Musical genius?

Strong Bad
Strong Bad Posts: 4,278
edited September 2003 in Music & Movies
What really is a musical genius and who do you consider to be one?

I hear and read all the time how the Beatles were geniuses and how Curt Cobain was just flat out brilliant.

Sorry, in my opinion, these people put out some good music in their time, but I really don't think they're the music equivalent of Einstein.

Nirvana's first album hit big, but their second album had one hit, and even that wasn't huge.

Look at groups like Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd and the Eagles. Look at all they did for the music world. I really never hear them mentioned in these discussions.

Opinions guys?
No excuses!
Post edited by Strong Bad on
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  • VR3
    VR3 Posts: 28,741
    edited September 2003
    I say Dream Theater, they all are some of the best in the world. You can be the best 'mainstream' artist and be one of the worst artist in the world. I think talent has to actually kick in somewhere...
    - Not Tom ::::::: Any system can play Diana Krall. Only the best can play Limp Bizkit.
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  • wlrandall
    wlrandall Posts: 440
    edited September 2003
    Aerosmith.
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  • danger boy
    danger boy Posts: 15,722
    edited September 2003
    I think what we would consider a musical genius would have to be like you said The Beatles, probably others like Mozart, Frank Sinatra, Simon and Garfunkel, Berry Gordy, Elton John/Bernie Taupin, Aretha Franklin, Barbra Striesand, Michael Jackson, Madonna, and a few others.

    I guess these are the people who helped shape the history of music, and I would consider them to be musical genisus in my book. Oh yeah and of course Ann and Nancy Wilson of Heart. :p they are my fave band of all time. :D
    PolkFest 2012, who's going>?
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  • rskarvan
    rskarvan Posts: 2,374
    edited September 2003
    I think you have to look to the theatre to find some modern-day musical genious. Perhpas the musical score to RENT comes to mind. Most popular music is simplistic and non-consequential - from a musical perspective. There was a reason that Orchestra's have scores where no part is duplicated for 60 people or so. You just can't do that with a four-man band.
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  • dorokusai
    dorokusai Posts: 25,577
    edited September 2003
    Zamphir, Master of the Pan Flute ;)
    CTC BBQ Amplifier, Sonic Frontiers Line3 Pre-Amplifier and Wadia 581 SACD player. Speakers? Always changing but for now, Mission Argonauts I picked up for $50 bucks, mint.
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  • Airplay355
    Airplay355 Posts: 4,298
    edited September 2003
    backstreet boys
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  • rs159
    rs159 Posts: 1,027
    edited September 2003
    fiddy cent...........:rolleyes:
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  • VR3
    VR3 Posts: 28,741
    edited September 2003
    JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE AND BRITNEY SPEARS!!!! :rolleyes:
    - Not Tom ::::::: Any system can play Diana Krall. Only the best can play Limp Bizkit.
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  • pjdami
    pjdami Posts: 1,894
    edited September 2003
    Johann Sebastian Bach. Although I am not a huge classical music fan, Bach has been described as "mathmatical". Bach is definitely not "boring" church music.

    SVS owners if you have some Bach on cd try out "Toccata & Fugue in d minor" for some thunderous bass from the pipe organ, argueably one of the most complex instruments man has ever created. With pipes as tall as or taller than 32 feet in some instances the pipe organ is capable of producing a wide range of the music spectrum. My Polk PSW 350 just farts to this song as most of the bass is lower than 32 hz. Let me know if you try it.

    Rock and Roll wise, genius would be Pink Floyd and Led Zeppelin to me. Revolutionary music for the times. I guess you can throw in Jimmi Hendrix in there too. Pink Floyd, I still listen to it and don't get tired of it. How did they think of all that stuff still amazes me. Led Zeppelin, what else is there to say. From rock to blues and in between.. what a variety. I was jammin to Zep 1 today. "your time is gonna come" John Paul Jones is jamming on the pipe organ in the beginning then fades into Jimmy Page.. I love it and still do.
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  • GuitarheadCA
    GuitarheadCA Posts: 400
    edited September 2003
    I don't even have to think about this one:

    Danny Elfman

    This guy was the lead singer in Oingo Boingo- but that's not why he's a genious. He's a genious because he's the best there is at writing movie scores. Batman, Dick Tracy, Beetlejuice, Mission Impossible, Tales from the cyrpt, Edward Scissorhands, Men in Black, The Simpsons, Mars attacks- just to name some of the big ones. The way he makes instrument lines come together, create a mood, tell a story is amazing.
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  • LiquidSound
    LiquidSound Posts: 1,261
    edited September 2003
    How about a Real Genius..
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    "If you could put speakers in a needle, I'd never see him again..." - My Girlfriend
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  • dorokusai
    dorokusai Posts: 25,577
    edited September 2003
    Guitarhead - I never even knew that about Danny Elfman...the Oingo Boingo connection, holy crap :eek:
    CTC BBQ Amplifier, Sonic Frontiers Line3 Pre-Amplifier and Wadia 581 SACD player. Speakers? Always changing but for now, Mission Argonauts I picked up for $50 bucks, mint.
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  • Loud & Clear
    Loud & Clear Posts: 1,538
    edited September 2003
    Originally posted by ATCVenom
    This question, like many other things in music, is founded upon the basis of an opinion. Those who capture your soul and captivate your mind can very well be, your own musical geniuses.

    Regards,

    Sean

    Sums it up for me.

    We have biorhythms and complicated emotional networks ... some things strike a cord, others don't. But perhaps that has more to do with what is perceived as 'subjectivity.' Then again, is there any way to determine 'musical genius' objectively? Is it mathematical, calculable based on the number of notes that you hit per second, or in some specific order?

    On a side note: Jesus is tapping your phone calls, and Buddha is reading your diaries; let's not forget that people. And who knows how many countless spirits (grandparents anyone?!) view your wild masturbation sessions (yup, I'm talking about the wine cork, and don't think you're fooling me by denying it ... you sick ****). Keep your wits about you, they're ALWAYS watching.

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  • VR3
    VR3 Posts: 28,741
    edited September 2003
    Dangit Sean....

    Your to dang smart!!!!!! STOP IT!!! lol! Nicely said man! Nicely said!
    - Not Tom ::::::: Any system can play Diana Krall. Only the best can play Limp Bizkit.
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  • danger boy
    danger boy Posts: 15,722
    edited September 2003
    we all have our own musical geniuses, but we can all agree Jimi Hendrix was a genius in his own right as a musician. He did captivate the industry and the public... as did the Beatles. They forever changed the face of music. Elvis was also a musical genius. What would the world have been like had we not had Elvis or Lennon and McCartney?

    To say someone who captivates you with music "could" be a genius is wrong.

    As I said before... The Beatles yeah geniuses, as was Elvis, The Rolling Stones, Buddy Holly.. etc.. on and on.

    Not geniuses, Milli Vanilli, Vanilla Ice, Britney Spears, Rick Dees, and most rap music :p


    rskarvan, I loved Rent. the music, the show.. the whole experience. as far as being placed in the genius category.. ummm no. There are other broadway musicals who would better fit into the category of genius.

    guitarhead,
    Danny Elfman. rocks. genius... yeah maybe.

    that's it. i said my piece.. right or wrong.. that's how I feel about musical geniuses.

    Al
    PolkFest 2012, who's going>?
    Vancouver, Canada Sept 30th, 2012 - Madonna concert :cheesygrin:
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  • bikezappa
    bikezappa Posts: 2,463
    edited September 2003
    Frank Zappa

    Not many people ever listened to him, but everyone thinks they know what type of music he played.

    He played music that he liked.

    He tried to stop the music rating system.

    Only time will tell where is ends up in history however.

    Sleep Dirt.
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  • Loud & Clear
    Loud & Clear Posts: 1,538
    edited September 2003
    Some people consider Jimmy Hendrix to have been a sloppy blues guitarist (myself included), who was always whacked out on psychedelics. Others consider him a musical genius. Go figure.

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  • RuSsMaN
    RuSsMaN Posts: 17,987
    edited September 2003
    I consider Hendrix a left handed black guy, that played a right handed guitar - upsidedown.

    Zappa, well he did finally get the mercy **** and was inducted into the R&R hall of fame on what, the third time? ;)

    Cheers,
    Russ
    Check your lips at the door woman. Shake your hips like battleships. Yeah, all the white girls trip when I sing at Sunday service.
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  • Dr. Spec
    Dr. Spec Posts: 3,780
    edited September 2003
    Originally posted by Loud & Clear
    ....your wild masturbation sessions (yup, I'm talking about the wine cork)...

    Wait a minute - I want in. Doesn't anyone else care about the "wine cork" **** off technique? Do tell L&C, do tell.

    Hans Zimmer gets my vote for modern day composing genius.

    Pick any top 10 famous classical composer for my historical vote.

    And I'm with john strong on Pink Floyd DSOTM - brilliant.

    Doc
    "What we do in life echoes in eternity"

    Ed Mullen (emullen@svsound.com)
    Director - Technology and Customer Service
    SVS
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  • GuitarheadCA
    GuitarheadCA Posts: 400
    edited September 2003
    I consider Hendrix a left handed black guy, that played a right handed guitar - upsidedown
    Yeah, I'm with Russman on this one- never been a big Hendrix fan. So if I have no clue to play an instrument, pick it up wrong, learn it wrong, but make it sound okay- can I be original and great too?

    Sean,
    After the two philisophical posts on music genious, I'm still curious to know who you would believe to qualify as such. Do tell.
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  • Big Dan R
    Big Dan R Posts: 131
    edited September 2003
    Don't confuse record sales and popularity with musical genius. Most of the time they are not synonoymous. There are many performers that are better at business than music. ;)
    Dan
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  • danger boy
    danger boy Posts: 15,722
    edited September 2003
    ok. lets take it out of music then. how about Bill Gates? Is Bill not a genius? Did he invent the computer? nope. Did he invent the operating system? nope. He did with much help create the computer operating system that most of the free world uses today and for the past 15 yrs.

    Sean, i can't believe you would throw out a ? then not answer it yourself? what gives? Are you chicken or something? Baak Baak Baak! :p

    I stand by my statements that they are real geniuses in the music industry. Whether they be the musicains or writers, or the promoters. How about the Funk Brothers?, they had more number one hits then Elvis, the Beatles combined.

    I'll be back later.


    al
    PolkFest 2012, who's going>?
    Vancouver, Canada Sept 30th, 2012 - Madonna concert :cheesygrin:
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  • Loud & Clear
    Loud & Clear Posts: 1,538
    edited September 2003
    Bill Gates is a musical genius. Open up the 'media' folder under your 'windows' folder, it's all in there, and it's beautiful.

    Doc - it involves vaseline and one of those 'sit and spins' that you may have around from your younger years. Key here is, you mustn't be of the opinion that deceased relatives can pop in on you at their whim; that will cause hysterical laughter and derail the intended result. Happy trails, and let me know it works out for you.

    L&C

    Two Channel Setup:

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  • jdavy
    jdavy Posts: 380
    edited September 2003
    geniuses of the last 1000 years were people that could do what few others could do. The beatles music has been compared to Bach, Mozart and Betheoven. Tast is not the issue but how the music is put together. To understand the genious of Mozart see Amadeos. BTW, I like the comments on Danny Elfman. I too am an Oingo Boingo fan. After all " I am only a lad... I really can't help it"

    Hey, "you worry too much, you make yourself sad, you can't change fate, so don't feel so bad, enjoy it while you can, it's just like the weather so quite complaning brother, no one lives for ever.... Let's have a party there's a full moon in the sky. It is the hour of the wolf and I don't want to die"
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  • TroyD
    TroyD Posts: 13,077
    edited September 2003
    I don't know about musical genius but sounds to me like ATC is banging a librarian or some ****.

    BDT
    I plan for the future. - F1Nut
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  • organ
    organ Posts: 4,969
    edited September 2003
    doro,
    ROTFLMAO!!:D:D I found a Zamfir album at home. Not sure who owned it but it's funny. Did you see the episode of King of the Hill where Hank found a Zamfir record? When I saw that I was laughing my **** off, I though I was the only one who made the discovery:D.

    Musical geniuses for me are:
    Dani Filth(Cradle of filth)
    Abbath, Horgh, Iscariah (Immortal)
    Tarja Turunen, Tuomas Holopainen (Nighwish)
    Maria Callas

    Those are the only ones I can think of right now.

    Maurice
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  • dylan
    dylan Posts: 453
    edited September 2003
    Stevie Ray Vaughan. Why? Easy: he could sing, write his own music, and play unlike any other I've heard. His music entertains me every time I listen to it.
    And it's great drinking music (listened to his CD's all through Labor Day Weekend). Hearing the opening of 'Scuttle Buttin' or 'Lenny' just makes me grab a beer.
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  • danger boy
    danger boy Posts: 15,722
    edited September 2003
    Dylan,

    good choice. SRV music is one of a kind in my book.
    PolkFest 2012, who's going>?
    Vancouver, Canada Sept 30th, 2012 - Madonna concert :cheesygrin:
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  • F1nut
    F1nut Posts: 50,647
    edited September 2003
    My genius list, both groups and individuals in addition to many already mentioned.

    Roxy Music
    Steely Dan
    King Crimson
    Dire Straits
    Grateful Dead
    Roy Orbison
    Little Feat
    The Who
    Eric Clapton
    David Bowie
    Amiee Mann
    Political Correctness'.........defined

    "A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t-u-r-d by the clean end."

    President of Club Polk

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  • Tour2ma
    Tour2ma Posts: 10,177
    edited September 2003
    F1,
    Bowie was my first thought, at least first Rock thought. Mozart was first, but so obvious...

    David Byrne is another that comes to mind.
    More later,
    Tour...
    Vox Copuli
    Better to remain silent and be thought a fool, than to open your mouth and remove all doubt. - Old English Proverb

    "Death doesn't come with a Uhaul." - Dennis Gardner
    "It's easy to get lost in price vs performance vs ego vs illusion." - doro
    "There is a certain entertainment value in ripping the occaisonal (sic) buttmunch..." - TroyD
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