Norah Jones just won

[Yorick]

Originally posted by Iron_Ranger: Well all I can say is that was an aboustley AWFUL version of London Calling.

That was really lame. Agreed.

Congrats to Norah. That's a beautiful song of hers. Incredible on so many levels.

[Timber Loftis]

Well, I like Norah Jones. But, the overwhelming amount of awards she got are just not called for. I think there was other competition. Plus, a personal bias: I don't respect artists as much when they don't write their own music. Especially in the days where the Industry goes looking for cute young girls who can sing and play piano to put up on stage and make a star singing other people's songs.

[cormack]

Guys, sorry to hit this music thread up late but your all right. Avril, and Mellisa should have gotten at least one of those! What was that about her uncle again? Something about helping George Harrison play the citar.?
Norah's cd was the only one I didn't buy last year. I'm not saying she isn't good but it's just not right what happened. I hope someone isn't pushing the market here.

Good looking thow

[antryg]

TL. I agree that she didn't do much writing on the cd (wrote 1 and cowrote 1). However she does play and sing very well. I bought the cd based on hearing one song on the radio. I had no way of knowing she was an attractive young woman. I bought it for the music, not the image. Regarding your songwriting caveat; I don't think early Beatles albums are dismissed because of the many covers. I expect as she matures as an artist that more of her material will come to the fore. That does not mean that I denigrate the musicianship she, and others, exhibit. If every song done by every group is not group cowritten that doesn't mean that only some of the group are musicians or artists. Often in a group setting all members contribute their own parts, vocals from one, a riff or line from another. Sometimes a song comes complete (ie here it is guys). In all of these cases I would say that all the members are musicians and artists (even the vocalists Yorick }

[Yorick]

A vocalist most definitely is a musician. Birds can sing but don't play instruments.

One of the most important thing a young vocalist can do is to realise they are using an instrument.

Body percussionists are musicians with only their body as an instrument also.

Norah Jones is very accomplished on her instruments. Good on her. Not all musicians write and not all writers can play or sing what they write. Do we denigrate the specialist?

[Timber Loftis]

Well, I didn't say it was REASONABLE. In fact I labelled it a personal bias. It is what it is. But, I do think a bit less of the artist(s) when I read the liner notes and find out they didn't write it. Just my bias, that's all. Co-writing is fine - it falls outside of my bias.

[Leonis]

I think she wrote 2 and co-wrote 1.

I also don't think she should be lumped in with Lavigne, Branch, Carlton et al.

Norah Jones has a prodigious singing talent and a tone and style that echos the great great jazz singers - Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday, Nina Simone etc... Her voice impies that she has not only listened to and loved these singers - she has also learnt from those masters. I can see see the same depth in the others mentioned.

[Yorick]

Originally posted by Timber Loftis: Well, I didn't say it was REASONABLE. In fact I labelled it a personal bias. It is what it is. But, I do think a bit less of the artist(s) when I read the liner notes and find out they didn't write it. Just my bias, that's all. Co-writing is fine - it falls outside of my bias.

Do you think less of an actor for not writing the screenplay of a film? Or the director for not editing it? Do you think less of a dancer for having a choreographer? Or a model having a designer? DO you think less of comedian having a writer?

How about a singer/pianist like Elton John who writes his music but not the words? How about a Madonna who writes words but not chords or structured melodies?

What do you do with interpretive genius like Elvis, who did not write, but made each song his own? Is interpretive genius not something you respect? What does a conductor of an orchestra do then? Not do Brahms or Chopin because they should only do work they compose? What about the orchestra itself? Should each member only write their own lines? Ignoring a composer and/or conductors vision?

Your line of thinking actually devalidates the whole concept of a seperate creator of a work - independent from the performer. Creators who are writing things outside their own ability. Not restricted by the skills they've been given. It allows for collaboration. Without which we not not have artists like the Beatles or any film.

I repeat, do we denigrate or devalue the specialist?

Power to Norah. If she never writes another song, but solely interprets the work of others as beautifully as she has already, she will continue to enhance peoples experience of life on this planet.

And that is a good thing.

[ 02-25-2003, 01:40 AM: Message edited by: Yorick ]