Dolly Parton once said, “I'm not going to limit myself just because people won't accept the fact that I can do something else.” Women have always had a place on stage in the music business, singing songs and entertaining the masses, though they have often had a harder time controlling their own destinies and reinventing themselves than their male counterparts. Why is it Taylor Swift develops a reputation for writing huge hits about her former flings while no one blinks an eye at Bob Dylan? Hmmm.
Over the years, women have slowly taken down barriers in the music business, on stage, in the studio, and on the road. They formed rock bands that were shockingly loud. (Who doesn’t love The Runaways?) They made pop records when the world saw them as innocent folk artists. (Here’s lookin’ at you, Jewel). And they took control of their sexualized images, making music that vocally slayed and entertained. (Madonna. Janet Jackson. You’re both on my jogging playlist.) For this year’s Women’s History Month, we want to point out three stunning vocalists who have reshaped entertainment by writing the soundtrack of our lives.
Celia Cruz
As one of the most popular Latin artists of the 10th century, Celia Cruz was known around the world as “The Queen of Salsa”. The Cuban American singer rose to prominence in the ‘50s, beginning in her native Cuba as part of the popular group La Sonora Matancera. As a master of several musical styles (including guaracha, rumba, afro, son, and bolero), Cruz recorded several singles for Seeco Records. After the Cuban Revolution of the ‘60s nationalized the music scene, Cruz left her homeland, becoming a symbol of a community in exile in the time to follow. In America, she reestablished herself, becoming heavily associated with the salsa genre in the ‘70s. Her extensive career spans, 37 studio albums, several live albums, 2 Grammys, 3 Latin Grammys, and a modest résumé in the telenovelas of the time. Quite a story, quite a life, quite a career. As Cruz was known to say … ¡Azúcar!
Rihanna
Evolving the idea of what it means to be a pop star, Rihanna is also an actor, fashion designer, humanitarian, and businesswoman. After being discovered by producer Evan Rogers, she signed to Def Jam records in 2005 and immediately found success with her first two albums, both of which peaked within the Billboard 200’s top ten. It was 2007’s Good Girl Gone Bad that established the singer as a global superstar, thanks to the success of her smash his “Umbrella” (which earned Rihanna her first Grammy). After departing from Def Jam, the singer took creative control of her work, releasing her second number-one U.S. album, Anti. Fond of collaborations that span musical eras and genres, Rihanna has sold over 250 million albums worldwide, making her one of the best-selling artists in history (not to mention the wealthiest female musical entertainer, thanks in part to her immensely successful beauty line, Fenty Beauty). 14 number-ones. 9 Grammys. 6 Guinness World Records. But … there’s only one RiRi.
Billie Eilish
Since gaining notoriety with her 2015 debut single, “Ocean Eyes,” Billie Eilish has done it all. She has had huge albums, monstrous concert tours, and even a James Bond theme song! She frequently collaborates with her brother, Finneas O’Connell, on music and live shows, a professional partnership that took off when the duo pushed “Ocean Eyes” to SoundCloud. Within a few weeks, it had garnered several hundred thousand listens. Though she’s still quite young, the artist has already earned an Oscar nomination, 7 Grammy Awards, 2 AMAs, 3 MTV Video Music Awards, 3 Brit Awards, and a Golden Globe. As the youngest artists in history to win all four general field categories (Best New Artist, Record of the Year, Song of the Year, and Album of the Year), Eilish is already the twenty-sixth highest-certified digital singles artists of all time. Expect to hear far more of her ethereal soprano vocal stylings in the years to come.