Top 10 Musical Artists of the Last 50 Years

Music, like any art, is a field in which judgment, taste and opinion are very subjective.  There is often a disconnect between what music is popular, and what certain people think is good. There have always been songs that one half of the population loves while the other half finds abhorrent.

One of the most basic ways to gauge the success of any given musician is to examine his or her record sales.  Certainly some might argue, that this might just mean that a given artist is adept at making catchy yet vapid music.  Be that as it may, there are often reasons that certain artists remain so commercially successful for so long, and many would argue that only those who can truly bring talent and marketability together for long periods of time can truly be called “successful.” This an interesting thing to keep in mind when discussing the ten best selling musical artists of all time.

The Beatles
The Beatles are the ultimate musical success.  No band before or since has ever reached that level of popularity, commercial success, fan adoration all while evolving slowly from poppy boy-band to one of the more introspective and experimental musical acts in history. It is estimated that The Beatles have sold over a billion records and are still finding new fans among the younger generation for whom their music remains relevant.

Elvis Presley
Close behind the Beatles is rock and roll legend Elvis Presley.  His brand of bluesy crooning and his infamous gyrating hips helped him sell over a billion records, to tie with The Beatles  Whatever your feelings about Elvis or his music, it is undeniable that his sound, looks and style changed the face of rock music forever.

Michael Jackson
Another artist who’s success both commercially and artistically is relatively inarguable, is Michael Jackson. Michael Jackson’s career spanned several decades and was responsible for some of the most significant popular music in world history.  Known as an amazing dancer and entertainer as well as a singer, his videos and concerts were unparalleled events. His fans are around the world and despite the numerous personal problems that plagued his life to the end, he remained a profoundly influential artist.

ABBA
Next on the list are Swedish pop band ABBA whose music is still so relevant  today that it was recently made part of hit musical Mamma Mia!

Queen
Who could forget the American rock band Queen?  Bohemian Rhapsody, We Will Rock You and We Are The Champions are some instantly recognizable hits from this band who’s popularity endures even years after the death of lead singer Freddy Mercury.

Madonna and Elton John
Madonna and Elton John have both sold an estimated 250 million albums throughout their lengthy careers.  Not only that, but their timeless classics will live on and on for generations to come.

The Bee Gees
The 7th best-selling artists of all time are disco legends The Bee Gees who are famous for songs like Night Fever and Stayin’ Alive, featured in the hit movie Saturday Night Fever.

Many More….
AC/DC, Pink Floyd, the Rolling Stones, Julio Iglesias, Nana Mouskouri and Celine Dion also hold honors for selling 200 million albums apiece.

Regardless of your feelings about the music or quality of any of these musical artists, it is undeniable that there is something special about being able to create music that moves so many people to want to buy their albums, hear them play shows while on tour and just generally make them a part of their lives.

About the Author
Traveler and blogger on many topics ranging from top travel destinations, top ringtones, to top social media superstars. Follow him on Twitter @VernMarker.

Over-The-Top Celebrity Weddings

When it comes to throwing away exorbitant amounts of money, no one can do it better than our beloved celebrities. With luxurious parties, high-end clothing, and sports cars galore, it’s easy to see where the majority of their money goes. But to get a glimpse of where the real bucks are spent, look no further than celebrity weddings. These top-notch celebrations provide the perfect way for the rich and famous to flaunt their seemingly endless wealth. So for ideas for what to do with your own heaps of money (once we bounce back from this recession, of course), take note of how the A-listers spend.

A wedding for an average couple can cost between $20,000 and $30,000. That’s a lot of money. However, that is but a tiny drop in the over-sized nuptial bucket for a celebrity. Today’s famous couples (think TomKat, Khloe Kardashian, and the likes) easily spend one million bucks on their over-the-top special day.

How is such excess even conceivable? Easy. Start by lavishing guests with $350 a piece party favors from Tiffany’s (Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban), mix in a little vintage pink champagne for $120,000 (Elton John and David Furnish), a beautiful designer-made gown for $50,000 (Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes), and you’re well on your way to blowing through a bigger chunk of change than most Americans will ever hope to see.

But only one million dollars seemed paltry to Elizabeth Hurley when she wed then-fiance Arun Nayar in 2007. By spoiling themselves and their guests to private jets for $300,000 and booking a some of the finest hotels for $100,000, this pair racked up an estimated $2.5 million tab for their wedding. How do other celebrity weddings stack up? TomKat came in at an estimated $2 million for their ceremony. After spending $100,000 on chocolates and champagne, Catherine Zeta-Jones and Michael Douglas had a grand total of $1.5 million. And though Donald Trump shelled out $18,000 for caviar when he wed Melania Knauss, he only ended up spending around a cool $1 million–what a bargain!

It’s easy to see that celebrity weddings showcase an array of expensive finery of which most can only dream. They display the best of the best when it comes to their gowns, cakes, alcohol, and all the other details surrounding their weddings. They may not be this country’s brightest–or best–but they are the richest, and that’s what counts…right?

Wedding Planning Advice is a blog for brides created to help them stress less by providing honest and unbiased wedding advice, ideas, and tips. Print out our free wedding planning checklist to get on track for the big day.