Welcome to our exploration of the greatest music performers.
Defining greatness in music is a complex task, but these timeless tracks have left a lasting impact that's worth celebrating.
This lesson was originally about songs, but it's hard to enumerate them. So it has been changed to performers, as the greatest performers normally also perform the greatest music.
In progress
1910s
1920s
1930s
| active period
|
performer
|
language
|
genre
|
video
|
| 1930s – 1991
|
محمد عبد الوهاب
Mohammed Abdel Wahab
|
Egyptian Arabic
|
|
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCY0JzWvCYtvw-mtp9Y9HBZg
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLEIyMDrihC0M0bXkpvkMoNylrwJwSYMQB
|
| 1930s – 1959
|
محمد فوزي
Mohamed Fawzi
|
Egyptian Arabic
|
|
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYga0Gu6wkSLbE188Ihvjeg
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL2szX0U9l4HdU2-7386M3emvAVVAyzbQG
|
| 1933 – 2018
|
Charles Aznavour
Շառլ Ազնավուր
|
French
|
pop, chanson, adult contemporary
|
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHgDHM1lmkadG-uYhPfrbdw
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLkezPydZpc2tcO1zzDC1BvaqFCLyT9v3b
|
| 1935 – 1963
|
Édith Piaf
|
French
|
cabaret, torch songs, modern chanson, musical theatre
|
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCehQT6NHMZjl0giIfY7f1mw
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MllkBz7WXTg&list=PL3119ABAF2D4C5B71
|
| 1938 – 2013
|
Manna Dey
|
Bengali, Hindi, Bhojpuri, Punjabi, Assamese, Gujarati, Kannada, Malayalam, Chhattisgarhi, et al.
|
filmi, classical, qawwali, ghazals, bhajan, gurbani, Nazrul Geeti, rock and roll
|
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5QUNUnbJVJ1j5W3ct9HUeA
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLUOEf-vLOCSnvMaBmyt_rr3vYekXmi5Xv
|
1940s
| active period
|
performer
|
language
|
genre
|
video
|
| 1944 – 1980
|
Mohammed Rafi
|
Hindi, Urdu, Panjabi, Konkani, Assamese, Bhojpuri, Odia, Bengali, Marathi, Sindhi, Kannada, Gujarati, Tamil, Telugu, Magahi, Maithili, etc.
|
filmi, bhajan, ghazal, qawwali, shabad, na'at, classical, Nazrul Geeti, comedy
|
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLpyDLYPCmQYxt_kkU1suhg
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLOVde-Fk4qojF7xg4bF6eXBFyXX82Xyu8
|
| 1946 – 1987
|
Kishore Kumar
|
Hindi, Bengali, Marathi, Assamese, Gujarati, Kannada, Bhojpuri, Malayalam, Odia, Urdu, et al.
|
filmi, disco, pop, yodelling, rock and roll, semi-classical, comedy, Rabindra Sangeet
|
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC84y82gFQuX0jeqRSrkdERQ
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLJABXrnHALkJHG7vK7QMhJ6_Wxl6OPriF
|
1950s
| active period
|
performer
|
language
|
genre
|
video
|
| 1950s – 2006
|
Ali Farka Touré
|
Bambara, et al.
|
folk, desert blues
|
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCm0WuygL0rAKAGyPnEDDb-w
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL18yhXvkVdCCzdr4zv0vW8g1PLt_1GBib
|
| 1952 – 1977
|
عبد الحليم حافظ
Abdel Halim Hafez
|
Egyptian Arabic
|
|
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClyQuhkEIYzujgAaR24ExZA
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=RDCLAK5uy_kHv80lDG4kYZu8EM1KLrC0kywQY-BjDBw
|
| 1952 – 1978
|
Jacques Brel
|
French
|
chanson, pop
|
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzmPKJcdeMKGiy-93Jn4pZA
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLK6aGtsNwFbTg6MZc9FQWTLfi-EFkaML_
|
| 1953 – 1977
|
Elvis Presley
|
English
|
rock and roll, pop, rockabilly, country, gospel
|
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCW6G95TBLCh5SdC-DHDSf5w
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLgaFNC_I_ZkkBaGCnJgN-DSFhc4vfO5C7
|
| 1953 – 1979, 2000 –
|
گوگوش
Googoosh
|
Iranian Persian, Azerbaijani, Turkish, English, Spanish, Italian, Arabic, Armenian, French
|
pop
|
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCvxyPA7-zvSeT09nHsupI-A
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLVcbC9i9k7nwiBXPyKvW4eMX31lZ8BrQf
|
| 1955 – 2017
|
Johnny Hallyday
|
French
|
rock and roll, pop, yé-yé
|
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC9wvnHwKWvE_unCTf1eLKHw
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLHP9pzOLAWp2BMVRf9LmHMsBaIShdOwW9
|
| 1957 – 1991
|
Serge Gainsbourg
|
French
|
pop, rock, jazz
|
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMqAEhVGBz5WrBH-Ph3u0vg
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLFsCUOJunbNGBPS134Ysng60WRYVLdLNz
|
| 1959 – 2016
|
محمدرضا شجریان
Mohammad-Reza Shajarian
|
Iranian Persian
|
classical
|
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKA1tjWL4dUHs02FrXrjNzA
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL9NkkwsWv-m8Y4Y58dDMFZsdtwZCw7jsl
|
1960s
| active period
|
performer
|
language
|
genre
|
video
|
| 1960 – 1970
|
The Beatles
|
English
|
rock, pop, beat, psychedelia
|
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCc4K7bAqpdBP8jh1j9XZAww
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLYq_mcte9NvDA2Xi5Qjl1DrH5LuDKDlAI
|
| 1960 – 2011
|
Jagjit Singh
|
Hindi, Urdu, Punjabi, Bengali, Nepali, Gujarati, Sindhi, et al.
|
ghazal, classical, devotional, folk, bhajan
|
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCh1u7At1I9kU2BDncDcYIXQ
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLJeNQvgQ4Sl-WJX41V39pPd3oQxKNc7EA
|
| 1961 –
|
K. J. Yesudas
|
Malayalam, Tamil, Kannada, Telugu, Tulu, Hindi, Odia, Bengali, Marathi, Arabic, English, Latin, Russian
|
classical, playback singing, filmi
|
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWUjYIas3aSW65lQOpGiRrg
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLTng8rpsWMRcB0n_xcE3YO-B9uuC1Vgks
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL5sCgeVKBAuM01JOn0YLnzhWJeBtEHy6k
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLviYSX9LX22YOEUyIqsiFC5rk6VyLRRpD
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL-pp5hscuOA4D2-Ua0YzQZRDBtMKsyYR6
|
| 1962 – 2016
|
David Bowie
|
English
|
art rock, glam rock, pop, electronic
|
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8YgWcDKi1rLbQ1OtrOHeDw
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLmXxqSJJq-yWTswOPWtZVTrs5ZAAjFB_j
|
| 1962 – 2021
|
Françoise Hardy
|
French
|
pop, yé-yé, chanson
|
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCsyR7lxM1qrXURI-3QPFt7g
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL18yhXvkVdCCkpk8OlYsmcei-BstDWQ9b
|
| 1962 –
|
Elton John
|
English
|
pop, rock
|
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCcd0tBtip8YzdTCUw3OVv_Q
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL029AD14ED2191CCF
|
| 1965 –
|
Scorpions
|
English
|
hard rock, heavy metal
|
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCcvnDgwSH5Dl2b3Bxfz4OCQ
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLH1YfWZ1wvbO1FRzqYe6-nl-KtNY-UHOT
|
| 1966 – 1995
|
鄧麗君
Teresa Teng
|
Mandarin Chinese, Min Nan Chinese, Yue Chinese, Wu Chinese, Japanese, Indonesian, English, Italian
|
pop, folk, dangdut, enka, kayōkyoku, country, jazz, disco, soul
|
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCTZbyOkKg3i_doibCL6MQqQ
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLtRU2HA-d32VD9omqgnsVsRyNJZmbfieh
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLjDc9r7oZzO6NiLl_amQwEDB-EA0ek00g
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL9ACBB72F9D751F56
|
| 1966 – 2020
|
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
|
Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, Malayalam, Hindi, Sanskrit, et al.
|
playback
|
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrSit4ra9GmGH6Z0SczTATg
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLviYSX9LX22ZplEDsrlIk6UYiy-xZIwSr
|
| 1967 –
|
ابی
Ebi
|
Iranian Persian
|
pop
|
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbosCudXcRcvIrtE7JENHDQ
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL7B3A0E12A15D087A
|
| 1968 – 1990
|
Hayedeh
|
Iranian Persian
|
classical, folk, pop
|
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCL4rpdFRQEVtO59pAvLVNhw
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLNXBxV0Q_vyzVspCLHzq8R4p6hQwC0yeW
|
1970s
| active period
|
performer
|
language
|
genre
|
video
|
| 1970 –
|
داریوش
Dariush
|
Iranian Persian
|
pop, rock
|
https://www.youtube.com/@DariushEghbali
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1439CB1BBC3F8B9C
|
| 1970 –
|
معین
Moein
|
Iranian Persian
|
pop, classical
|
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCF3T8M-e3a-sZAmeHuTtvLA
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLNXBxV0Q_vyz9Mv201q46Sp3Gn7Iwggfa
|
| 1970 –
|
Queen
|
English
|
rock, pop
|
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCiMhD4jzUqG-IgPzUmmytRQ
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL2tMgWgIvcWmvK3JqG7hiSJond0fCcXwr
|
| 1970 –
|
Udit Narayan
|
Hindi, Nepali, Kannada, Odia, Tamil, Telugu
|
filmi, pop, semi-classical, bhajan, folk
|
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrYczeBh8tcxLLAgn8m2wWQ
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1_4-Nl9VhniAJ0usvINX1UJg8MJ0Co3O
|
| 1976 –
|
Richard Clayderman
|
(none)
|
easy listening
|
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCi8PYKXskV03qxQrnrtiGSA
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL952F5C6F5CD939B3
|
| 1976 –
|
Sandra
|
English
|
pop, synth-pop, disco, new age
|
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCefMqcCMiUxvMxdBtIFd6uw
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL0mXkws86-j_7lPB-SIuVup0q3_sgW1hJ
|
| 1977 –
|
اندی
Անդի
Andy
|
Iranian Persian
|
pop, dance-pop, rock, soft rock
|
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-KkkYWomTZrwAgU6YdToyA
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLNPIGgfDWvcDT5_-LDSNKmKaQkHyIvVew
|
| 1978 –
|
Herbert Grönemeyer
|
German
|
rock, pop rock, soft rock
|
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOL8m55QWAmJ2TPySPAxpnw
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLLB8Mr6zCRJTVSkH2tOHNFXcF0zf2YZIj
|
1980s
| active period
|
performer
|
language
|
genre
|
video
|
| 1980 – 1992
|
Nazia Hassan
|
Urdu, Panjabi
|
filmi, disco, pop
|
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdeaYiePwiSn4VPbSY_OjCw
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLkO_OqO5A-b9Ws5KaeJSI5xMNRKuNZJUT
|
| 1980 –
|
Vanessa Paradis
|
French
|
R&B, pop, rock
|
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGaRGxzgoNJ9JDJc4tKsBrw
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLz9Mn9ZmLivBweYw3HIe4mQuEknFaYxSO
|
| 1981 –
|
劉德華
Andy Lau
|
Yue Chinese, Mandarin Chinese
|
pop
|
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCoyRETheGZlMXL-Jx83UsHQ
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXFN2yvtfKgN3hjtZV02ZViTxMDmXHFvF
|
| 1982 –
|
Angélique Kidjo
|
English, French, Yoruba
|
pop, beat, reggae, jazz, gospel, Latin
|
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCminozacV4jDfaQohcSFyCQ
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL5OpH6ApFnjjXm-PepqJ6E4Qidautj5lb
|
| 1983 –
|
Bon Jovi
|
English
|
hard rock, glam metal, arena rock, pop rock
|
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkBwnm7GOfYHsacwUjriC-w
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL6998F44DF312341E
|
| 1983 –
|
Nena
|
German
|
new wave, synth-pop, pop, pop rock
|
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCX998HotocxcmzvyXu8b6fA
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLd5xnond3B5QhrEhDXDDcdKbVupiahvki
|
| 1984 –
|
崔健
Cui Jian
|
Mandarin Chinese
|
rock, folk, pop, jazz, hip-hop, electronic, avant-garde, experimental
|
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFr2ApO5mByAP7uT0uLEx8g
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL2OygyerAItPNwP_ftahduOKXa6x1ShB1
|
| 1984 –
|
張學友
Jacky Cheung
|
Yue Chinese, Mandarin Chinese
|
pop, operatic pop, adult contemporary, jazz, R&B
|
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCq4OYN0rGrBK-cJSR-6Vorw
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLEt5ga52RGZhgMTWVuNUK-ZfbxpXjow1X
|
| 1984 –
|
Mylène Farmer
|
French
|
pop, rock, dance, electronic
|
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8bXAHcitOUnxe7cFg6Curg
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLkezPydZpc2s4WNrtfOpLyE9iLgvDJmdR
|
| 1989 – 2005, 2010 –
|
王菲
Faye Wong
|
Yue Chinese, Mandarin Chinese
|
pop, dream pop, alternative pop, rock
|
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCos8gkwQivJ_hHeoCcs6yXg
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLBq4o9UYixWFEmlws5kZRBqZbk5SJsfHc
|
1990s
| active period
|
performer
|
language
|
genre
|
video
|
| 1991 –
|
Daler Mehndi
|
Hindi, Panjabi
|
bhangra, pop
|
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6PMd_ik5xTuotX_LNod9Wg
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLpiUuPvVX8d23nhNy8XqjPCZCI_L5bMcl
|
| 1992 –
|
A. R. Rahman
|
Tamil, Hindi
|
filmi, classical
|
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3mb5QRlm4VQmOZD_P0ctGw
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL76gTZ9lN_jbudTqVbTiJaluEGqeaYLnu
|
| 1992 –
|
Britney Spears
|
English
|
pop, dance-pop, electropop, teen pop
|
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgffc95YDBlkGrBAJUHUmXQ
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLrylsXfmkpclA55nQKJwufnh5T19osEXz
|
| 1994 –
|
عمر سليمان
Omar Souleyman
|
Levantine Arabic
|
dabke, electronic
|
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCiFfrsoXr_kzz40BUeHNyxg
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLhjVxjxpRHcEpMMaP8OpVGxHI6WfEQd9t
|
| 1994 –
|
Rammstein
|
German
|
dance-metal, industrial metal
|
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYp3rk70ACGXQ4gFAiMr1SQ
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLBzJoiCXM_bqwrMqTeK_buGOJhERhjewe
|
| 1998 –
|
Himesh Reshammiya
|
Hindi, Gujarati
|
disco, pop, rock, Bollywood, electronic dance, bhajan
|
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC9ftt2QxQewlpWaJ3HvemaQ
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL-tm7scOskqRK_a7SEXrxozBoHVcUTjty
|
| 1998 – 2012, 2018 –
|
Westlife
|
English
|
pop, dance-pop, teen pop
|
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPH9tUyrdCyygc8xIHJenNQ
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLgaFNC_I_Zknqfe5t4oP8OBPiZqZ5Yq5y
|
| 1999 –
|
蔡依林
Jolin Tsai
|
Mandarin Chinese
|
pop, dance
|
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZxdOVXIBEnJUQkhZgeOTTg
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLwa5U-a-wf7YEB6dn1drRSOCE-wdcjbQU
|
2000s
| active period
|
performer
|
language
|
genre
|
video
|
| 2000 –
|
周杰倫
Jay Chou
|
Mandarin Chinese
|
pop, R&B, rock, hip-hop
|
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8CU5nVhCQIdAGrFFp4loOQ
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL0C9A38D8FA52CF4B
|
| 2000 –
|
Витас
Vitas
|
Russian
|
operatic pop, orchestral pop, technopop, dance-pop, folk-pop, synth-pop, electroclash, alternative rock
|
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCaFoZFhV1LgbFIB3-6zdWVg
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL6D337CE5D56FA59D
|
| 2001 –
|
Wizkid
|
English, Yoruba
|
pop, R&B, beat, reggae, dance hall
|
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCi7Cbr-F3zFQjwafFh5RWJA
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLOlBym__gAhtecy82CjNGrmjx0_x5cgYs
|
| 2002 – 2008, 2013 –
|
Carla Bruni
|
English
|
chanson
|
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-pY_wp5aWV3zLDGtvvn07A
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLE2DC985EDE880EC2
|
| 2003 – 2011
|
Amy Winehouse
|
English
|
soul, R&B, jazz
|
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWsQKPFHQdRMJZSAAzh1Qbg
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLBC65F362D3A92109
|
| 2003 –
|
Taylor Swift
|
English
|
pop, country, folk
|
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqECaJ8Gagnn7YCbPEzWH6g
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLdnEKz0ib5DD8X0JeJ9MgbTLKNESWNlRe
|
| 2003 –
|
张靓颖
Jane Zhang
|
Mandarin Chinese
|
pop, R&B, jazz, electropop, dance-pop, classical
|
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqCKCd2zu1Kwi9SdPnsOBbQ
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLhXsFGRpPh5204BthiFdTfE4TyfNUMKlV
|
| 2005 –
|
Helene Fischer
|
German
|
Schlager
|
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCn3yU2bHX_8HMCfXOBTkXCg
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLUehsknruA0UpiMuTS5McGZ1lIsNrR20B
|
| 2006 –
|
سعد لمجرد
Saad Lamjarred
|
Moroccan Arabic
|
pop, khaliji
|
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC9hJ5XcjHXYjwDOqrlQUuow
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLtUprbCEtrHnA_URRIiRyYMCVdqdNXdC5
|
| 2008 –
|
鄧紫棋
G.E.M.
|
Mandarin Chinese
|
pop, dance-pop, R&B
|
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCsLWG2t7n9LFsvH0wR2rtpw
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLwJ8_oH1DyNfIrQEk_rpPmVzHnWfHvGnX
|
2010s
(the following work-based decade categorisation may be replaced)
