1. Kylie Minogue

You couldn’t make a list of great Aussie singers and not include Kylie. She started in 1987 and is still releasing music today, her most recent album, “Disco”, hitting #1 worldwide last year.

Beginning her career on “Neighbours”, she became the show’s break out star as Charlene Ramsey. When we talk about the massive list of soapie stars releasing music, Kylie started the trend. “Locomotion” did better than anyone could have expected, staying at number one for seemingly forever, even becoming the most successful song of 1987. It caught the attention of super producers, Stock, Aitken and Waterman and she became their most successful artist and their muse. “I Should Be So Lucky” came next, and it would be easy for us to overlook how massive and important that song was. It introduced her globally and cemented her place as an Aussie superstar. She followed that with a third number one in a row, “Got to be Certain”. In her career, she’s had ten Aussie number one singles, and she continues to shine.

My 80s favourite: There’s so much I love. “Got To Be Certain” and “Je Ne Sais Pas Pourquoi” are big favourites, but I think I need to pick “Wouldn’t Change a Thing” from album two, “Enjoy Yourself”. I adore the song and the clip. Here’s my shocking confession, I know every piece of choreography in the clip and do it every time I hear the song. And I am not ashamed!

2. Olivia Newton-John

Now here’s the other Aussie superstar. While Kylie dominated the UK, Liv owned the US. Ever since, “Grease”, possibly the most loved musical film of all time, people have adored her worldwide (we got to her a little earlier here). She didn’t start in the 80s, but that decade saw her take a new direction and embrace pop. She started the decade on skates with “Xanadu” and was soon the soundtrack to every aerobics class with “Physical”. Which incidentally went on to be the highest selling song of the 80s in the US. A song she almost didn’t record because she worried it was too naughty.

Her pop classics continued with the likes of “Magic” and “Twist of Fate”. We often think of her as a personality. The woman who bravely battled cancer, the woman who owned a chain of Aussie themed stores in the US and the woman with a disastrous love life, but we can’t forget the brilliant songs she delivered to us. A true Aussie icon.

My 80s favourite: Well, you can’t really go past, “Physical”, it’s an amazing song; but I’m going to. I love “Twist of Fate”, it’s truly a great pop song that is made for singing.

3. Kate Ceberano

For as talented as she is, Kate Ceberano is often overlooked, which a true shame. Kate is a true Aussie talent with a remarkable voice. When you listen to the Model’s, “Out of Mind, Out of Sight”, her backing vocals stand out. She came more into focus with her band, I’m Talking – who released some great tunes, including, “Trust Me” and that stunning cover of, “Love Don’t Live Here Anymore”. However, when she went solo, we really got to see her true brilliance and hear the depths of her vocal abilities. “Brave” is one of the best Australian albums ever.

Two songs where we see the vocal power are, “Bedroom Eyes” and “Brave”. Plus, there’s the awesomeness of “Love Dimension” and “That’s What I Call Love” and the cheeky sense of humour in, “Young Boys Are My Weakness” I own the vinyl and the CD and listen to the album regularly. She is one of this country’s finest ever singers.

My 80s favourite: As you could guess, this is a hard one because I love it all. But I think I have to go with “Bedroom Eyes”, a song that got to number two but should have been a number one. It’s such a sleek pop song that is a perfect vehicle for the wonderful Ms Ceberano.

4. Renee Geyer

Speaking of Aussies with big voices, Renee Geyer has one of the most remarkably textured voices you will ever find. She has also been a much sought-after backing vocalist for artists such as Neil Diamond, Chaka Khan, Toni Childs, Joe Cocker, Men at Work and Sting.

She certainly achieved some great success in the 70s, but her biggest hit came in 1981 when, “Say I Love You”, hit number five in Australia and two in New Zealand. This is such an incredible song that really should have topped the charts all over the world. Other great 80s song include, “Do You Know What I Mean?” and “All My Love”. Regarded as one of this country’s best vocalists ever, she rocks jazz, soul and R&B tracks.

My 80s favourite: It must be “Say I Love You”. I love when we play it on My88 and always sing it nice and loud, a truly cracking tune.

5. Jenny Morris

You may be saying, but she is a Kiwi, but hear she me out, she became an Aussie citizen in 2003, so in hindsight we can call her Australian. Jenny is such an amazing singer who released kick-arse tracks for many years. She released some work in the early 80s but wasn’t yet getting the attention she deserved. In 1983 she formed QED and had her first hit with, “Everywhere I Go”. By 1986, she was scoring solo hits and was a regular on the Aussie charts for the rest of the 80s and the early 90s.

So many of her releases are just perfectly crafted pop tunes and are just so catchy. Songs like, “You’re Gonna Get Hurt”, “You I Know”, “Saved Me” and “She Has to Be Loved”. That’s not even getting into the 90s classics like, “Break in the Weather”. With amazing music like this in her discography, we will always be happy to claim her as our own.

My 80s favourite: I’ll pretend this is hard. “Everywhere I Go” is so good, so is “She Has to Be Loved”, but there can be nothing finer than, “You I Know”. I adore this song so much, it is exquisite. My definite pick.

6. Grace Knight

One of the things I love about my job is that I have had the opportunity to speak to some of my favourite singers. I must admit to being more than a little star struck when I got to speak to the incredibly talented, Grace Knight.

Australia got to meet Grace from her work with the awesome band, Eurogliders. From 1982 to 1988 they were releasing great songs that were ruling the charts, they even managed to score an international hit with, “Heaven (It Must Be There)”, sadly it only got to two in Australia, it should have been a number one. “We Will Together” and “Can’t Wait to See You”, also hit top ten and “Groove” and “The City of Soul”, hit the Top 20. They are all top-notch tracks. From 1990, Grace went on to become one of this country’s finest jazz singers. Her range and vocals are truly sublime; plus, she’s damn nice too.

My 80s favourite: This is hard. I love so much and don’t want to be obvious, but I have to be. “Heaven (It Must Be There)” is that good. It is an Aussie classic, plain and simple.

7. Christie Allen

People overseas might not know the late, Christie Allen; but they should. For just four years, Christie released some amazing tunes. She did some great songs in the late 70s, but really cemented herself in the 80s. “He’s My Number One” was a number four smash and so many people loved it. She was in fact voted Most Popular Female Performer at the TV Week / Countdown Music Awards for both 1979 and 1980. In 1980, “Magic Rhythm” and “Baby Get Away” also went Top 40.

She sadly stopped having hits after that and died at just age 53 of pancreatic cancer. I will admit to not knowing her music before starting at the station, but certainly knew her name. So now we have our chart shows, I have been hearing her and I like what I hear.

My 80s favourite: There can be no doubt as its her biggest song of the 80s, “He’s My Number One”. Really catchy song that I have grown to admire.

8. The Chantoozies

I know I’m cheating a little with this one as the group originally included four female singers (then three and now two), but I couldn’t do this list and not include them. The Chantoozies are a brilliant act where the women were the heads of the band. Made up of actors and models, they quickly proved how strong their voices were. And as I discovered when I interviewed them, they are delightful – just the nicest ladies.

Wow, did they make some amazing tunes. Debut, “Witch Queen (Of New Orleans)” was an unorthodox choice of a cover that rewarded them with a much deserved top ten position. “He’s Gonna Step On You Again”, was another great cover. Then they started with originals and we were treated to some dead set legendary tunes, both “Wanna Be Up” and “Kiss and Tell” are beautifully crafted and performed pop songs. And it is so lovely they are still touring today, I really hope I get to see them live really soon.

My 80s favourite: I love so much of theirs, and “Witch Queen” is a massive favourite, but I can’t not vote for “Wanna Be Up”. What a banger. I still love it with a passion, even after all these years.

Is your favourite Aussie Lady of the 80's on this list?? Tell us who we missed in the comments!