This is my opinion of who the artists of each decade were starting with the 1950's. I want to hear from you who you think were the kings of each decade and if you want to share why you think that way please do! you know I love hearing from you guys!

1950's-Frank Sinatra

1960's-The Rolling Stones

1970's-David Bowie

1980's-Prince

1990's-Mariah Carey

2000's- ???? what do YOU think????

I made my picks on a combination of talent, musicanship, Hits (internationally both songs and albums) and who I felt really made the biggest impression in each era.

50's you could argue for Elvis but he really wasn't a star until the mid 50's whereas ol' blue eyes owned the entire era.

60's The Rolling Stones I just think were the better band over the beatles despite popular belief.

70's Bowie at his prime and he just outclassed everyone. I think others could make a solid argument for Elton John, Led Zeppelin, The Who, Pink Floyd or the Rolling Stones but I just gotta take Bowie.

80's This one's easy More hits and #1 albums than any artist of the decade. In addition to being the most talented it's a no brainer.

90's Madonna would be the only one that would be arguable for this one, but Mariah Carey blows her away in the vocals department and had more hits. MC 4 me in the 1990's!

00's take your pick-

What do you guys think!!???

1950s James Brown

1960s Elvis

1970s P-Funk

1980s Prince

1990s Prince

2000s Mint Condition

2010s Mint Condition

depending on what criteria will be used as the basis - popularity, success, influence, productivity or personal taste - it will be different artists for each decade, except for the 60's - the Beatles (they meet each of the criteria).

1950's: Elvis Presley

1960's: Antonio Carlos Jobim, he popularized Bossa Nova worldwide.

1970's: Stevie Wonder

1980's: Michael Jackson

1990's: Diane Warren, lots of folks recorded her songs starting in the 1980's.

2000's: don't care

LiLi1992 said:

depending on what criteria will be used as the basis - popularity, success, influence, productivity or personal taste - it will be different artists for each decade, except for the 60's - the Beatles (they meet each of the criteria).

its up to u what criteria u want to use. its just for fun doesnt necessarily have to be "right" and doesn't have to be your favorites either.

TheEmperorofFunk said:

LiLi1992 said:

depending on what criteria will be used as the basis - popularity, success, influence, productivity or personal taste - it will be different artists for each decade, except for the 60's - the Beatles (they meet each of the criteria).

its up to u what criteria u want to use. its just for fun doesnt necessarily have to be "right" and doesn't have to be your favorites either.

well then, if you do not want to get "right" list, I use personal taste as a criterion :

60`s: The Beatles - absolute dominance
70`s: Pink Floyd - slight advantage
80`s: Prince - tiny advantage
90`s: Michael Jackson - microscopic advantage ....to be honest, the most difficult decade, a lot of favorite albums, artists, but 90's - my favorite decade of Michael and he in the top 5 of my favorite artists, so deserved promotion.
-----------------------
millennium ended

for the 00's, I do not know, there are artists that I like:
Within Temptation/Amy Winehouse/Eminem/Nightwish/Muse....

can`t chose

Personal taste as opposed to commercial success....

50's: -

60's: The Beatles

70's: David Bowie

80's: Prince

90's: Madonna

00's: -

[Edited 2/27/13 4:12am]

1950s: Elvis Presley

1960s: Jimi Hendrix

1970s: Donna Summer

1980s: Prince

1990s: Martha Wash

2000s: Jamiroquai

1950s - James Brown (Nat King Cole)

1960s - The Beatles (Diana Ross & The supremes) (Bob Dylan)

1970s - Pink Floyd (Queen) and Donna Summer. (Steve Wonder, John Lennon, Marvin Gaye? it's impossible to pick people from the 70s)

1980s - Michael Jackson (Sade)

1990s - Nirvana (2pac)

2000s - Kanye West (these past 6 years have been influenced by his "sound" among rappers, r&b singers etc...)

It's impossible to make a list like this lol...

[Edited 2/27/13 7:11am]

vainandy said:

1950s: Little Richard

1960s: Jimi Hendrix

1970s: Donna Summer

1980s: Prince

1990s: Martha Wash

2000s: Jamiroquai

50s fixed

60s 70s 80s amen

iaminparties said:

vainandy said:

1950s: Little Richard

1960s: Jimi Hendrix

1970s: Donna Summer

1980s: Prince

1990s: Martha Wash

2000s: Jamiroquai

50s fixed

60s 70s 80s amen

Now, how did I forget about Little Richard? Much better choice. The only reason I picked Elvis is because I couldn't think of anyone else at the time except maybe Fats Domino.

1950's -- ??????? (too difficult to answer at the moment!)

1960's -- James Brown (male), ??????? (female), The Beatles (band)

1970's -- Stevie Wonder (male), Donna Summers (female), The Bee Gees (band)

1980's -- Michael Jackson (male), Madonna (female), Kool & The Gang (band)

1990's -- R. Kelly (male), Mariah Carey (female), Pearl Jam (band)

2000's -- Usher (male), Beyonce (female), Linkin Park (band)

[Edited 2/28/13 9:30am]

The 60s belong to Aretha Franklin

RnBAmbassador said:

The 60s belong to Aretha Franklin

It's still a close call if Janis Joplin is in this discussion, hence why I'm still undecided.

50s-Jerry lee Lewis

60s- The Beatles/JB

70s- Led Zeppelin (who else?)

80s-Prince (once again who else?)

90s-Tough one Rage against the Machines probably

20s-hmm who cares but it will be given to by experts to eminem.

2010s-ahh it's gonna be rihanna which is so sad. Man her record company can manipulate those charts.

70's: P-Funk

50s - Elvis Presley (Although I am not a big fan)

50s (If we count the 1950 -54 period too) - Frank Sinatra

60s Beatles and The Rolling Stones, too hard to decide

70s Elton John, he was the 70s

80s Umm!!! Prince?

90s Mariah Carey (She was everywhere and the first part of the decade, deserved the accolade)

00s either Kanye or the Black Eyed Peas (Although its proof the 2000s were shit for music)

10s Hard to say after 3 years, I would say Gaga but she had no hits in 2012, maybe Macklemore (The gay American rapper whose had 2 #1's here) as he is the future really

Earlier decades

40s Andrews Sisters

30s Bing Crosby (Could say 40s too really, Bing was huge from 1932 to 1952)

20s Al Jolson/Paul Whiteman

In terms of personal taste:

50s - Chuck Berry

60s - The Beatles

70s - Queen

80s - Bruce Springsteen

90s - Oasis

00s - Kanye West

10s - Gary Clark Jr*

*I've only just started listening to his record Blak & Blu and I'm aware of little else released this decade so far that I like.

50s Elvis Presley

60s The Beatles

70s ABBA

80s Michael Jackson

90s Nirvana

00s Eminem

I think I need a drink.

novabrkr said:

50s Elvis Presley

60s The Beatles

70s ABBA

80s Michael Jackson

90s Nirvana

00s Eminem

I think I need a drink.

I agree with your choice of the 50's, 60's, 80's, really the most iconic and popular artists.
I also understand the 90's, 00's.
but why ABBA? they were huge in Europe and Australia, but in the 70's were really more powerful players globally.
or it is also a list based on your taste?
just wondering

LiLi1992 said:

novabrkr said:

50s Elvis Presley

60s The Beatles

70s ABBA

80s Michael Jackson

90s Nirvana

00s Eminem

I think I need a drink.

I agree with your choice of the 50's, 60's, 80's, really the most iconic and popular artists.
I also understand the 90's, 00's.
but why ABBA? they were huge in Europe and Australia, but in the 70's were really more powerful players globally.
or it is also a list based on your taste?
just wondering

No, it's not based on my taste. Why do you think I concluded it with that "I think I need a drink" comment?

ABBA has sold nearly 400 million records and I don't think any other 1970s band has reached such numbers. They've also gotten a whole lot more airtime on radio (and TV) then the popular rock groups of the time. Yeah, I know their cultural relavance has diminished greatly over time (and probably for a reason).

novabrkr said:

LiLi1992 said:

I agree with your choice of the 50's, 60's, 80's, really the most iconic and popular artists.
I also understand the 90's, 00's.
but why ABBA? they were huge in Europe and Australia, but in the 70's were really more powerful players globally.
or it is also a list based on your taste?
just wondering

No, it's not based on my taste. Why do you think I concluded it with that "I think I need a drink" comment?

ABBA has sold nearly 400 million records and I don't think any other 1970s band has reached such numbers. They've also gotten a whole lot more airtime on radio (and TV) then the popular rock groups of the time. Yeah, I know their cultural relavance has diminished greatly over time (and probably for a reason).

Sounds inflated.

It's probably singles for the most part.

edit - actually it must be due to all those greatest hits collections + albums + singles.

[Edited 3/4/13 13:07pm]

iaminparties said:

vainandy said:

1950s: Little Richard

1960s: Jimi Hendrix

1970s: Donna Summer

1980s: Prince

1990s: Martha Wash

2000s: Jamiroquai

50s fixed

60s 70s 80s amen

So no comment on the 90's?

Andy you crack me up!

Azz said:

novabrkr said:

No, it's not based on my taste. Why do you think I concluded it with that "I think I need a drink" comment?

ABBA has sold nearly 400 million records and I don't think any other 1970s band has reached such numbers. They've also gotten a whole lot more airtime on radio (and TV) then the popular rock groups of the time. Yeah, I know their cultural relavance has diminished greatly over time (and probably for a reason).

Sounds inflated.

and strongly
I think that Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, The Eagles, Elton John sold more in 70`s than ABBA
+ really huge album in their discography (9 million in the U.S. and over 30 million total) - Gold was released only in 1992

but anyway, thank you, novabrkr, for comment.