Who is the most popular and influential recording artist of all time?

Who is the most popular and influential recording artist of all time? Off the top of my head I came up with ten possibilities. I tried to include all music genre's and was as objective as possible.


Please select from the list. If I have left off an artist or group you believe should be included (Like the Eagles, Johnny Cash, Pink Floyd, Jay Z, Billy Joel, Elton John etc.) please add them in your comments below. (You can tell from my top ten list it was a real struggle! LOL!)

The band than made the same song 100 times?

I'll take the Beatles any day.

Even if it's true, it somewhat misses the overall impact.

the whole "I don't like it so its a steaming pile of crap" bit is old.

the whole "I don't agree so its a steaming pile of crap" bit is old.

I believe the correct response from me would be "Go, go, suck your toe, all the way to Mexico. When you're there, kiss a bear, smell my stinky underwear."

Unbelievable.

Unbelievable.

It is just entertainment.

Sorry for telling you to suck your toe. :P

It's okay to not like the Beatles and still think they were a great and influential band.

I like The Beatles. I don't love them. But I understand their importance in the music world. I also understand that there music was great even if I don't have a taste for all of it.

I am sure many crappy bands have been influenced by silly things.

It's okay to not like a band and still think their music is good.

I happen to like much of what The Beatles made. Not all of it, but most. Much of their music was ground breaking stuff.

The music world (critics, experts, etc.) happens to think The Beatles produced some of the greatest music to ever grace humanity.

Yet it's garbage because you don't like it?

The Beatles have a few decent songs. I can now see how my post can be read as; "Beatles has a good song or two, the rest of their songs are garbage." as opposed to; "Beatles has a good song or two, the rest of those bands are garbage."

My post was not clear, the confusion is my fault.

Bring Crosby may be another exception, I will have to go back and relisten to some of his stuff.

Thanks for the clarification.

You had me confused too.

Now i understand what you meant.

Don't agree with it completely, but i sure understand your point.

So, ignore my other reply. I posted before i read your clarification.
GAC

I read it in the negative as well.

I love zombie movies, but I take them seriously.

They can be a bit dramatic, but I like them.

I also love Hendrix, but not as much.

Mr. Bungle and Swans are also decent rock bands.

I have to admit, I interpreted your post above as going in a different direction. :D

And trashing the Beatles is quite passe. It's been done, it's old, it's tired, and it's also ridiculous.

Look up the term sine qua non.
GAC

then who am I to judge?

I personally think the Beatles are excellent, overrated, and overplayed.

And they should have kept their first look- that of Elvis in Jailhouse Rock.

:toast:

He really is a force of nature. Having seen him in his "comeback" phase COMPLETELY blow the roof off the joint, yeah, he's a candidate for ambassador.

Dylan's all right, too. :evilgrin:

In a pinch, Aerosmith, AC/DC or YoYoMa.

What a beautiful voice

But the US's all time bestselling album is the Eagle's Greatest Hits. It's the 5th bestselling worldwide. So, in popularity, they've got to be given their due, I suppose.

Something like 27 years. Didn't make this guy's cut either.

No Streisand... but Scion???? The Praying Mantis?

My toughest call was U2 or Pink Floyd. I struggled with it, but ultimately went with U2 because they are more than just a rock band. Their work for social causes around the world, edged out "Dark Side Of the Moon". But like most selections on this board, it was VERY close.

;)

my problem was, if the Eagles left us tomorrow, what's their legacy? How did they change the music industry? I wanted the discussion to be about more than just a list of numbers from record sales. The Eagles are an all time great group. "Hotel California" is one of my favorites. But I would contend that even a group like Run DMC has had a greater impact on music and the industry than the Eagles ever have. That's why they didn't make the list.

who'd argue significance in their pedestrian rock. I'm just noting that in popularity, they're monsters.

If we're only measuring sales though, Irving Berlin would stomp everybody. His White Christmas alone, in it's various permutations, has sold nearly a half billion copies.

I've always wondered about The Eagles Greatest Hits. The first time I remember listening to it was on my parents' 8-tack. Then we had it on album. I've since had it not only on CD, but I think on cassette. In my lifetime, and of that album, there have been so many changes in technology. Does it count if the same people have repurchased it just because of the change in technology? (I don't have it on MP3, though.) Is it "fair" to compare their sales over the years of these changes to a more recent album that might have been purchased in perhaps only two forms? Just to clarify, I'm not dogging the album (obviously, if I keep listening to it), but just always wondered about that issue when I'd hear that it was one of the greatest selling albums.

to Thriller. Vinyl was widely available when it first came out.

In fact, I can't think of any one that could be "the most".

One point. Barbra Streisand should replace Scion. That Titanic song was channeling Streisand like Mariah Carrey channels Klipsch's speaker labs with her tweeter workouts. Not much originality to Scion's talent. Streisand influenced her.

but for some reason I view Celine Dion as a much bigger star. I ranked them 1)Dion, 2)Carey, 3)Streisand. But there are no wrong answers. All 3 are powerhouses!

Carrey's a hack. Dion is a derivative trophy wife with a birthday gift career from hubby.

Streisand has been belting out songs since the 50s, acted in numerous films, and has still held her integrity (IE not selling out to Vegas). She made it on talent alone.

If your criteria is influence. Scion would have a different voice if Streisand didn't exist.

ABBA should be on your list as well. Talk about influence!

I think she is really underrated. Although the criteria is VERY SUBJECTIVE, longevity alone shouldn't be enough to make the list. And that is Streisand's biggest advantage over the other two. In terms of "star power' and influence, I'm not sure Streisand is any bigger than Carey. Although I like Streisand's work with social issues. That's why I gave a huge nod to U2. And an argument could be made I should have done that with Streisand too.


I must say the majority is with you in regard to Celine Dion. Nobody seems to think she belongs there. She apparently is not nearly as big a star as I thought she was. I will concede that point.


I actually thought long and hard about ABBA. The problem I had is that I fit them in with the disco era in the U.S. That period only lasted about 5 years. I know they are big over in Europe. But after "Dancing Queen" what did they do here?

They practically created disco in the US, and their influence on New Wave later in the 80s is also in their music.

But off the top of my head I can only name two ABBA songs... "Knowing Me, Knowing You" and "Dancing Queen."



If you don't mind me asking... "Are you based in the U.S.?



I think ABBA is far bigger in Europe than they are in America.




Edit..... I just thought of a third ABBA song, "Take A Chance On Me!"

And yes, they've been much more influential in Europe than in the US, but they do have enough influence to warrant a consideration.

They are old hat, so remembering only 2 songs isn't that bad. I'm sure your remember if you were reminded.

Chiqitita
Take A Chance
Eagle
Fernando
Waterloo
Mama Mia
I Wonder
Summer Night City
Money Money Money

Ok, I'll stop.:blush:

Oh' Hell one more... S.O.S

I think the Bee Gees have a better argument that ABBA. I think the Bee Gees have the better argument over a lot of groups, disco or not.

ABBA is proof that the magic in a recording studio can make anyone into a good singer.

I agree on the Bee Gees. I've "rediscovered" them lately and love them again!

Not really.

Disco already existed before these songs came along, but these were the ones that really began to popularize it.

1975 #1 U.S. hit singles...KC and the Sunshine Band - "Get Down Tonight"
"That's The Way (I Like It)"
The Bee Gees - "Jive Talkin'"

1976 #1 U.S. hit singles...KC and the Sunshine Band - "(Shake, Shake, Shake) Shake Your Booty"
"I'm Your Boogie Man"
The Bee Gees - "You Should Be Dancing"

1977 #1 U.S. hit singles... The Bee Gees - "Stayin' Alive"
and finally ABBA's first #1 - "Dancing Queen"

1978 The rest of the "Saturday Night Fever" soundtrack goes on to produce several #1 hits.

ABBA did reach #6 in the U.S. in 1974 with "Waterloo", but that really wasn't a disco song. (It just doesn't fit the genre stylistically. It's in a triple meter and the tempo is much faster than most disco tunes)

Still, not a disco tune.

The Bee Gees arguably didn't either, but SNF certainly helped put them over the top.

I certainly didn't get that out of your post.

She's untouchable.

Every so many centuries a voice like hers might come along. We live in the time of Barbra Streisand and owe ourselves the deep, bone-shaking pleasure of her talent.

As someone with enough training herself to recognize amazing skill there. Perfect pitch, perfect placement, amazing breath control... She's just something rare.

politics or feminist views or strong will, but who can't help but love her voice.

It's so fun to watch how conflicted they are.

I'm a sleeves-rolled-up hardcore fan of Barbra Streisand. I favor a state-of-the-art Barbra Streisand Center for the Performing Arts / Museum and a national holiday on her birthday.

And the death penalty for anybody who speaks against her.

- - -

I'm only half kidding about the death penalty.

n/t

sound between his voice and the orchestra. I'd rank him very high -- way over Sinatra -- but I just don't think he has the range or versatility that Streisand does.

Just my take.

his death was a waste too, his father shot him.

Popular being judged by album sales. Influential being judged by thousands of opinions we've never heard.

By far. That guy writes some gorgeous rock poetry.

I'm not saying they're the most influential, just more so than other artists on there (though I realize a couple of those are jokes . . . who voted for Celine Dion?).

If I had the list to do over again, I think I would find a way to include them.



Another "crack" at Celine Dion? You are like the third person here to object to her.


I thought she was a huge star. I guess I missed that one! LOL!


Is it a Canadian thing?

My piano teacher made me learn that Titanic song - Heart Will Go On - or something like that. I was harassed by young girls at church to play it over and over for them every Sunday. Always hated her after that.

Hey, Kids in the Hall are great, and I want your health care, so no offense.:hug:

Besides, Saga is one of my favorite bands. Rush is great too!

I am just trying to figure out why nobody liked Celine Dion. Or better yet, how I could have been so wrong in putting her on the list. She's a big deal in my house! I guess her popularity ends there! LOL!

It's a nightmare.

Okay, maybe Celine Dion doesn't belong on the list.

It was like watching your mom doing hip thrusts while wearing the "we're rocking out ovah heah" face.

what about Gordon Lightfoot?

and Sarah McLachlan are Canadian, so no, it's not Canada.

Sabbath had the biggest impact for a lot of what I listen to now. Every stoner band on the planet owes Iommi some royalty money. :)

But I couldn't argue their influence. They paved the way for a lot of bands to come, a few of which I like - Grails, Isis. Of course, without Black Sabbath there wouldn't have been Metallica, and without Metallica there wouldn't have been St. Anger . . . I'm going to have to think about this.

was Bolden that really invented Jazz and that he was a direct influence on everything Armstrong ever did.

he's big in Germany.

Although I think the NBA's Dallas Mavericks have a lot of love for his music! LOL!

:evilgrin:

Just look at her. You just know she eats the heads off of her sex partners.

If there's any doubt she's the queen of ticky-tacky:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2vgVj3P7cwI

Has she no shame?:scared:

EDIT: It was "You Shook Me All Night" not "Back In Black"... but she's still going to have bad karma for that.

:rofl:

.

When I saw the OP's question that is the FIRST name the came to my mind. Seriously come on, Celine Dion? Robert Johnson INVENTED an entire genre. Celine fucking Dion... just kill me. You young people do not know your music.

She's better than most of the pop singers out there.

The Titanic song is a suckwad song with words by a suckwad lyricist, Will Jennings, who used to write suckwad lyrics for the non-sucky Steve Winwood.

Celine Dion's other stuff is actually quite good.

They can keep Pink Floyd (I heard DSOTM and TW so many times on the radio I have PTSD).

And they can keep Led Zep. (Didn't like em back when lots of people in college thought they were god).

And most of the major rock/pop musicians of the past several decades know how influential he was. From the Stones to Clapton, all sorts of musicians have paid homage to, and/or covered the songs of the blues poet from the Delta.

If only they knew.

everything keeps leading back to him. Not the only one like that , but one of very few.

The Fred Astaire choice should have been Frank Sinatra. I got confused with my old-timers who's first name starts with "F".


Your 100% right. Frank Sinatra belongs on the list. (I have made the change)

1 billion records or more
Artist Country Period Genre Source
The Beatles United Kingdom 1960-1970 Rock / Rock and Roll / Pop / Others <1><2><3>
Elvis Presley United States 1953–1977 Rock / Pop <4><5><6>


500 million to 999 million records
Artist Country Period Genre Source
Bing Crosby United States 1926–1977 Traditional pop/Jazz <7><8>
Michael Jackson United States 1967–2009 Pop / R&B <9><10><11><12>

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_best-selling_music_artists

REALLY depends on question.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_best-charting_U.S._music_artists

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_best-selling_music_artists_in_the_United_States

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_best-charting_modern_U.S._music_artists

before the Beatles and then there was music after the Beatles. They influenced everything that came after.

He established the viability, salability and, in fact, the very existence of the recording medium. He was there at the recording industry's infancy, was it's first superstar, and remains 88 years after his death, a bestseller.

When I made my initial list I struggled to find many female artists on the level of a Michael Jackson, Beatles, Elvis Presley etc.


Madonna is the only woman I could really think of who has a "seat at the table" with the all time greats.


Looking at the responses here, I don't see many women being mentioned.


WHY?

Aretha.

You've constrained the question as to make it almost meaningless. Influential and popular makes it the Beatles but I don't think that they would win either one if the two points are seperated.

For most influential, maybe Robert Zimmerman, and as for most popular, well, of course Michael Jackson.

:rofl:

... in no time. "Silver Bells. *WHACK!* ... Silver Bells!"

Bing Crosby walks away with the prize here. He pretty much invented the modern Recording Studio, and many of the techniques used still today in the process of recording music were started by him.

overdubbing, multi-tracking, developing the electric guitar - the Beatles and their successors wouldn't be anywhere without him.

took multi-tracking to a whole other level.

There are better bands but nobody changed the face of music like they did. Before the Beatles you had singers, songwriters, session musicians, instrumental surf bands named "somebody and the so-and-sos", etc. After the Beatles you have a world where bands must be four guys writing their own songs and all playing their own instruments, and named "the ________". That was an absolutely radical fundamental shift in popular music, and we're still dealing with the consequences of it in many ways.

I thought the vote would be closer. But so far it's the Beatles in a landslide.


If I had to rank my top 5.


1)Beatles
2)Michael Jackson
3)Elvis Presley
4)Madonna
5)Run DMC

It's not like they invented Hip Hop. :shrug:

I think most site "The Sugar Hill Gang" or "Grand Master Flash" among the very first pioneers of Hip Hop. But Run DMC was the first group to really popularize the music outside of New York or urban, black areas.

When these types of discussions come up, Rap/Hip Hop is always ignored. But if you look at album sales, videos, political and cultural issues etc. clearly the pioneers of this music genre are just as important as those in Rock, country pop and others.


I think if you had to pick a group that best symbolized all of that it would be Run DMC. This may sound crazy, but in my neighborhood, (100% white) the first rap video I ever saw was their joint effort with Aerosmith.


Believe it or not I gave a lot of thought to NWA. Not many here probably even know who they are, but some people call them the most influential music group in the last 25 years. An MTV executive said on a radio show once said "Today we live in a music world created by Eazy E."

I thought the vote would be closer. But so far it's the Beatles in a landslide.


If I had to rank my top 5.


1)Beatles
2)Michael Jackson
3)Elvis Presley
4)Madonna
5)Run DMC

I think that limits their all-time/all-world status.

could care less about the Beetles and many people do not find their music appealing.

and ground breaking stuff on Sgt Pepper alone make the choice easy. Everyone followed that.

When that album came out, they said that it was ahead of it's time. It was (and is) much more than a music album, it's a work of art!

Ignoring "popular" for a moment and just focusing on "influential" you should remove Michael Jackson, Madonna, Run DMC, Celine Dion, & U2 (all were popular but none have had any real lasting influence).

Then you should add Bob Dylan (transformed popular songwriting), Les Paul (invented multitrack recording and studio wizardry), Kraftwerk (invented techno, hugely influenced hip-hop, etc), Miles Davis, Coltrane, maybe Lee Perry... I don't know, my list might be more controversial but yours arguably only covers "popular" and not "influential". I'd probably axe Sinatra and Crosby as well.

Bach, Beethoven, Mozart

It would be like if we were having a conversation about movies and you started bringing up Shakespeare at the Globe Theater.

Personally, I grew up in the 60s so, for me, the best answer to this question is the Beatles!!

I remember before anyone knew about the Beatles and it was very different from after we met the Beatles. The best word to describe this pre-Beatles period is conservative. Men wore short hair, women wore dresses and people never talked about sex. I remember my uncle used to have a flat top! And in my school, they wouldn't even let girls wear culottes!

After the Beatles, men started growing their hair long...women did too. They not only made great music but they also influenced all aspects of the way we live!

They changed our attitudes about sex, they influenced the way we dressed, they introduced us to drugs, meditation and spirituality. They even promoted activism and led a revolution. They told us we shouldn't trust the establishment and to question authority.

So for me, most influential has to be the Beatles! But there have also been other popular groups too. Among my favs, Pink Floyd, the Stones, Aerosmith, The Who, Emerson Lake & Palmer and Led Zeppelin.

edit: I forgot to add Queen among my favs......

I'm not a particularly big fan - but he was the first modern producer and redefined the way music is made, for better or worse. With the possible exception of country and gospel you can't name a genre of music he hasn't influenced the production of.

That group churned out a ridiculous amount of rock gods and helped form the rock genre.

But the answer is the Beatles.

Her music is overwrought, she's hard to look at, has scarecrow dance moves, caterwauls, and has an incredibly inflated sense of self. What in God's name is the appeal?

"My heart will go onnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn...!"

Celine Dion and no Bob Dylan?

I just don't consider Celine Dion influential. Unless her singing was inspiration to the millions who audition for American Idol.

since I have so badly been wrong about something. I guess I was just wrong about Celine Deon. She has by far received the most negative feedback on this board.

Probably the most influential is Bob Dylan
He was the transition from folk to rock and roll and took rock music from silly love songs into poetic musical compositions.
The Beatles however transformed rock music itself with the release of Sargent Peppers album.

Sgt. Pepper was inspired by "Pet Sounds" - Beach Boys

David Bowie & Brian Eno, Parliamentary, Run DMC, The Rolling Stones, Roxy Music, etc...

Might have been a good add. He's been around for a long time, and his music has always been really good.

They don't necessarily go together. The English invasion was influenced by Blues and R&B greats like Muddy Waters, Chuck Berry and others. How much of American pop was influenced by Brian Wilson. From your list the only to actually be an influence long term in the music business is the Beatles and possible Elvis. The rest did not change music in any real way. To go back to the 40's it would be Frank Sinatra. That's the triumvirate - Sinatra - Elvis - The Beatles. No one else has come close to doing what they did to music.

yes, it's a joke

and they were asking people like Bruce Springsteen and Tom Petty who their primary influence was. They said "Elvis". That included the Beatles. That being said, The Beatles then became an influence for another whole wave of younger musicians who followed them. I'm not a Beatles fan (like some of their songs, but much prefer The Who and the Stones) but I absolutely acknowledge their influence on music (along with Elvis who was the First Rock Star).

The Beatles have admitted they would not have been here without Elvis. They were also influenced by Carl Perkins and other old-time rockabillies. Elvis was greatly influenced by the old blues masters. Michael Jackson was a great dancer but James Brown was the master that Jackson copied in a lot of way. Have you seen his dance moves?? The very old timers believe that Sinatra was the King of the world when it comes to music.

However, and it is my generation, I still believe that Elvis had the greatest influence on our society that exists today. His sideburns were radical and opened the door for the Beatles to come on the scene with their long hair. And it seems like such a trivial matter nowadays.

Before Elvis, we had Perry Como and Tony Bennett-type singers, who were great in their own right. But they did not do rock and roll. Elvis was such a great change from the status quo, that he shook the world. As great as all the others, none could claim to have the same impact.

deserves consideration.

Her PIECES OF THE SKY album in the early 70s was a quantum leap for country and western music. It leaned hard on the 'western' part of that genre. To her vast credit, she never was a marquis-topping commercial success on the Nashville scene, but more of a woman moving through a river fog, off the main roads, but always there.

She's done backup vocals for everyone except Franklin Pierce.

She's everywhere! Singing with everyone!

I joked to my kids that there's a period of time in which you can hear either Michael McDonald or Emmylou Harris singing backup on any given song.

all around without Emmylou Harris bolstering them.

I love her solo work but she can do a backup harmony like nobody's business.

My husband went to get something or to the bathroom - suddenly, there was this striking white-haired woman on stage with Bruce... Took my husband a few beats and a nudge from me to realize who had joined the band for the night. It's interesting that, along with her solo career, she's made a whole career of supporting other artists like that - sort of famous for not being famous and making other people so.

joining Springsteen for that night's concert.

She moves so easily through different kinds of music. And she's a liberal Democrat! I'm sure the Nashville exec types have no idea what to do with her.

Far back in her career -- I think after the release of PIECES OF THE SKY -- a group of us went to Tangelwood in Massachusetts to hear James Taylor. A very Phoebe Snow was slated as the opening act. The baby -- and isn't this just like ALL babies -- didn't give a hoot about the evening's schedule and decided to make its birthday a couple hours prior to the show.

The record company asked Emmylou Harris to fill in for Phoebe. She brought most of the Hot Band with her and while James Taylor was absolutely terrific that night, Emmylou might have been one notch better.

There were damn few folks walking out of that joint that night doing any complaining.

I knew some guys back in HS who are musicians (one's now a NY Doll, I think) - one of them worked with Phoebe Snow for a while.

I've never been up to Tanglewood - though I live only a couple of hours away. Ought to remedy that one day, I guess!

After the show stop in at Friendly's for a chocolate fribble.

Of all the things we can do on earth AS WE AWAIT THE FUNDIE RAPTURE, music and ice cream make a strong case.

:toast:

(pretend that's a fribble - chocolate!)

Love it, but thought it was confined to Ohio.

They used to be, anyhow.

I wanted to form an objective and cross-reaching list. But I am not a fan of country music. I really couldn't think of any country music singers (Garth Brooks, Gordan Lightfoot?) I am glad you mentioned some country music artists.

If you mix Bob Wills and Robert Johnson you get something on the lines of Carl Perkins (ah, if only he hadn't been in that car crash in '56 maybe we'd be talking about his version of Blue Suede Shoes instead of Elvis's), a major influence on the Beatles. As was Buddy Holly, brief as his career was.

But so was British music hall tradition, something about which I know very little.

I've really enjoyed reading people's responses.

Thank you.

Gordon is NOT country! Too many people conflate folk with country! Stop, already!

one of the best-crafted folk melodies / lyrics I've ever heard.

Lightfoot and Dylan both dabbled in country a bit here and there, but at least for me, they remain firmly in the folk camp.

due to his pioneerting wotk with multitracking. The development changed composition and prtformance. No one's influence is greater. No one.

.

I'm beginning to think you're my long-lost brother :D

:shrug:

I was really struggling to find other women to add to the list besides Madonna. That was probably my mistake. Motown should have been there somewhere.


Good call.

to name a few. Your poll is goofy.

but I am not sure they ever reached the influence of an Elvis, Michael, Lennon (Beatles), Sinatra, etc.


I just find it odd that Madonna is the only woman I know of that belongs in this group.

off of his invention.

:rofl:

Hank Williams is the correct answer.

:dunce:

and put it on a farm.

Roy Orbison

or there is no perspective. Those that were born after 1955 may think Michael Jackson the greatest entertainer of all time. And for them, he probably was. But for those that were born previous to that, not so great. We can only know what we have experienced.

...the answer is the Beatles. That's not even up for debate. The Beatles had a profound influence on EVERY SINGLE ROCK ACT that came after them, AND they were enormously popular. No other artist can make a stronger claim.

was introduced into homes around the world, and happened to invent what we now know as popular music, although most people think of it as jazz. Every aspiring musician from that time forward was shaped by Armstrong, even after his direct influence was forgotten. Bluesmen like Robert Johnson and Charlie Patton were seminal in their area of "race music," and later copied widely by rockers, but NO ONE as a recording artist had Louis' influence on the development of popular music.

As in, "why isn't this in it?"

All punk, grunge and metal come from them. They where the Anti-Beatles.

Nothing like heavy slab o' sab to start the day. For those of us who have a taste for the dark, Sabbath is most definitely the band we all look to. The world changed when "Earth" was renamed :)

I'm frankly amazed that this list has only 2 African American acts--and Run DMC isn't even the most influential rap group.

1) I wanted a rap group but didn't know who to go with. I thought about 3. NWA, Public Enemy, Run DMC.


2) I really wanted Motown represented, someone earlier mentioned the Supremes. Another poster talked about Louis Armstrong. Those are two choices that should have been given more consideration.

the list is astonishingly....whitewashed. I try to avoid these convos on DU for obvious reasons, but look, if you asked The Beatles and the Stones the people who most influenced them, they both name African American artists. Sinatra, too. And it seems to me that having a poll about most influential artists in popular music (or whatever it is) and having only two African American acts, one of which was not even the most influential rap act in its generation, is strange, indeed.

to think of an album as an organic whole, organized around a mood or a theme. His phrasing, which borrowed from both Louis and Ella, was seminal. I could go on, but it's not really worth it. I'm not even a huge Sinatra fan--I much prefer Ella, especially, and Louis. But his influence over music is undeniable.

Sinatra's The Man, The Music is a great one with him talking about the songs and who influenced him before each one. It's very soothing, too.

If I could have started the thread over some of the names would have been different.



I would have used Dylan over U2


Barbara Streisand or Mariah Carey over Celine Dion


Plus, I am still trying to find spots for Pink Floyd and Led Zeppelin. The Louis Armstrong support is interesting too. There were only ten spots. It's a lot harder than you think. Lots of opinions.

Not sure if they're on here but come on, they deserve a mention at very least...

but LZ has been talked about a lot on this board.

40's Benny Goodman, Glen Miller

50's Elvis

60's Beatles

70's The Police, Fleetwood Mac, Moody Blues ?

80's Big Hair Bands

90's Green Day, Chile Peppers, Nirvana

2000 Dont have a clue..

I thought the "big hair" bands should have been represented. I nearly put Def Leopard on the list. But if I had to pick one band from that era, it would be Guns N Roses. But they just didn't do it long enough.




It's interesting that with all of these threads nobody from this current music generation comes close. Jay Z maybe?

has been influential the past 30 years? No one else nothing else contributed to the music industry? Wow okay good to know

50's Rock comes of age. Chuck Barry, Elvis, Fats, Buddy Holly, Nina Simone, Aretha Franklin.

60's Rock expands the horizon. R&B matures... Beatles of course, The Byrds, Simon & Garfunkel, The Doors, The Stones, Bob Marley, Pink Floyd, The Supremes, Herb Alpert.

70's The era of Arena Rock, Punk makes it's debut, album oriented rock and R&B gets waylayed by disco. Led Zeppelin, Fleetwood Mac, Todd Rundgren, ABBA, The Sex Pistols, BeeGees, Styx, AC/DC, The New York Dolls, David Bowie, Blondie, Chic (Nile Rogers became a producer, see 80's), Billy Joel, Bruce Springsteen, Jackson Browne, Heart, Aretha Franklin, Rush, Donna Summer, Pink Floyd, War, Doobie Bros., The Eagles.

80's AOR dies by the hand of REO Speedwagon's super selling High Infidelity. The rise of New Wave/Modern Rock/Goth/Doom God/Alternative thanks to MTV. Metal signs a suicide pact with big hair, leg warmers, pop appeal and make up. R&B goes over the top commercial, and Rap goes mainstream. Def Leppard, Phil Collins, Duran Duran, U2, The Police, Van Halen, Michael Jackson, Bryan Ferry, Janet Jackson, Madonna, The Cars, Nile Rogers (produced Madonna, Duran2, Power Station, too many more), Oingo Boingo, Depeche Mode, Red Hot Chili Peppers, The Smiths, The Clash, J Geils Band, Foreigner (for nothing other than 4.. brilliant album), "Mutt" Lange, R.E.M., XTC, Cyndi Lauper, Run DMC, The Cure, Simple Minds, Ice T, Prince.

90's Punk gets severed in half. One side goes hardcore, the other commercial and is called "grunge". Rap gets white boys. Green Day and Nirvana of course, Soundgarden, Garbage, Pearl Jam, U2, Eminem, Madonna, Smashing Pumpkins, Guns & Roses, Seal, Cranberries, Sugar Ray (hate to say it... ick!), Better Than Ezra.

Throughout all these eras, mixed in is pre fab candy pop. Donovan, Frankie Avalon, The Monkeys, The Bay City Rollers, Lief Garret, David Cassidy, Village People, New Edition, Debbie Gibson, NKOTB, Marky Mark, Tiffany, Bananarama, Backseat Boys, N*Stink, Britney Spears, the list goes insufferably on.

2000's too soon to define it but The Killers, Coldplay, Linkin Park, Gorillaz and The Fray may be in there as influences.

Too many, but one cannot define artistic influence by a small list, that would be plagiarism (which is why Culture Club isn't there).

He was known as Britain's answer to Dylan. "Sunshine Superman" was one of the earliest psychedelic tracks. He also wrote "Fat Angel," "Season of the Witch" and "Catch the Wind." He taught Lennon and McCartney finger picking. He was a pioneer of folk rock.

I think Louis Armstrong should win this poll. He invented modern singing. Without him, jazz, r&b, and rock and roll wouldn't exist. He was, in his day, the most famous man in the world. He was popular on every continent. He was as well known as Michael Jackson, Michael Jordan, or Muhammad Ali.

Honorable mention has to go to Buddy Holly. He was the first to write, arrange, and produce his own recordings, played great guitar too. He wrote great songs -- many of them, Like "Not Fade Away," "That'll be the Day," "Raining in My Heart," "Every Day," "Words of Love," and "It Doesn't Matter Any More," and many others. And his career was cut short.

--imm

Donovan is a name that conjures up those pretty boys on album covers from the 60s, singing about his girl and how much he loves her, even though he's really gay.

Influential?

Elvis, the Beatles, Michael Jackson...yes.

Chuck Berry. Bob Dylan. More.

Popular isn't always the same as influential. :shrug:

I don't really believe that but I would put him ahead of U2, Celine Dion and Run DMC

But there is no way David Bowie belongs ahead of U2. And he's not close to Run DMC.

Or Michael Jackson for that matter. No Bowie and Ziggy/Thin White Duke/et cetera, no Bono as the devil in U2's stage shows circa early '90's. In terms of influence not just on music but performance as art, Bowie is more influential than pretty much anyone on your list.

south park, for example.

i'll have to admit i'm guitar biased, since that's my instrument.

in that respect, chuck berry was pretty friggin' important.

:)