Happened to run across that Lovely Day Gap commercial on youtube and I have been listening to him nonstop for a few days now. Thoughts?

No, Mr. Wither is an exceptionally gifted singer and songwriter. Again, the words genius, diva, and legend have been abused and misused.

I agree with the above poster about him being a great songwriter and he has an exceptional talent to convey so much emotion with his voice.

TD3 said:

No, Mr. Wither is an exceptionally gifted singer and songwriter. Again, the words genius, diva, and legend have been abused and misused.

I would consider him, to be a musical genius. Why? Because, unlike some who have over stayed their welcome, he had enough sense to get out.

That's a smart man, not a musical genius.

Bill Withers songs are very simple... but GREAT!

i think his writing is fantatsic... i wouldn't say genius.

But as a writer he is a 10/10

TD3 said:

No, Mr. Wither is an exceptionally gifted singer and songwriter. Again, the words genius, diva, and legend have been abused and misused.

Timmy84 said:

That's a smart man, not a musical genius.

Considering most won't take his lead and continue to stay in, makes him a genius....

shorttrini said:

Timmy84 said:

That's a smart man, not a musical genius.

Considering most won't take his lead and continue to stay in, makes him a genius....

Not even close.

Great artist! I wouldnt call him a musical genius though. Now what could be argued is whether or not he is a legend or not.

Not sure of a genius, I would consider him a R&B Legend.

LittleBLUECorvette said:

Not sure of a genius, I would consider him a R&B Legend.

And that's good enough. "Lean on Me", "Use Me", "Who Is She", "Lovely Day", "Just the Two of Us"? Yeah. lol

I think R&B legend is a more fitting title

Timmy84 said:

LittleBLUECorvette said:

Not sure of a genius, I would consider him a R&B Legend.

And that's good enough. "Lean on Me", "Use Me", "Who Is She", "Lovely Day", "Just the Two of Us"? Yeah. lol

But really, what is a genius? Is Bobby Womack a genius?

LittleBLUECorvette said:

Timmy84 said:

And that's good enough. "Lean on Me", "Use Me", "Who Is She", "Lovely Day", "Just the Two of Us"? Yeah. lol

But really, what is a genius? Is Bobby Womack a genius?

Hmm... I don't think I would consider Womack a genius. Just a talented and gifted singer-songwriter.

He isn't, but D'angelo is?......ooookkkkaaaaay

HuMpThAnG said:

He isn't, but D'angelo is?......ooookkkkaaaaay

[Edited 12/2/12 22:05pm]

I consider him a great songwriter

Definitely one of my favourite voices - so effortless.

This word 'genius' is the problem here, I think. It seems easier to apply to someone who's a pioneer of a new style or sound, or a new way of making music, or at least someone who's an all-rounder. But lots of the greats don't fall into that category; they just do something very, very well. That's where I'd put Bill. He's one of the most thoughtful, honest songwriters in that whole genre of music - 'up there' with Gil Scott-Heron or Curtis Mayfield - as well as being a soulful vocalist, and his classic albums have a great 'sound' and solid musicianship. So, for me, he certainly deserves to be ranked amongst the greats of Black music, and popular music as a whole. It's just that that 'genius' tag seems like the wrong one to hang on him.

There has ONLY been 1 musical genius in the last 2 centuries.

I'll give u 1 guess 2 what his name is.

Graycap23 said:

There has ONLY been 1 musical genius in the last 2 centuries.

I'll give u 1 guess 2 what his name is.

well it damn sure ain't PRINCE!

how do you define genius? Anyone who listens to his first 2 albums surely must recognise that he, IMHO is a true genius. Some of those songs are simply untouchable.

to my ears,he is a genuis.I love his music I bought myself the box set that contains all of his albums...my Christmas present to myself,lol.

It's a shame that we don't have artists like Bill Withers,these days.

funkyhead said:

Graycap23 said:

There has ONLY been 1 musical genius in the last 2 centuries.

I'll give u 1 guess 2 what his name is.

well it damn sure ain't PRINCE!

OUCH!!!

funkyhead said:

Graycap23 said:

There has ONLY been 1 musical genius in the last 2 centuries.

I'll give u 1 guess 2 what his name is.

well it damn sure ain't PRINCE!

No.

Great vocalist and songwriter but that word "musical genius" gets thrown around too much these days.

funkyhead said:

Graycap23 said:

There has ONLY been 1 musical genius in the last 2 centuries.

I'll give u 1 guess 2 what his name is.

well it damn sure ain't PRINCE!

[img:$uid]http://gifrific.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/lakers-reaction-kobe.gif[/img:$uid]