Lately I've begun to change how I appreciate my music and perceive artists as a whole. Whenever someone asks me now who some of my favorite artists are, more & more I tend to ignore that question and just name some of my favorite albums or songs. I don't think I can say I have favorite artists anymore, I still have some artists who's work I enjoy more than others but I no longer feel the need to identify my tastes based on the work of someone, as I think that this brings about an uneccessary critique of your tastes by others based on their issues with the artists you like. I think this stems from our culture that promotes this belief that fans and artist have a personal, symbiotic relationship and are emotionally invested in the growth and development of that artists career. Forgive me, but I am beginning to think this is a lovely but unrealistic idea.

Artist since maybe Mozart's time have had patron's, fans, sycophants etc. and for what? because of the talent and ability that they possess, but excusing this one area they're proficient in they are still humans and still unworthy of deification or emotional investment, especially when they have no personal relationship with you or effect your life as people may believe. People tend to wrongfully equate the artist, with helping them gain courage on the dancefloor, or get in a ladies pants, or sympathize/empathize with them in a distressing time but it was actually just the MUSIC, not the artist. I may have turned into a cynicist but I wholeheartedly believe they are the producers and we are the consumers, that is our sole relationship with them. That is the sole relationship I have with a Stevie Wonder. And that is why I cannot bring myself to say I"m a fan of any artist. I've never slummed it out with my friends in a van hopping from concert to concert on someones tour. I don't have t-shirts of Bob Marley or Jimi Hendrix. I don't get that lovely feeling inside when I find someones who's eyes light up the way mine does when I say the name of a band I like. And I think I"m better for it.

I love some prince songs and albums, but I don't love Prince, and in turn I think that is why I don't care if he's produced dissappointing work for years and years. I don't care if Stevie Wonder isn't prolific anymore, or what Jimi might've done had he not died or whatever. Being attached to an artists career means eventually in some respect they will disappoint you no? but being attached to certain pieces of music can NEVER disappoint. The feelin you got from it 10 years ago can be the same feeling conjured up once again on a late night. let's say even you don't get that feeling anymore about a particular song, that's still alright because at one point that song was enjoyable to you and you have other songs you enjoy. you no longer waste time in your life pointlessly debating why your favorite artists shits on their closest competitor(Beatles v Rolling Stones anyone?) or why have faith their next project will prove the doubters wrong.

In essence what I'm getting at isn't more practical to solely appreciate the music and not get engendered to the artist, wasting your valuable energy, money, emotions and time on often unfit people?

This is a very good thread.

For me, it has always been about the MUSIC and not the artist. Music is a necessary and vital part of my life and sense of well-being. But I am not personally attached to any of the artists whose music I admire and play over and over again. Their lives are an abstract to me, remotely removed as fiction is. But I will happily pay certain artists money to see and hear them perform live because that brings the music alive in a way that no recording can. Other than that, the news that filters through on this website and others about their lives is only a passing curiosity. I don't think people should become overly invested in musical artists personal lives...

I agree that if you get caught up in the "person" putting them on a pedestal, it will most definitely lead to dissapointment.

However, if you look at them as artists, I think that being a fan or a patron can be very rewarding. Today, the industry is changed and the labels don't really seem to be interested in cultivating artistry, only single hits and money.

I feel that the old way was better. Artists could develop as beings, in their craft and it was rewarding to see that evolution... and get some good music from it. Now everything is just frivolous and mainstream as a result.

To me being a "fan" is almost like the voting process. You back the person that you have the most faith in to deliver. It isn't just about one song, regardless of how you feel about the others. It's about their entire body of work. And how if they didn't have any fan's or backers, perhaps a gem that you love so much, would've never been created.

And I certainly don't think that any artist is worth fighting over. If other people don't get it then, whatever. Not everyone is in the same place at the same time. Some people never get to that place. All I'm saying is that not everyones journey is the same. And if an artist speaks to you, then that's all that matters and you should support them if you want them to have or gain longevity.

I did that with MJ and Janet Jackson... when i was in highschool.... I can honestly say i Like about 90% of janet jackson's songs... so that is why i consider myself a fan.... and i think she has a cute and humble personality like Michael Jackson... I pretty much like artist who are like them... I believe music taste can reflect who you are as a person... where you are at in your life....

I noticed the types of people who listen to beyonce, kanye west and rihanna are pretty much similar and think and agree on many things... were as michael jackson fans are very unique individuals.. and seem to be nicer than ANY GROUP of celebrity fans...

ANYWAYS.... music is NOT that serious..... its just a distraction from whats really going on in Life, Society and this world..... I enjoy it... but its NOT my life...

godyssey said:

I agree that if you get caught up in the "person" putting them on a pedestal, it will most definitely lead to dissapointment.

However, if you look at them as artists, I think that being a fan or a patron can be very rewarding. Today, the industry is changed and the labels don't really seem to be interested in cultivating artistry, only single hits and money.

I feel that the old way was better. Artists could develop as beings, in their craft and it was rewarding to see that evolution... and get some good music from it. Now everything is just frivolous and mainstream as a result.

To me being a "fan" is almost like the voting process. You back the person that you have the most faith in to deliver. It isn't just about one song, regardless of how you feel about the others. It's about their entire body of work. And how if they didn't have any fan's or backers, perhaps a gem that you love so much, would've never been created.

And I certainly don't think that any artist is worth fighting over. If other people don't get it then, whatever. Not everyone is in the same place at the same time. Some people never get to that place. All I'm saying is that not everyones journey is the same. And if an artist speaks to you, then that's all that matters and you should support them if you want them to have or gain longevity.

My sentiments exactly,,,word for word.

godyssey said:

I agree that if you get caught up in the "person" putting them on a pedestal, it will most definitely lead to dissapointment.

However, if you look at them as artists, I think that being a fan or a patron can be very rewarding. Today, the industry is changed and the labels don't really seem to be interested in cultivating artistry, only single hits and money.

I feel that the old way was better. Artists could develop as beings, in their craft and it was rewarding to see that evolution... and get some good music from it. Now everything is just frivolous and mainstream as a result.

To me being a "fan" is almost like the voting process. You back the person that you have the most faith in to deliver. It isn't just about one song, regardless of how you feel about the others. It's about their entire body of work. And how if they didn't have any fan's or backers, perhaps a gem that you love so much, would've never been created.

And I certainly don't think that any artist is worth fighting over. If other people don't get it then, whatever. Not everyone is in the same place at the same time. Some people never get to that place. All I'm saying is that not everyones journey is the same. And if an artist speaks to you, then that's all that matters and you should support them if you want them to have or gain longevity.

Oh man, do I wish I'm like you.

I used to be like that. I only listen to SONGS. I don't really care about the singer and like you said I have no personal attachment to them. I do agree that it so so so much easier being like that. Enjoy the music and move on with your life.

Then, I hit my early to mid teen years and that's when my obsession with some musicians started. Maybe as I grow older, I can be more mature about it and become more stable. LOLS!

I think that when you enter the relationship as a fan you should be prepared for some of your favourites to disappoint you or make some mistakes in life because they are HUMAN. I think that is the biggest mistake some people make about their idols. You shouldn't look at them as flawless human beings.

godyssey said: Today, the industry is changed and the labels don't really seem to be interested in cultivating artistry, only single hits and money.

I feel that the old way was better. Artists could develop as beings, in their craft and it was rewarding to see that evolution... and get some good music from it. Now everything is just frivolous and mainstream as a result.

Hitseeking has always been in the buisiness though. I've read and heard some interviews of artists who were scoring a hit or more around the 70's or 80's,

and it happened that their label tried to push them in a direction to record another similar-sounding hit, while some artists themselves weren't that enthousiastic

to keep on going the same route again, but rather wanted to explore new directions.

TotalAlisa said:

were as michael jackson fans are very unique individuals.. and seem to be nicer than ANY GROUP of celebrity fans...

I don't know about that. You must have never been to MJJC.

Shango said:

godyssey said: Today, the industry is changed and the labels don't really seem to be interested in cultivating artistry, only single hits and money.

I feel that the old way was better. Artists could develop as beings, in their craft and it was rewarding to see that evolution... and get some good music from it. Now everything is just frivolous and mainstream as a result.

Hitseeking has always been in the buisiness though. I've read and heard some interviews of artists who were scoring a hit or more around the 70's or 80's,

and it happened that their label tried to push them in a direction to record another similar-sounding hit, while some artists themselves weren't that enthousiastic

to keep on going the same route again, but rather wanted to explore new directions.

I think there's more emphasis on it today than back then though. Labels have always been money hungry but they had the smarts that there's a market for EVERYTHING, unlike now where middle America's kids are the sole and most desired consumers, hence why everybody who wanted to stick around more jumped ship and joined the indie scene when they refused to be produced by the same 2-3 producers(I mean beat makers).

Fan is such a general term, not to sound like Prince but (although he wasnt the first to say it) being fanatical about something isnt a positive. Basically depending on what your view of music is, im hugely into artists more, but from era, todays era there isnt much beyond the image, for the most part, so today if u are into say Rihanna, you are not really into the music, but the image, and all the other crap that goes along with it.

For me im not going to even list the amount of artists that im always there for, and there are about 5 that are my all timers and cant be touched, but i dont go on this "pedastal" thing, however, i will stick up for them when someone who has no clue or knows the singles or one album, will toss around their knowledge like they know what they are talking about. But as i said before people who have someones whole catalog are the ones i want to hear OPINIONS from, im not going to ask someone "hey what do you think of the new Ryan Adams cd" from someone who hates him and has never his music, i want to hear from someone who knows and owns the catalog.

But as far as disappointment, i think you are let down when u COMPARE and sorry but this forum is filled with that shit, we all compare Prince of 80's to Prince of today, really? just think how insane that is to do, we compare everything to yesterday, would we like to be judged on what we were back then to now? i mean thats where the let down is, when you start thinking you cannot re-create a time and a feeling when u cant.

purplethunder3121 said:

For me, it has always been about the MUSIC and not the artist. Music is a necessary and vital part of my life and sense of well-being. But I am not personally attached to any of the artists whose music I admire and play over and over again. Their lives are an abstract to me, remotely removed as fiction is. But I will happily pay certain artists money to see and hear them perform live because that brings the music alive in a way that no recording can. Other than that, the news that filters through on this website and others about their lives is only a passing curiosity. I don't think people should become overly invested in musical artists personal lives...

Yes i agree. Its the music they make not the artist. I don't care about his/her personal life.