Elvis...or Michael?

[Tref]

It's like asking, which is better, Herman or the Hermits? One doesn't exist without the other.


(Pic related -- it's the Freddie)

[Kevy Baby]

Originally Posted by mousepod

MJ ... then he married Elvis' daughter.

Funny you bring that up today as it is the anniversary of their marriage.

[Disneyphile]

I find MJ to be a lot more inspiring than Elvis. Although, Elvis certainly has a kitschiness that seems to be on-goingly popular.

And, I'll confess... I can't stand the Beatles, except for "Ob La Di", and the Beatles "tribute" film, "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band".

[flippyshark]

Ultimately, time will tell, but Jackson gets props as an influential and innovative songwriter, which Elvis never tried to be.

[Alex]

I'm not a student of music history (obviously) but is it not true that Elvis may be at a handicap in the song writing arena in that he came to fame in an age where it was relatively uncommon for performers to regularly write their own stuff? One question I'd have is, to the extent he wasn't writing his own stuff how involved was he in selecting what he'd perform?

[flippyshark]

Pretty much so, Alex. Elvis came to prominence in a time much like our own, when pop talent was groomed for looks, style, marketability (though at least back then they really tried to find artists with their own unique sound, unlike the extruded and Auto-tuned acts that are so much with us at present.) The whole singer/songwriter thing came pretty quick on the heels of Elvis' glory days, and I sometimes get the impression he didn't have much use for those artsy-fartsy types. I have no idea how much input Elvis had on what material he wanted to perform, but given his massive success, I'm sure he had a pretty good say in it. It's a good enough question to make me want to read up on it.

[innerSpaceman]

Conversely, ever since The Beatles, I've had little respect for artists that don't write all or the vast majority of their own music. I respect vocalists as artists, but I don't accord them the same level of admiration or even legitimacy in the modern musical world as I do bands and artists that compose their own stuff.


Where does MJ fall on that scale?

[Alex]

Not that I'm necessarily disagreeing with that point of view, but I'm curious as to why it is.

Is De Niro less of an actor because he's only performing words written for him by someone else?

Conversely, would it have been better if Paul Anka has performed "She's a Lady" rather than Tom Jones or "My Way" instead of Frank Sinatra?

Again, I'm not arguing with the point (I don't have an opinion on much when it comes to music) but I'm find it interested where we draw the lines in preferring a total package versus super specialization (to go to sports is it better to have a fantastic starter good for 7 innings and a fantastic closer good for 2 (not that any pitch two any more) or one pitcher who'll always be out there for the full 9.

Then there's the question of respect versus entertainment. I may have more respect for the person who does a great job singing their own arrangements of their own songs while playing all four instruments needed. But I'll probably be better entertained if you get the best singer, the best songwriter and the best band together (well, I wouldn't, but I'm talking in hypotheticals).

[flippyshark]

The popular song format allows an individual artist to engage in a more personal form of expression than commercial cinema ever can, though not all musical performers wish to go this route. A singer/songwriter is also, in theory, likelier to be experimental, less conventional, and more engaged in the material since it came from him or her. But that's speaking in woefully broad terms. Most of my favorite musical artists write most of their own stuff, and for that reason I tend to feel, rightly or wrongly, more connected to such artists by listening to their work. If I see a great DeNiro performance, i don't come away feeling like i know him better. (it's way too late for me to elaborate or go into the numerous exceptions, though.) the theory of connecting the best writers with the best singers and the best band might yield something wonderful, of course (as it often does in theater) but it's less likely to seem personal.

[alphabassettgrrl]

I think for me the difference between actors (who don't write their own material) versus singers (who in my opinion ought to) is that I don't expect actors to do their own. I want singers to write the stuff they sing. If somebody else writes it, and I don't know it, I feel cheated and lied to.

And I really hate the tweaked and refined c*ap that populates the pop music field recently: anybody who's relatively cute and can wiggle on stage can be made popular and she can sound good with enough manipulation by the sound engineer. Britney Spears, Kelly Clarkson, and the Simpson sister are some that come to mind.