Leif Ove Andsnes (1970-) The brilliant Norwegian pianist has made a name for himself as one of the greatest musicians working today, not least with his recordings of Beethoven's Piano Concertos with The Mahler Chamber Orchestra. Dan Condon. No matter what kinda music you were into, there were women making it with just as much class, passion and skill as their male counterparts. Here we have a list of 50 women who blazed a trail through the 90s. Thanks in no small part to Beth's astonishing contribution, it's a record that has transcended its roots and entered the hallowed pantheon of timeless classic albums. By the time the wider world heard Elizabeth Fraser's transcendent tones on Massive Attack's Teardrop' in 1998, she had already established the hallmarks of her unique musical voice over a decade earlier. Another renowned singer of the 1990s, Mariah Carey started imitating her mother, a professional opera singer. While the first two No Doubt albums rippled beneath the surface for the band, it was 1995's Tragic Kingdom that propelled them to superstardom. It's often said a true artist is one who polarises people. But Bjelland and Babes In Toyland were most powerful in taking so many of the trappings of girl hood dolls, fairies, virginal white dresses and recasting them against a primal dissonant for of punk. Twains third studio album Come On Over garnered even more attention, spawning the hit singles That Dont Impress Me Much, Youre Still the One and From This Moment On. Elliott embarked on her solo career in 1996 and released her debut studio album in 1997, Supa Dupa Fly, which featured the hit single The Rain (Supa Dupa Fly). She got one of her biggest icons at the time, Siouxie Sioux, tattooed on her arm for inspiration. Born to a musical family, Brandy began singing at a young age in her church choir, performing her very first solo at just two years old. Gwen Stefani is perhaps best known for her role as the lead singer for the band No Doubt, an American rock band formed in the mid-80s and gained popularity in the mid-90s. Female Piano Players & Songwriters. Her successive project A Camp solidified her credentials, via collaborations with Smashing Pumpkins' James Iha and Mark Linkous from Sparklehorse. There was only so much she could do, but she certainly led by example. Down City Streets' is one of the many highlights on Archie Roach's brilliant debut album Charcoal Lane. Janet English was determined to make the macho mosh pits at Spiderbait shows safe spaces for women to let loose. Fraser joined the Cocteau Twins in 1981 at the age of 17, just one year after having to leave her home, though it wasnt until 1990 that the band hit it big with their sixth studio album, Heaven or Las Vegas. The album spawned Morissettes biggest hit, Ironc, as well as other loved songs such as Hand in My Pocket, All I Really Want and Head over Feet. She dialled up her otherworldly alien looks with a snarl and attitude that played perfectly into the hands of MTV and adoring fans. Film roles such as Evita and others throughout the 90s sealed her stardom and today she has sold more records than any other woman with over 300 million records sold worldwide. I dreamed about being her best friend and talking about punk rock and art and how girls playing music should have more control over their image and their art. It was around this time that Fraser also contributed to the 4AD music collective This Mortal Coil. Known as the frontwoman of one of the most iconic grunge bands of the 1990s, Garbage, Shirley Ann Manson became a feminist icon and is adored for her rebellious nature and fashion style. They separated themselves from the Britpop pack through a smart reinvention of 70s New York art punk, giving them a cool swagger that was hard to ignore. Her love for spoken word turned to music when she met one of her favorite authors, Kathy Acker, who suggested that she start a band because no one goes to spoken word shows.. Uncompromising and unapologetic in every sense, Courtney Love is a woman who, for right or wrong, backed herself. As stated by Simon Reynolds in New Statesman, The Cocteau Twins are still the best by far at the 4AD ethereal dreamscape, thanks largely to the extraordinary voice of Liz Fraser. As frontwoman of Magic Dirt through the 90s, Adalita and her band wrote progressive, noisy, ambitious, emotional and unpretentious songs that blended noise, pop, grunge and indie rock into a seamless package. After making one record with them, she formed Belly. On top of all that, she's also been inducted into the ARIA Music Hall of Fame in 2015. Basically, if you click on a product link on this site and buy that product we get a small commission at no extra cost to you. The album earned Twain four Grammy Awards and became the best-selling studio album by a female artist across all genres, selling over 40 million copies worldwide. Hole released their second studio album in 1993, Live Through This, which was met with critical acclaim and success. But, even then, no one could have predicted just how far that star would ascend. Born in Kennett, Missouri, Sheryl Crow started as a music teacher for an elementary school. I just wished she hadn't left it so long. Sandoval joined Mazzy Star in 1990 when they released their debut studio album, She Hangs Brightly. So let's talk about Tanya Donelly's other stuff. These days she is demurely dressed, her makeup refined, a devoted mother to Frances Bean and well-regarded for her acting. Pop stars can sing and dance - that's a given. Releasing her first English-language album in 1990, Dion has been one of the worlds most influential female voices ever since. The pressure of the mainstream media spotlight undoubtedly contributed to the band's untimely demise after only two albums. First Australians and Traditional Custodians of the lands where we Then the highly inconsistent Universal Mother. At the same time, she struggled to execute her vision in a male-dominated music industry. Joan Jett Annie Lennox (Eurythmics) Cyndi Lauper Pat Benatar Chrissie Hynde (Pretenders) Ann Wilson (Heart) Grace Slick (Starship) Joni Mitchell Tori Amos Stevie Nicks (Fleetwood Mac) Debbie Harry (Blondie) Linda Ronstadt Suzanne Vega Bonnie Tyler Then she went solo and churned out hit after hit, including "Ain't No Mountain High Enough," "Touch Me in the Morning," and "Theme from Mahogany.". After her 19-song demo Country Cousins managed to catch the attention of record producer Kedar Massenburg, Badu was signed to Universal Records and recorded the track Your Precious Love with fellow neo soul artist DAngelo. Despite or perhaps because of - battles with her mental health through the years, Kristin Hersh has always been an immensely powerful songwriter. She later dropped out of high school and formed the folk music duo, Going Home, alongside her friend Sylvia Gomez at the age of 20. There's no one that defines 90s electronic pop music quite like Bjrk, and it's remarkable to think that she is now just as radical and relevant as she ever was, with an energy that shows no sign of waning. At the age of four, Badu started singing at the Dallas Theater Center and The Black Academy of Arts and Letters, which was her introduction into music and stage performance. Nawal studied at the Music Institute in Kuwait. She has been referred to as "The Queen of Christian Pop". We're getting ahead of ourselves, though - let's get down to the business at hand and reveal the greatest '80s and '90s keyboard players, as voted for by you. Though Love has been faced with controversy throughout her career, her talent and contributions to the alternative scene of the 1990s are undeniable, as she remains one of the most legendary women in modern rock music. Maria Joo Pires. New-age music is broadly defined as relaxing, even "meditative", music that is primarily instrumental. Next: Greatest black female singers in music history. After three decent albums, Blake Babies split in 1991 and Hatfield began a far more successful solo career. Crow toured for a time with Michael Jackson, and she recorded background vocals for artists like Jimmy Buffett and Don Henley. Her debut album Hey Babe was a solid start, but 1993's Become What You Are put her poster on the wall for every indie loving music kid of the 90s. Aaliyahs legacy and music continues to live on despite her tragic death, as she is considered one of the greatest female R&B artists of all time. So, there you have it. Spektor started her classical piano training in Moscow where she grew up - her mother was a music professor in the Soviet Union. After encountering record producer Jay Oliver while performing one evening, she began singing professionally for advertising jingles. The Fray perform tracks rom 'Helios' in 2014. Richard Kingsmill. Dorothy Markek. I still remember the first time I heard Dolores O'Riordan's voice, over a cassette player at my mum's work hanging out one day after school. A fellow employee, a younger Irish woman, had brought an album into the office. Karen Leng. As Twain was beginning her career as a solo artist, her stepfather and mother died in a car accident when she was just 19 years old. Do you like my tight sweater? Prolific, talented, and wildly successful, the Andrews Sisters sold millions of records throughout the 1930s-1950s and still hold the title as the best-selling artists to ever emerge from Minnesota. Lists that rank the very best musicians most of us have never heard of. The musical featured two new songs, Predator and Smiting, alongside her other hits, and opened on Broadway in fall of 2019, and has received 15 Tony Award nominations since. At the age of 5, she became the youngest pianist to be accepted into the Peabody Conservatory Of Music. Her second studio album, Da Real World, was released two years later and was met with critical acclaim as it featured artists such as Big Boi of OutKast and rapper Niccole Wray. She was approached by Anne Barret who took over as her talent manager and convinced her that she should record a short demo of four songs. At the age of 11 she learned to play the acoustic guitar and later formed a folk-rock band alongside her sister. Women weren't always a big part of the music industry. 20 Best 90s Female Singers Ranked (with Videos), Growing up in a small town in South Carolina with little to do, I spent the majority of my adolescence listening to music and writing stories. Her abilities remain strong as ever today. Photo: Lunchbox LP. Her singles were topping the billboards in a few short years. Jean Leloup. 73 Metascore. Dan Condon. The band split in 1996, reforming in 2007 and releasing a new album for their loyal fanbase. Dan Condon. In fact, her sophomore album title When the Pawn which at the time broke the record for the longest ever album title was Apple's response to negative public sentiment toward her. Houstons fame and influence have touched lives everywhere, and her powerful voice continues to grace the music industry. The '90s was a pivotal time for female singers and musicians. Her soulful rendition of hip hop makes her unique and easily recognizable. Win Butler and Regine Chassagne (Arcade Fire) A boy from Texas married a girl from Quebec and had a little band called Arcade Fire. Sam Wicks. She saw multiple singles and chart-toppers from her second album, as well as the Grammy Award-winning song Any Man of Mine.. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Its success was largely due to its striking lead single which, in the hands of any singer less than Chrissy Amphlett, would have been butchered and turned into something gratuitous and cheap. She is known as Shaikhat Al Tarab (The Queen of Classic Music) and Qaitharat Al Khaleej (Harp of Khaliji Song). While their first two albums had limited success, it was a remix of Sing it Back' which gave Murphy her breakthrough success at the end of the decade. She died on January 27, 1972. But we're not going to talk about Kurt Cobain or Friends or get wistful about the days of less digitally connected existence . Karen Leng. The song became an international hit and led the album to become the top-selling album worldwide for the first half of 1995 and was the worlds best-selling album by a European artist that same year. She then collaborated with other artists throughout the 1990s, getting her name into the industry. The song was later featured on their debut album American Thighs, which became certified gold. At the age of 19 after just graduating high school, Morissette released Jagged Little Pill which was her break into the mainstream internationally. Their first breakthrough track was the fiercely catchy Seether' later revealed to be about their fearless leader which earned them a support slot with Hole. Before I launch into all the stuff about how Elizabeth Fraser's songs got me through high school and a multitude of personal melodramas I advise you to drown me out by turning up Bluebeard' really loud. The song went on, Mari Christina Digby ( MAR-ee-AY; born April 16, 1983) is an American singer, songwriter, guitarist and pianist known for her acoustic cover version of Rihanna's "Umbrella", which was posted on YouTube in 2007 (and has since been viewed over 22 million times). Early Rockers of the 1950s. There are many more that we werent able to include either. Shirley Manson certainly is one of the best female singers of the 90s and earned a spot on this list. Selling millions of records and winning numerous awards worldwide. Ruby Hunter, Roach's life partner, wrote the song about her own life. One of the biggest names in 1990s pop and alternative rock music, Alanis Nadine Morissette rose to stardom in 1995 with her internationally acclaimed album Jagged Little Pill. But Phair's genius goes well beyond that significant first splash. Multiculturalism led to a rise in alternative music with the hip hop, rave, pop punk and grunge scenes becoming some of the most prominent mainstream movements. She was introducing girls to a world of feminism and empowerment. She inspired girls (and boys) to start bands and be fearless. I dreamed about being her best friend and talking about punk rock . Born Madonna Louis Ciccone in Bay City, Michigan, Madonna is often considered one of pop cultures most influential figures. Recent projects included Holidays On Ice with Dean Manning and solo works. The sweetness of their melodies acts like the nectar of the pitcher plant drawing our senses inward and it's all too late before we realise we've slid down the slippery slope into a world filled with the surreal and the macabre. Her third album Only Everything cemented Hatfield's strengths as a distinct vocalist and natural songwriter. All images on our website are the property of their respective owners. The 1995 album featured one of Twains biggest hits Any Man of Mine and sold over 20 million copies internationally. Her first album in 1968, Joni Mitchell, produced by David Crosby, set her on a path to becoming the leading folk performer of the 1960s and 1970s. Miller Piano Specialists December 2, 2019 3 Min Read. 7. Gemma Pike. Don't want to see ads? She broke the mould and made a new one, all the while making us want to dance (Who can forget Get Your Freak On'? Their debut studio album, Pussy Whipped, was released in 1993 and featured one of their most iconic songs to this day, Rebel Girl. See more ideas about piano, musician, piano player. She appeared on the Australian soap opera Neighbours until 1994. If you don't, you need to fix that: 1993's Star is one of the great guitar pop records of the 90s and holds up remarkably, while 1995's King isn't far behind. Not everyone loved it, but tracks like Polyester Bride' and What Makes You Happy' are quite simply signs of pop genius. Early rocker Wanda Jackson had a robust career. She garnered critical acclaim for her portrayal of Eva Peron in Evita, a role that saw her reinvent herself again as she took home a Golden Globe and Artist Achievement award. It was around this time that she discovered her love for songwriting. Along with her contributions with the band, Lee has also participated on other musical projects including Walt Disney Records' Nightmare Revisited and Muppets: The Green Album. You might enjoy our lists of famous female jazz pianistsand celebrities who play piano. Following Mazzy Stars hiatus in 1997, Sandoval went on to form her own band, Hope Sandoval and the Warm Inventions in 2000, which she has fronted ever since. The Andrews Sisters. On that 1997 release, Kylie stood tall and worked and wrote alongside the likes of James Dean Bradfield of Manic Street Preachers, Dave Ball and Rob Dougan. With the hit single Genie in a Bottle, in 1999, it wasnt long before Aguilera was a star. It's astonishing that Ella Hooper was 13-years-old when she and older brother Jesse formed Killing Heidi in Violet Town in 1996. Next up is Janet Jackson who was born in Gary, Indiana, the youngest in a family of 10 children which included Michael Jackson, who is widely recognized as the King of Pop. Dorothy Markek. Luckily for me, when I asked my mum's co-worker for a copy of the tape, she made me two. Big Freedia (Freddie Ross) Born in New Orleans: January 28, 1978 Age: 42 Video unavailable Watch on YouTube Watch on A bounce performer and singer, Big Freedia helped put the underground sound of. It was catchy, strange, angsty, fun, literate, nave, beautiful and raucous, but it all came together so cohesively.