Recently updated on January 18th, 2023 at 08:12 pm
The 80s was a great time for music with tons of amazing bands and artists emerging onto the scene.
While there were many great girl bands from that era, we’ve narrowed it down to 100 of the best.
These women not only dominated the charts with their hit songs but also shattered the glass ceiling with their groundbreaking performances and boundary-breaking image choices.
They showed that women could be just as successful – and just as controversial – as men in the music industry.
From the rockin’ The Go-Go’s to the pop princesses The Bangles, these bands will take you back to a time when hair was big, clothes were bright, and music was everything.
Contents hide
Best Girl Bands of the 80s
Punk Girl Bands of the 80s
80s Girl (Female) Duos
80s Girl Rock Bands
Indie Girl Bands of 80s
Girl Pop Bands of the 80s
Country Girl Bands of the 80s
Grunge Girl Bands of the 80s
Australian Girl Bands of 80s
British Girl Bands of 80s
Other Notable Girl Bands of 80s
Conclusion
FAQs
Best Girl Bands of the 80s
This list is purely based on the highest album sales, musical Influence on other artists, and the group’s overall impact on music history.
- Bananarama
- The Bangles
- Go-Go’s
- Vixen
- Salt-N-Pepa
- En Vogue
- Vanity 6
- The Chicks
- L7
- Sister Sledge
Punk Girl Bands of the 80s
In the early days of punk rock, women were often relegated to the sidelines, playing supporting roles in bands or serving as groupies.
But by the 1980s, a number of punk girl bands emerged and took charge of the center stage.
Known for their fierce feminist lyrics and stripped-down DIY aesthetic these bands helped pave the way for a new generation of female musicians who would go on to shape punk rock in the 1990s and 2000s.
- The Slits
- X-Ray Spex
- Lunachicks
- Siouxsie and the Banshees
- L7
- Babes in Toyland
- The Runaways
- Hole
- Shonen Knife
- The Raincoats
80s Girl (Female) Duos
Female duos are groups of two women who work together to create music or art. There are a number of different female duos in the world, and each one has their own unique sound or style.
The important thing that ties all-female duos together is their unique sisterly bond. Many people say that there’s just something special about two girls singing together that can’t be replicated with male duos.
There’s a certain chemistry that comes with working closely with someone you’re close to. This chemistry often translates into great music and fans who feel like they’re a part of something special.
Here are some of the best female duos of the 80s.
- Althea & Donna (Reggae)
- Azúcar Moreno (Latin pop, pop, flamenco)
- Baccara (Pop, Eurodisco, disco)
- Bobbysocks! (Pop, Europop, schlager)
- The Judds (Country)
- Snoopy (Pop, Disco)
- Sophie & Magaly (Pop)
- Cathy Fink & Marcy Marxer (Folk, Bluegrass)
- Lili & Susie (Pop)
- Crush (British duo)
80s Girl Rock Bands
Female musicians played a major role in the rock music scene of the 80s. Girl rock bands like The Go-Go’s, Bananarama, and The Bangles became household names and helped to break down the barriers that had been preventing girls from making it in the rock world.
There were a number of factors that contributed to the scene’s success. For one, MTV was starting to become a big force in the music industry and they were more willing to play videos by girl-bands.
Additionally, the 80s were also a time when feminism was becoming more mainstream.
Girls were starting to embrace their femininity and use it as a strength. This helped to empower female musicians and give them a platform to express themselves creatively.
- Vixen
- The Pretenders
- Joan Jett and the Blackhearts
- The Cranberries
- The Ronettes
- Heart
- Femme Fatale
- The Bangles
- The Chicks
- The Bangles
- L7
- Hole
Indie Girl Bands of 80s
The indie scene of the 80s was a time when all-female bands were hitting it big, and proving that they could hold their own against the boys.
These bands were often formed by friends who just wanted to make music together, and didn’t care about following the trends.
They created their own unique sound, and fans fell in love with them.
Some of the most well-known indie girl bands of the 80s include The Go-Go’s, The Bangles, and Metric. All three of these bands had major hits, and are still remembered today for their catchy tunes and powerful performances.
- Metric
- Strawberry Switchblade
- The Charlottes
- Shonen Knife
- The Bodysnatchers
- Stef Petticoat
- Lunachicks
- Girl Monstar
- The Breeders
- No Doubt
Girl Pop Bands of the 80s
Female pop stars dominated the airwaves of the 80s with their catchy tunes and upbeat lyrics.
Some of the biggest names in pop music during the 80s were Madonna, Cyndi Lauper, Whitney Houston, and Janet Jackson.
These women not only had successful careers as singers but also starred in movies and became fashion icons.
Their songs were played on radios and MTVs across the world, and they continue to be popular decades after they released their hit songs.
- The Pointer Sisters
- The Cover Girls
- Klymaxx
- Seduction
- Shakespears Sister
- Pandora
- The Shirelles
- Swing Out Sister
- Cocteau Twins
- Transvision Vamp
Country Girl Bands of the 80s
In the early 1980s, a new crop of country girl bands emerged, led by acts like The Judds and The Dixie Chicks.
These bands brought a fresh sound to country music, mixing traditional elements with a more contemporary edge.
They were also unafraid to showcase their femininity, singing about love and relationships in a way that was both relatable and inspiring.
- The Judds
- The Chicks
- SHeDAISY
- Calamity Jane
- The Pointer Sisters
- The Carpenters
- Barbara Ann Mandrell
- Deborah Allen
- Crystal Gayle
- Juice Newton
- Kathy Mattea
Grunge Girl Bands of the 80s
In the early 1990s, grunge music from Seattle took over the airwaves. But long before Nirvana and Pearl Jam, there were a handful of female-led grunge bands from the 80s that deserve recognition.
One of the earliest was The Gits, formed in Seattle in 1986. With raw lyrics and an aggressive sound, they were one of the most influential grunge bands of their time. They released two albums before lead singer Mia Zapata was raped and killed in 1993.
Another early band was L7, which formed in Los Angeles in 1985. With their heavy guitar riffs and feminist lyrics, they were one of the most popular grunge bands of the late 80s and early 90s.
- L7
- Hole
- Babes in Toyland
- 7 Year Bitch
- The Cranberries
- No Doubt
- The Gits
- Sonic Youth
- 4 Non Blondes
- Lunachicks
Australian Girl Bands of 80s
Australia has a long history of producing internationally successful female pop groups, starting with the all-girl group The Flower Pot Men in 1967.
However, it was in the 1980s that Australian girl bands really hit their stride, thanks to the advent of MTV and the global success of acts like Bananarama, The Human League, and Culture Club.
- Girl Monstar
- Peaches
- Divinyls
- Girlfriend
- Marcie and The Cookies
- Rhapsody
- The Vamps
British Girl Bands of 80s
The 80s were a great time for British girl-bands.
There were so many talented groups that emerged from the UK during that decade, and they all had unique sounds that set them apart from the rest.
Each of these bands brought something special to the table, and they all enjoyed immense success during their time together.
They helped define the sound of 80s pop music, and they continue to be a source of inspiration for new artists today.
- Culture Club
- Bananarama
- Shakespears Sister
- The Pretenders
- Siouxsie and the Banshees
- Eurythmics
- Fleetwood Mac
- Transvision Vamp
- The Human League
- Androids of Mu
Other Notable Girl Bands of 80s
Band | Genre |
---|---|
Wilson Phillips (1989 – Present) | Pop,pop-rock,soft rock |
Wendy & Lisa (1986 – Present) | Funk, Pop Rock |
The Weather Girls (1976 – Present) | Disco, Pop, Soul |
Tú (1980s) | Pop |
Sweet Honey in the Rock (1973 – Present) | Gospel,blues,spoken word |
The Roches (1973 – 2017) | Folk Rock |
The Reynolds Girls (1989) | Dance Pop |
Quarteto em Cy (1959 – Present) | Bossa nova, tropicalia, pop, MPB |
Pink Lady (1976 – Present) | J-pop, kayōkyoku, disco |
Pepsi & Shirlie (1985 – Present) | Pop, Dance-Pop |
The Nolans (1974 – Present) | Pop |
Mel and Kim (1986 -1990) | Dance-Pop |
Conclusion
There you have it, folks – a list of 100+ girl and female bands from the 80s that should be remembered for their contributions to music. We hope you enjoyed this list as much as we enjoyed compiling it. Thanks for reading!
FAQs
What was so special about the music scene in the 80s?
There were a few things that made it unique. For starters, the biggest bands of the era were all rock groups.
The 80s was also the decade when MTV became a mainstream phenomenon, and this helped to promote bands like Duran Duran, Bon Jovi, and Poison.
In terms of fashion, the 80s were all about bright colors and big hair, and this helped to create a very visual style of music. Lastly, many of the classic songs from the 80s have stood the test of time and continue to be popular decades later.
What girl bands were popular during the 80s?
During the 80s, there were a number of popular girl-bands. Some of the most well-known groups were The Bangles, The Go-Go’s, and Bananarama.
These groups all played catchy, upbeat music that appealed to young women. They also helped to define the sound of the era and inspired other young women to form their own bands.
In an era when MTV was becoming increasingly popular, these female artists used video to help shape our idea of what pop music could be.
FAQs
Who were the 80s girl band sisters? ›
The Wilson sisters and Phillips grew up together in the Los Angeles area in the 1970s and 1980s. The three shared a love of music, and developed their singing and vocal harmonies. In 1989, the trio landed a deal with SBK Records.
Who were the top female singers in the 80s? ›- 8: Pat Benatar. ...
- 7: Chaka Khan. ...
- 6: Dolly Parton. ...
- 5: Annie Lennox. ...
- 4: Whitney Houston. ...
- 3: Madonna. ...
- 2: Kate Bush. ...
- 1: Tina Turner.
- melissa etheridge.
- barbra streisand.
- Cyndi Lauper.
- madonna.
- Tina Turner.
- whitney houston.
The Spice Girls are inarguably the biggest girl band of all time. They were formed in 1994. Posh, Baby, Scary, Ginger, and Sporty Spice — or Victoria Beckham, Emma Bunton, Mel B., Geri Halliwell, and Mel C., as you might know them now — essentially took over the world in the '90s with their 1996 smash hit "Wannabe."
Who is the biggest girl band of all time? ›Not only are Spice Girls the most commercially successful girl group of all time, with 80 million records sold during their career, they're also by far the most influential of modern times.
Who were the first all girl bands? ›Among the earliest all-female rock bands to be signed to a record label were Goldie & the Gingerbreads, to Atlantic Records in 1964, The Pleasure Seekers with Suzi Quatro to Hideout Records in 1964 and Mercury Records in 1968.
Who is the best female singer that ever lived? ›1: Aretha Franklin
Topping our list of the best female singers of all time, Aretha Franklin also stands as the most-charting female singer in history. Starting out in the gospel choir at her Baptist church, in Detroit, Franklin began her career as a recording artist in 1960, aged just 18.
- Celine Dion. The inspiration behind this list is the fabulous Celion Dion, of course. ...
- Etta James. ...
- Madonna. ...
- Adele. ...
- Aretha Franklin. ...
- Cher. ...
- Whitney Houston. ...
- Mariah Carey.
1. Whitney Houston. Hailing from Beverly Hill, California, first, we have 80s legend Whitney Houston who was a top-selling R&B female music artist of the 20th century. What is this?
Who are the 3 biggest female artist? ›- 300 million or more records sold. Madonna. Artist. Country of origin. ...
- 200 million to 299 million records. Rihanna. Mariah Carey. Taylor Swift. ...
- 100 million to 199 million records. Barbra Streisand. Katy Perry. Pink. ...
- 75 million to 99 million records. Alicia Keys. Avril Lavigne. Reba McEntire.
Who is the biggest selling female artist of all time? ›
Madonna. The Queen of Pop, Madonna, is the bestselling female artist of all time. She's released 14 studio albums, three soundtracks, five live albums and six compilations, plus 63 UK Top 10 singles. Since 1983, she's sold an estimated 335 million albums and singles worldwide.
What is the highest selling female albums of all time? ›The top-selling female-fronted album of all time based on certified unit sales worldwide is currently Whitney Houston's 1992-released 'The Bodyguard Soundtrack,' with a massive 45 million copies sold.
What girl band broke up 14 years ago? ›Destiny's Child was an American girl group whose final line-up comprised Beyoncé Knowles, Kelly Rowland, and Michelle Williams. The group began their musical career as Girl's Tyme, formed in 1990 in Houston, Texas.
What are the most famous girl groups? ›Artist | Country of origin | Period active |
---|---|---|
Destiny's Child | United States | 1997–2006 (9 years) |
Little Mix | United Kingdom | 2011–2022 (11 years) |
The Pussycat Dolls | United States | 2003–10, 2019-2022 (11 years) |
Twice | South Korea | 2015–present (7 years) |
Great Music Lives Here.
A month after suggesting they might reunite, the original lineup of L7 have made it official: they're getting the band back together after 14 years apart. In a Facebook post, the band enthusiastically announced their reunion for two European festival dates and a fan-funded documentary.
With a whopping 20 top-10 hits, and 12 number one hits, The Supremes are Billboard's top girl group of all time.
What is the second biggest selling girl group of all time? ›The runner-up on the list of the best selling girl groups are the Spice Girls. The British girl group was formed in 1994 and it consisted of Melanie C, Emma Bunton, Mel B, Geri Halliwell, and Victoria Beckham.
Who was the first successful all girl band? ›A pair of sisters from Detroit, 17-year-old Patti Quatro and 15-year-old Suzi Quatro (later joined by two more of their sisters, Arlene and Nancy), formed the Pleasure Seekers in 1964; their first single's B-side was the berserk garage rocker "What a Way to Die."
Which all-female band went almost 10 years between albums? ›TLC –15 years
A decade and a half between 3D and their self-titled fifth album. To be fair, the girls had been through a lot, and there were a couple of hits retrospectives to keep us going, but we had all but given up until Chili and T-Boz announced the fan-funded TLC was definitely coming.
One of the first major all-female groups was the Hamilton Sisters and Fordyce, an American trio who successfully toured England and parts of Europe in 1927, recorded and appeared on BBC radio – they toured the US variety and big-time theaters extensively, and later changed their stage name to the Three X Sisters.
What female singers can hit 5 octaves? ›
- Mariah Carey. With her 5-octave vocal range and her ability to reach notes in the 7th octave vocal range as well just go back, it should come as no surprise that Mariah is the top. ...
- Christina Aguilera. ...
- Hayley Williams (Paramore) ...
- Celine Dion. ...
- Beyoncé
Rank | Singer | Genre |
---|---|---|
1 | Michael Jackson | Pop, Soul, Funk, R&B, Rock, Disco, & Dance |
2 | Stevie Wonder | Soul, Pop, R&B, Funk, & Jazz |
3 | Marvin Gaye | Soul, R&B, Funk, Pop, & Jazz |
4 | Freddie Mercury | Hard Rock, Music Hall, Glitter, & Prog Rock |
- 1 of 35. Celine Dion. Kevin Winter/Getty Images. ...
- 2 of 35. Barbra Streisand. Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for BSB. ...
- 3 of 35. Etta James. ...
- 4 of 35. Nina Simone. ...
- 5 of 35. Aretha Franklin. ...
- 6 of 35. Whitney Houston. ...
- 7 of 35. Smokey Robinson. ...
- 8 of 35. Mariah Carey.
Sue Thompson - 96 years
Born on 19th July 1925, she tops the female list as the oldest living country singer. Sue honed her vocals at the tender age of seven years. Her hunger for music led Thompson to sign a contract with Mercury Records. Baba Mona's Partner Shares Last Video They Took Together, Pens Heartbreakin...
The classic female blues spanned from 1920 to 1929 with its peak from 1923 to 1925. The most popular of these singers were Ma Rainey, Bessie Smith, Mamie Smith, Ethel Waters, Ida Cox, Victoria Spivey, Sippie Wallace, Alberta Hunter, Clara Smith, Edith Wilson, Trixie Smith, Lucille Hegamin and Bertha “Chippie” Hill.
What bands and artists were big in the 80s? ›Bands such as AC/DC, Queen, Def Leppard, Kiss, Mötley Crüe, Bon Jovi, Quiet Riot, Scorpions, Europe, Ratt, Twisted Sister, Poison, Dokken, Whitesnake, and Cinderella were among the most popular acts of the decade.
What song has been number 1 the longest? ›"Old Town Road" holds the record for the longest stretch at No. 1 with 19 weeks.
What female artist has the most awards? ›Whitney Houston holds the Guinness World Record as the most awarded female artist of all time, with more than 400 career awards. Whitney won 6 GRAMMY Awards and 22 American Music Awards.
Which female artist has the biggest fan base? ›- 1 of 20. Beyoncé ...
- 2 of 20. Taylor Swift. ...
- 3 of 20. Cardi B. ...
- 4 of 20. BTS. ...
- 5 of 20. Rihanna. ...
- 6 of 20. Justin Bieber. ...
- 7 of 20. Katy Perry. ...
- 8 of 20. Bruno Mars.
Patsy Montana, whose 1935 recording of “I Want to Be a Cowboy's Sweetheart” is believed to be the first record by a female country singer to sell 1 million copies, and Kitty Wells, whose “It Wasn't God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels” was one of the biggest country hits of the '50s, were earlier queens of country music.
What are the 5 best selling albums of all time? ›
- Michael Jackson – Thriller.
- The Eagles – The Greatest Hits 1971 – 1975 (1976) ...
- AC/DC – Back in Black (1980) ...
- Pink Floyd – The Dark Side of The Moon (1973) ...
- Meat Loaf – Bat Out of Hell (1977) ...
- Whitney Houston & Various Artists – The Bodyguard (1992) ...
- Eagles – Hotel California. ...
Streisand is the leader among female artists for most gold albums (51) and platinum albums (30). Streisand landed her first gold album in May 1964, before such rivals as Mariah Carey and Celine Dion were even born. She has amassed eight Grammys, four Emmys, two Oscars, and a special Tony.
What is the biggest selling album of all time? ›Michael Jackson's Thriller, estimated to have sold 70 million copies worldwide, is the best-selling album ever. Jackson also currently has the highest number of albums on the list with five, Celine Dion has four, while the Beatles, Pink Floyd, Madonna and Whitney Houston each have three.
What 90s girl group sold the most? ›Topping the list are Brit group the Spice Girls who have sold a whopping 85 million records worldwide. Officially only together for eight years (between 1994 and 2000 and then again from 2007 to 2008) their debut single Wannabe is thought to be the biggest selling single by a girl group shifting eight million copies.
What 80s group had two hit singles Down Under and Who Can It Be Now? ›Group leader Colin Hay has decided to resurrect the Australian band – best known for their early Eighties hits “Down Under” and “Who Can It Be Now?” – for their first tour since disbanding in 2002.
Who were the three sisters band in the 90s? ›Before Haim was Haim, a rock band made up of three sisters, its members — Este, Danielle and Alana, surnamed Haim — were three-fifths of Rockinhaim, a covers band made up of three sisters and their parents.
Who was the Irish girl band in the 90s? ›B*Witched are an Irish girl group consisting of twin sisters Edele and Keavy Lynch, Lindsay Armaou and Sinéad O'Carroll. Originally active between 1997 and 2002, they enjoyed success in both Europe and North America between 1998 and 2002, releasing two albums and eight singles, all of which made the UK Top 20.
What year couples break up? ›The likelihood of a breakup jumps down as the second and again the third years of a relationship pass. But the fourth year of a couple's life is just as likely as the third to end in departure. It's only after a couple reaches the 5th year of their relationship that the likelihood of break up falls sharply.
Which girl band has sisters? ›Haim (/ˈhaɪɪm/ HY-im; meaning "life" in Hebrew, stylized HAIM) is an American rock band, based in Los Angeles and comprising three sisters, Este (bass guitar and vocals), Danielle (lead vocals, guitar, and drums), and Alana Haim (guitars, keyboards, and vocals).
Which girl band had sisters? ›1930s – The Andrews Sisters
Sisters LaVerne, Maxine and Patricia formed this highly successful vocal harmony group when little Patty was just seven.
What girl group had sisters? ›
1973 - Pointer Sisters
The Pointer Sisters, made up of real-life sisters, first came together in the early 1970s in Oakland, California.
Binti. Binti consists of six singing sisters. Hadiel, Yasmin, Amina, Rana, Sherien and Fedia Holail Mohamed grew up together with a passion for music.
What girl band has 3 members? ›Wilson Phillips. The female trio consisting of Carnie Wilson, Wendy Wilson and Chynna Phillips released their eponymous debut album in 1990, selling 10 million copies worldwide. The group was nominated for four Grammy Awards and two American Music Awards after their single, "Hold On," skyrocketed to No.
Which girl band has 4 members? ›From the current active groups, K-Pop girl groups that have 4 members are Blackpink, Mamamoo and Brown Eyed Girls. These 3 groups had always 4 members. Girls' Day, Dal Shabet, f(x) and Kara were groups that started with more members, but finished (or are in hiatus) having 4 members.
Who are the Weird Sisters band? ›The Wyrd Sisters are a Canadian folk music group formed in 1990 in Winnipeg by founding members Kim Baryluk, Nancy Reinhold and Kim Segal. The band chose the name "the Wyrd Sisters" to represent and reclaim the ancient pre-Christian triple goddess, also known as Weird, Wurd, Urd, Urth and The Fates.
Who are the 3 sisters famous singers? ›The Boswell Sisters were an American close harmony singing trio of the jazz and swing eras, consisting of three sisters: Martha Boswell (June 9, 1905 – July 2, 1958), Connie Boswell (later spelled "Connee", December 3, 1907 – October 11, 1976), and Helvetia "Vet" Boswell (May 20, 1911 – November 12, 1988).
What was the first girl band? ›One of the first major all-female groups was the Hamilton Sisters and Fordyce, an American trio who successfully toured England and parts of Europe in 1927, recorded and appeared on BBC radio – they toured the US variety and big-time theaters extensively, and later changed their stage name to the Three X Sisters.
What girl bands have 5 members? ›From the current active groups, some of the most known K-Pop girl groups that have 5 members are Red Velvet and ITZY. ELRIS debuted with 5 members, they now have 7. KARA and f(x) had for the most of their career 5 members. 4minute and SPICA had always 5 members.
Is a half sister a biological sister? ›The word half refers to the fact that a half sister shares one biological parent with a sibling, not two. Still, half sister are considered blood relatives. It's not uncommon for people to have a half-sibling. This always involves one's parent having a child with another partner.
What is a half sister called? ›They may share the same mother but different fathers (in which case they are known as uterine siblings or maternal half-siblings), or they may have the same father but different mothers (in which case, they are known as agnate siblings or paternal half-siblings. In law, the term consanguine is used in place of agnate).
What is it called when your sibling has a girl? ›
niece in American English
(nis) noun. 1. a daughter of a person's brother or sister.