Who is the best female singer/song writer in Rock & Pop history - Carol King, Stevie Nicks or someone else?

Question

I love Carol King but I have to go with Stevie on this one. Remember they not only have to sing well but write most of their own songs as well which sadly leaves out Anne Wilson and Pat Benatar.

Answer 1

I Love Carol King as well.....but Stevie Nicks has sang some beautiful songs I gotta go with her

Answer 2

I'd take Joni Mitchell in a squeaker over Carol King, mostly because I prefer Joni's jazz-influenced style more than King's pop sound. It's a squeaker though because Carol King is a giant and wrote some of the best pop music ever!



I'd put kd lang in there, too, over Stevie Nicks, for her creativity and her vocal style, even though she was never as popular as Nicks in her prime.



Not sure if Patsy Cline wrote her own stuff or not. If she did, I'd put her in the pantheon of all-time greats. Amy Mann is great, too. Can't leave out Fiona Apple.





EDIT: OH, how could I have forgotten Patti Smith!



Janis Joplin, wrote some of her songs but most of the ones she was most famous for were covers. They were incredible, kick-*** interpretations, though!

Answer 3

Stevie Nicks

Answer 4

Mike, that's a naughty question! ;)





Based on my personal favourites, in a sort of random order :~



Stevie Nicks

Candice Night

Sandy Denny

Christine McVie

** Loreena McKennitt





Although a lot of the songs Sandy Denny recorded / is known for were versions of traditional songs, she did also write many of her own, most especially her infamous classic 'Who Knows Where the Time Goes?'.



** How could I forget her!

Again, she recorded several traditional songs, but the majority are all hers.

Answer 5

Definitely Janis Joplin

Answer 6

In August 1980 I was at an outdoor festival, where I found myself trapped between 80,000 people trying to get to the front, and the stage left speaker stacks for AC/DC on the "Back In Black" tour. My hearing has been severely damaged ever since. All I got to see of AC/DC was Angus Young's knees going past. However, in 32 years I've almost gotten used to it.

Answer 7

The music snobs will tell you Joni Mitchell, and that's not a bad answer....but my problem with her is I don't like most of her songs.



Stevie Nicks gets my vote, for great songs.



Contendors:



Patti Smith

Chrissie Hynde

Carole King

Sarah Mclachlan

Aimee Allen

Answer 8

I would've said Joni Mitchell, the women is a goddess, Carol King would be second in my eyes, but not a close second, Joni wins by a mile.

Answer 9

I'll have to second Joni Mitchell.



Patti Smith is up there too... her 'Because The Night' is one the best written love songs of all time in my opinion. Plus it reached the top 20 twice - for her in 1978 and 10,000 Maniacs in 1993, which says a lot about the song's timelessness.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=px__SsVXX_0

Answer 10

Joni Mitchell is pretty kickass, I definitely like her better than Stevie Nicks. I once dated a girl who really liked Ani DiFranco. I didn't like her at first but some of her songs are cool.

Answer 11

Christine McVie - formally of Fleetwood Mac

Ann Wilson - Heart

Answer 12

I just love Stevie Nicks voice and her style

Answer 13

Carole King is the one.

Answer 14

My faves are Linda Ronstadt and Anne Wilson

Answer 15

Grace Slick- wrote/co-wrote a lot of the Airplane stuff, as well as the "Manhole" Solo Album.

Janis of course.

Have we forgotten about Christine McVie?

Answer 16

Janis Joplin

Answer 17

Stevie is right up there in my book as well as Lucinda Williams and Tori Amos.

Answer 18

Chrissie Hynde (Pretenders)





http://www.myspace.com/chrissiehyndesoloappearances

Answer 19

I agree with Pete. Chrissie Hynde!

Answer 20

Joni Mitchell, one of the greatest songwriters ever.

Answer 21

stevie nicks

carole king

joni mitchell

Answer 22

Tina Turner

Answer 23

I think Janis deserves to be mentioned.

Answer 24

laura nyro

joni mitchell

joan baez

Answer 25

today_ *PINK* she writes her music correct?