Courtney Love once revealed her favorite singers of all time
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It’s nearly impossible to choose your favorite singer of all time. Music history is full of talented singers who deserve that title, from talented singers who exert impressive control over their vocal cords to more emotive voices, singers who ensure their craft is infused with emotion. From all-time greats like Freddie Mercury and Nina Simone to more recent additions like Beyoncé and Adele, there are hundreds of names you can consider. But if you’re particularly into grunge, Courtney Love could be a name that’s on your list.
As the frontwoman of alternative rockers Hole, Love became one of the genre’s driving forces in the 1990s, achieving cultural icon status. Her take on grunge focused on fierce femininity while exploring themes of identity, assault, and innocence over raw guitars. Love’s voice was sometimes smooth, sometimes strong and raspy, driving home every word she said. Many rockers would rank the Hole singer among their all-time favorite singers, but which singers are on their list?
The ‘Celebrity Skin’ singer once released a list of her top 20 singers Rolling Stoneincluding artists from many different genres. From folk to pop to Merseybeat, she shows a wide range of tastes and an appreciation for great singers that extend far beyond her own grunge territory. She also delivered her answers in a characteristically chaotic style, inserting slurs, crossing out and changing her choices as she went along.
Not wanting to limit himself to just 20 names, Love has included several honorable names at number 21, including Bono and The Boss, Bruce Springsteen’s affectionate nickname. Love’s list also includes some other usual suspects: Paul McCartney and John Lennon come in at number 14 and 15, respectively, with the latter tied with Dusty Springfield, while Bob Dylan comes in at number 3.
Elton John, who has lent his voice to many pop classics, also appears, as does Rolling Stones rocker Mick Jagger. But Love also throws some more unexpected pieces into the mix. Leonard Cohen may have always been praised for his poetry, but rarely hailed as a great singer. Still, Love was never one to go with the crowd. She assigns him a place in the top ten, just behind PJ Harvey.
Cohen appears to have originally taken Love’s fourth spot, but his name was crossed out and replaced with that of REM singer Michael Stipe, who is also her daughter’s godfather. But Love reserves the top spots for herself and her husband, the late Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain. It seems she initially put Cobain at number one, but then decided to cross out his name and replace it with her own. “ME!” is in first place, with “C LOVE!” Cobain coming in second.
From Leonard Cohen to Liam Gallagher, Love’s list is, as expected, wide-ranging and eclectic. It includes singers who almost have a permanent place on lists like these, but also many more personal favorites, from the melancholy reflections of Elliott Smith to Bright Eyes singer Conor Oberst. It’s a list that is undoubtedly steeped in Love’s personality.
Courtney Love’s 20 Favorite Singers of All Time
- Kurt Cobain (crossed out) ME! CARNATION!
- Courtney Love (crossed out) Kurt
- Bob Dylan
- Leonard Cohen (crossed out) Stipe (Michael)
- Stevie Nicks
- Patti Smith
- PJ Harvey / Neil
- Sir Cohen
- Billy Corgan
- John Lee Hooker
- Elliot Smith / Iggy Pop
- Chrissie Hynde
- Mick Jagger (excuse me)!
- Paul McCartney
- Tie by John Lennon / Dusty Springfield
- Elton-John
- Mary J Blige / Mavis Staples
- Liam Gallagher
- Sting
- Conor Oberst
- The Boss / Bono, apologies to Roger McGuinn
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