alandail said:

MyLuv229 said:

Let's discuss this in the context of the FULL list, shall we?

88. Bee Gees

The Bee Gees are WAY underrated on the list. They are #6 all time (as of a few years ago) in record sales with over 220 million records sold and are the only artists in history to write and produce 5 of the top 10 singles on the hot 100.

[Edited 9/5/10 19:53pm]

Agreed! I'm not a big Bee Gees fan, but I agree they should be way higher on this list than 88. Are they serious? They should be in the top 25-30!!

DaphneLovesPR1NCE said:

Shouldn't a greatest artist list include celebrity status? I mean, how can anyone not include an artist that so many around the world likes? Hello? If people like your music, then that makes you pretty darn awesome!! Should it not also include people that crossed over and succeeded in many genres. I mean, it's easy to succeed in 1 genre, but to crossover and have success is almost unheard of!! Now that's musical genius. I don't care if the crossover is rap to pop, country to jazz, etc. It's still equally impressive! There really needs to be a set of standards that is laid out that the artist have to meet... then from there, they need to rank them.

Prince has touched on just about all genres of music and has some success in all of them! He really transcends race, age, and sex. And Prince really has left his mark on musical history!! He is all around the greatest artist the world has ever and probably ever will see. Had he given in and made himself more available to the public, he would have been alot more commercially successful. I mean, all the things he could have done to sell more ablums, etc. is crazy!! He focuses on the music though, and he is true to himself, and stays more reserve.

Michael Jackson wasn't just globally famous, he has the biggest selling record of all time, he has amazing songs, he was an amazing dancer, he impacted the world through humanitarian efforts, he has a career that's last 40yrs and can still sell out 50 concerts, and most importantly, his music transcended all race, age, sex boundaries!! And MJ did give in to the commercialism and it paid off for him money wise.

Mariah Carey is the biggest selling female artist of all time!! And she had a great voice and has really amazing songs (though I'm NOT a fan). She should ideally be higher than Madonna since Madonna cannot sing!! She does have great songs and has had a long career, plus, she does great humanitartian workl!!

IMO, the top 10 artists on the list should embody all those same characteristics, because that is TRUE representation of a great artist!! And honestly, we need to study their body of work!! That alone will tell you the essence of an artist. Does a 15yr old in Austria find the songs as interesting as a 55yr old in South Africa? Does a 26 yr old in New York love it as much as a 48yr old in the UK?

I disagree with the arrangement of this entire list, especially the top 20.

Whatever positive there is...

Marrk said:

Spinlight said:

The problem here is that Adolf Hitler's actions were televised and his atrocities were proven without a doubt because he admitted to it and fashioned himself a celebrity dictator.

Michael Jackson didn't actually commit any crimes, maintained his innocence, was vouched for by hundreds of supporters in the entertainment industry (including people accused of being molested by him), and could only be misunderstood if a person purposely set out to indict him.

I find that a lot of the times when someone is intent on demonizing Michael Jackson (for whatever reason), they enact a posture of righteous indignation and piety that recalls images of Fred Phelps damning the world to hell for their misdeeds.

All of the information is there displayed in front of you, telling you that Michael Jackson did not, without a shadow of a doubt, molest those children and was, in fact, the victim of high profile extortion. What is surprising is not that he fell for it, rather that his convictions were so strong that he approached aiding kids in need with a sort of reckless abandon he eventually crossed paths with some exceptionally devious people.

Bravo sir.

HA!!! whatever,MJ did that shit.

khemseraph said:

Marrk said:

Bravo sir.

HA!!! whatever,MJ did that shit.

Whatever helps you sleep at night.

MyLuv229 said:

60. Whitney Houston
66. Justin Timberlake
70. Def Leppard
79. Eminem
80. Mary J. Blige
91. Green Day
94. Mariah Carey
95. OutKast

98. Depeche Mode

All of them above Depeche Mode !!! These people need to get their ears checked!

Depeche Mode is one of the greatest electro-rock bands, have 30 years career, survived alcoholism and drugaddictions (and a leadsinger who died .. TWICE and can tell the story) ... massive fan following, a great live act, and also get a lot of credit from other artists eg. Moby, Smashing Pumpkins, and let's not forget Johnny Cash 's version of 'Personal Jesus'.

Now that I see DM is on 98, I declare: this list is bollocks.

Oh and Prince on 7 ... poetic

NouveauDance said:

thedance said:

The top five (in alphabetical order):

The Beatles
Bob Dylan
Michael Jackson
Led Zeppelin
Rolling Stones

Top 5 is all white, again.

alandail said:

MyLuv229 said:

Let's discuss this in the context of the FULL list, shall we?

88. Bee Gees

The Bee Gees are WAY underrated on the list. They are #6 all time (as of a few years ago) in record sales with over 220 million records sold and are the only artists in history to write and produce 5 of the top 10 singles on the hot 100.

[Edited 9/5/10 19:53pm]

Nevermind their massive songwriting successes from the mid 70s and beyond, their body of work from 1967-72 alone should place them higher than most on this list. They wrote more classics in those few short years than most writers manage in a lifetime.

What a crock of shit this list is.

scatwoman said:

alandail said:

The Bee Gees are WAY underrated on the list. They are #6 all time (as of a few years ago) in record sales with over 220 million records sold and are the only artists in history to write and produce 5 of the top 10 singles on the hot 100.

[Edited 9/5/10 19:53pm]

Nevermind their massive songwriting successes from the mid 70s and beyond, their body of work from 1967-72 alone should place them higher than most on this list. They wrote more classics in those few short years than most writers manage in a lifetime.

What a crock of shit this list is.

Per VH1........."The list was determined by hundreds of musicians and music experts, many of whom appear on the show."

Maybe, just maybe, some of you folks' favorite artists or groups just didn't have the impact among their contemporaries that you wish that they did.

khemseraph said:

Marrk said:

Bravo sir.

HA!!! whatever,MJ did that shit.

Did i fucking say he didn't or something?

jockeyb4u said:

scatwoman said:

Nevermind their massive songwriting successes from the mid 70s and beyond, their body of work from 1967-72 alone should place them higher than most on this list. They wrote more classics in those few short years than most writers manage in a lifetime.

What a crock of shit this list is.

Per VH1........."The list was determined by hundreds of musicians and music experts, many of whom appear on the show."

Maybe, just maybe, some of you folks' favorite artists or groups just didn't have the impact among their contemporaries that you wish that they did.

I generally don't pay lists much attention, but with that said, this is a poor compilation of 100 greatest artists. The problem is with the sample group of "hundreds of musicians and music experts." It was obviously made up of people who were not heavily "impacted" by non-white or female arists who weren't mainstream, especially with regard to R&B. And where are the Latin artists? The Jazz artists? The Blues artists? This is a pretty lousy list overall. Of course I think Prince should be higher, but what about Frank Zappa, Carlos Santana, Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Sam Cooke? They're not even on the list. Marvin Gaye at 20? Alicia Keys at 100 and no Tori Amos? Double

I don't know what the criteria was for determining the people on the list. Were respondents given this list of 100 "artists" then given categories and asked to rank the artists in those categories? Is that the reason for some of these glaring absences?

robinhood said:

bboy87 said:

That's the thing I'm trying to understand

JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE AND BEYONCE are on this list and people have pretty much ignored that

of course. justin and beyonce dont inspire the same levels of jealousy.

Justin and Beyonce don't inspire the same level of anything for me. They might be good performers for people who enjoy what they do, but I don't consider either of them a great artist.

jockeyb4u said:

scatwoman said:

Nevermind their massive songwriting successes from the mid 70s and beyond, their body of work from 1967-72 alone should place them higher than most on this list. They wrote more classics in those few short years than most writers manage in a lifetime.

What a crock of shit this list is.

Per VH1........."The list was determined by hundreds of musicians and music experts, many of whom appear on the show."

Maybe, just maybe, some of you folks' favorite artists or groups just didn't have the impact among their contemporaries that you wish that they did.

Just because someone is a musician doesn't mean they know music history. Learn the history of the Bee Gees

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bee_Gees

They quite clearly should be in the top 20, if not the top 10. As singer/songwriters they're right there with Prince. As for being influential, Michael Jackson cited them as being his biggest influence.

[Edited 9/6/10 10:51am]

BobGeorge67 said:

Based on a sneak peek in USA Today's Pop Candy column, Prince will be listed as #7 (Up from #18 when VH1 last compiled a list, back in '98)...

http://content.usatoday.c...e-top-20/1

Mayte is one of the commentators..wonder if she'll comment on Prince..

MyLuv229 said:

DaphneLovesPR1NCE said:

Shouldn't a greatest artist list include celebrity status? I mean, how can anyone not include an artist that so many around the world likes? Hello? If people like your music, then that makes you pretty darn awesome!! Should it not also include people that crossed over and succeeded in many genres. I mean, it's easy to succeed in 1 genre, but to crossover and have success is almost unheard of!! Now that's musical genius. I don't care if the crossover is rap to pop, country to jazz, etc. It's still equally impressive! There really needs to be a set of standards that is laid out that the artist have to meet... then from there, they need to rank them.

Prince has touched on just about all genres of music and has some success in all of them! He really transcends race, age, and sex. And Prince really has left his mark on musical history!! He is all around the greatest artist the world has ever and probably ever will see. Had he given in and made himself more available to the public, he would have been alot more commercially successful. I mean, all the things he could have done to sell more ablums, etc. is crazy!! He focuses on the music though, and he is true to himself, and stays more reserve.

Michael Jackson wasn't just globally famous, he has the biggest selling record of all time, he has amazing songs, he was an amazing dancer, he impacted the world through humanitarian efforts, he has a career that's last 40yrs and can still sell out 50 concerts, and most importantly, his music transcended all race, age, sex boundaries!! And MJ did give in to the commercialism and it paid off for him money wise.

Mariah Carey is the biggest selling female artist of all time!! And she had a great voice and has really amazing songs (though I'm NOT a fan). She should ideally be higher than Madonna since Madonna cannot sing!! She does have great songs and has had a long career, plus, she does great humanitartian workl!!

IMO, the top 10 artists on the list should embody all those same characteristics, because that is TRUE representation of a great artist!! And honestly, we need to study their body of work!! That alone will tell you the essence of an artist. Does a 15yr old in Austria find the songs as interesting as a 55yr old in South Africa? Does a 26 yr old in New York love it as much as a 48yr old in the UK?

lydiaravenswood said:

vi0letblues said:

Lets not confuse artistic importance with celebrity.

MJ was prompt up by sensationalist celebrity machine that came of age in the 80's, it was a symbiotic relationship that benefited both parties. The funny part was that as MJ's career took a turn for the worse, the sensationalist celebrity media found it could generate just as much hype by trashing him. Which they did. And he was taken down in the same exact same way they created him. And they milked it all the way to the grave and beyond. Literally.

It was only fitting. Like a bad twilight zone episode of making a deal with the devil.

Prince on the other hand has always been demonized by the same sensationalist media and cannot be taken down the same way as he was never a product of their making. On the contrary, there is very little of his artistic achievements that has reached the general public, that I think his image will only continue to rise as The National Enquirer, People Magazine and Entertainment Tonight are not the only ones to feed the fodder anymore, nor the mutual reacharounds that made MJ famous even relevant anymore in the internet age.

[Edited 9/4/10 20:09pm]

I'm going put this out that as it's clear you don't knwo your JACKSONS history. Way before he went solo he was writing and producing the music alongside his brothers, but doing a great deal of the work himself. he had a lot fo talent that didn't get paid attention to once he left the group. Then it became about his looks so it ruined the view of the ARTIST he truely was. All people know about him is the tabiloid crap that covers the great work he did do.

Ok I'm done there...start me on not who don't know their history I go off. I'm a moving Jacksons biography of info...for ALL the Brothers!

Prince just didn't allow the media crap to effect him, he had a thick skin, unlike Michael. Michael was rather weak.

I know as much about MJ as anyone else. He was a cute talented child star, no one will deny that.

He is the Shirley Temple and Menudo of our time.

[Edited 9/6/10 12:17pm]

vi0letblues said:

I know as much about MJ as anyone else. He was a cute talented child star, no one will deny that.

He is the Shirley Temple and Menudo of our time.

[Edited 9/6/10 12:17pm]

....or the Justin Bieber of yesteryear.

alandail said:

jockeyb4u said:

Per VH1........."The list was determined by hundreds of musicians and music experts, many of whom appear on the show."

Maybe, just maybe, some of you folks' favorite artists or groups just didn't have the impact among their contemporaries that you wish that they did.

Just because someone is a musician doesn't mean they know music history. Learn the history of the Bee Gees

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bee_Gees

They quite clearly should be in the top 20, if not the top 10. As singer/songwriters they're right there with Prince. As for being influential, Michael Jackson cited them as being his biggest influence.

[Edited 9/6/10 10:51am]

I know the history of the Bee Gees. I like the Bee Gees. But they clearly shouldn't be top 20 on this list, because the hundreds polled didn't deem them top 20 (or even 50) material.

DaphneLovesPR1NCE said:

jackson35 said:

explain how prince should be rank higher that stevie wonder?

Um, because he is a better artist!! Stevie is great!! But he isn't better than Prince, he doesn't have that great of songs as Prince and he doesn't appeal to one's entertainment factor. So what's the problem here? AND Prince has a MUCH better voice, his vocal range is extraordinary!! Get it now?

if it wasnt for stevie wonder, prince would not have a career in music. you do known that stevie infleuence prince right?

vi0letblues said:

lydiaravenswood said:

I'm going put this out that as it's clear you don't knwo your JACKSONS history. Way before he went solo he was writing and producing the music alongside his brothers, but doing a great deal of the work himself. he had a lot fo talent that didn't get paid attention to once he left the group. Then it became about his looks so it ruined the view of the ARTIST he truely was. All people know about him is the tabiloid crap that covers the great work he did do.

Ok I'm done there...start me on not who don't know their history I go off. I'm a moving Jacksons biography of info...for ALL the Brothers!

Prince just didn't allow the media crap to effect him, he had a thick skin, unlike Michael. Michael was rather weak.

I know as much about MJ as anyone else. He was a cute talented child star, no one will deny that.

He is the Shirley Temple and Menudo of our time.

[Edited 9/6/10 12:17pm]

[img:$uid]http://i53.tinypic.com/30j4o5z.jpg[/img:$uid]

lydiaravenswood said:

Prince just didn't allow the media crap to effect him, he had a thick skin,

I saw Hour 2 of this show, and they interviewed Neil Diamond and they asked him who were his greatest artists of all time and he replied "Louis Armstrong and Frank Sinatra" and the reporter said "Why them?" My beef with this list is that it doesn't include jazz music or gospel music. Jazz is the only original American musical artform so it's only right to include artists whose music greatly contributed to the aural performing arts. Where's John Coltrane, Miles Davis, Bird, Ella Fitzgerald, Mahalia Jackson? for example. That's why I got so much respect for Andy Stewart, Sting, Phil Collins, Bruce Springsten,Prince, Hall and Oates and musicians like that, who readily acknowledge music and performers who may not be contemporary but their contributions directly and indirectly shaped the musical landscape past, present and future.

[Edited 9/6/10 21:35pm]

bashraka said:

I saw Hour 2 of this show, and they interviewed Neil Diamond and they asked him who were his greatest artists of all time and he replied "Louis Armstrong and Frank Sinatra" and the reporter said "Why them?" My beef with this list is that it doesn't include jazz music or gospel music. Jazz is the only original American musical artform so it's only right to include artists whose music greatly contributed to the aural performing arts. Where's John Coltrane, Miles Davis, Bird, Ella Fitzgerald, Mahalia Jackson? for example. That's why I got so much respect for Andy Stewart, Sting, Phil Collins, Bruce Springsten,Prince, Hall and Oates and musicians like that, who readily acknowledge music and performers who may not be contemporary but their contributions directly and indirectly shaped the musical landscape past, present and future.

[Edited 9/6/10 21:35pm]

bboy87 said:

bashraka said:

I saw Hour 2 of this show, and they interviewed Neil Diamond and they asked him who were his greatest artists of all time and he replied "Louis Armstrong and Frank Sinatra" and the reporter said "Why them?" My beef with this list is that it doesn't include jazz music or gospel music. Jazz is the only original American musical artform so it's only right to include artists whose music greatly contributed to the aural performing arts. Where's John Coltrane, Miles Davis, Bird, Ella Fitzgerald, Mahalia Jackson? for example. That's why I got so much respect for Andy Stewart, Sting, Phil Collins, Bruce Springsten,Prince, Hall and Oates and musicians like that, who readily acknowledge music and performers who may not be contemporary but their contributions directly and indirectly shaped the musical landscape past, present and future.

[Edited 9/6/10 21:35pm]

Thanks for the co-sign bboy87.

jackson35 said:

DaphneLovesPR1NCE said:

Um, because he is a better artist!! Stevie is great!! But he isn't better than Prince, he doesn't have that great of songs as Prince and he doesn't appeal to one's entertainment factor. So what's the problem here? AND Prince has a MUCH better voice, his vocal range is extraordinary!! Get it now?

if it wasnt for stevie wonder, prince would not have a career in music. you do known that stevie infleuence prince right?

Yes, I know Stevie influenced Prince!! But that has no bearing on who is the better artist. All that proves is that Stevie was around 1st and that he was a good artist in Prince's opinion. Christiana Aguilera says Madonna influenced her..does that automatically mean Madonna is a better artist? Heck no! Because Madonna CAN'T sing, so she can't possibly be better than anyone, regardless of how many people she influenced!

vi0letblues said:

lydiaravenswood said:

I'm going put this out that as it's clear you don't knwo your JACKSONS history. Way before he went solo he was writing and producing the music alongside his brothers, but doing a great deal of the work himself. he had a lot fo talent that didn't get paid attention to once he left the group. Then it became about his looks so it ruined the view of the ARTIST he truely was. All people know about him is the tabiloid crap that covers the great work he did do.

Ok I'm done there...start me on not who don't know their history I go off. I'm a moving Jacksons biography of info...for ALL the Brothers!

Prince just didn't allow the media crap to effect him, he had a thick skin, unlike Michael. Michael was rather weak.

I know as much about MJ as anyone else. He was a cute talented child star, no one will deny that.

He is the Shirley Temple and Menudo of our time.

[Edited 9/6/10 12:17pm]

If you did in fact did know ANYTHING about MJ, you would surely know he isn't the menudo of our time! To put MJ in the same category as Menudo is blasphemy at the very least!! The man is easily the most worldwide, influential entertainer the world will ever know. Every country in the world knows this man!! Not many, if any, artists can say that!! I mean in the smallest villages in Nigeria, people know Michael Jackson! In the jungles of South America, the people know Michael Jackson! In the moutains of Nepal, people know Michael Jackson! He is the most well know, recognizable person in the world!! And has been that way since the early 80s!! So give credit where credit is due. You may not like his music or him for that matter, but DON'T EVER take away from his importance in this world!

KidaDynamite said:

Why is people so surprised that Michael is ahead of Elvis? Elvis was lame.

You may not like or appreciate Elvis' music, but Elvis was far from lame!

jockeyb4u said:

alandail said:

Just because someone is a musician doesn't mean they know music history. Learn the history of the Bee Gees

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bee_Gees

They quite clearly should be in the top 20, if not the top 10. As singer/songwriters they're right there with Prince. As for being influential, Michael Jackson cited them as being his biggest influence.

[Edited 9/6/10 10:51am]

I know the history of the Bee Gees. I like the Bee Gees. But they clearly shouldn't be top 20 on this list, because the hundreds polled didn't deem them top 20 (or even 50) material.

The Bee Gees suffer an unfair and undeserved stigma because of the disco backlash. Because of that, they have had minimal airplay in the last 30 years. So if a significant portion of the hundreds polled is under 30 years old, they don't have proper perspective of the bee gees unless they are a student of music history.

50s - Elvis

60s - Beatles and Rolling Stones

70s - Bee Gees

80s - Michael Jackson and Prince

For their peak decade they were right there with the others I just listed. THey had as many #1 songs in the 70s (9) as Michael Jackson did in the 80s. And they had quite a career before Main Course launched their R&B sound which has unfairly been lumped in with throw away disco music.

New York Mining Disaster 1941

To Love Somebody

Masachusetts

I've Got To Get A Message To You

Words

Lonely Days

How Can You Mend a Broken Heart

Run To Me

Jive Talkin

Nights on Broadway

You Should Be Dancing

Love So Right

How Deep Is Your Love

Stayin' Alive

Night Fever

Grease

Too Much Heaven

Tragedy

Heartbreaker

Islands In The Stream

You Win Again

One

For Whom the Bell Tolls

Alone

These songs are some of the all time classics in pop music. The should quite clearly not just be higher than 88. They are #12 on billboard's list of the all time top artists.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billboard_Hot_100_50th_Anniversary_Charts#All-Time_top_artists

and that excludes the vast success they have had writing for other artists - Andy Gibb, Dionne Warwick, Barbara Streisand, Kenny Rogers, etc. Andy Gibb is #82 on the billboard list and they wrote every hit he ever had. Barbara Streisand is #26 and her best selling album of all time by far (20 million copies sold) was written and produced by the bee gees. And even further, the all time top country songs list include Islands In the Stream at #11.

At their absolute peak there was a 37 week period where 7 songs they wrote hit number 1 for a total of 27 weeks including 1 week where they wrote 5 of the top 10 songs, one of which (Emotion) didn't make it to #1 because their other songs were in the way. This includes a 15 week stretch where Sayin' Alive was #1, which was replaced by (Love Is) Thicker than Water, which was replaced by Night Fever, which was replaced by If I Can't Have You.

They ended up writing 8 of the top 19 songs that year, including 5 of the top 8. Not just for a given week, but for the entire year.

http://longboredsurfer.com/charts/1978.php

As far as I can tell, nobody else has even remotely come close to 5 of the top 8 before or since.

[Edited 9/6/10 23:26pm]