Poll: Greatest Band (artsit) Ever?

While I should have probably went with other, I figure many will do that and it gets boring, so I went with my favorite - by far - from the list: Pink Floyd!

Led Zeppelin

Thank you for Led Zeppelin

I think the choices suggest this is aimed at a rather earlier generation than mine. ( Looks like a lot of folks didn't die before they got old, despite what the song says ).

That being said, the Beatles are the best band ever the way Chanel No. 5 is the best fragrance ever. In both cases it might not be true, but they've been around for ages, loved by millions, and are all in all, a class act, so I don't mind them being the best ever, even if they just might not be.

But of course!

I think my vote has to go to Mike Hutchence (INXS).

For example: http://="http://www.youtube.com/veri...%3DJ8d-MpFziDE

I voted for other, since there are too many artists falling into this category

Has to be the Beatles, for the influence they have had on music and the sheer depth of their music. Look at the directional change between their albums over what was only an eight year span. I don't see any other band even coming close.

Oh, for crying out loud!

SHOWMANSHIP 101
or
How to sell a song!


(In the order of the groups/artists named in the poll)

1. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YqiAl...eature=related
" I like to thank you on behalf of the group and ourselves, I hope we passed the audition. "--John

2. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vb7XM...eature=related


3. Well, your turn to post

Cheers,

M.

I like too many ...it is difficult to vote one !

Elvis is the King. Noone comes even close!

Queen for me anyday. I'm surprised The Rolling Stones are not up there on the list.

Weird and interesting thread, especially with the poll-list like that...


I voted other. I think Depeche Mode is the greatest one ever. Of the bands/artists you nominated, Pink Floyd takes the cake easily.



My girlfriend, who takes music very seriously too, is a huge fan of both; The Beatles and Elvis. Her all time favourite is The Cure, though.

It's true, so many different genres represented. Instinct is to choose one's favorite, which I did.

It all depends on what the bar for greatness is-- innovation, popularity, longevity, pure talent (in which case Rush is a glaring omission .) Of course it's all very subjective, and lots of people, myself included, don't know enough about technical precision to judge who is better at their instrument. Someone on one of the local radio stations claimed the drummer for Toto is one of the best because of his technical ability, which leads me to another question-- is the band as great as the sum of its parts? Like, nobody's going to argue that John Bonham and John Paul Jones were better drummers/bassists than Keith Moon and John Entwistle, but most people will say that Led Zeppelin is the better band (and if you are one who thinks otherwise, I'd love to hear your reasons why! ) So then, what makes a band? What takes it over the top? The lead vocals? Lead guitar? Amazing chemistry? (The Who, fwiw, is my #2 fave. Rush is #3.)

I think it would be interesting to discuss the greatest musician out of different genres.

On the other hand, on the other greatest band thread, we were challenged to name a musician greater than the Beatles and provide why, and PaulSC simply wrote, "J.S. Bach." And I believe he's right. Who can compete with the complexity and sheer beauty, in all history? Mozart? Beethoven? No one else comes close (bless Felix Mendelssohn for trying... )

I love talking about this kind of thing, even though I don't know much!

(Yikes tracerbullet - will ya watch the colorful language? There might be innocents present!)


Brahms and Mahler, that's who else!

Also, although I definitely agree that the Stones need to be on there, no list of the greats is complete without my personal faves REM ♥ ♥ ♥ and Elvis Costello ♥ ♥ ♥ !

Madonna will always be the queen ...

There is no such thing IMO. There are just way too many genres (important ones) out there that can't be encompassed by one "greatest of all time" band. Now if you wanted to ask "greatest rock band, greatest pop band, etc." that's doable. I'll answer this way:

Rock: Beatles-I never even listen to them but their history and influence on rock music is second to none.

Pop: ABBA-The record sales alone say something. Their popularity rivals any band in history. The influence of ABBA's music can be felt in every synth/techno/pop band from Human League to Madonna to Pet Shop Boys, etc, etc. It kills me that here in America people just think of "Dancing Queen" when they think of ABBA. It's not even one of my favorites!

R&B: James Brown-He literally pioneered this style of music. Any further explanation needed?

Jazz: Miles Davis and Cole Porter-"Too darn" close to call!

Classical: Beethoven-I want to say Richard Strauss and John Williams so bad but I know in reality Beethoven laid the foundation for all of them.

I want to stress this is my opinion not based on favorites, but knowledge gathered from following the music industry since childhood and the years of working in a record store at one time. That doesn't make me smarter than others on the topic, I'm just forming my conclusions based on those experiences.

You know, when When Joni Mitchell said she practically invented the singer-songwriter genre she was exaggerating--but not by much.

Which is my way of saying:

Naitch, as far as your arguments for influence, pioneering and laying on the foundations, I believe--make that I know---that you're 100% correct.

Name someone who influenced R&B more than James Brown? or Rock more than The Beatles? No thanks, I'll pass.

Now on a lighter side note; Naitch who do you enjoy listening to?

All you need is love

Mario

[QUOTE=Naitch;1959384][b]Pop: ABBA]

kudos Naitch! people tend to dismiss abba as camp or kitsch for their funny dress sense, while, strongly influenced by brian wilson/the beach boys, as well as classical composers, they made their structures mozartian, and their vocal harmonies celestially bach-esque. unbeatable. having said that, brian wilson was there first to turn the disposable pop of the 1950s into one sparkling (pop) symphony. just me two cents.

Another vote for The Beatles.

With both Madonna and Prince on the list,
I think Michael Jackson is missing!
I'm surprised nobody mentioned him before now.
Together they are the royal family of the 80s after all!

What About The Who?

They're on there! Nobody's voted for them yet.

Well, my personal tastes are very different from my picks, except for ABBA. Most of what I listen to is very Euro/synth based. I like bands such as ABBA, Art of Noise, Cure (every once in a blue moon these days), Depeche Mode (listened to them so much from high school & beyond that now it's just every so often as well), Erasure, OMD, New Order, Pet Shop Boys, Shamen and a whole slew of 80s acts such as Icehouse, Johnny Hates Jazz, Level 42 and Style Council when I'm feeling like a little jazz/pop/funk.

Right now Italo bands like Bad Boys Blue, Blue System, CC Catch, Fancy, Lian Ross, Modern Talking and Savage are very heavy in my rotation (see the "Song Of The Day" posts of mine!). It's sad that I'm so late discovering these acts, but at the same time it's like discovering new music. These days I don't get that kind of joy anymore as even a lot of bands I have always liked have put out sub-par albums the last several years i.e. DM & OMD.

*Can't believe I forgot to mention Ennio Morricone & John Williams in my post of yesterday (the two best movie soundtrack composers ever) !

[QUOTE=fountain;1959623]
Nice that someone knows this bit of history as the Beach Boys were one of Benny Andersson's favorite bands. You can really hear their influence in ABBA's music.

Fair enough. Here's three bands the OP missed:

1. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iLddJ...eature=related

AND

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

AND

3. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7XgF4wv0WpM

Led Zeppelin, hands down.

Omitting The Rolling Stones, Rush, and ABBA from the list is a mistake, as is including U2 and Pearl Jam. For metal, it also seems that Metallica, Tool, and possibly even Black Sabbath should be there. And what about Van Halen, Dire Straits, The Doors, and Jethro Tull? Fleetwood Mac should be in there too. The list also seems to be somewhat skewed toward older bands, which doesn't harsh my mellow as much as it might those of others.

Big, big fan of Zeppelin, but my vote goes to The Beatles. Untouchable.

They Could Write This:


And They Could Write This:

Bowie isn't here...

Oh, yes ... I adore Bowie, too!

Nothing if not diverse...

Others.

Stone Roses, The Velvet Underground, The Smiths, The Cure.

Potantial rant , just skim , its probably better that way ...

This is kinda private but hey ... I have loved Prince since I first heard him on the radio back in 1982 , I was in my early teens and him and his music just opened my eyes and ears , it was one of those life changing moments . I guess I started to back track from there , of course there was no internet then so it was pot luck finding stuff out , I brought all his previous albums and read everything I could find . Listened to every track obsessively , pick up every chord change and nuance .

I guess I have seen him a couple of dozen times , first was the Parade tour in 1985 , various other concerts , rehearsals , after show parties and all that shinanigans . Back in the old days he would open up Paisley Park every year and fans could attend the celebrations there where he and other guests would play live and chat with fans . Sometimes he would be jokey , charming and funny and down to earth and other times , aloof and all distant , primadonna and just wanted to talk about God .

Ive pretty much spent the past 28 years or so trying to completely collect everything he ever recorded and have a couple of thousand unreleased tracks and still looking if any of you have any more to add !!!!

We seem to have grown appart in recent years , his conversion to Jehova is fine and dandy but I dont wanna hear that crap when I listen and a few shall we say homophobic comments have left a sour taste so I dont listen to the newer stuff so much but every now and again he shows glimpses of his utter unquestionable genius . Look into his back catalogue , see past all the Purple Rains and Kisses and you will see probably one of the if not THE most amazing talented musicians ever . He can do all genres and do them all perfectly . He can funk , he can rock , he can out guitar Santana and Hendrix in a single solo . Jazz , he can so do jazz , hell he recorded with Miles Davis ! He also released jazz albums under an assumed name .....

Have I said too much ?

Hey wake up

Pour_Monsieur, your story reminds me a little about how I used to be about Tori Amos, another truly great musician. I first heard Spark on the radio driving home from school when I was 19, and her music subsequently helped me through many a stormy early 20-something season. A lot of her music is a little dark for me, nowadays, but here's a song that has always been one of my favorites.



I saw her live just once. My husband (before we married) bought me tickets, and she played this at the very end.

For me... the Beatles of course. After that....
The Rolling Stones
Led Zeppelin
Eric Clapton
The Eagles
Wow... can't go wrong with most of those on the list!! So many great artists!

Telecaster, you have marvelous taste! Nice to see you out and about!

As do you Sunnyfunny! Music topics always seem to peak my interest!! I know you're a BIG Zeppelin fan... can never go wrong with that extremely talented, creative, and influential blues rock quartet!!!!

Best band of any kind: The John Coltrane Quartet

Best rock band: The Fall

Lots of greats listed, most everyone in the world has heard of The Beatles, Elvis, and Michael Jackson, so it's hard to deny them their place at the top. My personal favorite from the list is Prince - Pour monsieur listed the reasonswell. He can play pretty much any genre, he's a great musician, has a decent vocal range, and is a genius when it comes to arranging. He's one of the few songwriters that can write totally kinky lyrics and they somehow never come off as crude or vulgar, just dripping with sex appeal.

The Beatles. By far.

Led Zeppelin. Period.

can any band beat this? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IbSugn0dB4c