By Lillian Liebke
There has been an ongoing debate about who the best female artist is for decades. But who really is the best? These three women are the best female artists in the industry currently, and here’s why.
The third best has to be Billie Holiday. Billie Holiday was an African American Jazz singer when slavery and the Civil Rights Movement was in its prime. Billie Holiday wrote numerous songs speaking out against the violence towards African Americans in America, her most popular being Strange Fruit. In this song, Billie sings about how African Americans are taken off the streets and hung off of trees in the public for everyone to see, comparing them to a “strange” fruit. She sings about the gory details of the horrible acts of violence towards her community, and her songs helped many African American people stay hopeful that one day the world will change. Billie Holiday died in 1959, five years into the Civil Rights Movement.
The second best female artist is Lady Gaga. Lady Gaga’s shock value gained her rapid attention in her early career, where she used that fame to build a community for the LGBTQ+ community. Gaga has numerous songs like Born This Way and her album The Fame Monster. Lady Gaga’s eccentric style and quirky personality is loved by all, and she is one of the most influential artists of the 2010’s. She made everyone who felt “different” like they had a spot in the world, and that they were free to be whoever they wanted.
The top female artist is hands down Adele. Adele has been popular for decades, and every single one of her albums hit top of the charts almost instantly. Her sorrowful voice has so much power behind it, and her emotional songs move people to tears. She makes many relatable heartbreak songs and her most recent album is more about her personal feelings and how she has been handling feeling lonely after the quarantine. Her songs are relatable and her range of voice is beautiful to listen to. She really appeals to all age groups.
Sure there are many great female artists in the game, but no one can beat these three. Billie Holiday, Lady Gaga, and Adele produced songs that made communities of people feel safe and that they had a place to belong. Their music is some of the most influential in the world, and these women will go down in history for their beautiful singing voices and powerful messages.