L4OATheOriginal said:

Guess what? A singer's voice is as much an instrument as the guitar that's playing the song she's singing to - in both cases, the person playing (a singer plays their voice) has to be good. There's plenty of bad guitarists and keyboardists. And then there's people who play the computer and make music.

eaglebear4839 said:

was this not covered or r u the only BLIND eagle on earth?
[Edited 3/15/09 22:34pm]

this is the dumbest thing i have ever heard. but frankly seeing that its coming from you, this is no big surprise.

It’s not just about being able to play an instrument, it’s about building your music cognition and knowledge of theory, building technique, understanding rhythm, counting, movement, the ability to sightread - not what is on the page at that one time that you're playing but planning ahead and having the mental capacity needed to look at notes three or four or fives times ahead of you - that takes years to master and understand and shitload of practice. if you have never been apart of an orchestra you don't fully understand how complex that can be. It’s about training your brain and all your motor skills to work together cohesively. It’s about using your muscles in your brain and in your eyes.

now ive been playing the violin for more than over a decade and i am constantly learning. IMO the violin is the most hardest instrument to learn, not only because of its technique but its demanding also of your time and energy. its with you for a lifetime. you can't be half-assed in your approach when learning an instrument like this or frankly any instrument. once you get that "aha" moment you'll understand what i mean. and its the closest thing, literally to the voice. Plus its not cheap. Now I am also having voice lessons and that is an entirely different beast but the same things apply and help coordinate everything. you're often expected to sing during your violin exams to demonstrate you understand rhythm and pitch. im pretty sure that is standard in piano and guitar and a range of others also.

Now don’t get me even started on maintenance. Maintaining your instrument is another issue altogether that is sorely missed.
[Edited 3/16/09 1:53am]
[Edited 3/16/09 1:56am]

I agree that the whole "real music by real musicians" tag is elitist and limiting. I'll enjoy my Velvet Underground and my Kylie Minogue, thank you!

The fact of the matter is that the performance and delivery is what is important. If all the mattered was technique, we'd all be pining away for Whitney circa 1992 to be backed by a virtuoso prog band from the 70s. People swear that all of those Idol puppets have great voices, but none of their performances ever move me to do anything but change the channel. Now someone like Grace Jones, however, would never make it in such a format and she probably can't play any instruments (correct me if I'm wrong), but her performance, delivery and stage presence and so mesmerizing that I can't help but love her.

L4OATheOriginal said:

L4OATheOriginal said:

lmfao


[Edited 3/16/09 1:35am]

L4OATheOriginal said:

Close...he's an MJ fanatic.

He posted in the MJ threads something to this affect; 'Just because Prince plays an instrument doesn't mean he's more talented...MJ better dancer, so he wins...blahblahblah'.

eaglebear4839 said:

no one is doubting that singing is important and adds value 2 a song, however, playing a instrument takes as much skill as singing. i'd rather pay my money on seeing great talents like meshelle ndegeocello than seeing someone like britney spears

Serena said:

i figured that much but i didn't want 2 give more unneccesary attention 2 the pedophile

Just to say that no instrument no matter how well played comes close to the emotional power that a truly great voice has.

Classical music has a few "geniuses" who couldn't play a lick at all {Wagner and Berlioz come to mind} but I don't really care if an artist can play an instrument or not. I only care about performance/delivery, originality, authenticity and whether or not the composition is sound.

Also, I'm one of those guys who believes that innate talent is slightly over-rated. Hard work, practice, discipline - words that most artists shudder at - is slightly more important than natural talent, in my opinion.

Hmm. Well you are apparently a poster of this forum of Prince, who happens to play instruments, so I am confused about the thread. You are a fan of someone whose career largely consists of playing instruments, yet you downplay its significance. As a musician, I will excuse the ignorance and just say that (not downplaying singers), it is a beautiful thing to play and sing. Talent comes in many different forms. Expand your horizons.

MPLSBRAT said:

Sweet! Love this!

toots said:

Thanks 4 the laugh.....

cdcgold said:

Speaking for myself.....

I need to see AND hear for myself that the music that I listen to on CD/vinyl/cassette/mp3 can be played on the live stage. If an artist and his/her live band can make it works on the live stage (without notebook computers, mind you!!!), then I would know for a fact that THIS artist is just as real as he/she was in the studio.

As for singing, I need to see AND hear a vocalist sing on the live stage with his/her real voice so that I know for a fact that he/she is THE same vocalist that I heard on the album.

Timmy84 said:

I definitely feel the soul when I listen to Teena Marie live.

BlaqueKnight said:

Unless we're talking about heavy metal, THAT'S no excuse.

Instruments mean nothing to dull people who just like to sit and listen to a voice singing something boring like old fogies just sit and listen to an opera. However, instruments such as drums and bass mean a hell of a lot if you are a cool person full of rhythm that likes to party and have a good time. Instruments make the asses shake, not voices.

cdcgold said:

Spoken like a true Michael Jackson die-hard .

To me, I think I appreciate an accomlished insturmentalist to an "accomplished" vocalist because there are many who "can sing" but they have been aided in the studio.

I am going to get stones for this, but Sade had a nice smooth style, her music was off the hook, but her vocals were more of a stylist thant a true vocalist.
I heard her sing live on the Tonight show and again later on Staruday Night Live, her voice cracked, she would hit flat notes and her voice was weak like a hoarse whisper etc. It was so bad, that I thought she had laryngitis but the 2 performances were like 3 weeks apart... that was no laryngitis... that was her voice. She is not a great singer.

A singer can fake it, an instrumentalist really can not fake it.

That is why *I* appreciate instrumentalist better.

Also, I can sing and harmonize... my range is average, my voice is average or maybe a little better than average. If I think I can sing as well as the person on the radio... then believe me, he/she does not belong on the radio.

Janet Jackson, Brandy, BEyonce, Mary J, Faith, ... shall I go on?

A better thread topic would be 'What is the big deal about playing more than one instrument?' People make such a big deal out of it.

This is so dumb I don't know where 2 begin.
#1, if no one played instruments, there would be no MUSIC. Get it?
[Edited 3/16/09 10:23am]

Graycap23 said:

There is no reason whatsoever to take this thread seriously. That is probably one of the dumbest threads ever started on a board anywhere.Anyone with an IQ above 50 understands why playing instruments is essential to making music. This thread should be locked.

BlaqueKnight said:

Locked and deleted.

kenlacam said:

Well, from what I can gather, he's a kid who doesn't like Prince and since October, has only posted in the MJ threads. Why here instead of an actual MJ site, I don't know.

TD3 said:

Me, neither.

BlaqueKnight said:

BlaqueKnight said:

it lets you know how the music industry has fallen doesn't it?

this thread, started by an mj diehard, is absolutely embarrassing. AN INSULT. i don't know where to begin.

this is why i laugh at mj fans and all things related like, britney or a kylie.

i will go on and say something bold now and mj fans will cry. Since Bad, MJ has been KING of the one thing that brought down the music industry - commercialisation. Shameful
[Edited 3/16/09 12:00pm]