This list is my tribute to underrated or lesser known great female vocalists. These are all women who are unlikely to make it to most people’s top ten lists and I really would like to give them some exposure if possible. I must confess that this list is a little self-indulgent as these are some of my favorite singers.
9. Émilie Simon
In May 2003, she released her debut album Émilie Simon. The electronic album was critically acclaimed and went on to become a commercial success. To promote her album, she did numerous live performances and TV appearances all over France. In 2004, she was rewarded with a Victoire de la musique in the ‘Electronic Album’ category for the album. This girl needs to get the acclaim she deserves outside of France!
8. Anika Moa
Anika Moa is well known in New Zealand but not outside. She was given a contract with Atlanta Records in New York, but returned to New Zealand to pursue her music in a more relaxed way. Her albums have all been very successful in her home country and she deserves a lot more international attention. The clip above is “Falling in love again” one of the best songs on her double platinum album “Thinking Room”. One of the coolest parts of the clip above is when Anika is standing outside a 4 Square – one of New Zealand’s oldest grocery store chains – well – cool for me for reasons of nostalgia!
7. Melanie Safka
Melanie had a number of hits ultimately faded from the a list of rock music. She continues to perform to this day but is only known to her most devoted fans from the past. When first released, the song above (Brand New Key) was banned by some radio stations due to the lyrics being interpreted as being sexual innuendo.
6. Julee Cruise
With a distinctive, airy voice, Cruise has recorded three albums, but is probably best known for the lead vocal on “Falling,” the theme song for the cult U.S. television series Twin Peaks. Until recently, she was a frequent collaborator with composer Angelo Badalamenti and film director David Lynch, who produced and wrote the lyrics for most of her songs.
5. Peaches
[WARNING: The clip above contains language that will almost certainly offend some readers] Peaches is not very well known outside of her own genre (electroclash) but she is an astonishingly talented woman. This track was featured in the movie Lost in Translation. Peaches’ music is preoccupied with genderchange identity, and she often plays with traditional notions of gender identity, gender roles, and gender presentation. Her lyrics and live shows self-consciously blur the distinction between male and female; she appears on the cover of her album Fatherfucker with a full beard.
4. Janis Ian
Janis Ian’s most successful single was “At Seventeen,” released in 1975, a bittersweet commentary on adolescent cruelty and teenage angst, as reflected upon from the maturity of adulthood. “At Seventeen” received acclaim from record buyers — it charted at #3 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #1 on the Adult Contemporary chart — and critics, as it won the 1975 Grammy for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance, beating out the likes of Linda Ronstadt, Olivia Newton-John and Helen Reddy. Janis is still performing regularly and recording – for a fee she will even travel to your home and give you a private concert. I have had a number of communications with Janis and she is a lovely lady with a great talent that needs to be more widespread. I recommend visiting Janis’ website and buying some of her music. Alternatively most of her albums are on iTunes – why not contribute some money to increasing her popularity!
3. Carolyne Mas
Carolyne Mas had a great career ahead of her. Unfortunately due to marketing decisions, her career was cut short. She has suffered a great deal in her life – being stabbed nine times in a break in at her home. It is a tragedy that this rising star of rock music had her career cut short by bad marketing decisions. This clip above was actually submitted to Youtube by Carolyne herself. Visit Carolyne’s website and download some great music!
2. Edie Brickell
Edie Brickell made some fame through her song “Goodtimes” which was included as a video clip in all copies of Windows 95 to demonstrate its new video abilities. The clip above was while she was with the New Bohemians before her solo career (she has since rejoined the group). I hear this song on the radio and fell in love with her voice instantly. Brickell is married to Paul Simon and they met while she was performing this song on Saturday Night Live.
1. Cass Elliot
Admittedly Cass Elliot was famous as part of the 60s group the Mamas and the Papas, but I have chosen to include her here because many younger readers won’t know who she is and many people don’t know that she had a solo career after the group split. In the clip above we see one of her great songs California Earthquake – we see her characteristic movement style and her truly astounding voice. What an icon! You may also be unaware that she played a part in the children’s movie Pufnstuf – she even has a large solo singing part in it. You can watch the clip here. Sadly, Cass Elliot (who I think could almost be considered the greatest female pop vocalist of the 20th century) died before her time at the age of 32 of a heart attack (1974).
1. Your Choice
You might have noticed that I only have 9 women on this list. I have spent the last five hours trying to think of a tenth and I can’t. Can you give my tenth lady? Tell me in the comments and I will complete the list!
Afterword
I think the talent of the women above really puts modern music to shame – all of the women above have achieved their greatness through vocal talent – not marketing or publicity. It would be great if the music industry were to return to those days.
Liz Fraser of the Cocteau Twins
Dana Fuchs:
Sorry:
Link to Dana Fuchs:
Garrison Starr
Beth Ditto from “The Gossip”
Kate Bush, Kate Bush, Kate Bush, Kate Bush, Kate Bush, and did I mention Kate Bush? She has never really gotten the credit she deserves. Before Tori Amos or Enya there was Kate Bush
Adele: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nL49yZNE4yk
123 Sarah: Where we you earlier? Holding out on us? I have never heard of Dana Fuchs before. I love her voice. I love her …uh…..lungs. Yeah, that would be it.
Check out Amanda Marshall and Sophie B Hawkins (comment 58 for links). I think that you will like them too.
Imogen Heap!!! She’s completely original and talented!
K’s Choice is probably a lot more popular in Europe, in America Sarah Bettens is underrated,
Mary Cutrufello is very underrated! Honky tonk singing, Yale educated black chick w/dreads who can tear up a Stratocaster!
I second Garrison Starr! Saw her a few years back, when she was out with Steve Earle. Venue sucked but they made the best of it.
Imogen Heap is most definitely original and talented, but would not be considered underrated. She has had a lot of commercial success.
There is this singer named Hannah that I know- undiscovered, yet amazing…haha!
There is this singer named Hannah who is undiscovered, yet amazing…haha!
ani difranco is over-rated.
youtube a live performance of zero7 : home.
there’s your number 10.
Also, there is awesome Gry Bagxien :
132 Hannah: hahahahahaha
I agree with Big Skye: Kate Bush X 3 at least. However — it seems everyone in the world has forgotten Martha Davis of Martha and the Motels. One or two great albums at the end of the 80s, one solo album, then gone. Victim of poor marketing and fickle fan base, but a terrific singer.
Kate Bush! This should be a non issue!
I love Sophie B Hawkins!
Peaches is from Canada.. that’s awesome that she is on this list!
I might be the only person here who think this but…
Amy Winehouse.
Seriously. No….seriously. Just listen to a track or two on Pandora. Awesome voice, super smoky, bluesy, *****y, etc. She may be an insane, whacked-out crackhead but her voice is unquestioningly amazing.
Also, what about Joni Mitchell? She has an amazing range of music, can do anything from pop to blues to jazz, and can ROCK it. Her voice is simply pristine.
Emiliana Torini.
Also #139, all of the one’s you put are not underrated women, they are highly recognized and celebrated (Grammy’s anyone?).
SlickWilly – Amy Winehouse is hardly under-rated (per the point of the list); after all, she was just nominated for a Grammy and has had more than one major hit albums. Like you, I think she is great!
Also, Joni Mitchell…under-rated ? I don’t think so. Whilst I haven’t heard much of her lately, she is one of the all-time great female artists. Besides, I think she won a Lifetime Achievement Award (Grammy). Again…a truly great artist who doesn’t (IMHO) fit the requirements of this list.
Fair enough, but most people who don’t pay attention to music have never even heard of Joni Mitchell. I think that is underrated in my book, particularly when these same people think that “best female artist” stops with Madonna or Christina Aguilera.
As far as Amy Winehouse goes, NONE of my friends will even give her the time of day. I am constantly fighting a losing battle with them over how great she actually is. Does someone have to be talented and dismissed by music connoisseurs to be underrated, or talented and dismissed by the general public? IMO it is the latter, so I think that Joni Mitchell would definately qualify. A case could be made for Amy Winehouse as well. They fit the requirements of the list, so long as your semantics are flexible.
Beth Orton and Goldfrapp, I’d say.
SlickWilly: I like Joni Mitchell too!
I dig Sia Furler from Zero 7
I think a problem with Amy Winehouse is her life is a slow motion train wreck.
SlickWilly:
C’mon. Joni Mitchell is NOT under-rated. Dude, just because there’s a lot of ignorant people around who don’t know history, or music, or music-history—and haven’t heard of Joni Mitchell (assuming that’s true)—that doesn’t mean she’s forgotten or “under-rated.” (I mean, I agree totally with kiwiboi on this—Joni is *known* as the prototype female singer-songwriter). She’s cited by dozens of her successors as their main influence. Trust me, where it counts, Joni is known and remembered.
After all, who cares what people “who don’t pay attention to music” think anyway?
Randall:
Eh. My original argument still stands. If you went out into the general public with a picture of Joni, or even just dropped her name to anyone who would listen, what percentage of the average population do you think would know who Joni Mitchell is?
I’m well aware of how influential she was….but being influential to other musicians does not (in my mind) equate with getting fame proportional to one’s talent. We can sit here and argue this point all day, but we both are right, depending on how you interpret the term “underrated.”
On a less controversial note, Flora Purim would definately qualify as underrated, no matter what your standards of the term may be.
SlickWilly:
Sorry, but where the hell do you live and what kind of population do you have around you where you could ask this question to people (i.e., “do you know who Joni Mitchell is?) and think it would confidently elicit a response to support your view? (and of course that’s rhetorical, you don’t need to tell me where you live). I mean, sure… if you ask a bunch of kids, no—they’re not gonna know Joni Mitchell. But any reasonably educated/well-informed adult is PROBABLY gonna know her name, at least, yes.
“what percentage of the average population do you think would know who Joni Mitchell is?”
so my answer, seriously, is at least 60 – 70%.
And sure, easy to say it all comes down to a point where we could both be right—but then you tell me, for heaven’s sake, what “underrated” MEANS then, in this context. Joni Mitchell was literally the original, the mold, for this type of solo female singer/songwriter. Her name is kicked around in circles of all kinds as the leading figure of this type. And she had several big hits back in the 60s. Good lord, that ain’t “underrated” by anyone’s definition.
Susan Tedeschi and Patty Griffin.
Loves.
Randall:
My definition of underrated: “Does someone have to be talented and dismissed by music connoisseurs to be underrated, or talented and dismissed by the general public? IMO it is the latter, so I think that Joni Mitchell would definately qualify.”
And apparently I live somewhere where people are indifferent to/ignorant of Joni Mitchell. Sad story, really, but you might be surprised how quote-unquote “college towns” are actually a hotbed of ignorance and superficiality. My argument still stands: I believe Joni Mitchell is underrated. Perhaps not as underrated as the names on this list, but underrated just the same.
amazingly enough I agree with Randall on this one, unless you’re asking some totally clueless teenagers (or younger) most people would know who Joni Mitchell is and her importance. Which would not fit to your ” dismissed by the general public”. Also, general public would not be limited to your local college town only.
SlickWilly:
Again though… how the hell do you say that Joni Mitchell has been “dismissed” by the general public?
I think you’re confusing “dismissal” and being underrated with simply “fading into the past” or whatever you want to call it. Joni was hugely known and revered in the 60s. That was a LONG time ago. She was well-known in the 70s. Again… LONG time ago. She did some stuff in the 80s and then took years off from recording. She’s just back now. But that would be like saying… oh, I don’t know… pick some similar name from the past… let’s say Art Garfunkel. It would be like saying Art Garfunkel is underrated because HE hasn’t done anything to get people’s notice in around thirty years. Silly. Art Garfunkel is passe, he hasn’t had a hit since the 70s… but historically, he’s not “underrated.”
And I too live in a college town. Ignorance ain’t a major commodity here. Maybe it’s the quality of colleges that make the difference then. Ha ha.
Hannah: I think that Imogen Heap fits the profile for underrated perfectly. She has had some commercial success, but she is far from mainstream and although she was nominated for a Grammy she was overlooked. She had it in the bag and because she’s underrated she lost it. I think that meets the criteria
Randall:
You might be right. I’m not an old fogey, so I wouldn’t know what things were like in the 60′s.
Regardless, to those of us that ARN’T over (or approaching) 40, Joni Mitchell is not a name you hear tossed about too often in layperson circles, at least not around here. Are you saying that an artist who wasn’t underrated in her/his own generation can’t be considered underrated amongst those of a different generation 30 years later?
Maybe the college in the town you live in is just ripe with geniuses and prodigies-of-tomorrow, but the major state college in my town will take just about anyone these days. Just about anyone with money anyway. To qualify, you won’t see a lot of poor ignoramus’s (ignoramie?) here….just a lot of decently intelligent people with a little money, a small subsection of highly intelligent people with varying SEC status, and A LOT of rich dumb people. Not too many poor fools.
People can gang up on me all they want…that’s fine.
I still think I have a valid point. My mommy thinks so too. And that’s all that really matters in this world.
Can I at least get some love for Flora Purim?
Teresa Salgueiro, from Madredeus. The voice of the angels.
SlickWilly:
“I’m not an old fogey, so I wouldn’t know what things were like in the 60’s”
Ha ha. Cute. I question whether you know what things are like NOW, Slick.
(Aside to the reader: I kid the Slick. But you know, I used to feel sad, sometimes, that I was born in 1965, because in calculating my likely lifespan, I knew I wasn’t likely to see the wondrous future world of flying cars and household robots. I’d think… how cool to have been born, instead, in 1995, in my daughters’ generation, so I’d be likely to see the entire 21st century, and yet have a connection, via my parents, to the 20th. Sometimes I still feel that way, because I’m a futurism nut. But most of the time, these days, I tend to think it’s a blessing. Because younger people these days seem to have utterly no clue. They seem to have no concept of how IMMENSELY our society and culture have changed, how much a breaking point the 60s were, between the paradigm of pre-60s and post-60s. I was only a runt at the time, but I had older brothers and an older sister and I managed to see it and experience it partly through them. And I was peculiarly aware of my world-surroundings too… probably part of my genius nature. So I feel kind of benighted, that I sort of knew both worlds. But really I think there was nothing special about me. My generation was the last one that didn’t *grow up* from childhood with computers, iPods, cell phones, and a society of opennness and free expression. All we had was TV (and for the most part only broadcast TV, not even cable) the radio, and hard-wired telephones and record players. Maybe fewer distractions meant we paid more attention to the world and the immediate past. If kids these days are ignorant of the world and what came in it only a few years before them, maybe we can blame it on all the CRAP they’re loaded down with, which doesn’t afford them the time to check out *older* things or to just pick up a BOOK now and then. End of rant).
“Are you saying that an artist who wasn’t underrated in her/his own generation can’t be considered underrated amongst those of a different generation 30 years later?”
YES. I am exactly saying that, Slick. That is NOT “underrated.” That’s “lost.” (or at best “left behind”). Ella Fitzgerald is NOT “UNDER-FREAKIN’-RATED.” She is not listened to as much anymore because her form and style do not interest the youths. A drop in popularity over a generation or two (or three or four) IS NOT THE SAME as being “underrated.”
Sheesh. You’re not a dumb guy. Why is this concept so difficult for you?
“Maybe the college in the town you live in is just ripe with geniuses and prodigies-of-tomorrow…”
In fact it is. We’re all very proud of it. It makes a lot of top 10 lists for great towns, using various criteria.
Candace Night of Blackmore’s Night is an outstanding singer whom many people do not seem to recognize. She has been with Richie Blackmore’s projects for some time, but only joined the forefront with this current effort. Call the style neo-renaissance, it’s signigicant step away from Blackmore’s other work. Youtube “Storm” and give it 2 minutes 15 seconds for a sample. (Sorry, no URL, blocked at work.)
Randall:
You know, of course, that I’m kidding about the “old fogey” statement. I do happen to feel I have a good grasp on the way things are now, but again, I’m of a younger generation and it is difficult for those of us who haven’t been around to experience the way things used to be to have a full perspective on the way things are now. You can’t fault me for being a product of my generation. Your parent’s generation said the same thing about your generation too, so don’t think that none of us has a clue; it would be a mistake to lump us all together like that. You certainly had a clue when you were my age, or at least you thought you did (I don’t know whether you did or not, but I’m betting you did). The point I’m illustrating is exactly the point you just made: a lot, not all, but a lot of people of my generation either don’t know who Joni Mitchell is, have heard of her but don’t realize her talent or influence, or write her off as a has-been.
Randall, I do grasp the concept in the point you are making, even though you may not think so. The question here is a question of semantics. If a talented artist (or talented anything for that matter) does not receive the recognition as often as they deserve, I consider that underrated. I can’t tell you how many times I have mentioned Joni Mitchell in a conversation about music only to be met with blank stares. My experience in the matter tells me that nowadays, Joni Mitchell is underrated, particularly by those people who claim to love music and haven’t taken the time or made the effort to broaden their horizons.
Perhaps you could share with me how *you* interpret “underrated” and that might resolve a couple of discrepancies in my opinion.
“Your parent’s generation said the same thing about your generation too, so don’t think that none of us has a clue; it would be a mistake to lump us all together like that.”
Nah, in fact they didn’t. My parents’ generation were in fact grateful that we weren’t freakin’ hippies.
Goddamn hippies.
BUT…. my parents’ generation didn’t understand the spiked, purple hair and safety pins and Mohawks and whatnot.
They thought it was cute, though, when we dressed up in zootsuits.
Slick:
“…a lot, not all, but a lot of people of my generation either don’t know who Joni Mitchell is, have heard of her but don’t realize her talent or influence, or write her off as a has-been.”
Right, I’m sure. But what I’m saying is, *that’s not the same as being underrated.*
The flips, somersaults, ups and downs of generational tastes do NOT equal underratement.
Thas’all, Saul.
Hahaha….yeah, can’t say I’m fond of hippies, either. Not to say I hate them. I don’t feel any differently about them than those people with the spiked, purple hair and safety pin nose rings; its all your own bag, man, live and let live. BUT, speaking from experience, the punk crowd tends to be a little more hygenic and smell a little bit better than hippies. It’s not the ethos that offends me….its the B.O.
I actually gagged and dry-heaved at one music festival I went to from the overpowering stench of dirty human bodies. Gross.
Slick:
“My experience in the matter tells me that nowadays, Joni Mitchell is underrated, particularly by those people who claim to love music and haven’t taken the time or made the effort to broaden their horizons.”
Well then sorry, Slick, but such people in fact DO NOT “love music” regardless of their claim to the contrary. Music lovers are people who study it, are aware of it–not only of what it immediately offers but what it has offered in the past. And if they *haven’t* taken the time or made the effort to broaden their horizons… *then in fact their opinions do not matter.*
Again you’re mistaking popularity, in essence, for the value an artist has to those who truly appreciate art. Joni Mitchell ain’t popular anymore. Whoop-dee-doo. Neither do the Beatles crack the top 10 anymore. Are *they* underrated? Or take a less silly example…. Paul Simon hasn’t had a single on the charts in over a couple decades, I think. Doubtless few young people or musical morons therefore know who he is. Is Paul Simon therefore now to be considered “underrated?”
No… “devalued” at worst, perhaps.
Randall:
“Well then sorry, Slick, but such people in fact DO NOT “love music” regardless of their claim to the contrary. Music lovers are people who study it, are aware of it–not only of what it immediately offers but what it has offered in the past. And if they *haven’t* taken the time or made the effort to broaden their horizons… *then in fact their opinions do not matter.*”
……..Jeez, Randall, take it easy. I know all of this.
You’ve made your point, already. I’ve made mine. You think I’m wrong….I’m fine with that. I’ve already explained what I mean when I use the term “underrated.” By my definition, what I’m saying is true. You’re consideration of “underrated” seems to designate that only someone who is dismissed by art conneseiurs can be considered “underrated.” Mine designates, instead, being dismissed by the general public.
I understand what you are saying. You are telling me that the only reason people today don’t grasp Joni Mitchell is because her style doesn’t attract the attentions of jaded younger listeners, which makes her unpopular now, but not underrated. I’m saying that if someone is not recognized for their talent and influence, then they are underrated. My experience tells me that Joni Mitchell does not get the recognition she deserves from the average “music fan” of today. *I consider that underrated.*
If you’re trying to tell me my definition of underrated is wrong, then I’m sorry but we’ll have to agree to disagree. Language is a subjective thing, different people have different specific and general definitions of some words, and “underrated” is no exception.
“Neither do the Beatles crack the top 10 anymore. Are *they* underrated? Or take a less silly example…. Paul Simon hasn’t had a single on the charts in over a couple decades, I think. Doubtless few young people or musical morons therefore know who he is. Is Paul Simon therefore now to be considered “underrated?” ”
The Beatles…no, not underrated. A case could be made for *overrated* (simply because so many people like the beatles and so many others hop on the band wagon because it’s cool to like the beatles) but, no, not underrated. By my definition, yes, Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel both would be underrated. Not by everyone, but by many (the same people, in fact, that would probably underrate Joni Mitchell.)
Fact of the matter is….what I’m getting down to is this: Joni Mitchell is great. Absolutely great. And it burns me up when some of the people I talk to either hate on her or refuse to even acknowledge her existence. We can argue semantics till we’re blue in the face, it doesn’t change my position.
Slick:
Your problem is in dismissing the opinions of those who know and appreciate art when placed against popular opinion. Or valuing the opinions of the former at a lower level than those of the latter. In this, you’re wrong. What matters is the opinion of people who *know* and who have opened themselves up to knowing, and investigating. *Popular* opinion is ephemeral and ethereal and always has been and always will be.
So no… Paul Simon is not underrated today, nor is Joni Mitchell. They are simply no longer popular.
Popularity is a chimera. It doesn’t matter in regards to judging an artist’s value, except in the sense that we might say that a truly good or great artist’s work WILL survive the ups and downs of popularity in the LONG run. None of the great giants of literature, of the past, crack the bestseller lists any longer (if they ever did). That does not mean they’re now underrated or undervalued. Sure, you might take it as a SIGN that they are, but the fact is that the vast bulk of the populace from one generation to another don’t know *what the hell* is good and what is crap. So we don’t listen to them except in the moment–what sells today. What matters is what is memorable and still considered good or great LATER.
Joni Mitchell is well remembered or well-considered and respected by those, today, whose opinions MATTER in these things. Yes, I agree with you that it’s SAD that more people don’t know such artists because those people are too stupid to investigate. But that doesn’t make her underrated. It simply means that, as always, successive generations of the great populace are ignorant of art. They always have been and always will be.
Burns me up too when dolts don’t know the great works and artists of the past, and are apparently unwilling to learn. But that’s the way it works. Always has. What matters is the core of people who do care.
Randall:
Very well, you believe I’m wrong. If you feel slighted because you think that I’m putting your opinion on the same level as the ignorant, that was not my intention. I would still say that, if Joe Blow down the street comes along and tells me “Joni Mitchell sucks,” I would say that is a clear case of undervaluing her legacy. Being ignorant of the law doesn’t make it okay for you to break it. I think the same way works with anything else. Just because a person hasn’t taken the time to research and listen to a particular artist doesn’t mean they arn’t capable of underassessing that artist’s talent and influence.
I don’t feel like this debate is going anywhere. I’m *not* saying that *you* are underrating Joni Mitchel or Paul Simon. I *am* saying that there are other people who do, and I have the unfortunate displeasure of dealing with these fools on a semi-regular basis.
A long time ago, I think in the 70′s I heard a lady by the name of Karen Alan (I think) and was captivated. I have not heard her since. Does anyone else remember her with the same feeling? Does anyone know where I could listen to her to see if I feel the same way now?
Now that Randall and Slick are finished, I’m Posting this again.
Candace Night of Blackmore’s Night is an outstanding singer whom many people do not seem to recognize. She has been with Richie Blackmore’s projects for some time, but only joined the forefront with this current effort. Call the style neo-renaissance, it’s signigicant step away from Blackmore’s other work. Youtube “Storm” and give it 2 minutes 15 seconds for a sample. (Sorry, no URL, blocked at work.)
Thank you,I truly forgot how much I loved Mama Cass….
Slick:
I don’t know where you got the whacky idea that *I* felt slighted by what you were saying…. or that you were putting my opinion on the level of the ignorant. I KNOW my opinions are worth more than that, I wouldn’t fret over YOU saying otherwise–and I never thought for a moment that you DID say otherwise.
ALL I was saying, Slick, is that you’re lending too much credence and weight to the opinions of the masses. Screw ‘em. Their artistic opinions are near-worthless. Your argument is that Joni Mitchell is underrated because the kids and yahoos don’t know her. Whereas to me (and other people who’ve chimed in) this argument of yours makes no sense. We wouldn’t EXPECT the kids and idiots to have heard of her or be interested in her. BUT THEIR OPINION DOESN’T MATTER. They won’t have heard of Cezanne or Edith Piaf or St. Saens either… do we say that THOSE artists are “underrated?” No, schmuck… we say that the masses are ignorant of art and are happy with the eye-candy and other shiny objects that they are given, because much of the time that’s all they want.
Herbie Han*****just won the freakin’ GRAMMY for a CD that is a JONI MITCHELL TRIBUTE. That ain’t “overrated.” She’s got the respect and admiration of people who KNOW music. And people who KNOW music are the ones whose opinions matter when we are talking ABOUT music.
I think, Slick, that you are simply loathe to admit you said a very silly thing.
Joni Mitchell? Wasn’t she the girlfriend of David Crosby at one time?
What was the attraction, all of the bong resin in his beard? Or maybe the cheeseburger remnants on his filthy hippy tie-dye shirt?
Randall:
Haha…okay, whatever, Randall.
I think you are simply loathe to admit that you always feel you have to be right.
Has anyone mentioned LIZ PHAIR yet? I think she’s right up there and Kate Bush, DAMN RIGHT she’s an overlooked female artist-an amazing one at that!
As far as Janis Joplin or Joni Mitchel, while yes, I definitely agree that these are two very talented female musicians they’ve been extremely credited and not underrated in the least. The list’s focus is on UNDERRATED females.
JOCSBOSS-Patti Smith has influenced copius amounts of artists young and old for decades, regardless of her sabbatical from the music scene-which in my mind qualifies as underrated…it’s like saying that just because the Pistols only put out one album, they weren’t one of the pioneers of Punk…please!
American Heritage Dictionary – Cite This Source – Share This un·der·rate (ŭn’dər-rāt’) Pronunciation Key
tr.v. un·der·rat·ed, un·der·rat·ing, un·der·rates
To rate too low; underestimate.
as some have mentioned before, EVA CASSIDY is definitly underrated, and really did not garner any fame until years after her death. Listen to her rendition of Time After Time.
SlickWilly:
I argue with academics nearly every day. You gotta be tough. But I still say you’re just loathe to admit you said a silly thing.
satori:
THANK YOU.
oh…. and I kinda think Liz Phair is partly responsible for her being underrated by others. I love Liz, been a fan for years… but she seems to have tried too hard the last few years. Maybe that’s just me, I dunno.
I agree about Kate Bush, though when I was in college, she was kinda big.
Randall:
This is the last I’m going to say on the matter. I don’t think what I said was silly. Otherwise I wouldn’t have said it. It’s simply a difference of perspective. You might feel that mine is mistaken, that’s okay. I’m not loathe to admit anything. If I’m wrong, let me be wrong. I don’t feel I am, so if you’re goal is to try to convince me of that, then you will fail.
175 Satori: I agree with you, in the public eye, considering her influence and talent, Patti Smith is sorely underrated. But like I said in post 118 “Some the artists on this list are only considered underrated because they have not achieved huge commercial success, when in fact they are highly regarded by the limited audience that they themselves choose to appeal to.” Edie Brickell, Joni Mitchell and Kate Bush all fit into the definition of underrated, along with Patti Smith, if you compare their abilities to commercial success or popularity. If you want to judge them based on the opinions of their peers, sophisticated listeners and other music experts, then none of these artists is underrated.
The opening paragraph of this list says “These are all women who are unlikely to make it to most people’s top ten lists…”. Based on this criteria, assuming that “most people” means the public at large, all four of these women should be on this list, Patti Smith, Joni Mitchell, Edie Brickell and Kate Bush, because none of them have the recognition that they deserve. They should be as well known as the ***** Pistols, Pavorotti, the Rolling Stones and the Beatles.