General Gregory N. Pigott: February 2014

In honor of the females participating in the Winter Olympics and today's Daytona 500, I figured it was time to do another list honoring female-fronted bands.

In order to be considered this list, the band had to have a female lead singer, even if the band was not all female. No female solo artists were considered. Also receiving votes in this category were "Just Be Good To Me" by The S.O.S. Band, "You Can't Hurry Love" by the Supremes, "Lollipop" by the Chordettes, and "Love Can Build a Bridge" by the Judds.

"Little Too Late"- Nicki Bluhm and the Gramblers. San Francisco musical couple Nicki and Tim Bluhm followed up their famed youtube "Van Sessions" with these memorable "Jam In The Van" recordings to help push the up and coming indie artist website. This song is included on the band's self-titled 2013 album and was the band's lead single. I absolutely love her voice and the chemistry she has with her band is very Carole King-esque to a level that is quite scary. With this album and her previous critically acclaimed album Driftwood, Bluhm is quickly becoming this generations's Janis Joplin every time she takes the world by storm with a great vocal effort like this one.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LC4GufIBps8

"Stars"- Grace Potter and the Nocturnals. Vermont's Grace Potter made a big mainstream splash this January when she performed the National Anthem at the NFL Pro Bowl in Hawaii. This unbelievable single from their 2012 album The Lion, The Beast, and The Beat peaked at #95 on the Billboard Hot 100. Despite the band's folk sound, this song has received attention in the country music world, including a duet of this song recorded with Kenny Chesney. I smell a bonus video. Grace Potter has one of those voices that you dream about and that you can listen to to totally relax you even in the worst of times. As I listen to this and all of Grace Potter's other songs, her life seems to have been quite interesting to write so many emotional songs. This is woman I would absolutely kill to see in person.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ml7TmC__eDc

"My City Was Gone"- The Pretenders. This long time to the "Rush Limbaugh Radio Show" first appeared on The Pretenders 1984 album Learning to Crawl after being popular with fans when it was the B-Side of their 1982 single "Back On The Chain Gang". This ode to Chrissy Hynde's hometown of Akron, Ohio, which peaked at #11 on the Billboard Rock Songs Charts, has obvious liberal environmentalist overtones despite its use by conservative talk show host Limbaugh. This marked a well publicized legal battle between Limbaugh and Hynde in 1999, that eventually led to Hynde agreeing to continue letting Limbaugh use the song because her "parents were fans of the show". According to Limbaugh, he liked the irony of having a liberal song on his show and said that the bass line was "unmistakable". I'd have to agree, this song could even get me hyped up for a big game.

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

"Walking On Sunshine"-Katrina and the Waves. This 1985 international hit by American/British band Katrina and the Waves peaked at #9 on the Billboard Hot 100 and was included on their self-titled album being "American" Katrina Leskanich's biggest U.S. splash with this British band. This single was originally intended to be a ballad, but Leskanich thought the song sounded better like this. That decision proved to be a good one, as this song is one of the most used songs in television history in commercials, tv shows, and movies, making the royalty payments of this song some of the highest in music history. The big success of the single gained the band a nomination for Best New Artist at the 1986 Grammy Awards. Despite being born in Topeka, Kansas, Leskanich was a military brat of the Air Force and settled in the UK in 1976, where she remained permanently.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iPUmE-tne5U

"I Want Candy"- Bow Wow Wow. Here is one I know you heard before but I guarantee you had no idea what band sang this song. Led by half Burmese lead singer Annabella Lwin, Bow Wow Wow made their one and only splash in the United States when this single peaked at #62 on the Billboard Hot 100 in support of their 1980 album Your Cassette Pet. The odd sound of this band led to a moderate following in their home in Great Britain, but Bow Wow Wow disappeared like a fart in the wind in the United States after the popularity of this song. Like Katrina and the Waves, Bow Wow Wow also saw a lot of royalty payments from this song just due to its heavy use in American mainstream media.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aMICD3aMZpw

"Manic Monday"- The Bangles. I think I've mentioned about 25 times how much I am in love with Susanna Hoffs. Susanna, if you ever see this, I'm all yours. This song was written in 1984 by Prince after he listened to the Bangles debut album. In an unconfirmed report, he gave this song to Susanna Hoffs in exchange for one night with him. This lead single from the band's 1986 sophomore album Different Light peaked at #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 and gave everyone who hated their job a song to listen to on Mondays while preparing for their week from hell. Unlike most of the bands on this list, The Bangles were made up of completely females, which is so amazingly sexy. In the last scene of this video, the calendar fast forwards showing every Monday in the year 1986. Like we needed a reminder.

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

"Crush On You- The Jets. Here is another international hit from those singing Minnesota Polynesians, the Wolfgramms, also known as The Jets. This single from their critically acclaimed 1985 self-titled debut album, peaked at #3 on the Billboard Hot 100. This song did a great job showcasing the vocal talents of 12 and 13 year old Elizabeth and Moana Wolfgramm who not only performed like adults, but also sounded like them. I am seriously always blown away that such young girls could sound so mature together. Despite all the jokes I make about the Jets, it's still amazing that so many siblings could be so talented to be able to perform at this level and not only sound great, but sell records and get to the top of the charts. The Jets still perform and have got to be some of the most humble and genuinely nice acts out there today. From what I've seen of their concerts, they seem to be a pretty good live act as well.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nm_QilrHkh8

"Baby Girl"- Sugarland. This debut single from then trio Sugarland from their 2004 eponymous first album Twice The Speed of Life took the country music world by storm when it peaked at #2 on the Billboard Country Charts and #38 on the Billboard Hot 100, and broke numerous records with it's unreal 48 week run on the charts. Despite their immense talent, I've never been much of a Sugarland fan, but I've always been a sucker for this coming of age song. The band confirmed that this song was a biographical account of what their career had been up to that point. I think Sugarland can add another verse to this song of how they've become arguably the biggest country act in the last 10 years.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y75lVEv7Tqw

"What's Up"- 4 Non Blondes. This one album San Francisco band led by songstress Linda Perry made their one and only splash with this single from their 1992 album Bigger, Better, Faster, More when it peaked at #14 on the Billboard Hot 100. After the band's disbanding, Perry went on to mentor female superstars Christina Aguilera and Pink.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6NXnxTNIWkc

"These Dreams"- Heart. In 1986, Ann and Nancy Wilson and Heart were looking for a comeback after a few years of decline. The answer was this song by Elton John lyricist Bernie Taupin and well known English songwriter Martin Page that was included on the band's 1986 self-titled comeback album. This single went on to be the band's first ever #1 Billboard Hot 100 single, and was originally written for Stevie Nicks who declined it. I've always had the hots for the Wilson sisters, and despite their 1980's haircuts, they look just as sexy ever in this video. The success of this single and album would go on to resurrect Heart's already successful career that saw them have two more top 3 albums and another #1 single the following year.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=41P8UxneDJE

"Bizarre Love Triangle"- Frente! This forgotten Australian band made a very quick splash with this very brief splash on the American charts with this stripped down acoustic version of New Order's single from 1986. This not even 2 minute version went to #49 on the Billboard Hot 100 is one of the shortest songs in the history of the chart. In another ironic twist, it was the only acoustic song Frente! ever recorded. Making their one overseas charting song the one that sounded the least like their others.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IJ1c9ErCn7w

"What I Am"- Edie Brickell and the New Bohemians. Before she was married to Paul Simon, Edie Brickell was fronting this band who released this single as their debut track off of their 1988 debut album Shooting Rubber Bands at the Stars. This single peaked at #7 on the Billboard Hot 100. Despite this band's obvious talent and catchy riffs, this song gets on my nerves than I like it. I am just not a huge fan of all the huge transitions in this song.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tDl3bdE3YQA

"Le Freak"- Chic. This 1978 disco hit became this New York based funk factory's first Billboard Hot 100 #1 hit when it was released in support of their hit album C'est Chic. This catchy single still holds the record as the best selling single in Atlantic Records history. I love this song, but why aren't the singers dancing when they sing a song about a dance?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h1qQ1SKNlgY

"Voices Carry"- Til Tuesday. In yet another one hit wonder, this 1985 single and title track from Boston's Til Tuesday's sophomore album peaked at #8 on the Billboard Hot 100 and became easily their best known single. Lead singer Aimee Mann wrote this song originally to be between two women, but due to pressure from record companies and radio stations, the lyrics were changed to be between a man and woman. Like most 80's videos, this video is beyond confusing with a plot and them we're supposedly already supposed to know like it was a season finale or something. I hate when bands do that crap.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uejh-bHa4To

"Midnight Train To Georgia"- Gladys Knight and The Pips. This 1973 breakup and love conquering song is done amazingly live by Gladys Knight and her brother and cousins here. This signature single from their album Imagination went to #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and remains the band's most popular song and is still performed to this day by Gladys Knight. Gladys Knight just has such a soulful voice and is in my opinion a great example of how a woman can age gracefully, as she has got to be one of the best looking 69 year old women alive.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v78-ftcqpNw

"Hit Me With Your Best Shot"- Pat Benatar. I kinda cheated on this one, but Pat Benatar has always struck me more as a female lead singer, as he's had the same band for years which includes her husband and lead guitar player Neil Giraldo. This very popular single from her 1980 album Crimes of Passion peaked at #9 on the Billboard Hot 100 and became extremely popular on MTV where she became of the new channel's first and only female artists in its early days. This single not only remains a very popular concert song for many female artists (including Martina McBride....I smell a bonus video), it's also still to this day one of the most popular stadium anthems in all of sports especially for baseball and soccer. This video features a pretty solid live performance. This song was also included in the Broadway production and film "Rock of Ages".

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0JRgHol94Xc

"Man Sized Love"- Klymaxx. Ok, I finally did a new Klymaxx song. Aren't you proud? This song from Billy Crystal and Gregory Hine's movie "Running Scared" and Klymaxx's 1986 self-titled album gave the girls from Klymaxx a catchy song that peaked at #15 on the Billboard Hot 100 and made Klymaxx a good follow up to their 1984 hit album Meeting In The Ladies Room. Bernadette Cooper went back to her regular role as lead singer after Joyce Irby stole her thunder on "I Miss You". This album was the last big splash for Klymaxx before Joyce Irby and Bernadette Cooper both started solo careers and Irby did us the honor of "discovering" the boy band N-Toon. I smell a bonus video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ee00qN7iUhI

"By Your Side"- Sade. Despite what people like Allysha say, Sade is a BAND, not a singer. They are led by the always very sexy Sade Adu. This 2001 single from their album Lovers Rock peaked at #75 on the Billboard Hot 100 and remains one of the band's most popular songs and is played at every live performance. The success of this song has led to it featured on TV shows such as "Daria", "The L Word", and "Sex and the City". It also has been used in many celebrity weddings. This video which is depicted as a "strange, mysterious dream" does a great job of showing the true mysteriousness of Sade's persona as well as showing the emotion and passion of the song. This song helped Sade earn the 2002 Grammy Award for Best Pop Vocal Album for Lovers Rock. I would also like to say that Sade was 43 when this video was made. Wow.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O8bA7nJYfeo

"The Sign"- Ace of Base. This Swedish quartet took the United States by storm in 1993 by giving girls 11-15 everywhere something to think was cool. This lead single and title track of their American debut shot to #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and included this very popular video that received heavy rotation on MTV and VH1 when they still showed music videos. Remember those days? Didn't think so.

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

BONUS VIDEOS- "Hit Me With Your Best Shot"- Martina McBride

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

"Ready"- N Toon

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LW3g3dilM-A

"Beautiful Life"- Ace of Base

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v9hdMSr6Duc

"No Ordinary Love"- Sade

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_WcWHZc8s2I

"Apologies"- Grace Potter and The Nocturnals

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2QDSboyAJvg