Taylor Swift - Taylor Swift is every woman. Her songs are the every-day-girl's anthem yet she's such a glamazon! I love how it seems like you know her, but you don't. She seems really humble. Hats off to anyone who can still be cool with Kanye after he took over her moment when she won video of the year. (No hate - I like Kanye.) One of the most remarkable things about Taylor is what she wrote in the inside cover of the 1989 album where she talks about change. That really inspired me to continue to grow as a person and as a new artist.
Favorite Taylor Swift song - Today was a Fairytale
Jennifer Hudson - No one today has a voice like Jennifer Hudson. (Ok, maybe Aretha Franklin.) You can't even put her into a category. Her voice is so big and unfaltering. She doesn't cower down because big voices are not in. She's gone through terrible tragedy with a lot of grace. She's transformed her body and looks great. She's sounds great live! She's a bonafide actress and a bonafide artist. This girl makes you proud to be a Chicagoan.
Favorite Jennifer Hudson song - No One Gonna Love You
Sia - This girl's voice is off the wall and her songs tell a great story. I've only heard the 1,000 Forms of Fear album, but I'm sold. She has a song that goes from 4/4 to 3/4 time. Who does that anymore?! She even has a song where she switches back and forward between two keys that seem counter-intuitive, but work. I think the song Chandelier is a musical monster! That album is so creative with the music and storytelling. It inspires you to expand your sound.
Favorite Sia song - Chandelier
P!nk - I've always loved P!nk, but when I saw her perform Glitter in the Air, all I kept thinking is "this girl just sung the crap outta this song upside down!" That performance was MA-GI-CAL! Her voice is so gritty. She's always sounded like a polished artists that's been singing for 20+ years even when she first came out. One of the things that inspires me about P!nk is that she is this rebel, hard-shelled gal singing about fighting and partying who is also comfortable being soft and singing about pain. Through her, I see that I can be firm and assertive and still graceful and lovely.
Favorit P!nk song - Try
Whitney Houston - No one disagrees about Whitney's talent, but there are two special things that inspire me. First, you can see her change with the times, yet she always sounds like herself. That's really hard to do successfully. When she came out with "It's Not Right, but it's OK" she sounded so current, but you instantly knew it was her. Second, Whitney never shied away from her roots in the church. I read that when making the movie The Bodyguard, she insisted that they include the song Jesus Loves Me. It was a tender moment in the movie. I think of Whitney as someone who had great struggles, but knew she could rely on God. If that's not inspiring, I don't know what is.
Favorite Whitney song - Lover for Life
Others who almost made the list: D'angelo and Eryka Badhu. Both of these artists came in under the R&B umbrella, but each album pulls them further away. D'angelo is like the Godfather of funky soul and Eryka Badhu takes jazz to someplace galactical. Love them both.
Blessings
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