Ella Fitzgerald... I guess. And Lani Hall (she was the Lead vocalist in Sergio Mendez group since the 60s, if you heard Mas Que Nada you've heard her sing)
But seriously, yeah... Kate Bush. Haven't really encountered any other female vocalists in particular that I much like actively, at least in terms of being involved with music that I enjoy in a manner greater than simply not minding to tolerate it.
Half her songs/videos are like lolwut and I just enjoy the general weirdness she exudes.
Obviously, Stevie Nicks and Christine McVie (who I am going to see live in six months time, eeeeeeeee...)
Kate Bush
Florence Welch
Amanda Palmer (although that's more for her songwriting than her vocals)
PJ Harvey
Joni Mitchell
Alanis Morrisette
Etta James
Ella Fitzgerald
Aretha Franklin
Amy Winehouse
Adele
Shiina has probably become my favorite artist of all time. I seriously listen to her music everyday whether it's her solo stuff or Tokyo Jihen. And, I'm a hardcore classic rock guy that loves Zeppelin, Queen, Boston, etc. I really believe she did the impossible with Tokyo Jihen, which is modernize classic rock. Tokyo Jihen has all the elements that I love about classic rock; great bass, great guitar, and the keyboard. They have the best bass lines and keyboards I've heard since the classic rock era. Yeah, Tokyo Jihen doesn't do 7-8min epic songs with long guitar solos but there are still are shorter guitar solos within the songs even if they aren't really solos. The key thing is you are always hearing something different throughout every song unlike almost all modern bands, even something really "poppy" like Atarashii Bunmei-kaika has that verse where the guitar drops out and you only have the bass and drum line going. Just the way each song opens is done "properly". For example, a song like Toumei Ningen opens with the bass, then each instrument comes in one-by-one so you really hear what each instrument is adding to the sound, then you have instruments constantly dropping out here and there to highlight something else. Whereas pretty much every modern band just starts playing everything all at once and doesn't stop, thus there's no contrasting in the music.
I also love her solo stuff because she has probably used every fucking instrument ever at some point. I think the main reason that I like her solo work vs other artists that sing with horns, violins, etc. is because she keeps the tempo up high enough. Who else is even making music that is anything similar to say Mayonaka wa Junketsu? And her cover of The Beatles 'Yer Blues' is the definitive version of that song just like Jimi Hendrix's 'All Along the Watchtower' is the definitive version to Bob Dylan's original. If only she spoke English as her main language, I seriously need to learn Japanese just for her music.
Here's a couple of my favorite Shiina songs that are on Youtube:
jesus christ. that is amazing she can go from such clean smoothness (for metal, that is) to deep ass roaring, I would swear that was an entirely different person with gravel stuck in their throat. Color me interested in more.
OMG! OMG! OMG!!! Never expected to see her on this list, and I'm proud that you put her here! But personally, I would have used Copycat as an example of her chameleon (get it?) voice.
Though many female singers have influenced me, none have left an impact like Siouxsie Sioux. Not only did she influence my fashion sense, but she inspired me to start up a punk band in high school.
I didn't see any Cyndi Lauper on here (I might have missed it though) which makes me sad. She's got a beautiful voice and deserves credit for it.
I don't know why but I love Otep's voice too, she scares the hell out me... angry lesbian who I think is a bit insane (those lyrics...)
Also Morgan Lander of Kittie, dunno why I just love her vocals.
And Vanessa Williams (singer not the actress). I was backstage on Saturday Night Live in 1998 during the Christmas episode and she was there to sing a duet with Luciano Pavarotti. In my honest opinion she did a far better job than the "maestro". I also had the privilege of being at the dress rehearsal the day before and she was there to rehearse, but Pavarotti didn't show because "the maestro doesn't rehearse" which said a lot about his ego. Her rehearsal was awesome despite singing a solo part of a duet without the accompaniment. So yeah I think she's got talent.
A lot of good vocals have already been listed here so I won't repeat them, just to say there's quite a few agreements to be said.
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But personally, I would have used Copycat as an example of her chameleon (get it?) voice.
