Musical Geniuses ?

jackhammer · 02-25-2011, 07:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by loveissucide

How on earth do you define "genius"?. It's a horribly overused term applied to people who simply happen to be really talented more than anything else, and something like that is always subjective at any rate.

Agree 100 %

It's all subjective.

There are no geniuses only people that relate to us on a personal level, at least in musical terms.

stillmans39 · 02-26-2011, 07:49 AM

I think anyone with 'professor' in their name is probably a genius, given their elevated academic status, e.g. Professor Griff, Professor Green. Various doctors who have also dabbled in music must also come close, such as Dr Dre, Dr John, the doctor from Doctor & the Medics etc, as it's a well-known fact you don't just become a doctor over night.

TockTockTock · 02-26-2011, 09:45 AM

John Cage, Tchaikovsky, and maybe Genesis P-Orridge. I was going to mention Sun Ra, but you guys beat me to it. I also think Skaligojurah's definition of genius is as close as we can get.

Quote:

Originally Posted by jackhammer

Agree 100 %

It's all subjective.

There are no geniuses only people that relate to us on a personal level, at least in musical terms.

Well, according to some philosophers (like Laotse), everything is subjective, but where's the fun in that? I think if we can have a nice discussion without using words like "better" or "best" or "awesome" or anything like them, then maybe we can come off with a few decent examples of genius. While I think labeling any musician isn't the best way to go about music, I do think this may be a fun topic to talk about.

~~someonecompletelyrandom~~ · 02-26-2011, 12:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blackboab

who would you consider as a musical genius ?....and give me your reasons...
.
for me...there are a few..
.
prince - for his all round musical brilliance on many instruments....his songwriting ability, his live performances and his impact on modern music..
.
john lennon/paul mccartney - for their songwriting genius and making the benchmark for all modern bands..
.
brian wilson - again for his songwriting genius...amazing songs before his breakdown in 1967..
.
stevie wonder - similar to prince in his all round ability...his 70s albums were untouchable in that decade..
.
frank zappa - never got the popular success of the other artists here but was an amazing artist...too electic for his own good sometimes...
.
so who would you consider a musical genius ?

Do you happen to work for Rolling Stone?

TockTockTock · 02-26-2011, 01:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Conan

Do you happen to work for Rolling Stone?

Ha... I get it. >_>

I don't know. I think Zappa should be credited a bit. Maybe not a genius, but he's definitely intelligent and influential. He predicted a lot of what has happened to the music industry today. Not to mention he was one of the first to use a lot of experimentation with rock, and also helped create/influence genres of his own.

Ska Lagos Jew Sun Ra · 02-26-2011, 02:20 PM

I'd definitely consider Zappa a genius. Producing 60 albums, all of which pretty much top quality, and from 1960-1993 consistently trying new things, and succeeding.

captaincaptain · 02-26-2011, 03:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Conan

Do you happen to work for Rolling Stone?

If he worked for Rolling Stone, he would've included Bruce Springsteen. Everytime he releases an album it gets 5 stars and becomes album of the year.

alanpartridge · 02-27-2011, 10:25 PM

Chopin would definitely class as a genius. He wrote so many wonderful pieces in his short life and although he didn't like public performances he outclassed everyone including Liszt.

**Scarlett O'Hara** · 02-27-2011, 10:43 PM

Edith Piaf, an exceptional singer/songwriter.

blackboab · 02-28-2011, 04:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Conan

Do you happen to work for Rolling Stone?

.
what's rolling stone got to do with good music ???.....
.
i mean...they recently had a top 100 guitarists list and they had kirk cobain in the top 20 and prince didnt even make the list ???.....come on....
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then the editor of that rag went to the rock and roll hall of fame just after that list was published in 2004 and saw prince do a guitar solo in honor of fellow inductee , the late george harrison and...a month later...prince was named the most underrated guitarist in the world...?
.

.
sun ra is someone i will need to check out....apart from miles davis...i havent listened to much of that genre ...
.
i am directing my question more towards brilliance in the rock and pop field...

02-27-2011, 10:43 PM	#19 (permalink)
Scarlett O'Hara Make it so Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 6,181	Edith Piaf, an exceptional singer/songwriter. __________________ "Elph is truly an enfant terrible of the forum, bless and curse him" - Marie, Queen of Thots

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02-26-2011, 07:49 AM	#12 (permalink)
stillmans39 Groupie Join Date: Feb 2011 Posts: 10	I think anyone with 'professor' in their name is probably a genius, given their elevated academic status, e.g. Professor Griff, Professor Green. Various doctors who have also dabbled in music must also come close, such as Dr Dre, Dr John, the doctor from Doctor & the Medics etc, as it's a well-known fact you don't just become a doctor over night.

02-27-2011, 10:25 PM	#18 (permalink)
alanpartridge Groupie Join Date: Feb 2011 Posts: 15	Chopin would definitely class as a genius. He wrote so many wonderful pieces in his short life and although he didn't like public performances he outclassed everyone including Liszt.