OT: Best musical artist of all time

avatar for larryfisherman
larryfisherman
California
Being as unbiased as you can (of course there is going to be some bias), who gets your vote of best musical artist of all time?

If you can’t limit it to one, who is in your Mt. Rushmore? (Top 3 or 4).

This encompasses all genres of music, not just one genre.

I’m gonna go with Michael Jackson. It’s pretty tough to beat when you can say you have the songs: Thriller, Billie Jean, Man in the Mirror, Bad, Beat It, Smooth Criminal, Black or White etc etc etc.

The Eagles and The Beatles are in the Mt. Rushmore.

What do you say?

63 comments

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avatar for ime
ime
6 years ago
the Eagles fuck off no way
avatar for ime
ime
6 years ago
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aK99LUpP…

Joe Walsh is kind of cool though
avatar for Jascoi
Jascoi
6 years ago
Boston?
avatar for flagooner
flagooner
6 years ago
Juice
avatar for ime
ime
6 years ago
if I had to pick four that I like and think are important I would go

Beatles, Black Sabbath, The Clash, Jimmy Hendrix

Beatles have to have them
Black Sabbath birth of heavy music
The Clash seminal punk band Sex Pistols and Ramones could be close but the Clash were more versatile.
Hendrix - no one played guitar like him

Honorable Mention - Run DMC they really seemed to bring hip hop to the mainstream a lot in part walk this way
AC/DC all their songs may sound the same but it is a good song
Iggy Pop
Black Flag

I would do a whole other set for punk rock
avatar for shailynn
shailynn
6 years ago
Beatles yes, no way in hell the Eagles.

I'm up for an argument with Michael. He was groundbreaking, but he didn't write his own shit. He released as much garbage later in his career as he did hits earlier. At least the Beatles wrote their own shit.

If you're looking for ideas, I don't think anyone has a valid argument is their band is not on this list:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Ro…

avatar for twentyfive
twentyfive
6 years ago
Nobody has a vote for The Rolling Stones, dayumn
avatar for flagooner
flagooner
6 years ago
Perry Como
Andy Williams
Engelbert Humperdinck
Bing Crosby
avatar for Jascoi
Jascoi
6 years ago
Boston?
avatar for flagooner
flagooner
6 years ago
I had to add Bing Crosby to get an oldie on the list.
avatar for ime
ime
6 years ago
Boston - no, why would you even ask.
avatar for Jascoi
Jascoi
6 years ago
nice harmony. beach boyz too.
avatar for shailynn
shailynn
6 years ago
Boston? Doesn't their albums only come on 8-tracks? I don't think I've ever seen a Boston CD. It's there a landfill somewhere full of unopened Boston 8-Track Albums?
avatar for twentyfive
twentyfive
6 years ago
Although I’ll have to admit the Stones would look pretty ugly on MT Rushmore;)
avatar for NinaBambina
NinaBambina
6 years ago
Vocally, Whitney Houston. If she had laid off the drugs she would've been even more of a legend.

Based off influence as well as music, I'd add The Beatles and Michael Jackson.

Hard to narrow down, as there are so many greats from decades ago as well as so many who died young.
avatar for ime
ime
6 years ago
it is impossible to pick 3 or 4 for all of music, mine were just pretty much rock since 1960's but it leaves out lots of stuff like BB King,Sam Cooke, Ray Charles, Desmond Dekker, impossible question.

avatar for flagooner
flagooner
6 years ago
Honestly, for music I just know what I like. Anything I would write on this subject would just be pure BS, and I don't do that.
avatar for jackslash
jackslash
6 years ago
Bob Dylan
Janis Joplin
The Doors
avatar for clubdude
clubdude
6 years ago
The Plasmatic.
avatar for Electronman
Electronman
6 years ago
Dylan
Beatles
Stones
avatar for ime
ime
6 years ago
Dylan songs are always better when played by someone else.
avatar for sshrfrsky
sshrfrsky
6 years ago
To me the greats are able to sound amazing both recorded and live. Tool in my limited experience with them live would be my choice.
avatar for jackslash
jackslash
6 years ago
IME, with all due respect you are fucking wrong. Dylan's versions are always better, with the exception of Jimi Hendrix's version of All Along the Watchtower:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TLV4_xaY…

No one can sing a Dylan song like Dylan. Yes, his voice is rough but it conveys the feeling. Take Mr Tamborine Man:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PYF8Y47q…
avatar for ime
ime
6 years ago
With all due respect I am right as it's my fucking opinion. Just was never that big of a Dylan fan, I appreciate his place in rock history.
avatar for founder
founder
6 years ago
Band: Rolling Stones

Singer songwriter: Jim Croce
avatar for NinaBambina
NinaBambina
6 years ago
"Janis Joplin"

One of the many greats who died young. She was also one of many who died at 27 (along with Morrison).

Me and Bobby McGee was the first song I taught myself on guitar. :)
avatar for nicespice
nicespice
6 years ago
“Friday” by Rebecca Black.
avatar for jackslash
jackslash
6 years ago
Janis Joplin, Jim Morrison and Jimi Hendrix all died at 27 between the years 1969 and 1971. I saw The Doors in concert. It must have been 1968.
avatar for Huntsman
Huntsman
6 years ago
Flag forgot to mention Lawrence Welk. And the Lemon sisters. He’s slipping.
avatar for NinaBambina
NinaBambina
6 years ago
"Janis Joplin, Jim Morrison and Jimi Hendrix all died at 27 between the years 1969 and 1971"

I know. My dad taught me about all of them. Although his favorite artist of all time is Bob Dylan. I got to know about a lot of the greats because of him. And it was because of Janis Joplin that I used to sneak Southern Comfort into school and drink it after lunch hour, before theater class.

I had a gorgeous Fender. I don't play anymore, because my Fender was stolen years ago. I remember the confusion I had in deciding how I wanted to play guitar, since I'm left handed. I thought of playing like Hendrix, who played his right-handed guitar upside-down. But I'm no Hendrix and that seemed confusing. Then I thought of getting a left-handed guitar, but I didn't limit myself. So I just got a normal one and found it to be easy, as the fretting is done with the left hand.

I actually named that guitar "Joplin." I wonder where she ended up...
avatar for Huntsman
Huntsman
6 years ago
I know I’m biased for the locals but how about Prince?
avatar for NJBalla
NJBalla
6 years ago
Shakira
avatar for shadowcat
shadowcat
6 years ago
It's different for every generation. Just for information "Glenn Miller scored 23 number-one hits - more than Elvis Presley (18 No. 1s, 38 top 10s) and the Beatles (20 No. 1s, 33 top 10s) did in their careers."
avatar for ATACdawg
ATACdawg
6 years ago
Jimmy Buffett!
avatar for larryfisherman
larryfisherman
6 years ago
Yes The Rolling Stones are in the Mt. Rushmore.

You all are aware that The Eagles created the “Hotel California album correct??
avatar for shadowcat
shadowcat
6 years ago
In the movie the Big Lebowski the Gipsy Kings did Hotel California. I liked it better than the Eagles.
avatar for Clubber
Clubber
6 years ago
I can only say I was able to see in person, 3 of the greatest of all time. Bo Diddley, Chuck Berry, and Little Richard.

More current AC/DC and the Stones. These days, can't think of any.
avatar for SirLapdancealot
SirLapdancealot
6 years ago
@larryfisherman I can't argue with Michael Jackson when you throw in his Jackson Five days. He was their darling. Such a talent at such a young age.

And then the Beatles and their longevity and diversity over the years makes a lot of sense too.

But then if you include Michael then I don't see how you can leave out Prince. And if you include the Beatles then to me U2 belongs in the same convo as them.

So to me Prince (and trust me he's not my personal favorite) is #1 because he was overall
the most talented at music as a whole. He could sing, play numerous instruments (a virtuoso on piano and electric guitar), write lyrics, compose, produce, and edit music. His music was diverse too. Plus he understood the theatrical production of it and could perform. Also he was a promoter of other musicians. I don't know any other musician that I was so good at so many facets of it. So to me Prince is #1.

As far as greatest bands I say U2, Led Zeppelin, and the Beatles close out my Mt. Rushmore with Prince. All three of these bands consistently produced hit after hit but also were both musically diverse while also being true to a sound that defined them. For example the Beatles had hits from bubble gum pop (like Penny Lane) to trippy drug music like Lucy in the Sky. U2 was alternative rock before it was called that with Gloria but also could do big stadium rock like It's a Beautiful Day. And last but not least Led Zeppelin had folk type hits like Battle of Evermore and epic ballads like Stairway to Heaven. But still these bands had a sound of their own and they had longevity.

My highly biased and personal Mt. Rushmore would include Suicidal Tendencies, Tool, Tupac Shakur, Cocteau Twins, and Heather Nova
avatar for Jascoi
Jascoi
6 years ago
abba.
avatar for tumblingdice
tumblingdice
6 years ago
Next Position Please ft. Rockstar666 and P-Nemesis.

Founder,check out This Ain't No Tribute,The Rolling Stones Paint It Blue.
avatar for TFP
TFP
6 years ago
Fucking nicespice LMAO Rebecca Black. I hated how all my friends told me I looked like the black dude who rapped in that video. Only because we both squint when we talk.
avatar for Electronman
Electronman
6 years ago
NinaBambina: Joplin was great and her version of Me and Bobby McGee is my personal favorite. However, that song was written by Kris Kristofferson and Fred Foster.

For me, you need to write and perform music to make my list of Greatest Musical Artists. The females at the top of my personal list are Carol King and Joni MItchell, both great song writers and performers but unlikely to make most lists unless you like folk or folk rock.
avatar for twentyfive
twentyfive
6 years ago
Haven’t heard any votes for The Who up there with The Stones, a lot of great music there and great performances live not like most of these studio bands a lot of you guys seem to like.
avatar for Jascoi
Jascoi
6 years ago
moody blues? deep purple? blue oyster cult? pitbull? julio iglesias? enrique?
avatar for Mate27
Mate27
6 years ago
Elvis
The Who
Fleetwood Mac
avatar for rattdog
rattdog
6 years ago
only a couple of mentions of the rolling stones. i can see that. lots of people actually really hate this band.
no mention of van halen? the police? queen? damn
avatar for magicrat
magicrat
6 years ago
I can't say it any better than Sirlapdancealot.....gotta be Prince
avatar for ime
ime
6 years ago
Lynyrd Skynyrd were pretty famn good.
Creedence Clearwater Revival
The Band
avatar for NinaBambina
NinaBambina
6 years ago
"NinaBambina: Joplin was great and her version of Me and Bobby McGee is my personal favorite. However, that song was written by Kris Kristofferson and Fred Foster."

Electronman - I am aware of this. Like I said earlier, my dad taught me everything about these people. I knew that she didn't write it, she just OWNED it. That's how amazing she was. You think of Me and Bobby McGee and you automatically think of Janis.

And I didn't put Janis Joplin on my list of the best of all time. That was Jackslash. I did, however, say that there are many people who died young (specifically many who died at 27), and with Janis being in that group, she would have done so much more if she hadn't tragically died like so many other greats.

So while I did not put her on my list, there's a special place in my heart for her. She brought so much soul into everything she sang and to everything she did. I think my dad first started teaching me about her when I was 14 or so. I'd love to have some SoCo and share a blunt with mid-20s, alive, Janis.

That's why I named my guitar after her. :)
avatar for larryfisherman
larryfisherman
6 years ago
@sirlapdance- as far as most talented musicians ever I agree with you on Prince.

@MisterWonderful- Lmao

My main requirements for best musical artist ever: longevity, classic albums, impact/influence
avatar for Icey
Icey
6 years ago
Biggie
Nas
Tupac
Brenton Wood
Nina Simone
avatar for SirLapdancealot
SirLapdancealot
6 years ago
I have a huge bias for divas and Janis is in my Mt. Rushmore of them. @NinaBambina to me when you listen to Janis you can "feel" the soul of a woman in her passion better than any other (although there are many that come close). She can put a chill down my spine with some of her more passionate lines in songs (One Good Man and Piece of My Heart come to mind).
avatar for Pizza (hiatus)
Pizza (hiatus)
6 years ago
Kanye West, and he keeps getting better.

https://youtu.be/cwQgjq0mCdE
avatar for SirLapdancealot
SirLapdancealot
6 years ago
@larryfisherman based on your criteria it is hard to argue against Michael Jackson being #1. The world-wide influence he had to me is second to none. There's a reason he's called the King of Pop.

With my own criteria I had to include overall musical talent and diversity which is why Prince is #1 (hands down) even though he didn't quite have the influence and classic albums as Michael.
avatar for larryfisherman
larryfisherman
6 years ago
@EchoPizza- hahaha, I know you’re joking. To me Kanye West is super overrated. He had ONE great album “The College Dropout” his first album, then everything else he put out wasn’t even close to that.

I like hip hop the best, so I’m super biased in that genre. Biggie is a legend I think, I can’t put him in the Mt. Rushmore because he only put out two albums before he was killed, but both of those albums were classic. 2Pac on the other hand is in the top 20 of greatest musical artists ever, he died young at 25, but he put out lots of albums, had classics, had impact/influence.
avatar for twentyfive
twentyfive
6 years ago
Based on the criteria you are using Frank Sinatra, and Garth Brooks belong up there talk about longevity, while I like both of them as well as country music kid rate Johnny Cash or ROY Orbison up there as well, I mean there are great artists from all genres and eras this is so subjective it’s more difficult to rank musicians than athletes or movies as the only statistic that really counts is earnings.
avatar for Icey
Icey
6 years ago
Kanye is an amazing producer but sucks as a rapper.
avatar for SirLapdancealot
SirLapdancealot
6 years ago
My Rap Mt. Rushmore: Tupac Shakur, Public Enemy, Slick Rick, Beastie Boys
avatar for twentyfive
twentyfive
6 years ago
No love for MC Hammer I mean yes it’s old but he was there in the beginning along with NWA
avatar for theDirkDiggler
theDirkDiggler
6 years ago
The trinity or three kings: Elvis Presley, Michael Jackson and Freddie Mercury.

Mt. Rushmore of bands: Queen, Led Zeppelin, The Who and The Eagles (I kno
avatar for theDirkDiggler
theDirkDiggler
6 years ago
^Oops, i meant to say only one American band made it on Rushmore. The rest were English...
avatar for Icey
Icey
6 years ago
I think the best rappers are

Nas
Big Pun
Rakim
Biggie
Tupac
Eazy E
avatar for skibum609
skibum609
6 years ago
Every musician or band named has had their music done by others. The best is so good, no one is brave enough to cover anything they've ever done. I say Pink Floyd.
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