The 100 most important women in pop – places 84 to 80

Music knows no gender: the struck string, the stepped 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 fifth teaser from the list of the 100 most important women in pop – places 84 to 80

Place 84: Martha Quinn & Nina Blackwood

Without these two VJs, MTV wouldn’t be the same: In the early years, the VJs set the tone for the development of music television – and the rise of music videos. Without their intelligence, personalities and wonderfully wild hairstyles, without their curated soundtracks, star interviews and commentary, even MTV would have been boring.

Without her: the MTV revolution would have fizzled out.

(Annett Scheffel)

83rd place: Shirley Manson

The red-haired rebel set new standards in the alternative rock scene with her band Garbage in the 90s. With her mix of grunge and indie, Shirley creates hits for the ages with songs like “Stupid Girl” and “Only Happy When It Rains.”

Without her: we would never have known that Scotland had more to offer than bagpipes.

(Désirée Pezzetta)

82nd place: Mahalia Jackson

Jackson was THE voice of gospel. With her, the Black Spirituals stepped out of the church and onto the big stage. Her 1947 recording of “Move On Up a Little Higher” sold eight million copies. Her voice later became the soundtrack of the civil rights movement.

Without her: Aretha Franklin’s rise would have been impossible.

(Annett Scheffel)

81st place: Marianne Faithfull

One thing she never wanted to be was a victim. In the ’60s, rock’n’roll had taken advantage of her, and when her ex-mates from the Stones were living in luxury in the ’70s, Marianne Faithfull was living on the streets. On her 1979 album BROKEN ENGLISH she defiantly and accusingly told how she found her way out.

Without her: there would be no witness for the prosecution.

(André Bosse)

80th place: Roxanne Shanté

Hip hop often claims to be created on a male basis and not to be the territory of the “petite” woman. It was Roxanne Shanté who, at the age of 14, wrote the first diss track, “Roxanne’s Revenge” (1984), in response to “Roxanne Roxanne” by UTFO.

Without her: If it weren’t for the diss track, the most direct replica of hip hop.

(Christin Rodrigues)

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