This year Double J radio released a countdown of the 50 most important female artists of the ‘90s as part of the ‘90s throwback theme they’re doing at the moment. What I have done is taken my favourite artists from that list shared my opinion of them, mentioned where I think they should’ve placed in the countdown and put in what I think their signature songs are. Some entries got more than one song from me! I realise not all the tracks I’ve mentioned are songs they did in the ‘90s but if the artist is that iconic, does it really matter?
Now I would’ve liked to dissect the whole 50 from the list but there was people on there that a) I’ve never heard of, b) I know of them but am not familiar with their music and c) were artists I don’t really care for so would not be able to give a positive, unbiased opinion. So here are 26 entries from Double J’s 50 Most Important Female Artists of the ‘90s countdown.
TANYA DONELLY
Came In At: 49
Where I Would Place Her: 35
All I can say about Tanya Donnelly is that she is a truly inspirational chick with a groovy voice.
Key Tracks: Thief and Super Connected.
ANGIE HART
Came In At: 48
Agree with list position.
Indie chicks of the early ‘90s wanted to be her and the Frente frontwoman definitely stood out in an era where the mainstream’s idea of Australian female singers was Girlfriend.
Key Tracks: No Time and Ordinary Angels.
JULIANA HADFIELD
Came In At: 47
Where I Would Place Her: 20
Ms Hatfield was the indie icon for Generation X girls everywhere!
Key Tracks: Spin The Bottle and My Sister.
HOPE SANDOVAL
Came In At: 46
Where I Would Place Her: 30
What else can you say about the Mazzy Star singer except she has the voice of an angel.
Key Track: Paradise Circus.
SUZE DEMARCHI
Came In At: 45
Agree with list position.
Suze DeMarchi was to rock chicks in the early ‘90s what Angie Hart was to indie chicks. Ms DeMarchi also always looked good and had a killer voice!
Key Track: Lights Out At Eleven.
KAT BJELLEND
Came In At: 43
Where I Would Place Her: 1
The Babes In Toyland lead singer never ceases to amaze with her incredible vocals.
Key Track: Sweet 69.
JUSTINE FRISCHMANN
Came In At: 41
Agree with list position
As well as being an awesome rock chick she inspired her ex-boyfriend Damon Albarn to write one of the most exquisite break-up songs in rock ever!
Key Track: 2:1.
JANET ENGLISH
Came In At: 38
Agree with list position
It is nice to see women in bands who aren’t strictly front women making the countdown.
Key Track: Monty.
LIZ PHAIR
Came In At: 37
Agree with list position
Another ‘90s indie pin-up chick makes the cut, which is good to see!
Key Track: Polyester Bride.
VERUCA SALT
Came In At: 36
Where I Would Place Them: 15
I would just like to say I feel the reason Veruca Salt aren’t technically a riot grrl band isn’t because they went commercial but because there’s guys in the band.
Key Track: Volcano Girls.
ELLA HOOPER
Came In At: 35
Where I Would Place Her: 33
How can you compete with someone who nearly 20 years after their first single was released, still look and sound as good as they did when they were 16?
Key Track: Mascara.
DOLORES O’RIORDAN
Came In At: 32
Where I Would Place Her: 45
Yes on these music countdown lists the musician that died the year the list came out always makes it on there. She did have an amazing voice but has anyone even heard of the Cranberries post 1990s?
Key Track: Twenty-One.
L7
Came In At: 28
Where I Would Place Them: 5
L7 is the inspirational band for aspiring rock chicks everywhere.
Key Tracks: Pretend We’re Dead and Shove.
MADONNA
Came In At: 25
Where I Would Place Her: In the top ten somewhere just because she’s had a long, successful career!
The queen of pop has had a prolific career spanning over 30 years and even now at 60 she is still going strong!
Key Tracks: ‘80s-La Isla Bonita and Who’s That Girl?
‘90s-Human Nature and The Power of Goodbye.
2000s/2010s-4 Minutes and Living For Love.
ALANIS MORISSETTE
Came In At: 24
Agree with list position.
After two flop albums behind her in the very early 90s, Morissette quickly became a star once her album Jagged Little Pill took off!
Key Tracks: Ironic and Hands Clean.
SLEATER KINNEY
Came In At: 22
Agree with list position.
You know a really good band when their songs are almost impossible to cover and Sleater Kinney are it.
Key Track: You’re No Rock n’ Roll Fun
TLC
Came In At: 20
Where I Would Place Them: 40
Before Destiny’s Child there was TLC and if one of their number hadn’t died who knows what they would’ve gone on to become.
Key Track: No Scrubs
GWEN STEFANI
Came In At: 18
Where I Would Place Her: 2
Practically overnight Ms Stefani went from the indie ‘90s look of cropped tops and hipster jeans to a high-end fashion icon. I hope I look as good as her when I’m 49! I’d like to sing as well as her too!
Key Tracks: No Doubt-Trapped In a Box, Sad For Me, Greener Pastures, Sixteen, Don’t Speak, Too Late and New.
Solo Career-Crash and 4 In The Morning.
TORI AMOS
Came In At: 16
Where I Would Place Her: 38
What can you say about someone who’s a piano virtuoso with a great voice?
Key Track: Me And A Gun.
SALT N’ PEPA
Where They Came In At: 14
Where I Would Place Them: 46
Hip-hop chicks, spreading good feminist messages to young girls everywhere.
Key Tracks-Push It and None of Your Business.
SHIRLEY MANSON
Came In At: 13
Where I Would Place Her: 37
The Garbage lead singer has shown us that she can reinvent herself with the times.
Key Tracks: Only Happy When It Rains and Cherry Lips.
KIM DEAL
Came In At: 12
Where I Would Place Her: 23
Starts off playing in a band of blokes and then goes and forms a band in her own right with her sister. Can you get much cooler?
Key Tracks: The Pixies-Velouria and The Breeders-Divine Hammer.
KATHLEEN HANNA
Came In At: 11
Where I Would Place Her: 9
Riot grrl and feminist icon. What more do you want?
Key Tracks: Bikini Kill-Rebel Girl and Le Tigre-TKO.
KIM GORDON
Came In At: 7
Where I Would Place Her: 12
Ms Gordon was pretty much the pioneer for a lot of the women on this list!
Key Tracks: Kool Thing and Diamond Sea.
COURTNEY LOVE
Came In At: 4
Where I Would Place Her: 3
She inspired a generation of young girls to wear petticoats as skirts and dresses. Then she went all Hollywood on us!
Key Track: Miss World.
PJ HARVEY
Came In At: 2
Where I Would Place Her: 30
Ms Polly Jean Harvey is one of the truly great rock goddesses.
Key Tracks: Plants and Rags, Sheela-Na-Gig and Henry Lee.
BJORK.
Came In At: 1
Where I Would Place Her: At the other end of the countdown either 50 or 49!
Okay even though I can’t listen to a whole lot of Bjork myself, in a way I understand why she made No 1 on this countdown. She’s different, a little bit experimental and has had her groundbreaking moments. Plus she can reach notes the rest of us mere mortals can only dream about!
Key Track: Birthday.
Honourable Mention Key Tracks: Ani DiFranco-Tis of Thee and Christine Anu-Party.
So there’s my take on the Double J 50 Most Important Female Artists of the ‘90s countdown. If you would like to see the full list go to doublej.net.au/news/features/the-50-best-female-artists-of-the-90s
Women In Stereo 