Who is The Most Underrated Female Singer of Popular Music? I think it’s easily Donna Summer.p

JANET!!!

Jessie J is very underrated.

Alana Davis....she had one hit, covering Ani Defranco's "32 Flavors" and then never made another Top 40. Her voice is like butter and she writes her own stuff except for this one. Insanely talented.

Donna Summer had a great voice and was a great musician. She so seamlessly fit into those great dance hits that it is easy to overlook her enormous talent and skill.

You said it so well R4.

And she took care of her voice always. I very unexpectedly met her at Elaine’s in 1997 - she was so sweet and beautiful and gracious. I was awestruck.

I saw her perform with the Houston Symphony many years later. It was like hearing Live and More (1978) all over again. It was effortless for her :))

Donna Summer could sing anything. She definitely never got the respect she deserved.

Donna Summer is my favorite. She could sing anything. Why else would Barbra choose her to represent her, on several occasions? She was amazingly versatile. I fell in love with her disco hits, but I realized she was so much more than that. Her voice was so gorgeous, so lush, so warm, so embracing. My boyfriend is also as huge fan (we're both the same age, late 50s). We remember the disco years, but also know there was so much much there, and it was a tragedy that her voice was cut short the way it was. It was in fine fettle even towards the later years.

R7 thanks for that clip, I’d never seen it. Wow!

Barbra chose Donna to sing THAT song; a song that meant so much to Barbra. Of course! Only Donna, as it should be.

The Incomparable Donna Summer. The day she died, my father called me to give his condolences. I loved her so.

Didn't you do this Donna Summer thread last week? Last month?

[quote] Donna Summer is my favorite. She could sing anything. Why else would Barbra choose her to represent her, on several occasions?

Because she is her son Jason's favorite, and it's the only way she can be sure Jason is paying attention to her.

Next question.

Donna wasn’t underrated by a long shot. R2, no, just no.

Santigold

Róisín Murphy

Diana Ross and Karen Carpenter. I would also say Aretha Franklin by the younger generation. I know it sounds crazy but I think they judge her by the way she sounded in her last decade and all the reverence she was shown by older people. I thinks some of them thought that Mary J. and Whitney were better. Lol.

How in the fuck is Diana underrated?! She’s overrated!!!!

How is Diana Ross underrated though? I think she had a pretty decent success.

Fucking Aretha had nothing but praise bestowed upon her during her career. NOT underrated in the slightest bit.

I don't think Diana Ross is overrated, but how in the world could you describe her as underrated?

Aretha, now she was overrated.

The Pointer Sisters. They were commercially successful in the 70s and especially in the 80s but they were so versitile in their music choices that they never received their just due.

Sheena Easton. Bitch could literally sing whatever style of music she wanted and was regarded as one of pop’s most versatile singers in the 80s and early 90s.

Randy Crawford has an amazing voice!

Teena Marie. She should've been huge in the 80s.

Tracey Thorn.

Agree about Lady T!!!

Tracey Thorn has the charisma of a dead fish and slightly looks like one in the face.

Sophie B. Hawkins, without a doubt.

R26!!!! Dream on!

Phyllis Hyman.

I said Diana Ross in terms that she never receive a competitive Grammy as a member of The Supremes or as a solo artist. Aretha in terms of younger people only but she simply was the best.

Didn't like Aretha. Hers was the image that came to mind whenever I read the word "caterwauling." Until the 21st century, that is.

Definitely agree Randy Crawford is underrated.

Marlena Shaw.

Aretha could do it with the best of them and she launched a thousand ships but she also had subtlety. Her notes had conviction and she never at least to my ears never sounded like she was showing off. That’s the difference and she always sang from her heart. She didn’t scream just to be screaming. They asked Leyontyne Price who were the greatest voices of the century? Her response was herself and Aretha. Listen to her version of “Wholly, Wholly” from her “Amazing Grace” album. That tells you all anyone needs to know about Aretha and I always play that for anyone that doubts her supremacy.

I can’t wait for that film to be released.

Randy Crawford is amazing!

Laura Branigan

I agree that Randy Crawford has a great voice, but she was never going to be a star. She looked like a Gender Studies professor from Bennington College.

Patti Austin...a technically perfect voice with great pitch and depth.

Obviously, Jasmyn Burke:

I voted for Donna Summer upthread, but I saw that Phyllis Hyman was mentioned, and she is truly example of an underrated female singer. I think Donna Summer was very widely appreciated. Phyllis had in common with Donna musical theater experience, which I think shows in the range of their music. RIP, Sophisticated Lady.

Phyllis was phenomenal and appreciated in certain circles (the Black Community, the jazz circuit) but she didn’t get the broad exposure her talent deserved.

Phyllis Hyman definitely deserved a lot more than what she got. She was fantastic. Unfortunately, Clive Davis was so preoccupied with Whitney Houston, other artists on Arista didn't get the attention or promotion they should've had.

The answers are Belinda Carlisle, Miss Gong Li, Ms. Liv Ullmann, and Lisa Kudrow. Oh, and Capucine. Because DL.

I think Donna got her due and continues to get her due (RRHOF). I think because so many said she was underrated, including Dick Clark, she got more recognition. Plus, "I Feel Love" is considered one of the most influential songs of the past 50 years. Songs like Bad Girls and She Works Hard for the Money are iconic and of course, Last Dance is the closer for so many wedding receptions and dance nights.

Bad Girls was the prototype for so much of '80s dance-pop.

I think Hyman didn't get the recognition because of her own personal issues but also because she wouldn't put up with Clive Davis and his bullshit.

I've always loved Gladys Knight

Donna Summer was the QUEEN of music for many years at her peak. She is still considered one of the greatest female singers ever. She was a MASSIVE music seller back in the day so NO she was NOT underrated.

Donna's voice was one of a kind - she could do just about anything. As much as we may slag the Geffen era on here there are some gems in there that rank among her best. Robert Christgau once said she managed to build a career out of belting out inconsistent banality as if her life depended on it - I didn't find her work banal at all but he was pretty on with regards to her oomph.

Dusty was equally underrated and versatile vocally. Roisin Murphy comes shockingly close on some cuts to sounding just like her, and her body of offbeat butt-shakers is pretty peerless this century.

Agree on The Pointers too! Randy Crawford as well.

More recently, the original and now reunited Sugababes (Mutya & Siobhan especially) and Sophie Ellis-Bextor never got their due in the States.

I just love the Pointer Sisters. A lot of their music has aged really well (for me, at least). I love their harmonies.

I think it's amazing that their biggest album, Break Out, came out when they were approaching their mid-to-late '30s. That would never happen today.

I don't think we should award threads started by such OBVIOUS, stanning trolls.

We had a great Pointer Sisters thread on here a while ago. It reminded me of how many great songs they had. They had a ton of hits over two decades.

I hate Clive Davis...pimp.

Flo Ballard

Donna is a rock n roll hall of famer. Not underrated.

I forgot about Phyllis Hyman's mental health issues. Yes, that certainly contributed to her career problems. Not all of them, of course, but it did have an effect.

Ariana Grande hands down. The poor thing will probably never get the respect she deserves.

The poster who stated Karen Carpenter must be the most clueless person alive. Karen is considered one of the premier voices in music. Perhaps you don't know what underrated means.

Eydie Gorme had them all beat.

But I'd also agree about Phyllis Hyman, incredible voice.

Huh, r53? Ariana Grande is probably the most popular female pop star at the moment. She just won a Grammy and her latest album received good reviews.

Lady T

r56, I came to the conclusion r53 was joking.

Yes, the Pointer Sisters really could sing everything. Pop, R&B, Soul, Country, Dance, Blues, Rock, etc... Basically give them a song and they could sing the crap out of it.

I was just a kid in the 80s, but I remember you heard the Pointer Sisters constantly. Their music seemed to be everywhere back then.

Shara Nelson? or maybe I just really like this song.

I’ll concede that she has a limited range, but Natalie Merchant has a lovely voice, amazing stage presence and is a flawless live performer.

Natalie Merchant was pretty damn famous in the 90s. Tigerlily was a massive album.

Natalie was a massive BORE!

Gladys Knight, Gladys Knight, Gladys Knight. After her Superbowl performance, everyone was talking about how "classy" she's always been, and sometimes I think she "classed" herself right out of the running for GOAT. Should have been a little pushier, 'cause she deserved it.

[quote] Sheena Easton. Bitch could literally sing whatever style of music she wanted and was regarded as one of pop’s most versatile singers in the 80s and early 90s.

Since she's not really thought of as a vocalist, I'd have to agree with you about Sheena. Her hits were pop fluff but I think she had serious vocal chops -- a strong belt and very lovely high notes

Sinead had quite the pipes back in the day

I said Karen Carpenter because she wasn’t respected as a great artists in her lifetime. A few years ago Richard was being interviewed by NPR’s Terry Grosse and she practically dismissed their music as bubblegum. I was appalled.

Florence from FATM?

Macy Gray

R70, good choice.

Lady T was completely underrated. Most white people don't even know who she is/was. Shame.

SuBo!!!!!

Joan Osborne is really too good to be a one hit wonder (One of Us) Especially since her breakout album Relish was so good. She still makes a living as a singer. Her cover of blues songs Bring it on home is fantastic, almost as good as Relish.

I'm white and I love Teena Marie. So sad she died young. Listen to her albums from the 80s and you'll see she should've been a big star. Totally underrated and never got the mainstream success her talent deserved.

The OP asked about popular music so that leaves out one hit wonders, up & comers & no charters.

The key word is underrated. Aretha (Queen of Soul) & Donna (Queen of Disco) have plenty of awards, charted songs, money & name recognition.

The Pointer Sisters have had plenty of rated success. Diana Ross does seem to lack some awards but not #1's or $ so I don't think she can be called underrated.

Belinda Carlisle would most likely be considered underrated of all of those named. She was nominated for a Grammy with The Go-Go's for their debut record but lost. She was nominated for her solo work as well but also lost. She still isn't in the Rock HOF despite the groundbreaking achievement with The Go-Go's (first all girl group to have write & play their own instruments with a #1 album). She might be the biggest household name for a female punk singer worldwide (guys tend to dominate that category more than any other except maybe bluegrass) but no one calls her "Queen of Punk" who would end up with that title?). Her net worth (minus her hubby's) is around $15 million. That pales in comparison to some of the above mentioned artists. She did blow much of her $ from her Go-Go's days which is one of the reasons for her solo career. Belinda's French album was the best thing she ever did & should've had more of a push worldwide. She basically said that after a meeting with MTV execs, she was shut out of video rotation for not showing the amount of skin they wanted from her. She also told off a powerful music exec & probably had repercussions from that as well.

Someone mentioned Laura Branigan who I would also consider a contender. She was nominated twice for a Grammy but never won any.

Teena Marie & Rosiin Murphy are also interesting choices but I'm not as familiar with their awards/ chart histories.

I'm trying to think of some females with vocal abilities that were shut out of having top 10 hits & a longer shelf life.

Lisa "How Can I Ease The Pain" Fischer comes to mind.

Irene Cara was supposed to be the next big thing of the 80's

but unfairly fizzled out after a couple of years.

Lisa Fischer only did one album and decided she liked being a backup singer better.

Belinda Carlisle's French album is wonderful, if you haven't heard it go on Youtube and listen.

Irene Cara was allegedly a huge bitch and a cokehead and that ruined her career.

Agreed. Donna Summer. Hands down.

As a teenage gay white boy in the early 1980's, when I heard Donna Summer sing, I didn't think, "Wow. She's a great black singer." I thought, "What a great artist!" I went to see "Foxes" and went to the local record store and bought the single of "On the Radio". I felt the same about Whitney during her early days prior to all the drama. Seeing "Summer" on Broadway, I had "Heaven Knows" going through my head all night. I didn't have Cher songs going through my head after seeing "The Cher Show" even though it was a slightly better show. But if there's one black diva whom I can listen to over and over, it is Dame Shirley Bassey, the Queen of the Bond Theme Divas. When I watched the video recently of "For Your Eyes Only", I had to rewind it to hear Sheena Easton sing the theme song again. Same with any movie theme song sung by Maureen McGovern or Melissa Manchester.

Thanks R78 I didn't know that.

I guess that's a rare breed of singer to go back to playing second fiddle.

Chris, of Giorgio & Chris. Hands down. Totally underrated.

Agree on Teena Marie.

Completely different style, but I love Sarah Cracknell of Saint Etienne. It's all just so lovely and retro and English (in a good way).

Sheena Easton. Fantastic pipes and technical abilities. Always on the edge of superstardom but couldn’t quite crack it. Great looking - the camera loved her - but she produced too much mediocre material in the late 80s (minus the Prince collabs) and never quite figured out her image. She did have a handful of infectious hits, more than enough for a greatest hits.

Even the pussy song was fun.

R81, you've got great taste for a gay white boy!

Jeanette McDonald wins this thread.

Alison Moyet.

[timid whisper] connie francis?

Mary Weiss of The Shangri-las.

They've never even gotten a nomination to the RRHoF unlike the RRHoF inductee Donna Summer.

Mary Weiss is badass, really a subtly original edgy voice.

Been listening to some Tracey Chapman and she deserves to be on this list.

R4 absolutely love Alana Davis and though she would be a big star

Donna Summer was a superstar. How is that being underrated

Diana Ross. For some reason her recordings make it seem like her voice is thin and reedy.

In actuality it’s a full, large voice

Debbie Harry is a better singer than given credit for being. And, again, once the most beautiful woman in the world hands down.

Martha Wash has an inhuman voice but her obesity keeps her from the limelight

I would not consider Donna Summer, Diana Ross, Dusty Springfield or Karen Carpenter “underrated” – they’ve all received their just due in the form of multiple honors and are considered icons.

I do agree that Sheena Easton, Laura Branigan, The Pointer Sisters, and Belinda Carlisle are underrated.

My choice would be Juice Newton, who could move easily between pop, country and rock and had a clear, beautiful voice.

OP, you're right she is underrated. Robert Christgau in one of his reviews said, "I mean, this woman will never compete for Lady Soul, but she enjoys singing as much as Diana Ross ever has, and if her timbre isn't as magical her robust technique makes up for it." WTF? I like Diana Ross's voice, but there is no way Diana Ross is a better singer than Donna Summer. Not in any universe.

Diana Ross didn't have the most powerful voice, but she had a VERY commercial voice. That's why she was front and center when she was with the Supremes.

R100, you are right but there is no way she can be described as a better singer than Summer. Summer had a very broad vocal range, whereas Ross had a very narrow one.

Summer was definitely the better singer, but Ross had a perfectly good voice.

Also, Diana had a very unique look that stood out compared to other R&B singers of the 60s and early 70s.

Well to be a total bitch about it, Diana Ross was the only one who was good-looking and could really wear clothes well. God bless Aretha, Dionne and Gladys, but damn they weren't exactly cover girl material.

Alison Goldfrapp and Roisin Murphy.

Donna for the win.

Roberta Flack

One of the most beautiful voices in pop music history. Roberta Flack had a total of six Top-10 hits on the Billboard Hot 100, including three that went to # 1:

"The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" (1972)

"Killing Me Softly with His Song" (1973)

"Feel Like Makin' Love" (1974)

Romeo Void's Debra Iyall -

[quote] Martha Wash has an inhuman voice but her obesity keeps her from the limelight

Agreed. Martha has an amazing high soprano belting voice. I saw her in the mid-90s in L.A. She was singing to pre-recorded backing tracks but at the top end of her range her voice was so loud and powerful. She gave me goosebumps.

Donna Summer wasn't/isn't underrated; she was/is HUGE! People loved her music and she skyrocketed to fame in her time.

I'd go with Irene Cara or maybe Gladys Knight, so talented, but never got all the glory.

Love both of them too, good choices.

Irene Cara was a cokehead bitch who was a nightmare to be around. That's why her career stalled.

Irene Cara won an Oscar, so she is not underrated commensurate to her talent.

Gladys Knight never got her due? Really?

Teena Marie and Phyllis Hyman are the two big ones for me. They should've had much more success and recognition, given the level of talent each had.

I think that Phyllis Hyman’s voice was one of a kind. From no one else have I heard those velvety deep low notes.

She never fit well into the pop world. Her work on Bway in Sophisticated Ladies was stunning— she should have delved more into the blues and classics with that phenomenal instrument

Mary Martin, hands down.

My hymen is underrated cause it’s gone!

Donna Summer? Gladys Knight? Diana Ross? Are you people insane? These three are amongst the most successful and well-recognised female singers in the history of pop music!

No shit, r119! I agree!

Ann Wilson. Phenomenal voice. She did a better Robert Plant than Robert Plant. Still sounds amazing.

Phoebe Snow

Minnie Ripperton

Dusty Springfield

Teena Marie was too ugly to even be rated.

Debbie Harry was definitely an underrated singer. People were too focused on her beauty.

Duffy.

How about Laura Nyro:

She’s more alternative than pop, but I am obligated to say Tori Amos. She has always roughed up her voice a lot, using it as an instrument of texture, etc., rather than just sounding pretty all the time. But in her prime (alas, her voice has thinned out a lot with age), she is one of few performers who has ever been able to command an auditorium with just her piano and the power of her voice—no distractions, no dancers, no autotune, nothing else.

🤮 at 128