's true.

The list tended to lose it's credibility over this.

Mine:

Ambrosia Parsley - Shivaree
Martha Davis - The Motels
Grace Slick - Starship
Janis Jopplin - even though I don't care much for her music, I respect her talent
Dominguez - Kidney Theives

[SuiteMadameBlue]

Ash, great question

For those who didn't click on the link on my first post, here is more to the list (101-160) from that site. It's just their opinions and they take all emails in consideration, that's why the list keeps changing. A lot of people email them

101. Marianne Faithful
102. Heather Findlay (Mostly Autumn)
103. Dale Krantz (Rossington-Collins Band)
104. Kim Wilde
105. Wendy O. Williams (Plasmatics)
106. Joan Osborne
107. Christina Amphlett (Divinyls)
108. Tara MacLean
109. Carla Bonoff
110. Dominique Durand (Ivy)
111. Jane Jarboe (Swans)
112. Darby Mills (Headpins)
113. Leslie Rankine (Silverfish)
114. Amy Ray (Indigo Girls)
115. Emily Saliers (Indigo Girls)
116. Lynda Stipe (Hetch Hetchy)
117. Jennifer Rush
118. Pamela Moore
119. Dale Bozzio (Missing Persons)
120. Clare Torry (Pink Floyd-DSOTM)
121. Bif Naked
122. Georgia Hubley (Yo La Tengo)
123. Sharon den Adel (Within Temptation)
124. Kelly Hogan (Jody Grind)
125. Sandi Saraya (Saraya)
126. Justine Frischmann (Elastica)
127. Tracey Thorn (Everything But The Girl)
128. Isabel Monteiro (Drugstore)
129. Kirsty Hawkshaw
130. Alison Mosshart (AKA VV of The Kills)
131. Tobey Torres (Snake River Conspiracy)
132. Monique Powell (Save Ferris)
133. Lisa Gerrard (Dead Can Dance)
134. Teena Marie
135. Wendy Waldman
136. Anneli Marian Drecker (Bel Canto)
137. Tairrie B (My Ruin)
138. Mimi Goese (Hugo Largo)
139. Kim Shattuck (The Muffs)
140. Charlotte Martin
141. Louise Post (Veruca Salt)
142. Thalia Zedek (Live Skull)
143. Charlotte Hatherley (Ash)
144. Bonnie Bramlett
145. Melanie Campbell (Burning Brides)
146. Beth Orton
147. Angela Gossgow (Arch Enemy)
148. Dot Allison
149. Jenny Haan (Babe Ruth)
150. Kathleen Hanna (Le Tigre/Bikini Kill)
151. Ida No (Glass Candy & Shattered Theatre)
152. Nina C. Alice (Skew Siskin)
153. Ella Hooper (Killing Heidi)
154. D'Arcy Wretzky
155. Lucia Cafarelli (KMFDM)
156. Sandra Nasic (Guano Apes)
157. Sheila Nicholls
158. Corin Tucker (Sleater-Kinney)
159. Nellie Mckay
160. Suzi Gardner (L7)

[swwskj]

I know this is an 'old' topic, but Fleetwood Mac was blessed with TWO of the select Pantheon of female vocalists. My wife is a Nicks fan, while I am a McVie fan, setting off fights seldom seem outside of the Styx camp.

Scott

[ek88]

Here's the ones I like that are on the list:
Ann Wilson (Heart)
Stevie Nicks (Fleetwood Mac)
Tina Turner
Alanis Morrisette
Patty Smyth (Scandal)
Christine McVie (Fleetwood Mac)
Gwen Stefani (No Doubt)
Susanna Hoffs (Bangles)
Amy Lee (Evanescence)

[Zan]

I know this is an 'old' topic, but Fleetwood Mac was blessed with TWO of the select Pantheon of female vocalists. My wife is a Nicks fan, while I am a McVie fan, setting off fights seldom seem outside of the Styx camp.

Scott

We should have met earler in life, Scott.

Christine can sing circles around Stevie. I can't stand that gravelly, gargly sound! And enough with the lace already. Yeah, you're a witch, we get it.

[sadie65]

I know this is an 'old' topic, but Fleetwood Mac was blessed with TWO of the select Pantheon of female vocalists. My wife is a Nicks fan, while I am a McVie fan, setting off fights seldom seem outside of the Styx camp.

Scott

We should have met earler in life, Scott.

Christine can sing circles around Stevie. I can't stand that gravelly, gargly sound! And enough with the lace already. Yeah, you're a witch, we get it.

Ya mean Stevie one note?! I cannot stand the sound of her voice.

[classicstyxfan]

Ya know, Stevie and Gowan have Much in common...the twirling thing, the lack of singing skill.........