Rolling Stone’s 200 Greatest Singers of All Time
Discussion
Or rather the “best” American singers of recent years, with a few big names thrown in.
The top ten are not too controversial, but Adele at number 22, ahead of Dolly Parton, Mahalia Jackson, Dusty Springfield, Bessie Smith, Emmy Lou Harris, Janis Joplin, Ronnie Spector, Kate Bush, Tina Turner, Miriam Makeba, Sade, Joni Mitchell, Linda Ronstadt, Mavis Staples, Ella Fitzgerald, Etta James, Gladys Knight, Patti Smith, Bonnie Raitt and countless others? WTF!
Who was she shagging to get #22? Or has she got some dirt on the editors of Rolling Stone?
The top ten are not too controversial, but Adele at number 22, ahead of Dolly Parton, Mahalia Jackson, Dusty Springfield, Bessie Smith, Emmy Lou Harris, Janis Joplin, Ronnie Spector, Kate Bush, Tina Turner, Miriam Makeba, Sade, Joni Mitchell, Linda Ronstadt, Mavis Staples, Ella Fitzgerald, Etta James, Gladys Knight, Patti Smith, Bonnie Raitt and countless others? WTF!
Who was she shagging to get #22? Or has she got some dirt on the editors of Rolling Stone?
CanAm said:
Or rather the “best” American singers of recent years, with a few big names thrown in.
The top ten are not too controversial, but Adele at number 22, ahead of Dolly Parton, Mahalia Jackson, Dusty Springfield, Bessie Smith, Emmy Lou Harris, Janis Joplin, Ronnie Spector, Kate Bush, Tina Turner, Miriam Makeba, Sade, Joni Mitchell, Linda Ronstadt, Mavis Staples, Ella Fitzgerald, Etta James, Gladys Knight, Patti Smith, Bonnie Raitt and countless others? WTF!
Who was she shagging to get #22? Or has she got some dirt on the editors of Rolling Stone?
Depends how you define "best", but Adele at #22 doesn't seem much of a stretch. She's had several of the biggest-selling albums of the last 10 years and fills arenas at the drop of a hat.The top ten are not too controversial, but Adele at number 22, ahead of Dolly Parton, Mahalia Jackson, Dusty Springfield, Bessie Smith, Emmy Lou Harris, Janis Joplin, Ronnie Spector, Kate Bush, Tina Turner, Miriam Makeba, Sade, Joni Mitchell, Linda Ronstadt, Mavis Staples, Ella Fitzgerald, Etta James, Gladys Knight, Patti Smith, Bonnie Raitt and countless others? WTF!
Who was she shagging to get #22? Or has she got some dirt on the editors of Rolling Stone?
ZedLeg said:
Yeah, say what you like about the song writing (I'm not a fan) but Adele has a cracking voice. Funnily some of the people mentioned in the OP have distinctive voices but not technically good singing voices.
Indeed; Louis Armstrong is quite high up in their list! MY MISTAKE, the article is clearly headed “GREATEST Singers of All Time”, not “The Best”
Rolling Stone says, “Before you start scrolling (and commenting), keep in mind that this is the Greatest Singers list, not the Greatest Voices List”.
Edited by CanAm on Monday 27th February 10:58
Lotobear said:
Karen Carpenter is at number...?
I got bored going through in sets of 20, so only got to 120, but Karen is at #123. Sandy Denny at #164 and Joan Baez at #189. Notable omissions amongst the ladies are Celine Dion, Madonna, Dionne Warwick, Doris Day, Joséphine Baker, Edith Piaf, Marlene Dietrich and of course the wonderful Lili Von Shtupp.cherryowen said:
jesusbuiltmycar said:
What a surprise they missed Mike Patton, the guy with the biggest vocal range...
Bruce Dickinson said:
Hold my beer
Yup, I know…
PomBstard said:
cherryowen said:
jesusbuiltmycar said:
What a surprise they missed Mike Patton, the guy with the biggest vocal range...
Bruce Dickinson said:
Hold my beer
Yup, I know…
CanAm said:
Or rather the “best” American singers of recent years, with a few big names thrown in.
The top ten are not too controversial, but Adele at number 22, ahead of Dolly Parton, Mahalia Jackson, Dusty Springfield, Bessie Smith, Emmy Lou Harris, Janis Joplin, Ronnie Spector, Kate Bush, Tina Turner, Miriam Makeba, Sade, Joni Mitchell, Linda Ronstadt, Mavis Staples, Ella Fitzgerald, Etta James, Gladys Knight, Patti Smith, Bonnie Raitt and countless others? WTF!
Who was she shagging to get #22? Or has she got some dirt on the editors of Rolling Stone?
These kinds of lists are always a bit of a mess, but to have Adele ahead of Karen Carpenter is a complete joke. Adele is often pretty vague with pitch and her diction is so bad she appears to be close to suffering from some kind of impediment. Karen Carpenter was a singer of extraordinary taste and ability. Exceptional diction, perfect pitch, and immense inherent musicality. Rolling Stone has her at 123.The top ten are not too controversial, but Adele at number 22, ahead of Dolly Parton, Mahalia Jackson, Dusty Springfield, Bessie Smith, Emmy Lou Harris, Janis Joplin, Ronnie Spector, Kate Bush, Tina Turner, Miriam Makeba, Sade, Joni Mitchell, Linda Ronstadt, Mavis Staples, Ella Fitzgerald, Etta James, Gladys Knight, Patti Smith, Bonnie Raitt and countless others? WTF!
Who was she shagging to get #22? Or has she got some dirt on the editors of Rolling Stone?
Nat King Cole, the greatest singer of all, is not even on the list, as far as I can see!
paulguitar said:
These kinds of lists are always a bit of a mess, but to have Adele ahead of Karen Carpenter is a complete joke. Adele is often pretty vague with pitch and her diction is so bad she appears to be close to suffering from some kind of impediment. Karen Carpenter was a singer of extraordinary taste and ability. Exceptional diction, perfect pitch, and immense inherent musicality. Rolling Stone has her at 123.
Nat King Cole, the greatest singer of all, is not even on the list, as far as I can see!
No, he isn't. Nor are Bing Crosby, Tony Bennett, Andy Williams, Paul Robeson and numerous others. Nat King Cole, the greatest singer of all, is not even on the list, as far as I can see!
CanAm said:
No, he isn't. Nor are Bing Crosby, Tony Bennett, Andy Williams, Paul Robeson and numerous others.
Actually, I disagree with ranking singers, guitarists, etc as it makes no sense at all. But if there has to be a list, omitting Nat King Cole is ridiculous/ignorant. I thought at first it was because it must be a list of rock/pop singers only, but then saw Sinatra was on it. So omitting Cole is inexplicable.It's ambitious to say the least to attempt an objective ranking of performers from across many genres and eras.
Also, when thinking about what singers we enjoy listening to, the singer's technical quality of voice, range, versatility, etc can be judged, but many other considerations come into it too: our preference for certain styles of music, the songwriting (which the performer may or may not have any input into), the backing singers/musicians, the arrangement/production of the song.
With popular music, how we perceive what we hear may well be coloured by the image promoted of a performer/group, what we know of their background, personality, opinions, and the video that goes with the song.
Also does ability at live performance matter? Some voices disappoint without the benefit of studio tweaking.
Also, when thinking about what singers we enjoy listening to, the singer's technical quality of voice, range, versatility, etc can be judged, but many other considerations come into it too: our preference for certain styles of music, the songwriting (which the performer may or may not have any input into), the backing singers/musicians, the arrangement/production of the song.
With popular music, how we perceive what we hear may well be coloured by the image promoted of a performer/group, what we know of their background, personality, opinions, and the video that goes with the song.
Also does ability at live performance matter? Some voices disappoint without the benefit of studio tweaking.
paulguitar said:
Actually, I disagree with ranking singers, guitarists, etc as it makes no sense at all. But if there has to be a list, omitting Nat King Cole is ridiculous/ignorant. I thought at first it was because it must be a list of rock/pop singers only, but then saw Sinatra was on it. So omitting Cole is inexplicable.
It was billed as "The 200 GREATEST Singers of All Time" which it clearly isn't.FourWheelDrift said:
Another mostly American centric list.
Very much so. There were a few dozen I've never even heard of.jesusbuiltmycar said:
PomBstard said:
cherryowen said:
jesusbuiltmycar said:
What a surprise they missed Mike Patton, the guy with the biggest vocal range...
Bruce Dickinson said:
Hold my beer
Yup, I know…
Came here to post about Patton...the only man to do justice to heavy metal, lounge-singer crooning and anything in between.
He's almost certainly unhinged with it, but his voice is sublime.
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