Paul McCartney
Sir James Paul McCartney (born 18 June 1942) is an English singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and composer. With John Lennon, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr, he gained worldwide fame with the rock band the Beatles, one of the most popular and influential groups in the history of pop and rock... read more Ah, whoever said the only person who can beat him is Freddie Mercury, what exactly are you comparing them on? If it's songwriting, McCartney is far superior, as well as his ability with an instrument (though that doesn't really matter much). As a singer, it's actually (believe it or not) debatable, as McCartney has this amazing talent where he has like 20 different voices! I really like Freddie, and I would understand why you would love him if you do, but compared to any of The Beatles, he doesn't quite compare to their level. But to be fair, no one really does.
In terms of bands, I'd put Queen somewhere in my top 5, possibly 5th, but The Beatles are number 1.
Elton John
Sir Elton Hercules John (born Reginald Kenneth Dwight; 25 March 1947) is an English singer, pianist and composer. Collaborating with lyricist Bernie Taupin since 1967 on more than 30 albums, John has sold over 300 million records, making him one of the best-selling music artists of all time. He has... read more Sir Elton John is a SUPERB philanthropist. He created and hugely supports the Elton John AIDS Foundation, as well as 90 other charities. He richly deserves his latest honour, the highest knighthood of all, the "Order of the Companions of Honor" group. He is presently on his 3-year farewell tour around the world, and in November 2019, Billboard named him "Top Male Solo Artist of All Time".
Sir Elton John has just received the highest honour. He's been appointed to the "Order of the Companions of Honour" group (December 2019).
Mick Jagger
Sir Michael Philip "Mick" Jagger is an English singer, songwriter, and actor, best known as the lead vocalist and a co-founder of the Rolling Stones. He received his award in 2003 from The Prince of Wales after Queen Elizabeth II allegedly refused to knight him in person for his historically anti-establishment views and image. Keith Richards criticized him for accepting the award. Mick responded by saying, "It's like being given an ice cream - one gets one, and they all want one."
Best singer ever, he beats Paul McCartney. Rolling Stones are better. A funny thing about Mick Jagger is he is Spanish.
Ringo Starr
Richard Starkey known professionally as Ringo Starr, is an English musician, singer, songwriter and actor who gained worldwide fame as the drummer for the Beatles. He received his knighthood from Prince William on March 20, 2018.
WAIT, wait, wait... just continuing from Gg2000's comment: He got knighted on my birthday?! Best 13th birthday present ever!
Van Morrison
Sir George Ivan Morrison OBE is a Northern Irish singer, songwriter, instrumentalist and record producer. In 2016, he was knighted for services to the music industry and to tourism in Northern Ireland.
George Martin
Sir George Henry Martin was an English record producer, arranger, composer, conductor, audio engineer, and musician The greatest producer of all time.
Bono
Paul David Hewson, known by his stage name Bono, is an Irish singer-songwriter, musician, venture capitalist, businessman, and philanthropist. His original nickname was Bono Vox which means "big voice". He so deserves to be knighted. I hope he gets knighted soon.
Cliff Richard
Julie Andrews
Dame Julia "Julie" Elizabeth Andrews is an English film and stage actress, singer, author, theatre director and dancer.
Tom Jones
Sir Thomas Jones Woodward was a Welsh singer known by his stage name Tom Jones. He became one of the most popular vocalists to emerge from the mid-1960s.
The Newcomers
? Brian May
Brian Harold May is an English musician, singer, songwriter and astrophysicist, best known as the lead guitarist of the rock band Queen.
? Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, baptised as Johannes Chrysostomus Wolfgangus Theophilus Mozart, was a prolific and influential composer of the Classical era, born in Salzburg.
The Contenders
Bob Geldof
Ravi Shankar
Rod Stewart
Roderick David "Rod" Stewart is a British rock singer-songwriter. Born and raised in London, he is of Scottish and English ancestry. He was knighted in the 2016 Birthday Honours.
Olivia Newton John
Dame Olivia Newton-John was a British-Australian singer, songwriter and actress. She was a four-time Grammy award winner who had amassed five number-one and ten other Top Ten Billboard Hot 100 singles, and two number-one Billboard 200 solo albums. She died on August 8, 2022 of breast cancer in Santa... read more
Shirley Bassey
Dame Shirley Veronica Bassey is a Welsh singer whose career began in the mid-1950s, best known both for her powerful voice and for recording the theme songs to the James Bond films Goldfinger, Diamonds Are Forever, and Moonraker.
Barry Gibb
Barry Alan Crompton Gibb is a British singer, songwriter and record producer who rose to worldwide fame as a co-founder of the group Bee Gees, one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed groups in the history of popular music.
Ray Davies
Raymond Douglas "Ray" Davies is an English musician. He was the rhythm guitarist, vocalist, and songwriter for The Kinks, which he led with his younger brother, Dave. Ray was knighted in 2017 for "service to the arts". I'm not a believer in the knighthood, but I do appreciate that Ray is getting some kind of recognition nowadays.
David Gilmour
David Jon Gilmour is an English singer, songwriter, composer, multi-instrumentalist, and record producer. He joined the progressive rock band Pink Floyd as guitarist and co-lead vocalist in 1968.
Joan Sutherland
Joan Sutherland (November 7, 1926 - October 10, 2010) was an Australian operatic dramatic coloratura soprano, known for her contribution to the renaissance of the bel canto repertoire from the late 1950s to the 1980s. She was the first Australian to win a Grammy Award in 1962.
Ian Anderson
Ian Scott Anderson is a Scottish-born musician, singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist whom is best known for his work as the lead vocalist, flautist, and acoustic guitarist of British rock band Jethro Tull.
Bryan Ferry
John Lennon
John Winston Ono Lennon, MBE (born John Winston Lennon; 9 October 1940 - 8 December 1980), was an English singer, songwriter, musician, and political activist. He rose to worldwide fame as the co-founder, co-lead vocalist, and rhythm guitarist of the Beatles, the most commercially successful band in... read more
Damon Albarn
Damon Albarn is an English singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist. He is known as the lead singer of the British rock band Blur, the co-founder, vocalist, instrumentalist and principal songwriter of the virtual band Gorillaz. He was born on March 23, 1968, in Whitechapel, London, England. Albarn... read more