I much prefer female vocals to male vocals. There are just so many bands fronted by males and male singers in the world that I would say that I listen to slightly more of those than female vocals, but still, I listen to female singers quite a lot more than the average music fan. Here is a compilation of my top 40 favourite female singers. They have been selected based on how much I like their music, the quality of their voice, and the passion with which they sing. Some of these singers I don't listen to very often or have only heard a few songs from, but I like their music. I think the only three singers I would consider should be on this list that aren't are, Shirley Bassey, Christina Aguilera and Celine Dion. They aren't on it because besides their voice I don't really like their music. They are all brilliant singers though. So, onto the list. Also, Eva Cassidy should be in this list but I forgot about her and it's too late now. (i.e. I am too lazy) I will reveal my top 40 in reverse order.
40. "Ronnie" Yoshiko Fujiyama (The 5678s)
39. KatieJane Garside (Daisy Chainsaw, Queen Adreena and Solo)
38. Morgan Lander (Kittie)
37. Marie Yacoub (Malicorne and Solo)
36. Karen O (Yeah Yeah Yeahs)
35. Stacey Kiser (Unfinished Thought)
34. Tarja Turunen (Nightwish and Solo)
33. Nina Persson (The Cardigans and Solo)
32. Sheryl Crow (Solo)
31. Kate Rusby (Solo)
30. Agent M (Tsunami Bomb and The Action Design)
29. Sharleen Spiteri (Texas, Solo)
28. Dido (Solo)
27. Candice Night (Blackmore's Night)
26. June Tabor (Silly Sisters, The Oyster Band, Solo)
25. Corin Tucker (Heavens to Betsy, Sleater-Kinney)
24. Sharon den Adel (Within Temptation)
23. Jessica Mayers (Sugarcoma)
22. Dolores O`Riordan (Cranberries, Solo)
21. Fergie (Black-Eyed Peas, Solo)
20. Melissa Auf der Maur (Tinker, Hole, Smashing Pumpkins, Auf der Maur)
19. Kristin Hersh (Throwing Muses, Solo, 50 Foot Wave)
18. Madonna (Solo)
17. Martha Tilston (Mouse, Solo)
16. Laila Khan (Sonic Boom 6, Babyboom)
15. Courtney Love (Hole, Solo)
14. Brody Dalle (Distillers, Spinnerette)
13. Joni Mitchell (Solo)
12. Gay Woods (Gay and Terry Woods, Sweeney's Men, Steeleye Span, Dr. Strangely Strange, Woods Band, Auto Da Fe)
11. Cristina Scabbia (Lacuna Coil)
10. Alanis Morissette (Solo)
9. Heinie Immonen (Bitch Alert)
8. Cerys Matthews (Catatonia, Solo)
7. Karine Polwart (Malinky, Solo)
6. Maddy Prior (Maddy Prior & Tim Hart, Steeleye Span, Silly Sisters, The Carnival Band, Solo)
5. Amy Lee (Evanescence)
4. Joan Baez (Solo, with Bob Dylan)
3. Gwen Stefani (No Doubt, Solo)
2. Andrea Corr (The Corrs, Solo)
1. Sandy Denny (The Strawbs, Fairport Convention, Fotheringay, Solo, The Bunch)
Congrats on the good choice of Sandy Denny as no. 1. I would also recommend Carmen Townsend as one of my fav female vocalists. Her voice can be like a blend of Janis Joplin and Joni Mitchell, looks like Sandy Denny and rocks like Joan Jett at her best.