This list is from Rolling Stone magazine and under each singer are ten songs you can listen to with a summary written by a fellow big time singer.
Here’s the top ten:
- Aretha Franklin
- Ray Charles
- Elvis Presley
- Sam Cooke
- John Lennon
- Marvin Gaye
- Bob Dylan
- Otis Redding
- Stevie Wonder
- James Brown
Bono writes about Bob Dylan, and Bono comes in at 32 which I think is a little high. As much of a fan I am of him, I don’t know how I feel about him making the top third. I think maybe he’s in the middle or lower end. Heck, Sting didn’t even make the list. But I have to admit that Billie Joe Armstrong’s write up did catch my attention:
I would describe Bono’s singing as 50 percent Guinness, 10 percent cigarettes — and the rest is religion. He’s a physical singer, like the leader of a gospel choir, and he gets lost in the melodic moment. He goes to a place outside himself, especially in front of an audience, when he hits those high notes.
Too bad Eva Cassidy didn’t live long enough, she would have definately made the list.
Wow! Hate to admit I’d never heard of her. Now won’t ever forget.
I “discovered” Eva Cassidy about two years and have several CD’s. Such a shame to have lost a very talented young woman
Ugh; I’ve got to say that I hate these “the best/worst XYZ ever lists. This one is particularly poorly named; best singers? Most influential, perhaps…most innovative or most representative or best performers or…something, but not best singers.
American Heritage tells me that ‘best” means, “Surpassing all others in excellence, achievement, or quality” No one who performed outside a narrow time period is featured, and no one outside few pop genres. Caruso? Guthrie? Williams? Holliday? Gosh…Kate Smith?
Anyway, I’ll go back under my rock now…