The heart certainly does not go on for fans who are outraged that Celine Dion was not on Rolling Stone’s 200 Greatest Singers of All Time List.
“It is shocking that such a talented singer is not included in the top 200,” Elizabeth, 28, of Smithtown, told The Messenger. “I am sure that these Gen-Z’s are the reason for Celine Dion to not be in the top 200. ”
“Her current condition of health is saddening, and it upsets me that Rolling Stone does not see her in the way that she should be,” she added.
In early December, Dion released a statement on Instagram explaining why she has postponed her upcoming tour.
“I’ve been dealing with problems with my health for a long time, and it’s been really difficult for me to face these challenges and to talk about everything that I’ve been going through,” she said in the video. “I always give 100 percent when I do my shows, but my condition is not allowing me to do that right now.”
Dion was diagnosed with “Stiff Person Syndrome,” which is a rare, autoimmune and neurological disease that causes spasms in the torso and limbs, excruciating pain and chronic anxiety. According to the Stiff Person Syndrome Research Foundation, it affects about one in a million people.
She truly is one in a million, but according to Rolling Stone Magazine, she’s not one in 200. Dion is a 5-time Grammy winner with 4 No. 1 hits on the Billboard Hot 100. So, how did she not make the list?
Curiously, the ranking does feature artists who either aren’t prolific singers, don’t reach the vocal range Dion was known to or are too new to have bodies of work that can truly compete with Dion— namely, Billie Eilish (No. 198).
“Leaving her off your Top 200 Greatest Singers of All Time list has to be an honest and regrettable mistake… because doing it intentionally would be criminal. So… please fix it,” production company founder Bonnie Berstein tweeted at Rolling Stone.
Unfortunately, this was no mistake. Preparing for the backlash, Rolling Stone tweeted a “disclaimer” amid the release of the list.
“Because you start scrolling (and commenting), keep in mind that this is the Greatest Singers list, not the Greatest Voices List,” the tweet said. “Talent is impressive; genius is transcendent.”
In the Fall of 2021, The Messenger Papers criticized the polarizing Top 100 Songs and questioned the integrity behind the making of lists that seem to show recency bias and prioritize inclusion and diversity, rather than providing authentic ranking compilations.
Is a singer and vocalist like Celine Dion not transcendent, or do they purposefully make these lists controversial to stir the pot and get clicks?
Fans expressed their outrage on Twitter. “Rolling Stone needs to immediately exit the business of music journalism,” one user wrote. Another added, “the fact that Celine Dion isn’t anywhere in the top 200 is a crime against humanity.”
“My oldest daughter took her first steps, without crutches, in a choreographed dance to a Celine Dion song. It doesn’t matter what Rolling Stone thinks of her. One of her songs inspired someone to walk,” tweeted comedian Paula Poundstone.
The top 10 greatest singers, according to Rolling Stone are Al Green, Otis Redding, Beyoncé, Stevie Wonder, Ray Charles, Mariah Carey, Billie Holiday, Sam Cooke, Whitney Houston, and, at No. 1, Aretha Franklin.
Like Dion, other big-name singers did not make the cut, like Judy Garland, Billy Joel and Cher. However, making the list was Eilish, popstar Ariana Grande and heavy metal star Ozzy Osbourne.
Dion has not commented on the matter. It seems as if her heart will go on.
