Nr. 49 – Katy Perry

I don’t know if Katy Perry would be considered an unexpected artist on a list like this, but to me she’s a given. I like the way she’s playing with prejudices. As I wrote about Lady Gaga, Perry too was mocked by the press for her outfits in the beginning of her career. To me she seems to do it all with a huge portion of self-distance. The act may seem old, girl plays rock in cute outfit, but I think she has managed to do it in her own style. She has created a unique image out of a cliché. And that is my answer to why she is cool. (After all her hits written by famous hit makers I thought it was about time to show a clip of one of the songs Perry has written herself.)

Nr. 50 – Beth Ditto

I don’t think I’ll have to write so much about this American singer. Beth Ditto’s attitude and appearance speaks for itself. She is the front singer of (The) Gossip, strutting around on stage wearing whatever she feels like with a cocky attitude. Why is she cool? I think I’ve already answered the question. Besides, I ranked this song as one of the top 10 songs of the ‘00s. That too has to count for something on this list. (You can also keep an eye on drummer Hannah Blilie who almost made it on the list.)

Nr. 51 – Kim Deal

Kim Deal is lead singer and guitarist of The Breeders (although, in this clip she plays the drums), and also the bass player and backup singer of punk band The Pixies. Deal formed The Breeders with her twin sister in high school. At first it was just the two of them playing and recording everything in their own little bedroom studio. But the band, as we know it, was officially formed in 1988 and the line-up has changed a lot through the years with Deal as the only continual member. In 1986 Deal answered an advertisement, by The Pixies, for a bassist who was into hardcore punk and folk music. She showed up at the audition without a bass, plus she had never played the instrument before, yet she eventually became the bass player of The Pixies. Why is she cool? She is a doer. Formed a band and building a studio with her sister in her teens and showing up to an audition without even having played the instrument and yet turned out to be successful in both these projects over time.

Nr. 52 – The Donnas

I think this is the only band featured on the list. I wanted these ladies on the list but I’m not that into The Donnas so I couldn’t choose one of them and I didn’t want to give them four spots on the list, so they’ll have to share nr.52. Walking in the footsteps of The Runaways they’re now one of the most successful all female rock bands. I guess that’s why they’re cool, being an all female rock band. If you think I’m repeating myself by writing “why is she cool? Because of her voice”, don’t worry, no risk of me using that phrase here. I’m not a big fan of her voice. Luckily her voice is not the reason they’re on the list …

Nr. 53 – Whitney Houston

Those who know me should not be surprised to see this icon on this list. And I know, I know….She has not made herself worthy of this high ranking if you look at her latest performances. But I won’t spend so much time focusing on the past years’ scandals. When she was scheduled to come to Sweden I was told I have to go see her since I’m always raising her voice to the sky, praising her as one of the best singers ever. But if I was going to see her live, it would have been when she was in her prime. She (or rather her voice) is the single reason I’ve seen the movie Preacher’s Wife more than once. My friends and family might be tired of me showing these clips. But I’ll never get tired of them. If it weren’t for Sony taking Whitney singing The Star Spangled Banner off of YouTube it would be three clips shown of Whitney. (You should be glad I’m not sitting next to you while reading this going “...now…listen….listen when she gets to this part…”) Is she getting too much space on this blog? No, it’s Whitney! Next you might see me doing a leave Whitney alone-clip….or maybe not. Anyway…Why is she cool? She may mostly do power ballads that someone else has written. But she does them with such elegance, perfection, presence, and power. You may argue with this but to me her voice is flawless. Look at the clip of her singing One Moment In Time at the Grammys and tell me - isn’t she cool? And by the way, the best music to keep in the car for long road trips is not I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles) by the Proclaimers or some other cheerful music. It’s the soundtrack to The Bodyguard. Those power ballads are the best for sing along. Trust me.

Nr. 54 – Astrud Gilberto

My sister-in-law talks about how Portuguese is one of the most beautiful languages in the world and while listening to Astrud Gilberto I’m prepared to agree. She is a Brazilian singer with German heritage who eventually ended up in the States making a living as a jazz singer. It’s kind of ironic that the song that established her as a jazz icon was the song The Girl From Ipanema featured on the album Getz/Gilberto. Gilberto had never sung professionally before that and she only appeared on the album at the suggestion of her (then) husband. Why is she cool? I think I’ll let the speaker in the clip give you the answer to that question.

Nr. 55 – Patti Smith

Just Kids, an autobiography by Patti Smith, was published this year in January and I have planned to read it, but as always it just ends up on a To Do-list. It should be an interesting book to read considering the life she has lived. She has been called Godmother of Punk, and rightfully so since she was one of the most influential artists of the ‘70s’ punk scene. Why is she on the list? It would be weird to leave out a woman called the Godmother of Punk on a list like this. That wouldn’t necessary mean she’s cool, but luckily she is.

Nr. 56 – Anoushka Shankar

Anoushka Shankar is a young musician and composer with Indian origin trying to mix two musical cultures in her own music. With her album Anourag she was the youngest and the first female ever nominated for the category of World Music. I didn’t want this list to be a Cool By Association list which is why I’ve tried not to mention parents, relatives, husbands or partners in these descriptions. So if you’re curious of her in that matter you’ll have to look it up yourself, if it’s not obvious. Why is she cool? She’s got one foot in the east and one in west and somewhere in between she creates beautiful music.

Nr. 57 – Sinéad O’Connor

She had her biggest hit with a song written by Prince, and she did it so well I consider it to be one of the best songs released in the ‘90s. Sinéad O’Connor is an interesting person to read about, through the years she’s made several controversial statements. But that’s not why she’s cool so you’ll have to read about that another time. She’s on this list mainly because of her strong interpretation of that song, and shaving her head as a statement against beauty ideals.

Nr. 58 – Bonnie Tyler

A classmate of mine brought one of those “my friends” book to school the other day and we all got to sign it. On “favourite song” another classmate wrote “anything with Bonnie Tyler”. I liked that. So simple. But I don’t know if I could agree completely with him on that note, though I do think that with a voice like that she has to be a part of this list.

Nr. 59 – Adiam Dymott

Swedish singer Adiam Dymott started off by working at a studio in Stockholm and eventually she emerged in to the recording room. She appears on Mange Schmidt’s Vem É Han and this year she released her solo album, Adiam Dymott, a collaboration with hip hoper Thomas Rusiak. Why is she cool? Finally a female Swedish rock singer with a true sense of coolness.

Nr. 60 – Minnie Riperton

Like many others on this list Minnie Riperton is often described as the singer of one particular song. In her case, that one song is Loving You. It appears quite a lot in movies, TV-series and so on. But she has done so much more than just that one song. I’m going to make an effort to spread her music by putting her on this list (also, check out Les Fleurs, It's So Nice and You Take My Breath Away). So why is she cool? You try to sing along with her, see if you can hit those high notes. (and don’t you dare compare her to Mariah Carey)

Nr. 61 – Alison Krauss

For many people Alison Krauss is the woman who sang Down To the River To Pray in the movie O’ Brother Where Art Thou. I think that was the first song I heard by her. But since then this woman seems to be everywhere. Her recordings with Union Station, the album she made with Robert Plant and other collaborations gave her a wider audience beyond the bluegrass scene. Why is she cool? I guess she’s cool because she’s one of those who helped people to discover bluegrass. Plus she’s got a beautiful voice.

Nr. 62 – Brody Dalle

Australian singer, songwriter and guitarist Brody Dalle got her breakthrough with the band The Distillers. She is now making music under the name Spinnerette and has through the years collaborated with various bands including Queens of the Stone Age and several more.

My first meeting with Brody Dalle was on an airplane on the way to Los Angeles. A friend of mine lent me a CD with The Distillers and I was immediately fascinated by her voice. I haven’t heard many female singers using growling as a singing technique. Why is she cool? Because of her voice.

Nr. 63 – Joss Stone

Young British soul phenomenon released her first album, The Soul Sessions, at the age of 16. The album sold platinum and since then she has released three more albums. This tall soul singer often works the stage barefoot giving the performance a relaxed expression. Why is she cool? Compared to other female singers getting their fame at a very young age she didn’t have the “I have to show I’m a grown up now”-complex, taking her clothes off in every video like for example Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera, instead she seemed to rely on her voice. That’s cool.

Nr. 64 – Monica Zetterlund

Monica Zetterlund was not only a good jazz singer, she was also an actress with a great sense of comedy. She appeared in several movies and shows by Swedish film directors and comedians Hans Alfredsson and Tage Danielsson. This clip is from a play by Hasse & Tage called Gula Hund, a satire over multiculturalism in the Swedish society, where Zetterlund plays Singoalla, daughter in a gypsy family. This is the English version that was produced by Sveriges Radio for a competition in Montreaux. This might be the only existing gypsy version of the Swedish national anthem, and in English as well. Why is she cool? She’s got grace, talent and she’s also funny. 

Nr. 65 – Kim Gordon

A list with a title like this must include musician, singer, songwriter, producer, artist and fashion designer Kim Gordon. I won’t get into details of all her different occupations and titles though. She is mostly recognised for her music career, more specifically as singer and bass player of Sonic Youth. Why is she cool? She just is.

Nr. 66 – Natalie Maines

Natalie Maines, singer of the Dixie Chicks, changed the situation completely for the entire band by just uttering the words “Just so you know, we’re on the good side with y’all. We do not want this war, this violence, and we’re ashamed that the President of the United States is from Texas” in London in 2003. If you don’t know the rest of the story, look it up or listen to the text of the song. For a very long time the Dixie Chicks were banned on American radio channels. In 2006 the Dixie Chicks released this song – Not Ready To Make Nice.
Why is she cool? Besides from the fact that she’s got a really cool voice, she’s cool because she’s not afraid to speak her mind and with her saying those words she started an important discussion.

Nr. 67 – Patty Griffin

It is difficult finding good clips of her on YouTube, at least of her singing my favourites. She started her career as a musician relatively late compared to many others in the business, releasing her first album at the age of 32. She writes beautiful songs and I like her voice. But this is not a list of female musicians that I like. So, back to the question, why is she cool? She had the guts to follow her dreams at an age of 32 starting a career in a business that focuses and glorifies youth, where everyone is constantly searching for the next new, young star. Luckily she made it and is now playing with Robert Plant on his latest album Band of Joy.

Nr. 68 – Susanne Cox

OK, this one’s easy. Susanne Cox is the youngest sister in the family Cox, playing bluegrass together under the name The Cox Family. I love her voice. For those who have seen O’ Brother Where Art Thou, you have heard her sing on the soundtrack I Am Weary (Let Me Rest). Now looking at my list I like the fact that I think Susanne Cox is cooler than Lady Gaga for just having that voice and playing the mandolin. The clip I wanted to show was when Cox Family sings Will There Be Any Stars In My Crown, but embedding was disabled. (By the way, note Alison Krauss in the beginning of the clip....)

Nr. 69 – Lady Gaga

Now THIS girl, she is fun! She keeps making me ask myself what I really think of her. On the one hand it all seems to be a circus, an act. On the other hand, of course it’s an act! That’s the point. And I think she pulls it off. I like the fact that the first things I read about her were texts about her awful style, and then it didn’t take long until they all just turned 180 and everyone just loved her sense of fashion. I don’t want to write much more about her ‘cause I like the fact that people (including myself) don’t really know what to think of her, and that’s part of why she’s cool.

Nr. 70 – Erykah Badu

This artist has got it all. She’s got the voice, she’s got grace, she’s got the looks, she’s got really good songs, she’s got feeling and she’s got a natural coolness. But the reason she’s not getting higher than nr. 70 on this list is that she seems to be so aware of this and can easily turn the natural coolness into drama. I went to one of her concerts a few years ago with a friend. She was two hours late and for one hour we watched her backup singers sing some kind of teasing song with the lyrics going something like “…I guess you’re waiting for Baduuu… Baduuu….”.  (This brought no consolation what so ever for my restless friend who had some guy behind him a bit too close, breathing on his neck.)When she finally came on she was spinning in on stage wearing a black cape and held burning incense in each hand. It just felt like too much drama and not so cool. Back to the subject, why IS she cool then? As I said, she’s a natural in being cool, she just shouldn’t try so hard ‘cause then she becomes a drama queen and a diva, and THAT’s not cool.

Nr. 71 – Frida Öhrn

Swedish singer of the bands Oh Laura and Cookies and Beans. She is the kind of singer that I would like to give a list of my favourite songs to, fix her up with a good producer and some good musicians and I’m certain the result would be fantastic. I love her voice and I would really like to hear more from her. Unfortunately I’m not that fond of the records she already appears on. On the plus side, though, she’s got that playful spark in her eyes when she sings. I like her cover of Dixie Chicks’ Sin Wagon but with the risk of being dull and unimaginative I have to show the clip of her singing Oh Laura’s Release Me. Why is she cool? Listen to that voice. I think that will do for an answer.

Nr. 72 – Joan Baez

Different songs can sometimes make you think of different people for some reason. This American singer always makes me think of my dad. It is he who introduced me to her music by playing it quite frequently in our living room when I was growing up.

From what I’ve heard, Joan Baez once said something like “I’m wanted by KGB and CIA so I must be doing something right”. I tried to look it up but couldn’t find anything. Either way it says something about her political commitment. She also said “I've never had a humble opinion. If you've got an opinion, why be humble about it?”. I chose this clip of her singing Bob Dylan’s With God on Our Side because it emphasizes why she’s on the list. Her entire career (still ongoing) is characterized by her moral courage and her fight for her believes. That is why she is cool.

Nr. 73 – Dusty Springfield

The coolest songs Dusty Springfield has recorded are Son of A Preacher Man, Just A Little Lovin’ and The Look of Love but while looking for clips of those songs I ended up smiling and singing along watching this clip. And that’s the way it is with a lot of Dusty-songs. You can’t help singing along, whether it’s The Look of Love, In the Middle of Nowhere or I Just Don’t Know What To Do With Myself, it’s hard to resist turning up the volume and forget about the neighbours. Why is she cool? She fits many meanings of the adjective cool. She is cool as in relaxed. She is cool as in calm. She is cool as in sharp, hip and fierce. If I was writing in Swedish I would be tempted to use words such as tuff, fräck, fräsig och pigg right now, haha. Those words may not be considered cool. But Dusty Springfield is.

Nr. 74 – Ani DiFranco

Talented singer, guitarist and songwriter Ani DiFranco has her roots in Buffalo, New York. She has released more than 20 albums. She’s been nominated four times for Best Recording Package at the Grammy Awards, one of which she won in 2004. Why am I stating these facts? In spite of all she’s done in her career I have somehow missed her completely until quite recently. But now I know and I think she seems to be a given on this list. Why? She is a productive, creative and good artist who I still discover new good songs of. She continues to impress me with good songs with well written lyrics. She is also one of those singers who stand up for those whose voices are not always heard.

Nr. 75 – Jill Scott

I know the quality of this clip is not the best, but this is a good version of Jill Scott singing He Loves Me. Besides. This clip is from when she is honoured on the Lady of Soul Awards, a clip that I think suites this list perfectly. Apart from singing she has also done some acting. You might have seen her portraying Precious Ramotwse in TV-series The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency. Now to the question: Why is she cool? She seems to be a down to earth kind of person who also happens to have a fantastic musical talent.

Nr. 76 – Martha Wainwright

Few singers can balance desperation and delicacy as Martha Wainwright. Her voice sounds powerful and fragile almost at the same time. She’s got just that kind of voice that I really like – husky and light but at the same time powerful. I wanted to find a good clip of when she sings her song Baby but this clip from when she sings Bloody Mother Fucking Asshole also shows what I was after - her ability to switch between a vulnerable tone and a confident expression in both her lyrics and way of using her voice. That's one reason she's on this list. A reason why she's cool.

Nr. 77 – Jennie Abrahamson

If you haven’t heard her yet, look her up right away on spotify! Her album While The Sun’s Still Up And The Sky Is Bright is one of the best albums released last year. I tried to look up some interesting article about her but she’s practically unknown on the internet. You have to be stubborn if you want to find some information on her online. But I guess that’s one of the things that sort of makes her cool. She makes really good and interesting music, she used to sing in the Swedish band Heed and she also sang live on Swedish television on the day of the Royal Wedding and yet no one has bothered to write about her on Wikipedia, for example. In a way that separates her from the big exploited mass of artists. That’s cool.

Nr. 78 – Pink…or P!nk

From one pink hairdo to another… The clip I wanted to show is one of the main reasons Pink is on the list, but the clip was taken off YouTube. If you want to look for it yourself it’s the clip where she sings Dear Mr. President on Wembley. This is a clip of the same song but not as good version as the other, for one she’s got better backup singers on Wembley. I also like to hear the presence of a big crowd responding to the song. So why is she cool? She’s got a strong voice. Not only her, sometimes underrated, singing voice, but also, as in this case, her voice as a person, expressing her feelings, thoughts and opinions.

Nr. 79 – Gwen Stefani

She’s also one of those people who are often considered to be very cool. I guess it’s because she’s the kind of person who could wear almost anything with her head held high, people admire that. With Gwen Stefani I had the same problem as with Beyoncé and Karen O – it’s hard to find clips where she’s not all over the place. But I found a clip from the good ole days when she was the singer of No Doubt. Why is she cool? She has always done things her way, and she did good.

Nr. 80 – Annie Lennox

Annie Lennox is one of those artists that have aged with dignity. She’s just four years older than Madonna but she seems to have no need to run around across the stage in hot pants to recapture her youth. I admire her use of her strongest weapon – her voice, a unique voice. I admit I don’t have many records of neither Annie Lennox nor Eurhythmics in my home, so I can’t say much about her music, but I think Sweet Dreams is one of the best songs of the ‘80s and I really liked this version of her 1992 hit Why.

Nr. 81 – Madonna

Hm… ok, how shall I explain myself here? In most people’s eyes I imagine she would be placed higher on a list like this. But I think, on the one hand, she is one of music history’s most overrated artists. She is really quite boring, constantly struggling to keep up with the young artists, on a constant search for herself… she tries too hard, has a boring and strained voice and rarely makes full-length albums worth listening to. Sure, there are several songs that I’ve liked over the years, but with that business mind, stubbornness and long career that’s no surprise. So why IS she on the list? Is she cool? Believe me, I’ve tried to keep her off the list. But I can’t deny it. She IS cool. No one has been as successful as Madonna through so many years. And no one has changed appearance so many times and still managed to keep her fans. (Here are some examples: Lucky Star, Holiday, Express Yourself, Take A Bow, Frozen, Die Another Day, Music, Give It To Me) She may not be my favourite but she’s smart and she’s got a mind made for business, otherwise she would never have made it this far with that squeaky voice.

Nr. 82 – Oum Kalthoum

Come again? Oum what? She is THE most famous female artist of the Arabic world. After her death in 1975 people still refer to her as the greatest female singer in Arab music history.
Kalthoum was (most likely) born 1898 in Egypt and was popular both as a singer and an actress. Many artists of the west have also claimed her to be a great influence, among those Bob Dylan, Bono, Led Zeppelin and Maria Callas. Why is she cool? 25 years after her death she is still talked about as one of the greatest singer of an entire culture and her untouchable title as The Star of the East must be considered to be cool!
(I’m sorry for choosing a clip with a narrator but I thought it would give a bit of an insight to the musical tradition she’s a part of.)

Nr. 83 – Beyoncé Knowles

Say what you want, but this woman is a tailored entertainer. She is really talented, knows how to make a hit, she’s a real business woman and she still manages to keep her integrity. Why is she cool? She is one of the most skilled performers today. Perhaps THE most skilled entertainer. Queen Bee is actually a name that suites her very well.

Now I must say I don’t know much about this performance (if some of it is pre-recorded or if it’s all live) but having an all-female ensemble on stage has got to count for something on this list, right?

Nr. 84 – Joanna Newsom

28-year-old Joanna Newsom has managed to bring the harp into popular culture in a very natural but at the same time magical way. She writes easy-listened songs with beautiful melodies accompanied by her harp, bringing the listener in to some sort of fairytale world.
Why is she cool? She is playing one of the most beautiful instruments and making it accessible for all kinds of listeners.

Nr. 85 – Patty Donahue

Who?! Patty Donahue of the one-hit-wonder New Wave group The Waitresses. Ok, maybe they weren’t a one-hit-wonder, but a two-hit-wonder. Who knows, they might have been forgotten by now if it wasn’t for their Christmas hit Christmas Wrapping getting played on the radio once in a while. Back to the subject – Why is she cool? Watch the video, note the dry, indolent attitude and tell me, isn’t she cool? The entire video is very ‘80s-cool! Looking at the video now I think maybe Tracy Wormworth playing the bass should be on this list as well.

Nr. 86 – Janis Joplin

Her raspy voice, wild life style and the fact that she is one of the most famous members of the 27 club have given her the status of a legend. She sang Kris Kristofferson’s Me and Bobby McGee with such power that she almost made it her own, and that’s the way she sang most songs. When listening to her versions of various songs you almost forget that someone else did the original version. Why is she cool? It’s Janis Joplin! No one else can look as good as her wearing pearls with rags.

Nr. 87 – Carly Simon

American singer Carly Simon had a major hit with You’re So Vain in the ‘70s. The song has made people curious of whom the song is about. Journalists keep asking her in interviews and everyone seems to have their own idea of who the subject of the song is. One who often, according to Simon undeservedly, is pointed out as the source of inspiration for the lyrics is Mick Jagger. Simon herself takes the blame for that rumour since she tricked him into singing backup on the recordings. But Carly Simon is no one-hit-wonder. One of MY favourites by her is Nobody Does It Better, the theme song for The Spy Who Loved Me. Why is she cool? One reason must be that she actually convinced Mick Jagger to sing backup on one of her songs. Another reason might be that she with Nobody Does It Better joined a very cool group of people who have recorded songs for James Bond soundtracks.

By the way, I love the typical '80s outfits in this clip.

Nr. 88 – Kaki King

Kathrine Elizabeth King, better known as Kaki King, is an American guitarist who has made a name for herself in the music industry with her unique style. In 2003 Rolling Stone Magazine released a list of “The New Guitar Gods” on which Kaki King was the youngest and the only woman. Why is she cool? She has managed to get a reputation for being a good musician, not a good female musician.

Nr. 89 - Tracy Chapman

It’s relatively quiet in the media on the subject of Tracy Chapman. Most people that I’ve talked to about her seem to think mainly of her hit Fast Car or Baby Can I Hold You, a song that boy band Boyzone almost destroyed with their cover in the ‘90s. If you haven’t heard it, don’t look it up! I think I heard Tracy Chapman for the first time at a friend’s house. We listened to her album Crossroads and tried to sing Bridges in French (in the booklet the lyrics were printed in several languages). Since then Tracy Chapman always had a special place in my heart. Why is she cool? Besides the fact that she has a laid back and cool way of singing, her coolness lies in her commitment to different charities and her relaxed attitude towards her career.

Nr. 90 – Nancy Sinatra

Daughter of Frank Sinatra but I shouldn’t even have mentioned that since she has managed to make a career of her own with her own style. Searching on YouTube I found many versions of These Boots Are Made For Walking but finally I found what I was looking for – the reason she’s on the list – Her version of Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down). Featured in Tarantino’s Kill Bill the song got a whole new meaning. Why is she cool? She’s got a very cool way of singing. Even when she sings cheerful songs, such as Sugar Town or How Does That Grab You Darlin’, she’s got a tone in her voice that keeps her from getting too sweet and too cute.

Nr. 91 - Karen O

This girl often appears on lists over cool people. On my list she only reaches number 91. In my opinion she is really too cool to be cool, if you know what I mean?  But what am I doing now, making up excuses for including her on my list? No, she IS cool. That’s why she’s on the list. Why is she cool? I don’t know actually… I haven’t made up my mind yet. But I think I’m getting closer to an answer with this clip. I thought it was fun to have a clip where she’s not all over the place, perhaps to see if she’s still cool without all the make up, the spectacular outfits and all the stretching of arms and legs. My conclusion: yes, she’s cool sitting still on a stool.

Nr. 92 – Françoise Hardy

French singer, actress and fashion icon, Françoise Hardy, released most of her music in the ‘60s, and those were the years when she was the most popular. A lot of people recognise her for her hit Comment Te Dire Adieu, released in 1968. After her ‘60s and ‘70s albums not much was heard of her until 1995 when she recorded a song with Blur called To the End (La Comedie). At first I thought I would show one of the many clips of her performing on various TV-shows in the ‘60s and ‘70’s but when I found the clip of her recording with Blur I changed my mind. Why is she cool? Look at her. She just stands there and sings as if she’s just talking to someone. She’s just cool, without even trying. Even 30 years after the peak of her career she’s still cool.

Nr. 93 – Imogen Heap

I might as well say it right away. This clip is the main reason Imogen Heap is on this list. When my sister-in-law showed me this clip for the first time I was blown away. I thought she was brilliant, I loved the idea, I loved the song, I loved her voice with the combination of the handclaps. While making the list I became more and more unsure of whether she should be on this list, but now listening to this I don’t know what I was thinking. Why is she cool? Didn’t I just say?

Nr. 94 – India.Arie

India Arie Simpson was brought to the attention of the world in 2001 with her debut album Acoustic Soul. Since then she has released three more albums but none of them as deep, honest and down to earth as the first one. Why is she cool? She embraces and lives out a healthy view on the female body. Her song Video is, in my opinion, one of the best songs on the subject self esteem. It’s a bit cliché and silly but at the same time quite funny and behind the clever rhymes there’s an important message, especially for young girls.

Nr. 95 – Jenny Wilson

Swedish artist Jenny Wilson has created her own sound with a unique musical vision. She manages to make indie-songs with RnB rhythms and does not seem to fear taking her music in new directions. I could not resist showing two clips of her - one where she experiments with gospel music working together with Tensta Gospel Choir on Bob Marley's song Work, the other one where she sings her own song The Wooden Chair from her album Hardships!. Why is she cool? She is an artist with all its means, creating music in a very interesting way. While looking for clips to show of her I regretted not placing her higher on this list. She is cool!

Nr. 96 – Jessie Baylin

American singer songwriter Jessie Baylin may not have reached the ears of the big crowds with her mellow music yet. Or maybe she has, in that case I must have missed it. I got a tip from a friend, looked it up, and it turned out to be music in my taste. Though I have to say I prefer live recordings or her Christmas song Mrs Christmas. Her voice is too cool to drown in an over-produced recording. Why is she cool? She’s got a cool voice.

Nr. 97 – Eleanor Kate Jackson (of La Roux)

British pop group La Roux is a duo but can easily be mistaken for a solo act. It’s hard to see past that big red hairdo and realise she’s not the only one in the band even though she steals most attention, consciously and rightfully so, I think. Why is she cool? With that hair, how could she NOT be cool?

Nr. 98 – Meg White

When American rock group The White Stripes performs Jack White steals the spotlight most of the time. But behind the drum kit sits Meg White handling the drumsticks with a confident facial expression. Why is she cool? To me she seems to be the human version of the cartoon character Emily the strange. That’s cool.

Nr. 99 – Katie White

The female half of British pop group The Ting Tings. With a large portion of attitude and with her own sense of style White almost spits out the words of some songs. I don’t know what else to say about her. I will say this about the song, though: the first time I heard this song I was riding in a car with a friend and it didn’t take many seconds for us to start singing along. But why is she cool? I don’t know really, but few people can pull off that outfit and maintain that attitude. By the way, what IS she wearing?

Nr. 101 & 100 - Vanessa Paradis & Brigitte Bardot

I know I said it would be a list of the 100 coolest. But I couldn’t decide which one of these to exclude from my list. They’re practically the same person but in different decades.

French models who successfully managed a career in music. Both of them strutting around a vehicle, singing their most famous hits. Why are they cool? I guess because they’re French.

Unfortunately the video of Brigitte Bardot singing Harley Davidson had no embed code... So if you want to see it, just klick on her name.

Why am I doing this?

Coming up:

A list of what I consider to be the coolest women in music. 50 days before Christmas I will start the countdown, presenting two each day, from the 100^th coolest to THE coolest female musician.

Why am I doing this?

1. Because it’s fun to make lists.
2. To practice my English.
3. Maybe I’ll learn how to create a decent blog.