Chics We Dig In Music

After a recent discussion about female recording artists, I decided to form a list of the top women solo artists based on quality music, contribution to the art and how these artists might have inspired each other, along with suggestions as to some newer artists that wouldn’t be here without them. They are all pioneers in their own right and have paved the way for all types of women vocal artists everywhere. Here’s the list of chics we dig in music.

 

1. Carly Simon – Carly Simon wins in the crossover category of folk, rock, and a little bit of jazz in her music style. I believe that she’s been a great inspiration for other women artists, such as Sheryl Crow. I’m still mystified by “Your So Vain” and its possible connection to Mick Jagger. She’ll never tell.

 

2. Janis Joplin – Pioneered women’s rock and allowed other singers to sing without inhibition. Rockers such as Joan Jett, Melissa Etheridge and Joan Osbourne can thank Joplin for not having a shell and for being willing to belt it out and, most importantly, not caring.

 

3. Melissa Etheridge – Without Janis Joplin I’m not sure there would be a Melissa Etheridge, and without Etheridge there wouldn’t be any Alanis Morrissette or even, dare I say, Avril Lavigne. Etheridge’s unmistakable sound and vocal range should also make her the envy of artists like Joss Stone.

 

4. Carole King – One word: Tapestry. That’s the album everyone should have in their collection. Along with Carly Simon, Joni Mitchell, Marianne Faithfull, and Emmylou Harris, she broke ground with folk music infused with a little jazz and a little bit of rock and, in the case of Harris, a little bit of country/bluegrass.

 

5. Chrissie Hynde – Great music from guitar-strumming Chrissie Hynde emerged when she was part of the band The Pretenders. Possible influences on Chrissie Hynde might have been Patti Smith and Grace Slick. Pat Benatar and Hynde emerged around the same time and could very well have influenced each other.

 

6. Debbie Harry – Lipstick and colored hair. Cyndi Lauper, Pink, and Gwen Stefani can thank this groundbreaker for jumping across the lines of regularity and developing a signature look. Bjork might never have dared to be as original as she was without the influence of someone like Debbie Harry.

 

7. Annie Lennox – No one sings a ballad better than Annie Lennox. Without her there wouldn’t be any reason to have had a Lillith Fair for all singers female. Those possibly influenced by her? Sarah McLaughlin, Lisa Loeb, and Paula Cole. Lump Lennox comrades Kate Bush and Suzanne Vega in the Annie Lennox’s category of possible mutual influences.

 

8. Patti Smith – Patti Smith is a rocker’s rocker. One might be close to categorizing her impression on female rock singers in the same category as Janis Joplin. Amy Winehouse and Joan Jett are here because of the work Patti Smith did in the area of female rockers. Others that might have been influenced by Smith? Stevie Nicks and Ann and Nancy Wilson of Heart.

9. Tina Turner – Without Tina Turner’s unique voice and her hip shaking pop to rock style there would be no Beyonce, Rihanna, or any other girly pop dance singers for that matter (are you listening Spice Girls?). Cher and Grace Jones are also possibly influenced by the work of Tina Turner.

 

10. Aimee Mann – The former ‘Til Tuesday (remember the song “Voices Carry” 80’s fans?) singer’s ominous folk style and her overall vocal range has me hooked. She can thank the likes of Carole King for paving the way. Without Aimee Mann acts like Liz Phair might not have gotten off the ground. Tori Amos might also be a possible influence on Aimee Mann and vice versa.