who is the best musician in the world?

Question

i think lionel richie should be among the top 5

Answer 1

Simon Rattle (conductor)
Cecilia Bartolli (singer)
Mitsiko Ushida (pianist)
Quincy Jones (record producer, jazz musician)
Kate Bush (reluctant pop star)
Paul Simon (just listen to 'Graceland' LP)
Peter Gabriel (genius)
George Michael (narcoleptic)
Mark Elder (conductor)
Jay Kay (Jamiroquai)
Frankie Knuckles (record producer)
Olivier Latry (organist)
Mark Hollis (Talk Talk)
Corrinne Bailey Ray (did you see the BBC session?)
Jake Shears (Scissor Sisters hottie)
Bjork (Icelandic and bonkers)

Lionel Richie is fantastic (Commodores, All Night Long etc.), but so is Stevie Wonder, Mark Knopfler, Anita Baker, Mick Jagger, and hundreds of other people who have spent years practicing their craft.

There is a whole world of musicians who rarely even get heard of, and the selection above does not come close to scratching the surface of talented musicians working today.

Whether it be the world of pop music, classical, jazz, rap, hip-hop, choral, orchestral, etc. it must surely be impossible to select a 'best' musician in the whole world as we all have different tastes and our own favourites (and having a favourite doesn't mean they are the best).

Personally, I favour people who are not afraid to take risks, and even if I'm not going to go out and buy their record, I will appreciate their ability and talent.


P.S. - to John H - Beethoven only began going deaf in his 30's, and by the time of the first performance of the 9th Symphony he would not have heard a note of it. Up until then though, he would play or conduct his own compositions, perfectly able to hear the performances. However, musicians are able to look at a piece of music and hear it in their head, so it should come as no surprise that a composer would be able to write music using only the imagination or 'inner ear'. Beethoven, when deaf, would be able to tell what the musicians were doing just by looking at the way they played their instruments, in the same way you can watch TV with the sound off and know whether someone is being tender or argumentative. There is a percussionist called Evelyn Glennie who is now profoundly deaf (from about the age of 12 her hearing deteriorated) but she can 'listen' to a CD and 'hears' the vibrations from the speakers.

Answer 2

The greatest of all time has to be Beethoven. He wrote the most powerful, beautiful music ever heard whilst all the time hiding the fact that he was profoundly hard of hearing.

Think about that for a second, that would be like Michelangelo painting the Sistine chapel blindfolded. Quite frankly no one in modern times can even be ranked in the same league.

The greatest living musician has to be Bob Dylan, granted not the greatest guitarist but his lyrics are stunning and have inspired everyone from John Lennon to the Arctic Monkeys. Don't just take my word for it go out and buy Dylans Highway 61 Revisited album, take a day off work roll a joint and loose yourself, it will change your life. While you're there buy Beethovens' 3rd symphony and if you're not profoundly moved you arn't human.

Answer 3

It's obviously open to discussion and argument but: Songwriting: Lennon and McCartney, Singers: Meatloaf and Freddie Mercury are probably the only singers who could carry off opera as well, Drummer: Cozy Powell, Bass: Mark King, Level 42. There are too many great Lead Guitarists for me to make any proper judgement. I'm afraid that most people's choice of Jimi Hendrix, though, wouldn't be one I agree with. But as I say, it's all down to personal choice.

Answer 4

Zakk Wylde
Steve Vai
Joe Satrani
les Dawson

Answer 5

If you're talking about pop musicians then probably one of the best musicians of all time has to be Prince. His music output has been second to none, he's written loads of classic pop songs for himself (Kiss, 1999, Purple Rain etc..) as well as top ten hits for Sinead O'Connor (Nothing Compares to You) and The Bangles (Manic Monday). He also plays dozens of instruments including guitar, bass, keyboards and drums. A very clever man.

Answer 6

Jimi Hendrix

Answer 7

5. Billy Joel
4. Beethoven
3. Eric Clapton
2. Marc Cohn
1. Joe Satriani!!!!

Yeah baby Rock 'n' Roll!

Answer 8

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

Answer 9

Brian Wilson

Answer 10

Jimmy Page