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Rolling Stone has compiled its list of the "200 Greatest Singers of All Time" and of course it's open for debate and speculation.
Aretha Franklin, the "Queen of Soul," was number-one, with the magazine's writers calling her "a force of nature. A work of genius. A gift from the heavens."
As for the rock side, John Lennon ranked the highest at 12, although you could really give the crown to Little Richard at 11.
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In putting together the list, the writers state: "When Rolling Stone first published its list of the "100 Greatest Singers in 2008," we used an elaborate voting process that included input from well-known musicians. The results skewed toward classic rock and singers from the '60s and '70s . This new list was compiled by our staff and key contributors, and it encompasses 100 years of pop music as an ongoing global conversation... You might notice that, say, there isn’t any opera on our list -- that’s because our purview is pop music writ large, meaning that almost all the artists on this list had significant careers as crossover stars making popular music for the masses.
"Before you start scrolling (and commenting), keep in mind that this is the Greatest Singers list, not the Greatest Voices List. Talent is impressive; genius is transcendent. Sure, many of the people here were born with massive pipes, perfect pitch and boundless range. Others have rougher, stranger or more delicate instruments...
"In all cases, what mattered most to us was originality, influence, the depth of an artist’s catalog and the breadth of their musical legacy... In the end, the singers behind it are here for one reason: They can remake the world just by opening their mouths."
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Here is the Top 25 followed by a link for 26 through 200:
- Aretha Franklin
- Whitney Houston
- Sam Cooke
- Billie Holiday
- Mariah Carey
- Ray Charles
- Stevie Wonder
- Beyoncé
- Otis Redding
- Al Green
- Little Richard
- John Lennon
- Patsy Cline
- Freddie Mercury
- Bob Dylan
- Prince
- Elvis Presley
- Celia Cruz
- Frank Sinatra
- Marvin Gaye
- Nina Simone
- Adele
- Smokey Robinson
- George Jones
- Mary J. Blige
Two MAJOR omissions are Paul Rodgers and Celine Dion. And how is Robert Plant only #63? smh
Who do you think should be included and excluded?
Source: Rolling Stone and Premiere
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