Pete Academy Posted April 23, 2010 Share Posted April 23, 2010 There are people that are obviously very musically gifted. A friend of mine, who has co-written three songs on the new Robbie CD, including the new single, can play many instruments extremely proficiently. We hear of people like Victor Wooten, who claims to have started to learn bass at 3 years old. But who would you consider is a musical genius? The names Prince and Stevie Wonder are often mentioned, and I think I would agree. And how would you define musical genius? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Duarte Posted April 23, 2010 Share Posted April 23, 2010 I'd say...possibly Liam Howlett, probably Michael Jackson, he was pretty good in his time wasn't he/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dood Posted April 23, 2010 Share Posted April 23, 2010 All of the members of Queen, for example, not only being musically multi-instrumental and talented all penned at least one Number One hit each and more. I feel that recognition is enough to put them in such a category! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Academy Posted April 23, 2010 Author Share Posted April 23, 2010 [quote name='dood' post='816556' date='Apr 23 2010, 06:57 PM']All of the members of Queen, for example, not only being musically multi-instrumental and talented all penned at least one Number One hit each and more. I feel that recognition is enough to put them in such a category! [/quote] Musical genius? Not sure. Freddie Mercury, maybe. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Academy Posted April 23, 2010 Author Share Posted April 23, 2010 Many will disagree, but in the bass category I think Victor is in there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DirkThrust Posted April 23, 2010 Share Posted April 23, 2010 Players who had the vision to totally redefine an instrument like JP and Jimi Hendrix Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Meenie Posted April 23, 2010 Share Posted April 23, 2010 Tim Smith of Cardiacs,doubtless genius and it is a true shame that he hasnt got the credit he deserves,one of Englands finest. He is quite ill still after having a heart attack and stroke but on the mend apparently...how on the mend remains to be seen. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Academy Posted April 23, 2010 Author Share Posted April 23, 2010 [quote name='AndyMartin' post='816564' date='Apr 23 2010, 07:01 PM']Players who had the vision to totally redefine an instrument like JP and Jimi Hendrix[/quote] Hendrix absolutely. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happy Jack Posted April 23, 2010 Share Posted April 23, 2010 By the time Mozart was my age ... he'd been dead for 18 years. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Academy Posted April 23, 2010 Author Share Posted April 23, 2010 McCartney deserves the title IMO. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DirkThrust Posted April 23, 2010 Share Posted April 23, 2010 [quote name='Pete Academy' post='816566' date='Apr 23 2010, 07:02 PM']Hendrix absolutely.[/quote] But not Jaco? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jus Lukin Posted April 23, 2010 Share Posted April 23, 2010 (edited) - Edited February 15, 2022 by Jus Lukin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doddy Posted April 23, 2010 Share Posted April 23, 2010 I think the term 'genius' is used to frequently as a substitute for 'good'. Michael Jackson was a top class entertainer-but was he a musical genius? I don't think so. The same with Queen. I know guys who can sit and transcribe big band charts for every instrument from memory alone. To me that is more of a genius than someone who writes songs-the musical knowledge and understanding to be able to do that is far greater than what is needed to write a song. In my opinion of course. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keeponehandloose Posted April 23, 2010 Share Posted April 23, 2010 [quote name='Pete Academy' post='816566' date='Apr 23 2010, 07:02 PM']Hendrix absolutely.[/quote] For a while I used to think that Hendrix had been blown up out of all perspective regarding his status. Then one day it dawned on me ,he was ONLY 27 when he died. All that music and innovation by 27 yeasrs old. That is genius Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DirkThrust Posted April 23, 2010 Share Posted April 23, 2010 [quote name='Doddy' post='816574' date='Apr 23 2010, 07:06 PM']I think the term 'genius' is used to frequently as a substitute for 'good'. Michael Jackson was a top class entertainer-but was he a musical genius? I don't think so. The same with Queen. I know guys who can sit and transcribe big band charts for every instrument from memory alone. To me that is more of a genius than someone who writes songs-the musical knowledge and understanding to be able to do that is far greater than what is needed to write a song. In my opinion of course.[/quote] I agree. It's a word that is very overused, usually when someone is gushing admiration for their idol. Tha actual number of true geniuses in popular music is very small. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HMX Posted April 23, 2010 Share Posted April 23, 2010 It's difficult as the term is so subjective. You wouldn't say so-and-so was a genius due to 10 no.1 hits - just because you're making it big doesn't necessarily make you a genius. And on that uncomfortable fence, I will perch. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Academy Posted April 23, 2010 Author Share Posted April 23, 2010 [quote name='andyjingram' post='816573' date='Apr 23 2010, 07:06 PM']I'm being willfully pedantic here, but let's all enjoy the word 'Genii'! I would say that there are probably more in the classical world who fall into this category than most other genres.[/quote] TBH I laboured over the term before posting. I just wondered how you would define the term in a musician's sense. A genius still has to work damned hard to get that status. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RhysP Posted April 23, 2010 Share Posted April 23, 2010 Todd Rundgren. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bassassin Posted April 23, 2010 Share Posted April 23, 2010 Dictionaries will commonly define genius, used in the context we're discussing here, as "a person with exceptional ability, especially of a highly original kind" or "a person of extraordinary intellect and talent". The first musician that springs to my mind here is Pete Townshend - an extraordinarily gifted & visionary songwriter/composer who defined a musical genre or two, never mind an instrument. I've been listening to The Who a lot lately (they were the first band I was ever obsessive about - 35-odd years ago!) and considering everything Townshend had done by 1973, it's fair to say the bugger didn't leave much for the rest of us! Jon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4000 Posted April 23, 2010 Share Posted April 23, 2010 [quote name='Doddy' post='816574' date='Apr 23 2010, 07:06 PM']I think the term 'genius' is used to frequently as a substitute for 'good'. I know guys who can sit and transcribe big band charts for every instrument from memory alone. To me that is more of a genius than someone who writes songs-the musical knowledge and understanding to be able to do that is far greater than what is needed to write a song. In my opinion of course.[/quote] I actually feel the opposite. Whilst the skill you describe is impressive, a memory skill doesn't make someone a genius in my book because it doesn't require either reasoning ability or creativity. My computer appears to be able to remember things very well but it's still just a computer. In this context, someone with true creativity is someone who I would be most likely to refer to as a genius. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neilb Posted April 23, 2010 Share Posted April 23, 2010 (edited) When I read the title of this post I immeadiately put forward Peter Dennis Blandford Townshend. As I scrolled down I saw that Bassassasin had beaten me to it, and I am glad. Forget all the media hype if 6 odd years ago, Pete was and is a musical legend...a genius. His productivity over the years (not all reached the public arena) is amazing. He is, in my opinion, the Stephen Fry of the rock world...as soon as he speaks, I listen and in all cases, I am glad I did. He is a national musical treasure and it will be a sad day when he joins Keith and John. Edited April 23, 2010 by neilb Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bubinga5 Posted April 23, 2010 Share Posted April 23, 2010 (edited) sorry to do the Wiki Pete..there are so many ways to describe someone as a genius.. [url="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genius"]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genius[/url] im baffled as to why (apart from HJ) know one has mentioned the classics..IMHO..know one alive today can come close to Beethoven, Holst, Wagner, Mozart..they will prob never be touched today in musical ability.. apart from those i would say Stevie Wonder Donald Fagan and co Prince Shakin Stevens Micheal Jackson John Coltrane Elton John and co Pink Floyd bass wise for me, there is only one really that falls into this catagory and its Victor Wooten..i cant think of anyone who takes it further..who is a true pioneer.. the word genius is so over used...theres immense talent and then there is genius... Edited April 23, 2010 by bubinga5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Academy Posted April 23, 2010 Author Share Posted April 23, 2010 Regardless of genre, maybe the true innovators? We haven't really touched on the rock/metal/thrash/alternative/punk world. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neilb Posted April 23, 2010 Share Posted April 23, 2010 [quote name='Pete Academy' post='816651' date='Apr 23 2010, 08:13 PM']Regardless of genre, maybe the true innovators? We haven't really touched on the rock/metal/thrash/alternative/punk world.[/quote] I wonder why?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grumble Posted April 23, 2010 Share Posted April 23, 2010 My 2c's worth: Take out my obvious classical faves (Sibelius, Vaughn Williams, Tchaikovsky, Beethoven) and I would have to suggest Neil Young (always ploughed his own furrow and inspired a grunge generation) and Miles Davies, simply because he was so good for so long. Personally I feel the term genius should only be awarded by later generations. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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