Last week’s reveal of the list of VH1′s 100 Greatest Artists of All Time (to be counted down on air starting Monday, September 6 at 10/9c) caused plenty of chatter and dissent regarding rankings and omission. Hit back with your own opinion via our 100 Greatest Artists Rally Machine, which allows you to vote for and rank not just your favorite artists of all-time, but your favorites of hard rock, hip-hop, the ’80s, the ’90s and today. Hit the site, sign in with your Twitter or Facebook account and start projecting your digital voice today. Additionally, you can submit a unique message in their Tweet or Facebook post – we’ll be watching and we may retweet and the best messages may end up on the VH1 homepage.
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192 responses to to Have Your Say On The Greatest Artists Of All Time (And Otherwise)
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Justin Timberlake, and NO Frank Sinatra. Sade, and NO Temptations. Large Mistakes.
I’m pretty sure I saw all 100 selections and I have two questions…..WHERE were Stevie Ray Vaughn and Carlos Santana and WHY would neither of them be in the top 100 of all time??? If you have guitar pioneers like Chuck Berry and Jimi Hendrix in there, SRV and Santana HAVE to be included as well. I don’t recall Clapton, Creedence, or Lynyrd Skynyrd either, ALL of whom were pioneers!!!!
100 Greatest Artist’s of All Time????
Very little Country, or Jazz, or Big Bands, how can this be called “Greatest of All Time”?
What about Cher?
How in all that’s right in the world can the Temptations not be on this list?
Mariah Carey, Whitney Houston, and Beyonce but no Diana Ross?
Elvis should have been number one. The King of rock and roll. I could only see the Beatles beating him out. Elvis changed music period. The only artist who is a member of the rock and roll, country, and gospel hall of fame. He even inspired the Beatles when they were up and coming and Led Zepplin, Buddy Holly, and Roy Orbison after him. Bet U didn’t know that.
James Brown should have ranked higher. Michael Jackson was the next biggest artist since Elvis and the Beatles. Led Zeppplin is the best band in my opinion and the Rolling Stones were great. They were right next to each other. Justin Timberlake???? Yeach right.
y isn’t tori amos on the list!!!!!!! she’s a f’ning genius!!!!!!!! and a greatst painoist of all time!!!! how many women u know who can play play like she and sing like her and het away w/ it!!!! and how many women u know can wear red hair and get away it? RED HAEDS FTW!!!!!!!!!!!! she should have been in the top 20 or 10 ten!!!!!!!!
love and lippy,
mkgtweety
John Lennon at 31… WTF?
Here’s a serious list of ommissions—–
The Temptations, Four Tops, Lionel Richie, Barry White, Babara Streisand,Quincy Jones, The Supremes, Sam Cooke, John Coltrane, Miles Davis, Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughn, Isley Brothers, Theolonius Monk, Smokey Robinson,Garth Brooks, Dolly Parton, George Strait, Glen Miller,Louis Armstrong, Muddy Waters, Mahailia Jackson,Duke Ellignton,B. B. King,Gladys Knight
I mean, seriously, how this can even be a legit list if you leave out people that’s not in a certain genre or time period.
PS where are Bach and Beethoven–after all,did you not say ALL TIME????????
Your “experts” forgot Bob Seger, Creedence, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Blondie, Carol King, James Taylor, Beck, Bonnie Raitt, Diana Ross, Donna Summer, THE EAGLES, Doobie Bros, Chicago, Roy Orbison, Neil Diamond. Dave Matthews Band, Grateful Dead, Eric Clapton-solo, Cyndi Lauper, ZZ TOP, Buddy Holly, Jerry Lee Lewis, Jimmy Buffet, Pat Benatar, JOHN MELLENCAMP, WIlson Picket, Mamas & Papas, The Righteous Bros, Salt n Pepa, Dusty Springfield, Barry White, Luther Vandross, NEIL DIAMOND, SANTANA, Simon & Garfunkel, Patti Smith, ROD STEWART, Heart, Meatloaf, Culture Club, Smokey Robinson, Gladys Knight, Temptations, INXS, Steve Miller Band. Most of the artists on your list deserve to be there…but if they are under the age of 30, should have left room for the real greats.
wtf….there is only 1 greatest artist of all time and we all know who that is.Michael Jackson without a doubt! He was the only artist to break down all barriers of race,ethnicity,religion,class,gender, and sexual preference…He has the most fans of anyone and he was the first black artist ever to have a video on MTV! He had it all. He was one Amazing human being!!! And on top of that,he was extremely humble. And don’t forget the most giving,{money wise}of all musical artists. Rip MJ. We your fans know who the real “GREATEST ARTIST OF ALL TIME is.
I want a real reason that there where no country artist on the list of 100. I would like some one from VH 1 to answer is possible. Not even Garth Brooks who sold more copies than ANYONE in the 90′s.
I know people have their genre of music but VH1 put some effort into a diverse panel next time. No Frank Sinatra?
No Sam Cooke? and No Garth Brooks? I mean wow, and I’m sorry the Beatles are not greater than Michael Jackson. They influenced a generation for sure no doubt and still affect music today, but MJ was GLOBAL. Who the hell else can die and Jam Google? Not to mention people from age 10 to age 80 of every race know MJ to this day.
Country, Jazz, and Blues were ill represented, period.
Make it the top “Rock Band” of all time next run…
Albert King
BB King
Bonnie Raitt
CCR
Crosby, Stills and Nash
Diana Ross
Foreigner
Iron Maiden
James Taylor
J Giles Band
Joe Cocker
John Lee Hooker
Mozart
Rod Stewart
Roy Orbison
Santana
Stevie Ray Vaughan
The Commodores
The Temptations
ZZ Top
No Eric Clapton, no Santana? Are you crazy?
WHY is there no mention of either Tori Amos or Kate Bush? Is this poll only about record sales? Does the Word “Artist” mean anything? What is ABBA doing on here?
Was I the only one who noticed that the Sex Pistols and the Pixies were blatantly omitted, but they did include Justin Timberlake, Beyonce, and Coldplay? Sex Pistols were the most important punk rock band there was, and the Pixies were massive influences on Nirvana and Radiohead, the two best bands of the 90s. This list more or less blows.
As to how Christina Aguilera didn’t make the list when so many other artists who shouldn’t even be recognized as a great artist, let alone the “greatest of all time.” What a tragedy….
I like parts of the list but there are a couple artists who deserve to be on there.
1.Hank Williams- whether you like his music or not, you’ve got to admit that he is one of the best and most influencial songwriters of all time.
2.Muddy Waters- music was covered by almost everybody on the list.
3.Leadbelly
4.Robert Johnson- Clapton and K Richards say he is the greatest of all time, even if you dont agree with me you have to agree with them
Major Omissions:
Inexcusable…Simon and Garfunkel (totally inexcusable that they aren’t on the list), Eric Clapton (even though Cream is on the list), Grateful Dead, Buddy Holly, Roy Orbison, the Byrds
Arguable: Bon Jovi, Santana, The Smiths, Willie Nelson, CSN, Creedance, the Eagles, James Taylor, Carole King, the Carpenters, Motley Crue, Mamas and the Pappas, John Denver, Neil Diamond, Oasis
My top 10: (Radiohead is one of my most important and favorite, thrilled they made the list so highly but understand that they don’t deserve to be higher)
10. Bruce Springsteen
9. Ray Charles (should be higher than James Brown or Stevie Wonder)
8. Jimi Hendrix
7. Madonna (Deserves to be much higher)
6. The Who (Can’t believe they placed outside of the top 10)
5. Rolling Stones
4. Led Zeppelin
3. Michael Jackson (I’m not a fan but he deserves the spot)
2. Bob Dylan (should not be #5)
1. The Beatles
STEVIE RAY VAUGHAN?!?!?!??!?!?!??! Patsy Cline?? Buddy Holly?? BB King?? omg…Justin Timberlake & Outkast?? Really? wow. 1. The Beatles & Michael Jackson 2. Elvis. c’mon people
BON JOVI SHOULD HAVE BEEN ON TOP GREATEST ARTISTS LIST!!!!!
Disappointed the Red Hot Chili Peppers and Stone Temple Pilots were not on the list. The Chili Peppers are an amazing band that combine so many of genres of music that were included on this list. There is no band like the chili peppers and there never will be.
Sade had no business on that list! Did she even have a single top ten hit??
I can’t believe Red Hot Chili Peppers are not on this list, it is outrageous
Also what about Smashing Pumpkins?
who is nick carter greatest artist of all time
i like nick jonas
he has the elvis pressly look in v-man i saw on popsugar last month he seem to credit the black album metillca i used to listen to that all the time before i became a aunt i love nick jonas i have nick jonas earrings he has a neat sunglasses
i’m not on facebook and twitter anymore i’m on my space i liked sad but true
this list was beyond wack. So many amazing artists were left out. What about the eagles, steve miller band, Duran Duran.
Does VH1 not know the concept of what the greatest of all time means??? How did rap artists make it and country artists, latin artists, et al. did not, when they have been here for decades!!!!! They didn’t even make the list at ALL!!! How did Beyonce make the list and Diana Ross didn’t??? Plus what about Frank Sinatra, Celine Dion, Barbara Streisand, Willie Nelson, Luther Vandross, Temptations and many many other legends that have been missed. Which some are gone and their music still lives on… And 50 years from now you will still here their music.
I bet VH1 does a list 20 years from now and half the list won’t make it, so how does that make them the GREATEST?? The majority of the list should have made the list 20 years from now, then you can say they are the GREATEST, ( if they can hold their own like the greatest we have now in our era) when they are still new in the industry… Just because they have accomplished a lot in a short time in their career does not make them the greatest, you have to own it, just like the greatest in our era.
How can Jay Z be #47 and the two greatest in rap are Tupak and Eminem??? and they were #69 and #79! WOW that is just WRONG!!!!!! And even so this whole group of rap artists should had not even been in the list since they started in the 90′s. AND TUPAK AND EMINEM ARE MY FAVORITE RAPPERS OF ALL TIME!!! Sorry! Try 20 years from now and they will definitely will be on the list. Now Run DMC, LL Cool J, NWA Public Enemy, et al. they belong in this list they owned it, they are the Greatest of ALL time in the rap industry.
Just like me there are many viewers of VH1 that are very disappointed and ashamed that VH1 would put a list like that together with the greatest of all time. And to top it off the judges are artists themselves! I mean what were they thinking. SHAME ON YOU VH1!! You need to make a new list!!!! And really show what the GREATEST OF ALL TIME IS NOT YOUR ONE HIT WONDERS!!! I guess the reality shows are keeping you out of the music industry, I thought VH1 was for music??? at least as long as I have been a viewer that’s what I thought. Maybe I am WRONG… Like they say times HAVE REALLY CHANGED!! I hope VH1 proves me wrong and makes a new list for all the viewers that have been there since they started.
Read more: VH1 100 Greatest Artists of All Time Countdown List
Sorry to comment on Mitch’s comment on what he said about the Beatles and Michael Jackson they both influenced generations and more generations to come but the Beatles were the first group ever to go global live on television in 1967 and were viewed by 400 million and in 26 countries, so if that’s not global than I do not know anything about music.
There were a lot of legends that were left out, but the Beatles are first before Michael Jackson any day.
In the first hour, I was disappointed to see Journey so low on the list, until I saw that most of the greats weren’t even on it. Aside from Kate Bush and Tori Amos, who are my favorites, where was Heart, Styx, Bob Segar, The Eagles? I could go on and on about the omits. I understand that not everyone likes the same music, but this list should have been more aptly named “200 People’s Favorite Artists of All Time.” Madonna not even top 10, I’m baffled. Next time pull the general public.
Elvis Costello should be in the top 50 at least! He has changed music. He was McCartneys Lennon for awhile and did it right. He has done every style of music and has not failed. Cmon!
Simon & Garfunkle, james taylor, doobie bros or the eagles any1? and some agreement on diana ross’s where abouts… there were more rappers & hiphop stars than i expected but not bad… i thought justin timberlake was high up there but once i saw him … im like, that means britney is comming up? but she never did… hall & oats deservse a much higher spot.. journey 2…
big props to “rodman3972′s ommisions”… that needs consideration…
just up the # from 100 to 200 & it’ll all work out
bon jovi por favor
THE GREATEST BAND OF ALL TIME THE BLACK CROWS
I am blacker than black…but OMG how did Journey end up in the bottom 10?????????? Alicia Keys, Mariah, Outcast…VH1 as a whole should be canceled for this alone…let me guess Michael Jackson is going to be #86 and William Shatner is gonna come in at a smooth #3 spot….
If I hear one more person say that Michael Jackson broke down color barriers, as Carole did, I’m going to shove rusted scissors into my eye sockets.
There are so many other Black artists (screw your BS PC garbage) who came BEFORE Michael Jackson it’s not even funny, but then again, when your main demographic is pre-pubescent 12 year old girls far more interested in looks and fashion over actual substantive talent (how else would you explain this joke of a list?), what else would expect but this sort of imbecilic drivel?
And as to Michael Jackson being on this list, while his talent is undeniable (I happen to like the pre-freak MJ myself), the fact he’s a pedophile immediately disqualifies him from any and all lists. Well, with the exception of the prison roll call, that is.
elvis ..started it all ,read time magazine …life magazine….atlantic monthly…ppl are jumping on the band wagon because michael just died ….prior to his death he was not selling records …15 yrs lets say go back ….he was known for surgeries , molestation and dangling babies over balconys …read race rock and elvis
Where’s BB King? How did Beyonce make the list and not Usher? What about Grandmaster Flash, Smokey Robinson, and the Supremes?
What, no Herbie Hancock or Miles Davis?
I definitely agree with others that Bon Jovi and Simon & Garfunkle should be on the list, but am I the only person who is aware of what the Moody Blues did for pop music?
It was truly amazing to see all those names and all of the responses you have receive deserve so much respect…
Maybe if you create a rubric or criterion to what determines the Top “100″ Greatest Artist because just to echo a few of some the ommisions listed below with the earlier comments…
You can’t have a Top “100″ without the Chairman of the Board, Frank Sinatra. You can’t have a Top “100″ without someone/anyone from Motown? MJ was chosen as a solo artist. Finally, I don’t know if there is anough room to choose a number one between The Beatles, Michael Jackson, and Elvis and yes he should have been there!
Why didn’t grateful dead or Mama’s and the Papa’s make it…seriously?
How was janet left off when she sold over a 100 million records and have over 30 #1 hits , that makes no sense. the whole list is crazy.
Was SO sad to see Rod Stewart (with or w/o Faces) was not mentioned also The Eagles. :(
PINK FLOYD PEOPLE, PINK FLOYD!!!!!!!!!!
tupac should have been the highest rap artist, eminem should have been the second highest, pearl jam shouldv switch places with rage, and stevie wonder is way to high, u2 and the boss should have been higher.
I heard a loud booming sound the day that number eight was announced on your channel. The sound turned out to be millions of viewers turning off their televisions at the same time. The sound was centered in the middle of the country and was not detected in outlining larger cities. (New York, L.A., Chicago, etc.) It was discovered that the millions of people everywhere else took great offence to Elvis being voted #8. While it could be argued that the rural fans are neither important to the voting or not familar with the modern musical scene, I do believe that music is a form of art that crosses the bounderies of race, beliefs, and geography. If the point of view of the rest of the country is not important or if the artists you asked are not aware of ….the rest of the country, then I can argue even from a simplistic historical point of view, a “prince” should not be ranked higher than a “King”. Shortly after the loud noise of all those remote controls being pushed, another boom was heard. The fans of Carlos Santana threw their TVs out of their windows.
The beatles! At number one, I dont think so. I am not denying the beatles their greatness but Michael Jackson is number 1 without a doubt. I would like to know what the criteria is for “greatest artist”.
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