Top 10 Rock Songs by Female Artists

Evanescence

The early 2000s nu metal craze was at the time, and remains, a highly polarizing cultural phenomenon. However, one aspect of it that seemingly everyone can agree on is Bring Me to Life. Anchored by frontwoman Amy Lees powerhouse vocals, the bands signature song transcends its genre trappings to become a timeless, belt-out-loud anthem. Bring Me to Life has been described by co-writer Lee as a wake-up call to seize ones life back and to stop simply going through the motions. While the song was initially rejected by radio programmers simply for the fact that the band had a female lead singer, its pretty clear that Evanescence got the last laugh.

Joan Jett & the Blackhearts

Well give you a moment to collect your jaw from the floor upon realizing that Jetts enduring smash hit is actually a cover. Originally written and recorded by obscure 70s British rockers the Arrows, Jett and her band blew the original out of the water. So much so, in fact, that Jett and the Blackhearts rendition spent seven weeks atop the Billboard Hot 100. A sweaty, bare-bones sing-along, Jett injects I Love Rock n Roll with a headbanging electricity, proving in an instant that not only could the girls compete with the guys, but they could roundly outdo them, too. Sure, they had other hits, but I Love Rock n Roll best crystallizes Jett and the Blackhearts essence.

Blondie

Coming on the heels of the punk rock explosion of the late 1970s, Debbie Harry and Blondie played a crucial role in helping the genre to transition into the polished new wave of the 80s. They certainly had the punk cred, having performed regularly at the hallowed halls of New York Citys infamous CBGB nightclub. The release of their third album, 1978s Parallel Lines, saw the band face criticism for embracing disco and, in the eyes of some, abandoning their punk roots. Those critics would need only wait for the albums sixth and final single, One Way or Another. It retained the punk aggression that had initially propelled them to stardom, while incorporating experimental elements that solidified their status as trailblazers.

The Cranberries

The use of rock music to appeal to political and humanitarian causes was hardly a new concept in 1994. With that said, though, its hard to find examples, before or since, of any musical artist pulling it off as well as melancholy Irish rockers the Cranberries did with Zombie. Written by lead singer Dolores ORiordan, Zombie laments the human cost of the Troubles in Northern Ireland. Specifically, ORiordan wrote the song in response to the March 1993 bombing in Warrington, England, by the Provisional Irish Republican Army. Drenched in distortion, Zombie is a stark contrast to the Cranberries typically more subdued work which only makes its political message all the more powerful.

The Runaways

A few years before Joan Jett struck out on her own and became a rock star in her own right, she was the guitarist for this all-female outfit one of the first to make waves in the world of music. The Runaways, most famously consisting of Jett, Cherie Currie, Lita Ford, Jackie Fox, and Sandy West, never achieved significant mainstream success. But what they did achieve was cementing their legacy as having opened the doors for other female rock artists to realize that the genre didnt have to be a boys club. Cherry Bomb, the first single off of the Runaways self-titled debut album, is quite literally the sound of the future introducing itself.

Heart

Fronted by sibling duo Ann and Nancy Wilson, Heart rose to fame off of the strength of the sisters wailing vocal chops. Ann and Nancy were incensed by a confounding marketing stunt orchestrated by Mushroom Records, in which the label falsely asserted that the two had involved themselves in well, lets just call it a family affair. Disgusted and offended, the Wilson sisters wrote Barracuda, a searing indictment of the music industry. Said producer Mike Flicker, Barracuda could be anyone from the local promotion man to the president of a record company. That is the barracuda. It was born out of that whole experience. The rest was history, and the songs classic riff has been recognized as an all-timer.

No Doubt

It was hard to pick just one song to sum up the contributions of the celebrated ska-punk band that introduced Gwen Stefani to the world. When youre sorting through the likes of Spiderwebs, Dont Speak, and Hella Good, its no easy feat. In the end, we had to go with Just a Girl, the bands first major hit. The songs biting lyrics deal with co-writer Stefanis frustration with societal perceptions of women. Just a Girl used rock music to explore issues that, within the genre, hadnt really been explored before. Wrap its novelty up in an almost scarily catchy package, and you can see why it helped to shoot the band into the stratosphere.

Alanis Morrissette

Look, its time to give up hope that Morrisette will ever reveal just who her You Oughta Know is about. But to get wrapped up in that conversation completely misses the point of her breakout hit. Morrisette, who was born in Ottawa, Ontario, was just 21 when You Oughta Know was released, revealing a wisdom that exceeded her years. The song was released in the wake of the explosion of the grunge bubble, which had popped upon the 1994 death of Kurt Cobain. Morrissette took that inescapable sound and put her own spin on it. That spin, which combined grunges sensibilities with her now-trademark caustic wit, catapulted Morrisette into overnight superstardom, and set the stage for female singer-songwriters to open up without holding back.

Janis Joplin

Largely considered the legendary Joplins signature song, Bobby McGee was originally written by country stalwart Kris Kristofferson, alongside Monument Records founder Fred Foster. However, the song is so widely associated with Joplin that the late blues singer has posthumously claimed it as her own. A rowdy showcase for Joplins raspy, dynamic vocals, Me and Bobby McGee only became a hit some months after her untimely 1970 passing from an overdose. While Joplin herself didnt live to see the legacy that she would ultimately cultivate, her recording of Bobby McGee stands as one of the most powerful, most straightforwardly rockin songs ever recorded by anyone.

Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.

Patti Smith

Pretenders

Garbage

Hole

Paramore

Stevie Nicks

Yeah, chances are youve heard this one before. From its opening seconds, Edge of Seventeen grabs your attention with those tense, muted guitar plucks. Mere seconds later, Nicks vocals sweep you away, whether you like it or not. The third single from Nicks debut solo album Bella Donna, Edge of Seventeen proved resoundingly that she didnt need Fleetwood Mac to produce instant classics. A veritable whirlwind of impeccable musical craftsmanship and the singers never-more-astute lyricism, Edge of Seventeen has a little bit of something for everyone, and is undeniably stirring. In case you needed evidence that Nicks is rock royalty, throw on Edge of Seventeen... and then just try to turn it off, if youre able.

Which song on our list do you think radiates the most girl power? Are there any we missed? Be sure to let us know in the comments below!