I noticed almost all of my favorite artist also write/wrote and produced their own material.

I never really thought about it. I guess the question is, does it really matter?

I think that it does.

What do u think?

Some of my favs:

Prince

Mint Condition

P-Funk

Bootsy

Ohio Players

James Brown

The Dazz band

Frank McComb

It makes no difference to me. One of my favorites is Johnnie Taylor, who wrote very little. I don't really pay much attention to lyrics, so I don't get the thinking that songs that are supposed to have some sort of personal meaning to the performer are more relevant than fun or silly songs. I also like 60's Motown & Stax and 70's Philadelphia International, which was mostly staff writers & producers. In a lot of cases R&B, funk, rock, and pop groups weren't self produced although they might have written their own songs. Even The Beatles were produced by George Martin.

MickyDolenz said:

It makes no difference to me.

I was listening 2 the new Jenifer Hudson & Chris Brown cd's today.

They both are all over the place and there is nothing distintive about either one.

2 many hands in the creation of a project just sounds generic when it is all said and done.

Prince

Maxwell

El Debarge

TTD

Usher

Aretha

Smokey

R. Kelly

Rappers-Tupac, Cube, Wiz Khalifa Big Sean

and yes I like Chris Brown

RFTW

and the list goes on

Graycap23 said:

MickyDolenz said:

It makes no difference to me.

I was listening 2 the new Jenifer Hudson & Chris Brown cd's today.

They both are all over the place and there is nothing distintive about either one.

2 many hands in the creation of a project just sounds generic when it is all said and done.

I don't listen to modern R&B (or any modern style music for that matter), so I don't know anything about them. I've never heard a Chris Brown song at all. I'll listen to someone like Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings or Raul Midon though.

Just as there is some great material from those who have managed to create a big portion of it by themselves, there's also a lot of shitty material as well. Same goes for those who do not and rely on the talents of others. I don't have many favorite artists so I don't really care as it does nothing for me personally. If I like it, then I like it. If I don't, then I don't.

Though the one thing that kind of annoys me about some people who do a lot of things themselves is that their stuff tends to not to be able to move itself forward. It stays in one place. I mean...the material does grow and become stronger, but it's as if they get comfortable with where they are. it could be just the ones that I have heard and that may not be true for a lot them of them out there.

My two alltime favorites, Prince and Rick James, just happened to produce and write for themselves. My other favorites are bands such as The Barkays, Lakeside, Con Funk Shun, Cameo, etc. where the band members do everything themselves as a group.

But it doesn't matter to me though, especially when it comes to female artists because with the exception of folks like Patrice Rushen or Klymaxx, a lot of times when a female artist says...."I did more on this album myself".....it usually turns out being a weaker album with less fast jams than when the men are pulling the strings for them.

As I review my favorites, it seems almost all seem to do mostly their own writing, but not nearly as often their own production or instrumental playing.

It doesn't much matter to me so long as the ultimate work is inspired. I think artistry has as much to do with honing the vision and resourcefulness it takes to realize a great idea (which includes effective collaboration) as solo technical prowess.

[Edited 3/23/11 15:15pm]

Lammastide said:

It doesn't much matter to me so long as the ultimate work is inspired.

Agreed.

Curtis/Sly/Jimi/Marvin/George/Gil

It don't matter.

I tend to follow that too...Prince, Rick James, Teena Marie, Tori Amos, George Michael, Boy George...I love people that produce their own voice and production...

benjaminira said:

I tend to follow that too...Prince, Rick James, Teena Marie, Tori Amos, George Michael, Boy George...I love people that produce their own voice and production...

Teena fo'shizzle! Not to mention Angela Winbush at a close 2nd. She also wrote, arranged, produced and performed herself. No one really gives her any props though like Lady Tee.

Graycap23 said:

MickyDolenz said:

It makes no difference to me.

I was listening 2 the new Jenifer Hudson & Chris Brown cd's today.

They both are all over the place and there is nothing distintive about either one.

2 many hands in the creation of a project just sounds generic when it is all said and done.

"People think you just show up, open your mouth, and sing - it's just not that simple, it's more involved than that." Diana Ross

I love that quote by Ms. Ross because it's so true.

Smokey Robinson said, 'Ms. Ross was the hardest working artist at Motown, the first to arrive and the last to leave'. I suspect Ms. Ross knew in the scheme of things there were singers who were more gifted than she. So, she went about the work of learning everything and anything about how music was written, arranged, produced, engineered, mixed, and mastered. In turn this gave Ms. Ross a better understanding of what her strengths were, what material she should select, what producers she should work with, and who among the supporting cast could serve her best in terms of singing, recordings, and song selection.

Do you have to know how to play an instrument, be a songwriter, or a producer to possess musicianship? I'd think not. ... I say that slowly. That's part of the problem, artist like Mr. Brown and Ms. Hudson I think, lack depth. Not only do they lack depth of their craft, but the supporting cast that surrounds them the writers, producers, arrangers are also lacking. Besides, there's nothing surrounding them to make them work, push hard to create a sound of their own.

So, we are left with artist who are very comfortable with gimmicks, formulas, and tricks, I'm sure they wouldn't see it this way.

I said all of that to say this. . .

No, for me it doesn't matter if an artist or singer writes and/or produces his or hers own music. The majority of songwriter/producers can sing either, that's why Quincy Jones had others sing his songs. . . . own on his albums.

=============================================================

[Edited 3/23/11 18:23pm]

TD3 said:

Graycap23 said:

I was listening 2 the new Jenifer Hudson & Chris Brown cd's today.

They both are all over the place and there is nothing distintive about either one.

2 many hands in the creation of a project just sounds generic when it is all said and done.

"People think you just show up, open your mouth, and sing - it's just not that simple, it's more involved than that." Diana Ross

I love that quote by Ms. Ross because it's so true.

Smokey Robinson said, 'Ms. Ross was the hardest working artist at Motown, the first to arrive and the last to leave'. I suspect Ms. Ross knew in the scheme of things there were singers who were more gifted than she. So, she went about the work of learning everything and anything about how music was written, arranged, produced, engineered, mixed, and mastered. In turn this gave Ms. Ross a better understanding of what her strengths were, what material she should select, what producers she should work with, and who among the supporting cast could serve her best in terms of singing, recordings, and song selection.

Do you have to know how to play an instrument, be a songwriter, or a producer to possess musicianship? I'd think not. ... I say that slowly. That's part of the problem, artist like Mr. Brown and Ms. Hudson I think, lack depth. Not only do they lack depth of their craft, but the supporting cast that surrounds them the writers, producers, arrangers are also lacking. Besides, there's nothing surrounding them to make them work, push hard to create a sound of their own.

So, we are left with artist who are very comfortable with gimmicks, formulas, and tricks, I'm sure they wouldn't see it this way.

I said all of that to say this. . .

No for me it doesn't matter if the artist or singer writes and/or produces his or hers own music. The majority of songwriter/producers can sing either, that's why Quincy Jones had others sing his songs. . . . own his albums.

MickyDolenz said:

Graycap23 said:

I was listening 2 the new Jenifer Hudson & Chris Brown cd's today.

They both are all over the place and there is nothing distintive about either one.

2 many hands in the creation of a project just sounds generic when it is all said and done.

I don't listen to modern R&B (or any modern style music for that matter), so I don't know anything about them. I've never heard a Chris Brown song at all. I'll listen to someone like Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings or Raul Midon though.

I'M WITH YOU, MICKY... I'M NOT FAMILIAR WITH MOST MODERN MUSIC, BUT I LOVE RAUL MIDON AND SHARON JONES. THEY'VE BEEN AROUND FOR YEARS THOUGH, SO I GUESS IT'S NOT EXACTLY 'MODERN'.

TD3 said:

"People think you just show up, open your mouth, and sing - it's just not that simple, it's more involved than that." Diana Ross

I love that quote by Ms. Ross because it's so true.

Smokey Robinson said, 'Ms. Ross was the hardest working artist at Motown, the first to arrive and the last to leave'. I suspect Ms. Ross knew in the scheme of things there were singers who were more gifted than she. So, she went about the work of learning everything and anything about how music was written, arranged, produced, engineered, mixed, and mastered. In turn this gave Ms. Ross a better understanding of what her strengths were, what material she should select, what producers she should work with, and who among the supporting cast could serve her best in terms of singing, recordings, and song selection.

Do you have to know how to play an instrument, be a songwriter, or a producer to possess musicianship? I'd think not. ... I say that slowly. That's part of the problem, artist like Mr. Brown and Ms. Hudson I think, lack depth. Not only do they lack depth of their craft, but the supporting cast that surrounds them the writers, producers, arrangers are also lacking. Besides, there's nothing surrounding them to make them work, push hard to create a sound of their own.

So, we are left with artist who are very comfortable with gimmicks, formulas, and tricks, I'm sure they wouldn't see it this way.

I said all of that to say this. . .

No, for me it doesn't matter if an artist or singer writes and/or produces his or hers own music. The majority of songwriter/producers can sing either, that's why Quincy Jones had others sing his songs. . . . own on his albums.

i agree with everything you've said, ESPECIALLY the highlighted part... quincy jones couldn't sing a lick!

[Edited 3/23/11 19:39pm]

TD3 said:

No, for me it doesn't matter if an artist or singer writes and/or produces his or hers own music. The majority of songwriter/producers can sing either, that's why Quincy Jones had others sing his songs. . . . own on his albums.

This is a good statement. I think it's great to want to expand, but I think it's just as important to realize your own strengths and weaknesses as well.

It matters quite a lot, but there are exceptions to the rule.

I quite like the old-fashioned approach to music where everyone has been assigned a different role during the production of an album.

With many smaller genres of music the material is always written / composed by the artists themselves, because they couldn't afford paying for someone else to write them material anyway.

MJJstudent said:

TD3 said:

"People think you just show up, open your mouth, and sing - it's just not that simple, it's more involved than that." Diana Ross

I love that quote by Ms. Ross because it's so true.

Smokey Robinson said, 'Ms. Ross was the hardest working artist at Motown, the first to arrive and the last to leave'. I suspect Ms. Ross knew in the scheme of things there were singers who were more gifted than she. So, she went about the work of learning everything and anything about how music was written, arranged, produced, engineered, mixed, and mastered. In turn this gave Ms. Ross a better understanding of what her strengths were, what material she should select, what producers she should work with, and who among the supporting cast could serve her best in terms of singing, recordings, and song selection.

Do you have to know how to play an instrument, be a songwriter, or a producer to possess musicianship? I'd think not. ... I say that slowly. That's part of the problem, artist like Mr. Brown and Ms. Hudson I think, lack depth. Not only do they lack depth of their craft, but the supporting cast that surrounds them the writers, producers, arrangers are also lacking. Besides, there's nothing surrounding them to make them work, push hard to create a sound of their own.

So, we are left with artist who are very comfortable with gimmicks, formulas, and tricks, I'm sure they wouldn't see it this way.

I said all of that to say this. . .

No, for me it doesn't matter if an artist or singer writes and/or produces his or hers own music. The majority of songwriter/producers can sing either, that's why Quincy Jones had others sing his songs. . . . own on his albums.

i agree with everything you've said, ESPECIALLY the highlighted part... quincy jones couldn't sing a lick!

[Edited 3/23/11 19:39pm]

Yeah he also had limitations as a writer though he was a great composer when he did have his own stuff, mainly the instrumentals of some of his 1970s albums. Mainly in the '80s, Rod Temperton and James Ingram and MJ and Ashford & Simpson were his lyrical finishers to songs he would create but had a problem finishing.

It depends on what type of self-producing/writing artist that anyone goes for. Not everybody who can write and produce their own music all sound great. Some people are better off interpreting than writing their own songs. And even then they can get creative with the songs they're giving. So it depends.

Graycap23 said:

I noticed almost all of my favorite artist also write/wrote and produced their own material.

I never really thought about it. I guess the question is, does it really matter?

never thought about it really either, so yeah... I guess it does not matter that much to me then

though there is a certain pattern for most top-faves of mine

Prince

Earth Wind & Fire

Stevie Wonder

James Brown

Marvin Gaye

P-Funk

Bobby Womack

Steely Dan / Donald Fagen

Zapp & Roger

Maze...

[Edited 3/24/11 1:23am]

It doesn't matter to me. But I do prefer artists that are hands on when it comes to their work. It must be inspired, not some cookie cutter shit that other hired producers/writers came up with while they were away.

It matters depending on the artist.

Some artist are better off producing their own thing without an outsider's interference. Others are better off standing behind the mic or an instrument while somebody else supervise the whole thing.

Its all about the outcome, I'll worry about the process later.

Timmy84 said:

MJJstudent said:

i agree with everything you've said, ESPECIALLY the highlighted part... quincy jones couldn't sing a lick!

[Edited 3/23/11 19:39pm]

Yeah he also had limitations as a writer though he was a great composer when he did have his own stuff, mainly the instrumentals of some of his 1970s albums. Mainly in the '80s, Rod Temperton and James Ingram and MJ and Ashford & Simpson were his lyrical finishers to songs he would create but had a problem finishing.

It depends on what type of self-producing/writing artist that anyone goes for. Not everybody who can write and produce their own music all sound great. Some people are better off interpreting than writing their own songs. And even then they can get creative with the songs they're giving. So it depends.

Yep, as Mickey said the majority of Motown, Stax, Philadelphia International artist DIDN"T write, produce nor arrange their music. You have upteem composers from the "Great American Songbook" who couldn't sing a lick.... with the exception of Hoagy Carmichael.

That's why Duke Ellington loved Ella Fitzgerald so much. He said, "Singers of her caliber, my songs are mere outlines, she fills in what needs to be sung, its as if she helped write the song."

Timmy84 said:

It don't matter.

It has 2 impact the final product. Would Prince be Prince if Mauraice White had started out producing him?

Graycap23 said:

Timmy84 said:

It don't matter.

It has 2 impact the final product. Would Prince be Prince if Mauraice White had started out producing him?

But that's just it Gray. Some people are meant to write and produce on their own and some others, not so much.

Timmy84 said:

Graycap23 said:

It has 2 impact the final product. Would Prince be Prince if Mauraice White had started out producing him?

But that's just it Gray. Some people are meant to write and produce on their own and some others, not so much.

EXACTLY!

It shouldn't be this one-deminsional, everybody have their own different limits.

Timmy84 said:

Graycap23 said:

It has 2 impact the final product. Would Prince be Prince if Mauraice White had started out producing him?

But that's just it Gray. Some people are meant to write and produce on their own and some others, not so much.

No doubt about that.

All my favorites, usually write their own work, or if not, their best work is the self-written stuff.

That's actually what I prefer, too; I swear it's like the music is better and they give a better performance and it's more 'real' when it's something they've written themselves.

Graycap23 said:

Timmy84 said:

It don't matter.

It has 2 impact the final product. Would Prince be Prince if Maurice White had started out producing him?

Bono said that Prince should use an outside producer sometimes because he needs an editor.