1 edit
Do you ever get the feeling that you seem to be missing out on something because you just "don't get it"?
I'm thinking primarily of music, but there are other examples such as sport (I don't "get" football, for instance).
Anyway, I was watching a programme where loads of music luminaries were going on about the Beach Boys and how Brian Wilson was a genius and "Pet Sounds" was an amazing album.
But, I've heard the Beach Boys and, well, it seems like nice enough pop music, but I don't see any genius. Is it a case of emperor's new clothes or am I missing something.
A similar thing happened when The Darkness got big. Okay, cheesy glam metal. What's the big deal? Sounded like a cross between Queen and Motley Crue to me but "the kids" went wild for it.
EDIT: Oops, should have posted in General.
Originally posted by VargI think most the genius claims stems from his amazing work with vocal harmonies. Good Vibrations is often referred to as having the most complex harmonies ever written in music.
Do you ever get the feeling that you seem to be missing out on something because you just "don't get it"?
I'm thinking primarily of music, but there are other examples such as sport (I don't "get" football, for instance).
Anyway, I was watching a programme where loads of music luminaries were going on about the Beach Boys and how Brian Wilson was a genius ...[text shortened]... me but "the kids" went wild for it.
EDIT: Oops, should have posted in General.
Originally posted by WheelyTo be quite honest I haven’t heard much of Bach's music so I cannot really comment on that. And I am sure there are many classical pieces which sound more beautiful in their harmony (Pachelbel's Canon in D etc).
You don't think Bach was pretty good at that kind of thing then?
But you have to admit that Good Vibrations has some very complex composition to it. To say it is THE most complex is pretty hard to back up by anyone. After all, music is very much judged upon ones individual taste.
With Brian Wilson its more to do with production techniques. Pet Sounds may sound quite average by today's standards but it was pretty groundbreaking at the time. Personally I don't like it much but I can appreciate why it is so lauded. After all, it was the album that inspired The Beatles to create Sgt Pepper.
Originally posted by VargI think you need to compare Beach boys to what was on the radio when it all came out. "Not Much". It was fun pop for the surfers and beach goers to 'rock' to. Music has come a long way. They were good, but I never much cared for it. I was more for Beatles and 'folk music' like Jim Croce and Carle Simon. I don't care for the beach boys, but I respect what they did. I don't need to like their music to know they were good, I just didn't like it and that doesn't bother me.
Do you ever get the feeling that you seem to be missing out on something because you just "don't get it"?
I'm thinking primarily of music, but there are other examples such as sport (I don't "get" football, for instance).
Anyway, I was watching a programme where loads of music luminaries were going on about the Beach Boys and how Brian Wilson was a genius ...[text shortened]... me but "the kids" went wild for it.
EDIT: Oops, should have posted in General.
As for the Darkness... again, compare to what it was going against. Teen pop, hip-hop... and this band 'The Darkness' came out with 70's style 'metal rock'. It was also parody. Funny stuff. I didn't realize they were 'big'. I thought they were 'one hit wonder'.
You can't force yourself to like something you don't. I don't feel bad that I don't enjoy 'boy and girl' bands and members who go solo and do their videos with dance squads. I don't like them, I don't want to like them, I'm glad I don't like them... but a majority of the population does like them.
Be glad you don't think like everyone else.
P-
Originally posted by Snowman606According to the Brian Wilson, "Pet Sounds" was inspired by The Beatles' "Revolver", so it goes around.
With Brian Wilson its more to do with production techniques. Pet Sounds may sound quite average by today's standards but it was pretty groundbreaking at the time. Personally I don't like it much but I can appreciate why it is so lauded. After all, it was the album that inspired The Beatles to create Sgt Pepper.
I see what your saying. There is merit in being the first to do something, but it ends up not being appreciated in the future.
Originally posted by PhlabibitThey were pretty big for a year or so.
As for the Darkness... again, compare to what it was going against. Teen pop, hip-hop... and this band 'The Darkness' came out with 70's style 'metal rock'. It was also parody. Funny stuff. I didn't realize they were 'big'. I thought they were 'one hit wonder'.
Played the big festivals and such.
Maybe it's because I remember the 70's "metal rock" the first time round that The Darkness didn't seem special.
Okay, it was parody, but some of the stuff from that time you can't parody:
No place for hidin baby
No place to run
You pull the trigger of my
Love gun, (love gun), love gun
Love gun, (love gun), love gun
Love gun, love gun
He's talking about his penis, isn't he?
Originally posted by EsotericThat's a gross overstatement. Sure they might be at the far end of complexity for popular modern music, but there are limitless composers in the classical world who could do what Wilson does with their eyes shut.
I think most the genius claims stems from his amazing work with vocal harmonies. Good Vibrations is often referred to as having the most complex harmonies ever written in music.
I think most people/magazines/programmes etc that make a claim about the 'genius' of someone are pretty much always looking at their circle of musical habit. Rarely (if ever) do they consider the scope of music on a world stage or indeed a temporal one.
Originally posted by VargHe's talking about his penis, isn't he?
They were pretty big for a year or so.
Played the big festivals and such.
Maybe it's because I remember the 70's "metal rock" the first time round that The Darkness didn't seem special.
Okay, it was parody, but some of the stuff from that time you can't parody:
No place for hidin baby
No place to run
You pull the trigger of my
Love gun, (love gun), l ...[text shortened]... n, (love gun), love gun
Love gun, love gun
He's talking about his penis, isn't he?
His, or his lover's.
1 edit
Originally posted by Starrmanhas anyone else noticed that any american program focusing on an artist is a full on 'myth-commercial'? they always drag the family and friends into a 'respectable' setting, to pat the 'great genius' on the back. there's just not a critical second in these programs, no end to the appalling stream of appraisals, -no matter how mediocre the artist they're focusing on. it's just embarrassing to watch.
I think most people/magazines/programmes etc that make a claim about the 'genius' of someone are pretty much always looking at their circle of musical habit. Rarely (if ever) do they consider the scope of music on a world stage or indeed a temporal one.
beach boys were okay, but there wasn't anything spectacular in their music. most of it was mediocre surf-pop riding on a trend, with a couple of evergreen hits sprinkled here and there. now beatles for instance, was completely different. although I don't really like them, the amount and versatility of mccartney's musical brilliancy is just staggering.
maybe that's the essence on greatness? you may not really like something, but you still have to admit it's value? sort of like passing a falsification test of some kind.
football, like any other game, needs some education on it before it starts to interest you. otherwise it'll be just a bunch of anonymous men jogging around chasing a ball, seemingly with no idea what they're doing. but the more you watch it, the more it starts to interest you, the more tactical (and positional!) strategy you see on the field. you suddenly find yourself having strong opinions on individual players, like some, hate some. it just grows into a passion about the game. -then there's also the social aspect, usually bunch of men having some beers, watching football, having fun. far away from the everyday life. it's some kind of escapism, I think.
oh, and elvis! what a bunch of overrated crap! there was a lot of better stuff around, only the guys had the wrong skin color. the only thing elvis brought into it, was his magnificient voice and the religious white poster boy look.
today, neither elvis or beach boys would stand a snowball's chance in hell.