Most OVERRATED Music Legends

[doetim]

Of all the big divas of music I have never understood why Diana Ross is considered so legendary. Sure she's a diva but that's mostly because of her behavior.

She didn't form her own band, she was brought into it.
She only got the lead in her group because she was sleeping with the boss.
She didn't write any songs.
She had a decent voice, nothing like Aretha, Tina or Janis.

Yet people talk about her like she's completely irreplaceable. I just don't see the talent other than probably a lot of will and ambition and a decent voice. I'm sure I will get a lot of heat for this because she's a huge icon to many gay guys.

So who are your overrated music legends and divas?

 

[chatolandia]

being an icon has NOTHING to do with voice, or even songwriting

it has to do with presence, and staying power... and personality

and she has buckets of those

Other performers may be better singers, or songwriters, but in POP music that has little to do with longevity or legendary status...

if you want performers that have real voices, listen to opera

 

[looseliam]

The Beetles.
Elvis.

 

[hylas]

i think i know what you mean, ross doesnt have a blow-away voice like other soul divas have. but i wouldnt call it 'overrated'... i think voice or talent as a song-writer is not everything in the pop-biz. its also about making good choices, being charismatic, and yeah, being at the right place at the right time (and sleeping with the right people, i guess)... and, maybe above all, having that je ne sais quoi. i think ross has it in spades.

just a few more examples: nico, nancy sinatra, marianne faithfull, jane birkin, brigitte bardot, grace jones, madonna, janet jackson, kylie minogue, vanessa paradis, carla bruni, gwen stefani, charlotte gainsbourg, annie, robyn, lily allen, lykke li, rihanna... they are all women who dont have a 'good voice' in that sense, most of them dont write their own songs, and many of them have an obvious non-musical reason why they are famous (sleeping with a star, or being the daughter of a star). still, i love their music. the most obvious counter-example for me is celine dion, who has an impressive voice, but i pretty much hate her music.

 

[EwanSF]

The beatles, the beatles, the beatles, the beatles, Oasis (beatles cover band, essentialy,) My Chemical Toilet, Pink Floyde, and the beatles. Just for emphasis.

 

[HoodedRat]

The Beatles (collectively and even more so individually)
Elvis Presley
Bob Dylan
Neil Young
Van Morrison
The Rolling Stones
U2


I actually quite like some stuff by the above artists, but they have all produced more than their fair share of utter rubbish during their lenghty and lucrative carreers.

 

[SonOfSlobone]

One of the greatest pop singers of all time. Ridiculous to compare her with Aretha or Tina, who were a completely different kind of singer. (The hugely overrated Janis Joplin doesn't even belong in this discussion.) Diana had a sweet, seductive, light voice, perfect for the unprecedented string of hits the Motown team wrote for her. Her backup singers were good, too, but it ain't that difficult to find good backup singers...

 

[healingduck]

I've never liked the Beatles as much as most people... I just don't get it. They have some good songs, but they are almost seen as gods...

 

[MisterMajestic]

Nobody does "Diva" better than Diana Ross...When she went Solo in the 70's she BLEW-UP and bust down MANY doors for Women and Future Entertainers that came after her...Diana IS the "Original Diva" hands-down.....


I think Americans spend Waaay too much time celebrating the British in Music & Film and less on our own American Artists...


I like Sir Paul McCartney but he's received more American Awards and Honors from the Music Industry & American Presidents than most deserving American Music Legends........I wouldnt go so far as to say Paul is "Overrated" because he is "King" among Kings & Queens in the world of Music...I'd rather see many of the Underrated American Music Legends get their "Propers" from the Industry and Dignitaries VS Paul getting recycled again & again....


MaDonna - "Overrated" is too harsh a word......Her fan-base is Global and she really didnt gain the RESPECT she was looking for until she became a "Mommy"...She pretty much changed her image when Lourdes came into the world and the Music Industry took notice of the "change".....


Elvis - I don't care how many "sightings" that will go on until the end-of-time, I will NEVER consider his Legacy as "Overrated"...Elvis didnt hurt anybody when he was alive..He hurt himself...After his death His Global Fan Base took his Legacy to another-level......


Music Legends have paid their Dues...The word "Overrated" probably BEST describes many Artists on the scene today....

 

[FPNY]

i don't think it's entirely fair to compare diana ross to any of the current so called divas. the technology of the time didn't really capture the supremes greatness. diana ross and the supremes put out some of the first music with the new so called wall of sound. the music surrounded the listener more than ever.
todays sound systems and technology allow the music makers a lot more latitude in how they sound.

 

[lilman]

Diana is NOT overrated! OMG Just because an artist writes their own music doesn't make them "legendary" i mean look at ne-yo he writes for himself and others, some will say he has talkent some wont, but in my opinion he is kinda lame

so i will not talk about artists that have been on the scene for decades but i will talk about some artist that need to go ahead and hang it up imo

Beyonce-when she sings, i see no passion, she comes off as being so not genuine

Katy pery- she dogs on lady ga ga, but i mean she is clearly jocking her style... gah she just seems so damn fake to me

Myley cyrus-- ROFL

Justin beiber-- no seriously wtf is that all about

there are more but i just got off of work and cant think of any more CURRENT artist that are being compared to the GREATS that clearly need to get it together

LEGENDS don't get compared to other artists, they are just that LEGENDS

 

[Callum]

Elvis Presley, Diana Ross, Celine Dion, Dionne Warwick, The Beatles, Janis Joplin, Bob Dylan...I'm sure there are many more but they're not coming to mind at the moment.

 

[onetwothreefour]

Wagner--it's just too much; although I get that his music dramas are technically good

 

[Callum]

Ooo, Barbra is a good one. I've never understood her appeal, either. Oh...and Cher. I don't see her either.

 

[Apollo]

I've never liked the Beatles as much as most people... I just don't get it. They have some good songs, but they are almost seen as gods...

Most people consider the Beatles the basis of all modern music. I kind of agree with that. And on the same note, the Beatles music doesn't sound fresh or new as it was in the 60's when it was literally the first time most people heard anything like them.

 

[ColorSlaughter]

Image speaks for itself.

 

[walkingonsnow]

Beyonce and Lady GaGa. I never understood what's so great about these two ladies. So annoying to me.

Madonna is also a bit overrated in my opinion. I much prefer Janet over Madonna.

 

[GiacomoPisani]

the ones that i can't stand are:
lady gaga
mickel jackson
elvis presley
beyonce
brintney spaers
cher
barbra strisant
justin biber
kelly clarson
madonna
all the country music singers are bombs
hip-hop singers wow, oh god please,give me patience.


my favorites are:
celine dion
sarah mac latchan
witny houston
tony braxton
mariah carey
melisa edgridge
cindy lauper
alanis morrisete
sheryl crow

 

[looseliam]

Why are justin bieber, kelly clarson mentioned? Who at all considers them music legends? SHould one's music span at least one generation before any consideration?

 

[walkingonsnow]

You know you don't know enough about a person when you misspell their last name (its Clarkson).