Off the top of my head and right now:
Norma Waterson
Eliza Carthy
Dionne Warwick
Linda Thompson
Joan Armatrading

the girlschool gal
joan jett
lil pearl
the female voaclist on dark side of the moon
grace slick

June Tabor
Kate Bush
Margaret Becker
Joan Armatrading
Joni Mitchel (after the cigarettes had done the damage)

Norman86 wrote: funny enough, i dont like near as many female vocalists as i do male vocalists!
any of you suffer the same problem i do??

No. But it may depend on what you listen to. I think if you go for metal or classic rock then your options may be reduced. In country, for example, there are loads of great lady vocalists. In fact in most rootsy genres.

I'll go further. I've told the story before of how I ended up at a concert in London in which Norma Waterson was one of the performers. I don't know if I saw her on a good night (or just on an average night) but it was the best, most convincing singing I've ever heard.

In fact there were several other really good female singers at that show: Emily Smith, Eliza Carthy, Christine Collister, Judith Owen & Camille O'Sullivan.

Regina Spektor
Ani Difranco
Janis Joplin
Joni Mithcell
Carole King
Carla Bruni
Brodi Dalle (Just because)

* Taylor Swift
* Annie Lennox
* Tracy Chapman
* Brett Anderson (The Donnas)
* Debbie Harry

* And one extra, Shirley Manson.

Definitely

1 Kate Bush - Wuthering Heights, and .....

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here with Peter Gabriel: Don't give up:

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2. Dionne Warwick

3. Janis Joplin

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4. The Corrs (sisters, all) .... because they do this little number ......... ?

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............ and last but not least ........ don't laugh ..... :-[

This singer made more money athan most, and has performed with almost every artist worth mentioning .......

Here with The BeeGees vocal backing .......... I give you........

5. Celine Dion!!!!

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I also like Charlotte Church, Loreena McKennitt, Joan Armatrading, Tracy Chapman, and quite a few others .....

Grace Slick
Brittany Howard (Alabama Shakes)
Merry Clayton
Sandy Denny
Joan Jett
Pink

To me the best vocalist is Christina Aguilera. Strong vocalist. Knows her range and keeps ther-in. Amy Lee is also there. Kinda like Carrie Underwood....do I have to give 5? Can't think of anymore...

There are many great female singers, but very few I actually like...
A very idiosyncratic list:

1. Nina Hagen
2. Laurie Anderson
3. Janis Joplin
4. Aziza Mustafa Zadeh
5. All the old soul greats: Aretha Franklin, Gladys Knight, Etta James, etc.

Norman86 wrote: Self explanatory... more than 5 is also acceptable!
whose voice do you truly adore??


Mine would be:

Katie Melua
Sarah McLachlan
Amy Lee - Evanescence
Alizee
Katy Perry


Then i also quite like Taylor Swift and Miley Cyrus..

We seem to have a fair bit of overlap (although I can't stand that Smiley Virus) But anyway, here's my current top 5. Of course this list is in constant flux but Katie Melua and Dido will probably always be near the top.

Katie Melua
Dido
Sia
Alizee
Amy LaVere

Aag OK, why not post a video of each. These are the songs which brought each of these artists to my attention.
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Shucks, there are so many. There's still Imelda May, Kimbra, Mary Black, Judith Durham and my latest flavour of the month, Zarni de Wet.

Joss Stone
Stevie Nicks
Karen Carpenter
Selena Gomez
Adele

Angela Gossow - Arch enemy

Siouxie sioux (dunno how you spell it anymore)
Karen Carpenter
Nina Hagen
Maria Callas
grace slick

I forgot to mention 2 that are bubbling under the top 5, voice more than music

Sade
Indie Arie

Hammeron wrote: Angela Gossow - Arch enemy

I was waiting for that one..

She's really good, but she scares me though ?

Jewel
Christina Aguilera
Whitney Houston (Back in the day...)

Amy lee
The goose from Guano Apes
Mariza
Nina hagen
Alanis morisette
Joan jett
Tori amos

not so much sure of the order, but here goes:

Grace Slick (of The Great Society, Jefferson Airplane, solo)

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Elena Tonra (of Daughter)

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Chantel Van Tonder (of La Vi, a new SA band, so no videos yet )

Sannie Fox (of Machineri, another SA band). She's great live - video doesn't really do her justice.

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Joni Mitchell (Solo)

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Tracy Chapman (Solo)

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Emily Kokal (of Warpaint). Not great technically, but entrancing none the less.

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Janis Joplin (of Big Brother and the Holding Company, etc and solo). For her balls.

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Sorry for going over the limit a bit, there are lots when you get going.