I Miss John Lennon

walrus

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Maybe, maybe not. Rogers and Hammerstein? Gershwin and Gershwin? Lerner and Lowe?

The answers will say a lot about someone's familiarity with genres of music and their preferences and maybe less about composers and lyricists.

I think the composer's place in time makes a huge difference. The composers you mention did not "evolve" in their songwriting the way The Beatles did, but they also did not have the recording technology advancements along the way that The Beatles did. Along with recording technology, the cultural shifts of the '60's absolutely played a role in the Beatles' work. If your point is that you can't compare eras ("genres"), I agree.

walrus
 

dreadnut

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I'm sticking with Lennon and McCartney. As they developed, every song was completely different from the last one. And they were all great songs.
 

fronobulax

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<insert composer or performer> is the <insert superlative> <composer or performer> in <insert period or genre>

Refine definitions - recorded or live, alive during the responders lifetime, etc. and odds are sooner or later the Beatles, individually or collectively, will be mentioned. At that point the usual suspects will square off, one side trying to make an objective case in favor of the Beatle(s) and the other suspects desperately trying to make the point that there is nothing subjective or measurable present and the discussion is merely an exchange of strongly held opinions.
 

adorshki

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Maybe, maybe not. Rogers and Hammerstein? Gershwin and Gershwin? Lerner and Lowe?

The answers will say a lot about someone's familiarity with genres of music and their preferences and maybe less about composers and lyricists.
Yeah, different strokes for different folks.

I couldn't name a best guitarist, for example. I just have a mental list of the guys who deserve to be in the top 10 or 20 of all time, according to my tastes. But that doesn't preclude having a favorite guitarist.

Same thing with singer-songwriters, "Different strokes for different folks".

For example, the apparent enduring popularity of Barry Manilow baffles me.
 

adorshki

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I think the composer's place in time makes a huge difference. The composers you mention did not "evolve" in their songwriting the way The Beatles did, but they also did not have the recording technology advancements along the way that The Beatles did. Along with recording technology, the cultural shifts of the '60's absolutely played a role in the Beatles' work. If your point is that you can't compare eras ("genres"), I agree.

walrus
With respect: "Technology schmechnology." The song itself is the important thing, without it you got nothin'.

And the great stuff seems to endure because it's timeless. ;) 🥃

 

walrus

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With respect: "Technology schmechnology." The song itself is the important thing, without it you got nothin'.

And the great stuff seems to endure because it's timeless. ;) 🥃

My point was that The Beatles were not just great composers, but had great creativity in the studio using what was available and creating ways to do things that had never been done. "Tomorrow Never Knows" being perhaps the best example. That's almost "beyond" composing, if you know what I mean. That's creating a whole new soundscape. Although it is all part of the composing process, I guess.

But you know that I agree that the song itself is the most important thing - and The Beatles certainly knew how to write songs!

walrus
 

Westerly Wood

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My point was that The Beatles were not just great composers, but had great creativity in the studio using what was available and creating ways to do things that had never been done. "Tomorrow Never Knows" being perhaps the best example. That's almost "beyond" composing, if you know what I mean. That's creating a whole new soundscape. Although it is all part of the composing process, I guess.

But you know that I agree that the song itself is the most important thing - and The Beatles certainly knew how to write songs!

walrus

and their experimentation, which is probably the most influential impact of this band overall, was never what I would consider grotesque. like some artists, their experimentation just ruins the song. it's just got no balance or control.

but the Beatles and maybe more George Martin, they knew when it was too much. they were not afraid of pulling back. they had tact.
 

Guildedagain

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Not Hendrix, Robert Johnson is the only other I know of, and people were serious about that one.

The theme is explored in the 90's movie Crossroads, with Ralph Machio and an appearance from Steve Vai who duel it out on the guitar, Vai on his Ibanez Shredmaster and the kid on a Squire Tele ;]

It's great, I recommend it.
 

walrus

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Agreed. But Hendrix's otherworldly playing and "sudden" arrival make you wonder... :unsure:

And isn't the "rule" that if you strike a bargain at the crossroads you have to die early? Or not?

walrus
 

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I hesitate a bit to weigh in on this because I'm definitely Beatle-biased. They have been the most important musical influence in my life. That said, it's all subjective - it depends on the person. I'd venture to say they're probably going down in history as the most significant songwriters/musicians of the 20th century. They're one of the few artists that were not only the best at what they did, but also the most popular. They were associated with a cultural revolution. They had it all. Beyond the great songs, they were intelligent, quick-witted, good looking, charismatic, you name it.

I really wish another group like them, as good as them, could come along today and create the same kind of excitement. But I doubt it can happen in today's world the way mainstream popular music is created and consumed.
 
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Rambozo96

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Not Hendrix, Robert Johnson is the only other I know of, and people were serious about that one.

The theme is explored in the 90's movie Crossroads, with Ralph Machio and an appearance from Steve Vai who duel it out on the guitar, Vai on his Ibanez Shredmaster and the kid on a Squire Tele ;]

It's great, I recommend it.
Steve Va......err.....Jack Butler decided on that day after losing to a kid with a tele and a crap Pignose amp that he needed a 24 fret guitar.
 

Rambozo96

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I remember seeing a near Beatles reunion of sorts that looked like it was filmed sometime in the 90’s. Of course John’s absence is very apparent which makes me wonder if he’d have eventually done a reunion had he never been gunned down by some nut.
 

Rambozo96

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And I believe another reunion minus John occurred at Claptons wedding.
 

Quantum Strummer

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There was another almost-reunion c. 1973 in the US, during the recording sessions for Ringo's self-titled album, scuppered by McCartney being unable to get into the country because of a drug-related legal issue.

-Dave-
 

Bernie

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Pretty funny to see the other 2 (or is it the other 3) singing 'Shoebiddoo Wap Wap', when John is pretty serious in the song...😊
I've got a song dealing with him as well; bet I miss him too. Few people can be deep without being.., on well...(??)
While remaining easy-going maybe I'd say...
 
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adorshki

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Pretty funny to see the other 2 (or is it the other 3) singing 'Shoebiddoo Wap Wap', when John is pretty serious in the song...😊
I've got a song dealing with him as well; bet I miss him too. Few people can be deep without being.., on well...(??)
While remaining easy-going maybe I'd say...
Berne, just realized you're in Occitania. Whereabouts is that, is it close to Nutopia? :sneaky:
 
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