Artists or Entertainers? (jazz, metal, pop, rock, favorite bands) - Music Banter Music Banter

Go Back   Music Banter > The Music Forums > General Music
Register Blogging Search Today's Posts Mark Forums Read
Welcome to Music Banter Forum! Make sure to register - it's free and very quick! You have to register before you can post and participate in our discussions with over 70,000 other registered members. After you create your free account, you will be able to customize many options, you will have the full access to over 1,100,000 posts.

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 01-19-2009, 06:37 PM   #1 (permalink)
Music Addict
 
Automatic Slim's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2008
Posts: 92
Default Artists or Entertainers?

Should musicians be 'artists', or 'entertainers'? Here's what I mean.

Some musicians would regard themselves as 'artists'. They believe they should maintain their 'artistic integrity', 'dedicate themselves to their art', and not care what the audience thinks.

Other musicians regard themselves as primarily 'entertainers', and create music that the audience will enjoy. After all, many other products are created to please the consumer: cars, food, etc. Why should music be different?

If you will, let me illustrate this dichotomy with an example from jazz history. Louis Armstrong played great jazz. Nevertheless, he was regarded by Dizzy Gillespie as merely an entertainer, who famously called him a "plantation character". I'm sure anyone here can think of examples in rock and metal.

Whatever floats the musicians' boat, I guess. However, I do favor the more practical 'entertainers' over pretentious 'artists'.

I'm not advocating that everything be bland pop, crooners, and Top 40. After all, I count the Melvins and Tad among my favorite bands. Still, my tastes are fairly mainstream: Metallica, Megadeth, AIC, and a lot of classic rock. I do tire of people castigating a band when it achieves mainstream status.

Peace.
__________________
"I say I can't but I really mean I won't."
Automatic Slim is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-19-2009, 06:40 PM   #2 (permalink)
Let it drip
 
Sneer's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2004
Posts: 5,430
Default

Both. Some musicians, Alice Cooper as an example, like to entertain.

Others, such as Sigur Ros, are more like artists, painting/sculpting/whatever a sonic piece if you will.

There are others that do both, such as David Bowie.

Theres your simple answer.
Sneer is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-19-2009, 06:53 PM   #3 (permalink)
Music Addict
 
Automatic Slim's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2008
Posts: 92
Default

I was sort of wanting to see how many people would say 'both'.

A pure entertainer might never extend himself artistically. For example, using only power chords, because most of his audience doesn't demand it. Someone who wants to entertain and show off his technique is best, because he can reach a large audience and extend his artistic vision.
__________________
"I say I can't but I really mean I won't."
Automatic Slim is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-19-2009, 07:23 PM   #4 (permalink)
Mate, Spawn & Die
 
Janszoon's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2007
Location: The Rapping Community
Posts: 24,593
Default

Another vote for both here. It just totally depends on the person for me. I don't think I'd describe the entertainers as "practical" and the artists as "pretentious" though.
Janszoon is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-19-2009, 07:35 PM   #5 (permalink)
Music Addict
 
Automatic Slim's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2008
Posts: 92
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Janszoon View Post
Another vote for both here. It just totally depends on the person for me. I don't think I'd describe the entertainers as "practical" and the artists as "pretentious" though.
Well, not all artists are pretentious, I admit. (Guess I should have phrased it differently.) And entertainers can certainly display a great amount of artistic talent.
__________________
"I say I can't but I really mean I won't."
Automatic Slim is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-19-2009, 08:11 PM   #6 (permalink)
Unrepentant Ass-Mod
 
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Pennsylvania
Posts: 3,921
Default

Entertainers = pop musicians

Musicians = everyone else
__________________
first.am
lucifer_sam is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-19-2009, 08:15 PM   #7 (permalink)
Let it drip
 
Sneer's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2004
Posts: 5,430
Default

whats your definition of a pop musician though? Stereolab have made pop albums, i wouldnt classify them as entertainers though.
Sneer is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-19-2009, 08:37 PM   #8 (permalink)
Unrepentant Ass-Mod
 
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Pennsylvania
Posts: 3,921
Default

I should have been more explicit...

Entertainers = popular musicians
Musicians = everyone else
__________________
first.am
lucifer_sam is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-19-2009, 08:41 PM   #9 (permalink)
Account Disabled
 
Join Date: Nov 2008
Posts: 4,538
Default

They should be called buttplugs.
someonecompletelyrandom is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-19-2009, 08:46 PM   #10 (permalink)
Let it drip
 
Sneer's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2004
Posts: 5,430
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by lucifer_sam View Post
I should have been more explicit...

Entertainers = popular musicians
Musicians = everyone else
I dont mean to be pedantic but a musician can become a popular musician with the strength of their material. Case in point Led Zeppelin
Sneer is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Similar Threads



© 2003-2024 Advameg, Inc.