Specifically, who are the notable artists, and to what degree were they notable? And who was the biggest/best?
This is what I’m thinking (top of my head), rank order:
1 - The Beatles
2 - Michael Jackson
3 - Elvis Presley
4 - Louis Armstrong
What sat you?
I think in terms of history you also have to look at genres and what would you consider a genre like classical, chamber, jazz (and all of its’ offshoots):
eg. Rock - Beatles/Elvis
Grunge - Nirvana
Rap - Tupac, etc.
Heck even disco, country and the various types of electronic music will likely all have representation.
Specifically, who are the notable artists, and to what degree were they notable? And who was the biggest/best?
This is what I’m thinking (top of my head), rank order:
1 - The Beatles
2 - Michael Jackson
3 - Elvis Presley
4 - Louis Armstrong
What sat you?
Miles Davis
Led Zeppelin
The Who
Dave Brubeck
Scott Joplin
George Gershwin
Jimmie Rodgers
Hank Williams
The Mississippe Delta blues, then Memphis and Chicago.
Michael Jackson will not be on anyone’s radar in 500 years.
As much as I like Brubeck, there are plenty of other jazz musicians that will be remembered before him. Brubeck was great, sold well, but wasn’t influential in the way that Ellington, Monk, Coltrane, Davis, Parker and others were.
Jimmie Rodgers
Hank Williams
The Mississippe Delta blues, then Memphis and Chicago.
Michael Jackson will not be on anyone’s radar in 500 years.
Wait, this is a joke, right? You named a bunch of stuff I’ve never heard of, yet you think in 500 years music historians will just gloss over Michael Jackson, the guy whose best selling album has sold almost twice as many copies as the next best selling album ever?
I find Brubeck to be a lot more accessible than some of the “greats.” I know as a jazz lover I’m supposed to like guys like Coltrane, but for the life of me, when they are improvising, it sounds completely discordant to me. Perhaps I just need someone to point out what I should be listening to, but I just can’t listen to some of the improvisational jazz for very long. I think Brubeck straddles very nicely smooth jazz and old school jazz very nicely. Take Five is fantastic.
Jimmie Rodgers
Hank Williams
The Mississippe Delta blues, then Memphis and Chicago.
Michael Jackson will not be on anyone’s radar in 500 years.
Wait, this is a joke, right? You named a bunch of stuff I’ve never heard of, yet you think in 500 years music historians will just gloss over Michael Jackson, the guy whose best selling album has sold almost twice as many copies as the next best selling album ever?
Your prior threads asking people to expalin Dylan or Springsteen or whoever means tells me that the fact you might not have heard of someone means very little. Which reminds me, add Bob Dylan to the list.
If you as someone obsessed with music hasn’t heard of Hank WIlliams, then I don’t know what to say. I have a hard time believing that. Same goes for the professed ignorance of the Mississippi Delta, Memphis, and Chicago blues.
I can understand not having heard directly of Jimmie Rodgers. He’s often considered the father of country music, and his songs from the 20s and early 30s are routinely covered as standards by nearly any serious country, bluegrass, americana, etc., musician today.
I agree that Take Five is accessible. It’s a great album and piece. I can still play it on the piano, at least an arrangement of it.
Specifically, who are the notable artists, and to what degree were they notable? And who was the biggest/best?
This is what I’m thinking (top of my head), rank order:
1 - The Beatles
2 - Michael Jackson
3 - Elvis Presley
4 - Louis Armstrong
What sat you?
With respect to who was the biggest, they can pretty easily come back to sales numbers, since those are all much more accurately tracked these days. As of now, only a handful have sold 250 million or more: Beatles, Elvis, Michael Jackson, Madonna, Elton John, Led Zeppelin, and Pink Floyd. There are another handful between 200-250 million, and another just below that. All of them will be in the music history books (or whatever we use instead of books in 500 years) in some way or another.
As far as musically notable, they’ll certainly note the musicians that had significant influence on creation of new genres and movement in music, including Rock, Blues, Jazz, Country/Western, Rap, Electronic, etc.
But really, how much does any of us know about musicians/composers from 500 years before now? Can any of us name 5 Renaissance composers without looking them up on Google? Most composers we know are from the Baroque period or later.
I agree that Take Five is accessible. It’s a great album and piece. I can still play it on the piano, at least an arrangement of it.
That’s pretty damn impressive. I have zero musical skillz.
Specifically, who are the notable artists, and to what degree were they notable? And who was the biggest/best?
Wyld Stallyns. duh.
OK, that’s 700 years in the future, not just 500…
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They’re gonna look back at country music and shudder.
I think they will comment on how we lost our way when music went from an art to a product/business.
I think they will comment on how we lost our way when music went from an art to a product/business.
Shack. It’s not enough just to sing anymore. Now you have to get half naked and shake your ass to the music.
Spot
I think they will comment on how we lost our way when music went from an art to a product/business.
When was that? Like, the 1500s or earlier? Lots of the classical music we know and love was written specifically on commission for the uber rich.
……the fact you might not have heard of someone means very little.
Actually it means everything. If a musician is to stand the test of time, shouldn’t his music (and name) be recognizable by the masses? I’ve heard of Johnny Cash, but not Hank Williams. Why?
……the fact you might not have heard of someone means very little.
Actually it means everything. If a musician is to stand the test of time, shouldn’t his music (and name) be recognizable by the masses? I’ve heard of Johnny Cash, but not Hank Williams. Why?
I don’t know why, but he’s really famous, and definitely a name recognized by the masses. I can’t imagine there’s anyone who knows much about country music who doesn’t at least recognize his name. Certainly one of the most influential artists of the 20th century in this country.
I think people are missing about 60 years of music. 500 years from now a few rock bands might be remembered, but a lot of WWII music, Roaring 20s, Big Band sound, Jazz and classical will like be remembered more than most last 1/3 of the century sounds.
ETA, missed country and blue grass, and of course Lawrence Welk’s influence. I did not like his showing growing up, but now enjoy listening to it on pbs.