AdeleFrom the golden soul era of the swinging '60s to the melancholy art pop of the '80s and today's chart dominance, British female singers are among the very best in the world. Marked by raw emotional honesty, vocal agility and a fearless musical vision, they have won hearts on every continent. These are the fifteen best British female singers of all time.
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Adele – Rolling in the Deep
A vocal force of nature: with her monumental alto, heartbreaking honesty about heartache and classic soul roots, Adele broke album sales records worldwide this century.
Amy Winehouse – Back to Black
The tragic jazz and soul legend from Camden who, with her deep, tormented voice and timeless retro sound, sparked the British soul revival and left a monumental musical legacy.
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Dusty Springfield – Son of a Preacher Man
The 'White Queen of Soul', with her sensual, velvety voice and perfect phrasing; her album Dusty in Memphis is considered one of the greatest soul records of all time.
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Kate Bush – Running Up That Hill (A Deal with God)
A completely unique avant-garde pop visionary: with her expressive voice, literary themes and innovative synthesizers she made history, and topped the UK chart again decades later thanks to Stranger Things.
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Dua Lipa – Levitating
The modern queen of British dance pop: with her smoky alto and tight disco-funk grooves, she brought dance floors worldwide to life with Future Nostalgia.
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Annie Lennox – Why
As the figurehead of Eurythmics and as a solo artist, she impressed with her androgynous style and powerful soul voice full of vulnerability and grandeur.
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Shirley Bassey – Goldfinger
The queen of the dramatic crescendo from Cardiff: with her theatrical belts and glamour, she gave the James Bond films their definitive musical identity.
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Sade – Smooth Operator
With her silky, mysterious voice and timeless sophisti-pop, Sade Adu set the ultimate standard for smooth elegance and musical refinement.
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Florence Welch – Dog Days Are Over
As frontwoman of Florence + The Machine, she enchants with her ethereal, whirling voice and powerful percussion that feels like a musical cleansing ritual.
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Ellie Goulding – Lights
Marked by her unique, vibrating voice and dreamy synth-pop productions that earned her billions of streams worldwide.
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Dido – White Flag
Dido's soft, comforting voice and intimate acoustic pop ballads made No Angel and Life for Rent two of the best-selling British albums ever.
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Jessie J – Price Tag
A vocal acrobat with remarkably powerful range who switches effortlessly between pop, soul and energetic R&B.
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Leona Lewis – Bleeding Love
The X Factor winner who conquered the American Billboard Hot 100 with her huge range and flawless technique.
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Petula Clark – Downtown
The charming face of the British Invasion in the '60s, who scored a worldwide number-one hit with this uplifting pop song about the magic of the big city.
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Bonnie Tyler – Total Eclipse of the Heart
The Welsh singer with the ultimate husky power voice who, together with Jim Steinman, created the most dramatic and bombastic pop ballad of the '80s.
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