Back in 1998, VH1 (then VH-1) made a list of the 100 Greatest Artists of All Time, as voted on by musicians both young and old of various genres. They decided to do a re-vote, and this week unveiled the new list of the 100 Greatest Artists of All Time, once again as voted on by musicians both young and old of various genres. I was curious about the differences between the two lists, so after some comparing and contrasting, I've created a side-by-side analysis of the 1998 version and the 2010 version listing the 1998 version on the left, with DFNL (Dropped From New List) next to the names of the artists who didn't make the cut this time around and the 2010 version on the right, with how far the artist rose or fell (or whether they're new to the countdown all together) noted next to their name (I had the lists all nice and spaced apart, but it didn't stay that way because blogger hates me):
1998 ---------------------------------------------------- 2010
1. The Beatles ----------------------------------- 1. The Beatles (same)
2. The Rolling Stones -------------------------- 2. Michael Jackson (+38)
3. Jimi Hendrix ----------------------------------- 3. Led Zeppelin (+1)
4. Led Zeppelin ----------------------------------- 4. Rolling Stones (-2)
5. Bob Dylan -------------------------------------- 5. Bob Dylan (same)
6. James Brown ---------------------------------- 6. Jimi Hendrix (-3)
7. David Bowie ------------------------------------ 7. Prince (+11)
8. Elvis Presley ----------------------------------- 8. Elvis Presley (same)
9. The Who --------------------------------------- 9. James Brown (-3)
10. The Police ----------------------------------- 10. Stevie Wonder (+1)
11. Stevie Wonder ------------------------------- 11. Bob Marley (+13)
12. Ray Charles ---------------------------------- 12. David Bowie (-5)
13. The Beach Boys ------------------------------ 13. The Who (-4)
14. Marvin Gaye --------------------------------- 14. Nirvana (+28)
15. Eric Clapton (DFNL) ---------------------- 15. The Beach Boys (-2)
16. John Lennon -------------------------------- 16. Madonna (+70)
17. Elton John ----------------------------------- 17. Queen (+16)
18. Prince ---------------------------------------- 18. Pink Floyd (+1)
19. Pink Floyd ----------------------------------- 19. U2 (+10)
20. The Doors ----------------------------------- 20. Marvin Gaye (-6)
21. Aretha Franklin ----------------------------- 21. Bruce Springsteen (+6)
22. Fleetwood Mac ----------------------------- 22. The Clash (+9)
23. The Eagles (DFNL) ----------------------- 23. AC/DC (New to List)
24. Bob Marley --------------------------- 24. The Velvet Underground (+50)
25. Van Morrison ------------------------------- 25. Chuck Berry (+1)
26. Chuck Berry --------------------------------- 26. Neil Young (+4)
27. Bruce Springsteen -------------------------- 27. Aretha Franklin (-6)
28. Sly & the Family Stone --------------------- 28. Elton John (-11)
29. U2 -------------------------------------------- 29. Radiohead (New to List)
30. Neil Young ---------------------------------- 30. Aerosmith (+49)
31. The Clash ------------------------------------ 31. John Lennon (-15)
32. Joni Mitchell ---------------------------- 32. Black Sabbath (New to List)
33. Queen ------------------------------------ 33. Guns N’ Roses (New to List)
34. Buddy Holly (DFNL) ---------------------- 34. Tina Turner (+46)
35. Otis Redding -------------------------------- 35. Johnny Cash (+54)
36. Little Richard ------------------------------- 36. Paul McCartney (+26)
37. Al Green ------------------------------------- 37. Fleetwood Mac (-15)
38. Elvis Costello -------------------------- 38. Sly & The Family Stone (-10)
39. Miles Davis (DFNL) ---------------------- 39. The Kinks (+17)
40. Michael Jackson ---------------------------- 40. The Police (-30)
41. Janis Joplin ---------------------------------- 41. Van Halen (+7)
42. Nirvana -------------------------------------- 42. Metallica (New to List)
43. Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers ----------- 43. Ray Charles (-31)
44. The Jackson 5 (DFNL) -------------------- 44. Joni Mitchell (-12)
45. Crosby, Stills & Nash (DFNL) ------------ 45. Al Green (-8)
46. The Sex Pistols (DFNL) ------------------- 46. Ramones (+42)
47. Creedence Clearwater Revival (DFNL) ------- 47. Jay-Z (New to List)
48. Van Halen ------------------ 48. Rage Against the Machine (New to List)
49. Roy Orbison (DFNL) ------------------ 49. Parliament-Funkadelic (+50)
50. R.E.M. ---------------------------------------- 50. Sade (New to List)
51. B.B. King (DFNL) -------------------------- 51. Billy Joel (+27)
52. Cream ---------------------------------------- 52. Beyonce (New to List)
53. Peter Gabriel --------------------------------- 53. Little Richard (-17)
54. The Grateful Dead (DFNL) ----------- 54. Public Enemy (New to List)
55. The Byrds (DFNL) ------------------------- 55. Peter Gabriel (-2)
56. The Kinks ------------------------------------ 56. KISS (+11)
57. Steely Dan ------------------------------------ 57. Iggy & the Stooges (+26)
58. Sam Cooke (DFNL) -------------------- 58. Cheap Trick (New to List)
59. Bo Diddley (DFNL) -------- 59. Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers (-16)
60. Earth, Wind & Fire --------------- 60. Whitney Houston (New to List)
61. Smokey Robinson (DFNL) ---------------- 61. Cream (-9)
62. Paul McCartney ----------------------------- 62. Genesis (New to List)
63. Sting (DFNL) ----------------------- 63. Notorious B.I.G. (New to List)
64. Frank Zappa (DFNL) ---------------------- 64. Talking Heads (+2)
65. James Taylor (DFNL) --------------------- 65. The Doors (-45)
66. Talking Heads ---------------------- 66. Justin Timberlake (New to List)
67. Kiss -------------------------------------------- 67. Coldplay (New to List)
68. The Allman Brothers (DFNL) ------------ 68. Otis Redding (-33)
69. Pretenders ------------------------------- 69. Tupac Shakur (New to List)
70. Stevie Ray Vaughan (DFNL) ----------- 70. Def Leppard (New to List)
71. Rod Stewart (DFNL) ----------------------- 71. R.E.M. (-21)
72. Simon & Garfunkel (DFNL) -------------- 72. Janis Joplin (-31)
73. Muddy Waters (DFNL) -------------------- 73. Van Morrison (-48)
74. The Velvet Underground ------------------- 74. The Cure (New to List)
75. Curtis Mayfield (DFNL) ------------------- 75. Rush (New to List)
76. The Bee Gees --------------------------------- 76. Run-DMC (New to List)
77. John Coltrane (DFNL) --------------------- 77. Lynyrd Skynyrd (+19)
78. Billy Joel ---------------------------------- 78. Judas Priest (New to List)
79. Aerosmith ------------------------------------- 79. Eminem (New to List)
80. Tina Turner ------------------------------ 80. Mary J. Blige (New to List)
81. The Band ------------------------------------- 81. ABBA (New to List)
82. Devo (DFNL) ------------------------------- 82. Steely Dan (-25)
83. Iggy Pop -------------------------------------- 83. Earth, Wind, & Fire (-23)
84. T. Rex (DFNL) ----------------------------- 84. Curtis Mayfield (-9)
85. Carole King (DFNL) ----------------------- 85. The Band (-4)
86. Madonna ------------------------------------- 86. N.W.A. (New to List)
87. Santana (DFNL) --------------------- 87. George Michael (New to List)
88. Ramones ------------------------------------- 88. Bee Gees (-12)
89. Johnny Cash ------------------------------ 89. Beastie Boys (New to List)
90. Tom Waits (DFNL) ------------------------ 90. Elvis Costello (-52)
91. Gladys Knight & the Pips (DFNL)--------- 91. Green Day (New to List)
92. The Temptations (DFNL) ----------------- 92. LL Cool J (New to List)
93. The Four Tops (DFNL) -------------------- 93. Pearl Jam (New to List)
94. Diana Ross & the Supremes (DFNL) - 94. Mariah Carey (New to List)
95. Robert Johnson (DFNL) ------------------ 95. OutKast (New to List)
96. Lynyrd Skynyrd ----------------------------- 96. Journey (New to List)
97. Fats Domino (DFNL) ---------------------- 97. Pretenders (-28)
98. Traffic (DFNL) ----------------------- 98. Depeche Mode (New to List)
99. Parliament/Funkadelic ------------------ 99. Hall & Oates (New to List)
100. Paul Simon (DFNL) --------------------- 100. Alicia Keys (New to List)
1. The Beatles ----------------------------------- 1. The Beatles (same)
2. The Rolling Stones -------------------------- 2. Michael Jackson (+38)
3. Jimi Hendrix ----------------------------------- 3. Led Zeppelin (+1)
4. Led Zeppelin ----------------------------------- 4. Rolling Stones (-2)
5. Bob Dylan -------------------------------------- 5. Bob Dylan (same)
6. James Brown ---------------------------------- 6. Jimi Hendrix (-3)
7. David Bowie ------------------------------------ 7. Prince (+11)
8. Elvis Presley ----------------------------------- 8. Elvis Presley (same)
9. The Who --------------------------------------- 9. James Brown (-3)
10. The Police ----------------------------------- 10. Stevie Wonder (+1)
11. Stevie Wonder ------------------------------- 11. Bob Marley (+13)
12. Ray Charles ---------------------------------- 12. David Bowie (-5)
13. The Beach Boys ------------------------------ 13. The Who (-4)
14. Marvin Gaye --------------------------------- 14. Nirvana (+28)
15. Eric Clapton (DFNL) ---------------------- 15. The Beach Boys (-2)
16. John Lennon -------------------------------- 16. Madonna (+70)
17. Elton John ----------------------------------- 17. Queen (+16)
18. Prince ---------------------------------------- 18. Pink Floyd (+1)
19. Pink Floyd ----------------------------------- 19. U2 (+10)
20. The Doors ----------------------------------- 20. Marvin Gaye (-6)
21. Aretha Franklin ----------------------------- 21. Bruce Springsteen (+6)
22. Fleetwood Mac ----------------------------- 22. The Clash (+9)
23. The Eagles (DFNL) ----------------------- 23. AC/DC (New to List)
24. Bob Marley --------------------------- 24. The Velvet Underground (+50)
25. Van Morrison ------------------------------- 25. Chuck Berry (+1)
26. Chuck Berry --------------------------------- 26. Neil Young (+4)
27. Bruce Springsteen -------------------------- 27. Aretha Franklin (-6)
28. Sly & the Family Stone --------------------- 28. Elton John (-11)
29. U2 -------------------------------------------- 29. Radiohead (New to List)
30. Neil Young ---------------------------------- 30. Aerosmith (+49)
31. The Clash ------------------------------------ 31. John Lennon (-15)
32. Joni Mitchell ---------------------------- 32. Black Sabbath (New to List)
33. Queen ------------------------------------ 33. Guns N’ Roses (New to List)
34. Buddy Holly (DFNL) ---------------------- 34. Tina Turner (+46)
35. Otis Redding -------------------------------- 35. Johnny Cash (+54)
36. Little Richard ------------------------------- 36. Paul McCartney (+26)
37. Al Green ------------------------------------- 37. Fleetwood Mac (-15)
38. Elvis Costello -------------------------- 38. Sly & The Family Stone (-10)
39. Miles Davis (DFNL) ---------------------- 39. The Kinks (+17)
40. Michael Jackson ---------------------------- 40. The Police (-30)
41. Janis Joplin ---------------------------------- 41. Van Halen (+7)
42. Nirvana -------------------------------------- 42. Metallica (New to List)
43. Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers ----------- 43. Ray Charles (-31)
44. The Jackson 5 (DFNL) -------------------- 44. Joni Mitchell (-12)
45. Crosby, Stills & Nash (DFNL) ------------ 45. Al Green (-8)
46. The Sex Pistols (DFNL) ------------------- 46. Ramones (+42)
47. Creedence Clearwater Revival (DFNL) ------- 47. Jay-Z (New to List)
48. Van Halen ------------------ 48. Rage Against the Machine (New to List)
49. Roy Orbison (DFNL) ------------------ 49. Parliament-Funkadelic (+50)
50. R.E.M. ---------------------------------------- 50. Sade (New to List)
51. B.B. King (DFNL) -------------------------- 51. Billy Joel (+27)
52. Cream ---------------------------------------- 52. Beyonce (New to List)
53. Peter Gabriel --------------------------------- 53. Little Richard (-17)
54. The Grateful Dead (DFNL) ----------- 54. Public Enemy (New to List)
55. The Byrds (DFNL) ------------------------- 55. Peter Gabriel (-2)
56. The Kinks ------------------------------------ 56. KISS (+11)
57. Steely Dan ------------------------------------ 57. Iggy & the Stooges (+26)
58. Sam Cooke (DFNL) -------------------- 58. Cheap Trick (New to List)
59. Bo Diddley (DFNL) -------- 59. Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers (-16)
60. Earth, Wind & Fire --------------- 60. Whitney Houston (New to List)
61. Smokey Robinson (DFNL) ---------------- 61. Cream (-9)
62. Paul McCartney ----------------------------- 62. Genesis (New to List)
63. Sting (DFNL) ----------------------- 63. Notorious B.I.G. (New to List)
64. Frank Zappa (DFNL) ---------------------- 64. Talking Heads (+2)
65. James Taylor (DFNL) --------------------- 65. The Doors (-45)
66. Talking Heads ---------------------- 66. Justin Timberlake (New to List)
67. Kiss -------------------------------------------- 67. Coldplay (New to List)
68. The Allman Brothers (DFNL) ------------ 68. Otis Redding (-33)
69. Pretenders ------------------------------- 69. Tupac Shakur (New to List)
70. Stevie Ray Vaughan (DFNL) ----------- 70. Def Leppard (New to List)
71. Rod Stewart (DFNL) ----------------------- 71. R.E.M. (-21)
72. Simon & Garfunkel (DFNL) -------------- 72. Janis Joplin (-31)
73. Muddy Waters (DFNL) -------------------- 73. Van Morrison (-48)
74. The Velvet Underground ------------------- 74. The Cure (New to List)
75. Curtis Mayfield (DFNL) ------------------- 75. Rush (New to List)
76. The Bee Gees --------------------------------- 76. Run-DMC (New to List)
77. John Coltrane (DFNL) --------------------- 77. Lynyrd Skynyrd (+19)
78. Billy Joel ---------------------------------- 78. Judas Priest (New to List)
79. Aerosmith ------------------------------------- 79. Eminem (New to List)
80. Tina Turner ------------------------------ 80. Mary J. Blige (New to List)
81. The Band ------------------------------------- 81. ABBA (New to List)
82. Devo (DFNL) ------------------------------- 82. Steely Dan (-25)
83. Iggy Pop -------------------------------------- 83. Earth, Wind, & Fire (-23)
84. T. Rex (DFNL) ----------------------------- 84. Curtis Mayfield (-9)
85. Carole King (DFNL) ----------------------- 85. The Band (-4)
86. Madonna ------------------------------------- 86. N.W.A. (New to List)
87. Santana (DFNL) --------------------- 87. George Michael (New to List)
88. Ramones ------------------------------------- 88. Bee Gees (-12)
89. Johnny Cash ------------------------------ 89. Beastie Boys (New to List)
90. Tom Waits (DFNL) ------------------------ 90. Elvis Costello (-52)
91. Gladys Knight & the Pips (DFNL)--------- 91. Green Day (New to List)
92. The Temptations (DFNL) ----------------- 92. LL Cool J (New to List)
93. The Four Tops (DFNL) -------------------- 93. Pearl Jam (New to List)
94. Diana Ross & the Supremes (DFNL) - 94. Mariah Carey (New to List)
95. Robert Johnson (DFNL) ------------------ 95. OutKast (New to List)
96. Lynyrd Skynyrd ----------------------------- 96. Journey (New to List)
97. Fats Domino (DFNL) ---------------------- 97. Pretenders (-28)
98. Traffic (DFNL) ----------------------- 98. Depeche Mode (New to List)
99. Parliament/Funkadelic ------------------ 99. Hall & Oates (New to List)
100. Paul Simon (DFNL) --------------------- 100. Alicia Keys (New to List)
(DFNL) = Dropped from New List
I’ll avoid stating my own personal feelings about the changes in the list, but I will provide you with some statistical analysis:
37 Artists new to list, highest spot 23 (AC/DC, Radiohead, Black Sabbath, Guns ‘N Roses, Metallica, Jay-Z, Rage Against the Machine, Sade, Beyonce, Public Enemy, Cheap Trick, Whitney Houston, Genesis, Notorious B.I.G., Justin Timberlake, Coldplay, Tupac Shakur, Def Leppard, The Cure, Rush, Run-DMC, Judas Priest, Eminem, Mary J. Blige, ABBA, N.W.A., George Michael, Beastie Boys, Green Day, LL Cool J, Pearl Jam, Mariah Carey, OutKast, Journey, Depeche Mode, Hall & Oates, Alicia Keys)
37 Artists dropped from list, highest spot 15 (Eric Clapton, The Eagles, Buddy Holly, Miles Davis, Jackson Five; Crosby, Still, & Nash; Sex Pistols, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Roy Orbison, B.B. King, Grateful Dead, The Byrds, Sam Cooke, Bo Diddley, Smokey Robison, Sting, Frank Zappa, James Taylor, The Allman Brothers, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Rod Stewart, Simon & Garfunkel, Muddy Waters, John Coltrane, Devo, T. Rex, Carole King, Santana, Tom Waits, Gladys Knight & The Pips, The Temptations, The Four Tops, Diana Ross & The Supremes, Robert Johnson, Fats Domino, Traffic, Paul Simon
Highest rise: Madonna (up from 86 to 16)
Biggest fall: Elvis Costello (down from 38 to 90)
Artists who climbed 25 or more spots: Michael Jackson, Nirvana, Madonna, Velvet Underground, Aerosmith, Tina Turner, Johnny Cash, Paul McCartney, Ramones, Parliament-Funkadelic, Billy Joel, Iggy & The Stooges
Artists who fell 25 or more spots: The Police, Ray Charles, The Doors, Otis Redding, Janis Joplin, Van Morrison, Steely Dan, Elvis Costello, Pretenders
