Defining & Ranking Greatness

[kilted exile]

This thread is somewhat inspired by the "I Hate Shakespeare" thread. I can accept the ranking of writers and artists - there is measurable criteria there, which despite the fact that I do not understand, can accept that exists and this can be used to rank & define greatness in these fields. Hell, I do it all the time with athletes in sports, again using the stats available (however I do believe the most fun discussions are those where you throw the stats out the window)

However, there was a comment in the thread, about ranking musicians by some criteria and had Mozart at the top, suggesting that this was to be as widely acknowledged as in a list of great authors. Now to me ranking musicians is kinda "dumb" because the only really important criteria as far as I'm concerned is how the song/piece makes you personally feel, Mozart & the rest of classical music & Opera does nothing for me whatsoever - so I rank him down near the bottom (with the likes of Spears & Aguilera). I am guessing Virg probably ranks the stones pretty damn close to the top (mind you he's a little crazy:p).

So I ask you lit-net, am I just an uncultured philistine or is there a reasonable thought somewhere in this jumble?

[librarius_qui]

So I ask you lit-net, am I just an uncultured philistine or is there a reasonable thought somewhere in this jumble?

Well ... You probably has been brought up with the bible ...

I like classical music, so, I'm possibly not best guy to tell you anything about it. I don't think Mozart to be a god. I prefer baroque stuff. And I prefer popular (folk) old stuff, like sailors' songs, and such. You'll see me with a pop not-too-hard rock around me. Actually I don't like to hear as much as to produce, and fact is that I have very little knowledge to produce anything yet ...

Here's something I've been hearing: http://www.myspace.com/intradoxos

It has been entertaining me.


Libri*

[Dori]

so I rank him down near the bottom (with the likes of Spears & Aguilera).

One thing: Aguilera > Spears. Spears doesn't even compare.

[Joreads]

So I ask you lit-net, am I just an uncultured philistine or is there a reasonable thought somewhere in this jumble?

I think you are cultured enough for me. I like what I like and you are allowed to like what you like as well. Why do people spend so much time trying to change other peoples minds? That thread was almost insulting which is why I stayed out of it.

As for me
1. Bryan Adams
2. Michael Buble
3. Nickleback

But I will listen to a lot of others that I also like.

[Wilde woman]

Yeah, I think it's totally subjective. But there are practical uses for such rankings...such as for a music professor trying to decide which composers to include in his class or record companies deciding whether or not to make YET ANOTHER recording of Mozart's Requiem.

But I don't think there's a point stumbling over yourself trying to prove Shakespeare was greater than Milton or vice versa.

Personally, I'm a fan of classical...so let's not debate about music, Mr. Exile. :D

[papayahed]

oh goodness how many times has "the greatest guitarist ever" been debated...page? clapton? hendrix?

[Riesa]

oh goodness how many times has "the greatest guitarist ever" been debated...page? clapton? hendrix?


probably about as often as "the greatest story ever told" been.

[Shalot]

oh goodness how many times has "the greatest guitarist ever" been debated...page? clapton? hendrix?

Eddie Van Halen...Randy Rhoades....

[manolia]

I only rank musicians of the same genre of music. It makes more sense to me that way. I like both mozart and let's say Freddy Mercury but i can't compare them.

[Emil Miller]

QUOTE=kilted exile;666274]
So I ask you lit-net, am I just an uncultured philistine or is there a reasonable thought somewhere in this jumble?[/QUOTE]


Is that what's called a rhetorical question?

[kilted exile]

Is that what's called a rhetorical question?

Nah, I'm a man of introspection. The father attempted to instill culture in me, didnt take well (nasty medicine). But I am all for learning & improving myself, if I'm missing something I'd be thankful to have it pointed out to me.

[Emil Miller]

Nah, I'm a man of introspection. The father attempted to instill culture in me, didnt take well (nasty medicine). But I am all for learning & improving myself, if I'm missing something I'd be thankful to have it pointed out to me.

Hi Kilted,
I was just kidding. I'd never presume to point out what you are missing; if, indeed, you are missing anything.

[librarius_qui]

QUOTE=kilted exile;666274]
So I ask you lit-net, am I just an uncultured philistine or is there a reasonable thought somewhere in this jumble?


Is that what's called a rhetorical question?[/QUOTE]

(It depends on how true is his belief in uncultured philistines. If the metaphore means nothing, then it is rhetorical, whether he knows it or not. If the expression has any sort of meaning, then it isn't, because he's actually considering the possibility of him being an uncultured philistine ...)

Sorry: I have a feeling that I shouldn't answer that. I'm definitely not in a good day. So, if I annoy you too much, Bean, please consider this, and forgive me, aye?


:sick:

[kilted exile]

because he's actually considering the possibility of him being an uncultured philistine ...)



oho, but I am uncultured. perhaps "uncouth sewer creature" may have been a more fitting tag

[librarius_qui]

oho, but I am uncultured. perhaps "uncouth sewer creature" may have been a more fitting tag

Then your question isn't rhetorical! :)


Libri*

[kilted exile]

No?


(for the record, that one was definitely rhetorical:lol:)

[librarius_qui]

No?


(for the record, that one was definitely rhetorical:lol:)

Well, so, now at least I had you confessing it! :D

(I'm sorry for ya! ... :lol: )


:crash:

[kilted exile]

No need to be sorry for me - I have radiohead & a pre-bar pack of beers, what more could a man want? (hmmm, rhetorical or not:alien:)

[1n50mn14]

Musican speaking, there is measurable criteria for a music to be judged by, just the same as literature.

However, I don't think 'best' or 'worst' can ever really be defined, other than technically, using some sort of... score chart... which would just be ridiculous. Everybody is entitled to their own opinion. You can't change that.

[kilted exile]

hey, another musician!

I play the empty beer bottle, what about you

[1n50mn14]

Haha, the smashing wine bottle on concrete floors ;)

[Niamh]

I listen to classical music, but thats because i like it, not because it think one has to to be "cultured". :sick: And i hate Mozart. (Oh no! Niamh used the 'H' word! :eek: I wonder if someone will come in a verbally attack me for it! :p ) I think the types of music we listen to defines who were are not what we are or what we are trying to be. I'm sure you like a broad range of music Kilted, and appriciating more than one genre in my opinion is better than just liking one and refusing to listen to anything else because its not that genre... if you get me. Who cares if one of those genres isnt classical!
Its almost like saying, does going to the theatre make one more cultured than some one who goes to the cinema? :rolleyes:

[Emil Miller]

I listen to classical music, but thats because i like it, not because it think one has to to be "cultured". :sick: And i hate Mozart. (Oh no! Niamh used the 'H' word! :eek: I wonder if someone will come in a verbally attack me for it! :p ) I think the types of music we listen to defines who were are not what we are or what we are trying to be. I'm sure you like a broad range of music Kilted, and appriciating more than one genre in my opinion is better than just liking one and refusing to listen to anything else because its not that genre... if you get me. Who cares if one of those genres isnt classical!
Its almost like saying, does going to the theatre make one more cultured than some one who goes to the cinema? :rolleyes:

We all have our preferences. Noel Coward thought he needed a cultural fillip and decided to go to Glyndebourne and take in a Mozart opera. When he was asked afterwards what he thought of it he replied " I simply couldn't get used to the music dear boy, it kept reminding me of someone piddling on flannel."

[Joreads]

hey, another musician!

I play the empty beer bottle, what about you

Yes but how good are you at it after you have emptied the first five?:D