A new list of the 100 best vocalists of all time was just released. On top, #1 Freddy Merkury and I couldn’t agree more. I am a Freddie Fan for life, since a lifetime, so it seems. Aretha Franklin came in second. Not an argument from me here either. I love her, but then I got lost. Why was Barbra Streisand not mentioned in the first top 10?
To my absolute surprise, she is not listed at all. One of the greatest singers has not made it onto the list of the 100 best voices. Beats me! The publisher Consequences, might feel the consequences of such a mistake soon because who will take them seriously now? Of course, these lists are meant to start debates and discussions, but they can also offend and insult.
“Barbra—may I call you Barbra, please—you are in good company.” Edith Piaf is not mentioned either. One of the greatest singers of all time is forgotten, overlooked as well. But then, come to think of it, she is from France, and the list of the 100 greatest (or best) voices is strictly for English-speaking singers, and rightfully so, right? Imagine other countries would insist on having great singers as well. What a chaos it would be:
Nana Mouskouri, Greece! Mireille Matthieu, France! Milva, Italy! Karel Gott, Czech Republic! Marlene Dietrich, Germany! Heintje, the child-wonder voice, Netherlands, to name just a few.
Goodness, don’t open this can of worms, Bridget!
I went through the list twice, and some of the names took me by surprise: Iggy Pop? Ozzy Osbourne? Bruce Springsteen.
Not that I don’t like them. “Born to Run” is on my playlist, and so are some other songs. Maybe it’s not about the greatest voices but about distinctive, unforgettable voices? The ones you hear and you know who it is.
No, this isn’t it either, because Cher isn’t on the list, which I find odd, and neither is Lady Gaga. Are you f***ing kidding me?
What kind of list is that?
Barbra Streisand is now officially just another voice. Is she too old? Or maybe too opinionated. Too loud, just like Cher and Lady Gaga. These ladies don’t give a hoot and will stand up, heads held high, and they will speak up for women’s rights, human rights, and all other minority rights. “Born this way”, Baby!
I met Barbra Streisand when I was 14; she doesn’t remember it, but I do. I sat in my Pajamas in the auditorium of our boarding school in Germany. A room full of teenage girls. We watched ‘Funny Girl’, and we were quiet. Let’s not point out that afterward we all had a crush on Omar Sharif, but let’s focus on Barbra. I found her stunningly beautiful, and her voice unforgettable. When I drove home that weekend, I told my Grandmother about the new singer I had just discovered, and she laughed at me. “Of course, I know her; they play her music on the radio. You would know her too, if you would stop listening to your monkey music.” (Monkey music=Rolling Stones, Sweet, Bay City Rollers, to name just a few).
In 1985, when I moved from Austria to the United States, I had Barbra Streisand on my mind. As newlyweds, we lived in New York for a short time, and I always hoped she would give another free concert in Central Park, so I could be there too.
Barbra Streisand is timeless. So is Lady Gaga and Cher. So is Edith Piaf. Padam Padam
#Barbra Streisand #Cher #Lady Gaga (It’s the first time I use hashtags, that’s how upset I am) but now I feel better. I got it out of my system.
Am grinning as methinks you would know > Zarah Leander for me each and every time > yes, I have played her since childhood. Oh agree about Edith Piaf and Marlene Dietrich and Nana Mouskouri even tho’ I am basically an ‘opera freak’ 🙂 ! Agree about Barbra Streisand also . . .:) !
I see this a lot on sports sites. They’ll have a story listing the 100 greatest whatever and it’s usually from the past ten years. Maybe 15, but they miss out on some great stars. It could be a way of sparking debate, but I suspect it’s often just a recency bias. They haven’t done their homework and looked back on history. Now I don’t consider myself a big fan of hers . . . but even I know to skip Cher and her and others makes it an incomplete list!
Really interesting!
I agree with you 🎶🌹🎶