A number of the world's most powerful people were included on Time Magazine's annual poll of "Most Influential," and there were clearly some surprises. (For example, most Americans have never heard of anyone in the top four.)
Let's look at where some of TV and pop culture's biggest names fell on the chart.
- Lady Gaga, 5th: not surprising, considering her impact and fan base.
- Adam Lambert, 6th: the same goes here.
- Susan Boyle, 7th: was there any performer who really inspired as much as she did?
- Conan O'Brien, 11th: who would've ever thought somoene could be so influential for losing a show?
- Neil Patrick Harris, 18th: put down the remote!
- Taylor Swift, 28th: would have been higher if this poll was taken six months ago.
- Kanye West, 34th: would have been lower if this poll was taken six months ago.
- Stephen Colbert, 38th: is the Colbert Nation losing its mojo? Stephen is generally higher.
- Glenn Beck, 40th: controversy leads to popularity.
- Sarah Palin, 42nd: still finding ways to stay in the spotlight.
Outside of the top 50, a number of popular names (including Betty White, Ellen DeGeneres, and even Snooki from "Jersey Shore") managed to appear.
Who did you feel was the most influential person of the past year? Feel free to share your thoughts below!
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Comments
It doesn't surprise me that Lady Gaga and Adam Lambert are in the top 10. Both are cutting edge artists, bringing a new sense of glam and futuristic visuals to their performances. I for one am glad to see any musical artist break out of the ho-hum mold that has been standard for the last several years.
How is it possible that a 47 year old woman from a small village in Scotland became one of the most influential singers of the year? The answer is twofold: YouTube, and Susan Boyle herself. YouTube had been around for 5 years before Susan but never before (and never since) has an unknown singer's video swept around the world, with many millions of hits in mere days (and now, hundreds of millions) the way Susan's did.
Susan Boyle from her first televised appearance on BGT touched the minds and hearts of millions. Her soaring voice and gutsy manner made her a standout. Around the world people actually wept as she sang, as the audience rose to their feet - as Susan 'won them round'.
Susan's audition video went on to become the most watched of the year. Although she did not win BGT, she soon recorded her first album which broke Amazon.com presale orders world wide. It became the best selling debut album by a female in history. It quickly went Gold, Platinum and Multi-Platinum in man
Susan Boyle has become the standard bearer for people of a certain age who still have the courage and determination to reach for the golden ring. Her humor and good grace in the face of verbal abuse and attacks from a large segment of the media and from many commentators have been such a positive influence to millions that sometimes the good guys really do win.
What has made her a musical icon in such a short time, of course, is that amazing, soaring, pure voice that has brought music back into the "music" industry.
Maybe I'm overlooking them but I don't see Susan Boyle, Adam Lambert, Betty White, Snooki, Ellen DeGeneres, and a couple more on Time's full list, given on their webpage. Where is the list you used as a source located?
I have to go with Susan Boyle---that woman can sing=joke=go from plain to beautiful with not much help==I just wish that they would let her loose with that microphone==I bet she can out dance most people!! I would love to see it. She is the best!!!!!
I'm really surprised to see Lambert on there. Most people don't even know who he is! lol, He puts out one awful album and pretends to have an orgy on stage and suddenly he's influential? Hilarious.
I just got Time magazine with the lists and Susan Boyle is nowhere to be seen.
SUSAN BOYLE WAS THE MOST INFLUENTIAL PERSON. MILLIONS OF PEOPLE GOT INSPIRED BY HER. SUSAN B. IS NUMBER 1 IN EVERYTHING THIS PAST YEAR AND SHE IS HERE TO STAY.
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