The Rolling Stones published an article in which they ranked the top 200 singers of all time. The publication was aware that its ranking would cause outrage due to the fact that it is entirely incorrect; however, they stated that they based this list on “originality, influence, the depth of an artist’s catalog, and the breadth of their musical legacy,” which sounds as if they are ranking artists rather than singers—eliminating what they do with their voice and rather focusing on their catalog and legacy defeats the whole purpose. Nonetheless, the rankings were dismal, and here’s why…

  For starters, the list omitted Celine Dion and Pink but ranked Taylor Swift—whose voice is mediocre but her songwriting is impeccable—at 102. Taylor Swift should not even be on the list, and ranking her at 102 is ridiculous when compared to the artists she’s surpassed, such as Kelly Clarkson, who has an incredible range and was ranked 194. Also, talking about catalogs and musical legacies without including Celine Dion just goes to show how untrustworthy and discreditable this list is.

  Let’s talk about misplacements: one of the most absurd rankings on this list is Michael Jackson, who is ranked at 86. He should be number one, or at least in the top three, if not the top five. With the publication’s listed criteria, Jackson should be within the top three due to his catalog being full of hits, and his voice has inspired so many artists, including the Weeknd and many people who are on this list.  Personally, I feel Whitney Houston should not have been ranked 2nd or even in the top 10. Yes, her catalog is full of hits from her prime, but her voice is not revolutionary. Houston deserves a lot of credit for what she’s done for the industry, but when it comes to her voice, she’s nothing special because many artists can replicate how she sounds and do it better than she does. Other artists like Michael or Celine could’ve had that number 2 spot rather than Houston.

  Overall, The Rolling Stones deserve the outrage they are receiving as a result of their ludicrous rankings, which show that the publication has lost touch with the music industry, making the once notable and trusted publication that covered music look untrustworthy.