I'd vote for Janis Joplin, absolutely love her music. I was glad to see a mention for Bonnie Bramlett, Delaney and Bonnie were the first three songs I bought with ITunes.

quote:

Originally posted by pbslinger:
I think of Janis Joplin as a blues singer, which is the only reason I give her a tie with Ann Wilson. Karen Carpenter is a better singer, but she's pop.

I'm amazed anybody thinks Benetar or Jett better than Ann Wilson.

If we're including Karen Carpenter, Linda Ronstadt, Aretha Franklin, Whitney Houston and Julie Andrews in the 'Rock' genre, then we might as well include vocalists like Alison Krauss and Sarah Brightman too.

PowerSurge already posted, but I gotta agree that Patty Smyth is a worthy nomination. Problem w/ Smyth is she only had a couple hits w/ her short-lived band Scandal. After that she focused on other genres. To attest to her rock cred though, Van Halen asked her to join their group before they asked Sammy Hagar.



I agree that Ann Wilson is the queen of power ballads.

Mahalia Jackson - "The Queen of Gospel".

I know that no one has mentioned her, but you have to realize the low quality of recordings when she was in her prime. Place some of the singers mentioned in the same recording situations and you would be surprised.

I think she might also be included in the "Rock" category because she did preform during the 1950's - unless "Rock and Roll" is a totally different animal. Anyway, I still think she is near the top.

.

quote:

If we're including Karen Carpenter, Linda Ronstadt, Aretha Franklin, Whitney Houston and Julie Andrews in the 'Rock' genre, then we might as well include vocalists like Alison Krauss and Sarah Brightman too.

IMO, Linda Ronstadt is a legit nominee as a “rock” singer. She has recorded in several genres, but some of her biggest hits were rock. Including her along with Karen Carpenter and Julie Andrews (others) is ridiculous

Since the OP was asking for the best female rock vocalist, I'd have to give the nod to Joan Jett.

Not a single mention of Melissa Etheridge?

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Beanhead,

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There’s one; you could’ve posted on the first page

At the risk of sounding like a misogynist, like Bob Dylan, there are not too many female rockers I like. In other genres, yes, absolutely, many mentioned here already. But the one I really like in rock n roll, primarily in her early career, is Chrissie Hynde.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_HD2fodz-7c

I like Amy Lee, after her Ann Wilson, Janis Joplin, Joan Jett, Pat Benatar

On sheer vocal quality I really like Linda Ronstadt's voice.

But I like Bonnie Raitt's voice and songs and total package the best of any female, I believe.

As far as what critics think... who gives a crap?


All Quality nominees. As talented as they were, Karen Carpenter and the like arent rock vocalist.

Joan Jett, Debra Harry and Stevie Nicks were. My favorite may be Susan Tedechi...

Blondie

I was born in the 70s and I don't remember having my own taste in music until the early 80s (i.e. before then I liked the music Dad liked such as Neil Diamond). I went country in the mid-90s so there is only about a 15 year window of rock music for me which eliminates several people listed who were dead and several who went pop.

Pat Benatar, Joan Jett, Stevie Nicks, Amy Wilson.

I've heard of Evanscence, but never knew her name until this thread. Amy Lee gets an honorable mention.

quote:

Originally posted by TMats:

quote:

If we're including Karen Carpenter, Linda Ronstadt, Aretha Franklin, Whitney Houston and Julie Andrews in the 'Rock' genre, then we might as well include vocalists like Alison Krauss and Sarah Brightman too.

IMO, Linda Ronstadt is a legit nominee as a “rock” singer. She has recorded in several genres, but some of her biggest hits were rock. Including her along with Karen Carpenter and Julie Andrews (others) is ridiculous

I mostly associate Ronstandt w/ pop and adult contemporary, but I looked up her discography and concede her as a rock singer, even though most of her rock hits were covers of Rock & Roll songs from the 1950s & 60s.

I know who it's not...

Grace slick
Momma Cass

Amy Lee
Lizzy Hale
Joan Jett
Ann Wilson

All rockers.

Susan rocks

since everyone has a version of what Rock is,


in addition to Kate Bush and Chrissie Hyde,

Alison Goldfrapp
Bjork (an acquired taste)


if you want to waltz over to EDM/pop JES and Sarah Barthel from Phantogram

Lots of good choices, but I like it Heavy....

Some lyrics are NSFW, unless you work at home, then crank that shit up!




Link to original video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?...YOFm-LKZNN4&index=15