In fact, pageants have survived purely on the basis of such intrigue. Viewers tune in to claim their favourites. We spout clichés like "To each his own", or "Different strokes...", but we all believe our opinions to be the most correct, do we not? I do, and have a dwindling group of friends to prove it.
I have compiled a list of my favorite songbirds, not solely on the basis of physical beauty (although that remains a highly influential ingredient), as vocal style has always been a decidedly seductive feature.
Talent, of course, is an intangible variable, but so is the nature of womanly allure. A performer who understands the implications and strength of her femininity, and embraces it with vigor, will always garner fan appreciation.
I made a willful decision to omit some obvious choices in favor of some lesser known selections, but some are still pretty obvious.
With that foundation laid, I jump right in and pour gasoline on the flames of contentious dispute with my (alphabetical) list of hottest female singers of the day:
Aleesia: This Toronto girl can sing and dance, and though she is hardly a household name yet, her videos' improving production value, tell me she's on track. Her songwriting could use a little more substance, but she may just be keeping something up her sleeve for later. Right now, she's producing good clean pop, but she is a quadruple threat, the 4th being that she's mesmerizingly stunning. See for yourself, and tell me if I lie.http://youtu.be/DYtGtZwnovM
Alexia Coley: Most of you don't know this indie singer/songwriter from the U.K., but sometime over the next year or two, the right label will sign her, and you'll be hearing her name. I have declared her as neo-retro-soul, and posted on my
Facebook page that if Otis Redding had a child
with Sade, Amy Winehouse, and Etta James, she
might sound something like this. Her looks, voice, and confident stage presence are a seductive combination. See her live in London. http://youtu.be/qdy5dXlvB00
Alizée Jacotey: Alizée is so beautiful that immediately after watching her, I cannot recall how she sings.
She was France's "Idol"-type contest winner 10 years ago, and is now a big star in Belgium, Italy,
She is an amalgum of every male and lesbian fantasy, and her handlers seem to have exploited a different one in every video. To be fair, I have included a live performance so you can just see her as she is. It's not her newest, but you will probably be searching for more to view anyway, volume on or off. Oh, you're welcome. http://youtu.be/jjUVStwNt3k
Carrie Underwood: I have referred to her
before in terms that invoke the archetypal "farmer's daughter", but Ellie-May has come a long way. She did not disappoint the "Idol" viewers who voted her to prominence. She has honed all of her...things, to perfection. Most of the time, she comes off as president of the abstinence club, but every now and then, she flashes a hint of the potential indecency she might fully reveal if you were to meet her behind closed doors. Or maybe it's just my imagination.
Christina Milian: Another quadruple threat who also writes, and has been at it since she was a kid. As a result, she seems to have maintained a cutesy demeanor that belies her overall foxiness. Then came this scene in the movie, Be Cool, where she sits down at a piano, sings a soulful ballad, and releases a fountain of sexual chocolate temptation (Yeah, I said it!). The rest of her music, if not for the visual, is somewhat forgettable. If she could just release the Soul a little more, and the Pop a little less, she would be unstoppable.
Christina Perri: If not for all the tattoos, you'd think she was the good girl next door. Perri plays piano and guitar masterfully. She exudes a mysterious coalescence of ruggedness and sensitivity in both her personal style and vocal tone. For instance, her Jar of Hearts video shows her wearing a lacy gown, and combat boots. It is by this very virtue that she elevates herself from "plain Jane" to desirable diva. Her new hit, A Thousand Years from the movie, Breaking Dawn has around 6,000,000 hits on YouTube. See it for yourself. http://youtu.be/rtOvBOTyX00
Esperanza Spalding: Winner of the "Best New Artist" Grammy last year, and a delightful young thing whose brains, looks and talent are a god-given combination. The best thing is that we never see her with much make-up, and she always sports the natural 'fro in all it's outrageous splendor. This woman will struggle to find a man capable of stimulating her artistically and intellectually in the long-term. Hopefully, Bob Marley has another son we don't know about.
Janelle Monae: I am a fan of her funk. Her style just rubs me the right way. She's eccentric, as geniuses will be, but I don't want to marry her, I just want to bathe in the sea of her sound. It helps to know that she is lovely, but matters little as she never reveals even the slightest bit of
skin. Maybe she's a Mormon. I don't know, but I can live with that little bit of mystery.
Jennifer Lopez: Probably approaching the twilight of her music career because actual vocals have never been her strongest suit, but she reigns supreme in the visual here-and-now. She also connects herself with the right people to keep her current, and possesses the latin pride and work ethic that should keep her aging gracefully.
Joss Stone: Like a young Christina Aguilera, this charming chanteuse's voice is far from what her looks convey. She was 16 when she emerged sounding like a large black lady in a gospel choir. Now a full-blown woman, she is hotter than ever, and I don't think we've even seen the best of her yet.
Katy Perry: It didn't hurt the male-fantasy factor that she burst on the scene with the words, "I kissed a girl, and I liked it." She recently became the 1st woman to achieve 5 #1 hits from 1 album, so regardless of her unabashed commercialism, her appeal cannot be denied. As a woman, she has captured the coquettish qualities of a Marilyn Monroe without the ditziness. She also married Russel Brand so you know she has a sense of humour.
Kelly Rowland: Beyoncé's Mary Wilson has never demonstrated anything but soft-spoken grace toward her friend. Nominated at this year's American Music Awards for Best Female R&B Artist, she was once again overlooked in favor of her former band mate, and I for one, thought it was her time. Can't everyone see how exquisite this woman is? She has a sweet face and some fabulous physical qualities. Just as importantly, she can sing and she can dance. "Can I get a wha- whaaa?"
Natasha Bedingfield: While I can do without some of her music, the girl can sing and she's stylish in a natural kind of way. She actually looks as if she would smell great. I like that in a woman, and I could really use a "Pocket full of sunshine" (oh come on, it was right there).
Nicole Scherzinger: With her, it's simple. She is sublime, exotic, has a smoking hot bod (if you're into that kind of thing), and she can sing as well as dance. The best thing about her is that she doesn't become any less attractive when she opens her mouth (to speak). She is eloquent and always seems to have something positive to say. Not the first thing that comes to mind when you think of Pussycat Dolls. Nicole baby, call me.
Pink: I know this is a risky choice, but her package as a whole is saucy and provocative. Her voice is raw, but her ability ample. She is prolific, and her repertoire is wide-ranging. She is a bad-ass chick whose lyrics display a delicate introspection, and that fortitude to defiantly declare her vulnerability is just what I dig. Also, I had the opportunity to meet her before I knew who she would become, and she is surprisingly natural and attractive in person with a playful quality that says, "You think you can handle this?" (At least I think it was playful)
Pixie Lott: I only include her because she seems to be the "waif du jour". I rarely comment on people's weight, but I find her frighteningly skinny. Her music, for what it is, is not all bad. I can see some of the appeal if I were still 16, but only time will tell if she can evolve beyond bubble-gum popstar.
Selena Gomez: I am not her demographic, and would be more apt to pinch her cheeks and take her to Disneyland than to consider her sexually, but I see in her an exotic flower in bloom. I feel the day will come when she will be one of Hollywood's top beauties. She displays much talent that has yet to fully develop, and if she continues to grow artistically, and maintains the humility and elegance she has demonstrated so far, she will be the worthy object of desire for decades to come.
Shakira: With this Colombian enchantress, it's all about composure, suggestive movement, vocal originality, and a raw erotic quality of which she seems only partially aware. Watching her perform elicits feelings in me of which I am not always proud. She's a lioness in my jungle, baby.
Tia Brazda: Former lead singer of Eve and the Ocean, she may never be mentioned among such company, because in addition to being a Canadian indie artist, she also sings Jazz. It's more of a modern, pop-infused, bluesy Jazz, but still Jazz. The good news is that this is not your old school jazz singer. This girl has a very special quality to her voice and her absolute adorability doesn't hurt a bit. She's young, and may, in the right hands one day be a big star, but even if she remains a local treat, she's worth a look and a listen.
Vanessa Hudgens: I know. I feel dirty admitting this, but the little girl from High School Musical is all growed up now, and in the most splendid of ways. Girlfriend looks good, and has musical abilities that she has yet to really show. Look for her to evolve into a different kind of artist, if she can shake the typecasting. Check YouTube for her version of Bread's Everything I Own from the movie Bandslam. As for the nude pictures posted without her permission, I refuse to look at them, again.
Others that were on the grid, but of whom I feel enough has already been said, are:
Beyonce, Rihanna, Taylor Swift, Ke$ha, Ciara... Hey, these are all lovely females, and none devoid of talent, but I keep searching, and this I do benevolently, for you....my readers.
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