Top Ten Greatest Female Singers of All Time

I have picked the top ten female singers of all time. How did I reach my decisions? As a singer, I look for vocal clarity, a pure tone, and a style that can't be forgotten, to start....

In my opinion, over the years there just haven't been enough strong female singers, let alone female singers in general. It seems that the music scene has been somewhat dominated by male voices. There are many theories that exist as to the lack of females in the music industry. Some profess that it's because women used to play more traditional roles of keeping a home, while others would ask you to believe that men just sell more albums/cd's.

I am myself a singer, and have been singing since I was a child. I like singing challenging songs, ones that really stretch the vocal chords and make you work to hit some of the notes. I also choose ones that emit great feeling. I find, time and again, that the same set of singers produce the challenging, emotion-filled songs I seek for my own repertoire. This is a good part of how I came up with this list. The remaining factors for choosing involve the impact each female musician has made in the field of music, as well as the impact that person has made on the society at large.

Whatever the reason, when I spot talent I like to make note of it. So, here are my top ten female singers of all time, and why I chose each one....

1. Celine Dion. Celine Dion has an incredible voice. To me, there's no question about it. She can hit power chords like no one I have ever seen. There is such power behind her vocals, and in all of her songs, she hits notes that as a singer, are very challenging. When Celine Dion performs, she exudes all the confidence in the world. It is quite a sight to watch her hit her high notes!

2. Whitney Houston. Whitney has received much negative publicity in recent years, however I still feel she deserves a spot on this list. Whitney had many years of incredibly emotional tunes. As a frequenter of karaoke contests nationwide, often the winner of the contest is someone who chose to sing a Whitney Houston tune. It takes great talent to display the vocal ability shown in these songs. Whitney's voice also evokes strong emotion in the listener.

3. Tina Turner- Tina Turner has made such an impression on the world with her spirit and spunkiness! She went through some rough times in her personal life and turned them into positives with the use of her music. She is such a small-framed woman, yet she is a powerhouse when it comes to singing. She inspires many with her story and many of her songs. I chose Tina Turner because she has a vision of hope that comes out in her singing style, and this emanates into the crowd. This lady can still pack the house of a huge concert venue of tens of thousands of people, because she still has got the ability to move others with her dance moves and her vocal ability.

4.Evanescence's Amy Lee- Amy Lee can really sing! She has this dark mysterious side that comes out, captivating the audience. Even though she isn't very tall, her voice carries across the room and fills it with a great melody.

5. Billy Holiday- I find Billy Holiday's voice impeccable. There is a purity in the tone that no other singer in my opinion has ever been able to reproduce.

6. Ann and Nancy Wilson- Ann and Nancy Wilson's band Heart, to me, is one of the best rock bands of all time, and one of the few female rock bands to have truly become successful in the male-dominated rock music scene. These two singers' voices were able to give rock a whole new meaning, one that had a touch of feminity mixed with the hard-core sound.

7. Pat Benatar. Pat Benatar just bursts with energy and fire in all of her music. The whole stage seems to come to life as she belts out tunes. Her passion speaks loudly as well as her emotion. To me, she is a true female rocker, and deserves the merit she has achieved with her songs.

8. Carrie Underwood- Carrie Underwood is a newcomer to the music scene, having become famous by winning a season of American Idol. She just came out of nowhere, but has captured the hearts of many Americans with her sense of purity and American values.

9. Kelly Clarkson- Kelly Clarkson will always be the true American Idol. She's fresh, spunky, young and has a set of pipes reminiscent of much older women. There seems to be no limit to her vocal chords and talent. I have great respect for her singing, and find it incredible that she has had so many hits in such a short time after breaking out into the pop music scene.

10. Martina McBride- Martina McBride is an incredible singer. She has a great range in her voice, singing from low to high in one long breath. She also tells a story with each one of her songs. She has a wholesome feel about her, and is very family oriented. This shows in her lyric selection.