The 100 most important women in pop – places 29 to 25

Music knows no gender: the struck string, the kicked foot drum or the loop in the audio software – everything is completely gender-neutral. Nice thought, right?

But beyond the tone and beat, the charged theme certainly plays a role. Music, once it has left the instruments, is always context. Music depicts realities and also influences them.

There is no need to tell anyone today that pop and society have become more diverse over the decades. But anyone who likes to scratch their beard with all the movement and prefers to turn around again is a tradition-conscious pop culture canon. Countless lists are still topped by Dylan and the Beatles – Radiohead are still seen as young challengers here. This view may also have an appeal for some, but when it comes down to the argument that there are so few influential female musicians, then the lights dim.

We dedicate ourselves in the current MUSIKEXRESS hence all the influential women in the music business. As obvious as all of this may be, the impulses that female acts have given us in addition to their hits are still valuable. Keep it up, we’ve only just begun.

Here is a sixteenth teaser of the list of the 100 most important women in pop – places 29 to 25:

29th place: Whitney Houston

With her gigantic, three-octave voice, she not only brought gospel back into pop and paved the way for the triumph of R’n’B in the 90s, but also helped, like only Michael Jackson and the “Cosby Show”, to black people forever to anchor it in the mainstream of pop culture and society as a whole. She also made her way into the cinema with blockbusters like “The Bodyguard”. With 411 awards won, Whitney Houston is the most awarded artist of all time.

Without her There might not be a President Obama. Plus, “I Will Always Love You” composer Dolly Parton would be several million poorer.

(Stephan Rehm Rozanes)

28th place: Vivienne Westwood

It would be hard to find anyone who had more influence on the look of pop. After Westwood renamed her shop on London’s King’s Road SEX in the mid-70s, she invented – also in contrast to hippie fashion – the punk look, or, from today’s perspective, the defining expression of it: complete with leather, safety pins and Check pattern. The Sex Pistols, managed by Westwood’s partner in crime Malcolm McLaren, were her early models; later Pharrell, Dua Lipa, Doja Cat and Harry Styles wore her designs, which have long been part of high fashion.

Without her There wouldn’t be the Sex Pistols’ famous “God Save The Queen” motif.

(David Numberger)

27th place: Björk

She pushes the boundaries of what is considered impossible in many genres. The Icelandic artist offers an avant-garde type of multi-dimensional sound network that has made art pop more widely accessible overall. Last but not least, David Byrne and Travis Scott say they were massively influenced by Björk Guðmundsdóttir, aka Björk.

Without her There would be one less important example of the fact that there is not only path A, but also B and C. Björk sings in such a way that she always reaches her limit. Often enough her pieces crack and crumble and the earlier punk in her shines through.

(Hella Wittenberg)

26th place: Courtney Love

The timing couldn’t have been worse: Loves Band Hole’s second album was released a week after the suicide of her all-powerful husband Kurt Cobain. While LIVE THROUGH THIS was a notable success, it was marred by rumors that Cobain had written a majority of the songs. Bullshit. The record is a masterpiece that can only come from a woman. Central themes are motherhood and postnatal depression. Carried by an incredible knack for poppy melodies and conveyed with passion and aggression that is otherwise only known from Cobain. Then two found each other.

Without her no Distillers, no Dum Dum Girls, no Lana Del Rey. Love once said, “I want every girl in the world to grab a guitar and start screaming.” The world obeyed.

(Stephan Rehm Rozanes)

25th place: Rihanna

Robyn Rihanna Fenty scored a hit for the ages with “Umbrella” in 2010. Her career is crowned by nine Grammys, entries in the Guinness Book of Records, years of chart presence and film roles. The Barbadian singer was discovered and promoted by Jay-Z, but she was never under the thumb of a man. Except perhaps for a short time with Chris Brown, who beat her up and who she consequently reported and sent into oblivion. “Riri” is now worth $1.7 billion, has two children with rapper ASAP Rocky and earns more money from her cosmetics and fashion line than from music. Thanks to Rihanna’s inclusive Savage-Fenty underwear, all clothing sizes can find something suitable and give the middle finger to hetero-normative beauty ideals.

Without her The term “Independent Boss Babe” would have to be defined differently.

(Désirée Pezzetta)

+++ Our current issue has been in stores since February 9th. There is the complete list of the 100 most important women in pop. Here we often share excerpts from the rankings. +++