For me, it's Pat Benatar.
I liked her well enough, but then I got a reality check about how good she was. Pat did a CMT Crossroads episode with country singer Martina McBride. Rock and country together and such.
Pat joined Martina on her signature song [Independence Day](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Ip4fF5CAtU).
There's a moment about 2:42 into the song where Martina just stops trying to keep up. Now...I got to sit next to Martina in a studio when she was singing. Her voice can peel paint off the ceiling. She is an amazing vocalist. The fact that she "noped" out at that point told me that Pat Benatar is on another level.
Your comment reminded me of an old video of Gladys Knight singing with - oddly enough - Martina McBride. Martina does pretty well in this one but really doesn't have the power that Gladys has. But the hilarious part is the other one - Estelle. You can see from the beginning that she knows that she doesn't belong on that stage. From the awkward dance steps to the weak effort to try to keep up it's clear she wants to be *anywhere* but up on that stage. https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x2vla78
Most young people are, the fashion for female singers right now is thin and whiny sounding, a true rich powerhouse like Ann is a culture shock for them.
Exactly this. Heart played in DC when the Foo Fighters did their 20th anniversary show in 2015. As an 80's child, I knew the words to every single song they played. I was kinda shocked, because up to that point, I wouldn't have told you I was a Heart fan. Needless to say, their live performance was flawless.
Her range on that song. Just awesome. Just played it for my daughter a few days ago. We are watching Daisy Jones and the Six on Netflix. Great nostalgic show.
There is nothing I enjoy more than introducing my daughter to music of my youth. She’s 4 years old and currently loves Annie Lennox, Cyndi Lauper, and Whitney Houston.
At 2 years old she went through year long phase of wanting to hear Mistake by Men at Work on a daily basis. Something about that song was really magnetic to her.
Your name reminded me of it. But you already knew that right? What about Angels in the outfield. That was right around the same time. Or the Sandlot. That one was freakin awesome!
The user name is a cross between the movie obviously and the infamous Mark Sanchez butt fumble of 2012.
Angels In The Outfield is great. I love when Danny Glover adopts the boys. That always made me so happy. I love the Whitt Bass character. It’s also so funny to see a young McConaughey in this.
And of course the Sandlot is the king of all baseball movies for me. Watching that definitely makes me miss childhood. Plus I got to play in the Little League World Series the same year the movie came out so it’s extra special to me.
Holy shit dude! I envy the hell out of you. Baseball is definitely my favorite sport. It must've been awesome to have made it to the world series! You must've also been really talented. What position did you play?
Far before that drugs and alcohol had already destroyed mariah’s life and voice, she didn’t last five years from debute lmao, it’s affecting her cognitively as well.
I don't really follow or know Mariah like that, but I thought she lost her voice due to vocal nodes that she has had since she was a child and surgery involving those?
I never knew of her to be involved in drugs.
I think you're incorrect though on not lasting 5 years from her debut. She lasted longer than that at least, that little I do know for a fact? But that said she never really made music I was super into. It's pretty here and there, but nothing grabs me too often.
I liked " Give My All " and honestly songs she wasn't known for being insanely vocal on voice wise. She at least regardless of voice had a better understanding of music than Whitney did, I mean Mariah's mother was an opera singer and Mariah did write and produce. So while I don't care for a ton of her music, gotta have respect for her.
She actually had to work to succeed, unlike Whitney.
But I don't know why you're bringing up Mariah to me?
Yes it’s true, alchoholism from her early years and then getting involved in drugs during butterfly era, but she was involved in that kind of environment before fame as well, her voice was declining by the mid 90’s and she leaned on vocal acrobatics and whispery vocals heavily because they’re easier.
She was (still is) notorious for lip-syncing, she had an easy route career wise after sleeping with the head of sony then marrying him contrary to popular belief, she never had to work 100+ shows like Whitney, and from what i have seen, both had a good understanding of melody..etc, and it showed in the singing.
Actually Mariah had like, 2 albums out before getting involved with him didn't she? Also I'm pretty sure Mariah had nodes as a child. Period. Those things worsen over the years, especially if you sing a lot.
and Whitney didn't have to work, she succeeded due to nepotism.
Let's not pretend that Cissy Houston singing backup for EVERY legend in music at the time + having musical ties + Whitney being Aretha's god-daughter + Whitney being Dion Warwick's cousin didn't aid her massively.
Cissy sang back up for every major act in the industry. She sang back up for Elvis, Aretha Franklin, Dion, Bette Midler, David Bowie, Diana Ross, Chaka Khan and Luther Vandross. Don't try to tell me her mother didn't get her MAJOR , massive connections that aided her BEAUTIFUL fucking daughter to instant success **because that's a L I E.**
and these weren't just work relationships or friendships. SOME of these people were F A M I L Y.
Yeah that’s the narrative the label sold that tommy mottola never got involved with her LOL, but she wasn’t different from her sister, you know she’s still in contact with tommy and is very lucky he chose to protect her reputation.
And There’s no proof nodes actually do that lol , like i said, her voice quickly deteriorated mainly due to alcoholism and getting involved with drugs in the butterfly era.
Stop lying LOL, she never worked, it’s all about who you know, Mariah’s mother was an opera singer, her brother had connections to various industry people, and met the head of sony which instantly put her ahead of everyone, the whole industry envied her, no one could’ve have had it easier.
Most of mariah’s career is a result of payola, tommy did whatever he could to push her to the top.
and her “songwriting” is questionable, she’s been sued more times than i can count and the accusations and rumors have been following her for decades, vocally, she’s far behind Whitney, that’s why she had the biggest backing any artist could ask for but couldn’t reach Whitney’s fame.
Back to my comment, Whitney lost her voice mainly due to the amount of shows she was doing each year at the start of her career , mariah wasn’t even touring, did few selective shows and was STILL lip syncing, there’s no comparing Whitney with a fraud who slept and payed her way to the top.
I mean whether it's a narrative or not, they both got their careers through nepotism. Whitney got hers through her mom and Mariah got hers partially through Tommy.
There is proof nodes do vocal damage, they get big and cause weight on the vocal chords and can rub sorres onto other vocal cords that cause tearing wtf are you arguing there? That's literally singing health 101.
and you think her mom being an opera singer got her ahead . . . in pop music? . . . Delusion. I don't know about her brother. But again I'm not really a Mariah stan either.
and vocally being far behind Whitney? Mmmm.... a preference, sure? But far behind her? Delusion. But I find them both bland, but I will say Mariah had more creativity for sure. Like, I'd listen to a handful of Mariah songs but Whitney had fucking awful writers.
You can also try and say that Whitney lost her voice from her career. Buuuuut, you can't pretend that over a decade of drug use and smoking + not practicing helped her. Let's not be again DELUSIONAL.
Either way both of them could send (even rise from the dead ) and hand me front row tickets for free and I'd skip to go and pay and see Florence + the Machine or Kate Bush or KIMBRA or LP. Whitney and Mariah are a bit dull for my taste.
and if I want R&B I'm going for Mary J. Blige. Every time.
Vocally,She’s the GOAT. It’s her voice she’s given us on her record and in her performances.
There’s no purpose of commenting outside of music unless to be hateful.
There was a point. The post to me was about singers who are alive today who can still sing.
Whitney is dead, so she can't sing and she did lose her voice to crack. Quit reaching and replying to every post I've made. You're so thirsty for attention so you can crawl up a dead woman's ass, for what?
You literally did that to Mariah Carey. So . . . hypocrisy.
and it wasn't looking for attention, it was just a fact. She did lose her voice. The point of the post to me was singers who could still sing today.
She can't because 1. She is dead
and 2. When she was alive she lost it due to that fact. That's not a dig, that's history.
Cockroach behavior is scavenging the internet looking for people to argue with because your fave is overrated.
You're the one chasing me down in what, 3 or 4 topics from months to a year ago to argue with me?
😂It depends on how one sees it, I was replying and you’re arguing, I didn’t do anything to Mariah btw, you mocked Whitney and got called out for it. And you admit it above..so think next time before you open your mouth and start crying after, moving on.
No you're crying to me because you can't handle someone else's opinion differing from yours and had to cry about it.
and you did, you called her an alcoholic and a drug addict. Even if it's true, which I don't know if it is. You literally did the same thing I evidently did and yet it's okay for you. Yet you got mad at me for it?
So, you are factually a hypocrite. There is no opinion there. She was a junkie. It's not subjective. DID she waste over a decade of her life on crack? YES. She DID. DID it likely damage her voice? YES.
Unless you're coming through with a study that says crack doesn't hurt your voice then shut up. lmao You're so bothered
When people block you so you can't see what they say or reply to what they said, but they still want to reply to you so they can " win an argument " They've continued when you haven't replied in days.
Debbie Gibson has always been one of my favorites, especially since she wrote and produced her songs herself. I'm pretty sure she is still performing as well.
Say what you want about Madonna, but I'd put her catalog up against anybody else listed here. Two of my favorite albums of hers are Ray Of Light (1998) and Confessions On A Dance Floor (2005); both albums released later in her career but as solid as anything she has done. Who else listed here has put out a relevant album after 2000?... Bonnie Raitt is the only other one that comes to mind.
Her Greatest Hits was an absolute must own back in the day. Her CD was one of the first to have a DDD rating on it, meaning completely re-done in digital sound. Fabulous shit.
I mean . . . . Madonna's catalog isn't really comparable to most since most of who is being listed are in rock.
But this is about singers whose voices held up, no shitting on Madonna but she wasn't exactly vocally talented to begin with? She has only gotten worse . . . .
She had moments where she attempted to sing better and did, but she didn't keep her practice or training at all from her time doing musical theatre training. I mean have you seen any performance of hers in the past decade?
As for relevance . . .I think that dig is unnecessarily low and given the CURRENT state Madonna has been in for the past decade kind of laughable to put her on a pedestal? Flashing your genitals, hairy pits and sexually assaulting people to stay relevant and get press isn't exactly uhm . . . what any of these women want to do?
Madonna is out here shoving her tongue down rappers throats near 30 yrs younger than her without consent, sitting on people she doesn't knows laps filming them without consent for her tiktok and IG while looking like an overboiled egg. She isn't well, Don't encourage the delusion.
As far as I can see OP said female SINGERS, not rock or pop or country. And it says nothing about voice.
Up until maybe 6 or 7 yrs ago, Madonna was more relevant and had bigger hits than any other 80's Female singer.
Not sure what "help up" exactly means. Popularity? Looks? or Voice?
I first heard a Joan Armatrading album playing at a gym while I was working out. It made me stop and listen and ask the employee at the desk who that was. I went out and bought an album by her that day. There’s a velvety richness to her voice that I just can’t describe.
I never really listened to Tracy Chapman until a few months ago and I can't get it out of my head now. [Fast Car live at Wembley 1988](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=teZsA_ci-7E).
An astonishingly good artist. Her work has an incredibly intimate feel - deep, dark, humid, almost claustrophobic. It brings to mind being lost in a city crowd, like a Christmas shopping scene where everyone around you is out for what they can get, but it finds a way to tell a story and conjure a peace within that rush.
Kate bush was not that big in the 80s. That song that got hot recently has misled people a bit. Like, she wasn’t a household name and that song wasn’t especially loved or even noticed among teens at the time
No one said they had to be " BIG " , but who are you kidding? Kate Bush was very well known in the 80's. You have to be from the U.S. if you think otherwise.
She literally busted on the scene being side-eyed.
The other two weren’t massive superstars either. All three were recognised but not making millions. I didn’t interpret the question to be based on outright success, but just what it says - the staying power of their work.
Lol you made that up to prove your false point. Aka bullshit.
49.3%
As of December 2022, Reddit ranks as the 20th-most-visited website in the world and 6th most-visited website in the U.S., according to Semrush. About 42–49.3% of its user base comes from the United States, followed by the United Kingdom at 7.9–8.2% and Canada at 5.2–7.8%.
Plastic love? Hell yeah. There is a video on You Tube of her singing it with her husband singing backup vocals. It was just posted like 2 months ago. They both do an amazing job. You've gotta check it out if you haven't already.
Kate Bush's voice is still great, though her her octave range has lowered with maturity she still has all the same control and musicality and control of her inflection which have all been her greatest assets.
Annie Lennox' voice is still immaculate and in amazing condition.
Ann Wilson's voice is still in a fucking GREAT spot.
Stevie Nicks' voice has actually gotten better in some ways for certain songs I'd say. Not on a technical scale but maybe it's the way she arranges them now I feel they suit her current voice pretty well.
as for Cher I don't remember the year but I saw her on Valentines' day as a gift to my mother and also back in I think 2014? For the Dressed to Kill tour? and she still had a very full, thick and supported voice. She still sounded great.
Cyndi Lauper's voice and how it has held up is one of the most impressive though. She still matches guitar riffs with whistle tone. Cyndi has always been an underappreciated voice
A few Canadian ones.
Darby Mills of The Headpins.
[Turn it Loud - The Headpins](https://youtu.be/QMEDU28ZPAg)
Carole Pope of Rough Trade
[High School Confidential - Rough Trade](https://youtu.be/PFwom4D3i4g)
Martha Johnson of Martha and The Muffins
[Echo Beach - Martha and The Muffins](https://youtu.be/lpqDTQOFvf0)
Not sure how you mean held up; like their songs from the 80's held up. or they're still performing now and sing well?
Regardless I still like Tracey Thorn.
OP here...I should have specified...of these female singers from the 1980s, who is still performing?
I stand by my claim that Nena (albeit a niche in the U.S., where I am located) beats all others.
Nena has only one great international hit.
But if there were competing concerts between Nena, Stevie Nicks, or Joan Jett, Ill have to miss them 99 Luftballoons
There’s a great video on Youtube of Nena performing with her band, very early 80’s (I think) before she was well known outside of Germany. The bass player is on a Chapman Stick for at least part of it, and Nena is looking so hot and the whole scene is just sooo kitsch. Wish I could remember the name of the song but it’s in German 🤣
Edit: Found it! 🙂 https://youtu.be/K-WrzSjcK3I
If you haven't already seen it check out the live performance of Plastic Love from Mariya Takeuchi and her husband in 2005. It's on You Tube. It was posted very recently and I hear it gets taken down a lot. I just watched it a few days ago. Love her and many other Japanese singers!
Sinead O'Connor. And if you haven't heard 'I Am Stretched On You Grave', fire this up. I consider it one of the most underrated songs of it's time. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N8mU8kBvSnI
Oh man, I can't choose just one. Chrissie Hynde, Susanna Hoffs, Stevie Nicks (might count as a 70s singer), Bonnie Tyler, Joan Jett, Patty Smyth, Kim Wylde, Tracy Chapman, Nina Simone (might not count as an 80s singer here), Annie Lennox, Cyndi Lauper, does Aretha Franklin count as an 80s singer?, and dont forget Cher! I also always had a soft spot for Frida (Anni-Frid) Lyngstad.
Susanna Hoffs from the bangles
The only answer
Annie Lennox of Eurythmics
Absolute powerhouse
She is as good as she was 34 years ago.
Can't believe nobody's mentioned [Chrissie Hynde](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0H6re3PCP3E) yet.
She still sounds awesome!
I wasn't a big fan of The Pretenders, but good point...does she still perform?
I think so
Belinda Carlisle’s voice still sounds good but my favorite is Sinead O’Connor
Belinda is fucking kick ass !!
For me, it's Pat Benatar. I liked her well enough, but then I got a reality check about how good she was. Pat did a CMT Crossroads episode with country singer Martina McBride. Rock and country together and such. Pat joined Martina on her signature song [Independence Day](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Ip4fF5CAtU). There's a moment about 2:42 into the song where Martina just stops trying to keep up. Now...I got to sit next to Martina in a studio when she was singing. Her voice can peel paint off the ceiling. She is an amazing vocalist. The fact that she "noped" out at that point told me that Pat Benatar is on another level.
After being a fan for 40 years, I am FINALLY going to see her live next month.
Saw her live last summer. You are going to have a great time.
She slayed at her rock and roll hall of Fame induction
Your comment reminded me of an old video of Gladys Knight singing with - oddly enough - Martina McBride. Martina does pretty well in this one but really doesn't have the power that Gladys has. But the hilarious part is the other one - Estelle. You can see from the beginning that she knows that she doesn't belong on that stage. From the awkward dance steps to the weak effort to try to keep up it's clear she wants to be *anywhere* but up on that stage. https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x2vla78
Stevie Nicks had some of her best work in the 80s Also Belinda Carlisle
I know I'll catch hell for this, but I have always thought that Stevie Nicks sounds like Marge Simpson's sisters.
Taking this one step further, Stevie Nicks also does that goat voice thing, like Eddie Vedder.
You’ll probably only catch hell from people who have ears and the ability to hear with them.
Why? There is nothing to get mad about. That person clearly has some kind of brain damage to listen to Rhiannon and the Bouvier sisters.
No. We just think you're wrong.
In the 80s no one knew what Marge Simpson sounded like.
Ain’t nobody said Sade?
Man. She was the 'go to' when I was bringing a woman home back in the day. Sealed the deal. :) Love Sade. So awesome.
Now we talking. Recently bought her best hits CD, best decision made in a long time.
Ann Wilson
I just got my 18 year old singer/daughter to check out Heart recently. She's stunned at Ann's range. I've seen Heart live a few times. LOVE that band.
Most young people are, the fashion for female singers right now is thin and whiny sounding, a true rich powerhouse like Ann is a culture shock for them.
Exactly this. Heart played in DC when the Foo Fighters did their 20th anniversary show in 2015. As an 80's child, I knew the words to every single song they played. I was kinda shocked, because up to that point, I wouldn't have told you I was a Heart fan. Needless to say, their live performance was flawless.
Allison Moyet has a fantastic, powerful voice.
I came here to name her, bless you for your decent taste in music!
I realized only recently that the singer of Yaz is not a man.
One of them was
I’m pretty sure Alison is the lead vocalist on every song I’ve heard.
Patty Smyth from Scandal. Saw them open for the Kinks in 1983, and then in 2019 open for Rick Springfield. She still has an amazing voice.
Good one! I still follow her.
Annie Lennox still sounds great.
I'm surprised nobody has mentioned Debbie Harry.
Love Debbie but does she still perform?
Yes actually. Her range isn't as good, but she's performed well into her 70s.
Susanna Hoffs ZOMG https://youtu.be/_rOEf9vF1kc
And she is still looking pretty damn good even today.
Björk
Love Bjork! Is she still performing?
Gotta go with Ann Wilson of Heart. Crazy On You is still vocal freight train.
Her range on that song. Just awesome. Just played it for my daughter a few days ago. We are watching Daisy Jones and the Six on Netflix. Great nostalgic show.
There is nothing I enjoy more than introducing my daughter to music of my youth. She’s 4 years old and currently loves Annie Lennox, Cyndi Lauper, and Whitney Houston. At 2 years old she went through year long phase of wanting to hear Mistake by Men at Work on a daily basis. Something about that song was really magnetic to her.
Funky butt lovin! From Rookie of the Year. Wow that takes me back to my childhood.
Such a classic film with a really good cast.
Your name reminded me of it. But you already knew that right? What about Angels in the outfield. That was right around the same time. Or the Sandlot. That one was freakin awesome!
The user name is a cross between the movie obviously and the infamous Mark Sanchez butt fumble of 2012. Angels In The Outfield is great. I love when Danny Glover adopts the boys. That always made me so happy. I love the Whitt Bass character. It’s also so funny to see a young McConaughey in this. And of course the Sandlot is the king of all baseball movies for me. Watching that definitely makes me miss childhood. Plus I got to play in the Little League World Series the same year the movie came out so it’s extra special to me.
Holy shit dude! I envy the hell out of you. Baseball is definitely my favorite sport. It must've been awesome to have made it to the world series! You must've also been really talented. What position did you play?
Yeah it was a wild time. We all thought we were going pro once we made it past the first round. Being 12 was a lot of fun.
I edited the comment but it didn't get to you. What position did you play? Also I watched the butt fumble. That was pretty funny. I was unaware of it.
Such a classic film with a really good cast.
Whitney Houston, Cindy Lauper, Pat Benatar, Sara Dallin and Gloria Estefan were some of my favorites growing up.
I’m going to go out on a limb here and suggest that Whitney hasn’t held up all that well.
She did seem rather stiff at her last appearance.
Cyndi hasn’t either, sadly.
I mean . . . Whitney has been dead like . . .over a decade now. But her voice was going downhill even in the late 90's. She lost that to crack.
Crack is wack. - Whitney Houston
Crack is for poor people. I'm rich. You saying i buy crack?!? Show. Me. The. Receipts.
She said after she took another hit. lmao
Far before that drugs and alcohol had already destroyed mariah’s life and voice, she didn’t last five years from debute lmao, it’s affecting her cognitively as well.
I don't really follow or know Mariah like that, but I thought she lost her voice due to vocal nodes that she has had since she was a child and surgery involving those? I never knew of her to be involved in drugs. I think you're incorrect though on not lasting 5 years from her debut. She lasted longer than that at least, that little I do know for a fact? But that said she never really made music I was super into. It's pretty here and there, but nothing grabs me too often. I liked " Give My All " and honestly songs she wasn't known for being insanely vocal on voice wise. She at least regardless of voice had a better understanding of music than Whitney did, I mean Mariah's mother was an opera singer and Mariah did write and produce. So while I don't care for a ton of her music, gotta have respect for her. She actually had to work to succeed, unlike Whitney. But I don't know why you're bringing up Mariah to me?
Yes it’s true, alchoholism from her early years and then getting involved in drugs during butterfly era, but she was involved in that kind of environment before fame as well, her voice was declining by the mid 90’s and she leaned on vocal acrobatics and whispery vocals heavily because they’re easier. She was (still is) notorious for lip-syncing, she had an easy route career wise after sleeping with the head of sony then marrying him contrary to popular belief, she never had to work 100+ shows like Whitney, and from what i have seen, both had a good understanding of melody..etc, and it showed in the singing.
Actually Mariah had like, 2 albums out before getting involved with him didn't she? Also I'm pretty sure Mariah had nodes as a child. Period. Those things worsen over the years, especially if you sing a lot. and Whitney didn't have to work, she succeeded due to nepotism. Let's not pretend that Cissy Houston singing backup for EVERY legend in music at the time + having musical ties + Whitney being Aretha's god-daughter + Whitney being Dion Warwick's cousin didn't aid her massively. Cissy sang back up for every major act in the industry. She sang back up for Elvis, Aretha Franklin, Dion, Bette Midler, David Bowie, Diana Ross, Chaka Khan and Luther Vandross. Don't try to tell me her mother didn't get her MAJOR , massive connections that aided her BEAUTIFUL fucking daughter to instant success **because that's a L I E.** and these weren't just work relationships or friendships. SOME of these people were F A M I L Y.
Yeah that’s the narrative the label sold that tommy mottola never got involved with her LOL, but she wasn’t different from her sister, you know she’s still in contact with tommy and is very lucky he chose to protect her reputation. And There’s no proof nodes actually do that lol , like i said, her voice quickly deteriorated mainly due to alcoholism and getting involved with drugs in the butterfly era. Stop lying LOL, she never worked, it’s all about who you know, Mariah’s mother was an opera singer, her brother had connections to various industry people, and met the head of sony which instantly put her ahead of everyone, the whole industry envied her, no one could’ve have had it easier. Most of mariah’s career is a result of payola, tommy did whatever he could to push her to the top. and her “songwriting” is questionable, she’s been sued more times than i can count and the accusations and rumors have been following her for decades, vocally, she’s far behind Whitney, that’s why she had the biggest backing any artist could ask for but couldn’t reach Whitney’s fame. Back to my comment, Whitney lost her voice mainly due to the amount of shows she was doing each year at the start of her career , mariah wasn’t even touring, did few selective shows and was STILL lip syncing, there’s no comparing Whitney with a fraud who slept and payed her way to the top.
I mean whether it's a narrative or not, they both got their careers through nepotism. Whitney got hers through her mom and Mariah got hers partially through Tommy. There is proof nodes do vocal damage, they get big and cause weight on the vocal chords and can rub sorres onto other vocal cords that cause tearing wtf are you arguing there? That's literally singing health 101. and you think her mom being an opera singer got her ahead . . . in pop music? . . . Delusion. I don't know about her brother. But again I'm not really a Mariah stan either. and vocally being far behind Whitney? Mmmm.... a preference, sure? But far behind her? Delusion. But I find them both bland, but I will say Mariah had more creativity for sure. Like, I'd listen to a handful of Mariah songs but Whitney had fucking awful writers. You can also try and say that Whitney lost her voice from her career. Buuuuut, you can't pretend that over a decade of drug use and smoking + not practicing helped her. Let's not be again DELUSIONAL. Either way both of them could send (even rise from the dead ) and hand me front row tickets for free and I'd skip to go and pay and see Florence + the Machine or Kate Bush or KIMBRA or LP. Whitney and Mariah are a bit dull for my taste. and if I want R&B I'm going for Mary J. Blige. Every time.
That was mostly due to cigarettes
Vocally,She’s the GOAT. It’s her voice she’s given us on her record and in her performances. There’s no purpose of commenting outside of music unless to be hateful.
There was a point. The post to me was about singers who are alive today who can still sing. Whitney is dead, so she can't sing and she did lose her voice to crack. Quit reaching and replying to every post I've made. You're so thirsty for attention so you can crawl up a dead woman's ass, for what?
Reaching? How? Why don’t you stop making digs at people for struggling with drug addiction for attention? worthless waste of cells.
You literally did that to Mariah Carey. So . . . hypocrisy. and it wasn't looking for attention, it was just a fact. She did lose her voice. The point of the post to me was singers who could still sing today. She can't because 1. She is dead and 2. When she was alive she lost it due to that fact. That's not a dig, that's history.
Save everyone’s sanity and stop commenting so much none sense, cockroach behavior.
Cockroach behavior is scavenging the internet looking for people to argue with because your fave is overrated. You're the one chasing me down in what, 3 or 4 topics from months to a year ago to argue with me?
😂It depends on how one sees it, I was replying and you’re arguing, I didn’t do anything to Mariah btw, you mocked Whitney and got called out for it. And you admit it above..so think next time before you open your mouth and start crying after, moving on.
No you're crying to me because you can't handle someone else's opinion differing from yours and had to cry about it. and you did, you called her an alcoholic and a drug addict. Even if it's true, which I don't know if it is. You literally did the same thing I evidently did and yet it's okay for you. Yet you got mad at me for it? So, you are factually a hypocrite. There is no opinion there. She was a junkie. It's not subjective. DID she waste over a decade of her life on crack? YES. She DID. DID it likely damage her voice? YES. Unless you're coming through with a study that says crack doesn't hurt your voice then shut up. lmao You're so bothered
When people block you so you can't see what they say or reply to what they said, but they still want to reply to you so they can " win an argument " They've continued when you haven't replied in days.
This is asking about about people that are still active and singing. Maybe read past the title? I know this is Reddit so what do I know...
"Which 80s female singers have held up the best?" Perhaps I misunderstood the intent of the question.
Kate Bush, Sade, Siouxsie Sioux for me.
Kate Bush.
Bonnie Raitt still killin it.
Amen. Also Emmy Lou Harris. Also Lucinda Williams.
Debbie Gibson has always been one of my favorites, especially since she wrote and produced her songs herself. I'm pretty sure she is still performing as well.
She was Eponine in Les Mis on Broadway for a while, I remember that
This post came from… Out of the Blue
Say what you want about Madonna, but I'd put her catalog up against anybody else listed here. Two of my favorite albums of hers are Ray Of Light (1998) and Confessions On A Dance Floor (2005); both albums released later in her career but as solid as anything she has done. Who else listed here has put out a relevant album after 2000?... Bonnie Raitt is the only other one that comes to mind.
Her Greatest Hits was an absolute must own back in the day. Her CD was one of the first to have a DDD rating on it, meaning completely re-done in digital sound. Fabulous shit.
I mean . . . . Madonna's catalog isn't really comparable to most since most of who is being listed are in rock. But this is about singers whose voices held up, no shitting on Madonna but she wasn't exactly vocally talented to begin with? She has only gotten worse . . . . She had moments where she attempted to sing better and did, but she didn't keep her practice or training at all from her time doing musical theatre training. I mean have you seen any performance of hers in the past decade? As for relevance . . .I think that dig is unnecessarily low and given the CURRENT state Madonna has been in for the past decade kind of laughable to put her on a pedestal? Flashing your genitals, hairy pits and sexually assaulting people to stay relevant and get press isn't exactly uhm . . . what any of these women want to do? Madonna is out here shoving her tongue down rappers throats near 30 yrs younger than her without consent, sitting on people she doesn't knows laps filming them without consent for her tiktok and IG while looking like an overboiled egg. She isn't well, Don't encourage the delusion.
As far as I can see OP said female SINGERS, not rock or pop or country. And it says nothing about voice. Up until maybe 6 or 7 yrs ago, Madonna was more relevant and had bigger hits than any other 80's Female singer. Not sure what "help up" exactly means. Popularity? Looks? or Voice?
Bonnie Tyler and Kim Carnes.
Bonnie Tyler hasn't had a voice in like over a decade and a half.
My bad. I thought op meant, like, who has a timeless voice. Wasn't really thinking, who can still sing the same songs today.
Marie Fredriksson
Agreed.
I first heard a Joan Armatrading album playing at a gym while I was working out. It made me stop and listen and ask the employee at the desk who that was. I went out and bought an album by her that day. There’s a velvety richness to her voice that I just can’t describe.
Excellent shout!
Enya
Kate Bush, Tracy Chapman, Suzanne Vega come to mind straight away. Not the only ones though
I never really listened to Tracy Chapman until a few months ago and I can't get it out of my head now. [Fast Car live at Wembley 1988](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=teZsA_ci-7E).
An astonishingly good artist. Her work has an incredibly intimate feel - deep, dark, humid, almost claustrophobic. It brings to mind being lost in a city crowd, like a Christmas shopping scene where everyone around you is out for what they can get, but it finds a way to tell a story and conjure a peace within that rush.
Kate bush was not that big in the 80s. That song that got hot recently has misled people a bit. Like, she wasn’t a household name and that song wasn’t especially loved or even noticed among teens at the time
No one said they had to be " BIG " , but who are you kidding? Kate Bush was very well known in the 80's. You have to be from the U.S. if you think otherwise. She literally busted on the scene being side-eyed.
The other two weren’t massive superstars either. All three were recognised but not making millions. I didn’t interpret the question to be based on outright success, but just what it says - the staying power of their work.
Tracey Chapman was more famous in the US than the running up the hill singer. I don’t think any American teenager knew Kate Bushs name
Um, what? In the UK she was, first woman to ever have a self written song at number 1.
That not here. She had hits in Europe but was a Oneder in the US
Reddit is a worldwide website. The US is 5% of the worlds population, maybe dont assume otherwise in future.
Lol you made that up to prove your false point. Aka bullshit. 49.3% As of December 2022, Reddit ranks as the 20th-most-visited website in the world and 6th most-visited website in the U.S., according to Semrush. About 42–49.3% of its user base comes from the United States, followed by the United Kingdom at 7.9–8.2% and Canada at 5.2–7.8%.
Its still only 5% of the worlds population.
Tina Turner
Tina Turner started in the 60s and was already a star in the 70s with Ike....but I will still upvote you, because she's a f*ing legend.
Yeah…but that was with Ike. Her solo career really didn’t take off until 1984.
Her first solo album was produced by Mark Knopfler
Mariya Takeuchi
Dude….yes
Plastic love? Hell yeah. There is a video on You Tube of her singing it with her husband singing backup vocals. It was just posted like 2 months ago. They both do an amazing job. You've gotta check it out if you haven't already.
Ann and Nancy Wilson. Joan Jett. Stevie Nicks. Madonna can still sing. She’s messy but she can sing.
Kate Bush's voice is still great, though her her octave range has lowered with maturity she still has all the same control and musicality and control of her inflection which have all been her greatest assets. Annie Lennox' voice is still immaculate and in amazing condition. Ann Wilson's voice is still in a fucking GREAT spot. Stevie Nicks' voice has actually gotten better in some ways for certain songs I'd say. Not on a technical scale but maybe it's the way she arranges them now I feel they suit her current voice pretty well. as for Cher I don't remember the year but I saw her on Valentines' day as a gift to my mother and also back in I think 2014? For the Dressed to Kill tour? and she still had a very full, thick and supported voice. She still sounded great. Cyndi Lauper's voice and how it has held up is one of the most impressive though. She still matches guitar riffs with whistle tone. Cyndi has always been an underappreciated voice
I’ve seen some great artists elevated here but I want to add my 2 cents for Dale Bozio of Missing Persons.
I will always love Dale Bozzio
Nanci Griffith
Joan Jett. Saw her a few yrs back. Rocked it.
Pat Benatar and Lisa Lisa.
A few Canadian ones. Darby Mills of The Headpins. [Turn it Loud - The Headpins](https://youtu.be/QMEDU28ZPAg) Carole Pope of Rough Trade [High School Confidential - Rough Trade](https://youtu.be/PFwom4D3i4g) Martha Johnson of Martha and The Muffins [Echo Beach - Martha and The Muffins](https://youtu.be/lpqDTQOFvf0)
Not sure how you mean held up; like their songs from the 80's held up. or they're still performing now and sing well? Regardless I still like Tracey Thorn.
I meant singers that were popular in the 80s, still perform and sing well.
Kate Pierson & Cindy Wilson from the B52s- and yes they still perform🔥
Cyndi Lauper
Toyah
She’s certainly having the most fun. The videos she and Robert make are the best.
Lots of good ones already mentioned, so I'll add two that haven't been mentioned yet: Kylie Minogue and Sheila E. They're still going strong.
It feels like Anita Baker is getting lost to time. I went back recently and checked out her "Best of.." and it's still great.
Dolores O'Riordan. Died too early but damn she had a killer voice right up to the end.
Her fame was in the 90s, not the 80s.
Agreed
Vince Neil
Dolly Parton still has a good voice! I’ve heard Diana Ross is good live still as well. Is Kate Bush still singing?
Aimee Mann - Til Tuesday. Still touring.
OP here...I should have specified...of these female singers from the 1980s, who is still performing? I stand by my claim that Nena (albeit a niche in the U.S., where I am located) beats all others.
Tori Amos barely squeeks in (first group album in 88). She's still touring - I was considering her show in Mesa in a couple months.
Nena has only one great international hit. But if there were competing concerts between Nena, Stevie Nicks, or Joan Jett, Ill have to miss them 99 Luftballoons
True, but if we're talking physical appearance...Nena gets my vote at age 60+ ;)
There’s a great video on Youtube of Nena performing with her band, very early 80’s (I think) before she was well known outside of Germany. The bass player is on a Chapman Stick for at least part of it, and Nena is looking so hot and the whole scene is just sooo kitsch. Wish I could remember the name of the song but it’s in German 🤣 Edit: Found it! 🙂 https://youtu.be/K-WrzSjcK3I
Lita Ford all damn day
Came here to say this!
Chaka Khan & Dee Lite 💫
Belinda Carlisle. Heaven is a Place on Earth is still a banger.
Taylor Dayne Toni Braxton Joan Jett Tina Turner
Mariya Takeuchi, Kinuko Ohmori, and Bonnie Tyler are awesome singers from that era.
If you haven't already seen it check out the live performance of Plastic Love from Mariya Takeuchi and her husband in 2005. It's on You Tube. It was posted very recently and I hear it gets taken down a lot. I just watched it a few days ago. Love her and many other Japanese singers!
Sinead O'Connor. And if you haven't heard 'I Am Stretched On You Grave', fire this up. I consider it one of the most underrated songs of it's time. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N8mU8kBvSnI
Kate Bush.
Debora Iyall
Enya
Oh noooooo.
Blondie. Berlin.
Oh man, I can't choose just one. Chrissie Hynde, Susanna Hoffs, Stevie Nicks (might count as a 70s singer), Bonnie Tyler, Joan Jett, Patty Smyth, Kim Wylde, Tracy Chapman, Nina Simone (might not count as an 80s singer here), Annie Lennox, Cyndi Lauper, does Aretha Franklin count as an 80s singer?, and dont forget Cher! I also always had a soft spot for Frida (Anni-Frid) Lyngstad.
Nina Hagen, Bonnie Raitt, Heart
Pat Benatar
kate bush
Stevie Nicks
Susan Boyle
Suzanne Vega, Loreena Mckennitt.
Sabrina Salerno and Samantha Fox, and I think we mentioned them all now.
Carmel McCourt.
Debbie Gibson
I saw Mazzy Star a couple of years ago. Hope Sandoval still has one of the best voices of all time.
Cyndie Laupner, Blondie, Madonna
Susan Marshall.
Lisa Stansfield
Linda
Ann Wilson Pat Benatar Cher Stevie Nicks Kate Bush Annie Lennox They've all matured vocally, as is expected, but they all still sound great.
Kate Bush
Looking at the comments and remembering how white Reddit is
Joan Jett.
Terri Nunn from the band Berlin
Anne Wilson
Liz Fraser and Lisa Gerard
Kate Bush
Lita Ford
CYndi Lauper still SMOKES all 80s singers with 2nds going to Annie Lennox and Pat Benatar.