Gwen Stefani on StyleWise

I’m not sure what’s going on with me and platinum-blonde musicians lately, but a lot of my pop-dance favorites have that fair hair flair.

Maybe it’s the talent and confidence that these women share, braving the bleach and strutting onstage with electric dance moves and wardrobes that sparkle, but these performers are more than headliners — they are courageous in their point of view through their lyrics, music videos and style.

I’ll start with the most obvious one: Gwen Stefani, the queen of sophisticated punk chic, red lipstick, eclectic dance tracks and front(wo)man of alternative band, No Doubt. From her music, L.A.M.B. fashion line and growing family, this top choice from Orange County, California is a no brainer.  I’ll never forget her Harajuku Lovers tour and the phenom she was onstage — dancing, singing and of course changing cool outfits. Gwen Stefani is also a role model for women in music, fashion and business as she builds her empire one black and white stripe at a time.

Lady Gaga on YourBeautySpot

My Download Dish: “Wonderful Life,” “Serious,” “What You Waiting For,” “It’s My Life” and “Just a Girl“

Lady Gaga comes in at a silvery second. Not only does she experiment with innovative fashion trends flirting between ugly and genius, she knows how to rake in the green — and I’m not talking about her Kermit the Frog frock. Plus, she has an unique voice that is underused in pop tracks. But as we all know, it’s the spectacle of her wayward personality and wardrobe that sells concert seats. And, who doesn’t enjoy the beats of a native New Yorker?

My Download Dish: “Paparazzi,” “Speechless,” “The Fame” and “Bad Romance”

Robyn on Last.fm

Next up we have Swedish singer-songwriter and pop-diva, Robyn, who commands the stage like she’s never walked or danced anywhere else.  What’s great about this edgy blonde from the nineties, is she’s always current and she remains a mainstay in clubs and in the hearts of her global fan base. There’s something about her that also seems down-to-earth and fun despite her diva status. She’s like your best friend from college who always says something that makes you laugh. As for her music, let’s be honest, it might as well be crack because once you start listening, you won’t stop.

My Download Dish: “Crash and Burn Girl,” “Cobrastyle,” “Konichiwa Bitches,” and “Fembot”

SaintSaviour on TheVines.com

Alright, who’s next? How about the new front(wo)man, SaintSaviour (aka Becky Jones), for Groove Armada, the nineties band that just released a new album called Black Light. When I saw the band last week at Webster Hall,  SaintSaviour wore a gold-sequined body suit under a golden shoulder piece with a touch of Shredder style (yeah, I just referenced Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles). Anyway, she was amazing as she sang electro-dance songs for this ever-morphing band. Switching from quirky modern dance moves, to powerful ballad-like moments as lasers filled the venue, she glittered with the best of these chart-topping ladies.

My Download Dish: “Paper Romance” and  “I Won’t Kneel“

Duffy on chris-alexander.co.uk

Last, but definitely not least, there’s Duffy, a 26-year-old Grammy Award winner from North Wales. Though Duffy isn’t a dance dynamo like these other trendsetters and she has been notoriously shy in the media, we have to give her credit because she can not only belt it out with the best of these blondes, she’s also a philanthropist.  Duffy is involved with Music Matters and disaster relief efforts for Haiti. Plus, her bluesy vocals combined with her moving song compositions are reminiscent of a contemporary and upbeat Billie Holiday.

My Download Dish: “Mercy” and “Rockferry”

Honorable Mentions: Taylor Swift for her teen-pop stardom and red carpet gown choices, Avril Lavigne for her back in the day angry punkiness and P!nk, for all of her moody and lyric-writing glory…though her hair tends to be pink, her albums are double platinum.

Related articles

• The Lady Gaga Look Book (nymag.com)
• Gwen Stefani Covers ‘InStyle’ April 2010 (justjared.buzznet.com)
• Robyn Unveils New Track “Fembot” (rollingstone.com)