Member-only story
The Most Distinctive Female Voices Of The Pop/Rock Era
I didn’t say “the best,” and I didn’t say “my favorite.”
Remember that show “Name That Tune?” The one where the contestant would bid on how few notes of a song a band or orchestra would play until they came up with the song’s name. The fewer notes they could name the tune in, the better the chance of winning against another contestant. And the lyrics couldn’t be sung! My best at-home play was guessing The Carpenters’ “Goodbye to Love” in two notes. But no, I wasn’t gay!
We can remember songs very well by an initial melody. It might take us a bit to remember the name of a song and even longer to know who is singing it. Unless you are listening to one of these ladies. Their unusual and distinctive voices tell us who sings a song when we hear the first note.
Like anything in the arts, this list is highly subjective. I’m suggesting those I think have the most recognizable voices in pop history. The minute you turn on the radio (or however you have your music delivered), you know who’s singing very quickly. It’s like a no-brainer.
Given the number of years this list spans, there are so many to consider! There are so many great voices. How to pick the best 20? Don’t look at sales volume or any other chart success. Consider only the uniqueness…
