Musical Geniuses ?

blackboab · 02-28-2011, 05:23 AM

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.

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Genius is embodying exceptional intellectual ability, creativity, or originality, typically to a degree that is associated with the achievement of unprecedented insight.
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there is a thin line between genius and madness....
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look at brian wilson of the beach boys for example...yes you may not be a fan but there is no doubt he experienced an amazing growth as a songwriter between 1965 and 1967 up until his mental breakdown...his pet sounds and smile albums from that era are prime examples of someone who's work could be discribed as genius with the modular style of songwriting he was creating with the good vibrations track and the whole smile album...
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i agree its all subjective but then most things are....just asking... :-)
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Bloozcrooz · 02-28-2011, 05:27 AM

So yeah since nobody else has named him yet...ill place my loyalty to the almighty once more and proclaim Hendrix as a musical genius.
From the lyrical aspect and innovative side... his talents and creativity seemed to know no end. Always coming up with and experimenting with new sound and techniques. Just refusing to give up after many had pushed his ideas aside and dismissed them as repulsive altogether. I still set in awe when I listen to his music and only wish I could have been so lucky as to have gotten the chance to seen him live. One could only speculate on the longevity aspect of it. I would presume given Hendrix always unquenched thirst for new material that he would have upheld his curious creative artistic style of playing and stunned us with many hits through the years. I would say you could make a good case to be argued that this man was truly the definition of a musical genius.

Howard the Duck · 02-28-2011, 06:43 AM

Cap'n Beefheart

blackboab · 02-28-2011, 07:15 AM

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he was unique...no doubt about that...

~~someonecompletelyrandom~~ · 02-28-2011, 10:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blackboab

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what's rolling stone got to do with good music ???.....
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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 ???.....
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sun ra is someone i will need to check out....apart from miles davis...i havent listened to much of that genre ...
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i am directing my question more towards brilliance in the rock and pop field...

Kirk Cobain, frontman of Nivanra.

ThePhanastasio · 02-28-2011, 01:03 PM

Joe Meek

A talented and prolific songwriter, in spite of the well-known fact that he was tone deaf, Joe Meek definitely fits the profile of musical genius.

He wrote over 250 records in his time, acquiring 50 major hits, and had a very different songwriting approach from others in that day - he felt that each of his recordings needed a specific texture, and was not overly concerned with the hook that many seemed to believe (and many still do) was the most important bit of writing a successful record. He also recorded mainly in his home studio, and was one of the first who seemed unafraid of experimenting with feedback and such within his recording, to make the sound less sterile. He was also quite innovative in his use of reverb and echo on vocals and other instruments, and his remarkable work with electronics within the music industry during his all-too-short life (He committed suicide at the age of 37, the eight year anniversary of the death of his idol, Buddy Holly...also killing his landlady in the process) was really something extraordinary.

Sure, Joe Meek was mad as a hatter, but he was utterly brilliant from a musical standpoint, particularly considering his own limitations which he overcame wonderfully.

Husky McDump · 03-02-2011, 10:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Conan

Kirk Cobain, frontman of Nivanra.

0_o

lol

i'm glad you caught that heh

TockTockTock · 03-02-2011, 07:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Boozinbloozin

So yeah since nobody else has named him yet...ill place my loyalty to the almighty once more and proclaim Hendrix as a musical genius.
From the lyrical aspect and innovative side... his talents and creativity seemed to know no end. Always coming up with and experimenting with new sound and techniques. Just refusing to give up after many had pushed his ideas aside and dismissed them as repulsive altogether. I still set in awe when I listen to his music and only wish I could have been so lucky as to have gotten the chance to seen him live. One could only speculate on the longevity aspect of it. I would presume given Hendrix always unquenched thirst for new material that he would have upheld his curious creative artistic style of playing and stunned us with many hits through the years. I would say you could make a good case to be argued that this man was truly the definition of a musical genius.

I didn't name him? Dammit.

Mr November · 03-03-2011, 04:29 PM

To me a musical genius might just be someone who had an extra-ordinary natural ability which related to "music". So there are some classical composers who would count because they had an understanding of music that worked like math or science. They were able to invent something very quickly or efficiently that no one else could. To be a true genius, I think you have to be a bit of a freak. Able to do something with your brain which can't be learned.

That's hard to define, because some lyricists might be geniuses for their ability to communicate something greater than the literal meanings of their words.

And off the top of my head I can't think of any modern musicians who I would count as geniuses.... Maybe Andy McKee, but you could probably learn to do what he does too if you spent as much time at it....

Palatable Vera · 03-04-2011, 10:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Il Duce

Cap'n Beefheart

Came here to say that, actually.

And on the subject of subjectivity (which, what? Hasn't been mentioned for a few posts): That Dostoevsky fellow is constantly hailed as a literary genius, but I've seen people who had to force themselves to not talk to harshly of him. So is he a genius through mass acclaim or through his actual works which some people like and some people don't?

To look at it more metaphorically, let's call The Brothers Karamazov his Sgt Pepper's (OK, yeah, pretty insulting, but let's go with it). Some people would readily call it a genius work while others would call it utter garbage. Sure, that statement seems redundant, but I was just wanting to use that as an example for *something*.

02-28-2011, 07:15 AM	#24 (permalink)
blackboab Groupie Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: glasgow , scotland Posts: 19	. he was unique...no doubt about that... __________________ http://www.last.fm/user/blackboab2004 [Link removed by mod. Read the rules!]

02-28-2011, 01:03 PM	#26 (permalink)
ThePhanastasio Killed Laura Palmer Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Ashland, KY Posts: 1,679	Joe Meek A talented and prolific songwriter, in spite of the well-known fact that he was tone deaf, Joe Meek definitely fits the profile of musical genius. He wrote over 250 records in his time, acquiring 50 major hits, and had a very different songwriting approach from others in that day - he felt that each of his recordings needed a specific texture, and was not overly concerned with the hook that many seemed to believe (and many still do) was the most important bit of writing a successful record. He also recorded mainly in his home studio, and was one of the first who seemed unafraid of experimenting with feedback and such within his recording, to make the sound less sterile. He was also quite innovative in his use of reverb and echo on vocals and other instruments, and his remarkable work with electronics within the music industry during his all-too-short life (He committed suicide at the age of 37, the eight year anniversary of the death of his idol, Buddy Holly...also killing his landlady in the process) was really something extraordinary. Sure, Joe Meek was mad as a hatter, but he was utterly brilliant from a musical standpoint, particularly considering his own limitations which he overcame wonderfully. __________________ Phish: Studio Discography Reviewed 100 Albums I Heartily Recommend My last.fm It's a hand-me-down, the thoughts are broken Perhaps they're better left unsung

02-28-2011, 06:43 AM	#23 (permalink)
Howard the Duck Live by the Sword Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Posts: 9,075	Cap'n Beefheart

03-03-2011, 04:29 PM	#29 (permalink)
Mr November Music Addict Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Halifax, Canada Posts: 429	To me a musical genius might just be someone who had an extra-ordinary natural ability which related to "music". So there are some classical composers who would count because they had an understanding of music that worked like math or science. They were able to invent something very quickly or efficiently that no one else could. To be a true genius, I think you have to be a bit of a freak. Able to do something with your brain which can't be learned. That's hard to define, because some lyricists might be geniuses for their ability to communicate something greater than the literal meanings of their words. And off the top of my head I can't think of any modern musicians who I would count as geniuses.... Maybe Andy McKee, but you could probably learn to do what he does too if you spent as much time at it....