It's seeing real artists like Thelonious Monk that make me hate Billy Joel

[Rabrrrrrr]

and the rest of the fake artists all that much more.

To think that so many brilliantly, actually talented people make less (or made less) their whole lives than what Billy "I Suck" Joel, Bon Jovi, Guns & Roses, Kenny G, Brittney, Garth Brooks, and so on can make with one piece of shit album that adds nothing to the human collective consciousness and, in fact, actively takes away from it.

Fuck you, pathetic ones.

But then, on the other hand, without a few sure mega-million blockbuster acts, the record companies never would have dared to put out the good stuff.

So perhaps the untalented shitmongers should be applauded, and I should take my ire out on the vapid, ignorant American masses who prefer bland safe shit (in music, movies, food, books, presidents...) over anything that even dares to suggest intelligence, integrity, or being of interest.

[bbernardini]

1. Is it really fair to compare the two?

I could see comparing Monk to Kenny G, since Kenny G is often classified as "jazz" (usually by people who know nothing about jazz). But Billy Joel has never tried to be like Monk (nor could he ever hope to be). A lot of the pop songs he's written are far more intelligent and well-written than anything by the other artists you listed. There's a pretty blatant Romantic-era influence in his chord changes. You don't hear hints of Beethoven or Chopin in Bon Jovi very often. Schubert, maybe. ;)

[Rabrrrrrr]

6. It's certainly not fair to Monk, no.

:P

[jobycom]

2. You need a better understanding of the multifaceted meaning of

the word "talent." Monk was more musically gifted than Billy Joel, for sure, but Billy Joel had a talent for writing songs people wanted to buy. Monk chose his goals, Joel chose his. Both were talented, at different things. Whatever job you do, there's some aspect of it that you are best at, even if other people are better than you at it in general.

Criticizing Joel for not being Monk is like criticizing Barbaro for not being Tiger Woods. Barbaro can't swing a nine iron for shit.

[Rabrrrrrr]

5. Okay then - people who are talented at making music from the heart,

not just at making money by putting out whatever will sell.

[hfojvt]

3. your superciliousness is like bad medicine

it would never be allowed in Paradise City.

[Rabrrrrrr]

4. Paradise City can kiss my ass.

I have an appetite for destruction.

[bridgit]

7. hubby seen: Rashon Roland Kirk, at the old Shelly's Manhole in LA...

plus a bunch of other like-minded hip-cats, Miles, yada-yada...that count :shrug:

Billy Joel...'new york state of mind', that's as far as i can go there sorry ~