Gordon Lightfoot Forums - View Single Post

Wingdrops · 08-28-2002, 11:33 AM

I don't think it's fair or correct to use an individual's personal preferences as the measure of an artist's greatness. So the issue of whether or not the Watchman likes the Beatles, while relevant to his personal choices, is not relevant to a measure of the greatness of an artist. Similarly, our love for Gord and his music speaks to a different issue than the issue of greatness.

I think there are several characteristics of greatness. Among them are universality, influence, timelessness and craft (skill). I believe that Gord's music is timeless, that it still will be appreciated hundreds of years from now. I know that he is a craftsman. He falls short on the scale of influence and the scale of universiality (with minor exceptions). Few of his songs address universal themes (with exceptions such as Beautiful).

I am sure that the Beatles' music is timeless and extremely influential, and not just to rock'n rollers. Their songs are the new standards of our age, interpreted and covered by jazz and classical artists, as well as rock. Moreover, the Beatles' music, films and off-screen behavior had an impact on society in the '60s. Their craftsmanship is superb and extremely complex and the songs, especially the later ones, address universal themes, such as the transcendence of love and the disconnectedness of modern life.

Although popularity cannot be the sole measure of greatness (consider the lack of popularity of the Iliad and Odyssey today), it is another factor to be considered. Most adults (over 21) would be hard-pressed to name more than one or two Gord songs, if that many. I'd wager that most adults could name at least 10 or more Beatles songs or Elvis songs. Until recently, "Yesterday" was the most played song on the radio in history (Unchained Melody has passed it). Similarly, if one measures the number of songs "covered" by other artists, the Beatles' music has a vast lead over anyone else.

Just as a matter of curiosity, I'd love to know how many Beatles' songs that Watchman can name, even though (1) he is not a fan, (2) he grew up after Lennon was already dead and (3) grew up more than a decade after the Beatles broke up.

(Since (1), (2) and (3) don't apply to me, I can tell you that I can name well over 100 songs by the Beatles, either as individuals or as a group. But I could also do that with Gord. LOL)

------------------
"And the laughter came too easy for life to pass me by."

08-28-2002, 11:33 AM	#30
Wingdrops Senior Member Join Date: May 2000 Location: Salem, Oregon, U.S.A. Posts: 110	I don't think it's fair or correct to use an individual's personal preferences as the measure of an artist's greatness. So the issue of whether or not the Watchman likes the Beatles, while relevant to his personal choices, is not relevant to a measure of the greatness of an artist. Similarly, our love for Gord and his music speaks to a different issue than the issue of greatness. I think there are several characteristics of greatness. Among them are universality, influence, timelessness and craft (skill). I believe that Gord's music is timeless, that it still will be appreciated hundreds of years from now. I know that he is a craftsman. He falls short on the scale of influence and the scale of universiality (with minor exceptions). Few of his songs address universal themes (with exceptions such as Beautiful). I am sure that the Beatles' music is timeless and extremely influential, and not just to rock'n rollers. Their songs are the new standards of our age, interpreted and covered by jazz and classical artists, as well as rock. Moreover, the Beatles' music, films and off-screen behavior had an impact on society in the '60s. Their craftsmanship is superb and extremely complex and the songs, especially the later ones, address universal themes, such as the transcendence of love and the disconnectedness of modern life. Although popularity cannot be the sole measure of greatness (consider the lack of popularity of the Iliad and Odyssey today), it is another factor to be considered. Most adults (over 21) would be hard-pressed to name more than one or two Gord songs, if that many. I'd wager that most adults could name at least 10 or more Beatles songs or Elvis songs. Until recently, "Yesterday" was the most played song on the radio in history (Unchained Melody has passed it). Similarly, if one measures the number of songs "covered" by other artists, the Beatles' music has a vast lead over anyone else. Just as a matter of curiosity, I'd love to know how many Beatles' songs that Watchman can name, even though (1) he is not a fan, (2) he grew up after Lennon was already dead and (3) grew up more than a decade after the Beatles broke up. (Since (1), (2) and (3) don't apply to me, I can tell you that I can name well over 100 songs by the Beatles, either as individuals or as a group. But I could also do that with Gord. LOL) ------------------ "And the laughter came too easy for life to pass me by."