"Underappreciated Genius."
-
I'm not sure if amazing ability as a vocalist fits the definition of genius. It might be more of a physical atribute, like an athlete being strong. We don't say an olympian is a genus when they win gold. So I may strike off 15 from my personal list for being irrelevant to a measure of a genius, though he's an amazing vocalist, still, for most songs he's written, I think.
-
no,he WAS an amazing vocalist.likewise that is not the factor which makes anyone a genious. his songwriting is the magic of the whole story.no one including 'lennon' can match his sheer effortless ability to pluck melodies out of the air with amazing regularity.it is pure 'genious' a gift from mother nature.he has no peers in my book. his bass playing at its best is as good as anyone,although he is not in a league of his own.his guitar playing and piano playing likewise. his voice was pretty unique for a while although the best you could say about his vocals these days is that they are not bad for a 67 year old.
-
lazydynamite88:
no,he WAS an amazing vocalist.likewise that is not the factor which makes anyone a genious. his songwriting is the magic of the whole story.no one including 'lennon' can match his sheer effortless ability to pluck melodies out of the air with amazing regularity.it is pure 'genious' a gift from mother nature.he has no peers in my book. his bass playing at its best is as good as anyone,although he is not in a league of his own.his guitar playing and piano playing likewise. his voice was pretty unique for a while although the best you could say about his vocals these days is that they are not bad for a 67 year old.
Actually his voice is still pretty darn good on rockers and not just for a 67 yr old man. I think it is on certain ballads that he shows his age.
-
Wendy2066:
I'm not sure if amazing ability as a vocalist fits the definition of genius. It might be more of a physical atribute, like an athlete being strong. We don't say an olympian is a genus when they win gold. So I may strike off 15 from my personal list for being irrelevant to a measure of a genius, though he's an amazing vocalist, still, for most songs he's written, I think.
I agree, his genius is his ability to write melody and not his ability to sing. He has had moments of genius also lyrically but that has been clouded by some inane lyrics in songs. Unfortunately, too many people and critics harp on the bad lyrics and not the great ones.
-
I think anyone who's ever tried recording themselves singing, would agree that it's so much more than a physical thing. An amazing amount of mental prowess is at work here. I offer the background harmonies that the man has done. Remarkable, by any measure, and not easily created or replicated. I cast my vote again with genius here, though I appreciate the subtle factors involved in the consideration of genius in general. I take it back to genus - creativity. He who creates. McCartney is a wonderful creator. I'm sure God's pleased.
-
Bravo Mr. Conley, Bravo!! I think McCartneys singing up to this very second has been nothing short of sheer genius!! I know his voice has changed, but there still isn't a better rock singer alive!
-
Not being a singer, I didn't know that, Tony! It's true the brain has to tell the voice how to sing. I guess you need both the physical ability plus an instinct, which can go up to genius, for what subtlties of nuance and tone to put where. Yankee, I think you're right, the lyrics are a mix. Some people/critics point to the bad ones and neglect to consider the genius ones.
-
I've sang enough to know that it's a much more complicated task than one may think. Look at Dylan. Obviously not a great voice, but what a vocalist. Phrasing, intonation,inflection....an awful lot going on there. I got great enjoyment watching Cheap Trick's Robin Zander singing Sgt. Pepper Live. A masterful performance of a singer working with his physicality, the microphone,etc....That dvd is a superb lesson in microphone usage. A great art, that singing....
-
Perhaps this 'genuis thread' is the one Wendy from Canada kept saying she wants to see rise to the top again...just like genuis, sooner or later, rises to the top (to the top of the poppermost, johnny!)...with Macca the number one music star on the planet, today (in many respects) Not that there aren't things he can work on to improve! (I reckon I had to add that quibble, didn't I : )
-
Thanks, Susy, yes this is the thread I was thinking of. I wish they had a good search function on here. I thought the cloud server idea is a bit of genius, moving forward with new technology others can use after it's developed.
-
there is no doubt he can still sing 'helter skelter'.his vocals on that song are nothing short of incredible. 'jet' however is pretty dreadfull these days with 'band on the run' not being much better.check out mr 'dave grohl's' version at the whitehouse this year to see how it should sound. its not a problem that he dosent do great live vocals of these songs anymore although im not really sure hes aware of it.perhaps someone in the band could give him a nod and a wink about what sounds good and what dosent. but its a funny one because the likes of 'nineteen hundred and eighty five' and 'letting go' sound very good indeed.
-
lazydynamite88:
there is no doubt he can still sing 'helter skelter'.his vocals on that song are nothing short of incredible. ...
The key of "E" seems to be his sweet spot. He still rocks "A" pretty reliably, too. Then again, he's rockin' the "G" well, too. Whenever he has to apply the "muscle", his voice never fails him. Sometimes, I wish he were a Buddhist -- like Tina Turner, who chants daily. I'm convincedthat her chant/meditation is the key to her maintaining vocal control in the lower and upper registers of her voice.
-
SusyLuvsPaul:
Perhaps this 'genuis thread' is the one Wendy from Canada kept saying she wants to see rise to the top again...just like genuis, sooner or later, rises to the top (to the top of the poppermost, johnny!)...with Macca the number one music star on the planet, today (in many respects) Not that there aren't things he can work on to improve! (I reckon I had to add that quibble, didn't I : )
We shall see a new number one hit from McCartney again in our lifetime. The critical tide has already turned. Now, the radio-programmer, etc. tide needs to catch up. And it will. The guy's clout is as in tact as it ever was.
-
SusyLuvsPaul:
Perhaps this 'genuis thread' is the one Wendy from Canada kept saying she wants to see rise to the top again...just like genuis, sooner or later, rises to the top (to the top of the poppermost, johnny!)...with Macca the number one music star on the planet, today (in many respects) Not that there aren't things he can work on to improve! (I reckon I had to add that quibble, didn't I : )
He's already now the #1 music star on the planet. Even just from a commercial point of view, take a look at this. And no-one is close. http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100924/ap_en_mu/top20_concert_tours
-
thread bump because its a great thread.. paul mccartney is an artist that has been so incredibly succsessful yet he remains to this day incredibly underrated . why is this?...i think 'the john lennon' factor remains the top of my list of reasons.
-
lazydynamite88:
thread bump because its a great thread.. paul mccartney is an artist that has been so incredibly succsessful yet he remains to this day incredibly underrated . why is this?...i think 'the john lennon' factor remains the top of my list of reasons.
Unfortunately it is true. No disrespect to Lennon intended because he was one of the best, infact probably 2nd only to Macca but his tragic death has bumped his status up to God like. However, if you look at the time when Lennon was alive. I would give Lennon the edge until around Rubber Soul time within The Beatles. He was probably top dog but after that Paul never looked back. His songs overall from then on trumped Lennon 90% of the time. While Lennon had some phenomenal songs he couldn't keep up with the volume and consistency of Macca. And after The Beatles Macca kicked him into next week IMO. Unfortunately we will never know what John could have done as he was tragically taken but he wasn't close to Macca from 66/67 onwards IMO.
-
One can't fight with death, and John died just on time, in the half of life, his memory is overated
-
CMackbird:
lazydynamite88:
thread bump because its a great thread.. paul mccartney is an artist that has been so incredibly succsessful yet he remains to this day incredibly underrated . why is this?...i think 'the john lennon' factor remains the top of my list of reasons.
Unfortunately it is true. No disrespect to Lennon intended because he was one of the best, infact probably 2nd only to Macca but his tragic death has bumped his status up to God like. However, if you look at the time when Lennon was alive. I would give Lennon the edge until around Rubber Soul time within The Beatles. He was probably top dog but after that Paul never looked back. His songs overall from then on trumped Lennon 90% of the time. While Lennon had some phenomenal songs he couldn't keep up with the volume and consistency of Macca. And after The Beatles Macca kicked him into next week IMO. Unfortunately we will never know what John could have done as he was tragically taken but he wasn't close to Macca from 66/67 onwards IMO.
certainly agree with that 'cmack'. it is also VERY possible that john would have got a serious 'second wind' going.perhaps he [like mccartney] would have become less commercially huge but producing far more consistant/ measured studio albums. of course because of some nut job monster we will never really know.
-
lazydynamite88:
CMackbird:
lazydynamite88:
thread bump because its a great thread.. paul mccartney is an artist that has been so incredibly succsessful yet he remains to this day incredibly underrated . why is this?...i think 'the john lennon' factor remains the top of my list of reasons.
Unfortunately it is true. No disrespect to Lennon intended because he was one of the best, infact probably 2nd only to Macca but his tragic death has bumped his status up to God like. However, if you look at the time when Lennon was alive. I would give Lennon the edge until around Rubber Soul time within The Beatles. He was probably top dog but after that Paul never looked back. His songs overall from then on trumped Lennon 90% of the time. While Lennon had some phenomenal songs he couldn't keep up with the volume and consistency of Macca. And after The Beatles Macca kicked him into next week IMO. Unfortunately we will never know what John could have done as he was tragically taken but he wasn't close to Macca from 66/67 onwards IMO.
certainly agree with that 'cmack'. it is also VERY possible that john would have got a serious 'second wind' going.perhaps he [like mccartney] would have become less commercially huge but producing far more consistant/ measured studio albums. of course because of some nut job monster we will never really know.
Quite probably Lazy. We could have also got some twilight years, Lennon/McCartney gems too boot.
-
I don't agree that Paul is hurt by John's remarks, or How Do You Sleep? How do you figure, are you talking about within artistic and musical circles? each are regarded for what they were best at IMO, totally isolated from each other, though never fully isolated since they were the most successful songwriting team in history. But John's comments and antics don't resonate today if you ask me, not many even still know all the details or care to. Its the work that stands. And to people who know the full story I think it probably hurts John's own legacy on the whole, to have behaved so hostal. John's legacy always will have a strong dichotomy of the angelic eutopia, and the brutal and darker side. very interesting, and its why John has so many followers. alot of people can identify for different reasons, a lot of them not even musical. plus the fact he was murdered. but bottom line I don't think John's comments and attitudes still hurt Paul today. If John never said anything do we really think Paul could be any bigger that he is? can you get higher than being regarded as a genius by your peers, and selling the most records?