The 100 most important women in pop – ranks 89 to 85

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 fourth teaser from the list of the 100 most important women in pop – places 89 to 85

89th place: Pauline Oliveros

While Steve Reich, with whom the Texan founded the San Francisco Tape Music Center in 1961, became an icon of experimental music, Oliveros remained unknown. The openly queer music educator denounced the underlying sexism back in 1970 in the article “And Don’t Call Them ‘Lady’ Composers”.

Without her: would electronic music performances have developed differently; Oliveros was one of the first artists to use live electronics on stage and always improvised.

(Stephan Rehm Rozanes)

88th place: Ma Rainey

One of the most important early figures in the blues. With her deep voice, stage presence and songs from the perspective of an independent, Black, openly bisexual woman, she attracted huge, diverse audiences and put the blues on the music map.

Without her: there would have been no such thing as Bessie Smith, Big Mama Thornton and Janis Joplin.

(Annett Scheffel)

87th place: DJ Minx

DJ Minx has played a key role in shaping the history of Detroit techno – as a resident DJ at the Motor Club, radio DJ, community organizer for female DJs and label boss of Women on Wax. All of this alongside a full-time job. Detroit hustles hard, Minx even harder. For more than 30 years.

Without her: As a role model, countless female DJs would never have started DJing.

(Annett Scheffel)

86th place: Cyndi Lauper

Cyndi Lauper on “Bravo” – that was always a celebration. The information about the masturbation hit “She Bop”, the suspicion that she sang naked, the name-dropping of “Blueboy Magazine”. Or the story of “We Are The World”, a noise was disturbing, producer Quincy Jones took forever to identify it: Cyndi’s earrings.

Without her: “Bravo” would have been much more boring.

(André Bosse)

85th place: Sylvia Moy

As the first female songwriter and producer at Motown, she opened doors for many women. She was also the one who persuaded label boss Gordy not to cancel Stevie Wonder after his voice broke. She wrote “Uptight” and “My Cherie Amour” and hits for Marvin Gaye and the Isley Brothers.

Without her: probably no one would have heard of Stevie Wonder after 1965.

(Annett Scheffel)

+++ 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. +++