The BBC have been running a pole to discover the top number one single of the last 50 years:

The Top 100 Number 1 Singles.

It is interesting to note the 'lack' of female singers in that line up.

Maybe they haven't had a number one hit :rolleyes: but which female singer & song is your favourite?

Kirsty MacColl - all of hers but if I have to pick one it'd be "A New England"

So what's yours leigh ??? You can't ask us that then not tell us :D

Pat Benatar -- Heartbreaker :)

runner-up: Bonnie Tyler -- Holding out for a Hero.
non-pop:
Lisa Gerrard -- either songs that she sang for "Gladiator" and "Black Hawk Down"
Maire Brennan as solo or part of Clannad :) ANY of her songs :D :D

Winner..........Carol King........Youve got a friend.
Runner up......Whitney Houston....Run to you.
VHC..............Diana Ross.......Chain Reaction.

However , none of these are any match for Freddie Mercurys....Winters Tale.

Leigh said women Phil - but then again - Freddie Mercury :rolleyes: :D ;)

He could out-warble any Diva out there and with more style --- including Mariah Carey and Whitney Houston. I still miss him. What a character :)

I know Sarah and need a wrist slap for mentioning him (sorry sorry sorry) but nobody outsing Freddie, SO THERE LOL

Almost anything by Anastacia

Bonny Tyler ..Total Eclipse of the Sun

Mama Cass singing anything!

Blondie

Im not really a fan of women singers as such ...for rock I like a man ;)

Opera however .......nah , still prefer the men :D

Melody

I think Eva Cassidy turns anything she sings into pure class :) Fields of Gold is my fave.

Im with you Mel MEN ROCK :D :D :D

Hello Petit Pois

Its interesting to note the 'lack' of female singers in that line up .. It would be more interesting to *know* who compiled the list .. LOL

Paddington likes all female singers .. *Ducking*.. *winks*

Paul on the other hand is sticking with Sinead O'Connor .. Nothing Compares To You .. *Winks*
.. and The Fugees .. Killing Me Softly .. *Grins*

Paul xxxx

Would have thought Paddington would like Christina and the girlies singing rather saucily on Lady Marmalade :D

roflol Ali :D :D :D

Hey sister, go sister, soul sister, flow sister .. LOL

Hey Ladies .. Do you want to see a poor bear with his toggles tied together .. you don't think Paddingtons *Butt* is going to move to that do you ? .. not easy with my toggles wrapped round my neck .. *Grins*

The only *marmalade* I'm allowed is sandwiches .. *Winks*
Paddington

Leigh
Maybe .. Breath .. Faith Hill? .. *Winks*
Paul xxxx

Hello Treacle

>>It would be more interesting to *know* who compiled the list .. LOL

Methinks it was Radio2 (RF) listeners .. ;-) :D

*Paddington* had better behave or I will tie his *toggles* together :rolleyes:

Leigh on the other hand is sticking with:

Eva Cassidy's Songbird and Oleta Adams' Get Here :-)

And as for you, Paul .. Eternal .. "Oh baby I .." *grins*

Leigh xxxx

oi :D
I am a Radio 2 listener

That explains everythang :P :D

@ Leigh :p
I can't do without me Wogan in the morning!!!!!! :p :D :D

Definitely Suzanne Vega 1.) Luka
2.) Marlene on the wall
3.) Left of centre

Oh..I miss my youth!
Julie ;)
reserve Ann Wilson (Heart) 1.) Never
2.) These dreams

Minnie Ripperton's Lovin' You still sounds wonderful. Ali, did you know Eva Cassidy isn't here any more?
LynnT

Not a solo female singer but the female lead singer of a group my fav is Dolores O Riordan Burton. lead singer of the Cranberries.
and fav song of theres is Ode to my family.

Karen

Yes Lynn, I know she's gorne :rolleyes: but it doesn't stop her being fab :D

I do a mean Minnie Ripperton on Karaoke :o :p :D

Can you reach the high notes?

I will sing for you on Tuesday :D

but you will have to stamp on my feet first so i can hit the high notes :D

Hi Taffyparker..

With you ou your choice...alothough I go the list and say " That was great" ....." Oh so was that"

That's the problem isn't it Pam .. it's not until you actually think about it that you realise there are hundreds of good songs :D

I got married last Xmas and I was determined I would have all my live long favorite songs played.

I recorded about 3 cds full and guess what I can't remember hearing any except 10 seconds of the first when getting married..LOL It took me months. Mind you I have kept them and I love them.

Nobody compiles your favorites like you do yourself.

Pam :-)

Oh good Pamela, I knew there had to be at least one person with the same taste!:)

Jolene by Dolly Parton and How Can I ever Live Without You by Le'ann Rhimes (very dodgy spelling there!!)

Fiona
x x x

I'm a country girl at heart :D

Leigh who was no. 1 please ?
Gina

1. Queen - Bohemian Rhapsody
2. John Lennon - Imagine
3. Beatles - Hey Jude
4. Simon & Garfunkel - Bridge Over Troubled Water
5. George Harrison - My Sweet Lord
6. Procol Harum - A Whiter Shade Of Pale
7. Animals - The House Of The Rising Sun
8. Abba - Dancing Queen
9. Beach Boys - Good Vibrations
10. Queen & David Bowie - Under Pressure

Click on the link in my first post Gina :-)

Snorri throws in.......

The Power of Love (Jennifer Rush)
Love is a Battlefield (Pat Benatar)
Total Eclipse of the Heart (Bonnie Tyler)
It's my party (original Barbara Gore version)
This wheel's on fire (Julie Driscoll and the Brian Auger Trinity)
Wow! (Kate Bush)

However, I have to admit that when not listening to classical, I reminisce with Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin and Yes.

BTW, Eric Clapton is God's right-hand man.....:D

Snorri, I thought Clapton WAS god ;) :) :)

No it's the other way round!

BTW Snorri it was LESLEY Gore and not Barbara

Singer & snog (whoops) song!
It is interesting to look what has been posted but I need clarification.
How do you define a 'singer' is it someone who can just about hold a tune like many of the popstars of today? Not Norahj Jones though.
Or is it someone like Kathleen Ferrier who could REALLY sing?

What is a song?
Is A Whiter Shade of Pale a song or just words?
What about waulking songs (Snorri you may be needed here - to explain to this uncultured multitude of ruffians and rakes <<G>>) do they count?
Does Wuthering Heights make sense?

Questions. Life is full of questions and many are without an answer.

Current personal female singers (well make a nice sound)
Kate Rusby (who else??)
Cara Dillon (replaced Kate in Equation) - come on keep up
June Tabor (just heard her on the radio with that! song - recorded in a church in Passendale ?sp)
Licorice
BUT ultimately it has to be
Janis Joplin with Summertime
the greatest white female blues song interpreter (Note how I avoided 'singer') with THE classic Gershwin selection of words.

Let me lie down in a dark corner.

Sometimes I wonder what I would select for my desert island.
Let me think I will get back on that.

Thanks Leigh, was listening in the car (going away for the weekend) but missed the top 20 unfortunately. Beatles should have been tops as far as I am concerned ... that means Beatles, Paul, John or George of course :D (Cant stand Bohemian Rhapsody :)

Gina

Wuthering Heights by Kate Bush is probably my favourite :)

I thought it was "Warbleling Heights" Noug ;) :D :)
I didn't type that, did I??? d'OH

LOL! :D

Yep, Lesley Gore (oops, senility again)

Hmmmm, I think that Eric Clapton is in competition with Alfred Brendel here (Brendel is my fav classical pianist), so I didn't accord either the position of God :)

By the way, if none of you have heard Florence Foster Jenkins yet, perhaps you should try to get an earful or two. She might make you look at the world of female singers with a whole new vision! :D

Florence Foster Jenkins isn't she the 'singer' who hires rather large venues in the US of A so she can perform there?
She has to hire the halls as no-one would dare invite her to sing in their venue.
See I do know of her (Note OF !!!) I have not heard her melodius voice.

There is now a CD available by the way ...with the top 50 singles on it ..saw it in Tesco earlier :)

Melody

Heather Nova - amazing voice, can't pick a song off the top of my head. Or Amanda Marshall, Last Exit to Eden. Gives me goosebumps
:)

Florence Foster Jenkins is, alas, no longer with us :(

She was a New York socialite with a voice to be marvelled at, as she was able to compete more than successfully with the loudest of angle-grinders. Her sense of timing and rhythm was such that the bravest of accompanists would run screaming from the hall.

She used to hire halls in which to give charity recitals, which were surprisingly well-attended. It is still a matter of some debate as to whether she thought she was the creme de la creme or knew she was dreadful and was being a bit of a comedian.

I have ONE track of her on CD, where she sings the "Queen of the Night's aria" from "The Magic Flute": it has to be heard to be believed! She is a bit like The Sun newspaper - so stultifyingly bad that it is fascinating! :D