Categories: Music

“There’s a Starman, Waiting in the Sky”: David Bowie Named Britain’s Favourite Musician

2016 has been a rubbish year for our heroes. As the year begins to wind down it makes sense to feel reflective on all the brilliant artists we lost over the last 365 days. And while we said goodbye to some outstanding musicians this year, none will be missed more, perhaps, than David Bowie.

That’s why it seems fitting that the late great Ziggy himself has been named the UK’s favourite musician in a piece of recent research.

The singer, songwriter and actor, who passed away in January, scored 25 UK Top 10 hits in a career that spanned five decades.

The study, which polled 2,000 Brits on their favourite musicians and actors, put the 70s rocker in the top spot.

Bowie beat tough competition from Elvis Presley, Ed Sheeran and Michael Jackson.

Meanwhile ‘Hello’ songstress Adele bested tough competition from Kate Bush and Whitney Houston to win the women’s musician category.

A spokesperson from CamRate who commissioned the study into Britain’s favourite musicians and actors, said: “In 2016 the UK is as mad about celebs as ever. We love to love them, too.

“Celebrity culture is a big part of modern life for most and we are all influenced by the works of these great public figures.”

The poll also generated a vote for the most recognisable public figure, which was topped by anti-apartheid activist and politician Nelson Mandela.

Mandela was closely followed by talk show host Oprah Winfrey and physicist Stephen Hawking in the countdown.

A spokesperson for CamRate added: “The research has brought up some real surprises. I mean, who doesn’t know who Walt Disney is?

“The public love rating things more than ever, from celebs to food and even holidays. At CamRate we want to provide the liberating experience of rating anything, in an instant, all in one place.

“CamRate makes it easier to explore and discover what the world really thinks.”

TOP 20 MALE MUSICIANS

  1.  David Bowie
  2.  Elvis Presley
  3.  Ed Sheeran
  4.  Michael Jackson
  5.  Bruce Springsteen
  6.  Michael Buble
  7.  Sir Elton John
  8.  Rod Stewart
  9.  Bob Dylan
  10. Frank Sinatra
  11. Johnny Cash
  12. Bruno Mars
  13. Meat Loaf
  14. Eric Clapton
  15. Sir Paul McCartney
  16. Justin Timberlake
  17. Sir Cliff Richard
  18. Justin Bieber
  19. Bryan Adams
  20. Prince

TOP 20 FEMALE MUSICIANS

  1.  Adele
  2.  Kate Bush
  3.  Whitney Houston
  4.  Tina Turner
  5.  Beyonce
  6.  Kylie Minogue
  7.  Taylor Swift
  8.  Madonna
  9.  Rihanna
  10. Lady Gaga
  11. Katy Perry
  12. Ellie Goulding
  13. Pink
  14. Sia
  15. Jennifer Lopez
  16. Mariah Carey
  17. Lana Del Rey
  18. Alicia Keys
  19. Ariana Grande
  20. Shakira

TOP 20 MOST RECOGNISABLE PUBLIC FIGURES

  1.  Nelson Mandela
  2.  Oprah Winfrey
  3.  Stephen Hawking
  4.  Sir Winston Churchill
  5.  Bill Gates
  6.  Albert Einstein
  7.  Bruce Lee
  8.  Walt Disney
  9.  Florence Nightingale
  10. Charles Darwin
  11. Fidel Castro
  12. Christopher Columbus
  13. Aretha Franklin
  14. Mahatma Gandhi
  15. Mark Zuckerberg
  16. Rupert Murdoch
  17. Isaac Newton
  18. Marie Curie
  19. Pele
  20. Kim Kardashian
Grant Bailey

Grant is the music editor at the London Economic. Send horrid riffs.

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