Honorary Mention: Ann Wilson

…And even though this is Top Five, I cannot leave with mentioning Ann Wilson of Heart. It’s no secret, I’m not a fan of female vocalists. However, Ann Wilson is the only one. I grew up listening to Heart albums on my mother’s record player, singing along to “Magic Man” with my little sister Sonia. Those childhood days shifted into summer nights, laying shirtless in hay fields pulsing with fire flies, listening to Heart on a hand-me-down Walkman. Running thorough rainstorms screaming “Crazy on You” at the top of my lungs, wishing I could be something far greater than just a girl. Boys never meant anything, music meant everything and still does. Ann Wilson’s voice makes me shiver. Heart rules hard.