My first thought upon hearing that VH-1 was compiling a list of the 100 Greatest Artists of all time was: how does one even begin to compile such a list? It’s not easy to quantify exactly what makes a great artist. Is it raw talent? Is it an eye for reinvention? Is it work that revolutionizes the artist’s milieu? The thought of taking the time to compile one of these lists myself makes my head explode.
Nevertheless, on 9/6, the cable network will discuss the Top 100 artists on a series of one-hour specials to run throughout the week. In typical VH-1 fashion, there will be soundbites galore from a who’s who of media personalities and fellow musicians. I’m actually looking forward to watching the show (provided my television service is back on by that point). VH-1’s countdowns, when they stay on musical topics, are actually quite informed and entertaining.
That’s not to say that there won’t be head-scratchers. There’d be no point to compiling lists like this if there were no choices that potentially left music fans up in arms. VH-1’s website has already revealed the positions of artists #6-#100, and they’ve let us know who’s in the Top Five: The Beatles, Bob Dylan, Michael Jackson, Led Zeppelin and The Rolling Stones. However, they haven’t let us know which order they’ll be in. If I was a betting man, I’d say the Beatles are #1 and Dylan is #5. The remaining three could be in any possible order.
The rest of the list (which is included after the jump) is sure to cause some lips to quiver and teeth to chatter. My personal opinions? The list is solid. However, there’s a notable lack of women in the Top 30 (Madonna and Aretha Franklin should be tops there, but they’re both too low on the list, as is Joni Mitchell). As much as I love Jay-Z, to list him as the highest ranked rapper is kind of ridiculous. And then there’s Beyonce and Justin Timberlake, who don’t belong in the Top 100 at all, and certainly don’t belong ahead of luminaries ranging from The Bee Gees, REM, NWA and Elvis Costello. Ah well, at least Britney Spears isn’t on the list.
(I’d also bounce James Brown into the Top 5 at the expense of…someone, I’m not sure who).
As I mentioned earlier, the countdown starts airing on Monday September 6th. Make sure you check out the list after the jump.
6. Jimi Hendrix
7. Prince
8. Elvis Presley
9. James Brown
10. Stevie Wonder
11. Bob Marley
12. David Bowie
13. The Who
14. Nirvana
15. The Beach Boys
16. Madonna
17. Queen
18. Pink Floyd
19. U2
20. Marvin Gaye
21. Bruce Springsteen
22. The Clash
23. AC/DC
24. The Velvet Underground
25. Chuck Berry
26. Neil Young
27. Aretha Franklin
28. Elton John
29. Radiohead
30. Aerosmith
31. John Lennon
32. Black Sabbath
33. Guns N’ Roses
34. Tina Turner
35. Johnny Cash
36. Paul McCartney
37. Fleetwood Mac
38. Sly & The Family Stone
39. The Kinks
40. The Police
41. Van Halen
42. Metallica
43. Ray Charles
44. Joni Mitchell
45. Al Green
46. Ramones
47. Jay-Z
48. Rage Against the Machine
49. Parliament-Funkadelic
50. Sade
51. Billy Joel
52. Beyonce
53. Little Richard
54. Public Enemy
55. Peter Gabriel
56. KISS
57. Iggy & the Stooges
58. Cheap Trick
59. Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
60. Whitney Houston
61. Cream
62. Genesis
63. Notorious B.I.G.
64. Talking Heads
65. The Doors
66. Justin Timberlake
67. Coldplay
68. Otis Redding
69. Tupac Shakur
70. Def Leppard
71. R.E.M.
72. Janis Joplin
73. Van Morrison
74. The Cure
75. Rush
76. Run-DMC
77. Lynyrd Skynyrd
78. Judas Priest
79. Eminem
80. Mary J. Blige
81. ABBA
82. Steely Dan
83. Earth Wind and Fire
84. Curtis Mayfield
85. The Band
86. N.W.A.
87. George Michael
88. Bee Gees
89. Beastie Boys
90. Elvis Costello
91. Green Day
92. LL Cool J
93. Pearl Jam
94. Mariah Carey
95. OutKast
96. Journey
97. Pretenders
98. Depeche Mode
99. Hall & Oates
100. Alicia Keys
8 comments
Tim Swift says:
Aug 30, 2010
I think the three biggest glaring ommissions are CCR, Jackson Browne & The Eagles. I’m totally with you about James Brown should be a lot higher, as should be Hall & Oates.
They should have listed teh E Street Band with “the boss”; how can you leave out the big man?
blerd says:
Aug 30, 2010
Wow. I just noticed that The Eagles aren’t on the list. That’s pretty fuckin’ crazy.
Springsteen doesn’t credit the E Street Band on his own damn records-not surprised that VH-1 saw fit to not attach them here.
Kyle says:
Sep 2, 2010
I have quite a few issues with this list, but I’ll shelve them to say one thing: I seriously doubt that Bob Dylan would be at #5 below Michael Jackson, especially for a list that seems so “politically correct”. We shall see, though!
blerd says:
Sep 2, 2010
I doubt it to an extent, but in light of Jackson’s death, that wouldn’t surprise me. Plus, keep in mind that if Jackson comes in at #5, then there would be no black artists in the Top 4. Major PC fail. As I said on FB, Dylan trumps MJ in terms of influence (barely), but MJ trumps Dylan in terms of musical quality (and pure talent), at least in my book.
Franklin Beaumont says:
Sep 2, 2010
Glad to see The Velvet Underground and Neil Young so well placed.
Kyle says:
Sep 3, 2010
I’d put Dylan several steps above Michael Jackson in terms of talent and leave the argument of musical quality to preference. Given that the other top four acts are The Beatles, Bob Dylan, Led Zeppelin, and The Rolling Stones, though, it wouldn’t be too terrible a “PC fail” to relegate Michael Jackson to the bottom of the top five, which is in itself a huge accolade.
Also, I sort of think Stevie Wonder should be a couple slots higher. How do you feel about that?
blerd says:
Sep 3, 2010
Depends on what you view as talent. Dylan’s a better songwriter and instrumentalist, Jackson is a better singer and all-around entertainer. A lot of people think that being able to play an instrument is a sign of musical talent, but I don’t think a lot of people don’t realize how nutty it is that Michael composed the way he did despite NOT KNOWING how to play an instrument.
I’d actually put Stevie ahead of Dylan. He’s a better lyricist, was more musically innovative, and Dylan isn’t even in the same ballpark as Stevie when it comes to vocal ability. That said, I think the most important American artist of the second half of the 20th century was James Brown. Without James Brown, there’d be no funk, no disco, no hip-hop.
blerd says:
Sep 3, 2010
Instead of “a sign”, I should have written “the only sign”. My bad.