Members myshkin Posted October 20, 2005 Members Share Posted October 20, 2005 John LennonJimi HendrixSyd Barrett...sadly never got to hear what he'd have doneDavid BowieJust to be a bit different Kevin Shields of My Bloody Valentine Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members mikehattem Posted October 20, 2005 Members Share Posted October 20, 2005 BRIAN WILSON. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil O'Keefe Posted October 20, 2005 Share Posted October 20, 2005 Paul McCartneyBrian WilsonRivers CuomoCollingwood / Schlesinger (FOW). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil O'Keefe Posted October 20, 2005 Share Posted October 20, 2005 Note to self: Type faster next time. Welcome to the forums mikehattem! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members myshkin Posted October 20, 2005 Author Members Share Posted October 20, 2005 I wouldn't argue with Wilson being a genius, but I've generally found him a bit too sweet for my tastes. Maybe I should have included McCartney too.What's FOW? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil O'Keefe Posted October 20, 2005 Share Posted October 20, 2005 FOW Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Kiwiburger Posted October 20, 2005 Members Share Posted October 20, 2005 My favorites have already been mentioned, but a few more that I think qualify for 'genius' (no particular order) George MartinBob DylanBrian EnoDaniel LanoisFreddy MercuryBrian MayJoe WalshEric ClaptonFrank ZappaDave Gilmour It's hard not to just list people you like - i think there has to be a special element to qualify as a genius. Being born with a great voice probably isn't genius. Developing a new sound or musical genre - genius. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members MorePaul Posted October 20, 2005 Members Share Posted October 20, 2005 I think Kiwi brings up a good point -- it's different than a "who do you like" and it's a difficult trick not to fall into that A new approach, really perfecting a classic approach (how did J.S Bach put it "some usher in a new age others complete an age"), bridging two worlds... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members myshkin Posted October 20, 2005 Author Members Share Posted October 20, 2005 Originally posted by MorePaul I think Kiwi brings up a good point -- it's different than a "who do you like" and it's a difficult trick not to fall into thatA new approach, really perfecting a classic approach (how did J.S Bach put it "some usher in a new age others complete an age"), bridging two worlds... Well the new aspect that wouldn't have come about otherwise is why I placed Syd Barrett and Kevin Shields so high for people with small outputs. Sonically very free compared to Dylan(much of which I love and certainly a genius), but in the area of pure sound the others are higher for me.Peter Green of F Mac, another great loss.I spose the boys from Kraftwerk must be mentioned.And The Pixies combined.And.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Kiwiburger Posted October 20, 2005 Members Share Posted October 20, 2005 What is a genius? Somebody with a bloody good idea, who acted on it and changed the world? I would add: Les PaulLeo FenderBob MoogRupert Neve Numerous others. The guy who invented the transistor deserves a medal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Billster Posted October 21, 2005 Members Share Posted October 21, 2005 Kiwi: Les Paul did most of his innovating before the 1960's. That actually makes it more impressive IMO, but off topic for this thread. For the 1960's forward, let us consider: Pete TownshendThe second half of Miles Davis' career (as if he didn't do enough in the first half!)Jaco Pastorius (another wasted talent - imagine if Jaco never met heroin) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Mr. Botch Posted October 21, 2005 Members Share Posted October 21, 2005 Stevie WonderWalter/Wendy Carlos (for her non-twelve-tone compositions)Frank ZappaWally Badarou Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Warhead Posted October 21, 2005 Members Share Posted October 21, 2005 Lennon / McCartneyHendrixPage / PlantJagger / Richards War Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members steadyb Posted October 21, 2005 Members Share Posted October 21, 2005 Pete Townsend Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members steadyb Posted October 21, 2005 Members Share Posted October 21, 2005 Quincy Jones Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members UstadKhanAli Posted October 21, 2005 Members Share Posted October 21, 2005 Brian EnoPrinceGyorgy LigetiCraig AndertonLes PaulBill Putnamthe guy who invented Cup O'NoodlesKip Winger Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members OctaveDr Posted October 21, 2005 Members Share Posted October 21, 2005 Brian EnoPeter GabrielRobert Fripp Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Kiwiburger Posted October 21, 2005 Members Share Posted October 21, 2005 I realise I will be severely castigated for this ... I personally think Weird Al Yankovic is a true genius. I've followed his career for a few years now, and I am constantly amazed at the way he seamlessly fuses epic movies with epic songs, and retains enough of the original lyrics in highly inventive ways. E.g. - Jurasic Park with McArthurs Park - it just works so well. Or Bevery Hill Billys with Money for Nothing. His "Smells Like Nirvana" is sheer brilliance. Love the sampled cow. "Bob" is the work of a genius. If you haven't caught this - it's a song, in the style of Bob Dylan, which is composed totally of palindromes. (Yes - Bob is a palindrome too). You know - "A toyota's a toyota" and other phrases that read the same forwards and backwards. I think Al is an exceptional vocalist, because he can imitate or parody anyone - convincingly, while mercilessly pulling the piss out of them. To do that, you actually have to be as good, and as confident, as the original artist. I'm constantly impressed with the production on his albums too - sometimes I think they sound better than the original. Yes - I know he uses every cheap trick in the book - but that's the genius of comedy. Sometimes, I think we take music far too seriously. Wierd Al is my remedy for that. Laughter really is the best medicine. Genius. And he plays a mean accordian and whoopee cushion. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members John Sayers Posted October 21, 2005 Members Share Posted October 21, 2005 Much as I hate to say it but Andrew Lloyd Webber would have to rank somewhere in this list. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Kiwiburger Posted October 21, 2005 Members Share Posted October 21, 2005 Those ABBA dudes were right up there. I also think Mark Knopfler was/is a genius. Not just his guitar playing, but lyrics and overall musicianship. I was going to say Elton John, but I would stop just short of calling him a genius. Highly gifted, but really it's the combination of him and Bernie together that constitute a genius team. I guess they are both geniuses in their own right. I guess I should wave our national flag and say that Tim and Neil Finn are both geniuses. Maybe i'm just listing people I really like. Music is such a subjective thing - what really moves and inspires one person might be totally lost on somebody else. Who can really say who is a genius? I guess it requires some advanced intellectual thought processes to come up with something profound. But sometimes these guys seem to come up with something profound without apparantly thinking too deeply about it. I think Jon Lord and Ritchie Blackmore, and the rest of Deep Purple MKII are bona fide geniuses. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Bob Keelan Posted October 21, 2005 Members Share Posted October 21, 2005 James Jamerson Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members D Charles Posted October 21, 2005 Members Share Posted October 21, 2005 To add to the growing list: Paul SimonNick LoweRandy NeumanElvis CostelloRichard ThompsonSteven Page and Ed Robertson (BNL)Bonnie RaiteJoni MitchellJim CroceSheryl Crowe Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members myshkin Posted October 21, 2005 Author Members Share Posted October 21, 2005 I suppose I better add Lee Perry, Arthur Lee, Curtis Mayfield, Sly Stone and Roger McGuinn+Gene Clarke. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Tedster Posted October 21, 2005 Members Share Posted October 21, 2005 Allow me to add Todd Rundgren and Robert Fripp to the list. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Gabriel E. Posted October 21, 2005 Members Share Posted October 21, 2005 With a few exceptions, this list has been pretty white so far. Interesting considering most Western pop music is heavily blues and R&B based. -Smokey Robinson-Lamont Dozier-Eddie & Brian Holland-Barry Gordy-Stevie Wonder!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!-Marvin Gaye-Isaac Hayes-David Porter-JAMES BROWN (probably the single most influential musician/songwriter in the last 40 years)-George Clinton-Kenny Gamble-Leon Huff Did anyone mention Phil Spector? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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