BEST MUSICAL ARTIST EVER

[Phillycat]

Poll question: BEST MUSICAL ARTIST EVER

This is a companion piece to the BEST BAND EVER poll. This one recognized individual artists' achievements. Again, use any criteria you want - musicianship, entertainment, songwriting ability. And again, you don't get an "other" choice. You have to choose from the ones here. I also decided to open it up beyond rock music because I thought it would make a more interesting discussion - although I did not add obvious jazz choices like Miles and Coltrane. I am terribly sorry not to have any female choices here - I seriously considered Aretha Franklin, Joni Mitchell, Patti Smith, and some others, but felt that regardless of sex, the artists listed represented the best.

Feel free to elaborate on why you think your choice is the best. Happy voting!

[DS1]

1. No Mozart?

list sucks :thumbsdown:

[Phillycat]

4. I was trying to keep it century-relevant

:cry:

[DS1]

5. with the word "EVER"

eh?

[Phillycat]

7. Smartass

:P

[MissMillie]

28. I questioned that too

not only is this era specific, but it would seem to be very genre specific as well. We don't see Yo-yo Ma on this list.

[DS1]

34. Who?

[MissMillie]

37. the cellist

perhaps I am not spelling his name correctly.

or perhaps you are being facetious

[DS1]

47. Or perhaps I don't know who he is

[MissMillie]

49. Then you're truly missing something

Check out him doing the Bach cello concertos (I think it's "The Goldberg Variations")

Amazing stuff.

It's not the Goldberg Variations.... I found this: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000A7Q29G/qid=1147980066/sr=1-4/ref=sr_1_4/104-2184866-5834346?s=classical&v=glance&n=5174

I think the one people most think of when they think of Ma is Prde from Suite No. 1 in G Major for Cello, BWV 1007

[HuskerDU]

2. I voted for Bob Dylan, but really all of the artists on your

list are very good. Heck, I even like some of the Jackson 5 stuff.

[Phillycat]

6. I tried to pick a broad group

That way people can argue for their favorites without rancour. :)

[SteppingRazor]

3. I ain't votin'

Trying to compare the lyrical ability of Bob Dylan, the guitar playing of Jimi Hendrix, the multi-instrument capability of Prince, the pioneering work of Presley, etc., etc. is beyond comparing apples to oranges. It's not even comparing fruits. It's like comparing apples to baseball.

[Phillycat]

8. I think the worthiness of all the artists is what makes it interesting

But I'm a big wanker, so, you know.

[genie_weenie]

9. Damn it Jack!

I voted Jimi, but that's because I'm hooked on The Guitar.


My true vote will be for Robet Johnson over Leadbelly

[Phillycat]

12. I live to ruin your day

[genie_weenie]

54. The Lounge Sucks! Where is the Love for Jimi!

Why don't you love me DU? I'm good, please listen to some of my work...

[ScreamingMeemie]

10. I'm sorry, but Johnny Cash needs to be on there.

:(

[Phillycat]

13. I know, I know!

But who on earth would I take off? That's why I stressed you have to pick from the people here. :D

[ScreamingMeemie]

15. I can't pick from those people. I would replace Michael Jackson.

Some of those are very good singers, but not as good as Johnny or John Denver even. :cry:

[Phillycat]

16. But for songwriting...

Michael Jackson wrote and recorded some of the best pop songs of all time. Better than Elvis, better than the Beatles, some of them. I find him personally repugnant, but I can't argue with his talent.

I'm sorry! Forgive me! :cry:

[ScreamingMeemie]

17. I'll try to forgive you...

WAHHHHHHHHHHHHH.......

[Rabrrrrrr]

11. Mozart, Bach, or Frank Zappa

[Phillycat]

14. THEY ONLY GIVE ME TEN SLOTS

WOULD YOU JUST VOTE AND STOP BITCHING GOD DAMMIT. :D

[maxsolomon]

18. just ask people to make a list

people like lists.

Dylan is the Best SONGWRITER ever IN AMERICA.

he is NOT the best musician.

[Phillycat]

20. Many, many informed people would disagree with you

I am not a Dylan fan. However, his contribution to music is lauded by many as the finest of our generation. So, he's on there. Deal with it. :D

[NashVegas]

40. Truly Informed People Would Not

No one questions Dylan's ability as a songwriter. But as a musician/composer/arranger his body of work is nothing to write home about.

[arwalden]

19. Prince, Bowie, Lennon

[Phillycat]

21. Killed me not to put Bowie on there.

I thought we had enough Lennon love with the Beatles sweeping the BEST BAND EVER poll.

I, of course, voted for Prince. :)

[Tikki]

22. I might add that...

Chuck Berry
Arthur Lee
Doug Sahm
John Fogerty
Doug Colvin AKA Dee Dee Ramone
Elvis Costello

I believe that those who 'move music along' are the best representatives of the Art.


Tikki

[Phillycat]

23. Would have loved to include Costello and Berry

BUT THEY ONLY GIVE ME TEN DAMNED SLOTS. :D

[begin_within]

24. Beethoven - Debussy - Gershwin - Ellington - Porter - Guaraldi - Beatles

[Phillycat]

25. We already did BEST BAND EVER, including the Beatles, yesterday

And you know what my purpose was, so don't get smart. :P

[begin_within]

Beatles are not the best band. They are the best modern composers.

[Yollam]

26. Mick Hucknall

At least in terms of sheer number of songs that I have enjoyed immensely - he's turned out the most.

Everybody defines it differently, though.

For instance, the Beatles turned out an astounding number of very catchy pop songs and rock songs with brilliant lyrics. Each one a gem. But I've heard them all so many times, I really don't ever need to hear them again. But I never seem to tire of Simply Red. A mellow flow, but too much life to be Muzak.

So yeah, Mick Hucknall.

[bedpanartist]

27. way too mainstream!

where is John Doe?

where is Iggy Pop?

where is Tom T. Hall?

where is Ween?

where is Tom Waits?

where is Frank Zappa?

[jpgray]

29. Captain Beefheart or Woody Guthrie

[taterguy]

30. you have a point

Captain Beefheart now spends his time painting. Don't know enough about art to know if he's any good though

[jpgray]

31. He sucks!

Nah, it's pretty interesting stuff. I admit I'd be totally lost as to what a "Bat Chain Puller" was without the helpful illustrations.

[acmavm]

32. Chose Dylan (of course) but had a hard time because I like

Springsteen and Young as well.

[kwassa]

33. the one, the only ...

[underpants]

35. Elliott Yamin

:cry:

[Phillycat]

38. You are not right.

[LoZoccolo]

36. Noel Gallagher n/t

[MissMillie]

39. the ever so sublime

William Hung

[XNASA]

41. I assume you mean besides "His Holiness".....

Otherwise, it just wouldn't be fair now, would it?

[Phillycat]

42. Wow, does he not have dental?

That mouth is a MESS.

[XNASA]

45. Blasphemy.

[MissMillie]

50. Never gonna give you up!

:evilgrin:

[NashVegas]

43. I'm Sure You Meant Well

But this list is strictly a rock and/or rock-influenced list.

There are some greats on there, but none of them could qualify (except maybe Prince) to be on a list of best musical artists EVER.

PS- Aretha and Patti both kick Michael Jackson's ASS to kingdom come. Throw in the likes of Billie Holiday, Sarah Vaughan, Haydn, Beethoven, what have you, and there goes most of the rest of the list.

[Phillycat]

44. It's all subjective.

You people are very whiny, you know that? :D

[idgiehkt]

46. Polly Jean Harvey.

vocal, guitar, violin, cello..
etc etc

[RandomKoolzip]

48. I voted for "Bob Dylan."

I really wish you had more than thirteen business choices (i.e ten normal choices) :evilgrin:

[Phillycat]

51. Don't start!

Okay, start. I love it. ;-)

[vi5]

52. Dylan's great but he's not really the whole "package"...

He's a brilliant songwriter and unparallelled lyricist. But he's not necessarily a great musician.

Given that, I'd pick Neil Young. His songs are great, his lyrics are great, and he's a helluva guitar player and overall musician.

[One_Life_To_Give]

53. No Toby Keith?

Caruso, Mario Lanza, Freddie Mercury and Johnnie Cash.
Guess I have to vote for
George and Ira Gershwinn

[MiniMandaRuth]

55. Check the avatar, dood.

Dylan is the bestest in my opinion. And he helped me through a very troubled part of my life.