The Greatest Female Singers

Legendary singer Aretha Franklin has topped a list of the 'Hottest 100 Female Singers' for her signature song Respect.

Franklin ruled the Hummingbird100 poll, which recorded 62,000 votes in seven weeks and covered 5,500 songs.

Originally written and released in 1965 by Stax, featuring Otis Redding, Respect was recorded by Aretha Franklin two years later, with her sisters on backing vocals.

Franklin also grabbed the 72nd spot with (You make me feel like) A Natural Woman.

Matthew Coyte, editor-in-chief of Rolling Stone said, 'Aretha Franklin taking out number one isn't a surprise to me, as she also topped our Rolling Stone Greatest Singers Of All Time list as well. Respect remains one of the most enduring 'girl power' songs.'

Pink came in second with So What.

Matthew Coyte was surprised with the number of the recent songs that made it to the list.

'It's interesting there's such a high percentage of songs from the past five years in the list,' the Herald Sun quoted him as saying. 'It shows that when it comes to female musicians, the voters are more willing to let new acts into their top 10 rather than looking to the classics.'

If you've ever been dumped then Gloria Gaynor's I Will Survive is the song to listen to. The song was written by Freddie Perren and Dino Fekaris, and first performed by Gaynor in 1978.

Often used as an anthem of female empowerment, the song became a massive disco hit and a favourite on the karaoke circuit.

At number four was ABBA's Dancing Queen.

The 1976 track by the Swedish band has earlier topped the list of the Best Party Tunes of All Time as well as the Gayest Song Ever.

Like Aretha, Madonna also features twice on the list at fifth position with Like a Prayer and number 10 with Like a Virgin. Both the songs made her a pop sensation for their daring lyrics and videos.

At number six of outrageous singer Lady Gaga, whose Poker Face continue to rule the dance floor. The song is one of the most downloaded songs in the five-year history of the Official UK Downloads Chart.

Remember The Bangles, the all-girl band of the 1980s? Well, their song Eternal Flame made it to the list at number six.

Fergie's Big Girls Don't Cry made it to number nine in the list.

The song, which featured in Fergie's debut solo album The Dutchess, topped the charts in several countries, most notably in Australia. It was also the most downloaded track in the US.

At number nine is Blondie with Heart of Glass, which topped the charts when it was released in 1979.