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Greatest female pop artist of all time (1 Viewer)

Greatest female pop artist of all time

  • Celine Dion

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Cher

    Votes: 1 0.8%
  • Diana Ross

    Votes: 5 4.0%
  • Madonna

    Votes: 41 33.1%
  • Aretha Franklin

    Votes: 10 8.1%
  • Taylor Swift

    Votes: 43 34.7%
  • Whitney Houston

    Votes: 10 8.1%
  • Tina Turner

    Votes: 4 3.2%
  • Beyonce

    Votes: 2 1.6%
  • Other

    Votes: 8 6.5%

  • Total voters
    124
Early Tina and Aretha are not "pop" to me at all.
It was pop music at that time.
David Gilmour, on more than one occasion, has referred to Pink Floyd as "the pop group I used to be in" or something to that degree. It sounds wild to think of Pink Floyd as a pop band, but pop is short for popular, so any band or artist that is popular can theoretically be called pop, although I think most now associate a certain sound as being pop (short catchy songs where vocals are the main focus, for example).
 
I had to cast my vote for Whitney Houston, AKA The Voice.

She can be gigged for not writing her own material, but as a singer, her voice remains unparalleled. I posted this link in the M-AD thread where I featured her, and I post it here again as Exhibit A of her vocal prowess. She could and did do it all. She even made a top 20 pop hit out of The Star Spangled Banner.

Her first 9 singles released all hit #1.

With just 7 studio albums and 3 movie soundtracks, these are the awards she earned:

22 American Music Awards
16 Billboard Music Awards
15 Billboard Year-End Awards
2 BRIT Awards
55 Cash Box Year-End Awards
2 Dove Awards
2 Primetime Emmy Awards
8 Grammy Awards
2 Grammy Hall of Fame entries
19 NAACP Image Awards
6 People's Choice Awards
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Member
9 Soul Train Music Awards
14 World Music Awards
31 Guinness World Records

Gone too soon, and pound-for-pound the greatest female singer ever.
 
I had to cast my vote for Whitney Houston, AKA The Voice.

She can be gigged for not writing her own material, but as a singer, her voice remains unparalleled. I posted this link in the M-AD thread where I featured her, and I post it here again as Exhibit A of her vocal prowess. She could and did do it all. She even made a top 20 pop hit out of The Star Spangled Banner.

Her first 9 singles released all hit #1.

With just 7 studio albums and 3 movie soundtracks, these are the awards she earned:

22 American Music Awards
16 Billboard Music Awards
15 Billboard Year-End Awards
2 BRIT Awards
55 Cash Box Year-End Awards
2 Dove Awards
2 Primetime Emmy Awards
8 Grammy Awards
2 Grammy Hall of Fame entries
19 NAACP Image Awards
6 People's Choice Awards
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Member
9 Soul Train Music Awards
14 World Music Awards
31 Guinness World Records

Gone too soon, and pound-for-pound the greatest female singer ever.
I would put Whitney and Adele in the class of greatest female singers.
 
Can't believe I'm the only Beyonce voter. Have you been sleeping all century?
That country album that wasn’t a country album was awesome

I really liked it as well.
I wasn’t being serious 🧐

I think GM miiiiiight have caught that, my man. But you also might know that.

I’ll just jump in with both feet anyway. I’m on the phone today so I type dumb stuff and can’t delete it. My touch screen sucks.
 
I had to cast my vote for Whitney Houston, AKA The Voice.

She can be gigged for not writing her own material, but as a singer, her voice remains unparalleled. I posted this link in the M-AD thread where I featured her, and I post it here again as Exhibit A of her vocal prowess. She could and did do it all. She even made a top 20 pop hit out of The Star Spangled Banner.

Her first 9 singles released all hit #1.

With just 7 studio albums and 3 movie soundtracks, these are the awards she earned:

22 American Music Awards
16 Billboard Music Awards
15 Billboard Year-End Awards
2 BRIT Awards
55 Cash Box Year-End Awards
2 Dove Awards
2 Primetime Emmy Awards
8 Grammy Awards
2 Grammy Hall of Fame entries
19 NAACP Image Awards
6 People's Choice Awards
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Member
9 Soul Train Music Awards
14 World Music Awards
31 Guinness World Records

Gone too soon, and pound-for-pound the greatest female singer ever.
She also has my all time personal favorite performance of the national anthem. That was an epic performance that still nails it for me.
 
I had to cast my vote for Whitney Houston, AKA The Voice.

She can be gigged for not writing her own material, but as a singer, her voice remains unparalleled. I posted this link in the M-AD thread where I featured her, and I post it here again as Exhibit A of her vocal prowess. She could and did do it all. She even made a top 20 pop hit out of The Star Spangled Banner.

Her first 9 singles released all hit #1.

With just 7 studio albums and 3 movie soundtracks, these are the awards she earned:

22 American Music Awards
16 Billboard Music Awards
15 Billboard Year-End Awards
2 BRIT Awards
55 Cash Box Year-End Awards
2 Dove Awards
2 Primetime Emmy Awards
8 Grammy Awards
2 Grammy Hall of Fame entries
19 NAACP Image Awards
6 People's Choice Awards
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Member
9 Soul Train Music Awards
14 World Music Awards
31 Guinness World Records

Gone too soon, and pound-for-pound the greatest female singer ever.
She also has my all time personal favorite performance of the national anthem. That was an epic performance that still nails it for me.

The version we heard was not live, it was pre-recorded. She sang live to the crowd, but the broadcast used her pre-recorded track (which was later sold in record stores).
 
Can't believe I'm the only Beyonce voter. Have you been sleeping all century?
That country album that wasn’t a country album was awesome

I really liked it as well.
I wasn’t being serious 🧐

I think GM miiiiiight have caught that, my man. But you also might know that.

I’ll just jump in with both feet anyway. I’m on the phone today so I type dumb stuff and can’t delete it. My touch screen sucks.
iirc he posted that he liked the album before but with my memory, who knows
 
I had to cast my vote for Whitney Houston, AKA The Voice.

She can be gigged for not writing her own material, but as a singer, her voice remains unparalleled. I posted this link in the M-AD thread where I featured her, and I post it here again as Exhibit A of her vocal prowess. She could and did do it all. She even made a top 20 pop hit out of The Star Spangled Banner.

Her first 9 singles released all hit #1.

With just 7 studio albums and 3 movie soundtracks, these are the awards she earned:

22 American Music Awards
16 Billboard Music Awards
15 Billboard Year-End Awards
2 BRIT Awards
55 Cash Box Year-End Awards
2 Dove Awards
2 Primetime Emmy Awards
8 Grammy Awards
2 Grammy Hall of Fame entries
19 NAACP Image Awards
6 People's Choice Awards
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Member
9 Soul Train Music Awards
14 World Music Awards
31 Guinness World Records

Gone too soon, and pound-for-pound the greatest female singer ever.
She also has my all time personal favorite performance of the national anthem. That was an epic performance that still nails it for me.

The version we heard was not live, it was pre-recorded. She sang live to the crowd, but the broadcast used her pre-recorded track (which was later sold in record stores).
Really. After 25 years your gonna drop this on me now. I can't do this. Ha ha
 
I had to cast my vote for Whitney Houston, AKA The Voice.

She can be gigged for not writing her own material, but as a singer, her voice remains unparalleled. I posted this link in the M-AD thread where I featured her, and I post it here again as Exhibit A of her vocal prowess. She could and did do it all. She even made a top 20 pop hit out of The Star Spangled Banner.

Her first 9 singles released all hit #1.

With just 7 studio albums and 3 movie soundtracks, these are the awards she earned:

22 American Music Awards
16 Billboard Music Awards
15 Billboard Year-End Awards
2 BRIT Awards
55 Cash Box Year-End Awards
2 Dove Awards
2 Primetime Emmy Awards
8 Grammy Awards
2 Grammy Hall of Fame entries
19 NAACP Image Awards
6 People's Choice Awards
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Member
9 Soul Train Music Awards
14 World Music Awards
31 Guinness World Records

Gone too soon, and pound-for-pound the greatest female singer ever.
She also has my all time personal favorite performance of the national anthem. That was an epic performance that still nails it for me.

The version we heard was not live, it was pre-recorded. She sang live to the crowd, but the broadcast used her pre-recorded track (which was later sold in record stores).
Really. After 25 years your gonna drop this on me now. I can't do this. Ha ha
sorry:

Traditionally performed at sports games in the US, "The Star-Spangled Banner" was performed by Houston at the original Tampa Stadium for Super Bowl XXV in 1991. Although Houston was singing live, she was singing into a dead microphone, and television viewers were hearing a non-live pre-recorded version of the anthem due to her musical director making her aware of the risks of performing live, including the sound of the crowd, jets flying overhead, and other such distractions from pregame activities.
 
I had to cast my vote for Whitney Houston, AKA The Voice.

She can be gigged for not writing her own material, but as a singer, her voice remains unparalleled. I posted this link in the M-AD thread where I featured her, and I post it here again as Exhibit A of her vocal prowess. She could and did do it all. She even made a top 20 pop hit out of The Star Spangled Banner.

Her first 9 singles released all hit #1.

With just 7 studio albums and 3 movie soundtracks, these are the awards she earned:

22 American Music Awards
16 Billboard Music Awards
15 Billboard Year-End Awards
2 BRIT Awards
55 Cash Box Year-End Awards
2 Dove Awards
2 Primetime Emmy Awards
8 Grammy Awards
2 Grammy Hall of Fame entries
19 NAACP Image Awards
6 People's Choice Awards
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Member
9 Soul Train Music Awards
14 World Music Awards
31 Guinness World Records

Gone too soon, and pound-for-pound the greatest female singer ever.
She also has my all time personal favorite performance of the national anthem. That was an epic performance that still nails it for me.

The version we heard was not live, it was pre-recorded. She sang live to the crowd, but the broadcast used her pre-recorded track (which was later sold in record stores).
Really. After 25 years your gonna drop this on me now. I can't do this. Ha ha
sorry:

Traditionally performed at sports games in the US, "The Star-Spangled Banner" was performed by Houston at the original Tampa Stadium for Super Bowl XXV in 1991. Although Houston was singing live, she was singing into a dead microphone, and television viewers were hearing a non-live pre-recorded version of the anthem due to her musical director making her aware of the risks of performing live, including the sound of the crowd, jets flying overhead, and other such distractions from pregame activities.
On behalf of all bitter Jets fans, I think they should take away the Super Bowl victory from the Giants.
 
Went Whitney. Truly amazing.

Madonna and Taylor Swift are top-notch marketers but not among the elite vocal talents.

Rihanna and Mariah Carey deserve consideration
 
I had to cast my vote for Whitney Houston, AKA The Voice.

She can be gigged for not writing her own material, but as a singer, her voice remains unparalleled. I posted this link in the M-AD thread where I featured her, and I post it here again as Exhibit A of her vocal prowess. She could and did do it all. She even made a top 20 pop hit out of The Star Spangled Banner.

Her first 9 singles released all hit #1.

With just 7 studio albums and 3 movie soundtracks, these are the awards she earned:

22 American Music Awards
16 Billboard Music Awards
15 Billboard Year-End Awards
2 BRIT Awards
55 Cash Box Year-End Awards
2 Dove Awards
2 Primetime Emmy Awards
8 Grammy Awards
2 Grammy Hall of Fame entries
19 NAACP Image Awards
6 People's Choice Awards
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Member
9 Soul Train Music Awards
14 World Music Awards
31 Guinness World Records

Gone too soon, and pound-for-pound the greatest female singer ever.
I would put Whitney and Adele in the class of greatest female singers.


Linda
 
Odd bump. Thought there was already a swift thread.

Have yet to hear a Swift tune that left me hoping I'd hear it again. Not awful, just not memorable.

Of the choices above i'd go with Franklin or Madonna, but I voted other for Donna Summer. She deserves a mention.

Try "State of Grace". If that doesn't take, you're just not a fan and that's okay. :thumbup:
Didn't do much for me. Nothing memorable about it. Made me somewhat want to just go and listen to the Mondays or Sugarcubes instead.
 
Odd bump. Thought there was already a swift thread.

Have yet to hear a Swift tune that left me hoping I'd hear it again. Not awful, just not memorable.

Of the choices above i'd go with Franklin or Madonna, but I voted other for Donna Summer. She deserves a mention.

Try "State of Grace". If that doesn't take, you're just not a fan and that's okay. :thumbup:
Didn't do much for me. Nothing memorable about it. Made me somewhat want to just go and listen to the Mondays or Sugarcubes instead.

All good, brother. You gave it a go, it's not your jam.

I prefer The Sundays to the Mondays personally. ;)
 
Odd bump. Thought there was already a swift thread.

Have yet to hear a Swift tune that left me hoping I'd hear it again. Not awful, just not memorable.

Of the choices above i'd go with Franklin or Madonna, but I voted other for Donna Summer. She deserves a mention.

Try "State of Grace". If that doesn't take, you're just not a fan and that's okay. :thumbup:
Didn't do much for me. Nothing memorable about it. Made me somewhat want to just go and listen to the Mondays or Sugarcubes instead.

All good, brother. You gave it a go, it's not your jam.

I prefer The Sundays to the Mondays personally. ;)
I did put Mondays didn't I? Geez. I meant Sundays. But i think I actually like the Happy Mondays better than The Sundays. It's close.

Anyways, I don't begrudge anyone their Swift fandom.
 
Voted Madonna. Her nor Swift is the most talented nor has the best voice of that group. Their followings are/were huge. I feel like Madonna crossed gender lines more than Swift. i maybe know 2 Swift songs, though I'd obvi know more if I had daughters. I knew every Madonna song even as a teenage boy. Part of that was likely the rise of MTV, with Madonna dancing to Burning Up rolling around on the floor. And didn't stop there obvi with selling sex. Swift seems to be a more normal and likable person

Every other artist listed has a better voice. But Madonna and Swift seem to have the songs that connect with their target audience..
 
Came to say this is obviously Madonna. Good points about Taylor Swift and Beyoncé. But it’s still Madonna. There is no TS without Madonna. By the way, I thought Lady Gaga was on track to dethrone them all but she has not carried on like I thought she might.
 
It surprises me how close this pole is. I grew up in the 80's and Madonna was huge, but I don't think she can hold a candle to TS when it comes to a singer/song writer.
 
Came to say this is obviously Madonna. Good points about Taylor Swift and Beyoncé. But it’s still Madonna. There is no TS without Madonna. By the way, I thought Lady Gaga was on track to dethrone them all but she has not carried on like I thought she might.
Not sure why that matters. That is like saying, "Tom Brady isn't better than Joe Montana because w/o Joe Cool there is no TB12." Apples and oranges, yes, but the idea that whomever came first has to be better doesn't pass the sniff test.

It surprises me how close this pole is. I grew up in the 80's and Madonna was huge, but I don't think she can hold a candle to TS when it comes to a singer/song writer.
No, she cannot. And I like a fair amount of Madonna songs, but Swift is a far better songwriter.
 
I couldn't recognize one single Swift song and back in the day couldn't take a leak without hearing a Madonna song...voted Swift. The fact that Swift has a her own thread on a football forum tells me she ascended to the top spot.
 
I think innovation and breaking new ground matters. Madonna did that. Taylor did that, too, but in the 21st century it looks a lot different. Crossing boundaries, going viral, it’s all impressive. I’ll give Taylor her due. And she’s a great songwriter. She just doesn’t sing well. I have a hard time getting past that. Maybe I’m making the argument for Whitney Houston now, considering she could do it all but also blows away all but maybe Adele in the singing category. Anyway, Madonna just hits differently—she’s still my pick.
 
Voted Madonna. Her nor Swift is the most talented nor has the best voice of that group. Their followings are/were huge. I feel like Madonna crossed gender lines more than Swift. i maybe know 2 Swift songs, though I'd obvi know more if I had daughters. I knew every Madonna song even as a teenage boy. Part of that was likely the rise of MTV, with Madonna dancing to Burning Up rolling around on the floor. And didn't stop there obvi with selling sex. Swift seems to be a more normal and likable person

Every other artist listed has a better voice. But Madonna and Swift seem to have the songs that connect with their target audience..

This is where I’m at. Neither are in the same stratosphere of vocal talent as Whitney,Linda,Adele/Aretha.
 
I think innovation and breaking new ground matters. Madonna did that. Taylor did that, too, but in the 21st century it looks a lot different. Crossing boundaries, going viral, it’s all impressive. I’ll give Taylor her due. And she’s a great songwriter. She just doesn’t sing well. I have a hard time getting past that. Maybe I’m making the argument for Whitney Houston now, considering she could do it all but also blows away all but maybe Adele in the singing category. Anyway, Madonna just hits differently—she’s still my pick.
With all due respect, saying Whitney could do it all really isn't accurate. She was an incredible singer, yes, but not really a songwriter. She had 23 top 10 hits here in America, and was a credited writer on a grand total on 1 of them (she was one of three writers on that song). That is not meant as a criticism, as not everyone has every tool in the toolbox, but saying she could do it all just isn't quite accurate. One of the best singers ever? Absolutely. No one can take that from her.
 
Neither Lennon nor McCartney were near the same level vocally as Freddie Mercury but the Beatles are a "greater" band than Queen.

Sure others are better singers than Swift. But there's more to it than that when considering "greatest" pop star.
 
Came to say this is obviously Madonna. Good points about Taylor Swift and Beyoncé. But it’s still Madonna. There is no TS without Madonna. By the way, I thought Lady Gaga was on track to dethrone them all but she has not carried on like I thought she might.
Serious question from someone who hasn't heard much Swift: why the bolded? Other than they're both female pop stars I'm not seeing the similarity.
 
Neither Lennon nor McCartney were near the same level vocally as Freddie Mercury but the Beatles are a "greater" band than Queen.

Sure others are better singers than Swift. But there's more to it than that when considering "greatest" pop star.
This is meant in general and not directed at anyone here, but I think the mentality to which you are referring is a rock fan's general thinking. "Pop music is all about the singing and not the music," so therefore the the best pop singers are the best pop stars. But, like you said, it's not that simple. Neither Swift nor Madonna would ever win a greatest singer ever contest, but both have done just fine given their capabilities and, what some might call, limitations. One doesn't need to belt it out like Whitney or Freddie to be a good singer.
 
i have tried to think about this and for me it is between madonna and taylor and i dont think that madonna had as big of an impact upon society as taylor i mean there is a whole generation of girls where the world revolves around taylor i dont think that was the same for madonna and i lived through both now is a lot of that based on the rise of social media probably but all the same i think that taylor had a bigger impact on society with the movie and the eras tour and all that jazz take that to the bank bromigos
 
I was going to say that it was so odd that TS is winning this but didn't have any albums on the album countdown but I looked back and saw that Folklore did make it. I've only ever listened to one TS but I know and like a few Madonna songs. I think you could argue that TS is better since she's insanely popular and has a big pile of cash but I also think that her competition is alot less than what Madonna faced in the 80's and 90's. Madonna is a household name 40 years later...Taylor is the IT girl now but will she be a household name in 40 years?


Madonnas roster is more impressive though. :P
 
I was going to say that it was so odd that TS is winning this but didn't have any albums on the album countdown but I looked back and saw that Folklore did make it. I've only ever listened to one TS but I know and like a few Madonna songs. I think you could argue that TS is better since she's insanely popular and has a big pile of cash but I also think that her competition is alot less than what Madonna faced in the 80's and 90's. Madonna is a household name 40 years later...Taylor is the IT girl now but will she be a household name in 40 years?


Madonnas roster is more impressive though. :P

Taylor has been doing it for 20 years. Her debut album in 2006 was a massive hit. She's also been insanely successful and popular across 2 different genres. Can't say that about Madonna.

And, Taylor is a very good musician, playing multiple instruments including guitar, piano and banjo. How many instruments can Madonna play?
 
I was going to say that it was so odd that TS is winning this but didn't have any albums on the album countdown but I looked back and saw that Folklore did make it. I've only ever listened to one TS but I know and like a few Madonna songs. I think you could argue that TS is better since she's insanely popular and has a big pile of cash but I also think that her competition is alot less than what Madonna faced in the 80's and 90's. Madonna is a household name 40 years later...Taylor is the IT girl now but will she be a household name in 40 years?


Madonnas roster is more impressive though. :P

Taylor has been doing it for 20 years. Her debut album in 2006 was a massive hit. She's also been insanely successful and popular across 2 different genres. Can't say that about Madonna.

And, Taylor is a very good musician, playing multiple instruments including guitar, piano and banjo. How many instruments can Madonna play?
I would have guessed none but google said

Madonna is known for her versatility and has demonstrated proficiency in several musical instruments.

Instruments Played:

  • Guitar: She plays both acoustic and electric guitar, often using it in her live performances.
  • Piano: Madonna is skilled at playing the piano, which she uses for songwriting and live shows.
  • Drums: She has been seen playing drums, particularly during rehearsals and in some performances.
  • Bass Guitar: Madonna has also played bass guitar, showcasing her ability to handle various string instruments.
Additional Skills:

  • Vocals: While not an instrument, her vocal ability is a significant aspect of her music career.
  • Songwriting: Madonna writes and composes her music, often incorporating her instrumental skills into her creative process.
These instruments contribute to her dynamic performances and songwriting, reflecting her diverse musical talents.
 
I was going to say that it was so odd that TS is winning this but didn't have any albums on the album countdown but I looked back and saw that Folklore did make it. I've only ever listened to one TS but I know and like a few Madonna songs. I think you could argue that TS is better since she's insanely popular and has a big pile of cash but I also think that her competition is alot less than what Madonna faced in the 80's and 90's. Madonna is a household name 40 years later...Taylor is the IT girl now but will she be a household name in 40 years?


Madonnas roster is more impressive though. :P

Taylor has been doing it for 20 years. Her debut album in 2006 was a massive hit. She's also been insanely successful and popular across 2 different genres. Can't say that about Madonna.

And, Taylor is a very good musician, playing multiple instruments including guitar, piano and banjo. How many instruments can Madonna play?
I would have guessed none but google said

Madonna is known for her versatility and has demonstrated proficiency in several musical instruments.

Instruments Played:

  • Guitar: She plays both acoustic and electric guitar, often using it in her live performances.
  • Piano: Madonna is skilled at playing the piano, which she uses for songwriting and live shows.
  • Drums: She has been seen playing drums, particularly during rehearsals and in some performances.
  • Bass Guitar: Madonna has also played bass guitar, showcasing her ability to handle various string instruments.
Additional Skills:

  • Vocals: While not an instrument, her vocal ability is a significant aspect of her music career.
  • Songwriting: Madonna writes and composes her music, often incorporating her instrumental skills into her creative process.
These instruments contribute to her dynamic performances and songwriting, reflecting her diverse musical talents.

I'll use AI too.

Based on the information available, it appears that Taylor Swift is generally considered a more accomplished guitarist than Madonna.

Taylor Swift's guitar skills are acknowledged, especially within the context of her singer-songwriter style.

She's recognized for:

Solid Rhythm and Performance Skills: Maintaining a strong rhythm and confident performance while singing.
Effective Use of Techniques: Utilizing strumming, fingerpicking, and other techniques to create catchy melodies and intricate chord progressions that complement her songs.

Songwriting: Writing her own songs and often being the sole credited songwriter, which involves composing chord progressions on guitar and piano.

Critical Recognition: Being ranked among notable guitar players, with one source mentioning her as the 8th best guitarist of the last two decades.

In contrast, while Madonna has been shown playing guitar in performances and has reportedly learned the instrument, her guitar playing hasn't been a central or defining element of her musical career in the same way it has been for Taylor Swift.

One source notes she learned to play in 1999 but didn't consistently feature it in her studio recordings until later.

In essence, Taylor Swift's guitar playing is an integral part of her musical identity and songwriting process, while Madonna's involvement with the guitar seems to be more supplementary to her overall performance and artistic expression.
 

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