100 Greatest Singers (RS again)

[CaptHayfever]

This is an older list, & they didn't name the entire panel this time. I've left some annotations in italics:

100) Mary J. Blige
99) Steven Tyler (Aerosmith)
98) Stevie Nicks (Fleetwood Mac)
97) Joe Cocker
96) B.B. King
95) Patti LaBelle
94) Karen Carpenter (Carpenters)
93) Annie Lennox (Eurythmics)
92) Morrissey
91) Levon Helm (The Band)
90) The Everly Brothers (both of them)
89) Solomon Burke
88) Willie Nelson
87) Don Henley (Eagles)
86) Art Garfunkel (Simon & Garfunkel)
85) Sam Moore (Sam & Dave)
84) Darlene Love
83) Patti Smith
82) Tom Waits
81) John Lee Hooker
80) Frankie Valli (Four Seasons)
79) Mariah Carey
78) Sly "& the Family" Stone
77) Merle Haggard
76) Steve Perry (Journey)
75) Iggy Pop (Stooges)
74) James Taylor
73) Dolly Parton
72) John Fogerty (Creedence Clearwater Revival)
71) Toots Hibbert
70) Gregg Allman (Allman Bros)
69) Ronnie Spector
68) Wilson Pickett
67) Jerry Lee Lewis
66) Thom Yorke (Radiohead)
65) David Ruffin (Temptations)
64) Axl Rose (Guns n' Roses)
63) Dion (not Celine)
62) Lou Reed (Velvet Underground)
61) Roger Daltrey (Who)
60) Björk
59) Rod Stewart (Faces) ....wait, really?
58) Christina Aguilera
57) Eric Burdon (Animals, War)
56) Mavis Staples (Staple Sisters)
55) Paul Rodgers (Free, Bad Company, Queen)
54) Luther Vandross
53) Muddy Waters
52) Brian Wilson (Beach Boys)
51) Gladys Knight
50) Bonnie Raitt
49) Donny Hathaway
48) Buddy Holly
47) Jim Morrison (Doors)
46) Patsy Cline
45) Kurt Cobain (Nirvana) ...c'mon.
44) Bobby "Blue" Bland
43) George Jones
42) Joni Mitchell
41) Chuck Berry
40) Curtis Mayfield
39) Jeff Buckley
38) Elton John
37) Neil Young (Buffalo Springfield, CSN&Y, Crazy Horse) ...you gotta be kidding me.
36) Bruce Springsteen ...no. just no.
35) Dusty Springfield
34) Whitney Houston
33) Steve Winwood (Spencer Davis, Traffic, Blind Faith) ...LORD no.
32) Bono (U2)
31) Howlin' Wolf
30) Prince ...they're reaching.
29) Nina Simone
28) Janis Joplin (Big Brother & the Holding Company)
27) Hank Williams
26) Jackie Wilson
25) Michael Jackson (Jackson 5, solo)
24) Van Morrison
23) David Bowie
22) Etta James
21) Johnny Cash
20) Smokey Robinson (Miracles)
19) Bob Marley (Wailers)
18) Freddie Mercury (Queen)
17) Tina Turner
16) Mick Jagger (Rolling Stones)
15) Robert Plant (Led Zeppelin)
14) Al Green
13) Roy Orbison (Travelling Wilburys)
12) Little Richard
11) Paul McCartney (Beatles, Wings)
10) James Brown
9) Stevie Wonder
8) Otis Redding
7) Bob Dylan ...this high on the list?
6) Marvin Gaye
5) John Lennon (Beatles)
4) Sam Cooke
3) Elvis Presley
2) Ray Charles
1) Aretha Franklin

Unfortunately, the panel voting on this list seems to have occasionally confused composing skill for singing skill. Just off the top of my head, I'd drop Winwood*, Springsteen, & Young, and I'd add Micky Dolenz (Monkees), Ian Anderson (Jethro Tull), & Billie Holliday. If this list had been compiled after She & Him debuted (which it wasn't), I'd toss Cobain for Zooey Deschanel. And then I'd toss Zooey Deschanel, ifyouknowwhatImean.

*Especially since Joe Cocker is already on the list, & Cocker sings Traffic songs WAYYYY better than Winwood ever did.

And remember, "I'm-a Luigi, number one!"

[Cosmonautical]

Neil Young is an awesome songwriter but his barely in-tune warble is nearly as incomprehensible as Thom Yorke. Who I see is also on this list. Kurt Cobain was actually a very talented singer who simply didn't exercise it, but he's really not suitable for the list (like half the people on it). I could make a list of 100 people better than those on most of the list pretty easily.

No Jewel on the list is pretty criminal, btw. And checkout Rain Maida from Our Lady Peace - their music might never have consistently topped charts, but that guy has some of the craziest range-jumping this side of western.

[Panfan]

people like dylan and young made me lol. they're some of the all-time greatest musicians, but that's not because they sing well.

[CaptHayfever]

Yeah, there are several more I'd throw out & replace; I was just italicizing the most WTF selections.

Nicks would go; if they really need a Fleetwood member, it should be Christine McVie.
I've never cared for Yorke's voice (or Raitt's), but every time I express a negative opinion towards any Radiohead member for any reason, an attempt is made on my life.
Lennon & Dylan I think both should be on the list, but much lower than they are.
Prince is a pretty terrible singer, really; if they want somebody from Purple Rain, it should be Morris Day (Time).
If RS was as in-touch with indie music as they sometimes like to pretend they are, Nick Niespodziani (Y-O-U) would be on here.
I'd like to see Burton Cummings (Guess Who) on there too.

And remember, "I'm-a Luigi, number one!"

[Bomby]

It's about style, not skill. There's lots of technically proficient singers I'd never listen to because their vocal work is bland. Kurt Cobain was a mumbler and shouter - but his mumbling and shouting is more powerful than most technically proficient singers could ever hope for. I mean, try to imagine Zooey Deschanel singing "Heart Shaped Box" or "Serve the Servants." It just doesn't work.

[Booyakasha]

No Neil Diamond?

Huh.

(EDIT: Also no Warren Zevon, I see. List is a little messed, son.)

[CaptHayfever]

^^Waits is a mumbler & shouter, too, but he's way better at it. If we were going strictly off of technical skill, the top 10 would probably be all classically-trained singers & Freddie Mercury.

And remember, "I'm-a Luigi, number one!"

[Loot]

So why isn't Weird Al on this list

Srs note why the **** are Sam Cooke Elvis TINA ****ING TURNER higher than goddamn Freddie Mercury

[Cosmonautical]

^ Because, despite his humor and his range, 9/10 times he makes vocal hooks even more annoying. *Weird Al

Originally Posted by Bomby

It's about style, not skill. There's lots of technically proficient singers I'd never listen to because their vocal work is bland. Kurt Cobain was a mumbler and shouter - but his mumbling and shouting is more powerful than most technically proficient singers could ever hope for. I mean, try to imagine Zooey Deschanel singing "Heart Shaped Box" or "Serve the Servants." It just doesn't work.

Yeah, it's just that I can think of a ton of guys who work just as well. That he keyed in at the right time shouldn't be a ticket to a list of all-time greatness.

[Galefore]

@AI: Thank'd that first post for the Raine Maida shoutout. Dude's a beast.

As for the list, eh, it's a list. I never take music lists seriously, since it's kinda a joke to try to list off "greatest" so-and-so in music. It's an art. It's subjective. And RS thinks those dudes are the best, so it's their right to publish it, I guess. I don't agree with it, but eh, whatever. It isn't my place to call them out. :P

[Fast-Debrid]

I'd have to agree with Aretha Franklin.
Great singer. Great woman. Hands down.