Your 5 favourite solo artists?

[Matteo]

There are so many great bands and groups out there, but what would your top 5 favourite solo artists look like? For me, in no order:

1. Bob Dylan
2. David Bowie
3. John Lennon
4. Bruce Springsteen
5. Roy Orbison

Tupac, for me, just misses out.

[Everlong]

I don't listen to as many solo artists as bands, but some of my favorites would include:

Elliott Smith
John Mayer
Jim Croce
Damien Rice
Damien Jurado
Lisa Hannigan

[ShaneOfan]

Have to agree with most of your picks.

1 Dylan
2 Springsteen
3 Billy Joel
4 Feist
5 John Lennon

[The Legend]

For people to totally disregard the E Street Band and consider Springsteen a solo artist is a musical crime of epic proportions to me.

[ShaneOfan]

For people to totally disregard the E Street Band and consider Springsteen a solo artist is a musical crime of epic proportions to me.

I agree his band is awesome as well but a lot of people consider him to be a solo artist.

[Ali]

No one's said Michael Jackson? Really?

My top 5 solo artists are:

Michael Jackson
Peter Gabriel
Elton John
Bruce Springsteen
Jay-Z

[Settee]

In no particular order...

Eminem
Deadmau5
Weird Al
Eric Clapton
John Lennon

[ShaneOfan]

In no particular order...

Eminem
Deadmau5
Weird Al
Eric Clapton
John Lennon

Really? I mean... REALLY?

[UTK]

Eric Clapton
Sufjan Stevens
Bob Dylan
Billy Joel
Johnny Cash

It looks weird to have Sufjan with those names, but they are the top 5 solo artists, in my opinion.

How did nobody mention Joel or Cash yet?

[iMike]

Current:
Drake
Kanye West
Ariana Grande
Kendrick Lamar
2 Chainz

All Time:
Eminem
Ludacris
Michael Jackson
Tupac
Jay-Z

[ShaneOfan]

Eric Clapton
Sufjan Stevens
Bob Dylan
Billy Joel
Johnny Cash

It looks weird to have Sufjan with those names, but they are the top 5 solo artists, in my opinion.

How did nobody mention Joel or Cash yet?

I had Billy Joel and I'd have Cash in my top 10

[Hanley!]

1. Mark Lanegan
2. Neil Hannon (The Divine Comedy)
3. Regina Spektor
4. David Bowie
5. Sara Bareilles

6. Peter Gabriel
7. Ingrid Michaelson
8. Damien Rice
9. K.T. Tunstall
10. Eric Clapton

Something like that.

[ShaneOfan]

1. Mark Lanegan
2. Neil Hannon (The Divine Comedy)
3. Regina Spektor
4. David Bowie
5. Sara Bareilles

6. Peter Gabriel
7. Ingrid Michaelson
8. Damien Rice
9. K.T. Tunstall
10. Eric Clapton

Something like that.

She is another one who would probably make my top 10 same for Clapton

[Everlong]

No one's said Michael Jackson? Really?

I was never a big fan really. He's got a couple catchy songs but most 80s pop to me is just too cheesy and they overused synthesizers. I like the Jackson Five stuff more than Michael's solo stuff.

Actually, the 80s for me has always seemed to be a big pop culture black hole in general. When you consider music, movies and television from the 60s to the 2010s, I feel like the 80s is the weakest decade for every one of them.

[Buck]

I was going to make a list, but then I decided not to. I really don't like the whole "solo artist" idea. I don't think the label is very accurate. So many of what you'd call "solo artists" have bands behind them, both in the recording studio and the live concerts. The bands just don't get as much credit. The musician is simply billed as a solo artist, but they really aren't.

I think the closest you get to a solo artist is someone who literally plays all of the instruments on the studio recordings in addition to singing, so just about every aspect of the recording came from one person. This rules out most of the "solo artists" listed on this thread.

One example is Nine Inch Nails. Although it's referred to as a band, Trent Reznor alone is usually responsible for the entirety of recordings by himself, and he just uses pieced together bands for his live shows.

Prince is another example of an artist who plays all of his own instruments. However, for much of his career, he has opted not to do that, and instead had bands like The Revolution and The New Power Generation with him, bands which he credited on his albums.

So, no list for you. I will, however, show you my personal favorite "true" solo artist!



^

[Hanley!]

Yeah, I knew that about Nine Inch Nails. Thinking about it, I probably should have put Reznor on my list. I like Nine Inch Nails, although the newer stuff doesn't blow me away.

The same is true of the Divine Comedy, which is why I put Neil Hannon down. He writes and plays all instruments on the albums. I saw him live before actually and rather than bringing a back up band, he just simplified all the songs and just played either piano or guitar and sang for each song. Was one of the best shows I've been to.

[Romo]

I'm more into the whole band deal then solo artists but some of my favorites at the moment are

Ed Sheeran
Passenger
Kendrick Lamar