10 Best Frontwomen In Rock Music History

Why she's here: Quite simply, she's one of the three most iconic female vocalists of the '80s--alongside Whitney Houston and Madonna--and of the three, she alone worked through the medium of a band. Her work with Eurythmics helped shape the synth-pop soundscape that dominated clubs in the '80s, her soulful voice drifting over the echoey drums and icy keyboard riffs of the legendary duo's music. Somehow it maintained a husky depth even as she reached up to its higher registers, giving her the feel of an omniscient goddess on Eurythmics records and at the band's concerts.

Lennox's matched the power of her pipes with an equally provocative and vivid stage presence, anticipating the likes of Gwen Stefani and becoming a hero to the gay community for rocking a pixie cut, androgynous clothing, and stereotypically masculine dance moves.

Highlight: There's a reason "Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)" holds a spot in the pantheon of all-time great dance songs, and that reason is Lennox's vocal performance. The ominous synthesizers sound like something out of Blade Runner's cyberpunk hell but are tempered by her honeyed delivery and impressive range, as she flashes both her smooth, full alto and her airy falsetto. A look at the music video not only takes you back to the glory days of MTV but also helps you appreciate Lennox's idiosyncratic style.