General Gregory N. Pigott: Late Night Music Part 81......."Female Lead Singers"

For some reason, I feel like honoring females once again. I've done a list on female songwriters and a list on all girl groups, what about when the female is the FACE of the band? This is the equivalent of having a female quarterback, or the equivalent of Joan of Arc in 15th century France leading her army in the Hundred Years War. Not only is it rare, it's hard to pull off successfully just to the nature of the music business and what people think stereotypes fit in with identity of a lead singer.

In order to be considered for this list, a band simply must have had a female singer. All girl groups like Klymaxx, The Go-Go's, The Bangles, and Joan Jett and The Blackhearts were disqualified. In a rare feat, all bands receiving votes were included on this list.

"Playing God"- Paramore. This is the newest single from Paramore's latest album "Brand New Eyes" and was obviously written when Hayley Williams was really pissed off. I think she's really hot, but after this seeing this video, maybe I'll change my mind. Not a fan of the pink hair either. The song, if you listen really closely, also deals with people being judgmental of other faiths/beliefs, hence the title.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iDy2wCQYSrU%EF%BB%BF

"Gypsy"- Fleetwood Mac.Yes, Fleetwood Mac counts. They have 3 lead vocalists and 2 of them are female. I don't care what you say, they are so awesome I'm including them. In 1982, Fleetwood Mac was looking to recapture the success of "Rumours" after their experimental double album "Tusk". So the band not only heavily pushed the song, but this video, which at the time, was the most expensive video ever made. Despite that, this song only peaked at #12 on the Billboard Chart. Stevie Nicks has said that this song is a wishful plea for her life before Fleetwood Mac with Lindsey Buckingham. Don't really know why she'd want that though.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=soioqrYorq4

"Don't Dream It's Over"- Sixpence None The Richer. COVER SONG ALERT! Most people remember this song being a hit for New Zealand band Crowded House in 1987, but it was later released by Sixpence None the Richer in 2003 off of their album "Divine Discontent". Leigh Nash and Sixpence hit mainstream in 1998 with their self titled album. After the success of the album, the band released this song in 2003 and hit the top 10 in their familiar Christian genre, but failed to make a major splash on the mainstream charts, with this song peaking at #78 on the Billboard Hot 100. Despite that, this is still a fan favorite for many Sixpence fans, and is the best Leigh Nash has ever looked as her hair doesn't look like a fireball as it has before.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3bdOefF_tyU

"Missing"- Flyleaf. Released earlier this year, this song is from Flyleaf's latest album "Memento Mori". Lacey Mosley really doesn't look like a rock star, she actually looks more like a stage actress or even a homemaker, but man she can rock a mic! Flyleaf is one of those bands that is Christian, but no one knows it. This song deals with several Biblical issues and has a few quotes from the book of Ecclesiastes. I like this song, but it just screams "Tonight Tonight" by Smashing Pumpkins just a LITTLE bit too much. Check out the bonus video and let me know what you think.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-X5lbZi6UUo

"Open Your Eyes"- Guano Apes. Another band that could have been included on "No Matter Where You Are In The World, If You're In The Bathroom, I Still Think European", as this band is from Germany. Pretty good band, really cool name. I wish I would have thought of it first honestly. Sandra Nasic, the lead singer looks like she's one of the torture victims during this season of "Dexter" in this video. She can really play a part. This song, on the appropriately named "Planet Of The Apes" from 2004 was released just before their breakup in 2005. Guano Apes are currently reunited and back touring in Europe. Also, this video kind of makes me think I'm seeing her in Jigsaw traps from the "Saw" movie series. Is that disturbing?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SFvCx6w_ptE

"The World Is New"- Save Ferris. Wow, we haven't seen these guys in a while. This ska band from Orange County hasn't been on one of my lists since we talked about their wonderful rendition of "Come On Eileen". Monique Powell is still really making me wonder why she was even in this band. She's not spectacular looking, but come on. Look at her. Now look at her bandmates- see what I mean? I know the imbalance is pretty typical in female fronted bands, but this here is on another level. Maybe that's why they broke up in 2002. This song led of Save Ferris's first full length album "It Means Everything".

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1GDZp0bPRcU

"Stupid Girl"- Garbage. I never liked Garbage, as I thought their name represented their sound. I think Shirley Manson was not only overrated, I think she was quite possibly the worst looking woman that people actually claim is beautiful. I just don't like much about this band. That being said, I was always pretty confused about how people always thought that you were cool if you liked this band. I remember 1996 being a year of "you have to like Garbage or you're a prep" lines being uttered by several of my friends of the grunge/goth world. The stupidest part of the whole thing is that Garbage is more pop sounding than some pop bands, they just have a crazy lead singer who moans in the microphone and wears black eye makeup.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1HBxUWSxcq8

"You're The Storm"- The Cardigans. I had to include a song that not as many people knew by the Cardigans, as they actually have a pretty solid European following despite their American audience being limited to their hit song "Lovefool". This song went to #10 in Sweden off of their 2003 album "Long Gone Before Daylight". Bonus points for recording a song in English that wasn't released in the United States. As you can see/hear, the Cardigans are a very diverse band, as this song is completely opposite sounding of "Lovefool". I really like Nina Persson as a brunette. Why don't more Scandinavian women go for this look? Anyway, great song here.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KxZ9_XlL19E

"Bring Me To Life"- Evanescence. What a song to release as your debut single! This song, also featured as the theme for the movie "Daredevil", led off Evanescence's album "Fallen" in 2003, and won the Grammy for Best Hard Rock Performance and peaked at #5 on the Billboard Hot 100. Amy Lee has one of the better voices in rock music- she can really belt it out! That being said, why does the band make her be in a different room? That's pretty mean. It really doesn't look like he tried that hard to save her either. Evanescence is another one of those bands that is "Christian", but actually picketed for their music to stop being sold in Christian music stores just because they thought it would hurt their fan base.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3YxaaGgTQYM

"Celebrity Skin"- Hole. I put Hole right up there with Garbage, but at least Courtney Love is hot. I am still convinced she not only had something to do with Kurt Cobain's death, but that she only married him to get famous herself. Bonus points to anyone who can identify the gender of the bass player.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O3dWBLoU--E

"New"- No Doubt. We all know how I feel about No Doubt, so I did not venture away from the one song I always claim is their best. Despite this song being heavily marketed and being included on the soundtrack of the 1999 movie "Go". This song actually never even charted. Maybe that's a sign that you actually suck. Really love this song though.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PtStjGHttGM

"Linger"- The Cranberries. Just because I love the movie "Click". Michelle, do you remember how many times you listened to this song in Texas?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G6Kspj3OO0s

"I Don't Wanna Dance"- Hey Monday. I recently got into Hey Monday on Pandora Radio and was instantly hooked. They remind me of Paramore in so many ways, and also a really hot lead singer in Cassadee Pope, who I admit is even hotter than Hayley Williams. This song is included on their new EP "Beneath It All", and will be included on their upcoming album due to be released in 2011. I have a feeling that Hey Monday will soon be as popular as Paramore, as I see many more hits in their future. Super awesome video here, but I am NOT digging the pink stockings, but I'm digging everything else. I think Pope looks the hottest when she is in the audience talking to the cameraman. This song makes me laugh- it's about the guy blowing the big chance with the hot chick he has no business being with.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8R048sqs8BM

"Don't You Want Somebody"- Jefferson Airplane. Grace Slick and her band are included just to show all of her sexual partners in the span of a week. Grace Slick will always be known as the biggest slut in music history. She could have been a decent lead singer, but her legs always being spread open kinda tore her band apart. The fact that this band went from psychedelic rockers here to the bonus video below is a FAIL beyond belief.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5GaUIYn5v98

BONUS VIDEOS-

"Don't Dream It's Over"- Crowded House. The original version.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J9gKyRmic20

"Tonight Tonight"- Smashing Pumpkins. See what I mean?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YEvVIgCm1zg

"We Built This City"- "Jefferson" Starship. Grace Slick caused all of this!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7flrwE-bZVo