Rolling Stone's 200 Greatest Singers of All Time (2023) (3,265 views)

[mls1996]

I didn't see a thread created about this list, so I thought that I'd create one so we can have a discussion about it. I doubt it'll be a popular one because this list came out a year ago, but I digress. Here's the list in order: 


1. Aretha Franklin

2. Whitney Houston

3. Sam Cooke

4. Billie Holiday

5. Mariah Carey

6. Ray Charles

7. Stevie Wonder

8. Beyonce

9. Otis Redding

10. Al Green

11. Little Richard

12. John Lennon

13. Patsy Cline

14. Freddie Mercury

15. Bob Dylan

16. Prince

17. Elvis Presley

18. Celia Cruz

19. Frank Sinatra

20. Marvin Gaye

21. Nina Simone

22. Adele

23. Smokey Robinson

24. George Jones

25. Mary J. Blige

26. Paul McCartney

27. Dolly Parton

28. Mahalia Jackson

29. Chaka Khan

30. Hank Williams

31. Luther Vandross

32. David Bowie

33. Bessie Smith

34. Thom Yorke

35. Dusty Springfield

36. Kurt Cobain

37. Van Morrison

38. Curtis Mayfield

39. Louis Armstrong

40. Aaliyah

41. Etta James

42. Teddy Pendergrass

43. Ariana Grande

44. James Brown

45. Ella Fitzgerald

46. Mavis Staples

47. Linda Ronstadt

48. Toni Braxton

49. Rod Stewart

50. Joni Mitchell

51. Sade

52. Mick Jagger

53. Miriam Makeba

54. Willie Nelson

55. Tina Turner

56. Barry White

57. Brian Wilson

58. Lady Gaga

59. Howlin' Wolf

60. Kate Bush

61. Umm Kulthum

62. George Michael

63. Robert Plant

64. Bjork

65. Minnie Riperton

66. David Ruffin

67. Dennis Brown

68. Rihanna

69. Youssou N’Dour

70. Ronnie Spector

71. Roy Orbison

72. Muddy Waters

73. Hector Lavoe

74. Patti LaBelle

75. D'Angelo

76. Wilson Pickett

77. Bruce Springsteen

78. Janis Joplin

79. Emmylou Harris

80. Chris Cornell

81. Joao Gilberto

82. Steve Perry

83. Amy Winehouse

84. Lata Mangeshkar

85. Johnny Cash

86. Michael Jackson

87. Diana Ross

88. Jimmie Rodgers

89. Selena

90. Gal Costa

91. Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan

92. Anita Baker

93. Stevie Nicks

94. Toots Hibbert

95. Vicente Fernández

96. Chuck Berry

97. Usher

98. Bob Marley

99. Clyde McPhatter

100. Elton John

101. Gladys Knight

102. Taylor Swift

103. Leonard Cohen

104. Aaron Neville

105. Eddie Vedder

106. Bill Withers

107. Lou Reed

108. Caetano Veloso

109. Roger Daltrey

110. The Weeknd

111. Fiona Apple

112. Ozzy Osbourne

113. La India

114. Chrissie Hynde

115. Erykah Badu

116. Chet Baker

117. Patti Smith

118. John Fogerty

119. Barrington Levy

120. Charlie Rich

121. Jackie Wilson

122. Donna Summer

123. Karen Carpenter

124. Robert Johnson

125. Joe Strummer

126. Donny Hathaway

127. Tammy Wynette

128. Florence Welch

129. Rob Halford

130. Courtney Love

131. Jeff Buckley

132. Loretta Lynn

133. Neil Young

134. Axl Rose

135. IU

136. Lauryn Hill

137. El DeBarge

138. Merle Haggard

139. Rocío Dúrcal

140. Bono

141. Christina Aguilera

142. Russell Thompkins Jr.

143. Luciano

144. Darlene Love

145. PJ Harvey

146. Ruth Brown

147. Barbra Streisand

148. Levon Helm

149. Wanda Jackson

150. Bryan Ferry

151. Martha Reeves

152. Michael Stipe

153. Mahlathini

154. Dion

155. Corin Tucker

156. George Strait

157. Robert Smith

158. Carrie Underwood

159. Mississippi John Hurt

160. Mercedes Sosa

161. Brenda Lee

162. Françoise Hardy

163. Bobby “Blue” Bland

164. Sandy Denny

165. Ronnie James Dio

166. Morrissey

167. Marc Anthony

168. Debbie Harry

169. Sylvester

170. Chris Stapleton

171. Odetta

172. Juan Gabriel

173. Marianne Faithful

174. Buddy Holly

175. Lana Del Rey

176. Iggy Pop

177. Patty Loveless

178. Tabu Ley Rochereau

179. Martha Wash

180. SZA

181. Bob Seger

182. Jazmine Sullivan

183. Solomon Burke

184. Karen O

185. Alicia Keys

186. Ofra Haza

187. Bonnie Raitt

188. Fela Kuti

189. Joan Baez

190. Frank Ocean

191. Jung Kook

192. Anohni

193. Brandy

194. Kelly Clarkson

195. Poly Styrene

196. Paul Westerberg

197. Burna Boy

198. Billie Eilish

199. Glenn Danzig

200. Rosalia

[Baronessa]

Feb 14, 2024 15:18:08 GMT mls1996 said:

196. Paul Westerberg

They clearly came up with this list in one sitting and ran out of their stream of consciousness.

[Goober]

George strait LMAO

[Homelander]

This list is inaccurate because the Gibb brothers, Lewis Capaldi, and Father John Misty are nowhere in sight.

Jokes aside, I never liked their list. There are rarely any modern artists on the list and Aretha Franklin somehow always ends up on top, even though there are many better singers out there in my opinion.

Edit: The fact that Ariana Grande is higher than Elton John also infuriates me.

[mls1996]

Feb 14, 2024 16:40:00 GMT Goober said:

George strait LMAO

I love him. I wouldn't call him, like, Art Garfunkel or anything godly, but Strait is a master of interpretation IMO. 

[BAZanine]

Gotta say, as the guy trudging though his tremendously uninteresting discography, George Strait is a marginally more interesting singer than Art Garfunkel. #hottake

[mikale]

This is such a strange hodge-podge of people
but they put jung kook on the list so i endorse it

[mls1996]

What I love about this list the most is that Rolling Stone actually put Sinatra on the list this time unlike the last one they did, which was such bullshit

[mls1996]

Feb 24, 2024 12:26:44 GMT BAZanine said:

Gotta say, as the guy trudging though his tremendously uninteresting discography, George Strait is a marginally more interesting singer than Art Garfunkel. #hottake

Oh, are you working on a thread for George?

[BAZanine]

Yes indeed I am and it has surely been a journey of milquetoast proportions. Expect the thread's release probably not too long from now.

[Subterranean Homesick Ålien]

Just so I’m clear…
Taylor Swift & Courtney Love are “Greater Singers” than Jeff Buckley, Bono, & Fiona Apple…

Rhianna is a “Greater Singer” than Roy Orbison, & Jeff Buckley, & Bono, & Fiona Apple…

Lana Del Ray is a “Greater Singer” than Richard Manuel…

And, Elvis, Marvin Gaye, & Paul McCartney are not in the Top 15?

Interesting.
I guess Rolling Stone is trying to branch out to new Genres—like ‘Comedy’.

[Electric Mami]

To be fair we've already seen countless tops with singers from previous generations. I find it fair to finally recognise singers of the current generation who have their own style and talents, and especially are influential in the industry in their own way

[Subterranean Homesick Ålien]

Apr 25, 2024 18:11:31 GMT Electric Mami said:

To be fair we've already seen countless tops with singers from previous generations. I find it fair to finally recognise singers of the current generation who have their own style and talents, and especially are influential in the industry in their own way

I don’t have any problem whatsoever-with “recognizing the Best Singers of this Generation”; I think Fiona Apple is the Best Singer of this Generation-and I think she should be significantly higher;
I think other Great Singers from this Generation, like: Caleb Followill and Brittany Howard—should also be on this List;
I think Nicole Atkins, Hozier, Justin Vernon (Bon Iver), Robin Pecknold, Josh Tillman, & Joanna Newsom—could all be on the List as well.
The problem isn’t that-“they included Singers from this Generation”;
The problem is, “Who they included”; And, "Who they’re ahead of”.

They not only-included Singers like: ‘Rhianna & Taylor Swift’, instead of current Singers who are actually Great, i.e. Caleb Followill & Brittany Howard, etc…
But, they also put extremely mediocre “Singers” from this Generation—ahead of some of the Greatest Singers of any Generation, ever.

This has nothing to do with actual Vocal Ability/Technique.
Bob Dylan (aside from the fact that his technical ability was infinitely better than he gets credit for)—Bob Dylan, as a Vocalist—is not comparable to Taylor Swift and Rhianna-as Vocalists.
Dylan was not a Great Singer-technically; but Artistically—He was a brilliant Vocalist-in terms of his Delivery, his phrasing, his ability to convey emotion, etc.
His Vocals are exactly why his Songs are so powerful.
That’s what made him a “Great Singer”.

Now, if we compare that-to someone like Rhianna… the popularity of Rhianna’s Music-has nothing to do with her Vocals. You do not listen to Rhianna’s Music because of how “powerful” or “emotional” her Vocals are; You don’t take note of her phrasing, etc. etc.
There’s nothing about Rhianna or Taylor Swift, or Billie Eilish’s Singing that is “Great” or “Unique” or “Powerful”—Artistically, Aesthetically, Emotionally, or Technically.

So, imho, to say that they are among “The Greatest Singers in the History of Music” — is nonsensical.

The reason we’ve already seen “countless lists with Singers from the last generations”—is because those Singers have never stopped impacting people; That’s exactly how you know they’re “Great Vocalists”. People are still affected by Bob Dylan’s Vocal on “Like a Rolling Stone”; People are still affected by Sam Cooke’s Vocal on “A Change is Gonna Come”; People are still affected by Elvis’s Vocal on “Any Way You Want Me”…
People are not going to be talking about Rhianna and Taylor Swift’s Vocals—50 years from now.

[Osmosis]

The rub with these lists is they never clearly define what their criteria is for ranking or whether there even is any semblance of a ranking. Is it impact, is it technically ability, is it most famous? Who knows.

If it is technical ability, then what the hell is Axl Rose doing below Neil Young and Kurt Cobain and similarly, where is Myles Kennedy ? Why is Michael Stipe anywhere on this list? One would also wonder where various opera singers are. If it is impact, why is Rihanna above Jeff Buckley or Chris Cornell? Where is Susanna Hoffs? When looking at fame alone however, it makes sense why the likes of Kurt Cobain and Taylor Swift would rank so highly. But then, why do we have Joao gilberto but not Roberto Carlos? Would two brazilian singers be too many? 

As it stands it is a perplexing (seriously, where the hell is Myles Kennedy?) and a useless subjective list that comes off much like a box ticking exercise. Lists like these should really have a clearer outline as to their criteria for ranking. I think that way, people might be less disgruntled.

[BAZanine]

I think disgruntling people is the point of these lists. It's basically impossible to make a list that most everyone will find acceptable so instead they attack it from the "annoy as many people as possible" angle. The engagement that mantra garners is self-evident.

why is lou reed on this list

[hendrix94]

Apr 27, 2024 12:29:42 GMT Osmosis said:

The rub with these lists is they never clearly define what their criteria is for ranking or whether there even is any semblance of a ranking. Is it impact, is it technically ability, is it most famous? Who knows.

If it is technical ability, then what the hell is Axl Rose doing below Neil Young and Kurt Cobain and similarly, where is Myles Kennedy ? Why is Michael Stipe anywhere on this list? One would also wonder where various opera singers are. If it is impact, why is Rihanna above Jeff Buckley or Chris Cornell? Where is Susanna Hoffs? When looking at fame alone however, it makes sense why the likes of Kurt Cobain and Taylor Swift would rank so highly. But then, why do we have Joao gilberto but not Roberto Carlos? Would two brazilian singers be too many? 

As it stands it is a perplexing (seriously, where the hell is Myles Kennedy?) and a useless subjective list that comes off much like a box ticking exercise. Lists like these should really have a clearer outline as to their criteria for ranking. I think that way, people might be less disgruntled.

[hendrix94]

Aug 25, 2024 16:55:24 GMT hendrix94 said:

Apr 27, 2024 12:29:42 GMT Osmosis said:

The rub with these lists is they never clearly define what their criteria is for ranking or whether there even is any semblance of a ranking. Is it impact, is it technically ability, is it most famous? Who knows.

If it is technical ability, then what the hell is Axl Rose doing below Neil Young and Kurt Cobain and similarly, where is Myles Kennedy ? Why is Michael Stipe anywhere on this list? One would also wonder where various opera singers are. If it is impact, why is Rihanna above Jeff Buckley or Chris Cornell? Where is Susanna Hoffs? When looking at fame alone however, it makes sense why the likes of Kurt Cobain and Taylor Swift would rank so highly. But then, why do we have Joao gilberto but not Roberto Carlos? Would two brazilian singers be too many? 

As it stands it is a perplexing (seriously, where the hell is Myles Kennedy?) and a useless subjective list that comes off much like a box ticking exercise. Lists like these should really have a clearer outline as to their criteria for ranking. I think that way, people might be less disgruntled.

Personally, I think Axl Rose is a terrible live performer. If you can't play your songs live as close to the way you do in the studio, then you're only half a singer. The opposite happens with Cobain and Neil Young, their live performances usually overshadow their studio ones.

[ellie]

I think that is a very silly opinion to have

[Homelander]

Aug 25, 2024 16:57:10 GMT hendrix94 said:

Aug 25, 2024 16:55:24 GMT hendrix94 said:

Personally, I think Axl Rose is a terrible live performer. If you can't play your songs live as close to the way you do in the studio, then you're only half a singer. The opposite happens with Cobain and Neil Young, their live performances usually overshadow their studio ones.

Terrible studio performer too. His screechy head voice is enough to make my ears bleed.

[hendrix94]

Aug 25, 2024 18:39:33 GMT Homelander said:

Aug 25, 2024 16:57:10 GMT hendrix94 said:

Personally, I think Axl Rose is a terrible live performer. If you can't play your songs live as close to the way you do in the studio, then you're only half a singer. The opposite happens with Cobain and Neil Young, their live performances usually overshadow their studio ones.

Terrible studio performer too. His screechy head voice is enough to make my ears bleed.

His screechy head voice in his live performances he becomes even more unbearable.

[fountain30]

Aretha Franklin may well be the greatest singer of all time but I don't think Aaliyah is the 40th, Ariana Grande the 43rd or Adele the 22nd.

[fountain30]

This should be renamed The singers with significant cultural impact list.

[Osmosis]

Aug 25, 2024 16:57:10 GMT hendrix94 said:

Aug 25, 2024 16:55:24 GMT hendrix94 said:

Personally, I think Axl Rose is a terrible live performer. If you can't play your songs live as close to the way you do in the studio, then you're only half a singer. The opposite happens with Cobain and Neil Young, their live performances usually overshadow their studio ones.

Neil young performs much easier to sing songs than Axl and Kurt Cobain died before his 1994 vocal troubles could take full root.

Axl has only had difficulty singing his songs live since 2017, I think you are cherry picking performances here because you don't like Axl but like Cobain and Neil Young. The man is 60 years old, he can be forgiven for struggling to continuously mix in the 5th octave. I don't recall Cobain or Neil Young ever being capable of that. 

[mushymarionette]

<insert my lengthy rant on 'the total hollowness, vapidity and meaninglessness of lists like these that have no way of objectively quantifying something beyond the commercial success of something (ending up ignoring a lot of amazing talent that wasn't as commercially successful as the powerful music business household names) and how ridiculously anglocentric lists like these always end up being while including a couple of token picks from around the world to appear inclusive and globally conscious & how much I don't like these ludicrous lists because of that' here>

aka. sort of what BAZanine said

[hendrix94]

Where is Beth Hart?