10 years since the Spice Girls’ world domination began, what better time to celebrate sisters doing it for themselves? Here is part one of my a to z guide to the acest females in pop.
Amy Diamond
“Tell me who are you to shame and mistreat her, no she’s not a man but you’re not one either” – Don’t Cry Your Heart Out
Best song: Shooting Star
Proof of girl power: Amy’s the youngest in my a-z and her status as pop’s current child prodigy is enough to win her place here. At only 14 years of age she has released 2 albums and many hit singles in Scandinavia, and she’s one of our most exciting prospects for the future.
Amy Studt
“Who gives a !?! if whoops you ain’t shiny and perfect, there’s a ladder in my tights and that’s the way, uh-huh, I like it” – Ladder In My Tights
Best song: Ladder In My Tights
Proof of girl power: She was scorned by many for her apparently contrived rebel misfit image and lyrics, but no criticism changed the fact that she had amazing sing-along songs (written by acetastic Karen Poole among others) that certainly represented being a teenage girl better than any r’n’b diva or try-hard fashionista ever could.
Ana Matronic
“Cos you’re filthy and I’m gooooorgeous!” – Filty/Gorgeous
Best song: It Can’t Come Quickly Enough
Proof of girl power: Busty New Yorker Ana Lynch, or Matronic as she’s normally known, is the only girl in the Scissor Sisters but you can tell she never feels left out, always seeming to be the centre of attention, being fabulous and simply exploding with girl power. She’s no skinny teen airhead, in fact the complete opposite, and this makes her a brilliant role model for young girls and boys too.
Anouk
“I’m sorry but I ain’t gonna change my ways, you know I’ve tried but I’m still the same, I’ve got to do it my own way” – Nobody’s Wife
Best song: My Best Wasn’t Good Enough
Proof of girl power: For someone who looks like such a nice, polite lady, Anouk can sure rock out! Her voice is strong and fierce and her songs are just the same. She’s one of the biggest stars in her home country of Holland and has released some great songs over her 4 albums.
Bertine Zetlitz
“I will make your soft hands tremble, I will make your ego burst, anything you will resemble I will always get there first” – For Fun
Best song: Ah-Ah
Proof of girl power: She worked with Richard X before Rachel had even heard of him, had released several albums before fellow Norwegian Annie had even made one, and the super-cute and quirky singer’s new single 500 is getting attention from all the ace people, but it’s just one of dozens of top tracks she’s given us over the years.
Britney Spears
“I’m stronger than yesterday, now it’s nothing but my way, my loneliness ain’t killing me no more – I’m stronger” – Stronger
Best song: How can you make me choose?
Proof of girl power: She may have lost it a bit in the past few years, but Britney is still my ultimate homegirl, because she’s so much more likeable than Christina or Beyoncé or any of the others. When she was releasing shiny super pop music she was a step above, there was something special about her, and the effect her early hits had on pop music overall was hugely positive so she is a total icon forever, whatever she does next.