Author Topic: Greatest single musician in history? (Read 13896 times)

3xodus · « **on:** October 01, 2011, 02:22:15 AM »

Maybe this has been done before on here but I couldn't find anything. Here is my question, judging on every factor you can possibly imagine, who do you think the greatest musician in history is? I know Mozart and plenty of other classical musicians will be brought up in a discussion like this... But fuck that, the factors can include personal tastes and while I love John Coltrane in small doses, I can't listen to him all day.

The real reason I bring this up is because I finally bought Devin Townsend's last two albums. Judging on style, musicianship and innovation... I choose him. When I heard Strapping Young Lad wayyyy back in the day, I thought they were fairly novel yet over the top as hell (I disliked the screaming quite a bit), with some crazy production quality that I had never heard before.. His solo work though, my god, it's unparalleled and he is EASILY the greatest producer I have ever heard in my life.

So Devin Townsend is my guy. Anyone else care to play?

darkshade · « **Reply #1 on:** October 01, 2011, 02:23:19 AM »

I'm pretty sure most of them were/are married, so that narrows it down

3xodus · « **Reply #2 on:** October 01, 2011, 02:24:01 AM »

very funny

black_biff_stadler · « **Reply #3 on:** October 01, 2011, 02:24:17 AM »

Frank Zappa?

Kosmo · « **Reply #4 on:** October 01, 2011, 03:14:51 AM »

The vocalist of Thundersword.

rumborak · « **Reply #5 on:** October 01, 2011, 04:39:29 AM »

Quote from: black_floyd on October 01, 2011, 02:24:17 AM

Frank Zappa?

That is a fine suggestion, and I support it.

rumborak

jsem · « **Reply #6 on:** October 01, 2011, 05:00:51 AM »

Other contenders: Miles Davis, Bach

Zook · « **Reply #7 on:** October 01, 2011, 05:06:15 AM »

Ke$ha

Zantera · « **Reply #8 on:** October 01, 2011, 05:09:59 AM »

Personally I would say Steven Wilson, but that is just how I feel personally obviously.
I think it's hard to come together on a question like this, because it's crossing the "what's objective and subjective"-question.

So personally I think Steven Wilson is the best musician, but with that I don't go after insane technical skill or playing fast, because those are qualities I don't really care much about.

rumborak · « **Reply #9 on:** October 01, 2011, 05:25:43 AM »

Quote from: jsem on October 01, 2011, 05:00:51 AM

Other contenders: Miles Davis, Bach

I'm always a big cautious about nominations for classical musicians. There is no question that they were brilliant, but I often can't help but feel that some of them were elevated to overly high status, partially because at the time the pond was very small (if you wanted to be a composer in those days you needed a rich person to sponsor you)

rumborak

AcidLameLTE · « **Reply #10 on:** October 01, 2011, 05:27:36 AM »

Quote from: Kosmo on October 01, 2011, 03:14:51 AM

The vocalist of Thundersword.

Agreed.

mizzl · « **Reply #11 on:** October 01, 2011, 05:29:12 AM »

Steven Wilson

..Well that was unexpected wasn't it!

Jirpo · « **Reply #12 on:** October 01, 2011, 06:23:10 AM »

Mikael Akerfeldt, Steven Wilson.

dbrooks22 · « **Reply #13 on:** October 01, 2011, 06:43:02 AM »

~~Joe Jonas~~

Justin Bieber

bss4life15 · « **Reply #14 on:** October 01, 2011, 06:47:34 AM »

Arjen A. Lucassen

jingle.boy · « **Reply #15 on:** October 01, 2011, 06:54:04 AM »

Quote from: bss4life15 on October 01, 2011, 06:47:34 AM

Arjen A. ~~Lucaseen~~ Lucassen

If we just think about rock music over the last 50 years, this would be my first choice. However, the history books would present a very strong argument for classical musicians such as Mozart, Bach, Beethoven etc ... And given the historical influence they had (and still have) in an era that was dominated by the arts (vs the political and economic issues that dominate society today), I'd say it would be a winning argument.

I'd also submit a vote for Lennon.

KevShmev · « **Reply #16 on:** October 01, 2011, 06:59:15 AM »

Huey Lewis.

Mladen · « **Reply #17 on:** October 01, 2011, 07:03:33 AM »

John Lennon

Maybe.

I don't know.

dbrooks22 · « **Reply #18 on:** October 01, 2011, 07:10:17 AM »

Ok seriously though,

I think it all depends on your definition of "musician." (A similar debate is going on right now in baseball over what it means to be the Most VALUABLE Player).

There were classical composers that were MASTERS of every instrument. AND they could compose. I think if you're going to start comparing contemporary artists, they need to be at least a master of their own instrument, and preferably more than one. Once you have that, then you need to add in songwriting skill.

Babe Ruth is widely considered the best baseball player of all time, precisely because he could do everything

TempusVox · « **Reply #19 on:** October 01, 2011, 07:46:03 AM »

Sting

MasterShakezula · « **Reply #20 on:** October 01, 2011, 07:47:16 AM »

Chick Corea is way up there, at least in terms of jazz and fusion.

KevShmev · « **Reply #21 on:** October 01, 2011, 07:48:10 AM »

Quote from: dbrooks22 on October 01, 2011, 07:10:17 AM

Ok seriously though,

I think it all depends on your definition of "musician." (A similar debate is going on right now in baseball over what it means to be the Most VALUABLE Player).

There were classical composers that were MASTERS of every instrument. AND they could compose. I think if you're going to start comparing contemporary artists, they need to be at least a master of their own instrument, and preferably more than one. Once you have that, then you need to add in songwriting skill.

Babe Ruth is widely considered the best baseball player of all time, precisely because he could do everything

By this standard, which is probably one that would be hard to argue with, Prince would probably be an awfully good answer (although I only like a small percentage of the stuff I have heard by him, as opposed to many who salivate over most of what he has done).

Edan the Man · « **Reply #22 on:** October 01, 2011, 08:19:28 AM »

I would agree with the original Devin Townsend nomination. Call me a fanboy, whatever (I totally am though

).

Jamesman42 · « **Reply #23 on:** October 01, 2011, 08:28:24 AM »

This is a silly question to me. It's subjective and it's hard to compare different musicians who do different things.

ZKX-2099 · « **Reply #24 on:** October 01, 2011, 08:36:25 AM »

Thirding the Townsend option.

Also wanna give credit to Petrucci.

Lowdz · « **Reply #25 on:** October 01, 2011, 08:37:15 AM »

Chopin, Paganini, real progressive musicians who moved music for their instruments forward.

Zook · « **Reply #26 on:** October 01, 2011, 08:49:31 AM »

Real answer: NO ONE.

Gorille85 · « **Reply #27 on:** October 01, 2011, 08:54:03 AM »

Mike Patton. But that's just me.

PlaysLikeMyung · « **Reply #28 on:** October 01, 2011, 09:10:28 AM »

Quote from: TempusVox on October 01, 2011, 07:46:03 AM

Sting

u trollin

If I set the criteria on performance AND songwriting, I give it to Billy Joel without a doubt.

zxlkho · « **Reply #29 on:** October 01, 2011, 09:12:06 AM »

Steven Wilson

The Letter M · « **Reply #30 on:** October 01, 2011, 09:38:36 AM »

Only because no one else has said it yet: Neal Morse, he plays keys, guitars, and even drums, and has an amazing voice.

The man has written/recorded/released/performed SO MUCH music in the last 18 years, between 6 Spock's Beard albums, 8 solo albums, 3 Transatlantic albums, a ton of live albums with all of them, and even more guest appearances on many other's albums.

Also, props to Steven Wilson.

-Marc.

Sigz · « **Reply #31 on:** October 01, 2011, 09:41:01 AM »

For some reason Zappa and Chopin were the first two to come to mind.

KevShmev · « **Reply #32 on:** October 01, 2011, 10:03:37 AM »

Quote from: The Letter M on October 01, 2011, 09:38:36 AM

Only because no one else has said it yet: Neal Morse, he plays keys, guitars, and even drums, and has an amazing voice.

The man has written/recorded/released/performed SO MUCH music in the last 18 years, between 6 Spock's Beard albums, 8 solo albums, 3 Transatlantic albums, a ton of live albums with all of them, and even more guest appearances on many other's albums.

Also, props to Steven Wilson.

-Marc.

Neal is awesome, but in making a direct comparison to Steven Wilson, I feel Wilson is better overall simply because the scope of his songwriting is far more broad and varied. Neal is very prolific, but really doesn't stray too far out of his somewhat narrow box (albeit a box he is awesome at writing in).

WebRaider · « **Reply #33 on:** October 01, 2011, 10:07:30 AM »

Prince

zxlkho · « **Reply #34 on:** October 01, 2011, 10:16:06 AM »

I really really really don't like Neal Morse at all.

News: Welcome back, Mike Portnoy!

Author Topic: Greatest single musician in history? (Read 13896 times)

Kosmo