Rolling Stone’s updated list of the 200 Greatest Singers of All Time has ruffled feathers.
The publication began the New Year by updating its rankings of the best pop vocalists, which it began in 2008.
Celine Dion, Pink, Justin Bieber, Jennifer Hudson, Janet Jackson, Tony Bennett, Madonna, Nat King Cole, Dionne Warwick, and others are not on this year’s list.
“This new list was compiled by our staff and key contributors, and it encompasses 100 years of pop music as an ongoing global conversation,” Rolling Stone writes, adding that criteria for inclusion included “originality, influence, the depth of an artist’s catalogue, and the breadth of their musical legacy.”
Many music fans debated the omitted artists and the ranking order on Twitter.
“They’ve got THE @MichaelJackson at EIGHTY-SIX?! And where is @CelineDion?” Yvette Nicole Brown, an actress, took to Twitter. “Shoot, the way Michael Jackson sang #WithAChildsHeart when he was a CHILD puts him in the top three at the very least, and if Celine Dion isn’t in the top ten at the very least, what are we doing?! @RollingStone, you’re a jerk.”
“What do you mean Celine Dion isn’t on the Rolling Stones list?” one Twitter user asked.
“I’m sorry, but Jennifer Hudson is a better singer than 95% of the people on that #RollingStones list,” said another. “Her influence is enormous. The contributions of the EGOT winner to film, theatre, music, and television are undeniable.”
Along with Hudson, fellow EGOT recipients John Legend and Rita Moreno were left out.
Jazmine Sullivan, Christina Aguilera, Carrie Underwood, and Kelly Clarkson all made the list, but none made the Top 100.
“Rolling Stone Magazine proved to be untrustworthy. 1. Ranking Christina Aguilera so low. 2. Taylor Swift is ranked higher than Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood, Jazmine Sullivan, and Alicia Keys. 3. The absence of Celine Dion, a member of the vocal trinity, on the final list “A Twitter user criticised it.
Another, also tweeted, “Rolling Stone included Taylor Swift among the top 200 vocalists but did not include Celine Dion or Janet Jackson. And they put Rihanna ahead of Kelly Clarkson???”
Other omissions included lead vocalists whose singing bandmates were not invited. Stevie Nicks was chosen without Fleetwood Mac, Jungkook was chosen from BTS, Beyoncé was chosen without the other members of Destiny’s Child, Diana Ross was chosen without the Supremes, Ozzy Osbourne was chosen without Black Sabbath, and Mick Jagger was chosen without the Rolling Stones.
The Top 10 of Rolling Stone’s list was dominated by soul and R&B, with Aretha Franklin, Whitney Houston, and Sam Cooke taking the top spots.
The Top 20 are listed below, and the full list of 200 can be found on Rolling Stone’s website.
Marvin Gaye 20.
Frank Sinatra (19th)
Celia Cruz, 18
Elvis Presley, No. 17
The Prince of Wales
Bob Dylan is number fifteen.
Freddie Mercury 14
Patsy Cline 13
John Lennon 12
Little Richard (11th)
ten. Al Green
Otis Redding, No. 9
Beyoncé is number eight.
Stevie Wonder is number seven.
Ray Charles is number six.
Mariah Carey is number five.
Billie Holiday (4)
Sam Cooke.
Whitney Houston is number two.
Aretha Franklin, No. 1
