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"Bonafide musical geniuses"

Post your top genuine (i.e. no Blazin' Squad, Nickelback, Fred Durst or Atomic Kitten) musical geniuses. Mine, you ask? Sure:

Frank Sinatra:
Not the most powerful of singers, but it didn't matter what he sang it sounded damn good. Oozed cool.

Kurt Cobain:
Master of the pop-punk, quiet-loud, 3-chord melody. Blew his talented brains out, but rumour was that he wanted to do more 'poppy' numbers without the 'punk', so maybe it was for the best.

Stevie Wonder:
This fella *is* music. Give him the crappy Casio Bossa Nova you got for Christmas 1988, and he'll give you a hit in return. Just when you think his songs are about to get all wussy, they change into hardcore funk and hook you further. Blind too, which is even more amazing.

Freddie Mercury:
How such a small man could have had such a powerful voice is beyond me - a true talent, and one of my favourite all time singers.

Mozart:
Whether you realise it or not, you know a Mozart tune. Pretty damn enjoyable stuff, even if it is stuffy old classical music. Check out the film "Amadeus" - it's a hoot, and you get to hear loads of his music.

I was gonna say Michael Jackson, but to look at him now, you wouldn't really call him a genius, would you? Most of his early stuff (ie. the good stuff) was produced by Quincy Jones, he's probably the genius behind him.

There's loads of people that I would call geniuseses but doubt everyone else would agree, for example, everything DJ Shadow touches turns to gold and there's never been a Supergrass song I haven't loved.

Maybe a better question - what makes a musical genius? It can't just be popularity, otherwise dolts like Puff Daddy and Robbie Williams would be mentioned in the same breath. Everlasting talent? Haven't heard a decent Prince song in ten years (except for BatDance). You wouldn't call Noel Gallagher a genius but there's no doubt he changed the face of British music forever.

Mr Snuggly wrote:
> heard a decent Prince song in ten years (except for BatDance).

You've clearly not been listening, how can you neglect any song off the Gold Experience? Particularly "I Hate U". Batdance was 15 years ago.

Slash = genius.

Mr Snuggly wrote:
> Maybe a better question - what makes a musical genius?

I'd like to answer that if I may, monsieur snuggly. A musical genius, as with any genius, is someone who has the ability to perform a difficult task incredibly well, with minimum effort, where others would require much more time and work to complete it.

In the case of musical genius, I find it is the ability to be dynamic - to constantly and seamlessly change your style to accomodate both the style at the time, and your own personal goals and preference.

that's why losers like Britney Spears, who only have one style that they can do well, will die out in no time. People quickly grow bored of music that sounds the same, record after record, and as the bint has no real talent, she is unable to adapt to new styles.

You mention Michael Jackson, well he is a genius yes. Sure he's a freak, but most geniuses are 'eccentric'. they say true genius contains a small measure of insanity. Just look at the arty types like Jacko, Bjork, Prince, Tori Amos etc - they're not exactly right in the head, or so it would seem. Beethoven was also said to be a bit of a loon, and side-stepping into the art world, van gogh was a few cans short of a six pack.

so in conclusion, if you're a genius, chances are you're a bit mental, but being a bit mental doesn't make you a genius.

:D

The Bivan Brothers.

The sagacious one wrote:
> The Bivan Brothers.

Excellent, I remember those bearded freaks!

no, you're thinking of ZZ top

Mr Snuggly wrote:
> Maybe a better question - what makes a musical genius?

Someone with a natural talent, the sort of person you feel was born to make music.

Lennon/McCartney
Jonny Greenwood
Ryan Adams
David Immerglück
Hendrix
Jimmy Page
Lynyard Skynyard's guitarist (don't know his name)

And some others I've forgotten...

Billy Corgan






*runs*