xkcd

by **Shro** » Fri Jun 08, 2012 4:22 pm UTC

Formalities: Any one who presents as female is a female vocalist. This includes transgender individuals and drag queen personas.

With that out of the way, I've been listening to a LOT of female vocalists. My current obsession is female rappers/and females in hip hop/electronica.
Robyn - Konichiwa Bitches
Kid Sister - Right Hand Hi
Die Antwoord - Baby's On Fire (More than two minutes of intro, but it's... interesting)
Thunderheis t-Jerk It
Enur- Calabria ft Natasja
CLP ft White Gold Princess- Insatiable

Funny/nerdy ones:
Ivy League Hustle
Bitches In Bookshops

by **CorruptUser** » Fri Jun 15, 2012 2:25 am UTC

IMHO, if they sound female, they count as 'female' for music purposes.

Lana Del Ray

by **Shro** » Sat Jun 16, 2012 5:37 pm UTC

The L post, apparently.
Lenka - Trouble is a Friend
Lenka- The Show
Lenka - Heart Skips A Beat
Lykke Li- Little Bit
Lana Del Rey- Blue Jeans
Lana Del Rey- Video Games
Lady Gaga- Edge of Glory
Lady Gaga - Yoü And I
Loretta Lynn- One's On The Way (A commentary of women's life sans contraception. In 1971.)

by **Thesh** » Sat Jun 16, 2012 9:01 pm UTC

Another L:
Lahannya - Inside The Machine

Interested in some S?
Stolen Babies - Tablescrap

Something darker?
Madder Mortem - My Name is Silence

More artsy?
Sleepytime Gorilla Museum - Angle of Repose

by **PurplePenguin** » Sat Jun 23, 2012 12:41 am UTC

Hmm, female vocalists are very absent from the mp3 player/cd collection.
That said,
Amanda Palmer will forever be one of my very favourite musicians.

The Pipettes. An ex took me along to see them perform years and years ago, I quite liked them.

Blondie, one of the bands I was brought up on.

by **UniqueScreenname** » Sat Jun 23, 2012 2:15 am UTC

I am very into female vocalists in metal. So that being said, look up ALL THE ARTISTS!!!!

In This Moment
Nightwish
Within Temptation
Lacuna Coil
Epica
Leaves' Eyes
After Forever
Delain
Amaranthe
Echoes of Eternity
Edenbridge
Imperia
Krypteria
Streams of Passion
Delight
To-Mera
Visions of Atlantis
Xandria
Eyes of Eden
Straight Line Stitch
Eyes Set to Kill
Animal Alpha
The Birthday Massacre

The last two aren't really metal, but bring a quirkiness that I think makes them stand out.

by **Pjotr** » Fri Jun 29, 2012 9:30 pm UTC

UniqueScreenname wrote:I am very into female vocalists in metal. So that being said, look up ALL THE ARTISTS!!!!

You should also check out Therion. Not exclusively female vocals, but very, very good.
For instance: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YH_1whH7nME

Also, for a completely different genre but quite enjoyable: Amanda Marshall

by **blue_eyedspacemonkey** » Fri Jun 29, 2012 10:02 pm UTC

A selection of my favourite female vocalists. I'll almost definitely be back with more.

Shemakeswar. One track: Scared To Capsize

Imogen Heap. One track: Goodnight and Go

Nerina Pallot. One track: Geek Love

Regina Spektor. One track: On The Radio

Tegan and Sara. One track: I know, I know, I know

Sound Of Rum. One track: Slow Slow

Alanis Morrissette. One track: You Oughta Know

Letters to Cleo. One track: I Want You To Want Me

Kate Bush. One track: Hounds Of Love

Ellie Goulding. One track: The Writer

by **willaaaaaa** » Fri Jun 29, 2012 11:37 pm UTC

blue_eyedspacemonkey, I really like your collection! I'd heard of a few, but the rest were new to me. I think you might also like Marit Larsen (If A Song Could Get Me You).

by **UniqueScreenname** » Sat Jun 30, 2012 12:15 am UTC

Also, another plug for the amazing Kimbra. I'm not even going to link a song, because everything she touches is amazing.

Also, Emilie Autumn has not been mentioned. She's got just the right amount of crazy to make her music really interesting.

by **Thesh** » Sat Jun 30, 2012 5:19 am UTC

Some Interesting Industrial:
Android Lust - The Body

More Stolen Babies, because Stolen Babies are awesome:
Stolen Babies - Mind Your Eyes

Speaking of Babies:
Made Out of Babies - Sugar

Hot:
Genitorturers - Asphyxiate

by **Rium** » Sat Jun 30, 2012 10:26 pm UTC

Grimes makes music that is … electronic? I also like Metric, an indie-pop (?) band from Toronto. If you couldn’t tell, I’m not super good at this genres thing.

by **Thesh** » Tue Jul 03, 2012 10:13 pm UTC

How about some attitude?

Tura Satana (not the actress, but named after her) - Eternalux
Jack Off Jill - Media C-Section

by **Wieber** » Thu Jul 26, 2012 3:01 pm UTC

Die Mannequin

The Creepshow

Not exclusively female vocals, but Walk Off The Earth is an amazingly talented group of people:
Covering Gotye's Somebody That I Used To Know: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d9NF2edxy-M

by **Роберт** » Mon Jul 30, 2012 4:10 pm UTC

Wieber wrote:The Creepshow

I need to listen to them again. Also, I need to check out the metal list - Nightwish, Epica, Delain, and Leaves' Eyes are all good. Have you tried Eluveitie?

by **philsov** » Tue Jul 31, 2012 3:02 am UTC

Number 1 all time for me:
Alison Krauss

Also, no Florence and the machine? I hope it's because she's so common that she doesn't need to be mentioned!

Kosheen - Catch (DnB)
Jasefos - Do What you Want (Trance)
Gillian Welch - The Way That It Goes (Bluegrass)
Kasey Chambers - Follow You Home (more bluegrass!)

Random guest female vocalists, mostly electronic/DnB:
Futurecop - Hey Heartthrob (???) (a little rappy, this one)
Deadmau5 - Raise Your Weapon (???)
Pendulum - Sounds of Life (Jasmine Yee)
Justice - The Paaarty (Uffie)

by **UniqueScreenname** » Tue Jul 31, 2012 3:44 am UTC

Folk metal has never really been my thing, but if you like that then I think Imperia is the closest on my list, other than the occasional Nightwish song.

I would say Florence is common enough now. My favorite of hers is definitely probably Cosmic Love, but I love Spectrum too. So much wonderful stuff out of her.

by **Shro** » Tue Jul 31, 2012 3:23 pm UTC

The artists mentioned are great, but I would love it if people would pick their favorite couple of songs by an artist if available on teh youtubes or whatever. Also, if an artist already has been mentioned, don't feel weird about mentioning them again to link any of their particular songs you like. My ulterior motive for making this thread was having clickable playlist with all the badass chicks in one place.

Florence - Dog Days
Imogen Heap/Frou Frou
Hide and Seek
Let Go
Cover of that footloose song: Holding out for a Hero
Fiona Apple - Paper Bag
Ellie Goulding- Lights
La Roux - Bulletproof
La Roux - In for the Kill
La Roux - In for the Kill Skream's Let's Get Ravey Remix
The Knife- Heartbeats
Yeah Yeah Yeah's- Head's Will Roll
Yeah Yeah Yeah's- Maps
Phantogram - When I'm Small
Phantogram- Mouthful of Diamonds
Paramore- The Only Exception
Ingrid Michaelson - The Way I am
Camera Obsura - French Navy

by **Роберт** » Tue Jul 31, 2012 4:13 pm UTC

UniqueScreenname wrote:Folk metal has never really been my thing, but if you like that then I think Imperia is the closest on my list, other than the occasional Nightwish song.

Leaves' Eyes is DEFINITELYfolk metal.

by **UniqueScreenname** » Wed Aug 01, 2012 2:52 am UTC

Singing about folklore and combining folk music with metal is not the same thing. When I think folk music, I think more the song from before or Nightwish's Last of the Wilds. Scarborough Fair is way more driving than those. Besides, Njord, Solemn Sea, and The Thorn are where it's at.

by **Thesh** » Wed Aug 01, 2012 3:24 am UTC

Appropriate:
Diablo Swing Orchestra - Heroines

I can't think of comment:
Akphaezya - Reflections

Apparently I only like Babies in band form:
Made Out of Babies - Stranger

I'm running out of interesting songs with only female vocals. I got a few with both male and female vocals, but am reluctant to post them in this thread.

by **Radical_Initiator** » Wed Aug 01, 2012 9:33 pm UTC

I know it's cooler to suggest groups no one has heard of, but I'm still going to plug one of Akron's own.

Chrissie Hynde - Pretenders - "Message of Love"

by **dubsola** » Fri Aug 03, 2012 2:12 pm UTC

<3 The Pretenders. Pop music can be good, who knew?

Fleetwood Mac - Dreams

And now to new business. I present to you, sick female singers, some of them also musicians and producers, in the genres of modern electronic music and some hip-hop / r&b.
Dani Siciliano - Extra Ordinary
Bonobo feat. Andreya Triana - Eyes Down
Clouds feat. Tiiu - Under Dancing Feet
Herbert & Roisin Murphy - Love in the Making (Roisin Murphy was the lead singer for Moloko, and apparently this song was used in Grey's Anatomy. How about that?)
Fatima & Floating Points - Mind
Erykah Badu - Window Seat
Jill Scott - Golden

And now let's go back to some 70s soul singers:
Ellen McIlwaine - Higher Ground
Brenda Russell - In the thick of it
Nina Simone - Feeling Good
Roberta Flack - Killing Me Softly (almost wrote "Killing Me Software")
Loads more where that came from, of course, but I have to get back to work. What a pleasant diversion, good one Shro!

by **choginga** » Sun Aug 12, 2012 10:08 pm UTC

Niki and the dove is very much a favorite right now.

by **The Moomin** » Mon Aug 13, 2012 9:09 pm UTC

I think Kelli Ali has one of the most beautiful voices I've ever heard, she was the vocalist for the Sneaker Pimps album 'Becoming X', but has released several solo albums since then:

How Do by Sneaker Pimps (Cover of Willow's Song from original Wicker Man)

Angel in LA by Kelli Ali

by **bosonicyouth** » Thu Aug 30, 2012 3:11 pm UTC

Punk
Blatz
Bikini Kill
The Slits
The Au Pairs

Crust/hardcore/powerviolence
Schifosi
Look Back and Laugh
Initial State
Gasp

Indie rock
Sleater-Kinney
The Organ
Blonde Redhead

Folk
Odetta
Scout Niblett (w/ Songs Ohia)
Gillian Welch

Avant-garde
Meredith Monk

by **AvatarIII** » Thu Aug 30, 2012 4:13 pm UTC

what? no mention of arch enemy? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7KDrqC6N ... re=related

by **Shro** » Wed Sep 05, 2012 10:37 pm UTC

Santigold- LES Artistes
Santigold- Big Mouth
Florence + The Machine - Heavy in your arms
Blackmill Ft. Veela- Let it Be
Kito & Reija Lee- Sweet Talk
Lykke Li- Breaking It Up
Tegan and Sara - Back In your Head
Tegan and Sara - Walking With A Ghost
Missy Elliot - Lose Control
Missy Elliot - Work It
Ciara- Ride
Ciara- 1,2 Step
Cassie - Me & U
Kelis- Milkshake
Kelis- Bossy
Robyn- Cobrastyle
DJ Blaqstarr & Rye Rye - Shake it to the Ground
Nicki Minaj- Super Bass
Rihanna - Where have you Been
Demi Lovato- Give Your Heart A Break
Carly Rae Jephsen- Call Me Maybe
Katy Perry- E.T.
Britney Spears - I Wanna Go
Britney Spears- Till The World Ends
Britney Spears- Hold It Against Me
Yael Naim - Toxic
Yael Naim - New Soul
Feist- 1234
Feist- My Moon My Man
Feist- Mushaboom
Jurgen Paape- So Weit Wie Noch Nie

by **ecce** » Fri Sep 07, 2012 4:22 am UTC

I second the recommendation for Nightwish. While I'll admit I'm partial to Tarja's singing, their new vocalist is impressive too. Keep in mind you'll have to check newer stuff (such as Amaranth) in addition to older stuff (I recommend Ghost Love Score for an epic orchestrated piece) to get a sample of both vocalists. If you don't care for metal, Kuolema Tekee Taiteilijan is a beautiful, softer piece that really shows off Tarja's voice.

Triosphere (power/prog metal) has a female lead vocalist- try their song Marionette. Vocalist is Ida "Pico" Haukland

Apocalyptica (cello metal, although this song isn't metal) has various guest artists for some of their songs. While I generally prefer their instrumental pieces, I like Faraway better with Linda Sundblad singing.

Ayreon, a unique progressive metal project where one guy writes metal operas and then invites various vocalists to sing the parts, has some strong performances by female vocalists. Most of the songs have 3+ singers, although Dragon on the Sea is soloed by a female vocalist. Also check out Day Eleven:Love and Day Two: Isolation.

Dream Theater's song The Spirit Carries On, while largely featuring James Labrie (who sings in Ayreon's Love and Isolation listed above), has a soul vocalist supporting from about 4:25 on. Despite the relatively minor role, she does an impressive job. If anyone has more examples of vocals like this (preferably with metal), please post!

by **UniqueScreenname** » Fri Sep 07, 2012 10:46 pm UTC

ecce wrote:(I recommend Ghost Love Score for an epic orchestrated piece)

This is just the best song of the entire genre as far as I'm concerned. Another great one is Dreamflight by After Forever.

by **UniqueScreenname** » Fri Sep 07, 2012 11:07 pm UTC

I updated my list with links btw.

by **Sheikh al-Majaneen** » Sat Sep 08, 2012 2:58 am UTC

Some of these are almost as old as me.

The Sounds - No One Sleeps When I'm Awake
The Joy Formidable - Whirring
Note that on the second song, first time I heard it I said "hey, the sounds did a new album and its their second song that isn't pure awful." Whatever that may mean to you. Didn't post the video to Whirring because it cuts out a lot of the song.
Warpaint - Elephants/Stars
Someone already mentioned Metric, but Gimme Sympathy is my favorite song of theirs.
Concrete Blonde - Tomorrow, Wendy (trigger warning--AIDS/suicide)
Concrete Blonde - Caroline (trigger warning again, friend died)
Ellie Goulding - Lights
Belly - Dusted
The Cranberries - Linger
Nobody I know can know that this is one of my favorite songs EVER
Lush - Ladykillers/Deluxe/Nothing Natural
Portishead - Mourning Air (and like everything else they have done)
Tegan and Sara - The Ocean

That's good for now.

by **Kulantan** » Mon Sep 10, 2012 4:38 pm UTC

Kate Rusby - Bitter Boy
Angelique Kidjo - Lonlon
Charlene Soraia - Postcards From Io
Karine Polwart - Firethief
Karine Polwart - Tinsel Show
Karine Polwart - We're All Leaving
Laura Marling - Sophia
Brooke Fraser - Orphans, Kingdoms

by **Shro** » Thu Sep 13, 2012 4:51 pm UTC

Blue Foundation - Eyes on Fire
Santigold- Lights Out
Natalie Walker- Colorblind (Cover of the Counting Crows Song)
Nneka- Heartbeat
Massive Attack- Teardrop
Zero 7- In the Waiting Line
Shiny Toy Guns - Major Tom (not a David Bowie cover, but a cover of Peter Schilling's Major Tom (Coming Home). You also might remember it from a Lincoln MKZ commercial)
Cat Power-Ruin

by **mieu** » Fri Sep 14, 2012 1:37 am UTC

Mariah Carey is, IMHO the most talented vocalist from a technical standpoint. I love her voice, but dislike the type of music that she puts out.

I continue to be blown away by these young ladies, the majority of the music that they do (while insanely catchy) does not do their talent justice.

In terms of artistry and unusual vocals, my heart will always belong to Bjork.

by **Thesh** » Fri Sep 14, 2012 2:08 am UTC

mieu wrote:Mariah Carey is, IMHO the most talented vocalist from a technical standpoint. I love her voice, but dislike the type of music that she puts out.

I don't know what "technical" means, but in terms of range, Asphodel from Pin-Up Went Down is pretty amazing:

Pussy Worship
Feat.Me / Feat.Us

Male+Female vocals:
Get Ready To Sweep
Be My Idol Then My Fall

by **Radical_Initiator** » Sat Sep 15, 2012 2:22 am UTC

Shro wrote:Blue Foundation - Eyes on Fire
Santigold- Lights Out
Natalie Walker- Colorblind (Cover of the Counting Crows Song)
Nneka- Heartbeat
Massive Attack- Teardrop
Zero 7- In the Waiting Line
Shiny Toy Guns - Major Tom (not a David Bowie cover, but a cover of Peter Schilling's Major Tom (Coming Home). You also might remember it from a Lincoln MKZ commercial)
Cat Power-Ruin

I think I like you a lot. Or at least your taste in vocalists.

Is it worth mentioning that the vocalist in Massive Attack's "Teardrop" is Elizabeth Fraser of The Cocteau Twins, and that some of their stuff is pretty damn awesome, too?

by **AvatarIII** » Mon Sep 17, 2012 9:05 am UTC

Radical_Initiator wrote:
Shro wrote:Blue Foundation - Eyes on Fire
Santigold- Lights Out
Natalie Walker- Colorblind (Cover of the Counting Crows Song)
Nneka- Heartbeat
Massive Attack- Teardrop
Zero 7- In the Waiting Line
Shiny Toy Guns - Major Tom (not a David Bowie cover, but a cover of Peter Schilling's Major Tom (Coming Home). You also might remember it from a Lincoln MKZ commercial)
Cat Power-Ruin

I think I like you a lot. Or at least your taste in vocalists.

Is it worth mentioning that the vocalist in Massive Attack's "Teardrop" is Elizabeth Fraser of The Cocteau Twins, and that some of their stuff is pretty damn awesome, too?

Why am/was I convinced to this day that the vocals to Teardrop were done by by the singer from Portishead?

by **UniqueScreenname** » Sat Sep 22, 2012 1:11 am UTC

AvatarIII wrote:
Radical_Initiator wrote:
Shro wrote:Blue Foundation - Eyes on Fire
Santigold- Lights Out
Natalie Walker- Colorblind (Cover of the Counting Crows Song)
Nneka- Heartbeat
Massive Attack- Teardrop
Zero 7- In the Waiting Line
Shiny Toy Guns - Major Tom (not a David Bowie cover, but a cover of Peter Schilling's Major Tom (Coming Home). You also might remember it from a Lincoln MKZ commercial)
Cat Power-Ruin

I think I like you a lot. Or at least your taste in vocalists.

Is it worth mentioning that the vocalist in Massive Attack's "Teardrop" is Elizabeth Fraser of The Cocteau Twins, and that some of their stuff is pretty damn awesome, too?

Why am/was I convinced to this day that the vocals to Teardrop were done by by the singer from Portishead?

That reminds me...

by **Thesh** » Sat Oct 06, 2012 8:17 am UTC

Two bands I have heard for the first time today, with some amazingly beautiful female vocals. Haggard has especially managed to grab by heart through my ears.

Therion - Son of the Sun
Haggard - Herr Mannelig

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