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Printable"Bob Dylan: He's considered the greatest singer-songwriter in American history, and a number of artists have covered his work and considered him as a major influence. But his vocals are grating to a lot of people and he would probably be an American Idol reject these days."
So..Is the ability win American Idol a measure of greatness?! Come now! Dylan is THE most IMPORTANT artist of the Rock & Roll era. Period. While his lyrics are astounding.."Ain't it just like the night to play tricks while you're tryin to be so quiet"...what's forgotten is his gift for melody. And his most recent albums...check out the WICKED triumvirate of "Time out of Mind", "Love and Theft", and "Modern Times"...are as vital as his early work. All this being said...McCartney is THE SINGLE greatest melody writer, outside of Gershwin (and maybe Cole Porter) of the 20th century. And props to Miles, who posted earlier. Brian Wilson is a true genius. Occupy Alphabet Street!
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are we talking about the greatest solo artist currently producing music? are we looking at the relative quality of their work now in contrast to what would be considered their "glory days"? maybe i'm losing grip of the criteria here.  | |
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The "best" thing is always a problem.
Since i'd always pick a Musician over a Pop Star... 
...Herbie Hancock would get my vote. The music he's created over 4 decades, technically & artistically, is just miles beyond anybody else in the list imo. And even though popularity is not a criteria that i'd use to determine artistic integrity, he's been pretty popular among those that see music as an art form instead of a commodity. tA  Tribal Disorder
http://www.soundclick.com...dID=182431 [Edited 4/11/08 18:58pm] "Ya see, we're not interested in what you know...but what you are willing to learn. C'mon y'all." | |
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first off, Paul McCartney is British.
and....  [Edited 4/11/08 18:49pm] | |
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Milty said: first off, Paul McCartney is British.
and....
[Edited 4/11/08 18:49pm]  | |
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theodore said: Milty said: first off, Paul McCartney is British.
and....
[Edited 4/11/08 18:49pm]  HE'S COMING AGAIN | |
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Protege said: theodore said: | |
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Michael [Edited 4/11/08 19:06pm] MJ Fan 1992-Forever
My Org Family: Cinnie, bboy87, Cinnamon234, AnckSuNamun, lilgish, thekidsgirl, thesexofit, Universaluv, theSpark, littlemissG, ThreadCula, badujunkie, DANGEROUSx, Timmy84, MikeMatronik, DarlingDiana, dag, Nvncible1 | |
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Living? BB King; he's the eldest surviving bluesman. Sonny Rollins is up there too. Herbie and Stevie are good choices, but I'm giving preference to age. test | |
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PFunkjazz said: Living? BB King; he's the eldest surviving bluesman. Sonny Rollins is up there too. Herbie and Stevie are good choices, but I'm giving preference to age.
Yeah BB King is one of the few prolific people to do it at his age. 82 and still rockin'.  [Edited 4/11/08 19:34pm] | |
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Anxiety said: are we talking about the greatest solo artist currently producing music? are we looking at the relative quality of their work now in contrast to what would be considered their "glory days"? maybe i'm losing grip of the criteria here.
When I started this thread, I noted that Elvis was probably the greatest solo artist in the history of American music, and he, along with such acts as The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Jimi Hendrix, Frank Sinatra, Robert Johnson, Muddy Waters, Charlie Parker, Miles Davis, Hank Williams, and Johnny Cash are all considered legends in American music. But since the media tends to lump uin musical groups as among the greatest American acts of all time, as well as a lot of currently deceased artists, I wanted to limit this thread to currently living solo artists. I deliberately kept the standards vague, as there are numerous criteria to judge a solo artist by. Like the person who complained about using American Idol as a comparison for Bob Dylan, I think that he is probably the greatest singer-songwriter in modern American musical history, but someone who considers good vocals to be a sign of real talent may think that Bob Dylan is a piece of shit. Likewise, someone else may be impressed by Dylan's songwriting but think that his musicianship pales in comparison to Herbie Hancock, Stevie Wonder or Prince, and others would say that you have to include Michael Jackson, Madonna. and Mariah Carey among the greatest solo acts because of their hundreds of millions of albums sold, and the massive amounts of number one hits they had. After all, both Elvis and the Beatles had a prolific amount of album sales and number one singles. So that's why I left it vague; I thought it would create a vigorous debate.  | |
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well if you allow for foreigners, then David Bowie would probably be my pick for greatest living solo ARTIST.
not musician. not player. not singer. not songwriter. not performer. but as an all around ARTIST (encompassing all of those aspects), he really can't be beat. "Half of what I say is meaningless; but I say it so that the other half may reach you." - Kahlil Gibran | |
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wait, Bowie's still alive, right?  "Half of what I say is meaningless; but I say it so that the other half may reach you." - Kahlil Gibran | |
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Raze said: wait, Bowie's still alive, right?
i have no proof, but i certainly hope so. | |
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Raze said: wait, Bowie's still alive, right?
Yep. He's just retired...for now.  | |
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Anxiety said: Raze said: wait, Bowie's still alive, right?
i have no proof, but i certainly hope so. me too. anyone checked his vitals lately?  "Half of what I say is meaningless; but I say it so that the other half may reach you." - Kahlil Gibran | |
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1. Tom waits
2. Bob Dylan 3. Prince | |
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dammme said: Empress said: For me, there is no question. It's Dylan all the way with Prince in a close second. Can't forget Stevie either. The rest
 Co-sign I can get to that, too. Good night, sweet Prince | 7 June 1958 - 21 April 2016
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Prince/Springsteen/Wonder/Dylan, Paul being English. @ MJ, Madonna, Mariah
Dylan once said that Smokey Robinson was the greatest American poet alive. * [Edited 4/12/08 4:13am] | |
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Stevie/Prince | |
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stevie/prince | |
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Bob Dylan. In spite of the cost of living, it's still popular. |
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Mr. Wonderful himself...Stevie Wonder I knew from the start that I loved you with all my heart. | |
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theAudience said: The "best" thing is always a problem.
Since i'd always pick a Musician over a Pop Star...
...Herbie Hancock would get my vote. The music he's created over 4 decades, technically & artistically, is just miles beyond anybody else in the list imo. And even though popularity is not a criteria that i'd use to determine artistic integrity, he's been pretty popular among those that see music as an art form instead of a commodity. co-sign that one! | |
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Bob Dylan.  | |
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Mariah Carey. | |
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Hmm...tough call..
But I would say Prince/Michael Jackson/ Stevie Wonder. All Brilliant in there own unique way. | |
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728huey said: Since people love to make their opinions known on this board, here's something to consider. Which artist currently living is the greatest solo artist in American music? Most people would say that Elvis was the greatest solo artist in American music, but he's been dead for over 30 years. Others would say Frank Sinatra, but he's been dead for nearly 15 years. So amongst the living, who stands out?
Bob Dylan: He's considered the greatest singer-songwriter in American history, and a number of artists have covered his work and considered him as a major influence. But his vocals are grating to a lot of people and he would probably be an American Idol reject these days. Paul McCartney: As a member of the Beatles, he was part of the greatest rock and roll band ever, but his solo work and his work with his own band Wings was uneven at best. Nevertheless, he had huge hits with "Maybe I'm Amazed", "Band on the Run", "Live and Let Die", and "Silly Love Songs". Bruce Springsteen: He was considered the pied piper of American working-man's rock and roll, often singing about his experiences growing up in New Jersey and epitomizing the trials and tribulations of the working man. "Born To Run" was considered a masterpiece, and "Born In The USA" was his most successful commercial album to date. Plus he put on amazing marathon live concerts. But for the most part, he has eschewed chart success to focus on his own ideas. Stevie Wonder: One of the original Motown artists, he dazzled the world as Little Stevie Wonder but grew into one of the most prolific soul artists. His "Talking Book" and "Journey Into the Secret Life of Plants" are considered classics. But as synth pop/R&B and later hip-hop became huge, his visibility diminished. Michael Jackson: He became the King of Pop after the phenomenal sales of his albums "Thriller", "Bad", and "Dangerous", but his "HIStory" album was considered self-indulgent by a lot of critics and the albums "Blood On The Dance Floor" and "Invincible" paled in comparison sales and quality wise to his earlier albums. In addition, he became more well known for his personal life and the shocking allegations of child molestation as well as his love of plastic surgery. Prince: Since we are on a fansite dedicated to the most famous artist from Minneapolis, much as been known and discussed about him. But is he truly the greatest living solo artist in American music? Madonna: Much as been said about Madonna and her music, her personality, and her amazing style, but despite her hundreds of millions of albums sold, many say that her actual music is mediocre at best, and that she is only as huge as she is because she came of age during the height of the MTV era. Mariah Carey: Some would question whether she should even be considered among the greatest living solo artists, but she has sold hundreds of millions of albums and with the release of "Touch My Body", became the solo artist with the most number one singles on the Billboard charts. So obviously a lot of people love her. So which one of these artists can truly be considered the greatest living solo artist in American music? Or is it someone else entirely different? Discuss. Im going with NONE of them, some of them are great performers, others Great Artists and Musicians, but for its JOHN MELLENCAMP because he has embraced all forms of music and made them work for him, not just used them for commercial appeal as Prince,Madonna and Mariah have done MANY times and still do to this day. The reason im going with John is that he is dismissed as a cross between Dylan and Springsteen, where the truth is, neither of them have ever been in so many forums of music. Mellencamp embrace of RB from day one, his blues influence, the obvious Folk and Rock edge he has, plus he has had dance prodcuers work with him on albums, and also was the first to work with artists that gained great respect in RB, like India Arie, Meshell and Heather Headley all appeare with John when no one else thought they were cool. So to me its John because of all of these elements, also the fact that since 1985's Scarecrow record, John has been the best album artist out there, and along with REM, saved the 90's for me from being a wash out decade, and his "go fuck yourself attitude" is always a plus, his abiltiy to not be afraid of being un-popular with people, and his general love of music from its roots. "We went where our music was appreciated, and that was everywhere but the USA, we knew we had fans, but there is only so much of the world you can play at once" Magne F | |
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I still don't understand how Paul McCartney is American. | |
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