You guys love lists, and we love to start our holiday weekend early, so thanks VH1 for putting together this 100 Greatest Artists Of All Time countdown. (Spoiler Alert: No Wavves…) You should compare it to VH1′s 100 Greatest Artists Of Rock & Roll from 1998 (back when VH1 was VH-1) to see some of the overlaps/differences. For starters: The Top 5 “Rock” vs “Of All Time” is the same group, except for Jimi Hendrix who’s been pushed to No. 6. It’ll also give you an idea of how VH1 defines rock & roll. And how much it sucks to be the Eagles. Trivia: Which artist has drunkenly crashed his car the most times? Highest ranked artist to be pelted with plastic bottles? Did Biggie beat Tupac? Which version of Journey made it? But it’s not all about long-suffering has-beens: I, for one, am happy for Def Leppard.
100 Alicia Keys
99 Hall & Oates
98 Depeche Mode
97 Pretenders
96 Journey
95 OutKast
94 Mariah Carey
93 Pearl Jam
92 LL Cool J
91 Green Day
90 Elvis Costello
89 Beastie Boys
88 Bee Gees
87 George Michael
86 N.W.A.
85 The Band
84 Curtis Mayfield
83 Earth, Wind and Fire
82 Steely Dan
81 ABBA
80 Mary J. Blige
79 Eminem
78 Judas Priest
77 Lynyrd Skynyrd
76 Run-D.M.C.
75 Rush
74 The Cure
73 Van Morrison
72 Janis Joplin
71 R.E.M.
70 Def Leppard
69 Tupac Shakur
68 Otis Redding
67 Coldplay
66 Justin Timberlake
65 The Doors
64 Talking Heads
63 Notorious B.I.G.
62 Genesis
61 Cream
60 Whitney Houston
59 Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers
58 Cheap Trick
57 Iggy & The Stooges
56 KISS
55 Peter Gabriel
54 Public Enemy
53 Little Richard
52 Beyoncé
51 Billy Joel
50 Sade
49 Parliament-Funkadelic
48 Rage Against The Machine
47 Jay-Z
46 Ramones
45 Al Green
44 Joni Mitchell
43 Ray Charles
42 Metallica
41 Van Halen
40 The Police
39 The Kinks
38 Sly & The Family Stone
37 Fleetwood Mac
36 Paul McCartney
35 Johnny Cash
34 Tina Turner
33 Guns N’ Roses
32 Black Sabbath
31 John Lennon
30 Aerosmith
29 Radiohead
28 Elton John
27 Aretha Franklin
26 Neil Young
25 Chuck Berry
24 The Velvet Underground
23 AC/DC
22 The Clash
21 Bruce Springsteen
20 Marvin Gaye
19 U2
18 Pink Floyd
17 Queen
16 Madonna
15 The Beach Boys
14 Nirvana
13 The Who
12 David Bowie
11 Bob Marley
10 Stevie Wonder
09 James Brown
08 Elvis Presley
07 Prince
06 Jimi Hendrix
05 Bob Dylan
04 Rolling Stones
03 Led Zeppelin
02 Michael Jackson
01 The Beatles
Stereogum will be at ATP NY this weekend and will be sure to congratulate No. 57 if we see them at the Sportsman Bar. (We’ll livetweet via @stereogum if AT&T cooperates.)
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http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/specials/hot100/charts/top100-artists-20.shtml
thats a real list billboards top 100 artists
Where the heck is Lady Gaga!?!?…this list couldn’t be less wrong!…Lady Gaga is the biggest star and artist of the new Era and deserves to be right among the top 10 at least!…she’s achieved so much in just a couple of years and has become such a cultural and social icon faster than Madonna did!…Lady Gaga has hit after hit and is the most creative and egdy artist of this new era and so she deserves to be in this list!…her style and music has influenced so much in just a couple of years and has surpassed Britney, Cristina, Pink, Madonna, Eminem and all the other artists who are still relevant this years!…Only Beyonce could match her success and no other female artist has raised so much passion, not even Madonna in her good years…even Michael Jackson wanted Lady Gaga to be her opening for his Tour that’s speak as how big this woman has become that even the so called Kings or Queens have surrender to her feet…Beyonce i think should be at least in the top 20 higher than Madonna because Beyonce is a revolution just like Lady Gaga that’s why they paired for a couple of songs knowing that they’re the biggest female stars ever!!…I’m really pissed off with this list!!…Madonna might have been famous but it’s over now!!…Lady Gaga is way superior in all aspects and even Cher admires her. Gaga can do no wrong this time and recently has won 11 MTV VMA and it’s just 9 awards away to surpass Madonna who’s the all time most wins, but Gaga achieved 11 awards in just 2 years! …so all this is fucking amazing, to be able to blown away Madonna’s success and impact in just 2 years makes really of Gaga the biggest female star ever so should be up in this list!…
Are you stupid. lady gaga dosent even write her own music. you really need to grow iup and discover music and where it comes from, cause the real artists are rolling in there grave
FUUUUUUUUUUUCK Lady Gaga. What fucki’ hits, all her shit sucks. She only has hits, because all the fuckin’ Twilight fags by all her so called hits. Wanna hear a great artist, listen to Alice Cooper and Ozzy then see if Lady Faga is still good.
LOL. lady gaga is a fake.
if michael jackson can be on it ,anybody can
I can’t believe The Smiths is no where on this list!!
SiCK LiST MY DUDE!!! I Couldn’t Agree More With 98% Of Your List. I Had Missed 75-100, So I Figured Red Hot Chilli Peppers, Smashing Pumpkins, TOOL, Deftones, Eric Clapton, Nine Inch Nails, Sublime, Charlie “Bird” Parker, Pixies, Simon & Garfunkel and a few that you missed: Jeff Buckley, Janes Addiction & Robert Johnson – When Kurt Cobain Was Always Asked About Creating Alternative Music, He Said: Janes Addiction Did That 5 Years Ago. In The Mid-80′s, Janes Addiction Were So Far Ahead Of Their Time It’s Not Even Funny. Robert Johnson Invented Every Chord Used In Every Rock or Blues Song You Jear Today & Jeff Buckley Is Response For Thom Yorke Being So Inspired By A Performance The Night Before By Buckley That He Went From Having A Complete Meltdown In Studio With Not One Decent Verse Recorded & After Seeing Buckley Play, He Went Straight To The Studio And Recorded Fake Plastic Trees In One Shot!! Leonard Cohen as well… A Damn Fine List Tho. Deftones Were A Great Name To Throw In & Modest Mouse Would Be Pretty Damn Sweet At 98 Or So & He Dreams Awake At 99. I Guess Give It Until The Next Time They Do The List & Maybe A More Solid List Will Be Laid Out But I Truthfully Doubt iT!! Mad Respect From A MaD ARTiST~ CHeeRS~ KNiFA
hey what the hell where the red hot chili papers the best group of all time.
i love this person finally someone who knows of rhcp’s greatness
Chilis are FKA, and this list proves that VH1 has no idea what they are doing. How do they get left off?
Dave Matthews Band should be on there way before Justin Timberlake or Alicia Keys. Not to mention Buddy Holly.
i am so upset how could they leave out diana ross and chaka khan and gladys night? but put beyonce and alicia keys there? they would not have been here if it werent for diana, chaka, and gladys night. omg!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Check out Billboard 100
they also left out the queen of disco donna summer. but puit beyonce and alicia really?
I agree too,what about Tina
of course i think tina was on the list
I’m sorry but I think you all forgot Bon Jovi..great band talented musicians…where in the world did some of these people become great artists..Good thing the Beatles topped the list,cripe Whitney made this list and her Aunt Dion didn’t,gag,Bon Jovi has been around a long time…We need another list,,greatest snubbed artists…
dionne should have been on there too
i dont get it either i think we should get together and make a snubbed list and another list of 100 that would really kick that list out of the water
Billboard110 has the better list,.. BonJovi is on that one and so is Dionne Warwick..
oh my god you are so right dionne warwick and bon jovi are awesome how could they forget to put them on the list
This list is really dumb. I mean, Eminem, Green Day?? Where is Joan Jett & The Blackhearts, The Runaways, The Ramones!!!!!!!????? Joan is more talented that all these rappers on this “list”. Vh1 should be slapped in the face for this list, and im a hudge beatles fan, but c’mon, elvis should atleast be number one, or michael jackson. This world don’t know what music is anymore, having Eminem and all these other posers on the same list and Led Zeppelin, MJ, ect…. God, please please help these people.
I have a problem with Beyonce and Jay Z being with being ranked over 90, I am sorry if this offends anyone but cockiness and smoke screens to make up for other areas that you lack do not constitute as a substitute for being a great artist. Beyonce does have good star power but I am shocked that she came before really great singers like Alicia Keys, Mary J. Blige, Whitney Houston, or Mariah Carey. Their vocal capabilities clearly were not considered. As far as Jay Z being ranking higher than Eminem, Biggie or TuPac shows that this list is full of bull. Clearly Biggie and Tupac left a major void in the Hip Hop and Rap community. Eminem’s lyrical skills far outweighs Jay Z’s. It seems like this list was half hazardously created.
100 Beyoncé
99 Hall & Oates
98 Depeche Mode
97 Pretenders
96 Jay-Z
95 Journey
94 Justin Timberlake
93 Pearl Jam
92 LL Cool J
91 Green Day
90 Elvis Costello
89 Beastie Boys
88 Bee Gees
87 George Michael
86 N.W.A.
85 The Band
84 Curtis Mayfield
83 Earth, Wind and Fire
82 Steely Dan
81 ABBA
80 Joni Mitchell
79 KISS
78 Judas Priest
77 Lynyrd Skynyrd
76 Run-D.M.C.
75 Rush
74 The Cure
73 Van Morrison
72 Janis Joplin
71 R.E.M.
70 Def Leppard
69 Ramones
68 Otis Redding
67 Coldplay
66 Mariah Carey
65 The Doors
64 Talking Heads
63 Peter Gabriel
62 Genesis
61 Cream
60 Whitney Houston
59 Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers
58 Cheap Trick
57 Iggy & The Stooges
56 Snoop Dog
55 Eminem
54 Public Enemy
53 Little Richard
52 Alicia Keys
51 Billy Joel
50 Sade
49 Parliament-Funkadelic
48 Notorious B.I.G.
47 OutKast
46 Tupac Shakur
45 Mary J. Blige
44 Al Green
43 Ray Charles
42 Metallica
41 Van Halen
40 The Police
39 The Kinks
38 Sly & The Family Stone
37 Fleetwood Mac
36 Paul McCartney
35 Johnny Cash
34 Tina Turner
33 Guns N’ Roses
32 Black Sabbath
31 John Lennon
30 Aerosmith
29 Radiohead
28 Elton John
27 Aretha Franklin
26 Neil Young
25 Chuck Berry
24 The Velvet Underground
23 AC/DC
22 The Clash
21 Bruce Springsteen
20 Marvin Gaye
19 U2
18 Pink Floyd
17 Queen
16 Madonna
15 The Beach Boys
14 Nirvana
13 The Who
12 David Bowie
11 Bob Marley
10 Stevie Wonder
09 James Brown
08 Elvis Presley
07 Prince
06 Jimi Hendrix
05 Rolling Stones
04 Led Zeppelin
03 Bob Dylan
02 The Beatles
01 Michael Jackson
why is Run DMC so high up on the list, they are hip hop legends!
This list sucks!!! Elvis should be at the top 5 and Mariah Carey and Whitney should have at least made Top 50. Beyonce is good but higher than Mariah & Whitney? Hell no, she should of been in the 90s. Why the hell is coldplay here and why the hell is Jay Z higher than Tupac & Biggie? That’s bullshit, Jay Z sucks and Tupac & Biggie were the REAL rap artists of all time! Michael Jackson deserves to be here, but The Beatles obviously were the best and they deserve to be number 1. Madonna should of made top 10 but at least she made top 20.
and oh, why the hell is Justin Timberlake on here? He didn’t even have alot of #1 hits!
Wheres Aaliyah and Chicago at on this count down ? Also Metallica was number 42 wtf ?!
Kurt Cobain playing Bowie’s Man Who Sold The World Made Me Want To Become A True Artist As A Teenager, So I
Know How Influential He Was And In 3 Years, He Accomplished More Than Anyone Music Ever Has. So I Agree With You On That Aspect But You Are Saying All Of The Legit
Reasons Why You Think Nirvana Deserved To Make The List But Then You Turn Around And Question Madonna Being On The List?!! I’m Not A Madonna Fan At All, But There Is No Female Musician In The history Of Music That Not Only Was The Most Successful Artist Of Her Generation, But She Was Extremely Unique And Influenced Countless Artists Dong Their Thing Today. GaGa Is Bascally Just A Massive Ripoff Of Madonna, Especially Alejandro Or Whatever That Piece Of Shit Is Called. She Was An Absolute Pioneer & Architect & The 1st Female Artist To Follow In Someone Like David Bowie’s Fogsteps. I’m Not Even A Slightly Large Fan, But She Is A True Artist. I Don’t Understand How TOOL Didn’t Make The List. They Have A Lot Of These Lists & They Always Focus
on A Certain Genre Of Mysic. This Is Based On ART!! So Radiohead Deserve Their High Spot And Most Musicians Couldn’t Disagree If They Were #4 or #8. As Far As Art Is Concerned, Tools Guitarist Created All Of Their Sick Videos & Their Last Album Won The Grammy For Best Album Cover Art/Packaging. TOOL Have Always Pushed The Blundaries & Their Albums Sell Units Comparable To In, Close To A Million Units In the Feat Week Usually. And Danny Carey Is One Of The Top 5 Greatest Drummers Alive. Every Single Person In The Band Is One Of The Best In The World. Thinking Of Hreat Drummers, I Just Realized DAVE MATTHEWS BAND Aren’t On The List. That Is Absolutely Insane As Well. He Dreams Awake, Modest Mouse, Bright Eyes, Deftones & Sigur Ros All Deserve To Be #100-#95 and Jeff Buckley
and JANE’S ADDICTION
Kurt Cobain playing Bowie’s Man Who Sold The World Made Me Want To Become A True Artist As A Teenager, So I
Know How Influential He Was And In 3 Years, He Accomplished More Than Anyone Music Ever Has. So I Agree With You On That Aspect But You Are Saying All Of The Legit
Reasons Why You Think Nirvana Deserved To Make The List But Then You Turn Around And Question Madonna Being On The List?!! I’m Not A Madonna Fan At All, But There Is No Female Musician In The history Of Music That Not Only Was The Most Successful Artist Of Her Generation, But She Was Extremely Unique And Influenced Countless Artists Dong Their Thing Today. GaGa Is Bascally Just A Massive Ripoff Of Madonna, Especially Alejandro Or Whatever That Piece Of Shit Is Called. She Was An Absolute Pioneer & Architect & The 1st Female Artist To Follow In Someone Like David Bowie’s Fogsteps. I’m Not Even A Hige Fan, But She Is A True Artist. I Don’t Understand How TOOL Didn’t Make The list. They Have A Lot Of These Lists & They Always Focus on A Certain Genre Of Mysic. This Is Based On ART!! So Radiohead Deserve Their High Spot And Most Musicians Couldn’t Disagree If They Were #4 or #8. As Far As Art Is Concerned, Tools Guitarist Created All Of Their Sick Videos & Their Last Album Won The Grammy For Best Album Cover Art/Packaging. TOOL Have Always Pushed The Blundaries & Their Albums Sell Units Comparable To In, Close To A Million Units In the Feat Week Usually. And Danny Carey Is One Of The Top 5 Greatest Drummers Alive. Every Single Person In The Band Is One Of The Best In The World. Thinking Of Great Drummers, I Just Realized DAVE MATTHEWS BAND Aren’t On The List. That Is Absolutely Insane As Well. He Dreams Awake, Modest Mouse, Bright Eyes, Deftones & Sigurd Ros Could Be #100-#95 and Jeff Buckley whose England Concert Inspired a Young Thom Yorke to go straight to the Recording Studio and Record “Fake Plastic Trees” Vocal In ONE TAKE When He Had Been Struggling To Lay Down Even One Verse For The Entire Bends Album Beforehand Says Enough About Buckley Without Hearing His Beautiful, Soaring & Haunting Voice On Top Of Being A Sick Guitarist. Jane’s Addiction Created True Art In The Mid-80′s And When Kurt Cobain Was Asked How It Felt To Have Created Alternative Music, He Said: “I Wouldn’t Know, Go Ask Perry Farrell, Dave Navarro & Jane’s Addiction!! Robert Johnson is one of the main influences of Eric Clapton, Keith Richards and so many others and on top of that, he basically created every chord used in any Rock or
Blues Song you have ever heard. Plus he has the myth that so many people actually believe because he went from being a barely decent guitarist to disappearing for a couple of monta and coming back as the most unreal guitarist that anyone had ever heard.
Kurt Cobain playing Bowie’s Man Who Sold The World Made Me Want To Become A True Artist As A Teenager, So I Know How Influential He Was And In 3 Years, He Accomplished More Than Anyone Music Ever Has. So I Agree With You On That Aspect But You Are Saying All Of The Legit
Reasons Why You Think Nirvana Deserved To Make The List But Then You Turn Around And Question Madonna Being On The List?!! I’m Not A Madonna Fan At All, But There Is No Female Musician In The history Of Music That Not Only Was The Most Successful Artist Of Her Generation, But She Was Extremely Unique And Influenced Countless Artists Dong Their Thing Today. GaGa Is Bascally Just A Massive Ripoff Of Madonna, Especially Alejandro Or Whatever That Piece Of Shit Is Called. She Was An Absolute Pioneer & Architect & The 1st Female Artist To Follow In Someone Like David Bowie’s Fogsteps. I’m Not Even A Hige Fan, But She Is A True Artist. I Don’t Understand How TOOL Didn’t Make The List. They Have A Lot Of These Lists & They Always Focus on A Certain Genre Of Mysic. This Is Based On ART!! So Radiohead Deserve Their High Spot And Most Musicians Couldn’t Disagree If They Were #4 or #8. As Far As Art Is Concerned, Tools Guitarist Created All Of Their Sick Videos & Their Last Album Won The Grammy For Best Album Cover Art/Packaging. TOOL Have Always Pushed The Blundaries & Their Albums Sell Units Comparable To In, Close To A Million Units In the Feat Week Usually. And Danny Carey Is One Of The Top 5 Greatest Drummers Alive. Every Single Person In The Band Is One Of The Best In The World. Thinking Of Great Drummers, I Just Realized DAVE MATTHEWS BAND Aren’t On The List. That Is Absolutely Insane As Well. He Dreams Awake, Modest Mouse, Bright Eyes, Deftones & Sigurd Ros Could Be #100-#95 and Jeff Buckley whose England Concert Inspired a Young Thom Yorke to go straight to the Recording Studio and Record “Fake Plastic Trees” Vocal In ONE TAKE When He Had Been Struggling To Lay Down Even One Verse For The Entire Bends Album Beforehand Says Enough About Buckley Without Hearing His Beautiful, Soaring & Haunting Voice On Top Of Being A Sick Guitarist. Jane’s Addiction Created True Art In The Mid-80′s And When Kurt Cobain Was Asked How It Felt To Have Created Alternative Music, He Said: “I Wouldn’t Know, Go Ask Perry Farrell, Dave Navarro & Jane’s Addiction!! Robert Johnson is one of the main influences of Eric Clapton, Keith Richards and so many others and on top of that, he basically created every chord used in any Rock or Blues Song you have ever heard. Plus he has the myth that so many people actually believe because he went from being a barely decent guitarist to disappearing for a couple of months and coming back as the most unreal guitarist that anyone had ever heard at that point. There are only 2 Pictures Known To
Exist & No One Knows If They Are Really Pictures Of Robert Johnson Because He Used So Many Different Names & Lived Like A Ghost For The Short 26 Years He Was On This Earth. It Is Said He Sold His Soul To The Devil At A Crossroads In Mississippi And Handed Over His Life For The Insane Ability To Play Guitar The Way He Did. He Died Under Mysterious Circumstances And People Who Were With Him Said He Was On All Fours Howling Like A Psychopath Right Before The Devil Collected On His Payment. The Pixies Deserve To Be In There As Well. Check Out HE DREAMS AWAKE & Spread The Word Because He Has Been Called Radiohead On A Lot Of Chemicals & Also, “American Bjork.” I Think He Sounds Like No One Or Nothing Else In The History Of Art +\- Noise.
Let’s replace Beyonce or Justin Timberlake with……JANET JACKSON!!!!
How the hell is Alicia Keys on this list but the Grateful Dead is not?
Janet Jackson, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Sublime, Grateful Dead … should I continue….who oversaw this?
OMG I love The Beatles they deserve to be number one.
But Nirvana could have been number 3 lol
MaDonna should be number 100 !
ok WTF, how is “prince” greater than the king of rock n’ roll. WTF
ok WTF, how is “prince” greater than the king of rock n’ roll. WTF
and why is jay-z lower than N.W.A.
This list sucks ASS
Ok first off i agree with a lot of you…VH1 really screwed up this list.
Here is why:
-How the hell is Journey #96 with such talent as Steve Perry?! They definitely deserved top 10 or 20
-One word…Beyonce. WTF! she hasn’t been around long enough to even be on this damn list, in that case Christina Aguilera should be on here like REALLY this broad is not GREAT.
-Justin Timberlake? what has he done that is sooooo great?
-Where is Stone Temple Pilots and Red Hot Chili Peppers and Social Distortion?
I mean really VH1 what were you guys thinking? You cannot put Beyonce, Alicia, and Justin in a countdown with GREATS such as Journey, Beatles, Rage Against the Machine, Prince, Ramones, Zepplin etc. This was such a JOKE. It still blows my mind that Justin and Beyonce are better than JOURNEY! hahaha didn’t know that Beyonce sang better than Steve Perry. Seriously this list BLOWS I’m just glad majority of the GREATS did make it.
No matter how you slice it, this list is whacked. How could they leave out the Credit Report dt Com band? I mean David Bowie is great, but did he ever save you money?
This list should have been named, “The greatest artists of all time…after 1970.” There’s not a single artist listed who performed before then. What about Bing Crosby? Perry Como? Vaughn Monroe? Peggy Lee? Lena Horn, and many, many, many others? This list was prepared by some shallow, musically limited, young twit with absolutely no idea of the true scope of the entertainment business or the artists who have made it over the decades past! As such it is useless, reflecting only the narrow and limited knowledge of the uninformed.
Otis Redding?
Otis Redding was one of the great performers in the mid to late1960s.
Coldplay, who are they. Alicia keys, pearl jam, outkast, beyonce. really. Come on VH1. Where is Nine Inch Nails. The best ever. Been around for longer than all those others and still no respect. You should be ashamed. your poll sucks.
Just wondering how the list would look from a global perspective…..
You forget about CCR? How on earth could you not include them? They are All American rock and roll treasures, especially John Fogarty and his award winning songs.
This list is so beyond ridiculous. I’m speechless. There’s a lot of things that I disagree GREATLY with on this list. But there’s also some things I agree with. To anyone who’s interested, here they are.
*DISAGREEMENTS*
-The first person I actually looked forward to seeing up high was Whitney Houston. She’s incredible. She’s got an amazing voice, and it’s overlooked frequently. I would’ve expected that because VH1 CLAIMED for this list to be voted on by all kinds of musicians, that Whitney would be higher than usual. But she wasn’t. In fact, she was lower than I think anyone could expect. And how the hell did Beyonce manage to get higher placement than Whitney?! Beyonce couldn’t even easily make it in the 90′s area of the list. And yet she places higher than Whitney AND Mariah. CELINE DION ISN’T EVEN ON THE LIST! Pitiful. Even Alicia Keys is a better musician than Beyonce! Any list that has Beyonce next to Billy Joel is just bull shit. There’s so many pop stars that deserved Beyonce’s spot. Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera, Kylie Minogue. ARGH. It’s endless. Without Mariah, there’d be no Beyonce. And without Whitney and Celine, there’d be no Mariah. Simple as that.
-Madonna does deserve to be on the list, however, if she’s on it, than Britney Spears should be on it. If we are talking about “artists” who revolutionized their genre of music, Britney and Madonna are included in this list together. Britney Spears was the total package; a pop princess. Madonna made it possible for Britney to even have a career, yes. But I’m not saying Britney should be ahead of Madonna. Just on the list. For Beyonce, at least. Ha.
-I don’t understand why it is so hard for people to accept Country as a music genre. There’s nearly any Country/Western musicians. Garth Brooks, Hank Williams Jr., Conway Twitty, Patsy Cline, Dolly Parton, Reba McIntire, and many more of these artists deserve to be on the list. Rap, to me, isn’t music unless it sounds good. Public Enemy, Eminem, and Run DMC should be the only rappers on the list.
-Aretha Franklin should have EASILY made the Top 10, if not Top 5. God, that woman can sing. She’s fantastic. Prince shouldn’t have made the Top 10 at ALL. The only reason why he should even be considered being up that high is because he writes excellent songs. Elton John deserves more as well. He can sing, play piano, write. You name it.
-Jay Z shouldn’t be on the list. Period. That’s all I’m saying about that. If any rap act should be on there, it should be the Sugar Hill Gang.
-Eric Clapton (SOLO) should have been Top 30, at least. He helped to revolutionize rock, and he should be a lot higher just because he’s been in the industry longer than half of the people on the list have been alive. He can play the hell out of a guitar. He’s a true artist. Tears in Heaven is one of the most beautiful songs I’ve ever heard. His lyrics are remarkable. He should have been solo AND with Cream.
-This list is called the “Greatest 100 Artists of All Time”. Not the “Newest, Most Popular Acts of Right Now”. Green Day, as much as I love them, shouldn’t be on the list. Rage Against the Machine, too. I love them. They just aren’t “of All Time” material.
-Who the fuck is “Sade”? I’ve never even heard of her. She’s irrelevant.
-Phil Collins should have also been separate from “Genesis”. “Against All Odds” is one of my favorite songs ever. That’s an ultimate ballad.
-If Michael Jackson is on here, so should the “Jackson Five”.
-Lionel Richie should have been on here, somewhere.
-Don’t get me wrong. I’d love to see newer artists be on this list. But we haven’t had time to see just how much that Beyonce and Jay Z have actually done with music.
-Janis Joplin being so far below a lot of the acts that were near her era is just unbelievable. She’s amazing. That’s all I can say about her.
-Elvis should have been interchangeable with the Beatles and Michael Jackson in the Top 3. I understand that Bob Dylan writes like a Mofo. But Elvis…is Elvis. There’s not much more you can describe him with. He was and still is the King of Rock N’ Roll.
-Stevie Wonder should not be behind that many people. Top 5 easily. His incredible voice should have him up in the Top 5 alone. He’s just an inspiration, and a credited influence to many of the people we saw on this list. They showed an artist like John Legend, and Jason Mraz and asked their Top 5, and Stevie was usually Number 1. Plus, we share a name. ;D.
-FRANK SINATRA ISN’T EVEN ON THE DAMN LIST!? THAT’S IDIOTIC, AND IT’S A DISGRACE. That really pisses me off.
-Steve Perry is probably the best vocalist on the list. And he’s barely on it. Ridiculous.
*AGREEMENTS*
-Although Elvis should have been Top 3, Top 10 is good.
-The Beatles being at Number 1 really pleases me. That’s an excellent Number 1. They have totally changed Rock, and you know they’re an amazing band that when they split, they all spun their own very successful solo acts. They’re unbeatable.
-Michael Jackson is in the right place. He is EVERYTHING that this list describes. You cannot argue with it. I mean, if it’s album and record sales you’re looking at, he’s up at the top. If it’s entertainment at his shows, he’s at the top. If it’s vocal abilities, song choice, and writing skill, he’s so far up a the top. He could’ve been Number 1 and I wouldn’t have argued at all. He is the King of Pop, anyways.
The Jackson 5 shouldn’t be on here because they didn’t write their own music, I think to be truly considered an “artist” you should at least have to write your own music. Otherwise Brittany Spears would have been on here.
Where are Tool, Joy Division, and most importantly Jeff Buckley?? Also, Radiohead is #1 in my book.
Exactly!! Jane’s Addiction & The Pixies As Well.. Modest Mouse & Bright Eyes are probably too new, but they have made some VERY Important Music. Conor Oberst has been called the Bob Dylan Of Our Generation & Rightly So, Besides Robert Smith, His Lyrics Are About As Sick As Any Individual Can Write. But, TOOL & Jeff Buckley FOR DAMN SURE!!!! Check Out HE DREAMS AWAKE~ THE NEXT RADIOHEAD IN MY OPINION. Cheers~ ADD ME ON FACEBOOK IF YOU AGREE WITH THIS~ I DONT KNOW ENOUGH COOL PEOPLE IN THIS SAD WORLD. RESPECT~ KNiFA
As I can see this list is based off Influence/Talent/Etc. If this list was based off just off talent than it would be a whole different story.
The Top 20 some are questionable.
David Bowie
Bob Marley
etc
Bands like
Nirvana
Madonna
Fuck Ok Bob Marley
Actually belong in there spots, or close to them. What do you think of when you think 90s? Nirvana,Madonna,Micheal Jackson. 60′s? The Who, Beatles, etc. There symbols for there generation. Ok Pearl Jam could have been better than Nirvana, but their two different styles of grunge; appealing different people. Saying artist like Bruce Springsteen who never made a astronomical impact in the music scene belongs above any of the above is just silly.. He is a great artist, but when it comes down to the root of things that’s all he is. He isn’t like the Beatles, Micheal Jackson, Nirvana, Led Zep, or any of those huge influential bands who left a mark. THINK PEOPLE
well all i can say is that this list is pretty good if you rank all the top artist in the last century, and the beginning of this one, but ya know in my opinion this list should be majorly redone. the last i read it says best artist’s of ALL TIME! right? so here’s a question how is it that artist like alicia keys is on this list and not someone like bach? or beethoven? now look im not saying that im a fan of them but it seems like people think that of all time is just in recent memory. how can people put shit artist on here over artist like bach or beethoven? everyone wants to crown the beatles and michael jackson the best of all time but everyone seems to forget that without those composers and the acts before them not a single person would be on this list. so all of you can bitch and moan on why your bands are not ranked higher on this list but the fact is if this list was done correctly most likely your artist wouldnt have even made it. but hey for a list of the best artists in the last century i’d say its as good as your gonna get, yeah i disagree on some of the decisions of an artist being ranked higher than another and even artist’s showing up on this list i disagree with, but overall it was done pretty well
Bruce Springsteen?!?! The guy who only makes success in the U.S.. In the rest of the world he has only one or two songs that were successful. Bruce Springsteenentre in top 20 is a typical example of American self-centeredness. Hello, USA! The music world is not just you guys! In a more extensive list Bruce Springsteen would not be among the top 500. FACT.
Beatles? number one? Their music went about um, skin deep. Com’on! Which band since their inception do most musicians/bands try and copy? Led Zeppelin! Always and forever will be number 1! They can’ be beat.
I agree, Zeppelin rocks. No one can EVER top them
Wait a minute…did they seriously not include Simon & Garfunkel? They are absolutely amazing and are so musically diverse. I can not honestly believe that artists like Jay-Z and Alicia Keys are on there. Sure, they’re alright, but this is the best of ALL TIME. not of the new millennium. of ALL. TIME. All that new age wrapping is trash. Led Zeppelin is #1 hands down. Queen #2.
i agree. simon and garfunkle should have at least been listed.
If this list is about being influential then what the hell is Alicia Keys, Sade and some of these crap (rap) artist doing on the list and not Alice Cooper or ZZ Top? BB King, Muddy Waters? Rush at 75? Queen should be in the top 5 they have influenced everyone. Some of the “artists” on this list don’t right thier own songs or even play a musical instrument. Eddie Van Halen, Jimi Hendrix and Stevie Ray Vaughn are guitar legends and they get no respect at all…..THIS LIST BLOWS…..
this list is shit this is waht the top 20 should look like-
1-bob marley
2-nirvana
3-u2
4-jay-z
5-coldplay
6-beyonce
7-jimi hendrix
8-soundgarden
9-michael jackson
10-live
11-stone temple pilots
12-metallica
13-amy winehouse
14-weezer
15-led zeppelin
16-kings of leon
17-sugar ray
18-kanye west
19-def lepperd
20-aerosmith
You have Coldplay, Soundgarden and Sugar Ray in the top 20. What are you 12? And is this 1999?
it’s funny how some of you take this personally, everyone has their own opinion. I don’t even like anyone in their top 20, you have your taste and I have mine. The best artist for me is Tupac, no2 is Biggie, i really dont care about others.
These list are made by tin-eared idiots. Earth, Wind and Fire at 83. I once went to see them twice in a three day period. They sold out the arena for three nights then came back two weeks later and sold out 2 more nights- few artist on this list could have done that in their prime. Alicia Keys and Beyonce but no Diana Ross (+ Supremes). Where are the Temptations?
But here is the killer for me: SANTANA. Any list without them is just pure hogwash!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
why didnt justin bieber make the list? he has millions of fans and he’s the first person EVER to get all his songs to reach the charts and to get 5 hits before his first album was even released….id call that an acomplishment
Michael Jackson was #2, not #3!
where are the pixies???
To many people who previously posted, it was to be a list of the greatest *artists* of all time, not the current radio faves. Those who influenced music, shaped those who perform it and listen to it. I honestly don’t think that anyone who has come out in the last ten years should be considered unless they have substantially influenced the music world. I also believe that just because you can sing a catching tune that does not make you an artist. To be considered for the list of Greatest Artists you should at least have talent in writing lyrics, writing your own music, or playing your own instruments.
And after that, I am greatly upset that Duran Duran was not mentioned. The Bangles, Elton John, Kylie Minogue, Paul Young and The Monkees are fans of the group, as well as Justin Timberlake. A large assortment of artists have been influenced by Duran Duran, including Barenaked Ladies, Beck, Jonathan Davis of Korn, The Bravery, Gwen Stefani, Pink, Dido, Franz Ferdinand, Panic! at the Disco, Lostprophets, Goldfrapp and Brandon Flowers of The Killers.
Duran Duran was one of the first bands to do professional quality music videos and to use video screens at their concerts. They were also one of the first bands to remix their own music. Their music has been covered by many bands, and their music is still being used in movies today. They have produced thirteen albums, with a new one coming out next year, and have worked on many side projects either individually or together, such as Arcadia and Power Station, and have worked with such groups as The Devils, Kajagoogoo, and The Dandy Warhols.
And they are still selling out concerts wherever they go. Honestly, after 32 years how many can make that claim?
First of all, Oasis should be on the list. I was shocked that they weren’t, as Wonderwall was voted by several magazines as the “Greatest British Song Ever Written”. I am not really sure what their basis of a “great artist” is. Is it influence on certain musical scenes? Influences on our culture? Is it number of albums sold? Is it physical musical talent? Is it vocalist-uniqueness? Blink 182 should be low on the list, maybe in the 80′s. They created a scene that has been popular for a decade now. Alicia Keys and Beyonce should definitely not be on here. Springsteen is way overrated, as is u2. The thing about the top 5 is the fact that EVERYONE knows who MJ is. everybody. Not everyone knows who the Beatles are, nor Bob Dylan. Michael Jackson has entered EVERYBODY’s life in one way or another, at some point. If you show a musically-challenged person a Jackson song and a Beatles tune, they will recognize MJ. How many other bands sound similar to the Beatles? Many(regardless of the fact that most if not all, of the soundalikes came later), therefore, they would probably have a harder time distinguishing the Beatles song.. Within the musical world, the Beatles are the top (although one could argue the Stones or Chuck Berry). But MJ and Elvis should be the top 2…everything I said about Jackson, could be said about Elvis (except for the fact that others sounded quite similar to Elvis ((musically and vocally)).
hahahahahahah @ Oasis, they suck
they suck? I’ll believe you if you give a legitimate reason as to why or how they suck
Not everyone knows who The Beatles are? People sounded similar to Elvis?
WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?
I don’t know what you’re talking about, The Beatles are everywhere. Their songs are in commercials, TV shows, movies, etc. Yes, Michael Jackson has entered everybody’s life in one way or another, but The Beatles broke up some 40 years ago and they’re still entering people’s lives in one way or another. This also goes for a lot of musical artists and bands.
oh, and I forgot to mention, Oasis spent 765 weeks in the top 75 singles and albums charts, and set the longest top ten UK chart run by a group with 22 successive top ten hits in the UK
That list is freaking retarded. 1st off Jimi Hendrix should be in the number 2 slot. And the simple fact that they would leave off The Grateful Dead makes ZERO sense to me. Same goes for Phish, a band who draws 70-100k people to their festivals they throw… not to mention the amount of live concerts they’ve played to sold out crowds of 20k or more.
This might have been said already but I’m not reading through 400 comments so….
WHERE THE HELL IS BECK!??!? He’s way better than at least half the people on this list.
P H I S H is better than 80% of the bands on that list.
HELLO P H I S H is better than 80% of the bands on that list.
No Linkin Park?
because they sound like a screaming old man complaining about complete & utter bullsh*t
Jay Z Is My Fav. Rapper……… buuuuuuuuuuuttt I strongly disagree that he should be in a higher rank than Biggie And Tupac.
Why Isnt Cindy Lauper Not Up There ?!? 0_0
A B.S. List……
Mariah Carey Should Have Been Higher Than Beyonce , Mariah Is Wayyy BEtter Than Beyonce…
No Jackson Browne, James Taylor, CCR, CSNY? Are you kidding me? Justin Timberlake and Coldplay over The Eagles? And The Eagles aren’t even on the list. Wow. This list was put together by modern black artists. Stevie Ray Vaughan is not even on the list and Jimi Hendrix at #6? Obviously because he was black. I still can’t get over that list is telling me that Beyonce has had more of an influence on music than JACKSON BROWNE!
no eagles? What a joke this list is. It only shows what the artists think and not the fans who support them. The eagles have more fans than most of these groups especially the ones in 100-25.
Although this list has mostly the right names, it has some names that shouldn’t be here in no way!…
ALICIA KEYS?
BEYONCE?!
JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE?
LL COOL J?
Lynyrd Skynyrd?
MARY JA BLIDGE!?!?
Rush?
JAY Z?
I mean, who the hell would put those instead of Bon Jovi, Björk,Rod Stewart,Santana, Billy Idol, Van Halen, Pat Benattar, Dira Strait, Paul Simon, Donna Summer,Duran Duran,Supertramp, Enigma etc etc etc!?!?…I mean, I may dislike passionately some of these acts but even I know that these deserve to be among the Top 100 way more than ones(among others)the listed above!
Another point is the order in which the list was made: TOTALLY WRONG!…How come Jimi Hendrix, James Brown, Prince, Stevie Wonder, The Who, Nirvana, The Beach Boys, be higher than Queen, Pink Floyd, U2, Elton John or Madonna?…I don’t like Pink Floyd, Elton or Madonna but even i know they should be at least top 10 for all their Music presence, achievements, influence, sales etc etc…and what about Abba!?…they have over 100 million albums sold with just a few albums and had influenced even Broadway! and they’re behind Beyonce, MARY J BLIGE, Justin Timberlake, etc etc etc??!!?!?…PLEASE SOMEBODY EXPLAIN TO ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!…………!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!………and I pretty much think Bod Dylan is too overrated but I do recognize he has influenced some bands and artists although he never truly had a massive success…but a number 2!??!!?…huh!?…even if this list were soley made based upon who had influenced more the Pop Culture8regardless of massive success or not) the list would not make any sense either, since in no way would Madonna, Queen or Pink Floyd be behind The who, The Beach Boys etc etc etc…and if we talk about influence, then Prince would have to be behind James Brown, wouldn’t he?…
if justin is on here usher should be right ahead of him. this racist list, no latin or gospel artists.
Diana ross, temptations, nas, saleena, carlos santana???? MORE!
If they are gonna make list like these separate them by genre or race because they are not keeping it real!
WHAT THE FUCK ARE JAY Z, BEYONCE,JUSTIN TIMBERALEK DOING ABOVE ABBA, REM,BEE GES, THE CURE!¿?!?!?!?…WHY IS MADONNA SO LOW AT NUMBER 16 OR QUEEN AT NUMBER 17 AND BRILLIANT PINK FLOYD AT 18 BELOW BEACHY BOYS, THE WHO,STEVIE WONDER, JAMES BROWN ETC!!?!?!??…WHY THE FUCK ARE NOT BLONDIE, BON JOVI, POWERFUL PAT BENATAR , DIANA ROSS, DONNA SUMMER IN THIS TOP 100!??!!?…WHO IN THE HELL WOULD THINK THAT BEYONCE OR MARIAH CAREY HAVE BEEN MORE RELEVANT AND INFLUENTIAL!??!…THEY JUST MADE FLAT,NON RISKY,IRRELEVANT MUSIC!!…SOMEONE REALLY NEEDS TO TELL VH1 TO REDO THIS LIST BECAUSE IT’S NONSENSE IN SO MANY ASPECTS!!!!…WHO THE HELL ARE RUSH, LYNYRD SKYNYRD,OTIS REDDING, PARLIAMENT FUNKADELIC?!?!!?…AND HAS THE VELVET UNDERGROUND BEEN BIGGER AS TO BE NUMBER 24!?!?….SOOOOOOOO WRONG IN HILARIOUS WAYS!!!
So this list was about the Greatest artists of all time…Being an artist is more than making great music or know how to play instruments beautifully…it’s more than having an amazing voice or dance extraordinarily…it’s more than having an extremely successful album or single…it’s more than making great videos or having huge Touring box Offices…It’s more than having so many hits in the charts in the US(if any, it would have to be worldwide)…BUT, it does include all of these things together, along with other features…So, if we would want to for instance measure Bob Dylan in terms of let’s say, dance,videos,hit singles, tours etc…he would be in the lower part of this list…or, if we would want to measure Elvis in terms of his skill to playing instruments or write amazing lyrics he would be so low as well…So there’s just so much to this type of lists, added to that it’s our subjective preferences for an specific genre of music or for the love or rejection toward the voice, the presence, the talent in specific stuff, of different artists…this will for instance make us love Metallica and passionately dislike Aretha Franklin…or would make us adore Elvis, Madonna or Michael and dislike passionately Ledd Zeppelin, Nirvan or Kiss………some may also say why the hell is Rod Stewart not in the list having sold over 140 million albums worldwide or Celine Dione having sold over 160 million albums compared to Beyonce or Alicia Keys who haven’t even sold 20 or 30 million albums!……then the “purists” may say at this: oh because their music was crap blah blah blah…. there’s just too much involved to such a generic title as “Greatest Artists” that I think it will not leave anyone satisfied and less when there are truly lots of “weird” positioning of these top 100…BUT COME ON!!! TO PUT NIRVANA WAY ABOVE R.EM…!?!?!?…..NOOOOOOO WAYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!!!!!!!!!…LOL…
I commented on a Music Business friend that It’s very outrageous to rank Madonna so low…do u really think Nirvana, The Who, Beach Boys or David Bowie were bigger than Madonna?…I can only think of The Beatles, Elvis, Michael,The Rolling Stones to be bigger than her but the others?…..my friend said maybe the list was made by “purists” who generally tend to dislike Madonna because she’s been so huge of a star beyond mere artistic or musical stuff and the list is merely “musical and art” speaking…BUT, then again, if this were the case, how in the world could Justin Timberlake, Beyonce or Jay Z be in the list and not include Annie lennox, Björk, Alanis Morissette, Dira Straits among others?…and I agree when thinking Bob Dylan is given too much credit for, and to rank him above Queen or Led Zeppelin it’s just a kick in the liver…The Doors, REM, The Cure, Abba behind Beyonce, Jay Z, Sly and the Family or Rage against the Machine?…Really?…come on!
Where the heck is Lady Gaga!?!?…this list couldn’t be less wrong!…Lady Gaga is the biggest star and artist of the new Era and deserves to be right among the top 10 at least!…she’s achieved so much in just a couple of years and has become such a cultural and social icon faster than Madonna did!…Lady Gaga has hit after hit and is the most creative and egdy artist of this new era and so she deserves to be in this list!…her style and music has influenced so much in just a couple of years and has surpassed Britney, Cristina, Pink, Madonna, Eminem and all the other artists who are still relevant this years!…Only Beyonce could match her success and no other female artist has raised so much passion, not even Madonna in her good years…even Michael Jackson wanted Lady Gaga to be her opening for his Tour that’s speak as how big this woman has become that even the so called Kings or Queens have surrender to her feet…Beyonce i think should be at least in the top 20 higher than Madonna because Beyonce is a revolution just like Lady Gaga that’s why they paired for a couple of songs knowing that they’re the biggest female stars ever!!…I’m really pissed off with this list!!…Madonna might have been famous but it’s over now!!…Lady Gaga is way superior in all aspects and even Cher admires her. Gaga can do no wrong this time and recently has won 11 MTV VMA and it’s just 9 awards away to surpass Madonna who’s the all time most wins, but Gaga achieved 11 awards in just 2 years! …so all this is fucking amazing, to be able to blown away Madonna’s success and impact in just 2 years makes really of Gaga the biggest female star ever so should be up in this list!…
Lady Gaga is just copying Madonna. We’ve seen it all before. To put her in the top 10 with Dylan, The Beatles, Elvis? Ridiculous.
Where are Gorillaz? Or at least put Damon Albarn up in there. Also R.E.M. I expected to be top 40 but sadly no.
Where’s Frank Sinatra? or Louie Armstrong? The Supremes/Diana Ross?
im like the biggest fan of all sorts of music.everyone is hating on Jay Z???? he has been around since 96 and is still makin hits..he has 11 number one albums!!! no one on this has done that except the beatles…everyone that doesnt like jay z CLEARLY doesnt LISTEN to music..yall prolly hear is but yall dont LISTEN..he is a poet if u ask me..but on another note…..FRANK SINATRA should be on this list and Michael Jackson should be either 1 or 2 not 3..bob dylan should fall to 3 instead..but this is vh1 they dont know shit about music
this is bullshit, whee are THe STONES, deep purple, eric clapton, iron maiden, megadeth, motorhead, the who, ozzy , dio, dire straits, motley crue…and they put all those rapers and hip hopers whoses songs are the most stupid things ever, and alicia keys?zeppelin should be first, why sabbath, doors, gnr,… so high…
The smiths belong on the list.
I’m sorry. Elvis Presley is number 8? Despite the fact he had more influence on music, the country, the century and the world than any other performer in history?
How can we put Elvis at number 8 when those ahead of him have publicly stated they owe everything to him?
And I think it’s sad this list doesn’t put Buddy Holly who deserves a number 2. Without him, we’d have no Beatles (John and Paul’s words, not mine), no Dylan, no Stones, no ANYONE. He was the catalyst for the 60′s and to this day is more successful then many of these artists. Seriously Coldplay? Jay- Z? Alicia Keyes? The Band?
Buddy Holly is the father of rock and roll and he did it before being dead at 22. How did he not make the list?
I also want to say this. Although no one doubts Hendrix’s talent, I think his “greatest” status is due to his tragic early end. We are more in love with his mythos then his very brief career.
Also, while I would easily put Michael Jackson in the top 10, I think we are still recovering from his death so we tend to memorialize him. 2 years ago he’d be in the low teens.
The top 5 should be.
1. Elvis Presley
2. Buddy Holly
3. The Beatles
4. Michael Jackson
5. Kurt Cobain.
Kurt Cobain shouldn’t be there. He wasn’t *that* great. People have obsessions with artists that suicide/die early.
I am surprised that Motley Crue is not on there. I mean, come on! They have really amazing musicians in that band. Tommy Lee, one crazy incredible drummer! Mick Mars, amazing guitar riffs. Nikki Sixx, really good bassist.
… and what shocks me the most? Ozzy Osbourne is not on here! He’s like the king of the whole metal genre for gods sake! I mean, I know Black Sabbath is on the list and they are the founding fathers of metal, but Ozzy himself developed a bigger career after leaving that band.
And by the way, Justin Timberlake and Bruce Springsteen on the list? What a joke! Justin Timberlake sings like a girl. Bruce Springsteen sounds like he’s constipated!
Hey, just sayin!
I was kind of surprised Mariah Carey was on here. I think that Christina Aguilira should have been on there somewhere as well very low of course, but I do think she is a highly respected artist. I think The Eagles should have been on there too. But I’m very pleased with most of the list.
IM TIRED OF PPL SAYING MJ IS JUST A DANCER… HE WROTE 9 NUMBER ONE HITS AND 20 TOP TEN HITS… INCLUDING BILLIE JEAN (CONSIDERED ONE OF THE BEST SONGS EVER WRITTEN), BEAT IT (ANOTHER), DIRTY DIANA, ETC…. HE WROTE NUMBER POP, ROCK, AND SOUL SONGS… WHO ELSE HAS DONE THAT? HE IS IN THE SONGWRITERS HALL OF FAME!!!!!!!!! SO HOW ARE YOU IN THERE AND HE CANT WRITE.. THATS BS….. HE HAD A VISION OF WHAT MUSIC SHOULD BE AND IN MY OPINION EITHER HIM OR THE BEATLES CAN BE NUMBER ONE!
AND IF YOU THINK IM LYING CHECK IT OUT…. AND LOOK IT UP.. HE DIDNT HAVE CO-WRITERS LIKE JUSTIN BIEBER OR USHER OR MADONNA.. HE WROTE IT ON HIS OWN.. PROMISE YOU THAT
How could they put black sabbath at 32, and not even put ozzy on there? I mean, he’s an excellent solo artist as well….
I find it quite amusing when some of you try to sound musically-intelligent and claim that “this list needs classical artists like Mozart, Bach and Beethoven.” Bach was a Baroque-period musician, NOT a classical period musician. There were many other greats of the baroque, classical and romantic era, too. Morons. Franz Lizst was a “rockstar” in the 1800′s, just as popular as the “Big 3″ were in their days. Chopin was a virtuoso pianist as well. Anyways, you should make your lists based on influence, sales and musical ability/songwriting ability, not “how much you l0ve them.” The Beatles sold more records, influenced more musicians (MUSICIANS, NOT pop stars), and wrote their own music (and occasionally wrote music for other bands, such as the Stones). MJ might be a bit more popular these days because he was around in modern times, but anyone who lived during the 60′s knew who the Beatles were. One could say “well MJ has more fans, all over the planet”, which might be true, but you gotta remember that music promotion during the Beatles time was limited to the radio basically, while during MJ’s peak years (the 80′s), there was MTV and music videos and more radio stations. I’m sure his legal problems increased his popularity as well. Oasis,Allman Bros and CCR should all be on the list. Anyways, this ends the debate of whether MJ or the Beatles should be number one. You can’t make any argument against my statements.
and yeah I realize that MJ wrote some of his music, most actually, but most of it he had help from that Rod Temperton dude.
WTF. What a bullshit list. How are you gona leave The fucking Red hot chili peppers off??? And put jay-z on, or beyonce, justin timberlake. These are not artists. The perfomers. God this is bullshit. No peppers. No social d? Wtf so many bands left off that could replace any off these new so called artists, fucking stupid. its a beauty contest there not even listening to the music
WHERE THE FUCK ARE THE RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS? Whatever celebrities were asked their opinion to make this list know NOTHINGGGGG about GOOD MUSIC!!!! Bob Dylan above Pink Floyd? Who does that!!!!!!!
I’d have to say that the most obvious thing missing from this list is PAUL SIMON! Are you serious?
I think we’re all forgetting the fact that this list is for the greatest artists of all time, not just musicians. Meaning it is not merely based on musical development of an artist but also on other technicalities of being an artist – fame, influence to pop culture, wealth, and sales. Yes, there are new artists. But I think they do deserve to be in the list because we see them in pop culture and people today were very much influenced by them.
P.S. The Beatles is always no. 1
Decent attempt, but this list is proof that the people who do these things focus entirely to much on the business side of music. Madonna being ahead of artists like Queen and Marvin Gay (as well as 80% of this list) clearly shows that musicianship, creativity, and talent were less relevant than to voters than elements that have nothing to do with music (shock value, controversy, selling sex etc.). Perhaps the greatest injustice this list has committed falls against The Dave Matthews Band. Apparently 20 years of innovative, successful records and unbelievable live shows that consistently rank among the top of the year can’t compete with Alicia Keys, Outkast, and Mary J. Blidge who have had exceptionally prolonged success due to great musicianship (if you can’t detect sarcasm in print that’s it right there). But what else could be expected from a list that leaves off truly great artists like Robert Johnson, Muddy Waters, George Strait etc You should make it clear when making these lists that music is not the ultimate criteria, financial success and image are.
Aaliyah should be put there,Alicia Keys,NWA,Rush,TLC,Mariah Carey,Red Hot Chili Peppers need to be put there.
My problems with this list….
1. If your going to have Rap and R & B on the list, where are the Country artists (and I don’t even listen to Country). No Johnny Cash? Really?
2. Black Flag should be on the list. Not Top 20 by any means, perhaps somewhere in the 90′s. Many of the bands in the grunge era were heavily influenced by hardcore punk, and Flag were at the forefront.
Of course it’s fucked, it’s VH1. Their lists are always biased because it’s based on marketing and the views of C-list celebrities.
But anyway, I’m not happy that Bowie was number 12, and that fucking Bob Marely was ahead of him, but at least even they couldn’t ignore his influence. The Cure should have been higher imo but again, it’s a good thing that they didn’t just ignore them like they did a few other legitimately good and influental bands [Siouxsie and the Banshees, Christian Death, etc]
*Marley Sorry~
This should’ve been the top 20:
20) Outkast
19) Run DMC
18) Anthrax
17) Bob Dylan
16) The Who
15) The Doors
14)The Stones
13) Michael Jackson
12) Megadeth
11) Slayer
10) Metallica (Even though they’re my least favorite of the big four, this is how it would’ve been)
09) Deep Purple
08) Rush
07) Black Sabbath
06) Cream
05) Pink Floyd
04) Queen
03) Yes
02) The Beatles
01) Led Zeppelin
Switch Cream and Yes.
Over 25 years of filling stadiums IS a music accomplishment. Along with songwriting and the performances Bon Jovi gives at each concert. In the 80′s the hair bands came and went. Take a look at this band. They are no hair band today. They are REAL. They have played in front of Kings, Queens and Presidents. TODAY, they tour and fill seats in more countries than imaginable. They influenced music in their endurance of a band. A couple cords of Always, and the crowd is on its feet…..to today— their latest, What do you got? Instead of making a list that not one person is going to agree on,,,,,,,they inspire MILLIONS with their music EVERY YEAR. YEAR AFTER YEAR. I’m positive Bon Jovi could care less about this list. This band just keeps on smiling.
Im sooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo happy that The Cure made the list :)
How r they forgeting The Temptations, David Ruffin and Eddie Kendrick(s)
Where is Sarah Mclachlan? she is definatley better than a lot of the people on that list!! she is the definition of artist the way she sings, plays the piano and the guitar…
what about Led Belly who’s influence has gone from Led Zeppelin to Nirvana and more.
wheres tupac?????
# 69
The truth is you could make 100 lists with 100 people and each one would be dramatically different.They are VERY subjective. are dozens of artist I would have left off of this list and had them replaced with more talented people. That’s why survey’s are unreliable. Even if the surveyed everyone on the planet there would still be arguments over rankings and omissions. The only objective way to do it is by album sales, but that hardly represents eveyone’s tastes…I do agree that there should have been more country artists. I think Johnny Cash was the only one.
No Rod Stewart (probably one of the most under-rated songwriters)? No Paul Simon (or Simon & Garfunkel)? No CSN&Y? Give me a fucking break! Hell, I would have Donovan on this list before half of these idiots.
this list is pretty screwed up, and no Red Hot Chili Peppers? :(
What do the Red Hot Chili Peppers have to do to make the list? If 25 years of making kick-ass music with inspiring lyrics doesn’t get you on, please tell us what would. Of course, I guess they are no Outcast. I kept waiting to see if they would be within the top 40, and was also convinced that Frank Sinatra would be top 10, but we had to make room for 20 other artists that have done squat.
By the way, how many more records does Madonna have to make to move ahead of Michael Jackson. Again, another artist that has been kicking it out for over 25 years, and started every pop trend, but somehow Michael wins. Before he passed he couldn’t get Americans to turn out for his concerts so they were all done in Europe or Japan. Now his one huge album makes him makes him God.
All i have to say is Rod Stewart 250 million albums sold (estimated) countless classics performing in front of the largest estimated audience ever at Copacabana Beach in Brazil, 3.5 million people i believe and Nas (arguably having the best hip-hop album ever, “Illmatic” and momentarily deflating Jay-Z’s ego as King Of New York let alone Hip-Hop, with the best diss record ever in Hip-Hop, “Ether”, the same Jay-Z that holds the highest position for a Hip-Hop artist) why are these two artists not on the list. And i also meant to mention when it comes to commercial success for a Hip-Hop artists with incredible lyricism and meaningful lyricism Nas is that guy, for anyone who is not familiar with Hip-Hop, check the song Rewind by Nas and it will truly impress you it is absolutely genius. A true artist.
I might be an old retired person, but I have been a music lover all my life. How can a top 100 artists list be devoid of some of the people who carried music for a long time? People who changed the face of music not here? In reviewing the list, half of them don’t belong there. Where is Sinatra – The Chairman of the Board? How about Buddy Holly and the Crickets? Along with Chuck Berry they practically invented R&R. People who had the originals of many songs still getting airplay and new cover versions to this day? The Everly Bros, Fats Domino, Roy Orbison, for examples. How about whole market segments that were ignored, like the the folk period. Yeh, Dylan and Mitchell are there, but none of the others that dominated AM radio for several years. Or groups such as King Crimson that spawned a whole list of groups. Or Emerson Lake Palmer with the classical/rock hybrids? Or Bob Seger who is still getting airplay after 40 years? There are folks on the list that would be better placed on a ‘One Hit Wonder” list.
It is obvious to me that the voters had a bias to modern artists and gave no creds to the people who went before the rock and rap era. The list of people who were HUGE in their time is large and totally ignored. Dean Martin — Louis Armstrong — etc. etc.
I think it is a joke.
I thought MJ would be #1!!! But I guess I will respect the Beatles(sigh)…but then…where the f*#% is Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, Hello?????? What were they even thinking!!!!!
Reminds me of the mashup they did of the most popular words in music
http://www.youtube.com/my_videos?feature=mhum
I honestly agree with a large portion of this list but honestly, when it comes to the hiphop/rap artists they really messed up.. Eminem and Tu Pac should be a lot closer to 1 then they are..