The reason I had Uji above Linzy in early renditions of the rankings was that I find them both similar in terms of their technical ability, but up until "Applie Pie," Uji's presence in BESTie's music was felt much more so than Linzy in FIESTAR. And that was enough to give her #10 despite the lack of depth in her resume. "Love Options" and "Thank U Very Much" laid the groundwork, and culminated into "Excuse Me," where she hard-carried the rest of BESTie on her back. Take away Uji from her group and you'd have some pedestrian songs without much interesting going on.
#9. Choa (--)
Had "Good Luck" been released a few months earlier, the idea to move Choa up to somewhere like #7 would've been under heavy consideration. It's her version of Uji's "Excuse Me" as in the breakout performance. Choa has delivered for AOA on numerous occasions, as early as the days of their debut. She's gotten better with age, and her trademark is being both delicate with her headvoice ("Heart Attack") and the more full-sounding lower range ("Confused"). She's also taken part of some individual projects, which showcase her talent further.
#8. Luna (--)
Luna vs. Eunji was a difficult decision, and this was even before they both released solo debuts. While I do consider "Free Somebody" the stronger solo effort, Eunji's track record as a vocalist is far superior. Regardless, Luna possesses charisma and power, along with delicate range which gets away with some strains that most other singers don't, which is a nice bonus. She may have taken the backseat to Krystal in "4 Walls," but she's been the focal point in practically every other f(x) song. Her solo debut and the bridge from "Red Light" serve as constant reminders to Luna's ability.
#7. Eunji (--)
Not only does Eunji have a more polished resume than Luna, but I also consider her better technically, and has a more versatile voice. Eunji can cover genres from pop to trot, and that latter category is tricky for most vocalists. From "Mr. Chu" to "Luv," she's got her pop sounds down to a science, and demonstrated flawless beauty in "Hopefully Sky." Eunji is without a doubt one of the most well-rounded vocalists out there, and she still (like her group) has room to grow into something better.
#6. Solji (--)
From a pure fundamentals perspective, I actually don't think Solji is that good, at least compared to everyone else in the top 10. She might have a blurry line between strained and non-strained voices, but she rarely touches her lower register and she's not really tested much. However, Solji is insanely consistent serving as the singing pillars of EXID. Ever since she joined the group, she has been a model of consistency and her voice is the keynote of their music. They need her for the slow sensual songs ("Every Night"), the hyperactive jams ("I Feel Good") and the regular power vocals ("Ah Yeah").
In addition to the individual rank positions, tiers are also included. Bohyung is the last member of the 2nd best tier. This is surprising, because she is just as gifted (if not more) than the four members above her. She's got wonderful range, great execution, and by far has the strongest voice out of anyone on the list. But it's her group that's the problem. SPICA have been nothing but an afterthought since 2014, despite having songs like "Give Your Love" and "Tonight" previously. SPICA started out well with "Russian Roulette" but the lack of activity has cost Bohyung a chance at the final four.
#4. Solar (--)
What makes Solar spectacular in comparison to her contemporaries is that she comes from a group that caters to her talent. From the minute she started in "Mr. Ambiguous," you knew that she (along with Wheein and Hwasa) meant serious business and as their music got better, so did she. To be a part of such a three-headed vocal attack is amazing on its own right, but she's the leader of that trio, and boasts wonderful performances in "Piano Man" and "Ahh Oop!" Solar isn't young, but her career is, and that's what makes her so scary.
#3. Taeyeon (--)
The phrase I would use to best describe Taeyeon as a vocalist is "surprisingly adaptable." She's really got not much dimension to her voice, yet is able to absolutely own anything from "Gee" to "Genie" to "I." Taeyeon can also handle stuff like rock and country, and we all know how masterful her ballads are. Looking at how any of her OST releases chart should be proof enough. She was also pretty darn good right out of the gate, yet continues to show maturity in her singing.
#2. JeA (--)
JeA is as established as she is versatile, with an illustrious career as testament. When you've been active for so long and constantly provide high-quality material, I think that says volumes about your greatness. Brown Eyed Girls are never afraid of changing the formula, and she has always risen to the challenge. "Kill Bill?" Bright and lively. "Sixth Sense?" Sassy and mighty. Let's not forget that she has a polished solo record, too, reaffirming that this year with "Bad Girl." JeA is a star, and makes her members all better as a result.
#1. Hyorin (--)
When anyone talks about girl group vocalists, Hyorin is almost always at the top of the list. She has universal appeal, and her name is synonymous with excellence. She is capable of powerful runs in "Give It To Me," splendid falsetto seen in "I Swear," and she can sing anything you throw at her. Hyorin is one of the most if not the most accomplished girl group solo act there is. From "One Way Love" to her numerous collaborations, her discography speaks for itself. There's no mistake, Hyorin is the best girl group vocalist and that isn't likely to change anytime soon.
Final Glance
Top Tier: Hyorin / JeA / Taeyeon / Solar
High Tier: Bohyung / Solji / Eunji / Luna / Choa / Uji
Middle Tier: Linzy / Yeeun / Gayoon / Sojung / Jieun / Minah / Yuju
Low Tier: Hyunyoung / Soyeon / Wendy / Raina / High.D / Kei / Subin
Bottom Tier: Bom / Jihyo / Hyemi / Alice / Seungyeon / Suzy
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