200 Greatest Female Vocalists (#200-#181)

Submitted by MusicNerd on Wed, 11/21/2007 - 06:16
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  1. 200. Sheryl Crow : Crow is certainly one of the better examples of a no frills singer. She doesn't embelish every note with some awkward melismatic approach, or shout the lyric across. A few would argue she avoids that approach because she isn't able to accomplish those feats, which is rooted in truth. However Crow's honest approach is what makes her vocals noteworthy, and her phrasing allows the lyric to shine.
  2. Listen to: "Strong Enough"
  3. If you like her, try: Shelby Lynne, later Liz Phair, or Shawn Colvin.
  6. 199. Anne Murray : What is amazing about Anne Murray is her unique ability to carve out an indescribable place in music history, by being distinctly middle of the road. For some artists that may seem insulting, but to do it with the grace and dignity of Anne Murray should be seen positively. Never country enough really for country nor rock enough for even soft rock, Murray sits outside classification by straddling that thin line between the two. Despite changing tastes she still remains one of the most consistent singers out there, her beautifully simple voice as intriguing as ever.
  7. Listen to: "You Needed Me"
  8. If you like her, try: KT Oslin, Phoebe Snow, or Crystal Gale
  11. 198. Madeleine Peyroux : An odd mixture of influences meeting at the crossroads of Edith Piaf, Patsy Cline, and most certainly Billie Holiday, Peyroux has a unique old school flare for a modern artist. At times the resemblance to each of the three singers is a little unnerving, as though a recording from the dead has been found. However Peyroux perfected the same thing that made each of those women connected yet vastly different, phrasing. It is her uncanny ability to fall perfectly into the space created naturally by the music that elevates her to a class all her own. Rooted in the past, Peyroux breathes new life into the future of the torch song.
  12. Listen to: "I'm Alright"
  13. If you like her, try: Billie Holiday, Edith Piaf, or Patsy Cline
  16. 197. Ann Peebles : Memphis remains one of the preeminent cities for music within the United States, being most notably home Sun Records and Stax records. However Hi Records managed to carve a name out for itself on the popularity of Al Green and Ann Peebles. Of the 1970s soul singers Peebles often stands in the top tier. It was her performance of "I Can't Stand The Rain" that showcased her gritty soul, and reserved power. Others may have covered it (and in Missy Elliot's case sampled) later, but Peebles is the definitive version.
  17. Listen to: "I Can't Stand the Rain"
  18. If you like her, try: Tina Turner, Gladys Knight, or Mavis Staples
  21. 196. Madonna : What Madonna lacks in technical skill, she makes up for in charisma and emotion. Like everything connected to Madonna, nothing about her voice stays the same from record to record. Often hidden behind electronic beats or dance grooves, it is the rare ballad where Madonna can prove she has the vocal ability to handle a lyric. It is that versatility that keeps Madonna reinvented, and though not taking to the heavens in a high note, she has created a world in which that is not a necessary tool. Some would say to a fault, others would disagree. Whichever side of the coin a listener falls on, Madonna is Madonna.
  22. Listen to: "Live To Tell"
  23. If you like her, try: Kylie Minogue, early Cyndi Lauper, or Paula Abdul
  26. 195. Carly Simon : Within seconds of hearing Carly Simon sing, you know its her. No matter what style she may be singing in, the tone of her voice is instantly recognizable. Arguably that can be seen as a bad thing, but in the case of Simon it is excusable because of how good it sounds. Simon, even when singing soft, has a hard edge to her voice. Not an edge in the sense of Janis Joplin, but in a way unique to Simon herself, seemingly powerful without being apparent.
  27. Listen to: "Let The River Run"
  28. If you like her, try: Carole King, Sheryl Crow, Vonda Shepard
  31. 194. Shirley Manson (Garbage) : Oddly Manson, Carly Simon (#195), Madonna (#196), and Sheryl Crow (#200) all have a linking factor, each have recorded the theme song for a James Bond film (the queen of the bond theme song is still to come). However easy comparisons end there. Manson, the frontwoman of Alternative Rock band Garbage, is the successor to her idol Debbie Harry. Yet Manson came along in a post-Nirvana world, so where Debbie Harry's vocal style was full of sass and sex, Manson uses angst and intimidation. That may be the ticket to her success.
  32. Listen to: "Stupid Girl"
  33. If you like her, try: Debbie Harry, early Alanis Morissette, or Kelli Dayton
  36. 193. Faith Hill : Many people tend to get lost in the beauty of Faith Hill to realize that she created some of the finest Country-Pop records in music. Even more overlooked is that she stands as one of the great female vocalists of the genre. In fact by the turn of the century Hill was proving she could belt herself into territory often reserved for Pop divas.
  37. Listen To: "Breathe"
  38. If you like her, try: Shania Twain, Martina McBride, or Trisha Yearwood
  41. 192. Gal Costa : The smooth stylings of Bossa Nova had a number of leading ladies from Brazil, Astrud Gilberto being the one who garnered the most international fame. However behind Gilberto there stands Gal Costa. Costa remains one of the prominent faces of Bossa Nova, and a music she helped to popularize Tropicalia. Her light tone, with its distinct jazz phrasing has helped to showcase that Jazz, while an American foundation is a music for the global community.
  42. Listen to: "Baby"
  43. If you like her, try: Astrud Gilberto, Elis Regina, or Flora Purim
  46. 191. Kelly Clarkson : Talent shows have been pools for great singers for decades, Ella Fitzgerald and Sarah Vaughan were both winners at the Apollo Theatre for example. American Idol was a talent show on a grand stage. It's first winner, Clarkson, has proven to be a mainstay of the charts since she won the contest. However Clarkson is a uniquely gifted vocalist, with a vocal range only surpassed by her power. Surprisingly with that power Clarkson has shown a range of versatility. Her pool of influences may hint why, with both Mariah Carey and Reba McEntire among them. Clarkson's voice can take her anywhere, it is where she wants to go that will determine the outcome.
  47. Listen to: "Because Of You"
  48. If you like her, try: Christina Aguilera, Pink, or Pat Benatar
  51. 190. P!nk : There is a a good reason Alecia Moore decided to use an exclamation mark in her stage name P!nk, her voice. That rough tone with its ability to go from purr to roar in a split second has defined P!nk the last few years. Few people remember that she started as a convincing R&B newcomer. Whatever caused the switch was a warm welcome, and P!nk continues to take the path less traveled. Along that chosen path P!nk is becoming one of the most noteworthy vocalists of the day.
  52. Listen to: "Dear Mr. President"
  53. If you like her, try: Linda Perry, Melissa Etheridge, or Kelly Clarkson
  56. 189. Gillian Welch : Welch's earthy mountain voice has suited her brand of roots music perfectly. Constantly on the outskirts of the mainstream Welch became more widely known (by voice if not by name) when she contributed to the soundtrack of "O Brother Where Art Thou". It is in Welch's ability to superbly express roots music that puts her in a division all her own. Add to that her ability to add new material to music that existed decades before she did and you have one of the great modern Folk singers.
  57. Listen to: "Annabelle"
  58. If you like her, try: Alison Krauss, Joan Baez, or Hazel Dickens
  61. 188. Tanya Tucker : It's hard to believe that barely into her teens Tanya Tucker would be singing songs about a 41 year old woman called Delta Dawn or love at the end of life. It is even more astonishing that she did it in such a believable way. Tucker certainly defined the term old soul. Time has shown its impact on her voice, it is a little more raspy a little deeper, but her phrasing and emotion are intact. Not bad for a woman who, at the age of 49, has recorded in four decades.
  62. Listen To: "Delta Dawn"
  63. If you like her, try: Shania Twain, Bonnie Tyler, or Lorrie Morgan
  66. 187. Janet Jackson : Ms. Jackson if you are nasty comes from a(n) (in)famous family. All of her siblings have at some time appeared on a record, to varying degrees of success. However it is Janet who challenges Michael's throne the most. Born in the era of Madonna, Janet emphasizes the physical aspect of her music. Yet it is in her R&B roots that she shines. She has a sweet soft tone reminscent of Diana Ross, who built her career on hitting the right note not necessarily the biggest. What makes Janet even more impressive is her ability to tap into the harder edge of her voice in songs like "Black Cat", showcasing the strong influence Michael has had over her music. What ultimately sets her apart from those like her isn't the beat of the song, but the talent of her vocal instrument.
  67. Listen to: "Anytime, Anyplace"
  68. If you like her, try: Diana Ross, Aaliyah, or Tweet
  71. 186. Gwen Stefani (No Doubt) : Oozing sex appeal Gwen Stefani's excited whiny vocals helped to define the 1990s. It was her brassy way of delivering a lyric that helped build on the Ska revival that had been forming in the music world. Stefani's energized blasts lifted No Doubt to the global stage. Nowadays she is solo, and her vocals cap what may be looked at as some of the most perfect Pop music of this decade. All that from a singer who stated she was just a girl.
  72. Listen To: "Spiderwebs"
  73. If you like her, try: Monique Powell, Madonna, or Debbie Harry
  76. 185. Susan Tedeschi : If Bonnie Raitt ever gives up her crown, the best succesor may be Susan Tedeschi. Her mix of smooth and rough vocals and her firm understanding of the Blues has made her one of the stars of the genre's modern sound. Her ability to shout shows her chops but her substance is in her smooth transition from rough to gentle. There may be no better example that great Blues women will continue on the traditions laid down by those like Bessie Smith, Ma Rainey, and Ida Cox.
  77. Listen To: "Mama He Treats Your Daughter Mean"
  78. If you like her,try: Bonnie Raitt, Joss Stone, or Shemekia Copeland
  81. 184. Mary Weiss (The Shangri-Las) : The empress of the sounds of teenage pain, Mary Weiss stands to be one of the most potent of the Girl Group singers. The Supremes were glossy, the Shirelles dreamy, and Martha & the Vandellas were gritty, but it was the Shangri-La's who had a monopoly on the rough girl sound. Weiss had a yearn in her voice, and the fantastic slow build up of her vocals to some great climactic finish just embellished that attribute even more. Every few years it seems someone rediscovers the Shangri-Las (Amy Winehouse anyone?), but it is the original Mary Weiss who defines the sound.
  82. Listen to: "Remember Walking In The Sand"
  83. If you like her, try: Lesley Gore, Ronnie Spector, or Amy Winehouse
  86. 183. Tarja Turunen (Nightwish) : By some weird twist of fate a woman with a voice fit for the world of New Age music emerged as the frontwoman of a Metal band. Luckily it worked, and Tarja Turunen graced Metal with an angelic presence. In the Finnish singer Opera meets Metal, Metal singers have always been praised as having far reaching near Operatic ranges, but Tarja actually does. Now out of Nightwish (leaving a huge space for newcomer Anette Olzen to fill) Tarja seems to have distanced herself slighty from the Metal scene, and for her the sky is the limit.
  87. Listen to: "I Walk Alone"
  88. If you like her, try: Sharon den Adel, Amy Lee, or Cristina Scabbia
  91. 182. Arlene Smith (The Chantels) : Doo Wop carved out its special place in Rock'N'Roll history on the strength of a handful of groups. Near the top of that small list is the all female group of The Chantels, and lead singer Arlene Smith was among the finest vocalists (of either gender) of the period. Her high pitched voice was framed perfectly by the other Chantels and the desperate pleading in her voice became a staple of the Girl Group sound to immediately follow her. Often overlooked, Smith is a treasure to those who look into the glorious history of Doo Wop.
  92. Listen To: "Maybe"
  93. If you like her, try: Shirley Alston, Judy Craig, or Sandy Posey
  96. 181. Ida Cox : Classic Female Blues, today it is a sales gimmick. Decades ago, it was the freshest and most popular music around. The list of great Classic Female Blues singers could be a list onto itself, but Ida Cox would place high near the top. It is her rolling voice that helped put the music on the map, and as time goes by the sound still seems fresh. The few recordings the average person can get their hands on have that decayed sound that most music of that time suffers, but with the Blues that sound adds charm. Cox didn't need that charm, since even muffled recordings showcase what her sassy voice could do, and she has remained an icon of the period.
  97. Listen to: "Wild Women (Don't Have The Blues)"
  98. If you like her, try: Victoria Spivey, Bessie Smith, Sippie Wallace
  101. Still to come!
  102. Abbey Lincoln
  103. Abida Parveen
  104. Alanis Morissette
  105. Alberta Hunter
  106. Alicia Keys
  107. Alison Krauss
  108. Amalia Rodrigues
  109. Amy Lee (Evanescence)
  110. Ani DiFranco
  111. Anita Baker
  112. Anita O'Day
  113. Annie Lennox (The Eurythmics)
  114. Annie Ross
  115. Ann Wilson (Heart)
  116. Aretha Franklin
  117. Audra McDonald
  118. Astrud Gilberto
  119. Barbara Cook
  120. Barbra Streisand
  121. Bernadette Peters
  122. Bessie Smith
  123. Beth Orton
  124. Bette Midler
  125. Betty Buckley
  126. Betty Carter
  127. Beyonce (Destiny's Child)
  128. Big Mama Thornton
  129. Big Maybelle
  130. Billie Holiday
  131. Bjork
  132. Blossom Dearie
  133. Bonnie Raitt
  134. Brenda Lee
  135. Carmen McRae
  136. Carol Channing
  137. Cassandra Wilson
  138. Cass Elliot (The Mama's & The Papa's)
  139. CeCe Winans
  140. Celia Cruz
  141. Celine Dion
  142. Chaka Khan (Rufus)
  143. Cher
  144. Chris Connor
  145. Christina Aguilera
  146. Chrissie Hynde (The Pretenders)
  147. Clara Ward
  148. Connie Francis
  149. Connie Smith
  150. Cyndi Lauper
  151. Darlene Love
  152. Debbie Harry (Blondie)
  153. Des'ree
  154. Diana Krall
  155. Diana Ross (The Supremes)
  156. Dinah Shore
  157. Dinah Washington
  158. Dionne Warwick
  159. Dolly Parton
  160. Dolores O'Riordan (The Cranberries)
  161. Donna Summer
  162. Dusty Springfield
  163. Eartha Kitt
  164. Edith Piaf
  165. Ella Fitzgerald
  166. Emmylou Harris
  167. Enya
  168. Esther Phillips
  169. Ernestine Anderson
  170. Erykah Badu
  171. Ethel Merman
  172. Ethel Waters
  173. Etta James
  174. Eva Cassiday
  175. Florence Ballard (The Supremes)
  176. Gladys Knight (The Pips)
  177. Gloria Estefan (The Miami Sound Machine)
  178. Grace Slick (Jefferson Airplane)
  179. Iris Dement
  180. Irma Thomas
  181. Janis Joplin (Big Brother & the Holding Company)
  182. Jennifer Holiday
  183. Jeri Southern
  184. Jewel
  185. Jill Scott
  186. Joan Armatrading
  187. Joan Baez
  188. Joan Jett
  189. Joni Mitchell
  190. Jo Stafford
  191. Judy Collins
  192. Judy Garland
  193. Julie London
  194. Julie Andrews
  195. June Christy
  196. Karen Carpenter (The Carpenters)
  197. Kate Bush
  198. Kathy Mattea
  199. kd lang
  200. KoKo Taylor
  201. Kristen Chenoweth
  202. Laura Nyro
  203. Lauryn Hill (The Fugees)
  204. Lavern Baker
  205. LeAnn Rimes
  206. Leann Womack
  207. Lena Horne
  208. Linda Jones
  209. Linda Ronstadt
  210. Loreena McKennit
  211. Loretta Lynn
  212. Mabel Mercer
  213. Mahalia Jackson
  214. Ma Rainey
  215. Mariah Carey
  216. Mariza
  217. Martha Reeves (Martha & the Vandellas)
  218. Martina McBride
  219. Mary J. Blige
  220. Mary Martin
  221. Mary Travers (Peter,Paul,& Mary)
  222. Mary Wells
  223. Mavis Staples
  224. Melba Moore
  225. Melissa Etheridge
  226. Minnie Ripperton
  227. Miriam Makeba
  228. Najma
  229. Nana Mouskouri
  230. Nancy Wilson
  231. Natalie Cole
  232. Natalie Maines (The Dixie Chicks)
  233. Nina Simone
  234. Norah Jones
  235. Pat Benatar
  236. Patsy Cline
  237. Patti Austin
  238. Patti LaBelle (LaBelle)
  239. Patti Lupone
  240. Patti Page
  241. Patti Smith
  242. Patty Loveless
  243. Pearl Bailey
  244. Peggy Lee
  245. Odetta
  246. Ofra Haza
  247. Oleta Adams
  248. Queen Latifah
  249. Reba McEntire
  250. Rickie Lee Jones
  251. Roberta Flack
  252. Ronnie Gilbert (The Weavers)
  253. Ronnie Spector (The Ronettes)
  254. Rosemary Clooney
  255. Ruth Brown
  256. Sade
  257. Sandy Denny
  258. Sarah Brightman
  259. Sarah McLachlan
  260. Sarah Vaughan
  261. Shakira
  262. Shirley Bassey
  263. Shirley Caeser
  264. Shirley Horn
  265. Shobha Gurtu
  266. Sinead O'Connor
  267. Sister Rosetta Tharpe
  268. Stevie Nicks (Fleetwood Mac)
  269. Tammy Wynette
  270. Teena Marie
  271. Tina Turner
  272. Toni Braxton
  273. Tori Amos
  274. Tracy Chapman
  275. Trisha Yearwood
  276. Umm Kulthum
  277. Vanessa Williams
  278. Whitney Houston
  279. Wynona Judd (The Judds)
  280. Yma Sumac
  281. Yolanda Adams
Author Comments: 

Vocalists 200-181 have placed. The vocalists will be broken up into groups of 20 to make it easier to read. Vocalists names appear in bold, and have a tiny blurb, a recommended track, and 3 similar female artists to listen to if you like the ranked act. All genres of Popular Music welcome, please comment. The list can and will change according to advice and recommendations!

sonicfox06/08/2008

Please add Alison Goldfrapp to your list. I think she definitely deserves a spot...or at least could easily replace a few of the ones here (IMHO, of course!).

rock'n'roll11/10/2008

that my friend is an impressive list, you've got some of the great ones on there e.g P!NK and madonna, i'm hoping you mean early madonna though and also i don't think i spotted mariah carey, i may be wrong but there's one hell of a voice

MusicNerd12/18/2008

Rock'N'Roll she is still to come! She is in the list of 180 names still coming. I kinda left this list for a while, and plan on starting back up tonight listing the next 20 or 40!

irmac07/11/2009

Tarja Turunen I just love her and Tori Amos. Nice list can't wait to see more...:)