Best pop female vocalists
 

Since folks are getting their undies in a twist, here's one to cover this! Best female singers...w/wo band, limit to pop music (folk, rock etc...no opera):
1) Janis Joplin
2) Joan Baez
3) Billie Holiday
4) Linda Ronstadt
5) Judy Collins
6) Aretha Franklin
7) Cher
8) Bette Midler
9) Tina Turner
10) Big Momma Thorton

Consider my undies untwisted -- I'm sure Pete will be thrilled too :)

I will just stick to contemporary folk/pop musicians because otherwise my list would be way too long as all I really grew up listening to were female musicians. I would highly reccommend anyone on this list that you're unfamiliar with -- most fall in the folky-pop acoustic set

1. Catie Curtis (the reason I play guitar at all)
2. Edie Carey
3. Anne Heaton
4. Deb Talan/The Weepies (her 'band' -- with Steve Tannen)
5. Jennifer Marks
6. Sam Shaber
7. Jenny Bruce
8. Natasha Bedingfield (for a 'pop' artist, she is actually INCREDIBLE live)
9. Paula Cole

and last but not least....

10. Meg Allison -- who is currently competing on Nashville Star on usa network on Thursday nights. One of the best, and nicest independant musicians I've ever met. And she's cute. :)

Norah Jones
Lisa Stansfield

1) Jennifer Holliday
2) Gladys Knight
3) Tina Turner
4) Patti LaBelle
5) Chaka Khan
6) Ella Fitzgerald
7) Annie Lennox
8) Bonnie Tyler
9) Judy Garland
10) Lena Horne

Jennifer Husdon is fastly making her way onto my list. Amazing voice... amazing range... amazing power.

Jennifer Hudson is overrated

I can name 10 other American Idols who were much better

Kelly and Katherine come to mind already

I love Annie Lennox too! Nice list!

I'm really bad at making lists that have rankings...and I agree with a lot of the names thrown out already...but I would add...
the Indigo Girls (as a duo they aren't really a solo...but they aren't really a band either:confused: )
Tori Amos
Sarah McGlauglin (sp?)
Pat Benetar

A female artist I highly recommend is Dana Glover. Check out her first cd... amazing songs, amazing voice. You wont be disappointed.

I second the mention of Sarah McLachlan...I would also mention Melissa Etheridge, Alison Krauss, Aimee Mann, Grace Slick, Stevie Nix, Angie Hart and Amber Benson

Honestly I like every one of those listed above but my God...

KATE BUSH

She has the best voice I have ever heard. And Elton John agrees with me.

Enya is of course off the list because she is far too poppy and way too many old folks like her and her instrumentals got way to popular unlike her first stuff. This is what I find interesting because of the drive to find the obscure instead of just breaking down and admitting yes this girl is damn good but too many people like her.

So now I ask quite sincerely, has anyone heard Kate Bush or is she just a little too British and too weird? So that I am doing exactly what I stated above...

Oh yes. I cant take Janis Joplin. I know there is a lot of feeling in what she sings but her voice kills me. Yet Tina Turner is captivating... I even like the Thunderdome song.

I actually think Christina Aquillaria (sp?) has an exceptional voice when used correctly, not that Dirrrrrty wasn't a great song. LOL

Kate Bush the early days with little back up. A very weird lady, but brimming with talent. Later... she got better.

Sang a few songs with Peter Gabriel, Annie Lennox... but mostly her own weird stuff. Army Dreamers is a great song. Sommer you listen to the lyrics in ARmy Dreamers and you like... I guarantee.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I6BnMCugk2A

ewwwww! :eek:
Her voice is better than most of her mainstream music makes her sound though.

1) Janis Joplin
2) Patsy Cline
3) Deborah Harry
4) Mariah Carey
5) Whitney Houston
6) Patti Smyth
7) Alison Krauss
8) Chrissie Hynde
9) Joan Baez
10) Debbie Gibson

OK...I listened! I do in fact have her The Dreaming CD, I knew that voice as soon as I heard it....unique!

1. Allison Krauss (I know you said "pop" but this lady has the best voice EVER in my opinion)

2. Kelly Clarkson (girl can sing any kind of music and make it sound good)

3. Norah Jones

4. Jewel

Those are my top four. I am forgetting someone I know.

Buffy, I agree with you on Allison Krauss. That women is fantastic. Her voice is just so perfect. Truly a gifted and unique talent.

Best female pop vocalist..? Ever? And no mentions for
DUSTY SPRINGFIELD?

Unique cracks it on the noggin. Most of these ladies you can kinda see who influenced them. This lady just came out of the blue with her own very weird style but captivating for me and apparently most of Britian. But as I read a bit further about her I find she never caught on here, while she is considered one of Britians top female pop artists of all time. I think she is probably in an asylum by now.