Who are the most overrated musical artists that you can think of?

[bobthedrummer]

This can be from the last 5 decades.
One of them is Eric Clapton imo.
Another is Keith Moon.
Then there's Madonna.
Who else????

[k_jerome]

1. frank zappa. nt.

[Rabrrrrrr]

46. Dude, you just committed blasphemy of the worst kind.

[CarpeDiebold]

54. tell me that was sarcasm, please...

[k_jerome]

61. maybe i meant dweezil. nt.

[driver8]

100. Frank Zappa was a genius -- how in the hell can you confuse

Dweezil and his father?? That's like confusing Saddam with Uday...uhm, not a good example. That's like confusing GHWB with GWB...wait, that's not a good one either.

Anyhow, how could you say that??!

[Jade Fox]

191. You said it. Better duck....

There are many who view Zappa as a god and genius. Nope.

[Lochloosa]

232. That is the funniest thing I've read here in a long time...

How old are you? 12?

It takes a little maturity to apppriciate the genius of Franks music.

[bobthedrummer]

2. Ashlee Simpson, Ric Ocacek

[ProfessorGAC]

128. Ric Ocasek? Pffffffffffffffffffft!

The Cars were one of the great american bands. A sound like nobody else had, a solid rhythm section, a great guitarist (one of the most UNDERRATED ever) and a keyboard player who redefined the vocabulary for rock keys.

You take that back, or i'm coming over there!
The Professor

[OrwellwasRight]

213. I don't recall anyone ever pumping him up enough

to reach the overrated status. The Cars seldom got props even when they sold well.

[k_jerome]

3. kurt cobain. nt.

[k_jerome]

8. pretty much all of led zeppelin. nt.

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

131. Dude, you are NOT showing your musical prowess.

You think Zappa, Cobain, AND Zeppelin are overrated? Someone needs an education in a BIG way...

[OrwellwasRight]

210. I agree, Cobain was overrated.

Anyone who claims to take heroin to cure a "stomach ache" is a moron. He would be on "where are they now" if he had not died. Oh, and Nirvana's songs were so overplayed, I still can't stand to listen to them to this day.

How's that for an uneducated anti-Nirvana rant? Bring on the "Kurt is a genius" reply!

[britpopper]

223. Kurt is a genius!

Ha-ha...hey nobody said he was a smart guy (obvious), but musically, he truly was a god...

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

229. Quite uneducated and not worthy of a response.

[OrwellwasRight]

230. And yet, I got a response.

Sometimes it pays to be provocative. If only the Dems in Congress would be a little more provocative and at least start some conversations... Yes, you will make some angry, but at least they will listen in, and you'll also create some fans...

One can only dream.

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

231. Emphasis on the word "sometimes"

Other times you just look like a jackass that is trying to stir up problems for no good reason. Which is where the word "pragmatism" comes to mind. Which is something that your hero Kucinich doesn't need to worry about because he has no fears of not being re-elected. Which is not a comfort most Democrats enjoy.

But this is about music, and your comments were meaningless. You lost me when you made the blanket "moron" statement.

[OrwellwasRight]

235. Pragmatism like Hillary becoming a warhawk or

Lieberman saying we shouldn't criticize G'dub? Who are the jackasses and who are the people with principles all depends on your point of view.

But I do not know of any serious change in history that was created by sitting down, shutting up, and going with the flow. Pragmatists may survive, but also risk being viewed as collaborators. Vichy France was pragmatic. The French Resistance was provocative. As the old Apple campaign pointed out, the dreamers, outcasts, and revolutionaries were the ones who changed the world. For me, I'll go provocative every time. Makes life more interesting, political or not. Even if you do incur the wrath of Kurt-worshippers.

Oh, and my comments were not meaningless (perhaps valueless to you, but not meaningless). All comments have meaning unless they are not in a comprehensible language. You certainly have the right to believe that Mr. Cobain is not a moron (which was already clear from your comment to the previous post and why I decided to start a conversation). And I have the right think he is. Heroin is an addictive drug, not known to relieve digestive ailments. IMO, only a moron would expect the public to believe that one accidentally got addicted to heroin by trying to medicate an ulcer.

And ps, I don't like Nirvana music. I could live the rest of my life without hearing "come, as you are..." That makes me an Elvis Costello fan, not a jackass.

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

237. Do you think the French Revolution occurred overnight?

Do you think they achieved anything through oral diarrhea? Do you think they got anywhere by mindless action? Of course they didn't. The price for not sitting on their hands was death, so they did so until they were able to silently build the correct circumstances. THAT is how revolutions occur. Revolutions occur when you speak from strength and not weakness. Revolutions do not begin with screaming and fighting - they END that way, whether successfully or not. Failed revolutions only make footnotes. I choose not to be a footnote, and so I will strike when the time is right and prepare for that day in the meantime.

[OrwellwasRight]

238. Who advocated mindless action? who advocated oral diarrhea?

-And what do you mean revolutions do not begin with screaming and fighting? Are you picturing your parents bickering or something? What do you think printing "Common Sense" was? It was PROVOCATIVE. An act of speaking out that could have gotten Thomas Paine killed. But instead it helped spark a revolution.

-Fighting the Nazis is not mindless (um, Vichy France and the French Resistance were references to WWII, btw)

-Speaking out against an unjust war is not "mindless" -- students, who had ZERO power at all, spoke out against Vietnam in the 60s and led the nation to see what a travesty it was.

-Speaking up for civil liberties is not mindless -- Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.--who certainly could have "sat on his hands" given that he did NOT command the attention of the majority of the population, but he did not, he spoke out and risked lynching, etc. He refused to wait until it was safe, which was going to be NEVER, and he led a civil rights revolution

Nope, revolutions do not start from staying silent. You go head on with whatever plan you are brewing, and the revolution may be over by the time you think it is safe.


You certainly seem very touchy on this subject. All because I insulted to great Kurt or simply becuase you are defensive about not being willing to stand up for your values? This is the lounge. It is supposed to be all in fun.

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

240. Where is our "Common Sense"?

Tom Paine was an ordinary civilian, not a government official. Tom Paine was today's equivalent of a blogger, and we've got more of those than you can count.

No shit it was a WW2 reference. Can I not bring up something else? Or is that outside the boundaries of your mind?

No one suggested that civilians not speak out. I was talking about our elected officials. Do not put words into my mouth. And the students did little to actually stop Vietnam.

YOU started this whole discourse. It seems you have a short memory, so let me refresh you a bit "Sometimes it pays to be provocative. If only the Dems in Congress would be a little more provocative and at least start some conversations." THAT is where I started from.

[OrwellwasRight]

243. Yup, it does pay to be provocative. why would I forget I said that.

sure I started the conversation, but I did not start the insults (except about Kurt) or the defensiveness.

And you have said nothing to demonstrate to me that the Dems in Congress (or anywhere else) are doing anything effective by sitting down and shutting up, so I will retain my current position (as I am assured you will retain yours). And we shall see which begets change -- the compromisers or the idealists.

The reasonable man adapts himself to the world; the unreasonable one persists to adapt the world to himself. Therefore all progress depends on the unreasonable man. George Bernard Shaw.

I think I have been about as productive as I can be here.

Peace.

[datasuspect]

4. elvis costello

hands down . . .

[Greyhound]

149. Blasphemer! Where's my torch?

:rofl:

[OrwellwasRight]

212. Don't you mean, where's "the only flame in town"? nt.

[lcbart]

242. What??????

My aim is true is one of the best albums of all time!

[Miss Marmelstein]

5. Celine Dion

:banghead:

[bobthedrummer]

6. Carly Simon, Roger Waters

[k_jerome]

10. david gilmour. nt.

[Rabrrrrrr]

52. Whoops - second count of blasphemy.

But, welcome to DU anyway! :hi:

[k_jerome]

66. just countering waters. i could have said mason. nt.

[driver8]

101. I just want you all to know that I DID NOT just put a contract out

on k jerome. If something should happen, I had nothing to do with it.

[BlueJazz]

185. Whew..(Carly Simon) I've seen her live 3 times

(It was Freebies)
She sings so bad out of tune, it's embarrassing.
I have nothing against her, Personally..but Geez!

[Oeditpus Rex]

204. Roger Waters is God

And you're goin' down. :grr:

[Left Is Write]

7. Sting.

I like the Police. Sting, solo? Not so much.

[bigwillq]

9. Shame on you!

Madonna is not overrated! :mad:

[jonnyblitz]

145. oh please. she is the absolute worst...

:puke:

[Bridget Burke]

153. You have to be rated highly to be "overrated"

Madonna's a great image-maker but I've never heard people rhapsodizing over her musical artistry.

[jonnyblitz]

172. this is true. nt

[Rabrrrrrr]

11. Clapton, Billy Joel, Celine, Mariah, Beach Boys, every rapper, Springfield

Bon Jovi

[datasuspect]

17. clapton is a tool

i hate going to a bar and someone plays that song he wrote to celebrate throwing his kid out the window.

[k_jerome]

18. harsh dude. nt.

[LostinVA]

30. That's absolutely not what the song's about

I don't know if you're joking or not, but what you wrote is distatesful... it's horrible to lose a child. I;ve seen the effects in my own family.

And, the little boy was not thrown out the window.

[Rabrrrrrr]

49. LOL!

On both things you said.

[datasuspect]

53. i misplaced my sensitivity hat

i guess i shouldn't post after taking a nap.

[driver8]

104. That's fucked up. Even if you were joking... n/t

[LostinVA]

26. The Beach Boys were geniuses -- seriously

[ALago1]

130. I agree...particularly Brian...

n/t

[fishwax]

206. particularly? I'd say exclusively

I won't get into the whole genius debate over Brian Wilson, but I've got to call BS on Mike Love and Al Jardine, etc.

[Left Is Write]

73. Springfield? As in Rick?

I don't think he's highly enough rated to be overrated. ;)

Did you mean Springsteen?

[Rabrrrrrr]

76. No, I mean that clueless talentless shitpile factory-made product Rick

[Left Is Write]

79. But how can he be overrated...

if he's hardly rated at all?

I don't know anyone (okay, well, ONE person online) who thinks he's a great artist or anything more than a catchy pop song singer.

[Rabrrrrrr]

81. Well, maybe not any more... but at one time he was, and I'm still pissed

about it.

[Mad_Dem_X]

156. Hey, he was the love of my life in the 80's

When he was on "General Hospital"...:loveya:

[bobthedrummer]

12. Stevie Nicks, Bob Geldoff, John Meyer

[k_jerome]

13. geldof, hugely overrated.

[LostinVA]

32. Stevie Nicks is underrated, imo

[bigwillq]

40. I agree with you about Stevie!

I just love her!

[LostinVA]

50. And still lookin' good! Heck, I think her voice sounds better, too!

[bigwillq]

60. Her voice is still good, I agree.

:bounce:

[k_jerome]

47. is that the guy in the e street band? nt.

[LostinVA]

122. What??? I seriously hope you're kidding!

[2bfree]

136. Stevie is a goddess!

She still rocks! :)

[k_jerome]

14. the edge. nt.

[driver8]

106. OMG!!! I want everyone to know that I DID just put a contract hit

out on k jerome. If something bad should happen to him, it's my fault.

The Edge is amazing...why do you say that he is overrated??

[k_jerome]

109. really, i should say, U2

[driver8]

113. Ok, I'll give you that. I love their music, but I know a lot of people

that don't.

I still may have to send someone after you, though...

[bobthedrummer]

15. Fiona Apple

[sendero]

39. I'll agree to that..

.... she sings like she's had 3 seconals.

And Edie Brickell, a Rickie Lee Jones after 2 six-packs. :)

[k_jerome]

16. jimmy buffet. nt

[bobthedrummer]

19. Rod Stewart, Mick Jagger

[DanCa]

20. Eminem , Jessica Simpson, Del Shannon, Will Smith Toby Keith,

[k_jerome]

21. burt bacharac (sp?).nt.

[jpgray]

22. Nirvana, Led Zeppelin

It's hard to say because there's usually a snob backlash of underrating that goes hand-in-hand with the overrating, and vice versa. Like the Beach Boys aren't just insipid boyband pap, but Brian Wilson isn't the American version of Lennon/McCartney either.

[boobooday]

187. I'm with ya on the Zeppelin

They are not only the most overrated, but the most overplayed as well.

[k_jerome]

23. wilco. nt.

[jpgray]

48. Right with you there (nt)

[sendero]

24. Oasis...

... mediocre lyrics, banal music, Blur is much better :)

[Mad_Dem_X]

157. YES! The Wannabe-Beatles nt

[fishwax]

207. No, they're the best ever. I know cuz I read it on DU

:shrug:

[DanCa]

25. Elvis Presley - I just dont get it. I am not knocking the music.

I just dont understand the reaction. I am not trying to insult anyone.

[datasuspect]

28. you're not off target and nothing is wrong with you

sometimes there simply is no accounting for taste.

i've never understood the elvis thing either.

[DanCa]

42. And most of his early blues stuff was done by established blues artisit.

. R.E. I like mama thorton's hound dog version better than Elvis version.

[datasuspect]

58. most of the black music that white artists ripped off

was much better in their original forms.

[johnnie]

93. Elvis didn't rip people off

He sang their music and gave them credit for it.

[bigwillq]

34. I agree. Elvis is way overrated.

I just don't get him. I never thought he was sexy either.

[sendero]

35. I think Elvis..

... was about the performance more than anything else. And in the early years only, of course.

[Rabrrrrrr]

43. I'm with you! And I never think of him in these polls cuz he's not rock.

To me, Elvis was never a rock and roller anyway, so I never think to include his name in these "most overrated" polls.

I mean, seriously - do you ever hear Elvis on rock stations? No. I've listened to rock stations from Hawaii to NYC, from oldies/classic rock to pop rock to easy listening rock, and I've never heard an Elvis song, not once.

But where have I heard his songs? On country and western stations, and old ladies stations.

[ET Awful]

64. Have to agree . . . I could never quite grasp the whole Elvis worship

thing. . . I mean the guy was truly mediocre.

[misanthrope]

198. Ah, yes...the Vanilla Ice of the '50s**nm

**

[taterguy]

224. In defense of Elvis

For a long time I never got the whole Elvis thing. Then I finally got around to hearing the work he did for Sun Records, back when he was a raw talent. Listen to the opening of Milkcow Blues, when he snarls, "Hold it, that don't move me." That was the beginning of rock and roll. It may have existed in some form but without the charisma of Elvis it never would have become what it is. Of course within a few years he let his talents be used and abused by others. Que sera, sera.

[k_jerome]

27. mccartney.

it was all lennon.

[jpgray]

33. Nah, they were both good

I'd even say McCartney has crossed the line into underrated now that he has sufficiently tarnished his memory via solo records. Stuff like Paperback Writer or You Never Give Me Your Money is about as good as pop melodicism gets.

[k_jerome]

36. ringo? nt

[jpgray]

44. Two schools of thought on him as well

Technically he sucked, but virtuoso drumwork would sound pretty out of place in most Beatles tunes. Someone has to present Wall, right? :D And it's surprising how many drummers just -cannot- play a Ringo beat properly--in my jr. high dad-rock cover band our drummer had no problem with the Bonham stuff but he couldn't hack "Rain."

[k_jerome]

51. i liked him in caveman. nt.

[jpgray]

55. He missed his calling (nt)

[sendero]

57. One time..

... I was trolling around the net, and some random netizen claimed that Ringo was "the worst drummer ever".

That's idiotic. Ringo's drumming was not only innovative at the time, but it was appropriate to the song almost every time.

Who gives a crap if he couldn't do a roll? Which Beatle song needed one?

[jpgray]

74. Other than the ACDC guy, probably the least showoffy drummer ever

The drum break in Birthday is pretty representative. :D

[sendero]

77. There is a school of thought..

.... that the drummer is there to provide timing. Maybe a little spice, but nothing intrusive. Ringo was perfect.

[jpgray]

78. Well, if you have some shit songwriting to cover up

Flashy drumming can come in handy. It won't make a good song, but it can at least add some excitement. I'm of the "timing" school of thought, but then I'm not a drummer.

[Lochloosa]

233. This is the least showoffy drummer ever. He perfected it!

Charlie Watts

[last_texas_dem]

82. I think McCartney is underrated

Other than his newest album and Band on the Run more than thirty years ago, the critics have dogged pretty much everything he's ever released. In terms of solo careers, Lennon's is much more overrated than McCartney's, and I love most of the stuff both of them did.

In terms of their work with the Beatles, it would be impossible to do a percentage-wise breakdown of who contributed more to their output IMHO. But the Beatles simply wouldn't be without the contributions of both.

[bobthedrummer]

29. Paul McCartney may be the most overrated of all.

Beck

[jpgray]

37. If you know of a pop songwriter that surpasses his work from 64-68

I'd like to hear of that person. :D

[k_jerome]

41. if those years were a musical artist, i would say overrated. nt.

[jpgray]

63. Can't agree with you

Plus half of the Beatles' talent was studio performance--how they made something as insipidly composed as "The Night Before" sound cool and exciting is still a mystery to me. In those days Paul had a pretty great scream--cf. "Anytime at All" where I think the second recitation on each chorus is Paul's even though it's Lennon's tune.

[pintobean]

91. This may interest you.

http://www.riaa.com/gp/bestsellers/topartists.asp

[datasuspect]

31. pink floyd

god i hate pink floyd. and i was a stoner.

"dude, did you ever see the wall? ON ACID????!?!?!"

fucking idiotic, bloated music.

[slay]

120. spread the hate why don't ya

i love how these threads always get the idiots to show their hatred. shame on you datasuspect. :(

[datasuspect]

just because i don't like pink floyd doesn't mean i'm an idiot

it just means i have good taste.

[slay]

214. no, not in and of itself

well mr EX-STONER (couldn't handle your weed huh?) they made msnbc's 10 best rock bands ever list: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/4595384/

pink floyd is indeed one of the best ever.

and my guess is that you are little more than a sellout to materialistic america who has no idea of the true art, depth, and emotion expressed by pink floyd's music. besides the fact that they totally kick ass. you should give them another chance. or remain the closeminded individual you currently are. :P :P :P

[NMMNG]

215. La la la la, I can't hear you

Dissing my favorite band of all time. Hmmmmph.

[bobthedrummer]

38. Lou Reed, Norah Jones

[ncrainbowgrrl]

121. Right there with you on the Norah Jones nomination.

Her voice just gets to me- kinda like my own personal version of fingernails on a chalkboard.

[ET Awful]

45. The Rolling Stones in general, same with Aerosmith . . .

Maybe it's just the whole skinny white front man with a huge mouth who struts like a chicken schtick? :P

[Greyhound]

150. When I was a little kid I saw them do a free concert @

Colorado Womans College (Temple Buell(?) at the time), and they were so bad it was painful to watch. I was embarrassed for them they could hardly play their instruments. :rofl:

[k_jerome]

56. rem. nt.

[bobthedrummer]

59. Rick Wakeman

Robert Fripp
Jewel
Keith Emerson
Marilyn Manson
Ozzy Osbourne
David Crosby

[sendero]

65. One time a musician friend..

... said something like "well, don't worry, he's a drummer".

Now I know what he meant :)

[jpgray]

67. David Crosby -sucked- as a songwriter

I'm with you on everyone there except Fripp, who while he couldn't write a decent tune could at least play a wicked cool solo.

[datasuspect]

71. he wasn't that great of a dopehead either.

[ProfessorGAC]

132. Well, Now You've Made Me Mad!

Emerson and Wakeman? You hate keyboard players don't you? Why i oughta. . .
The Professor

[AntiCoup2K4]

62. Steely Dan

absolutely the most overrated ever. And their guitarist is a neocon shitbag.

Also overrated.....

Radiohead (sorry, I don't get what's so "great" about 'em)

Matchbox 20 - bland, boring, middle of the road crap. They're like the "DLC" of "alternative rock".

Creed - Liked a couple of songs on the first record. Didn't mind the Pearl Jam ripoff or the Christianity until Stapp proved himself a first class hypocrite.

[driver8]

108. I agree with Radiohead -- I have tried and tried to like these guys.

I just don't get what all the fuss is about.

[HughBeaumont]

125. Everybody rips me because I share your Radiohead view . . .

It's like, I don't MIND them, but let's not pretend they're the greatest rock act since sliced bread. Radiohead totally lifts from Red-era King Crimson, Aphex Twin and all of Gong's synth parts. I don't see what's to shit the bed over. Not to mention his voice . . . UGH! Like a cheese-grater to the spine. The songs where he doesn't sing as much, those I don't mind as much.

[jonnyblitz]

146. radiohead bores the hell out of me. nt

[k_jerome]

68. eddie van halen. nt

[AussieDave]

69. Creedence Clearwater Revival

Killing Heidi
Nirvana and the dead white guy who used to front it
The wife of the dead white guy who used to front Nirvana
Alicia Keys
Alanis Morrisette
Chris Martin

[KamaAina]

181. Put on "Fortunate Son" and crank it up

then move Killing Heidi, whoever they are, to the top of that list.

[name not needed]

189. Nope. They still suck.

[k_jerome]

70. dire straits. nt.

[bullwinkle428]

92. NOOOOOOOOO! Mark Knopfler is my favorite!

...okay, I'll admit, an acquired taste for some...

[bobthedrummer]

72. Sid Vicious, Steven Tyler

Donovan
Terry Bozzio
Eric Burdon
John Denver

[NaturalHigh]

75. Bette Midler.

I hate to hear her whiny moans.

[GoddessOfGuinness]

115. It's the vibrato that gets me...

Makes me seasick.

[bobthedrummer]

80. Joe Walsh

Robert Plant

[jpgray]

83. Other than range, Plant had nothing as a singer

Bad tone, bad (or ripped off) lyrics, and no concept of brevity--and he's twice as obnoxious live as in the studio with the near-constant, improvised (I hope) caterwauls. Bleah.

[bobthedrummer]

84. Band wise: Green Day, Dave Matthews, Nine Inch Nails, korn

White Stripes

[datasuspect]

86. roger that

we are talking some MAJOR dreck contained in the combined output of all those shit purveyors.

[bobthedrummer]

88. There are so many more, I wonder how they get these contracts???

Death Cab for Cutie, My Chemical Romance, Liz Phair, The Darkness, even Modest Mouse (which had potential imo)

[datasuspect]

89. it's pure marketing

their music is precision engineered. their "image" is market tested, and they make all at some disney factory somewhere.

[bobthedrummer]

90. I tend to agree, it's formulated stuff-computer software stuff

it's a calculation, soulless and youth oriented (don't get me wrong, some of the kids are always alright)
on edit: The Grateful Dead-Rush-almost all forms of metal bands

[ghostsofgiants]

87. Definitely agree on Green Day and Dave Matthews...

I don't rate Korn at all.

[Guava Jelly]

183. I must defend greenday

I have been a hugh greenday fan way way way before American Idiot.
now the rest are mediocre...But I for one believe greenday to be top notch..And will be in the rock hall of fame as soon as they are eligible.

[no name no slogan]

85. I was just discussing this with my boss today

we agreed upon the following:
* Cream/Eric Clapton
* Led Zeppelin (whom I still like, but still think are overrated -- sorry LynnSin)
* The Eagles

[StellaBlue]

94. $0.02

Most modern country.

Half of the rap 'artists'.

Jessica, Britney, etc.

Rod Stewart

Robbie Williams

The Eagles

and, 'musically', I have to agree about Madonna. Though I really love her myself. 'Like a Prayer' is the best dance song ever. But didn't have to feature her voice...

[StellaBlue]

95. oh, YEAH

and MARIAH.

Ick, ick, ick.

It makes me sick that she may bypass Elvis and the Beatles in No. 1s. Sickening. She used to be able to sing - don't know if she still can, since all she does now is breathe over rappers on her tracks and prance around in hideous hot pants totally inappropriate for a 30something-year-old (pudgy) woman. She is also quite obviously totally delusional. Like Sunset Boulevard delusional.

[Magrittes Pipe]

96. The Beatles.

I love The Beatles. But they're not God. They had some bad songs ("Yellow Submarine," anyone? "When I'm Sixty-Four?").

The Beatles are treated by so many as untouchable. Perfect.

They were great. But not perfect. And I can scarcely think of anything more overrated that a great, but flawed, band that so many people think of as flawless.

[Beware the Beast Man]

98. A lot of early Beatles albums had filler. Lennon admitted as much.

[johnnie]

99. I agree they had flaws

But I think a lot less than most out there.

[pintobean]

142. Everyone is flawed.

I don't know how the greatest can be overrated. The greatest can be argued, but people vote with their wallets.
This list is from the RIAA website. http://www.riaa.com/gp/bestsellers/topartists.asp
I cut the list off at the artists that exceeded the difference between the top 2.

Top Artists
Totals are derived from cumulative album sales totals (U.S. only)
Artist - Certified Units (in Millions)
BEATLES, THE 168.5
PRESLEY, ELVIS 116.5
LED ZEPPELIN 107.5
BROOKS, GARTH 105.0
EAGLES 89.0
JOEL, BILLY 78.5
PINK FLOYD 73.5
STREISAND, BARBRA 70.5
JOHN, ELTON 69.0
AC/DC 66.0
AEROSMITH 65.5
ROLLING STONES, THE 64.5
SPRINGSTEEN, BRUCE 61.5
MADONNA 60.0
STRAIT, GEORGE 60.0
JACKSON, MICHAEL 59.5
CAREY, MARIAH 57.5
METALLICA 57.0
VAN HALEN 56.5
HOUSTON, WHITNEY 54.0

[ALago1]

201. Wow the Beatles kick the shit out of everyone!!

I always suspected as much :)

[fishwax]

209. People vote with their wallets, but that doesn't mean they're right

and "most popular" doesn't equal "greatest." After all, the New Kids on the Block sold more albums than Bob Dylan.

But I do dig The Beatles, and I definitely don't think they're the most overrated by any stretch ...

[Mad_Dem_X]

158. Oh, HELL no!

You're gonna burn for that one. LOL I love The Beatles because they had so many different types of music - rock, pop, country, ballads, kids' songs. No other group had or has more range of songs.

[tyedyeto]

97. Springsteen is #1 on my list

Then Rod Stewart.

No talent in either of them!

[SixStrings]

143. Glad somebody said it. Springsteen is by far the most

over-rated ever. Utter shit. Glad to see Plant on this list as well - I think he fucked up a lot of zeppelin tunes with his incessant wailing.

Never got the Van-Halen thing either. Sure he was a great guitarist, but it all sounds the same to me. Plus, in the interviews I've read and seen, eddie is really obnoxious and selfish.

[Hissyspit]

205. Springsteen is overrated. But he's also really good at a lot of what he

does. You can be really good and still be overrated.

[bobthedrummer]

102. Phil Collins

[k_jerome]

103. ozzy osbourne. nt.

[LSK]

105. Dave Matthews

[benny05]

114. Sacred Bull from the 1990's

Surprised to see this entry

[k_jerome]

107. lynyrd skynyrd

[benny05]

110. EC was here...and is still here

and so was Keith Moon

I'm not 60 this year, far from it, but I love those two British invasioners. Not overrated at all.

[EstimatedProphet]

111. Loverboy

[bobthedrummer]

112. Then there is Michael Jackson, who was overrated

but I don't want to even think about him anymore...

[Initech]

116. Nirvana

And before anyone tells me otherwise, even Cobain himself admitted that they were originally a ripoff of the Pixies.

[GoddessOfGuinness]

117. No Paula Abdul?

Faith Hill
Rick Springfield
and all that generic crap...

[William Bloode]

118. For me it's U2, and Green Day.

I always thought U2 blew, but Green Day i thought was ok i guess, but i don't see all the fuss about the new release. It just sounds weak and contrived to me :shrug:

[Mobius]

227. You're worse than the Beatle hater.

U2 contirvied???HAHAHAHA
Please elaborate....

[tuvor]

119. The Beatles.

I mean, c'mon. Could they ever have been rated more highly over the course of the past forty years? Not a chance. Now, if anyone thinks they were underrated by anyone of import (say, starting with Rubber Soul), please explain exactly why.

Keep in mind: The question wasn't whether they were great, or even the greatest. It was whether they were overrated.

Disclaimer: I've had a long, wearying day at work and I'm on my third glass of wine.

[Montauk6]

123. Among others (I'm wearing asbestos, so flame away)...

Michael Feinstein (he couldn't carry Mandy Patinkin's throat lozenges)
Rush
The James Gang
Eddie Fisher
Morrissey (and I LIKE Morrissey/The Smiths but I really thought Spin Magazine overdid the praise a tad)
Bobby Womack
Gabriel-era Genesis
Patti Smith
Bobby "Blue" Bland
Captain Beefheart
Orchestral Whatevers in the Dark
Brenda Russell

[HughBeaumont]

124. This list is going to get me SHOT, but who cares.

Rage Against the Machine
Tool
Kurtvana
Smashing Pumpkins
Dave Matthews Bland
The Strokes
The White Stripes (GOD I fucking HATE that band)
The Killers
The Black Eyed Peas
Built to Spill, Yo La Tengo, Interpol or any of the boring, happy-ass ironic indie bands my record store manger brother-in-law gets into.
Pretty much all mainstream rap made past 1993, especially Eminem, those stupid "Crunk" whatever they are's, and Puff Daddy or P Diddy or Diddy or whatever the shit he calls himself . . . I'm just so fucking TIRED of it's ubiquity. It's EVERYwhere. There's NO escape. And this is coming from someone who used to exclusively listen to hip hop from 1979 to 1985 (the year I first heard a band called Husker Du, the end).
Madonna
Moby
Fatboy Slim
No Doubt
Fashioncore groups like Eighteen Visions, Avenged Sevenfold and Atreyu.
Green Day and the 7 million or so bands that sound exactly like them.
Anything emo. Cry that Dashboard Confessional album elsewhere and get a pair of pants that FIT!
The Red Hot Chili Peppers
Blur
Korn
90% of neo-hippie jam bands

Cue the "Well what the hell DO you like??" "You have absolutely NO taste whatsoever in music!" or the ever-famous and tedious "You just don't like them because everyone ELSE does! Admit it!"

[HuskerDU]

127. You won't hear any arguement from me.

Thank goodness somebody remembers Husker Du!

[HughBeaumont]

135. How many bands owe their existence to Bob, Greg and Grant?

We're talking the high five digits, most likely.

[WeRQ4U]

163. I can understand why you hate the pumpkins then..........

I think Billy Corgan has all but admitted to ripping off entire tracks from Husker Du...........and Queen and the Clash and..........

I don't mind the Pumpkins now and again. Billy Corgin takes himself so damn seriously all the time though.

[HughBeaumont]

167. I don't mind Gish, but everything after that sucks bools.

And those are the albums critics fawn over.

Oh, Eggman SUPER-rips off Bob Mould. Many of his songs are slower rock versions of the stuff on Candy Apple Grey.

[WeRQ4U]

168. Their albums have TONS of filler.

I admit, I like a couple songs on every album, but I don't like one entire album. Hell, I have a hard time finding enough quality music on "Melancholy and the Infinite Sadness" to fill ONE 1 hour CD, let alone 2. I suppose that's true of many artists.

I'm not a rock critic, and I can hardly compare the two bands (since I don't listen to Husker Du), but I remember someone saying that the Pumpkins' 1979 was essentially a sample of an earlier Husker Du work, minus some minor Corgan "Tweaking" for mainstream use. Haven't heard the comparison song, so I can't comment personally, but it wouldn't surprise me.

[Radical Activist]

175. You should simply accept that

you don't have very good taste in music. I'm sorry I had to be the one to tell you. ;)

[LostinVA]

195. No Doubt & Green Day are terrific

[JanMichael]

199. BANG! OMFG I just put someone on IGNORE because of this thread!

Bang you bastard!

[MissHoneychurch]

126. The Rolling Stones

:hide:

[ALago1]

129. The Doors

How Morrison was dubbed a genius and deep thinker is a mystery I'll never solve.

[Ron Green]

141. DING DING DING . . . and highly rated by people who seem to otherwise

have an understanding of some things musical, too. I'll never understand the appeal of their music or Morrison's "mystique."

[Mad_Dem_X]

159. Nice to hear someone else feels that way

I have never gotten The Doors. Extremely overrated.

[LostinVA]

196. Oh yeah -- lyrics written while totally and completely

Fucked up.... add to that some brooding and outrageous behavior, some Bukowski-light ramblings in interviews, and an early death. "Genius."

Interesting fact: the Baptist Florida judge in the Terri Schiavo case (who truly acted like a real judge) was one of Morrison's roommates in college... they threw him out because he ate there food and was a messy pig.

Small world!

[ALago1]

200. Hahaha

That is an interesting fact!!

Hmm...straight laced conservative law student rooms with loose cannon brooding pseudo-artist. I smell a sitcom!!

[LostinVA]

236. The Judge is an okay guy

But that story cracks me up!

[Jeff In Milwaukee]

133. Frank Yankovic

My cat plays accordian better than that guy.

Just kidding. My cat really doesn't play the accordian.

[ContraBass Black]

134. 50 Cent

Ka-ching

[MissMillie]

137. Well, not counting this decade's mess of candy-ass pop

I'd have to say BOB SEGER

[Zomby Woof]

138. Queen, Bowie, Prince

[woo me with science]

139. coldplay, jewel, gordon lightfoot nt

[eyepaddle]

140. Sex Pistols

The Clash and the undisputed champ of overrated: Lou Reed

[kwassa]

144. Gary Lewis and the Playboys

I think they really weren't better than the Beatles.

[leftofthedial]

147. pretty much every rapper

pretty much every metal guitarist

most country singers of the last 15 years

Clapton? yeah, right.

[Beausoir]

148. White Stripes. n/t

[XemaSab]

151. Bob Marley

Leonard Cohen

The Grateful Dead

Bob Dylan

[XemaSab]

152. Oh, and King MIssile

n/t

[SaveElmer]

154. Any Rap "artist"

Sorry I hate rap!!!

[azmouse]

155. Bruce Springsteen

If he's been mentioned accept my apology. There are alot of posts to read and I
may have missed his name.
And Led Zepplin for bands.... Gawd! I can't stand their music.

[RubyDuby in GA]

160. Fine if no one else will say it I will - U2

[WeRQ4U]

161. The Greatful Dead and The Doors

I can't fucking stand either of them.

Tom Jones
Dean Martin
Celine Dion
Cher
U2
Nirvana
Jam Bands of any kind
Most EMO music bores me.
Gloria Estephan
Neil Young
Steven Tyler (plus the rest of that shitty band)
Beyonce
Ruben Studdard (sp?) from American Idol
The White Stripes
The Jayhawks
Sunvolt/Wilco/insert other shitty "alt country" mess here

There are MANY MANY more.

[kwassa]

162. J.S. Bach, you hear one cantata, yada yada yada

fugue after fugue.

[Celeborn Skywalker]

164. Rolling Stones and Queen. (nt)

[ikri]

165. Coldplay

They somehow managed to get a nomination for best live act for this year's Brit awards. WTF? I watched Live8, people were falling asleep in the front row during their set.

Oasis. Whilst their apparent arch-rivals Blur have moved on with Damon Albarn changing his musical style with Gorillaz making fantastic music, Oasis are spewing out the same tired crap.
Phil Collins. Tries so hard to be Peter Gabriel, fails so miserably.
Nirvana. What was so innovative about copying other bands musical style?

[name not needed]

166. Lynyrd Skynyrd

[underpants]

170. This post is WRONG

INCORRECT please try again

[name not needed]

171. Okay, I'll try again

Lynyrd Skynyrd

[bertha katzenengel]

169. Bruce Springsteen.

He knows three chords.

[Radical Activist]

176. Someone that good

only needs three chords. :)

[bertha katzenengel]

177. Good at what?

:)

[Radical Activist]

178. Gardening

The guy makes great music and actively campaigns for Kerry. What more do you want?

[bertha katzenengel]

194. I want great music. I don't listen to Springsteen.

:shrug: Matter of taste, R.A. :hi:

BTW and FWIW, two of my bosses think I'm nuts too - they love him.

[Arkansas Granny]

179. He does make some of the most interesting faces when he sings.

[Ron Green]

221. Ya know, Bruce Springsteen is good at being a rock star, but

of all the musicians I've known and worked with over the past 40 years, NOT ONE has been a fan of his. This includes rock, jazz, r&b, folk, country and pop musicians of all abilities and temperaments. He is strictly a "non-musician's musician," for whatever that's worth.

He seems like a nice guy, and his politics are right on.

[Radical Activist]

173. They Might Be Giants

They're a novelty act whose biggest hit is a bad cover song.

[AngryAmish]

174. Run-DMC

[mvd]

180. I agree about Eric Clapton

Not Madonna or Keith Moon, though.

My list includes Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, Bjork, Stevie Wonder, Lauryn Hill, 'N Sync, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Lightning Bolt, Bright Eyes (because he's being hailed as the next Dylan,) Toby Keith, 50 Cent, Arcade Fire, Celine Dion (strong voice but not much nuance), Mariah Carey, Travis Tritt (overrates himself - LOL,) Pat Benatar, CocoRosie, Gorillaz, Rascal Flatts, Mars Volta, Clay Aiken, INXS, LeAnn Rimes (still hasn't matched the hype after Blue,) Pussycat Dolls by some critics (awful group,) KoRn, The Darkness, Sex Pistols...

I could do many more if it's mostly based on sales.

[maveric]

182. J-Lo, Brittney Spears, Christina Aguilara, Rod Stewart, Madonna...

Justin Timberlake, Lil Kim, Mariah Carey, Ricky Martin...
Any "Pop" star.

Keith Moon? Ever listen to his music or watch an old Who video? Thats blasphemy my friend.

[maveric]

184. Danny Elfman and the whole "Oingo Boingo" trip.

:puke:

[Gatchaman]

186. RADIOHEAD!

Tool
Modest Mouse
Surfjan Stevens
Oasis
Bjork
Elvis Costello and his clone, Marshall Crenshaw
Richard Thompson
Bruce Springsteen

[Paladin]

188. Alabama and the Bellamy Brothers

Brain-dead, pathetic country-western "artists." Neither of these groups are fit to empty George Jones' septic tank.

I think Alabama is no longer playing; I devoutly hope that the Bellamys have done the same......

[KamaAina]

190. John Ashcroft

sure, he had "Let The Eagle Soar", but what has he done for us lately? Can you say "one-hit wonder"? :sarcasm:

[name not needed]

192. Vai, Satriani, Yngwie, all that monotonous guitar wankery

Speaking of Steve Vai...



Ooh! It's shiny and pointy! It even has a handle if holding it by the neck is too much trouble! And for only 2300 dollars! That is SO worth the price! :eyes:

[Mobius]

228. uh

nope, not touching this...

[BlueJazz]

193. Paul Desmond..Stan Getz..John Coltrane....

Man..Those Dudes couldn't play Guitar worth a Shit!!

[Throd]

197. Bob Dylan

For the longest time I figured I just had never heard the right songs that garnered him "genius" status. Then a few years ago I had an epiphany..."This guy just plain sucks ass!"

[Buck Turgidson]

202. Esteban!

[lavenderdiva]

203. Not that I would term her a 'musical artist', by ANY stretch of the

imagination... But I would say Jessica Simpson is WAY overrated.

[NMMNG]

211. I second that, and add Ashlee Simpson, Britney Spears and Lindsey Lohan

:puke:

[lavenderdiva]

219. absolutely agree with ALL your nominations!!

:puke:

[proud2BlibKansan]

208. Fleetwood Mac

[swag]

218. You're so right with this terrific choice for most overrated musical act.

In the words of a young teenage Jamaican immigrant to the UK upon first spying a photo of Siouxsie and Budgie as "The Creatures", as reported by his fellow bus rider, a record reviewer of the time (circa 1983),

I'm sorry, I just gotta say it:
Them's wankers, mon.



Have lately acquired some belated, grudging respect for Lindsay Buckingham, but can't really forgive him either his name (if it was not chosen by his parents) or for his participation in both this band and in the Beach Boys.

[proud2BlibKansan]

225. Stevie NIcks' voice makes my skin crawl

[OrwellwasRight]

216. Eminem, Fiddy Cent, Madonna, Mariah Carey, Beyonce, ColdPlay.

ColdPlay isn't bad, just overrated.

[swag]

217. Oh good. I got to Brian Wilson first.

He's a musical genius, you know.

[Indy_Dem_Defender]

220. Quick list

I don’t particularly hate any of these I’ve mentioned, I mostly can’t stand their fans over hyping them and the critics overrating them.

Oasis – I put them first for a reason
Kurt Cobain – If alive today, we wouldn’t even hear about him
Led Zeppelin – they are legends, but legends in away of a myth
The Beach Boys – Pet sounds is overrated, most of their songs sound the same
George Strait – Most #1 hits for a country musician, doesn’t write any of his music
Janis Joplin – See Kurt Cobain
Björk – I don’t get her, Lasting impression is a video with a giant teddy bear
Santana – Modern day at least owes success to other artist (Rob Thomas)
James Taylor – What’s so great about him? I’ve never understood his greatness
Sex Pistols – With out rough lifestyle what
The Misfits – Just a poorly excuted gimmick
Sting – With the Police he’s great, by himself no even in the same ballpark
U2 – I don’t hate them, they just have a high self-importance vide to them
Blondie – Never got what made them so special
Peter Gabriel – Cool music videos, See sting
Fiona Apple – This is a weird little girl
Creed – No explantion required
Beck – Like loser, back in the late 90’s people made him out to be a genius
Velvet Underground - See Bjork
Coldplay – one of radios modern let’s make them out to be the greatest band in the world
Gorillaz – first time I heard them thought they were crap, still do.
Radiohead – Have no problem with them, their fans just praise them like their Jesus
50 Cents – All gimmick, no talent
Clay Aiken – This guy lost a game show and he’s suppose to be consider a musician?
Beyonce – Voice is overrated, not even the most talented member of Destiny’s Child
Michael Bolton – Office Space need I say more
Chubby Checker – Guy remade the twist how many times now?
Lil’ Jon – How’s this guy get paid so well for no talent
Nickelback – See Coldplay
Dolly Parton – Would we even know who she was if it wasn’t for, you know

Along with the over hyping of all artist greatness for a year after their death.

[Tredge]

222. Weird Al Yankovic

I never saw what all the hubbub was about. Most of his songs were ripoffs from other songs. Flame me if you must.

Also...

Radiohead - the musical 'adventuring' is alright but Tom York's voice makes all the dogs in my neighborhood howl

Stone Temple Pilots - those lyrics don't make any sense. There, I said it. Once all my friends and I got in a room and got baked till we thought our skin was falling off and then we wrote a song, and it sounded a lot like an STP number. Even the name doesn't make sense.

Beck - those lyrics don't make sense either. I heard the lyrics on his latest album actually make sense, but I haven't heard it so I can't testify to that.

[Mobius]

226. HOLE/Courtney Love

easy

[Burma Jones]

234. Your Premise is wrong

you list a Drummer as a Musician, puh-leeze........:eyes:

[Brewman_Jax]

239. Country

'nuff said.

[lcbart]

241. Barry Manilow n/t