Who had the best female singers in the 60’s 70’s and 80’s, the UK or USA?

Obviously some artists appear in more than one decade. Not a finite list of all female artists, just picked them from memory, feel free to mention ones I have omitted.

 

1960’s

 

UK - Lulu, Dusty Springfield, Sandie Shaw, Petula Clark, Helen Shapiro, Cilla Black, Shirley Bassey.

 

USA - Mamma Cass, Tina Turner, Diana Ross, Aretha Franklin, Joan Baez, Janis Joplin, Cher.

 

 

1970’s

 

UK - Kate Bush, Maggie Bell, Kiki Dee, Siouxsie Sioux

 

USA - Glady’s Night, Debbie Harry, Stevie Nicks, Joni Mitchell, Patti Smith, Carly Simon, Karen Carpenter, Donna Summer.

 

1980’s

 

UK - Annie Lennox, Alison Moyet, Kim Wilde, Kate Bush, Kirsty McColl.

 

USA - Madonna, Pat Benatar, Chrissie Hynde, Cyndi Lauper, Whitney Houston, Tina Turner, Debbie Harry, Belinda Carlisle.

 

 

Looking at individual star quality, vocals, chart success, choice of songs if you had to pick the UK or USA for each of the decades who would you go for?

 

 

I would probably pick the UK for the 60’s, USA for the 70’s and the UK for the 80’s. Mind you by tomorrow I might change that :)

 

Uk probably for 60s thn US 70s & 80s

uk... all the way... madonna might be a popular singer but her actual voice is p*** weak, in fact debbie harry's singing voice aint THAT good! (but effective for what it is :) )

 

thb the only us female that i would rate on the same footing as our greats is karen carpenter, oh and aretha franklin of course! :

I'd say a tie for the 60's, then the States claim the 70's and the UK hands-down winners for the 80's. I agree with Rob about Madonna - excellent entertainer and show-woman - but her singing is distinctly average. Same with Debbie Harry (although I do find her voice prefereable to Madonna's).

 

Interestingly no mention of Barbara Streisand who spanned all three decades (and more) ... and her voice would knock any of them into a cocked hat!

 

Norma

Edited September 15, 200816 yr by Norma_Snockers

Interestingly no mention of Barbara Streisand who spanned all three decades (and more) ... and her voice would knock any of them into a cocked hat!

 

Norma

 

yeah but her material was c**p! lol... mor singer, ok for 'mums n dads' but she aint rock n roll!

60s: USA

70s: USA

80s: USA

 

Kinda gutted the UK lose out on all 3 counts for me!

yeah but her material was c**p! lol... mor singer, ok for 'mums n dads' but she aint rock n roll!

 

Well I wouldn't call anything from Karen Carpenter 'rockin' in the aisles kind of music either! Even though Carpenter does have the sweetest, purest voice I've ever heard. Streisand's voice was far from middle-of-the road - I'm sure if she'd turned her hand (or voice) to rock ... she'd done better than 90% of the people in those lists!

 

And what the deuce is Belinda Carlise doing in these lists anyway? MOR personified.

 

Norma

For me it has to be:

 

1960s - On the whole it has to be UK although (apart from Motown & Atlantic/Stax acts) there were a few good female artists in the US

 

1970s - With the exception of Kate Bush i go for US

 

1980s - With the exception of Kate Bush i go for US

 

If you had mentioned 90s & 00s then it would definately have to be UK & European

These 2 decades the US females (in fact US music as a whole)is 90% rubbish.

Edited September 16, 200816 yr by Euro Music

Well I wouldn't call anything from Karen Carpenter 'rockin' in the aisles kind of music either! Even though Carpenter does have the sweetest, purest voice I've ever heard. Streisand's voice was far from middle-of-the road - I'm sure if she'd turned her hand (or voice) to rock ... she'd done better than 90% of the people in those lists!

 

And what the deuce is Belinda Carlise doing in these lists anyway? MOR personified.

 

Norma

 

well true... but streisand was never appealing to the 'young', her audience was always film/shows go-ers, at least the carpenters target audience were young ....even if they were 'squares'... lol.

 

and its no good saying 'what if'... the facts are that streisand DIDNT turn her hand to rock..

and its no good saying 'what if'... the facts are that streisand DIDNT turn her hand to rock..

 

I can read Mr Mush! No need to SHOUT! :arrr:

 

Norma

I can read Mr Mush! No need to SHOUT! :arrr:

 

Norma

 

it wasnt a shout, it was a stress :P, but italics seemed too soft an option .

... and you missed the apostrophe out between the n and the t. But that is a pedantic quibble and I'll forgive you for that one!

 

Norma

pretty odd that Elizabeth Fraser isn't on the list for the 80s....?

pretty odd that Elizabeth Fraser isn't on the list for the 80s....?

 

or sand denny from the 60's/70's

I did say I was doing it from memory :D ,and if you knew how bad mine was you'd understand :lol:

I did say I was doing it from memory :D ,and if you knew how bad mine was you'd understand :lol:

 

lol.. sounds like mine then!