OT: Entertainment vs. Musicianship

[Riad]

As a producer/engineer/musician the lines between the two can get blurred. Can a successful artist have both?

[macr0w]

that depends on what world you live in.

[Chris Cavell]

two words, two letters...

U2

[Riad]

hmmm it's very subjective... there are extremes: Britney Spears Vs. King Crimson

wow that's the most obscure comparison I've ever made but it was the first one that came to mind... but if you were a producer whom would you rather represent? That's my question.

[K.B.]

Britney. Mmmm...

[Riad]

Mmmmm, indeed. She'd make a bishop kick out a stained glass window.

[veritas]

Yes. You don't have to wear your chops on your sleeve to be a great musician. And just because you're popular doesn't mean you have to stop challenging yourself or your fans. Cases in point:

Peter Gabriel. Those videos are groundbreaking, yet entertain the masses. But you and I know the substance in the songwriting, musicianship, and production--brilliant.

Sting. Big celebrity--transcends the music biz. But the guy will be playing odd-meter grooves in a pop-singable context and hardly anyone realizes it. Songs that sound effortless and natural but are unique and musically challenging--genius.

U2--totally Chris Cavell. Biggest rock show around. People who can't find the one on Sunday Bloody Sunday fill the seats at their shows, but you listen to those deeper tracks on the albums and you know these guys are really in it for the art.

Just my nickle's worth.

[nikki-k]

Simple:
Successful "artist" = pleases oneself, whether it be thru a work for simple self-gratification, or one created for appeal to a group of people.

As an example:
I write for myself, record for myself, and the final result is for me FIRST. If others like it, and I decide to collaborate with others, trying to please myself comes first, but the others opinion will come into play at some level.

Now take a semi-recent "artist," her name starts with "A" and she comes from Canada. Self-proclaimed (and PR claim) of being "a punk girl." And all it took was a team of songwriters, sessions with several producers and engineers across several studios, and walla! A nice end "product" suited for mass consumption, and capable of being molded, reshaped, and promoted such that the intended "masses" will be sure to lay out the cash necessary to not only overcome the huge bag of cash dumped on the idea, but also provide a healthy profit. Maybe it will even get a nice statue, gold in color, fashioned from a "gram" of dung.

Often, a "true artist" can end up wanting for food and lodging, die relatively unknown, and possibly be discovered later in time. The "artist for hire" lives a life of physical luxury (some times), and at times a life with a complete lack of self-identity, since others have instead fashioned one for them, and after a bit, said artist cannot seem to find their "self" any longer. Drugs can help solve this tho, or a nice reliance on those good ol' fans to reinforce and convince the poor star that he/she does not really need to worry about "self." After all, they don't want that "self," they want the idol capitalism built for them. What a shame...but it can be "entertaining."

[Haigbabe]

As a producer/engineer/musician the lines between the two can get blurred. Can a successful artist have both?

I would say that they need both if they are trying to

a) Service a market
b) Make money

If someone wants to cling to their art and be prepared for the consequences, fine, I applaud them! But I may not always pay them.

We all like to be entertained. That can also be achieved by great musicianship with a smattering of "showbiz". Alas, it also works the other way around.

Best regards,

Haigbabe

[da BaSsTaRd!]

As a producer/engineer/musician the lines between the two can get blurred. Can a successful artist have both?

for an excellent example, there's a band in NYC called satanicide. they are 1/2 comedy, 1/2 music and they both great musicians and very, very funny. they poke fun at 80s glam rock, complete with spandex and big hair wigs. its totally outrageous...

http://www.satanicide.com/