Poll time again!
We have so many female artists that have legitimately gained our love and respect. A look through the ’60s, we have Joni Mitchell, Joan Baez, Laura Nyro, Barbra Streisand, while the ’70s plump up with even more. For the ’70s, there are Carly Simon, Bette Midler, Helen Reddy, Karen Carpenter, Linda Ronstadt, Carole King, Patti Smith, and a whole bunch more. The ’80s delivered Kate Bush, Pat Benatar, Stevie Nicks, to name a few. Even the ’90s had a few icons. Those were Toni Childs, Fiona Apple, Alanis Morrissette, Sarah Maclachlan, and a few others. The interesting thing is that the ’90s produced female artists that are not as memorable as the previous decades (for many).
My poll question is this? Which female artists of the current generation, or since 2000, should be remembered as being extraordinary for their time. I have a few.
My list includes Florence Welch, Lykke Li, St. Vincent (Annie Clark), and Amy Winehouse and Adele (for different reasons). If we forego the usual Pop icons ( I have), we can safely eliminate artists like Katy Perry, Lady GaGa, Britney Spears, and others of their kind.
So, what are your choices of era 2000- now artists that should be remembered decades from now?
I could name a few but, looking at the bands/artists that I’ve embraced after the year 2000, there are so few that to throw some names out there would be choosing them “by default”. For instance, the singers you named, I’ve heard of them but haven’t listened to any of them. They don’t play the type of music I like. I do have a soft spot for Katy Perry even though her style of music doesn’t do anything for me, the few songs I have heard haven’t made me want to kick the speakers. Amy Winehouse wasn’t really around long enough in my opinion to have a body of work making her worthy of comparison to some of the artists from the 60s-90s that you mention.
I’d assume Gwen Stefani would be considered a 90’s artist so she doesn’t count.
Maybe if that Blues Pills band is around for a while I will be able to legitimately say, Elin Larsson, but I’d feel that is way premature at the moment. I do really think she has a special voice though and plays the type of music I can embrace.
Perhaps Amber Webber from Black Mountain or Erika Wennerstrom from Heartless Bastards (BTW, it’s been a while since either band has released anything new) but once again, I’d just be throwing those names out by default and I don’t feel either has a body of work making them worthy of comparing to most of the female singers you’ve listed.
I agree with your choice of both Florence Welch and Amy Winehouse and would add Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings, Madeleine Peyroux (even though her 1st release was in 1996 but her sophomore release was not until 2004), Norah Jones, Shannon McNally and lastly LP (Laura Pergolizzi). All have a style that is more than just let’s see how long I can hold a note and how loud I can get it. They all have what I call an interesting texture and ability to sing different styles comfortably.
Kelly Clarkson gets my vote. She can sing anything, and has one of the best voices I’ve ever heard!
The greatest female rock artists ever, no matter the decade- HEART!!