So I’ve had this topic bouncing around in my head for months as an interesting thought experiment. It’s time I shared it with the class.
Mozart. Bach. Michael Jackson. Beethoven. Louie Armstrong. These are just a few names of musicians and composers that can easily come to mind when you imagine the greatest and most influential of all time. The best to ever do it. The ones we read about in the history textbooks. Who are the musicians/bands of today that will be in history books in 2123? Here’s the (ever-growing) list of people still alive as of this post that I think make the cut.
This is in no particular order
- Yoko Kanno
She’s a musical genius and everyone knows it. She’s penned so many classic themes for anime that she made the cut a long time ago.
- Hiroyuki Sawano
Sawano is the new age Yoko Kanno in my books. Done some brilliant work for Aldnoah ZERO, Gundam, and Attack on Titan.
- Nobuo Uematsu
His name will always be synonymous with Final Fantasy and One-Winged Angel, but Uematsu was churning out bangers before and after. The Man With The Machine Gun and The People Fight Further being some songs that loop endlessly in my mind.
- Aphex Twin (+aliases)
The father of electronic music, as far as I’m concerned. This man is also a certified genius. Disappeared for over a decade after he dropped an album so complex it took fans just that long to catch up, and then continues to drop heat without missing a step. All of his aliases are fire too - my favorite of them being The Tuss, and Rushup Edge being one of my favorite EPs of all time.
- Shiina Ringo
Absolutely massive career spanning so many genres it would make your head swirl. KZK forever the GOAT, but her first three albums are what usually gets the most praise concerning the solo career. Tokyo Jihen is successful too, no doubt due to her being the face.
- Dir en grey
Love em or hate em, ya can’t go two feet without hearing about them, so they’re not going anywhere anytime soon. They’ll be the perfect example of a band spanning multiple styles and genres without restriction.
- Yoshiki
The father of visual kei, along with DYNAMITE TOMMY, and one of the last true entertainment personalities left in visual kei. Probably one of the oldest still active musicians in the scene too, so his run is equally as impressive. X JAPAN already left their mark long ago and we’re still talking about them, even if we did get blue-balled with the album. Now that we have The Last Rockstars, we know he’s not done yet.
- The Alchemist
This man creates the most fire beats in hip hop. Constantly innovative and prolific. He’s your favorite rapper’s favorite rapper and producer.
- Marty O’Donnell
Hum in Halo theme
- Bathory
To pioneer one genre of metal is a great feat. To create two? That’s incredible. To do it largely as a one-man band? Well, that’s just Bathory. Hail Quorthon!
Y’all got any more?