Okay, Lounge, a question: What makes someone a musical genius in your mind?

[Tommy_Carcetti]

And who are examples of musical geniuses to you?

I've seen the term bounced around but given that we all have different tastes I was wondering what are people's criteria here?

[TZ]

1. This ought to be interesting.

I tend to like people who sound unique and have their own style...Plus the ones that care about musical integrity vs becomming commercial successes. Say what you want but one of the things I like about Rush is a refusal to compromise their integrity even if it means losing fans...
So, Lounge music war in 3...2...1..:popcorn:

[madinmaryland]

12. "refusal to compromise their integrity "

:rofl:

Is that you cboy/upton??

[Tuesday Afternoon]

2. Mozart. n/t

[HopeHoops]

3. Someone who literally sees what they want the sound to be even if it isn't possible to create.

Beethoven was almost completely deaf when he wrote some of his best pieces. In modern terms, I would say Brian Eno. I'm sure he has never achieved exactly the sound he sees, but he has done some amazing things trying. I would also put Yo-Yo Ma in that category, and if you haven't heard all of Bobby McFarin's Hush album, listen to it - all vocal except for Yo-Yo Ma. I know, I know - "Don't worry, be happy." That's fun stuff but Bobby does Flight of the Bumblebee with his MOUTH!

[Tuesday Afternoon]

5. Beat me to it. I was going to post Beethoven, next. n/t

[MrPerson]

4. Phil Collins and Huey Lewis

[jobycom]

6. So many ways to define that. I give more weight to soul than to technical expertise.

There are bands and artists who have clearly mastered their instruments and have an almost mathematical creativity at making music which sounds different, original, even entertaining, but still don't seem to be doing anything other than an academic or technical demonstration. Some of it you have to be a student of music to even understand, but some of it is easy to hear, can be listened to, and is often enjoyable by the average person.

Then there are artists who use music as a medium to transmit what's inside them, that undefinable emotional quality that only music can capture. It is often called "soul," but it doesn't have to be in the genre called soul. It can make a mediocre talent into a superior artist, and the lack of it can make the most skilled craftsmen as boring as dust. To me, anyway.

True musical genius should probably do both, but extreme degrees of one or the other can measure up to genius.

Musical geniuses: Hank Williams, Mark Knopfler, Dolly Parton, Jimi Hendrix, Howlin' Wolf, Queen, Miles Davis... just a random few.

Just my feeble thoughts.

[Deja Q]

7. A combination of things:

1. style of the music
2. the lyrics
3. the vocals

Not every song one is going to agree with, but if the general style outweighs some individual songs, the overall rating can still be an "A" in my book. Oh, and sincerity behind the vocals is a big plus. While some bands are popular, I cannot put them in my "A" list. The band members being too phony compared to what they sing.

Real music preferred; techno is okay but the music is too "perfect". No room for the human factor. Yet it's still exponentially superior to that "manufactured" flavor all those phony brat bands are composed of.

B-52s
REM
Devo
Huey Lewis
Three Dog Night
Elton John
Dire Straits
Ike & Tina Turner
Tina Turner
Olivia Newton-John
ABBA
The Mamas and the Papas
Chuck Berry
Elvis Presley
Michael Jackson
Jefferson Airplane
Queen Latifah
Public Enemy

There are some orchestral composers whose music, sans lyrics, are greats as well (e.g. John Williams, James Horner, John Barry...)

All A+ in my book.

And given the strength of "Headquarters", the Monkees gets an honorable mention too. :)

[NashVegas]

8. Someone Who *Has* And *Follows* Their Own Muse

Is the most to-the-point I can get.

[Heidi]

9. I'll give this a go.

1. Grasp of perfect pitch for a performer. (Mavis Staples, for example, and Marvin Gaye, foranother. There are many others. Ya don't have to exercise it, necessarily, but an understanding of it sure helps.)
2. Grasp of _real_ poetry and genuine soul as a songwriter/lyricist (Samn Cooke, Bob Dylan, Van Morrison, Leonard Cohen, Gordon Lightfoot, Cobain, Anthony Kiedis, Indigo Girls)
3. Ability to improvise (Charlie Parker, Cooke, Van Morrison, Cohen, Cobain, Kiedis -- even Mojo Nixon)

[no name no slogan]

10. If they are a member of Coldplay, or maybe Rush

:thumbsup:

[Tommy_Carcetti]

11. My definition:

A musical genius is someone who is able to transverse the normal function of music, which is to provide something pleasing to which to listen. A song can be enjoyable to the ears, but usually that is all it does. A musical genius is able to transform the simple arrangement of musical notes and lyrics (if applicable) and make it pierce your consciousness and strike you on a emotional level. A musical genius will create a song that will be more than just notes on paper or sounds in your ear. As hokey, cliched and trite as it sounds, a musical genius will truly stir your soul.

I just sometimes see that word bantered around a lot on people who don't necessarily reach that criteria in my mind, IMHO.

[charlie and algernon]

13. Mozart, Beethoven, Bach, Brahms, Chopin

[sarge43]

14. Give it a try

Composition: Put together like a fine Swiss watch. Remove one note, one phrase and it falls apart.
A deep understanding of the capabilities and limitations of every instrument. Integrated, solo or mass orchestra and choir, each instrument contributes, nothing superficial. The composer accomplishes the goal, evokes a positive response, intellectual or emotional. The listener knows he's heard something unique, moving. Never goes stale.

Performance: See above. Also, a joy in the act of performing, even the most sorrowful blues or elegy. Integrity, the performer(s) understands what the composer wanted to achieve and will sacrifice nothing.

If science is Creation, however you define it, talking to us, then our art, particularly music, is our answer.

[Bake]

15. Stevie Wonder. That's what musical genius is.

So there.

Bake

[JVS]

16. Big hair and tight leather pants!