I had an interesting conversation with a student of mine regarding an avant-garde musician in NYC. He mentioned that he never really liked his music because it is pretty “out” sounding (meaning chaotic, and without a clear sense of form). He does acknowledge that this particular musician does a lot of good things for the New York music scene though, and should be given props for that. But then he mentioned that he had met this musician, and that his arrogance and personality in general really turned him off. I asked him if he thought the musician’s personality affected the way that he perceived his music, and he said no. But, I’m not so sure.
I’m curious if you can think of a musician whose music you really like, but an aspect of their personality made you change your opinion of their music. (mods please move if this is better suited for GQ or IMHO)
Yes, unfortunately. I’ve interviewed or at least met several recording artists, and the ones who are “difficult,” or whatever, it does affect my desire to listen to their music.
Just a little bit. I read a biography of Irving Berlin recently, and damn but that guy could be a bastard in his old age. I’m mostly over it now, but still, sometimes when I hear his music I flash to what a mean prick the guy could be and still shudder.
Somewhat, but if the music is good enough it will speak for itself. There are LOTS of artists in every medium who had serious personal faults. It ranges from musicians, to actors, to directors, to visual artists.
Still I remember meeting a musician who tried to cheat on his wife with a 19 year old…who was a friend of mine. I rarely listen to his albums anymore.
Yes and no. Back when I managed a video store, Dennis DeYoung from Styx was one of our customers, and he was kind of a dick. His son, Matthew, was way worse, however, and literally pulled a “do you know who I AM?” line on me when I tried to make him pay a late fee. (I did, but I also knew his name wasn’t actually on the account and I’d been renting to him against store policy. Since he brought it up, I asked him for ID, “discovered” that he wasn’t his father, and refused to rent to him until he was added to the account.)
Anyhow, whenever I hear a Styx song, I’m reminded of video store unpleasantness, and it does put me in an irritated mood. Usually the damn song’s catchy enough to make me unbroody before too long, though. God, what craptastic music!
Oh man - if you can find it, make sure and watch VH-1’s Behind the Music on Styx. You will truly enjoy how DDY is portrayed - weird, high-maintenance, non-rocking goofball. Tommy Shaw, JYoung and the others try to be diplomatic, but the whole Mr. Roboto debacle kinda brings things to a head…
Not at all. But I tend to have little interest in the “gossip factor” about artist’s lives. I don’t watch/read all the magazines/web sites/tv shows that tell people about such stuff. For example I kind of know enough about Tom Cruise to know that he is a Scientologist and a nutcase but I still think he is a fine movie actor because I never watched anything he did that other people get outraged about - it is of no interest. I am constantly surprised by details about people’s lives - I don’t know who is dating who or who is married to who or who supports what cause.
And I can’t see how knowing something about an artist that has nothing to do with their art can effect one’s appreciation of it. It is like asking “Does a musician’s shoe size effect your appreciation of their music?” When you don’t know it it has no effect but when you do know it it taints your listening???
I would say that my gut reaction (seems to be shared by a few other posters) is also somewhere along the lines of: no, of course not. But then again, with something that can be so personal like music, it seems that aspects of their personality are bound to appear in some way in their music. You could almost say that if it didn’t, they weren’t being “honest”. Maybe after an interaction with them you become aware of where some aspect of their music is coming from that you couldn’t previously place. Maybe knowing where it comes from could change your experience with their music.