Diddy heads Celebrity 100 list

I was browsing the latest issue of Forbes Magazine when I came across a list. I like lists and so do a lot of people given the reactions I get, both favorable and non-favorable, whenever I come out with them. What an amazing list Forbes has. It is the Celebrity 100, a list of the world’s highest paid entertainers from the areas of sports, show business and lifestyle from all over the world. And given the fact that this is from Forbes, you can be sure that the ranking is based on facts not human votes. This is all for real.

I found it most heartening to find somebody, Sean Combs, who built his empire through music, on top of the list. I also saw names of now famous figures who come from difficult childhoods but who managed to turn their lives around at a very young age. There are even writers on the list, ditching the belief that there is no money in writing. There is if you are J.K. Rowling of Harry Potter fame. And so here they are, the Top 20 names from Forbes’ Celebrity 100.

Sean “Diddy” Combs, hip-hop star, businessman, $130M; Beyoncé, pop star, $105M; J.K. Rowling, writer, $95M; Drake, $94M; Cristiano Ronaldo, athlete, $93M; The Weeknd, pop star, $92M; Howard Stern, $90M; Coldplay, emo band, $88M; James Patterson, writer, $87M; LeBron James, athlete, $86M.

Rush Limbaugh, radio talk show star, $84M; Guns ‘N’ Roses, rock band, $84M; Justin Bieber, pop star, $83.5M; Lionel Messi, athlete, $80M; Dr. Phil McGraw, lifestyle guru, $79M; Ellen Degeneres, talk show host, producer, $77M; Bruce Springsteen, rock star, $75M; Jerry Seinfeld, comedian, $69M; Adele, pop star, $69M; Mark Wahlberg, actor, producer, $68M.

More lists: The 50 Greatest Concerts of the Past 50 Years as ranked by Rolling Stone, the magazine, which incidentally is also celebrating its 50th year. The oldest in the list is The Jimi Hendrix Experience Worldwide Tour in 1967. Here are the 20 most recent ones and lucky you if you got to enjoy any of these.

Beyoncé Formation Tour, 2016; Taylor Swift, 1989 Tour, 2015; Fleetwood Mack On With The Show Tour, 2015; Jay Z & Kanye West Watch The Throne Tour, 2011 to 12; LCD Soundsystem at The Madison Square Garden, 2011; Rock and Roll Hall of Fame 25th Anniversary Concert, 2009; Leonard Cohen Worldwide Tour, 2013; Daft Funk Alive Tour, 2006 to 07; Brian Wilson at The Royal Festival Hall, 2004; Phish at Big Cypress, 1999.

Pearl Jam American Tour, 1998; Sleater-Kinney American Tour, 1997; Radiohead at Glastonbury, 1997; U2 Zoo TV Tour, 1992 to 93; Sonic Youth & Nirvana European Tour, 1990; Public Enemy Sizzling Summer Tour, 1990; Madonna Blonde Ambition Tour, 1990; Metallica Damaged Justice Tour, 1988 to 89; Run D.M.C. Raising Hell Tour, 1986; and Prince Purple Rain Tour, 1984 to 85.

And to close here are the Top 20 songs in Billboard’s 100 Biggest Summer Songs of All Time list. I do not know how this list started or how it grew into such importance over the years but the soundtracks of summer, the songs by which people will forever remember that time of youth and unbridled joy and bittersweet romance in their lives now also mean strong music sales. Reading the list I came to the conclusion that summer people no matter what the era have very good tastes.

 Nice coincidence, the No. 1 summer song of all time is also by Forbes highest paid entertainer Diddy, that he recorded during his Puff Daddy days.

I’ll Be Missing You by Puff Daddy and Faith Evans feat. 112, 1997; The Boy Is Mine by Brandy and Monica, 1998; Tossin’ and Turnin’, Bobby Lewis, 1961; Blurred Lines, Robin Thicke, 2013; Every Breath You Take, The Police, 1983; We Belong Together, Mariah Carey, 2005; I Just Want To Be Your Everything, Andy Gibb, 1977; When Doves Cry, Prince, 1984; Everything I Do I Do It For You, Bryan Adams, 1991; Alone Again (Naturally), Gilbert O’Sullivan, 1972.

I Can’t Get No Satisfaction by The Rolling Stones, 1965; Hot In Here, Nelly, 2002; Bad Girls, Donna Summer, 1979; Roses Are Red My Love, Bobby Vinton, 1962; I’m Sorry, Brenda Lee, 1960; In The Year 2525, Zager & Evans, 1969; Eye Of The Tiger, Survivor, 1982; Lonely Boy, Paul Anka, 1959; Umbrella, Rihanna feat. Jay Z, 2003; Crazy In Love, Beyoncé feat. Jay-Z.