Dan T. Posted November 13, 2008 Share Posted November 13, 2008 This should be fun. Rolling Stone published a list of the 100 Greatest Singers of All Time. Topping the list? The Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin. Here's the Top 10: 10. James Brown 9. Stevie Wonder 8. Otis Redding 7. Bob Dylan 6. Marvin Gaye 5. John Lennon 4. Sam Cooke 3. Elvis Presley 2. Ray Charles 1. Aretha Franklin Some other miscellaneous rankings: Paul McCartney was 11, Robert Plant and Mick Jagger 15 and 16, Michael Jackson 25, Hank Williams 27, Chuck Berry 41, Bonnie Raitt 50, and Steven Tyler and Mary J. Blige snuck in at 99 and 100. Here's the whole list: 1. Aretha Franklin 2. Ray Charles 3. Elvis Presley 4. Sam Cooke 5. John Lennon 6. Marvin Gaye 7. Bob Dylan 8. Otis Redding 9. Stevie Wonder 10. James Brown 11. Paul McCartney 12. Little Richard 13. Roy Orbison 14. Al Green 15. Robert Plant 16. Mick Jagger 17. Tina Turner 18. Freddie Mercury 19. Bob Marley 20. Smokey Robinson 21. Johnny Cash 22. Etta James 23. David Bowie 24. Van Morrison 25. Michael Jackson 26. Jackie Wison 27. Hank Williams 28. Janis Joplin 29. Nina Simone 30. Prince 31. Howlin Wolf 32. Bono 33. Steve Winwood 34. Whitney Houston 35. Dusty Springfield 36. Bruce Springsteen 37. Neil Young 38. Elton John 39. Jeff Buckley 40. Curtis Mayfield 41. Chuck Berry 42. Joni Mitchell 43. George Jones 44. Bobby "Blue" Bland 45. Kurt Cobain 46. Patsey Cline 47. Jim Morrison 48. Buddy Holly 49. Donny Hathaway 50. Bonnie Raitt 51. Gladys Knight 52. Brian Wilson 53. Muddy Waters 54. Luther Vandross 55. Paul Rodgers 56. Mavis Staples 57. Eric Burdon 58. Christina Aguilara 59. Rod Stewart 60. Bjork 61. Roger Daltry 62. Lou Reed 63. Dion 64. Axl Rose 65. David Ruffin 66. Thom Yorke 67. Jerry Lee Lewis 68. Wilson Pickett 69. Ronnie Spector 70. Gregg Allman 71. Toots Hibbert 72. John Fogerty 73. Dolly Parton 74. James Taylor 75. Iggy Pop 76. Steve Perry 77. Merle Haggard 78. Sly Stone 79. Mariah Carey 80. Frankie Valli 81. John Lee Hooker 82. Tom Waits 83. Patti Smith 84. Darlene Love 85. Sam Moore 86. Art Garfunkel 87. Don Henley 88. Willie Nelson 89. Solomon Burke 90. The Everly Brothers 91. Levon Helm 92. Morrissey 93. Annie Lennox 94. Karen Carpenter 95. Patti Labelle 96. BB King 97. Joe ****er 98. Stevie Nicks 99. Steven Tyler 100. Mary J Blige Here's a couple of links: The intro to the article: http://www.rollingstone.com/rockdaily/index.php/2008/11/12/the-new-issue-of-rolling-stone-the-100-greatest-singers/ From there, you can click through the 100, with descriptions and play lists of each, or go right to The List: http://www.rollingstone.com/news/coverstory/24161972/page/103 The list of voters is VERY impressive, and extensive: http://www.rollingstone.com/news/coverstory/24161972/page/101 Each voter listed their top 20 picks. Here's a link to photos of some of the actual ballots. See how Keith Richards, BB. King, Bruce Springsteen and others voted, in their own handwriting: http://www.rollingstone.com/photos/gallery/24160218/the_100_greatest_singers_inside_t So, who was left off? Who was ranked too high? Too low? Discuss. And enjoy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Munchkin76 Posted November 13, 2008 Share Posted November 13, 2008 Singers? Bob Dylan? Is this for real? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnLockesGhost Posted November 13, 2008 Share Posted November 13, 2008 John Lennon and Bob Dylan? Love me some Sam Cooke and Marvin Gaye. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan T. Posted November 13, 2008 Author Share Posted November 13, 2008 Singers? Bob Dylan? Is this for real? Yeah, that was bizarre. As a songwriter, he tops just about any list. But singer??? A couple that were left off, IMO: Levi Stubbs of the 4 Tops had as great a voice as any Motown singer of all time. He should have been included. Also, I would have liked to see Little Feat's Lowell George on the list... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zoony Posted November 13, 2008 Share Posted November 13, 2008 John Lennon in the top 10? Is this some kind of joke? Pure singing talent- you'd have to put Orbison and Presley in the top 5. Aretha Franklin I guess is probably good at #1 though. Also, nod to Eddie Vedder. He's certainly better than Dylan/Lennon. .. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan T. Posted November 13, 2008 Author Share Posted November 13, 2008 It's worth it to click through the gallery of actual ballots. A couple of things I noticed. - Keith Richards didn't vote for Mick, but voted for himself at # 20! - Courtney Love's ballot shows she really must be as harebrained as she seems. - The ballot of Maynard Keene of Tool shows that he really is, in fact, a tool. - Merle Haggard likes sticky notes. http://www.rollingstone.com/photos/gallery/24160218/the_100_greatest_singers_inside_t Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarrellsMyHero28 Posted November 13, 2008 Share Posted November 13, 2008 A) I sing better than Bob Dylan. Where in the **** is Frank Sinatra? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
No_Pressure Posted November 13, 2008 Share Posted November 13, 2008 Its like they tried to do it based on pure singing talent but then they decided to sprinkle in some bull**** catering to fans. If Bob Dylan is in the top 10 why not put any old popular but technically untalented singer up there. Oh hey look it's Lemmy Kilmeister in the top 10 because he's cool! Give me a break. It started out well- Aretha, Ray, Sam Cooke, why didn't they just stick to that? I would rather see Paul Simon or Art Garfunkle in the top 10 than John Lennon... BTW James Hetfield's ballot of nothing but metal singers with a few country singers sprinkled in was funny, but why did they let celebrities vote? Half of these were not taken seriously at all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan T. Posted November 13, 2008 Author Share Posted November 13, 2008 A) I sing better than Bob Dylan. Where in the **** is Frank Sinatra? Yeah, Sinatra is a major omission. Looking through the ballots, he got a mention or two, but not enough to make the list. Definitely a huge oversight. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigMike619 Posted November 13, 2008 Share Posted November 13, 2008 sam cooke otis redding elvis johnny cash robert plant kurt cobain phil anselmo frank sinatra gordon lightfoot mariah/whitney Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TGI Jef Posted November 13, 2008 Share Posted November 13, 2008 that list is interesting - definitley gives the nod to several "iconic" voices over more technically sound singers. in a way its kind of cool, though, too - Neil Young is my favorite artist. he has the range of a wounded duck, but i love his voice. its not for everyone, but for me he is a great singer - warts and all. it is an interesting list, for sure. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mufumonk Posted November 13, 2008 Share Posted November 13, 2008 Plant, Freddie Mercury and Jeff Buckley are way too low. No Maynard or Elliott Smith? Dylan and Cash don't belong on this list. I would put Joni Mitchell and Thom Yorke a bit higher. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IlSkin Posted November 13, 2008 Share Posted November 13, 2008 No Robert Smith? Inexcusable Kurt Kobain, and no Layne Staley? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan T. Posted November 13, 2008 Author Share Posted November 13, 2008 It started out well- Aretha, Ray, Sam Cooke, why didn't they just stick to that? I would rather see Paul Simon or Art Garfunkle in the top 10 than John Lennon... Interesting that Art Garfunkel made the list (at No. 86) but Paul Simon did not... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buenosdiaz Posted November 13, 2008 Share Posted November 13, 2008 where the **** is soulja boy? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Koolblue13 Posted November 13, 2008 Share Posted November 13, 2008 This list isn't suited to wipe crap off my ass. Hank Williams at 27, Dolly Parton at 73? Tom freaking Waits at 82? Holy crap. And on a list that puts Axel Roads at 62, there is no mention of Waylon Jennings, possibly a top 3 voice of country music. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigMike619 Posted November 13, 2008 Share Posted November 13, 2008 Plant, Freddie Mercury and Jeff Buckley are way too low. No Maynard or Elliott Smith? Dylan and Cash don't belong on this list. I would put Joni Mitchell and Thom Yorke a bit higher. cash doesnt belong on this list? thats funnier then funny. youd put thom yorke's whiney ass on there but leave the man in black off...:doh: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan T. Posted November 13, 2008 Author Share Posted November 13, 2008 BTW James Hetfield's ballot of nothing but metal singers with a few country singers sprinkled in was funny, but why did they let celebrities vote? Half of these were not taken seriously at all. I mentioned Maynard Keenan of Tool as being a tool. On his ballot, he lists - tada - Maynard Keenan as No. 1, then leaves the rest of the ballot blank. What an ass. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SkinsOrlando Posted November 13, 2008 Share Posted November 13, 2008 The real question is did Ozzy write that himself because if so, he's got some good handwriting for someone who shakes like a parkinsons patient in an earthquake. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mufumonk Posted November 13, 2008 Share Posted November 13, 2008 This list isn't suited to wipe crap off my ass.Hank Williams at 27, Dolly Parton at 73? Tom freaking Waits at 82? Holy crap. And on a list that puts Axel Roads at 62, there is no mention of Waylon Jennings, possibly a top 3 voice of country music. I didn't even notice Axl. His name alone destroys the credibility of this list. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mufumonk Posted November 13, 2008 Share Posted November 13, 2008 cash doesnt belong on this list?thats funnier then funny. youd put thom yorke's whiney ass on there but leave the man in black off...:doh: I love Cash. But I've never considered him a vocal heavy weight simply because of his style. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Koolblue13 Posted November 13, 2008 Share Posted November 13, 2008 I love Cash. But I've never considered him a vocal heavy weight simply because of his style. A style that reached both young and old, traditional and liberal. From country to pop to punk. No voice has ever reached as many people as Johnny Cash. And I'm not a huge fan. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Forehead Posted November 13, 2008 Share Posted November 13, 2008 Interesting that Art Garfunkel made the list (at No. 86) but Paul Simon did not... I was looking for Paul Simon as well, I'm surprised he's not on there. Interestingly, I can't stand listening to the people listed #1 and #3 on this list. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
#98QBKiller Posted November 13, 2008 Share Posted November 13, 2008 Freddie Mercury not in the top 10? Elvis Presley #3? No thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Burgold Posted November 13, 2008 Share Posted November 13, 2008 John Lennon in the top 10? Is this some kind of joke?Pure singing talent- you'd have to put Orbison and Presley in the top 5. Aretha Franklin I guess is probably good at #1 though. Also, nod to Eddie Vedder. He's certainly better than Dylan/Lennon. .. That's what I was thinking. Great writer. Good musician. Undeniably important to modern music, but great singer? John had a passable voice, a good voice at best. He was not a great singer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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