The 100 most important women in pop – ranks 74 to 70

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 seventh teaser from the list of the 100 most important women in pop – numbers 74 to 70

74th place: Nina Hagen

One woman, many identities: punk and grace, peace bringer and hell angel, esoteric and UFO sighter. Not to forget: mother and daughter – a real family man. And of course an unrivaled singer. Between bold Berlin rock, reggae and operatic avant-garde, everything is there, and when she rolls the R in a very German way, the irony that others only claim is apparent.

Without her: the rolling R would be completely unbearable.

(André Bosse)

73rd place: Rosalía

In just five years, Rosalía has become a global visionary. Nobody deconstructs the present as cleverly and electrifyingly as the Catalan woman. She fuses elements of Western and African-American music with reggaetón, flamenco and Japanese pop culture as if they always belonged together, while also advocating for more women at the production desk.

Without her: We wouldn’t know what’s possible as a global pop star today.

(Annett Scheffel)

72nd place: Florence + the Machine

Florence Leontine Mary Welch, the graceful indie goddess with her bombastic compositions and lines for eternity, has been writing the soundtrack of our lives for more than 20 years. While she releases hit after hit, always dressed like she’s from the 19th century, she shows what she can do live. Her stage presence is unmatched and she has everything under control, not least her band, which is why it should actually be called Florence and her Machine. She also popularized the wisdom: “It’s always darkest before the dawn.”

Without her: the pop circus would have to do without one of the best songwriters of our time.

(Désirée Pezzetta)

71st place: Linda Perry

Linda Perry was ten years ahead of her time. When she scored the folky-feminist grunge hit “Whats Up” with the 4 Non Blondes in 1993, the exuberant way in which she sang “I say hey-ey-ey” caused misogynistic vomit reflexes among the rock audience. Perry took revenge by becoming a sought-after producer and writing empowerment hits in series starting in 2002 (e.g. Christina Aguilera’s “Beautiful”).

Without her: It would have taken ten more years for pop stars to embrace feminism.

(Sandra Grether)

70th place: Aaliyah

Aaliyah gave R’n’B a long-overdue update in the ’90s. In front of her it sounded different: often slower, softer, based on traditional soul structures, and even more often sung by men in open shirts. Their songs were more exciting, more dynamic, closer to hip-hop and had that characteristic Aaliyah bounce, traces of which can still be found everywhere today – from Drake to Billie Eillish.

Without her Contemporary R’n’B wouldn’t be the same.

(Annett Scheffel)

+++ 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. +++