# Who are your favourite music artists of all time? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 1, 2010, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-your-favourite-music-artists-of-all-time/555793 "2010-10-01T23:53:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2010, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-your-favourite-music-artists-of-all-time/555793/21 "2010-10-02T14:27:32Z")
OK. As per the OP I am to be banished to a desert island and can take the works of a handful of people (which I assume means 5 ): The complete works of _Ella Fitzgerald_ The complete works of _Frank Sinatra_ The complete works of the _Gypsy Kings_ The complete works of the _Beatles_ The complete works of _Neutral Milk Hotel_ or the complete works of the _Decemberists_ ---
**Author:** ![RikWriter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/49beb7/32.png) [@RikWriter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RikWriter)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2010, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-your-favourite-music-artists-of-all-time/555793/22 "2010-10-02T14:54:22Z")
Sting, for his occasionally incredibly well written lyrics. Of course, he has a lot of clunkers too, but when he hits, he hits out of the park. Rush, again for the lyrics. U2, for producing a very large number of songs I could listen to over and over, despite also producing a lot of songs that I loathe. Boston, for the music rather than the lyrics, although they produced some good lyrics occasionally as well. ---
**Author:** ![Ian\_D.Bergkamp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/5f8ce5/32.png) [@Ian\_D.Bergkamp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ian_D.Bergkamp)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2010, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-your-favourite-music-artists-of-all-time/555793/23 "2010-10-02T17:54:50Z")
> [@fusoya](#): > > The Decemberists - probably the more intelligent band out there. Really original stuff. Now, if I could only break the curse and actually see them live… They are a fantastic live band, with plenty of archived shows available. If, on the off chance, you haven’t heard them live, you should definitely check them out. NPR has a few on the All Songs Considered podcast. > [@Thudlow\_Boink](#): > > Listening to **Trip Shakespeare** (especially their album _Lulu_) always makes me happy, from the sheer joy of pop music making they exude. I thought I was the only Trip Shakespeare fan around here. I have worn out multiple tape copies of both Lulu and Across the Universe. Never got to see them live, though. > [@don\_t\_ask](#): > > The complete works of _Neutral Milk Hotel_ or the complete works of the _Decemberists_ As much as I love In The Aeroplane Over The Sea, I’ve never been able to get into any of NMH’s other albums. Not sure why - it’s not for lack of effort. ---
**Author:** ![BaneSidhe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/c5a1d2/32.png) [@BaneSidhe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BaneSidhe)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2010, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-your-favourite-music-artists-of-all-time/555793/24 "2010-10-02T18:31:21Z")
Mine: Rush Def Leppard Metallica Nine Inch Nails ZZ Top Johnny Cash “Weird” Al Yankovic The Beatles ---
**Author:** ![Novelty\_Bobble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Novelty\_Bobble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Novelty_Bobble)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2010, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-your-favourite-music-artists-of-all-time/555793/25 "2010-10-02T19:13:21Z")
The Clash, The Jam, The Smiths, The Who, Prince, Pink Floyd Fun for the whole family there I think. ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Borgia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/larry_borgia/32/156_2.png) [@Larry\_Borgia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Borgia)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2010, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-your-favourite-music-artists-of-all-time/555793/26 "2010-10-02T20:05:08Z")
> [@woodstockbirdybird](#): > > Husker Du, The Replacements, The Pogues, The Beatles, Prince, The Clash, The Go-Betweens, The Smiths, R.E.M., Minutemen, New Order, Elvis Costello, U2 (in the '80s only), XTC, Billy Bragg, The Feelies, Robyn Hitchcock - all helped me get through a tough adolescence. I could have written this post nearly word for word, though for me it was Echoand the Bunnymen instead of Go-Betweens ---
**Author:** ![Nobody](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/94ad74/32.png) [@Nobody](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nobody)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2010, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-your-favourite-music-artists-of-all-time/555793/27 "2010-10-02T20:08:57Z")
There are two bands which, in my opinion, had the kind of magic which can never be duplicated. Van Halen (With Roth) 78-84, and the original Guns & Roses. I almost felt that way about Skid Row, but it’s only their first album that was really great. Most of my other favorites are a whose who of top 40. ---
**Author:** ![Acorns.but\_not\_Bacon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3da27b/32.png) [@Acorns.but\_not\_Bacon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acorns.but_not_Bacon)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2010, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-your-favourite-music-artists-of-all-time/555793/28 "2010-10-02T20:23:46Z")
Bob Dylan Johnny Cash Nellie McKay Rufus Wainwright Alanis Morissette Goldfrapp Incredible String Band Martha Wainwright Beach Boys/Brian Wilson ---
**Author:** ![Kamino\_Neko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kamino_neko/32/34_2.png) [@Kamino\_Neko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamino_Neko)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2010, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-your-favourite-music-artists-of-all-time/555793/29 "2010-10-02T20:43:28Z")
Tomoko Kawase, all 3 of her projects - the brilliant green, Tommy february[sup]6[/sup] and Tommy heavenly[sup]6[/sup]. Wonderful voice. Interesting lyrics (when they’re in English). Nice musical aspects (though that part owes more to her husband, Okuda, not Tommy herself). Lots of variety of style, and a pretty good quantity of output, so no matter my mood, I can find a Tommy song I want to listen to. The Beatles. … For pretty much the same reasons as the above. ---
**Author:** ![koeeoaddi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/koeeoaddi/32/408_2.png) [@koeeoaddi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/koeeoaddi)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2010, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-your-favourite-music-artists-of-all-time/555793/30 "2010-10-02T20:52:54Z")
> [@Acorns.but\_not\_Bacon](#): > > Incredible String Band Boochy, boochy, boochy, boochy, boochy, boochy, boochy Squidly, squidly, squidly, squidly, squidly, squidly, squidly Sham sham shadoo, oh sham sham shadoo I. Am. Not. Aloooooone. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Gil-Martin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Gil-Martin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gil-Martin)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2010, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-your-favourite-music-artists-of-all-time/555793/31 "2010-10-02T21:40:23Z")
Most played at my house over the last twenty-five years or so: **Black Sabbath**. ---
**Author:** ![Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2010, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-your-favourite-music-artists-of-all-time/555793/32 "2010-10-02T22:18:10Z")
> [@koeeoaddi](#): > > > [@Acorns.but\_not\_Bacon](#): > > > > Incredible String Band > > Boochy, boochy, boochy, boochy, boochy, boochy, boochy > Squidly, squidly, squidly, squidly, squidly, squidly, squidly > Sham sham shadoo, oh sham sham shadoo > > I. Am. Not. Aloooooone. 🙂 I always wondered if that screen name was a “Big Ted” reference. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2010, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-your-favourite-music-artists-of-all-time/555793/33 "2010-10-02T22:29:19Z")
Pink Floyd The Beatles Steve Vai Hendrix Joe Satriani The Who 1990 and prior Metallica Nirvana Soundgarden Alice In Chains Pearl Jam U2 Guns and Roses NIN Black Sabbath and early Ozzy Osbourne That’ll do. ---
**Author:** ![OpalCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8edcca/32.png) [@OpalCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OpalCat)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2010, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-your-favourite-music-artists-of-all-time/555793/34 "2010-10-02T22:45:56Z")
Jethro Tull Pink Floyd Suzanne Vega Sinéad O’Connor Weird Al Yankovic I could go a long time listening to nothing but those five. ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2010, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-your-favourite-music-artists-of-all-time/555793/35 "2010-10-02T23:17:52Z")
> [@fusoya](#): > > The Decemberists - probably the more intelligent band out there. Really original stuff. Now, if I could only break the curse and actually see them live… Make sure you do they are great. I was at [this gig](http://www.moshcam.com/the-decemberists/metro-theatre-751.aspx#/2-the-crane-wife-pt-3). Hopefully [Moshcam](http://www.moshcam.com/) works overseas. It streams an awesome collection of entire recent Australian gigs by a wide variety of artists. ---
**Author:** ![MPB\_in\_Salt\_Lake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c0e974/32.png) [@MPB\_in\_Salt\_Lake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MPB_in_Salt_Lake)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2010, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-your-favourite-music-artists-of-all-time/555793/36 "2010-10-02T23:33:49Z")
Grateful Dead Van Morrison The Meters Neil Young Bob Dylan The Band Talking Heads The Who The Police Elvis Costello Los Lobos The Neville Brothers Little Feat (the single most important thing these musicians all really share in common is a love of language and a penchant towards intelligent, insightful lyrics) ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2010, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-your-favourite-music-artists-of-all-time/555793/37 "2010-10-03T01:26:12Z")
> [@don\_t\_ask](#): > > OK. As per the OP I am to be banished to a desert island and can take the works of a handful of people (which I assume means 5 ): > > The complete works of _Ella Fitzgerald_ > The complete works of _Frank Sinatra_ > The complete works of the _Gypsy Kings_ > The complete works of the _Beatles_ > The complete works of _Neutral Milk Hotel_ or the complete works of the _Decemberists_ These, plus: The complete works of _Nat “King” Cole_ The complete works of _Simon & Garfunkel_ The complete works of _Johnny Mathis_ The complete works of _Barbra Streisand_ The complete works of _Tony Bennett_ The complete works of the_Gershwins_ The complete works of _Cole Porter_ The complete works of _Stephen Sondheim_ And The complete works of _Bach, Mozart, Beethoven, Schubert, Mendelssohn, Chopin, Brahms, Tchaikovsky, Verdi, Sousa, Puccini, Scriabin and (especially) Rachmaninoff._ ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2010, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-your-favourite-music-artists-of-all-time/555793/38 "2010-10-03T01:35:32Z")
Number one: **The Beatles** My Holy Trinity of singer/songwriters: **Bob Dylan Neil Young Paul Simon** Sentimental favorite: **Elvis Costello** Honorable mentions: **Warren Zevon Townes Van Zandt John Prine Hank Williams Joni Mitchell Richard Thompson John Lennon James Taylor (early) Lou Reed Jethro Tull** Gaining in popularity: **Eminem** mmm ---
**Author:** ![Fried\_Dough\_Ho](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a88e57/32.png) [@Fried\_Dough\_Ho](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fried_Dough_Ho)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2010, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-your-favourite-music-artists-of-all-time/555793/39 "2010-10-03T03:46:33Z")
Kate Bush Hoagy Carmichael Hooverphonic Bing Crosby Radiohead The Gershwins Gary Numan ---
**Author:** ![Invisible\_Chimp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/f05b48/32.png) [@Invisible\_Chimp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Invisible_Chimp)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2010, 4:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-your-favourite-music-artists-of-all-time/555793/40 "2010-10-03T04:35:47Z")
Richard Thompson Drive-by Truckers Nick Lowe Leonard Cohen Okkervil River The Whitlams Metallica Pearl Jam Alison Krauss The Mavericks ETA: make it a top 10 list [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-your-favourite-music-artists-of-all-time/555793.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-your-favourite-music-artists-of-all-time/555793.md?page=3)