That much I knew about John Ashcroft. And thank goodness I can’t run that site!
F_X
Some of my favorite singers are being talked about in this thread
Young. Great simple-song writer. ‘One of These Days’ is one of my favorite all-time songs. I agree that he does sing in tune, He just doesn’t sing from his diaphrahgm. He kind of breathes/sighes the notes out, which leads to the wavering quality cause it just doesn’t have the steady power behind it. It really works for him in an emotional heartfelt kind of way.
Dylan. I think maybe the best all time song-writer. But I don’t like his singing because of the no-enunciation thing. I like his songs as he sings them, and I love them when a better singer, who really understands the songs sings them.
Willie. With him it’s not so much the tonal quality, it’s the fact he just doesn’t care about the beat, either singing or with his guitar. Hell, sometimes his voice is off from his guitar, and both are off from the true beat of the song. I have heard several professional musicains say backing up Willie is the hardest gig in music, cause he just makes up the tempo second by second.
But I still love listening to them all, their songs make ya feel somthing.
I love the oeuvre of both Young and Dylan, but I wholeheartedly agree with the OP. For a brief time, being a singer/songwriter was the only sure guarantee of success. These people were of that time, and were wonderful songwriters, but… [Inserts a carrot up each nostril, punches self in throat, and squeezes testicles] “Old man take a look at my life, I’m a lot like you…”
[Office Space]
“What’s wrong with your name?”
“Nothing, til that assclown started winning Grammys!”
“Why don’t you change it?”
“Why should I? He’s the one who sucks!”
[/Office Space]
“Neil Young can’t sing” ?!
“Neil Young can’t play guitar” ?!
Aaaaaaghhhh!!! [runs away to live in a small cave on a secluded island away from all this insanity]
[not before hijacking thread]
Can anyone tell me why American Stars and Bars is not available on CD, what is wrong with this world?
Neil Young had, and still has, great talent.
Sorry folks. They just played Harvest Moon on our Suck-Ass[sup]TM[/sup] radio station again. It sure as hell doesn’t sound to me like he is hitting every note he should and I could swear that I saw paint peeling in my office when he came on. [sub](OK, not really)[/sub]
It looks like we are going to have to agree to disagree about his singing ability. Quite simply, I don’t believe he has any.
Thank you, Sam Stone, that’s exactly it.
There are also guitar players who can grab your body and soul and take them to that place where nothing matters except the sound. Neil Young does that for me. (Play “Cinnamon Girl” really really loud.)
A recent review referred to Neil’s “mercurial musical vision”. During his 40-yr career, Neil has travelled through folk, country, rock, jazz and soul. Travelling with him has not always been an easy trip, but it has always been worth the effort.
Neil Young’s music has touched my soul and enriched my life. I also admire him as a man. I especially admire his uncompromising refusal to sell out (ain’t singin’ for Pepsi, ain’t singin’ for Coke).
Bernse, You could’ve opened a thread in Cafe Society asking for people to explain Neil Young’s appeal. Instead, you chose to attack a respected musician in the Pit, when you admittedly can’t tell if someone is singing in tune or not. You chose to antagonize people instead of seeking knowledge; I don’t understand your motivation.
I didn’t want to open a thread in Cafe Society as the language I planned on using in the thread would not fit there. Good enough reason?
Antagonize people? Really? I think you’re taking this thread a little too personal and that is your problem, not mine.
Can’t stand his music. He makes my molars ache unless he’s in CSN+Y. I love Dylan. I love Willie. I love Rock and Roll. I don’t love Neil. So shoot me.
Neil makes me pull a pillow over my head, gnash my teeth and pray for a speedy death.
I’ve never understood the hoopla either, because I truly think his music sucks ass.
I like him as a person though. He seems really down to earth, and puts his money where his mouth is. I admire him as a person, I just run screaming when he opens his mouth to sing. 
Anyone who doesn’t think Neil Young is a great guitar player has never heard a live version of “Like a Hurricane”, the intro is as sweet a guitar part as you’ve ever heard, and by the end of the song he is virtually strangling the guitar, but it all fits into the music. His singing and songwriting are brilliant too. The best summation of Neil’s art was best put by Neil himself: “At a certain point accomplished musicians hit the wall. They don’t go there that often , they don’t have the tools to go through the wall, because it’s the end of notes. It’s the other side, where there’s only tone, sound ambience, landscape, earthquakes, pictures, fireworks, the sky opening, buildings falling, subways opening…When you go through the wall the music takes on that kind of athmosphere, and it doesn’t translate the way other music translates. When you get to the other side, you can’t go back. I don’t know too many musicians that try to go through the wall. I love to go through the wall.”
I guess it comes down to whether or not you want music to be safe and comforting or if you want a bit of challenge…I’d rather take the challenge and fail then to listen to the kind of on pitch but out of soul music a lot of people would rather hear.
Keith
It has nothing to do with liking music “safe” or “comforting.” That’s another elitist statement.
You sound like one of them thar 16 year old Nirvana fans.
I’m glad for the people that get something positive out of Mr. Young’s music. I get the same thing from my favorite artists. Just because somone thinks he sounds like metal grating on a dead dog’s ass doesn’t make their taste in music any less “impeccable” than anyone else’s.
With respect to the OP I just can’t imagine judging music on vocal talent alone. The voice is used to convey the emotional meaning of songs not to sound pretty. Celine Dion has a technically wonderful voice but Lord help me I can’t find the emotional depth.
Leonard Cohen (personal fave) has been perfectly described as having a voice like a burlap bag, but listen to him sing a song like Hallelujah and try not to feel anything.
I know people will scoff because he didn’t write the song, but damned if Johnny Cash signing Hurt isn’t the most wrenching performance of this young decade. There isn’t a vocal competition in the world he would place in but he connects in a way most vocalists can’t.
It all comes down to some musicians, technically proficient are not, will annoy the living hell out of you no matter how much someone else likes them.
I had a boyfriend who LOVED Neil Young. I don’t like Neil Young’s music, except for his stuff with CSN&Y.
Bob Dylan and Tom Waits are hit-and-miss with me, some songs I like, some I don’t.
I love pretty much all Leonard Cohen, but Neil Young drives me batshit. I certainly don’t consider Neil Young fans to be crazy or stupid. And I don’t think my musical tastes make me “unsophisticated” or “unversed in music.” I’ve had more musical training in my 20 years than most people will ever have, but that doesn’t make my opinion of music any better than anyone else’s, to be honest.
His voice is the voice of “Everyman” and is thus is quite fitting given the subject of most of his songs.
My wife won’t let me listen to Neil Young in her presence.
I asked “But aren’t you listening to the words? The feelings?”
She said “How can I? It sounds like sombody is stepping on a cat!”
He is a really great songwriter IMO, and his voice suits his music. But he’s not for everybody.
Hey, I know I should probably just be lurking at this point, but…
Roger Whittaker’s preferable to Neil Young?
Cripe.
Hey! I love Jimi’s voice. Way sexy.
Neil Young and 95% of rock singers don’t have refined voices. But the sound of the Inner Vibe comes through. That’s what rock is. If you want refined voices, go hang out at an opera or something. That’s the cool part about rock. It makes you FEEL something. I have this argument with my dad all the time. He says it ISN’T MUSIC. The nerve. When he gets in that mood, I put on the cure and let THAT anguished voice slither through the airwaves for a while. That’ll teach 'im!
Who knew listening to Neil Young made you a musical sophisticate AND a better person than everyone else?
Testify Bernse! I agree.