Aretha Franklin Named Greatest Singer of all Time

In Rolling Stone

Aretha Franklin is the greatest singer of all time according to Rolling Stone Magazine who have just published their top 100.

The Queen of Soul, who had a string of hits in the sixties such as 'Respect' and 'I Say a Little Prayer', finished ahead of Ray Charles at 2 and Elvis Presley at 3. Legendary soul singer Sam Cooke is placed at 4 ahead of John Lennon at and Marvin Gaye at 5. Bob Dylan, Otis Redding, Stevie Wonder and James Brown make up the rest of the top 10.

Published 15/11/2008 12:42:00

6 Comments

Brian Quinn
These Polls have a different person at the top in nearly every one of them. Lists like these are bound to be very subjective.

However, if you look at all the polls over time Elvis Presley is the name that appears most in the Top 3 and usually at No.1.

For my money Elvis was the greatest singer/entertainer of all time. He was not just a singer but an historic figure who broke down racial and social barriers in 1950's U.S.A. thus making it easier for all entertainers who followed in his footsteps.

Further, Elvis could, and did, sing in every musical genre available to him and this fact also makes him unique among the vast majority of other singers.

Elvis was the whole package, he had the looks, the voice, the charisma in buckets and the stage performance.

We will never see his like again.

God Bless You Elvis. R.I.P.
[published 15/11/08:03:00]

Joey Stansbury
Respect is not even Aretha's song - It's Otis Redding's song.
[published 15/11/08:06:01]

Pete Pizzi
It seems to me to be a no brainer.Elvis Presley could sing rock, country,blues, gospel, and even standards if he had to. There will never be another like him.
[published 17/11/08:02:49]

Malcolm Funktion
How can you say anyone was the greatest singer of all time? Do you really believe that all the greatest singers of all time came from the second half of the twentieth century, a tiny drop in the ocean in the existence of homo sapiens? What about all the people we'll never hear about? What about Larry Loincloth the Caveman Crooner? Or what about some Chinese girl who sings songs in her village but will never get to be famous because it's just impossible in her society? Come on, these lists are ridiculous. What does it matter anyway?
[published 20/11/08:04:29]

Richard
What a surprise - an American singer comes out top in an American poll.
Aretha is hardly even a singer IMO - she just SHOUTS !!
For me Paul McCartney is the greatest singer because his voice is the most adaptable - think Yesterday, then think I'm Down (recorded on the same day). Think Helter Skelter, think No More Lonely Nights. His voice can be soulful, or totally discordant. Did Elvis ever show that breadth of style ?
Lennon did, but his range (of notes) was nowhere near as much as McCartneys !
[published 24/11/08:05:15]

Stewart Tormey aka malcolm funktion
eh....i did not write that comment.
[published 04/12/08:12:26]

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