These five ladies are the most successful female acts from the early '80s and '90s. They almost all have scored massive global hits throughout the years.
But who owns the bigger and more memorable hits? Which ones will surpass the test of time?
Madonna
Mariah Carey
Whitney Houston
Céline Dion
Janet Jackson
Holiday
Borderline
Like A Virgin
Material Girl
Crazy for You
Angel
Dress You Up
Gambler
Hanky Panky
Into the Groove
Live To Tell
Papa Don't Preach
True Blue
Open Your Heart
La Isla Bonita
Who's That Girl
Causing a Commotion
Like A Prayer
Express Yourself
Cherish
Vogue
Justify My Love
Rescue Me
This Used To Be My P.
Erotica
Deeper and Deeper
Rain
I'll Remember
Secret
You'll See
Don't Cry For Me Argentina
Frozen
Ray of Light
The Power of Good-bye
Nothing Really Matters
Beautiful Stranger
American Pie
Music
Don't Tell Me
What It Feels For A Girl
Die Another Day
American Life
Hung Up
Get Together
Jump
Sorry
4 Minutes
Give It 2 Me
Celebration
Give Me All Your Luvin'
Vision of Love
I'll Be There
Dreamlover
Hero
Without You
All I Want for Xmas Is You
Fantasy
One Sweet Day
Always Be My Baby
Honey
My All
Heartbreaker
When You Believe
Through the Rain
We Belong Together
Touch My Body
#Beautiful
Saving All My Love For You
How Will I Know
Greatest Love of All
I Wanna Dance With Somebody
So Emotional
Love Will Save the Day
One Moment In Time
I'm Your Baby Tonight
I Will Always Love You
I'm Every Woman
I Have Nothing
Exhale
When You Believe
My Love is Your Love
The Power of Love
Think Twice
Because You Loved Me
It's All Coming Back
All By Myself
Tell Him
My Heart Will Go On
I'm Your Angel
That's the Way It Is
A New Day Has Come
I'm Alive
What Have You Done for Me
Nasty
Black Cat
Runaway
That's the Way Love Goes
Together Again
The Best Things in Life
Got Til' It's Gone
Scream
All For You
Disclaimer: This list only includes their singles that went top 10 in multiple markets. If I missed some, tell me.
Nnnn at Madonna totally annihilating them and nnnn x 1000 at Janet's stats.
Love Takes Time went Top 10 in 3 countries, Endless Love went Top 10 in 9 countries, Always Be My Baby went Top 10 in 6, Thank God I Found You went Top 10 in 4, and I Know What You Want went Top 10 in over 15.
Someday, I Don't Wanna Cry, Can't Let Go, and Make It Happen also went Top 10 in US + Canada. What's your definition of multiple?
Obsessed also went T10 in Italy, France, and US. Hell #Beautiful even went T10 in Australia, Croatia, South Africa, Denmark, New Zealand and Netherlands.
Love Takes Time went Top 10 in 3 countries, Endless Love went Top 10 in 9 countries, Always Be My Baby went Top 10 in 6, Thank God I Found You went Top 10 in 4, and I Know What You Want went Top 10 in over 15.
Someday, I Don't Wanna Cry, Can't Let Go, and Make It Happen also went Top 10 in US + Canada. What's your definition of multiple?
More than 5 countries at least and only songs with lead billing were included, no feats.
Overall: Madonna >>> Mariah >> Whitney >> Celine >>> Janet.
While songs like "I Will Always Love You" and "My Heart Will Go On" are bigger than anything from the catalogues of Madonna and Janet (and arguably Mariah's), Madge and Mimi both have more classics known by the masses. Celine and Whitney are legends but the average joe only knows them for their soundtrack smashes, no tea no shade.
Madonna:"Like A Virgin", "Material Girl", "Vogue" & "Like A Prayer" (plus, her "modern classics" such as "Don't Cry For Me Argentina", "Hung Up", "Ray Of Light" and "Give Me All Your Luvin'" "Frozen").
Mariah:"We Belong Together", "Hero" (!!!), "Without You" & "All I Want For Christmas Is Bangerz".
Whitney:"I Will Always Love You" & "I Wanna Dance With Somebody".
Celine:"My Heart Will Go On".
Janet:"Nasty", "Rhytym Nation" & "Control" but honestly, most of her songs are forgotten and she became an extremely local figure after the Super Bowl fiasco. Such a shame.
Janet:"Nasty", "Rhytym Nation" & "Control" but honestly, most of her songs are forgotten and she became an extremely local figure after the Super Bowl fiasco. Such a shame.
Stats says she has always been a local act, I always knew that but I was still shocked when I looked at her singles' peaks around the globe. Although her stans like to claim she was global because she toured some countries, so who am I to judge?
These were also Top 10 hits for Madonna in 6+ countries:
Holiday
Borderline
Angel
Dress You Up
Gambler
Hanky Panky
Rescue Me
Erotica
Deeper And Deeper
Rain
I'll Remember
Nothing Really Matters
Beautiful Stranger
What It Feels Like For A Girl
Get Together
Jump
These were also Top 10 hits for Madonna in 6+ countries:
Holiday
Borderline
Angel
Dress You Up
Gambler
Hanky Panky
Rescue Me
Erotica
Deeper And Deeper
Rain
I'll Remember
Nothing Really Matters
Beautiful Stranger
What It Feels Like For A Girl
Get Together
Jump
Mess. I was lazy and just went with the ones displayed in her singles discography page.
Although her stans like to claim she was global because she toured some countries, so who am I to judge? 
