It’s getting quite a band up there now that Prince too swapped the temporary for eternity. And again I read about a ‘musical genius’. What makes somebody a genius? Whoever set the rules to qualify people as a genius? “He gave pop music a new dimension”. Might be. Lots of other artists did the same but are never qualified as a genius. “He played the guitar like nobody else ever can”. That can be true but then again, doesn’t that go for others as well? There is a lot of talent out there. Each and everyone in their own specific way. James Jamerson was also a genius but how many people ever heard of him? A good friend of mine who plays the bass once mentioned Yngwie Malmsteen to me and according to him, this is a real giant. But have you ever heard of him?
Is
popularity an important indicator? Personally, I would not think so. Bowie and
Prince both were called geniuses but they were not that popular as in storming
the hit lists over and over again. Of course, their music sold well but it was
the more selective audience who bought it. Is that then that makes the
difference? Definitely not. Keith Jarrett is not known to the majority of
people yet he is a brilliant piano player. He too gave a new meaning to music.
As a
reporter, you have to like the music before you will be able to call it
brilliant. If you do not like what you hear you simply cannot show enthusiasm.
It is plain simple like that. Then when you like it very, very much it is easy
to call somebody a genius. Reporters are human beings who also can adore
musicians.
My guess is
that both Bowie and Prince declared
themselves geniuses. (The latter did it openly) And the reporters soaked it all
in and just copied it. James Jamerson, Yngwie Malmsteen, and Keith Jarret never
exposed themselves as geniuses. They do and did what they liked most and were
not interested in a title. Ego tripping was not their thing.
Were Bowie
and Prince ego trippers? Yes, they were. The difference is that they knew
perfectly well how to put it in a way so that others truly believed it too. It
is a clever way of merchandising.
Now do not
get me wrong here. Of course, they were good musicians. No doubt about that. But
people, especially the ones who get paid to write reviews, should be more
objective. They do not right to others' geniuses. And the audience eats it all.
Love the ones you’re with and be
loved in return.
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