Music by women

[AliceWhirled]

I've decided to seek out female artists to listen to. The music industry is so male dominated, with women often only tolerated if they act out male fantasy, so I'm going to seek out the women's voice.

The final push was hearing the Beyonce is the first woman to headline the main stage at Glastonbury ever. That's 'right on' Glastonbury. And that is ever.

So if anyone would like to join me, and share recommendations, please do. Really please do as my recommendations thus far will be pitiful.

La Roux
Frou Frou
Teddy bear stockholm
Paramore
Michelle Branch
Amy Studt
Stacie Orrico
Kelly Clarkson
Lily Allen
Denali (Linked cos they're quite difficult to find)
Ms Dynamite
Mary J Blige

(Some I have on my last.fm profile at the moment)

No need to apologise Tiddlerslate. I have alphabetical sorting on the spreadsheet and a delete key I am still resisting the urge to write a formula to find and delete duplicates.

Oooh, Laura Veirs.

And Liz Phair. Definitely Liz Phair, particularly 'Exile In Guyville'. Amazing stuff.

Funny that nobody has mentioned the most provocative, articulate and dangerous female artist of all- Diamanda Galas.
Try some of her "covers" for a start - "Gloomy Sunday" is a good start. If you're really brave, try listening to "Defixiones" or "Plague Mass" in the dark on your own. Frightening music.
I usually find that she can clear a room.

I'm sorry if I'm repeating what other people have suggested.

You must include the totally amazing Ani Di Franco, she's a wonderful musician and song-writer.
kd lang
Michelle Shocked
Joan Armatrading (i've seen her lots of times, at Ronnie Scotts was fantastic)
Indigo Girls
Brandi Carlisle
Bat for Lashes
Unthanks
Julie Fowlis
Natalie Merchant
Kate Bush
Tori Amos
Nina Simone
Joni Mitchell
Kirsty McCall
Eliza Carthy
Martha Wainwright
Patti Smith
Beth Orton
Marianne Faithfull
Julie Felix
Sarah McClachlan
Teagan and Sarah
Carole King
PJ Harvey
Norma Waterson
Nanci Griffith
Lucinda Williams
Kathryn Williams
Mary Chapin Carpenter
Tracy Thorn (Everything But the Girl)
Liz Fraser (Cocteau Twins)
Shannon Smy (Seize the Day)
Alannis Morrisette
Laura Marling
Mary Coughlin
Kylie

Incredible music of a spiritual nature
Deva Premal
Padma Previ

And I must recommend Carolyn Hillyer, she has such empathy and such connectedness to women's experience and women's worlds and expression, and makes music of mud, water, bone, stone.. I'm a little obsessed after seeing her with her husband, Nigel Shaw, live in Glastonbury, the town not the festival, though she was probably there!

Ricki Lee Jones saw her in Paris two years ago, mindblowing
Judy Tzuke
Beth Neilson Chapmen
Nina Simone

I've added in new ones and Bertie's previous list (thanks Bertie) and we now have a list of 362!

I'm liking Sleigh Bells at the moment.

I'm having a big Joni Mitchell and Joan Baez phase at the moment. In a more contemporary vein, Caitlin Rose is brilliant. Also Warpaint are good, Camera Obscura, Regina Spektor, Frazey Ford, and loads of those already mentioned.

Some great older singers are:
Edith Piaf, Patsy Cline, Dinah Washington, Ella Fitzgerald, The Andrews Sisters

I know this is a leeetle off topic, but I thought I'd share there's a brilliant book called Sexing the Groove that looks in depth about gender and female stereotypes being entrenched in the music industry. Edited by Sheila Whiteley who lectures at Salford IIRC.

Really eye opening in how the music industry, like so many others, adheres to male and female roles. e.g. how women are "allowed in" to Rock as if its a male only preserve and that publications pidgeonhole female musicians in order not to allow any change in convention.

Its a good read if anyone is interested in the subject.

Can I plug my aunt as well? Abbie Lathe. She is a folk singer, only has one (not fantastic sound quality) song on youtube, but you can listen to a few tracks on her website.

BertieBotts, your aunt is great. Great voice and beautiful songs.

Lunachicks. In a just world, they would have been bigger then Green Day.

Red Aunts

As for proof that, contrary to popular myth, women can be awesome guitar players, the Trashwomen:

None of these bands got a fraction of the attention or credit they deserve and I could weep at the injustice.

More contemporary stuff, The Naked and The Famous are female fronted: The video is great too.

Has anyone mentioned Bic Runga yet:

Marissa Nadler
Nancy Elizabeth
Ann Peebles

Oops, forgot to add youtube links:

Nancy Elizabeth

Marissa Nadler

Ann Peebles

She also did this;

Which seems appropriate today...

What about women in bands with men that don't act as second fiddle / eye candy?

Tina Weymouth stuff - Talking Heads and Tom Tom club spring to mind.

What about Missy Elliot?

A surprising number of country songs are very feminist friendly - another "woman getting free from abusive man song" - most famously done by Martina McBride (written by Gretchen Peters, I believe) as a duet with Pat Benetar.....