I like them for different reasons. They're both very different in style and performance, and I think the comparison comes from both having lived fast and died young.
I always hoped Amy would pull through her addiction and release another album, but it didn't come to pass that way. I hope she has more peace now than she did when she was here.
@Arwen Darkblade
Proud Member of Hammer of the Gods and Sanguine Syndicate
Arc ID #86194 "Cry Havoc"
Arc ID #103934 "Dr. Thomas' First Day"
[URL="http://tobyfife.blogspot.com/"]Hero Girl[/URL] - my geek culture blog
I think it's all too common for someone to try and favorably compare a recent musician who's passed away to those in the glory days of rock. It's like when they compared Kurt Cobain, who I considered to be mediocre, to Jim Morrison or the Beatles. Don't compare current musicians to those that made their names back then. Just say they were talented when compared to their contemporaries.
"Live every week like it's Shark Week" - Tracy Jordan
I agree with Arwen. The singers both had talent, but different styles. The comparsion likely stems from the media trying to get empathy from one generation to the next, i.e., "Remember what it was like when Janis Joplin died? That's how the folk who followed Amy Winehouse are feeling about it." At least she's at peace now, beyond a life that clearly brought her little joy.
I will agree that Winehouse had a nice voice, well suited to the types of songs she would sing. I hesitate to call her talented though, since I'm unsure if she wrote her own songs or did anything beyond singing what they handed her.
I guess I cringe anytime people compare current anything to older anything. Sports is probably the best example, since there will never be another Michael Jordan, Joe Montana, Jerry Rice, Tony Gwynn etc etc.. And comparing Winehouse to Joplin is a reach. Near as I can tell the only similarity was death by OD.
Failure inspires winners. And failure defeats losers. - Robert Kiyosaki
Kryphon BS/SR/DM 50
Jarku Plant/En/Mace 50
Rant and Rave Storm/Psi/Elec 50
Winehouse wrote or co-wrote every song she put out, except of course the covers.
@Arwen Darkblade
Proud Member of Hammer of the Gods and Sanguine Syndicate
Arc ID #86194 "Cry Havoc"
Arc ID #103934 "Dr. Thomas' First Day"
[URL="http://tobyfife.blogspot.com/"]Hero Girl[/URL] - my geek culture blog
Then she gets a little more credit. She's still no Joplin though.
Failure inspires winners. And failure defeats losers. - Robert Kiyosaki
Kryphon BS/SR/DM 50
Jarku Plant/En/Mace 50
Rant and Rave Storm/Psi/Elec 50
It's just crazy to try and compare todays singers to yesterdays singers. The music between the two generations are just so different. IMO todays music will never compare to yesteryears music.
So, why slag the artist when your issue is with the faulty comparison?
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Originally Posted by Arcanaville
...[I]t would be more proper to say this game is slooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooowly dying.
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Because the artist is terrible too
Failure inspires winners. And failure defeats losers. - Robert Kiyosaki
Kryphon BS/SR/DM 50
Jarku Plant/En/Mace 50
Rant and Rave Storm/Psi/Elec 50
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I would think the comparison has to deal more with how tragically history can repeat itself...with genius also comes madness anyone? Very different music styles with Joplin being ahead of her time and like the first female rockstar I was ever aware of.|
Originally Posted by Kryph0n
So I heard someone on the radio today compare Amy Winehouse to Janis Joplin. It was easily one of the worst comparisons EVER since Joplin had an actual talent and Amy had a needle and a microphone.
Had to share with someone. Lucky you! |
I think though that I can see why some would portray Winehouse as being untalented & plain terrible. It seems to me that people who listen moreso to rock N roll would prefer Joplin and those that are into RnB/soul may prefer Winehouse. No comparisons, but its like the people that are in the Temptations camp versus the Rolling Stones camp...I'm just thankful that I'm a fan of both and can appreciate the different genres.
But...
- both were vocal powerhouses, almost impossible soulful voices that I found hard to believe came from such scrawny "white" chicks (no offense intended, just saying)
- both had very public struggles with alchohol/substance addictions
- both attribute their inspirations to begin singing to African-American blues and soul artists
- both, regardless of musical direction, were unconventional singers that exploded into the mainstream like supernovas
- both styles were focused on the 60s, not that Joplin had a choice; Winehouse was also mostly a 50s-60s revisionist singer
- both were an interesting mix of raw talent and poor impulse control
You could find a dozen more comparisons if you were interested in digging up info...I personally think both were amazing. I try not to focus on comparing one to the other in the overall scope of talent b/c Joplin wins hands down obviously (due in part b/c she was like I said, ahead of her time). On the other hand, you can't take away from Winehouse having written most of her songs, having racked up monster record sales between Europe and America and having received 6 Grammy nods (5 wins) by the age of 24.
"Forum PvP doesn't give drops. Just so all of you who participated in this thread are aware." -Mod08-
"when a stalker goes blue side, assassination strike should be renamed "bunny hugs", and a rainbow should fly out" -Harbinger-
CrazyJerseyan, that was a very well thought and reasoned explanation. While i still disagree with the "talent" of Winehouse, I can at least respect that I'm not the musical authority. I'll even listen to reasons why people like her and I can kind of understand. As of today Bruno Mars is the only "artist' I refuse to listen to people defend. At least Winehouse has a leg to stand on. Mars makes Winehouse look like the greatest talent ever born on this planet.
Sorry, I veered into hatred of Bruno Mars. I'll stop now.
However, well said Jersey.
Failure inspires winners. And failure defeats losers. - Robert Kiyosaki
Kryphon BS/SR/DM 50
Jarku Plant/En/Mace 50
Rant and Rave Storm/Psi/Elec 50
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All good man, I'm not ancient yet, but old enough to realize there is wisdom grounded in the concept of "to each their own". I'm not a musical authority either, like you, I have a solid feeling towards what I like. Unlike you though, I try not to take away from any artist just because I dont like their particular style.|
Originally Posted by Kryph0n
CrazyJerseyan, that was a very well thought and reasoned explanation. While i still disagree with the "talent" of Winehouse, I can at least respect that I'm not the musical authority. I'll even listen to reasons why people like her and I can kind of understand. As of today Bruno Mars is the only "artist' I refuse to listen to people defend. At least Winehouse has a leg to stand on. Mars makes Winehouse look like the greatest talent ever born on this planet.
Sorry, I veered into hatred of Bruno Mars. I'll stop now. However, well said Jersey. |
I obviously live in NJ and enjoy a little Bruce Springsteen and in a smiliar vein can jam to some Bob Dylan when the feeling moves me even though I wasn't exposed to these artists growing up. My mother on the other hand hates both of them based on their voices and lyrical content, she just doesn't "get it" (she grew up in the soul/R&B camp and is rather exclusive in her tastes). All I can do is smile and say, "yeah yeah" when she tells me to change my cd if I'm driving her from point A to B. Really though, how can anyone take away from The Boss or Dylan?
It's really just about recognizing that because you don't like a paticular artist or musical style (YOU CANT SPELL CRAP WITHOUT SPELLING RAP!!! - love when ppl say that one lol), it doesn't take away from the fact that an artist actually has talent or a music genre has value. I have zero affinity in the creative field of making music or being able to sing/hold a note...which probally makes it easier for me not to pass judgements so quickly on an artist claiming they have "no talent".
As far as Bruno, I feel he does a nice job combining old and new and I dont think that its easy creating songs that contain a mixture of rock, soul and hip-hop that play out well enough for the masses to enjoy overall. I don't know what you like, but if you're not a big fan of those genres of music, I can see why you could discount him.
Kryph0n...dont hate, appreciate
"Forum PvP doesn't give drops. Just so all of you who participated in this thread are aware." -Mod08-
"when a stalker goes blue side, assassination strike should be renamed "bunny hugs", and a rainbow should fly out" -Harbinger-
did you know they were both age 27 when they died? infact there lots of great actors and musicians who have died at the age of 27 you can google the 27 club and there is a list
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Check out post #9 of this thread.
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Originally Posted by xzero
did you know they were both age 27 when they died? infact there lots of great actors and musicians who have died at the age of 27 you can google the 27 club and there is a list
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"Forum PvP doesn't give drops. Just so all of you who participated in this thread are aware." -Mod08-
"when a stalker goes blue side, assassination strike should be renamed "bunny hugs", and a rainbow should fly out" -Harbinger-
Not liking someone != they don't have talent.
Examples:
I hate Andrew Lloyd Weber and I think "Phantom of the Opera" is the most overrated piece of crap to ever play on Broadway (well maybe second to "Cats"). Still, if I were to say he's a talentless hack I'm sure I'd have very few people agreeing with me. I think he has talent, but I also think he uses it to churn out garbage.
I could go on similar rants about country music, Thomas Kinkade, and Jeff Dunham.
Point is, not being able to understand, appreciate, or recognize someone's talent doesn't mean it's not there.
@Arwen Darkblade
Proud Member of Hammer of the Gods and Sanguine Syndicate
Arc ID #86194 "Cry Havoc"
Arc ID #103934 "Dr. Thomas' First Day"
[URL="http://tobyfife.blogspot.com/"]Hero Girl[/URL] - my geek culture blog
I think the trouble I have with the thread is the difference between "I don't like" and "don't compare."
At the outset, you can't teach or learn taste. You either like something or you don't.
To claim you can't compare two things is just ignorant. Of course you can. You need two things (at the very least) in order for it to work.
Now I get that the OP has a preference. No clue though why the hate, just sounds to me like some lame bias against a genre or category, e.g. rocker vs. mod, shark vs. jet, east coast vs. west, danzig vs graves blah blah blah. OP - you sound like a great chap to hold a bar down with. Good resolutionless, pointless argument that can go until closing time.
@crazyjersean great summation!
@arwen I'm so with you about ALW. Please add Aaron Copeland to that list.
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Originally Posted by Arcanaville
...[I]t would be more proper to say this game is slooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooowly dying.
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So I heard someone on the radio today compare Amy Winehouse to Janis Joplin. It was easily one of the worst comparisons EVER since Joplin had an actual talent and Amy had a needle and a microphone.
Had to share with someone. Lucky you!
Failure inspires winners. And failure defeats losers. - Robert Kiyosaki
Kryphon BS/SR/DM 50
Jarku Plant/En/Mace 50
Rant and Rave Storm/Psi/Elec 50