My Top 70 Pop Singers Of All-Time

[ViperOverLord]

I just spent 3 hours on this; probably more time than I should have! But I wanted to get a comlete comprehensive list.

I based it mostly on the range of voice and the ability to make said songs smooth. To a lesser degree I (generally) factored in the ability to entertain (includes attractiveness and charisma and dancing) and the ability to make a song pop or sing a ballad. These parameters (for myself) left solid singers like Frank Sinatra, Pavarotti or Liam Gallagher (Oasis) off of the list.

Let me know what I got wrong and what I got right (in your opinion). Also let me know who you think I omitted.

I also should point out that this list is not my 70 favorite singers. I tried to judge it on ability and as such I had to factor in predominant opinions (For instance I've never been a fan of Beyonce or Lady Gaga).

Hope you enjoy it! Thanks.

My Top 70 Pop Singers

1. Dave Gahan (Depeche Mode, Solo)
2. Michael Jackson (Solo, Jackson 5)
3. David Bowie (Solo)
4. Elvis Presley (Solo)
5. Simon Le Bon (Duran Duran)
6. Michael Hutchence (INXS)
7. Julie Andrews (Andrews Sisters)
8. Raven-Symoné (Cheetah Girls)
9. Danny Elfman (Oingo Boingo)
10. Justin TImberlake (N'Sync, Solo)
11. Kylie Minogue (Solo)
12. José Fernando "Fher" Olvera (Maná)
13. Paul McCartney (Beatles, WIngs, Solo)
14. Prince (The Revolution)
15. Billy Idol (Solo)
16. Neil Diamond (Solo)
17. Jim Morrison (Doors)
18. Nadine Coyle (Girls Aloud)
19. Agnetha Fältskog (ABBA)
20. Terri Nunn (Berlin)
21. Kate Pierson (B-52's)
22. George Michael (Wham!, Solo)
23. David Macklovitch (Chromeo)
24. Ezra Koenig (Vampire Weekend)
25. Ben Gibbard (The Postal Service, Death Cab For Cutie)
26. Morten Harket (A-Ha)
27. Caroline Polachek (Chairlift)
28. Vanessa White (Saturdays)
29. Beyonce Knowles (Solo, Destiny's Child)
30. Alyson Michalka (Aly & AJ, 78Violet)
31. Bono (U2)
32. Barry Gibb (Bee Gees)
33. Alizee (Solo)
34. Morrissey (Smiths, Solo)
35. Roland Orzabal (Tears For Fears)
36. Brandon Flowers (Killers)
37. Imogen Heap (Imogen Heap, Frou Frou)
38. Billy Corgan (Smashing Pumpkins, Zwan)
39. Sia Kate Isobelle Furler (Sia, Zero 7)
40. Taylor Swift (Solo)
41. Damon Albarn (Blur)
42. Art Garfunkle (Simon & Garfunkle)
43. Andy McCluskey (OMD)
44. Eleanor Kate Jackson (La Roux)
45. Vanessa Hudgens (Solo)
46. Zach Rogue (Rogue Wave)
47. Elton John (Solo)
48. Michael Stipe (REM)
49. Katy Perry (Solo)
50. Billy Joel (Solo)
51. Chuck Berry (Solo)
52. Dave Wakeland (General Public, English Beat)
53. Kor Gardner (Mates Of State)
54. Jesca Hoop (Solo)
55. Amy Lee (Evanesence)
56. Christina Aguilera (Solo)
57. Miley Cyrus (Hannah Montana, Solo)
58. Stefani Germanotta (Lady Gaga)
59. Nicole Scherzinger (Pussycat Dolls)
60. Cyndi Lauper (Solo)
61. Adam Young (Owl City)
62. Mira Aroyo (Ladytron)
63. Karin Dreijer Andersson (The Knife)
64. Yael Naïm (Solo)
65. Peter Cetera (Chicago, Solo)
66. Peter Noone (Herman's Hermits)
67. Peter Murphy (Bauhaus, Solo)
68. Bernard Sumner (New Order)
69. Marvin Gaye (Solo)
70. Liz Enthusiasm (Freezepop)

[Woodruff]

His list...

Pretty good list. Not really a lot to argue with there, of the ones I recognize. I'd probably move Prince down a ways, but his songwriting was excellent. I sort of put him in with Kenny Rogers...not my kind of singer, but I love the songs themselves.

The ones I don't believe I've ever listened to (damn, that's a lot):

8. Raven-Symoné (Cheetah Girls)
10. Justin TImberlake (N'Sync, Solo)
12. José Fernando "Fher" Olvera (Maná)
18. Nadine Coyle (Girls Aloud)
20. Terri Nunn (Berlin)
23. David Macklovitch (Chromeo)
24. Ezra Koenig (Vampire Weekend)
25. Ben Gibbard (The Postal Service, Death Cab For Cutie)
26. Morten Harket (A-Ha)
27. Caroline Polachek (Chairlift)
28. Vanessa White (Saturdays)
30. Alyson Michalka (Aly & AJ, 78Violet)
33. Alizee (Solo)
34. Morrissey (Smiths, Solo)
36. Brandon Flowers (Killers)
37. Imogen Heap (Imogen Heap, Frou Frou)
38. Billy Corgan (Smashing Pumpkins, Zwan)
39. Sia Kate Isobelle Furler (Sia, Zero 7)
41. Damon Albarn (Blur)
43. Andy McCluskey (OMD)
44. Eleanor Kate Jackson (La Roux)
45. Vanessa Hudgens (Solo)
46. Zach Rogue (Rogue Wave)
52. Dave Wakeland (General Public, English Beat)
53. Kor Gardner (Mates Of State)
54. Jesca Hoop (Solo)
55. Amy Lee (Evanesence)
58. Stefani Germanotta (Lady Gaga)
61. Adam Young (Owl City)
62. Mira Aroyo (Ladytron)
63. Karin Dreijer Andersson (The Knife)
64. Yael Naïm (Solo)
67. Peter Murphy (Bauhaus, Solo)
68. Bernard Sumner (New Order)
70. Liz Enthusiasm (Freezepop)[/quote]

[ViperOverLord]

His list...

Pretty good list. Not really a lot to argue with there, of the ones I recognize. I'd probably move Prince down a ways, but his songwriting was excellent. I sort of put him in with Kenny Rogers...not my kind of singer, but I love the songs themselves.

The ones I don't believe I've ever listened to (damn, that's a lot):

8. Raven-Symoné (Cheetah Girls)
10. Justin TImberlake (N'Sync, Solo)
12. José Fernando "Fher" Olvera (Maná)
18. Nadine Coyle (Girls Aloud)
20. Terri Nunn (Berlin)
23. David Macklovitch (Chromeo)
24. Ezra Koenig (Vampire Weekend)
25. Ben Gibbard (The Postal Service, Death Cab For Cutie)
26. Morten Harket (A-Ha)
27. Caroline Polachek (Chairlift)
28. Vanessa White (Saturdays)
30. Alyson Michalka (Aly & AJ, 78Violet)
33. Alizee (Solo)
34. Morrissey (Smiths, Solo)
36. Brandon Flowers (Killers)
37. Imogen Heap (Imogen Heap, Frou Frou)
38. Billy Corgan (Smashing Pumpkins, Zwan)
39. Sia Kate Isobelle Furler (Sia, Zero 7)
41. Damon Albarn (Blur)
43. Andy McCluskey (OMD)
44. Eleanor Kate Jackson (La Roux)
45. Vanessa Hudgens (Solo)
46. Zach Rogue (Rogue Wave)
52. Dave Wakeland (General Public, English Beat)
53. Kor Gardner (Mates Of State)
54. Jesca Hoop (Solo)
55. Amy Lee (Evanesence)
58. Stefani Germanotta (Lady Gaga)
61. Adam Young (Owl City)
62. Mira Aroyo (Ladytron)
63. Karin Dreijer Andersson (The Knife)
64. Yael Naïm (Solo)
67. Peter Murphy (Bauhaus, Solo)
68. Bernard Sumner (New Order)
70. Liz Enthusiasm (Freezepop)

[/quote]

I'm not a huge Prince fan and in fact I never bought one of his albums. But I had to factor in his ability to play music (guitar) and compose/write. Also he was one of the better showmen on the list. You can't argue with the hot chicks on stage either.

Thanks for the feedback. Hopefully of the ones you did not know, youtube them and like some of them. Just one excample would be Rogue Wave's cover of Buddy Holly's 'Everyday.' It's noteworthy that Buddy Holly was high on my original list and I took him off because I don't know that he ever did a ballad. But now that I think about it, I believe he did some OK slow tempo song. They just weren't hits like his pop songs. He probably would belong lower on the list somewhere.

[Army of GOD]

Your lack of Freddie Mercury disturbs me...

[thegreekdog]

Your lack of Freddie Mercury disturbs me...

[Pedronicus]

Your lack of Freddie Mercury disturbs me...

His lack of musical taste explains why he thinks Obama is no good.

and why make a top 70 list?
and why spend 3 hours doing it?

VOP is obviously still at school, on his summer holidays, and yet to understand music.
Glad to see this unable to vote kid, has strong political feelings because his racist Dad has shaped him into what he is so far....

The futures bright, the future's viperoverlord

[ViperOverLord]

Your lack of Freddie Mercury disturbs me...

I think he's over-rated but you're right. That was an unintentional omission. I'd put him somewhere in the top 30 probably.

[ViperOverLord]

Your lack of Freddie Mercury disturbs me...

His lack of musical taste explains why he thinks Obama is no good.

and why make a top 70 list?
and why spend 3 hours doing it?

VOP is obviously still at school, on his summer holidays, and yet to understand music.
Glad to see this unable to vote kid, has strong political feelings because his racist Dad has shaped him into what he is so far....

The futures bright, the future's viperoverlord

Wah wah. Doing your usual bitch ass crying I see.

[whitestazn88]

so why wasn't frank sinatra on this list?

[Pedronicus]

Because VOP wouldn't know a decent singer if they came and sang at his school, because he'd be to busy, with a bunch of racists, drawing Hitler moustaches on A4 prints of the president and giggling. He's an adolescent idiot. As soon as you understand that, it's a lot easier to ignore his threads and move onto other more interesting threads.

[ViperOverLord]

so why wasn't frank sinatra on this list?

I'm a Sinatra fan, but I had to stick to the more contemporary sounds of pop. As I listened to Sinatra it was clear that he is arguably the best show singer (or lounge singer) ever. But I did not think his voice was otherwise suited to pop singing.

[ViperOverLord]

Because VOP wouldn't know a decent singer if they came and sang at his school, because he'd be to busy, with a bunch of racists, drawing Hitler moustaches on A4 prints of the president and giggling. He's an adolescent idiot. As soon as you understand that, it's a lot easier to ignore his threads and move onto other more interesting threads.

I won't argue with your logic (or lack thereof). I'll simply encourage you to take your own presumptive advice and to ignore my threads as you have sufficiently established that you are not interested in what I have to say.

[ViperOverLord]

I forgot to put Ian McCulloch of Echo And The Bunnymen. He definitely proved his range in 'Lips Like Sugar' and 'The Killing Moon.'

[BigBallinStalin]

I've always disagreed with the notion that music makes people kill others, but after reading through this list, I'd say after 10 minutes of exposure to about 95% of these artists would cause immediate muscular contractions in the arms, an ugly scowl, and a immense lust for destroying living things--especially those who listen to such crap.

[whitestazn88]

I don't understand. Some of these bands aren't even pop.

Why isn't Sinatra on this list?

[ViperOverLord]

I don't understand. Some of these bands aren't even pop.

Why isn't Sinatra on this list?

No. Not all of the bands were pop bands. But all of the singers have proven their sufficiency in pop singing. And as I explained in another post, Sinatra is a show tunes/lounge singer in my mind. If you had him sing I'm 'Walking On Sunshine' or something, he would not have the right voice to make that song pop (outside of the showtune sound).

[ViperOverLord]

I've always disagreed with the notion that music makes people kill others, but after reading through this list, I'd say after 10 minutes of exposure to about 95% of these artists would cause immediate muscular contractions in the arms, an ugly scowl, and a immense lust for destroying living things--especially those who listen to such crap.

Is your problem with pop music in general or this list? Please clarify.

[whitestazn88]

I don't understand. Some of these bands aren't even pop.

Why isn't Sinatra on this list?

No. Not all of the bands were pop bands. But all of the singers have proven their sufficiency in pop singing. And as I explained in another post, Sinatra is a show tunes/lounge singer in my mind. If you had him sing I'm 'Walking On Sunshine' or something, he would not have the right voice to make that song pop (outside of the showtune sound).

Ah yes, so Chromeo and Smashing Pumpkins doing "Walking on Sunshine" would have the right sound to make it sound pop.

Frank Sinatra on this list or GFY

[john9blue]

Because VOP wouldn't know a decent singer if they came and sang at his school, because he'd be to busy, with a bunch of racists, drawing Hitler moustaches on A4 prints of the president and giggling. He's an adolescent idiot. As soon as you understand that, it's a lot easier to ignore his threads and move onto other more interesting threads.

I won't argue with your logic (or lack thereof). I'll simply encourage you to take your own presumptive advice and to ignore my threads as you have sufficiently established that you are not interested in what I have to say.

VOL is more mature than at least half of the liberals on this forum, intellectually at least. This is a perfect example. Why do you think they attack him so viciously?

[Frigidus]

Because VOP wouldn't know a decent singer if they came and sang at his school, because he'd be to busy, with a bunch of racists, drawing Hitler moustaches on A4 prints of the president and giggling. He's an adolescent idiot. As soon as you understand that, it's a lot easier to ignore his threads and move onto other more interesting threads.

I won't argue with your logic (or lack thereof). I'll simply encourage you to take your own presumptive advice and to ignore my threads as you have sufficiently established that you are not interested in what I have to say.

VOL is more mature than at least half of the liberals on this forum, intellectually at least. This is a perfect example. Why do you think they attack him so viciously?

He isn't. That's one sliver of it, at least.

[The Bison King]

Why the f*ck would I read this? Why 70? Pop?? This thread SUX.

[The Bison King]

oh, I just skimmed the list to make sure that I was correct in my assumption, and yeah. This really does suck. You listen to Miley Cyrus Really????

[ViperOverLord]

I don't understand. Some of these bands aren't even pop.

Why isn't Sinatra on this list?

No. Not all of the bands were pop bands. But all of the singers have proven their sufficiency in pop singing. And as I explained in another post, Sinatra is a show tunes/lounge singer in my mind. If you had him sing I'm 'Walking On Sunshine' or something, he would not have the right voice to make that song pop (outside of the showtune sound).

Ah yes, so Chromeo and Smashing Pumpkins doing "Walking on Sunshine" would have the right sound to make it sound pop.

Frank Sinatra on this list or GFY

You clearly are not familiar with Chromeo's style to be throwing them into the mix. But as far as B.Corgan goes, he did a good job on this Cars cover (Which reminds me the Cars Roy O should probably be on the list):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Ep2kAXd82I - B. Corgan is not the prototypical pop singer, but he does have the range and his unique voice and style gave him points.

Also I make a distinction between the lounge style and the pop style as I said. Frank Sinatra did not even do the best job at making NY, NY pop.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6arDn3A1tEg

[ViperOverLord]

oh, I just skimmed the list to make sure that I was correct in my assumption, and yeah. This really does suck. You listen to Miley Cyrus Really????

I thought I made it clear that this is not my personal Top 70 of who I listen to. But if I didn't then let me clarify that this is not my personal Top 70 list. I don't generally listen to Beyonce or Lady Gaga. I've caught them in passing, but even Beyonce's splendid ass has not got me completely through one of her vids.

As for Miley Cyrus, no I'm not a fan of her either. But she does do a good job in her own right. And I could recommend 3 decent songs she's done off the top of my head, 'Party In The USA', 'Nobody's Perfect' and 'Girls Just Wanna Have Fun.'

Also, maybe you should do more then 'skim' the list if you're going to be so bold about your opinion.

[Pedronicus]

If you don't think that the singers mentioned above are what you listen to, then don't entitle the thread 'My top 70 Pop Singers of All time'

a better title would be "some singers who have had pop success but i don't listen to, and i have no idea why i made this list"