Historically speaking, until the past 20 to 30 years, few self-contained female-dominated artists have conquered the charts. During the Fifties, Wanda Jackson was marketed as a female-Elvis Presley. Since they both dabbled in rockabilly early on in their careers, the similarities ended right there. Unlike “The King,” Ms. Jackson wrote her own music, yet, for some reason, she never became the big star many thought she would eventually become. Her career seemed to be thwarted by sexist views that women just couldn’t rock.
If you look back over the history of rock & roll, you will see the career corpses scattered throughout of female artist who wanted to follow their muse into the male-dominated realm of rock music. Occasionally, one might break through, like Grace Slick (singer), Janis Joplin (singer) or Moe Tucker (drummer), but they were all integrated within bands (Jefferson Airplane, Big Brother & the Holding Company and The Velvet Underground, respectively). However, self-contained bands (meaning they wrote AND played everything) such as The Shaggs, Fanny, The Runaways and Vixen would get very little love during their time period but would go on to become a huge influences in their own rights.
By the time the Nineties rolled around, barriers were beginning to break after the successes of The Go-Go’s, Cyndi Lauper, Madonna, Siouxsie and the Banshees, The Cramps (with GUITARIST Poison Ivy) and The Bangles. Sure, we still had Svengali-led female vocalists popping up like as Chaka Khan, Whitney Houston and Mariah Carey, but “girl” bands are popping up everywhere. Salt-n-Pepa, TLC, Lauryn Hill and Lil’ Kim all popped up from the R&B/Hip Hop community. Grunge and alternative rock had Hole, L7, Veruca Salt and Bratmobile, while Britpop had Elastica. Women were being to become commercial forces in music.
However, when the new millennium rolled in, so did the idea of strong creative women dominating popular music. Immediately 90s acts like rapper/producer Missy Elliott, former teen stars Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera and one-time ska goddess Gwen Stefani all blossomed in the early-Aughts. Now, as the idea that women can rock/rap/write music that is equal to or even better than their current male counterparts is here to stay. Women are the present and future of rock music, in every form of its mutations.
Let’s take a look at my 20 favorites.
20. Ariana Grande (thank u, next, 2019; “Into You,” 2016) Pop, Rock. It never ceases to amaze me when a tiny mite like Grande as a large as hers (much like Pat Benatar and Christina Aguilera before her).
19. P!nk (I’m Not Dead, 2006; “Raise Your Glass,” 2010) Pop, Rock, Pop Punk. I have consistently underestimated P!nk’s greatness as an artist and a vocalist since she began her career as a teen idol. P!nk’s voice is as big as anyone else’s, and her artistic vision is well-grounded in the Nineties grunge sound of 4 Non Blondes.
18. Hayley Williams (Paramore) (After the Laughter, 2017; “Thick Skull,” 2023) Indie Rock, Pop Punk. Yet, another large voice packaged in a tiny body, Ms. Williams makes the music of Paramore jump out from the competition.
17. Billie Eilish (When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?, 2019; “Bury a Friend,” 2019) Indie Rock, Indie Pop. Eilish burst on the scene with her Grammy-winning album When We All Fall Asleep as a fully-developed artist who is flawlessly amalgamating various genres into her very own sound. Indie Rock, Indie Pop.
16. Lizzo (Cuz I Luv You, 2019; “Truth Hurts,” 2017) R&B, Pop, Rock, Hip Hop. The first time I heard Lizzo, without knowing anything about her, she was singing “Juice” on the Tonight Show. I knew immediately that she was from Minneapolis because her sound owed much to Prince. Then, I had that information confirmed. Couple her voice with her musical vision and you have a big star in the making.
15. Dua Lipa (Future Nostalgia, 2020; “Cold Heart” – and Elton John, 2021) Dance, Pop, Rock. This young lady is blessed with model-like looks and a great and unique voice that is as versatile as her artistic vision. While her first two albums are both terrific, I cannot wait to hear #3 since she is reportedly working with pop/rock songwriter/producer/Tame Impala guru Kevin Parker. Sounds like her muse is taking into indie rock territory.
14. HAIM (Este, Danielle & Alana Haim) (Women in Music Pt. III, 2020; “Little of Your Love,” 2017) Pop, Rock. These girls are well-versed in the Classic Rock of the Seventies, especially in Fleetwood Mac. They are one of the few artists today that I get excited to hear new music.
13. Olivia Rodrigo (SOUR, 2021; “Vampire,” 2023) Pop-Punk, Rock, Pop. Ms. Rodrigo’s career has been set up so that she could become the next Taylor Swift in universal popularity. Her songs are tight, and her lyrics have a basic appeal to the angst of teen life which accounts for her initial appeal. The key will be for her music and lyrics to mature along with her age without alienating her fans. Right now, it appears she could travel the Swift/Michael Jackson/Beatles trajectory of maturing artistically with her audience or go down the Prince path of growth over commercial success. I will find her intriguing for that very reason.
12. Brittany Howard (Alabama Shakes, solo) (Boys & Girls – Alabama Shakes, 2012; “What Now” – Brittany Howard, 2023) Rock, Indie Rock. When Ms. Howard and her band Alabama Shakes burst onto the scene, I thought that they were mixing Muscle Shoals/STAX-influenced soul with all of the rock recorded in the famous Muscle Shoals studio (Seger, Skynyrd, Drive-By Truckers). Ms. Howard possesses a voice that sounds influenced by pain and experiences well-beyond her age. Not only is she a great vocalist, she is one of the best guitarists of her and any generation.
11. Charly Bliss (Eva Hendricks) (Young Enough, 2019; “You Don’t Even Know Me Anymore,” 2023) Power Pop, Rock, Indie Rock. Forget what I have said about Weezer being the next Cheap Trick. That mantle belongs to Charly Bliss, newcomers to the field. Eva Hendricks possesses a voice that is very unique making the band sound unique. This band has so much potential to be great.
10. Lana Del Rey (Norman Fucking Rockwell, 2019; “Video Games,” 2011) Indie Rock, Indie Pop, Noir-type Pop. This is not an equality, but to explain Lana Del Rey’s music is to compare it to Chris Isaak or k.d. lang’s Ingenue album, kind of like a noir film set to some mellow yet dark music. This woman’s vocals are strong and unique, able to pull everything together. Back in 2012, I thought she blew her moment with one of the worst SNL performances ever by honing her craft with ever-improving songwriting and emotive singing.
9. Janelle Monáe (The ArchAndroid, 2010; “Dance Apocalyptic,” 2013) R&B, Rock, Pop. This Renaissance woman seems that she could be a big Grammy winner or an Oscar winner if she focused on one branch of entertainment. Thank goodness she does both. Ms. Monáe has a powerful and versatile voice to go along with her Prince-inspired musical talent. Whenever she performs on TV, Monáe absolutely kills it. If you want to see her at her best, go to YouTube and watch her performance of “Dance Apocalyptic” on David Letterman’s Late Show.
8. Halsey (If I Can’t Have Love, I Want Power, 2021; “I am not a woman, I am a god,” 2021) Alternative Rock, Indie Rock, Indie Pop, Dance. Halsey has progressed nicely as an artist. At the start of her career, she was a teenager who possessed a huge voice. But as she grew up, she has accumulated and amalgamated influences into a thrilling career.
7. Taylor Swift (1989, 2014; “Exile” – with Bon Iver, 2020) Country, Pop, Rock, Dance. Okay Swifties! I can take it! Why isn’t Taylor #1 on my list? I’ll admit that she is the best songwriter of her generation and is one helluva live performer. And as good as the Midnights album is, she is still a little juvenile in her lyrics, and that’s why she has dropped in my ranking.
6. Miley Cyrus (Plastic Hearts, 2020; “Edge of Midnight (Midnight Sky Remix) ” – ft. Stevie Nicks, 2020) Pop, Rock, Dance, Country, Indie Pop, Indie Rock. Miley is no longer Hannah Montana, and thank God! Once again, this young woman has the balls to try all kinds of different musical hats. But, I personally believe her wheelhouse to be in the areas of her past two albums: Plastic Hearts and Endless Summer Vacation. I personally love that one-off album she recorded with Flaming Lips called Miley Cyrus & Her Dead Petz. Any artist willing to try that psychedelic indie pop/rock.
5. Brandi Carlile (In These Silent Days, 2021; “Right on Time,” 2021) Indie Folk, Country, Indie Rock. Ms. Carlile is arguably the oldest soul in my Top 50 and that shows in her writing and singing. She is kind of a throwback to the artists from the Sixties, Seventies and Eighties. Her solo work is impeccable, as is her work with The Highwomen. Anyone want to start a new Fleetwood Mac? I have a Stevie Nicks for you.
4. Adele (21, 2011; “Rolling in the Deep,” 2011) R&B, Pop. While Taylor Swift may be the songwriting voice of a generation, Adele is hands down the vocalist of that same generation. She may be the newest Barbra Streisand, without the acting chops. Who knows? She may have the acting bug as well?
3. Beyoncé (Beyoncé, 2013; “Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It),” 2008) R&B, Pop. Queen Bey has the throne right now, and I’m not here to cast doubt on that. The woman has proven her worth throughout her solo career in music, video, acting, etc. I love her music, but she’s not my go-to listen.
2. Lady Gaga (Born This Way, 2011; “The Edge of Glory,” 2011) Dance, R&B, Pop, Rock. As far as I’m concerned, Gaga is great! She just might have the greatest voice of this century so far. She can do it all! All you need to see in order to absorb her greatness is to watch her Super Bowl performance.
1. Amy Winehouse (Back to Black, 2006; “Valerie” – Mark Ronson ft. Amy Winehouse, 2007) R&B, Pop, Jazz. Maybe I have been romanticizing her impact lately, but nothing compares to Winehouse’s ability to intertwine old R&B and Jazz with Hip Hop and current Independent Music. I especially loved the way she was updating the old Motown sound into something completely new. I just wish she had lived so I could have had a larger sample size in order to properly anoint her as the best of this century.
Yes, this is a diverse list. I simply think all forms of music are valid expressions of rock & roll. Rock is not just played by white guys at earsplitting volumes. That is just a small sample of everything available. It would be like eating steak and potatoes for every meal when you could have anything off the menu. Sometimes I want more than pizza or a cheeseburger. There are just days when salmon will only hit the spot.
If My Records Could Talk 
Another great list. You should never, ever apologize for having Amy Winehouse at the top of any list! If she had only made her second album and nothing else, she’d still be the legend she is. The impact of “Back to Black” wil be felt for a century and beyond! One artist you might want to check out if you haven’t is UK band Wolf Alice! Great stuff!
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