Most overrated musician of all time

[elapsed]

I've said it before and I'll say it again.. Eric Clapton.

Don't get me wrong, I enjoy much of his music, but I just don't understand what all the hype is. One of the greatest guitar players of all time, really?

cheers,
elapsed

[Auricauricle]

Maybe I'm just jealous of this guy's talent and his hair....I donno, whaddya think: Andre Rieu, anyone? The Lawrence Welk of the New Era?

[RoadRunner6]

Yeah, as much as I can listen to Cream's version of Crossroads over and over, I have thought many times that he just can't play the blues with soul.

However, one of the worst guitar player on this or any other planet has to be Willie Nelson. I like quite a bit of his stuff but he should have left the guitar playing to his backup boys.

This will bring many youngsters to trashing talking about me since he is considered a rock-n-roll icon by the younger crowd .......... Bo Diddley! He was not much more than a side performer in his days. Yeah, I know, everyone under the sun credited him with influencing them. Buddy Holly copied his style in Not Fade Away. Bo had an original style but no king of guitar.

What about Bob Dylan on the harmonica. I'm a big Dylan fan but oh so bad on that mouth organ!

RR6

[Auricauricle]

P.I.T....? Any takers?

[JohnMichael]

P.I.T....? Any takers?

Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky should not be included in this thread.

[JoeE SP9]

I humbly submit Kenny G. for your consideration. His tone sounds to me like he's constipated. Add the worst taste in music I've ever heard and you have a worthy contestant.
The Jonas Brothers are playing on SNL as I'm writing this. Am I missing something? I don't get it/them. Put them down as contenders.


Auricauricle

PIT? Wassa' matter you? Me like them cannon go boom! Seriously, the 1812 got me interested in his other work. You were kidding?

[RoadRunner6]

I humbly submit Kenny G. for your consideration.

Soft jazz/elevator music.

[Feanor]

Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky should not be included in this thread.

Because he's classical? Or because he's a composer (which you might or might not consider a "musician")? Or because he's Tchaikovsky?

Speaking of overrated classical composers, my vote goes to Anton Bruckner.

[JohnMichael]

Because he's classical? Or because he's a composer (which you might or might not consider a "musician")? Or because he's Tchaikovsky?

Speaking of overrated classical composers, my vote goes to Anton Bruckner.

In my humble opinion Tchaikovsky was brilliant. He is one of my favorite composers. Of course I am drawn to tortured souls and the music they create.

[Jack in Wilmington]

Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky should not be included in this thread.

Totally Agree JM. Tchaikovsky is one of my favorites. His 4th Sym on DVD is something I can watch over and over again.

[RGA]

Kenny G plays 5 notes and he plays all five perfectly - his music puts me to sleep - but that ain't so bad if you want to be put to sleep - and strangely it seems to be turn on music for a number of women so I keep a Kenny G album around.

I have to agree with the OP on Clapton - I prefer guitarists like Wes Montgomery (who) and frankly - Santana.

I'd like Dylan more if someone else was singing - the man can't sing - and listening to a mumbler buthering some fine lyrics is rough.

[RoadRunner6]

Kenny G plays 5 notes and he plays all five perfectly - his music puts me to sleep - but that ain't so bad if you want to be put to sleep - and strangely it seems to be turn on music for a number of women so I keep a Kenny G album around.

I have to agree with the OP on Clapton - I prefer guitarists like Wes Montgomery (who) and frankly - Santana.

I'd like Dylan more if someone else was singing - the man can't sing - and listening to a mumbler buthering some fine lyrics is rough.

Oh, some guys will prostitute their musical principles for sex! How down right admirable of you RGA!!!!! If I were single again I'd run right out and pick up a Keny G CD.

Wes Montgomery ... now you're talking!

RR6

[bobsticks]

Oh, some guys will prostitue their musical principles for sex! How down right admirable of you RGA!!!!! If I were single again I'd run right out and pick up a Keny G CD.

Amen!! Whatta ya think I was doin' for the couple few days I was gone?

On topic, I have little use for U2 and the fact that the Edge has been lauded as a musical genius somewhat eludes me.

[JoeE SP9]

Kenny G plays 5 notes and he plays all five perfectly - his music puts me to sleep - but that ain't so bad if you want to be put to sleep - and strangely it seems to be turn on music for a number of women so I keep a Kenny G album around.

I have to agree with the OP on Clapton - I prefer guitarists like Wes Montgomery (who) and frankly - Santana.

I'd like Dylan more if someone else was singing - the man can't sing - and listening to a mumbler buthering some fine lyrics is rough.

We might not agree on gear but on musicians we have a winner. I have 2 Kenny G Cd's only because women like him. I don't understand why, but he puts them in the right mood. With Dylan his writing ability is the only thing I have ever liked. Clapton has always sounded to me like a good teacher trying to give a lesson. You know the old saying.
Wes and Carlos, right on!

[hermanv]

There's a whole collection of Vegas stars, Wayne Newton, Englebert Humperdinck Tom Jones, Not to be outdone, female too, Celene Dion, Dianna Krall and others I can't think of without more effort than they deserve.

Live elevator music.

Let's not forget a whole tribe of Disney pedophile bait. All overdubbed and hidden by instruments or a chorus, sad. Lots of skin and tight jeans, and I'm talking about the boys as much as the girls.

[thekid]

Not sure if this counts
Paul Schaefer- Musician or Personality???

I get him as a sidekick though.....

[02audionoob]

Kanye West has no vocal ability to speak of.

[TheHills44060]

I've said it before and I'll say it again.. Eric Clapton.

Don't get me wrong, I enjoy much of his music, but I just don't understand what all the hype is. One of the greatest guitar players of all time, really?

cheers,
elapsed

Wow I'm so glad you mentioned him. I don't know what it is but his music/playing does absolutely nothing for me. I cringe when I hear guys like EVH say that Clapton got them into playing the guitar cuz i don't get it.

[Auricauricle]

JM, you poor, hopeless romantic!

I was looking to get a rise outta you guys.....But geeze! This is a reaction that was hardly expected. Still, his Piano Concerto No. 1 is pretty dern unbearable....

Okay, how about....

[Feanor]

JM, you poor, hopeless romantic!

I was looking to get a rise outta you guys.....But geeze! This is a reaction that was hardly expected. Still, his Piano Concerto No. 1 is pretty dern unbearable....

Okay, how about....

Phillip Glass ... So-o-o right about him -- the worst.

[JohnMichael]

JM, you poor, hopeless romantic!

Still, his Piano Concerto No. 1 is pretty dern unbearable....

Try The Deutsche Grammophon recording

Tschaikowsky "Klavierkonzert No. 1"

Yevgeney Kissin
Berliner Philharmoniker
Herbert von Karajan

[JohnMichael]

JM, you poor, hopeless romantic!

I am also a hapless romantic.

[RoadRunner6]

I am also a hapless romantic.

I'm a helpless romantic.

[Feanor]

JM, you poor, hopeless romantic!

I was looking to get a rise outta you guys.....But geeze! This is a reaction that was hardly expected. Still, his Piano Concerto No. 1 is pretty dern unbearable....

Okay, how about....

Those girly-men Romantics!!

Speaking of classical music, of course, I nominate the whole Romantic era as overrated.

Tchaikovsky's compositions are typically overblown, but IMHO he isn't the worst culprit. When it comes to wallowing in sentimentality, Robert Schumann takes the cake. For overblown pomposity (not to mention dirge-like repetion) Anton Bruckner is your man.

Then there is Johannes Brahms, poor man, a Classicist trapped in the Romanitic area. Too bad: with his huge technical skill and craftsmanship he'd have a great 20th century composer, or for that matter, 18th century. But in the 19th? So sad, too bad.

[Worf101]

Clapton doesn't bother me as much as some other's over the years. At least Clapton pays homage to the roots of the music. To me there's a fundamental difference in semantics here. Some folks confuse "overated" or "overhyped" with "lame". Wayne Newton and Paul Anka aren't overated, they're just lame. New Kids on the Block, N'Synch and The Butt Street Boys weren't overated just over hyped and lame.

In my lexicon overated are performers or artists that brew up their own special brand of narcisstic (sp) Kool Aid and then try and sell it to you. I've a little list of my own.

1. Eddie Van Halen - Never since Jimmy Page has there been a more puffed up, self absorbed, self indulgent guitar player. He single handedly ruined an entire generation of guitar players turning them into grandstanding pick weilding noodlers. Then the bastard has the nerve to turn his back on his audience so that other erstwhile hacks can't steal his special noodling technique. I loathe guitar players like him with every fibre of my being.

2. Lynrd Skynrd - I remember when these guys burst on the scene over 30 years ago. The original Poster boys for Southern Pride, predjudice and pomposity. 20 minute double guitar solo's at paint peeling decible levels with all the feel of toaster oven. And a propensity for stating the obvious. For all those who say "they weren't racists" I say bull****. In "Sweet Home Selling Chicken" they made it clear that they loved Governor George Wallace and all he stood for, with a clear concience. Sometimes you gotta call a spade a spade. Still I do love some of their tunes. "I know a Little", "You Got That Right" and a couple of others are song's I've played with friends and enjoyed.

3. P' Diddy - Take all I've written about Skynrd and subtract the ability to play any instrument at all. This guy's not worthy to carry Chuck D's dirty jock. A complete mimic with questionable poetic ability and no stage presence at all. He single handedly represents all the worst elements Pop/Hip Hop. Final nail? His personal brand of champagne. Are you chittin' me?

4. Madonna - As a musician/artist she's an abomination. The only thing separating her from Tittany Spears is that she has a brain and an uncanny ability to re-invent herself on a regular basis. She is the first woman in my lifetime to so thoroughly manipulate the medium and the media to her own ends. Now if only that end were listenable music we'd have something.

5. The Beatles - I know I'll catch hell for this and would never post this in Rave Recs but I loathe the Liverpool God making machine that is Beatle Worship. Lennon and Sir Paul were two of the finest song writers ever produced., but they are NOT the ONLY ones. The wrote GREAT pop tunes before discovering acid and some interesting songs once they had their minds expanded but I for one don't buy them as the Alpha/Omega of popular music like many do. As I've stated previoulsy I hear more of James Browns influence in popular music than theirs and never found them to be all that relevant once their time was done.

Well that's my list, let the games begin.

Da Worfster