# Who are the most overrated musical artists? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 10, 2001, 6:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-most-overrated-musical-artists/71930 "2001-07-10T06:15:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![waxteeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/258eb7/32.png) [@waxteeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/waxteeth)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2001, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-most-overrated-musical-artists/71930/21 "2001-07-11T01:57:25Z")
Beck ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2001, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-most-overrated-musical-artists/71930/22 "2001-07-11T02:12:36Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Weird\_AL\_Einstein \* > **I agree with the others who have said Elvis, The Beatles, Hendrix, Dylan…basically, for me, all the so-called “legendary” artists and bands from the sixties. I see nothing special about any of them.** Yeah, and we also had incredibly great sex seventeen times a day without undue fear of debilitating disease, and the drugs were powerful, cheap, and plentiful. Eat your heart out, Bozo. ---
**Author:** ![Odesio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/odesio/32/20003_2.png) [@Odesio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odesio)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2001, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-most-overrated-musical-artists/71930/23 "2001-07-11T03:06:36Z")
Nirvana was overrated and Kurt Cobain in particular. Most punk bands are way overrated. Marc PS: Yes, I know Nirvana wasn’t punk. ---
**Author:** ![Deacons\_Trucked](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d78d45/32.png) [@Deacons\_Trucked](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Deacons_Trucked)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2001, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-most-overrated-musical-artists/71930/24 "2001-07-11T03:15:39Z")
THANK YOU for this thread…and I know everyone will hate me, but: **The Rolling Stones Bob Dylan The Beatles Beck PJ Harvey Rap/hip-hop** and three words: \*\*Radiohead, Radiohead, Radiohead \*\*(I sure wish someone could tell me why EVERYONE has such a hardon for their music…) ---
**Author:** ![bup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6bbea6/32.png) [@bup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bup)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2001, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-most-overrated-musical-artists/71930/25 "2001-07-11T03:41:07Z")
I’ll third Sting. Worst. Lyricist. Ever. And Eric Clapton. I don’t think he ‘gets’ most of the music he’s covering. ---
**Author:** ![Chas.E](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e99b99/32.png) [@Chas.E](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chas.E)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2001, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-most-overrated-musical-artists/71930/26 "2001-07-11T04:04:44Z")
I don’t think Sting belongs in this category, I don’t know of ANYONE who thinks he’s any good. I once saw Sting in concert (warming up for English Beat who I really went to see) and I will always remember it as the second worst concert act I ever saw (right behind UFO at #1). ---
**Author:** ![KarlGauss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/karlgauss/32/3713_2.png) [@KarlGauss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KarlGauss)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2001, 4:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-most-overrated-musical-artists/71930/27 "2001-07-11T04:10:25Z")
Before branding an artist or group of artists as “overrated”, you may wish to consider: 1. What was the musical environment like when these “overrated” artist(s) came on the scene? What was the sound-of-the-time? Many of those whom you feel are overrated were responsible for **defining** a new sound-of-the-day. **They** created it. 2. Did these “overrated” artist(s) influence later artists? For chrissakes, they’re still being imitated, decades later! 3. Were they commerial successes? While not a measure of artistic ‘worth’, it’s tenuous at best to say that someone’s overrrated when they’ve sold more records than almost any else on the planet. ---
**Author:** ![cmkeller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmkeller/32/118_2.png) [@cmkeller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmkeller)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2001, 4:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-most-overrated-musical-artists/71930/28 "2001-07-11T04:26:08Z")
WEW: > [@](#): > > Bob Dylan… great composer, but let someone else sing your songs. I don’t care what anyone says, Dylan sings like a water buffalo in heat. And his son is no better. His band, the Wallflowers, sucked too, and if I never hear “One Headlight” again, it’ll be too soon. Oh, and add Hootie and the Blowfish to the growing list. ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2001, 4:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-most-overrated-musical-artists/71930/29 "2001-07-11T04:32:05Z")
Well, when I hear the word “overrated,” I think of bands/artists who get huge amounts of critical praise and media attention, even though they’ve never done much to warrant it. That means, the #1 overrated artist of all time is… Lou Reed, with or without the Velvet Underground. The first Underground LP had a few fun songs on it, but the Velvets never made a decent record afterward. And Lou Reed has made critically acclaimed crap ever since. Reed has about 50 fans on the planet Earth… unfortunately, 48 of them are music critics, so we have to read about him constantly. Other overrated artists? Well, actually, I LIKE a lot of the guys I’m about to name. It’s not that these gents aren’t musically talented, it’s that they’ve been DEIFIED! Remember the scenes in “Spinal Tap,” where Nigel or David would attempt to wax philosophical? They’d invariably tal ka lot of drivel, but the filmmaker (Rob Reiner) would merely nod, as if those idiots HAD to be brilliant and insightful, just because they were rocl stars! Well… I LOVED the Beatles. I LOVED a lot of U2. I’ve even bought a couple of Springsteen albums. But there’s no way around this: John Lennon was a mighty dim bulb. Bruce Springsteen is a dunce. Bono is smarter than Lennon and Springsteen put together, and he’s STILL only slightly smarter than any average high school dropout. And yet, all of them have felt eminently qualify to orate on every matter under the sun. They’ve rarely shown the slightest understanding of the subjects they’ve spoken out on. Indeed, they often make Spinal Tap seem genuinely profound, by comparison. But media folk were always eager to record and jot down their every word, as if they were prophets! Now, all three guys have made some BRILLIANT Records, written some wonderful songs, and delivered some great vocals in their day… but the idea that ANYONE would EVER care what those boneheads had to say about poverty, racism, pollution, world debt, or anything else ASTONISHES me! Oh, and my last “most overrated” nominee? Kurt CObain. Again, a decent rock singer/songwriter. But I’m sorry, being depressed and suicidal does NOT make you a deep thinker. ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2001, 4:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-most-overrated-musical-artists/71930/30 "2001-07-11T04:35:14Z")
Well, when I hear the word “overrated,” I think of bands/artists who get huge amounts of critical praise and media attention, even though they’ve never done much to warrant it. That means, the #1 overrated artist of all time is… Lou Reed, with or without the Velvet Underground. The first Underground LP had a few fun songs on it, but the Velvets never made a decent record afterward. And Lou Reed has made critically acclaimed crap ever since. Reed has about 50 fans on the planet Earth… unfortunately, 48 of them are music critics, so we have to read about him constantly. Other overrated artists? Well, actually, I LIKE a lot of the guys I’m about to name. It’s not that these gents aren’t musically talented, it’s that they’ve been DEIFIED! Remember the scenes in “Spinal Tap,” where Nigel or David would attempt to wax philosophical? They’d invariably spout a lot of drivel, but the filmmaker (Rob Reiner) would merely nod, as if those idiots HAD to be brilliant and insightful, just because they were rock stars! Well… I LOVED the Beatles. I LOVED a lot of U2. I’ve even bought a couple of Springsteen albums. But there’s no way around this: John Lennon was a mighty dim bulb. Bruce Springsteen is a dunce. Bono is smarter than Lennon and Springsteen put together, and he’s STILL only slightly smarter than any average high school dropout. And yet, all of them have felt eminently qualified to orate on every matter under the sun. They’ve rarely shown the slightest understanding of the subjects they’ve spoken out on. Indeed, they often make Spinal Tap seem genuinely profound, by comparison. But media folk were always eager to record and jot down their every word, as if they were prophets! Now, all three guys have made some BRILLIANT Records, written some wonderful songs, and delivered some great vocals in their day… but the idea that ANYONE would EVER care what those boneheads had to say about poverty, racism, pollution, world debt, or anything else ASTONISHES me! Oh, and my last “most overrated” nominee? Kurt Cobain. Again, a decent rock singer/songwriter. But I’m sorry, being depressed and suicidal does NOT make you a deep thinker. ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Negative](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/typo_negative/32/484_2.png) [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2001, 11:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-most-overrated-musical-artists/71930/31 "2001-07-11T11:50:18Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by RealityChuck \* > \*\* > > > [@](#): > > > > I have never understood the huillabaloo over Jimi Hendrix. Talented but sloppy, IMHO. > > Typical ignorant comment (I picked it at random, and there have been plenty more in this thread). \*\* [sub]trying hard not to open pit thread at underserved insult[/sub] Sloppy in comparison to other guitarists of the day. And I added a IMHO, which made it clear it was my opinion. So lighten up with your insults. I _got_ what Hendrix was doing. I just didn’t think it rose to the level of the worhip it was recieving. ---
**Author:** ![bryanmaguire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/d07c76/32.png) [@bryanmaguire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bryanmaguire)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2001, 1:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-most-overrated-musical-artists/71930/32 "2001-07-11T13:09:30Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by picmr \* > \*\*Stick to the game folks! > > The Smiths: very good band, just over-rated. > > As for those who opine that Led Zeppelin suck: fiddle around with the progression for Since I’ve Been Loving You for a while – you’ll forgive a lot of bloat. \*\* The smiths were the greatest english band around at time. Great music, great lyrics and totally original. Agree with you on Zeppelin though. ---
**Author:** ![BigStar303](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/dec6dc/32.png) [@BigStar303](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigStar303)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2001, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-most-overrated-musical-artists/71930/33 "2001-07-11T19:57:59Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by astorian \* > \*\*Well, when I hear the word “overrated,” I think of bands/artists who get huge amounts of critical praise and media attention, even though they’ve never done much to warrant it. > > That means, the #1 overrated artist of all time is… > > Lou Reed, with or without the Velvet Underground. The first Underground LP had a few fun songs on it, but the Velvets never made a decent record afterward. And Lou Reed has made critically acclaimed crap ever since. Reed has about 50 fans on the planet Earth… unfortunately, 48 of them are music critics, so we have to read about him constantly. \*\* Wow, Astorian…we’ve agreed on many things, but we part company here. Except for the “New York” album, I don’t have a lot of use for Reed’s solo stuff, but I still play the first three VU albums and the live double set regularly (somehow, I never got the “Loaded” album). I don’t pretend to inhabit the dark world that inspired so much of their work, but it’s still an interesting and often fun place to visit. I also appreciate the “basic-ness” and even the flat-out roar of energized noise that were hallmarks of The Velvets, especially in the context of so much of the pretentious crap that followed it in the 70s. I don’t view Reed as any kind of an artiste…I just enjoy the records the Velvets made. (And I still think “Pale Blue Eyes” is much more than a “decent record.”) > [@](#): > > \*\* > Other overrated artists? Well, actually, I LIKE a lot of the guys I’m about to name. It’s not that these gents aren’t musically talented, it’s that they’ve been DEIFIED! Remember the scenes in “Spinal Tap,” where Nigel or David would attempt to wax philosophical? They’d invariably tal ka lot of drivel, but the filmmaker (Rob Reiner) would merely nod, as if those idiots HAD to be brilliant and insightful, just because they were rocl stars! > > Well… I LOVED the Beatles. I LOVED a lot of U2. I’ve even bought a couple of Springsteen albums. But there’s no way around this: > > John Lennon was a mighty dim bulb. Bruce Springsteen is a dunce. Bono is smarter than Lennon and Springsteen put together, and he’s STILL only slightly smarter than any average high school dropout. And yet, all of them have felt eminently qualify to orate on every matter under the sun. They’ve rarely shown the slightest understanding of the subjects they’ve spoken out on. Indeed, they often make Spinal Tap seem genuinely profound, by comparison. But media folk were always eager to record and jot down their every word, as if they were prophets! > > Now, all three guys have made some BRILLIANT Records, written some wonderful songs, and delivered some great vocals in their day… but the idea that ANYONE would EVER care what those boneheads had to say about poverty, racism, pollution, world debt, or anything else ASTONISHES me!\*\* I wouldn’t put it quite as harshly as you, but I generally take your point, and have always been far more interested in what these artists say in the grooves than out of them. Still, as human beings living upon the planet, all of them have (or had) just as much right to hold opinions as you do. Stardom should not necessarily compel them to completely shut up about them. Perhaps the fault lies more with those who lap these opinions up as if they were gospel, rather than keeping them in perspective. > [@](#): > > \*\* > Oh, and my last “most overrated” nominee? Kurt CObain. Again, a decent rock singer/songwriter. But I’m sorry, being depressed and suicidal does NOT make you a deep thinker. \*\* Perspective again. “Nevermind” is a great album. Cobain is a poor figurehead for so many to have latched on to. ---
**Author:** ![BigStar303](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/dec6dc/32.png) [@BigStar303](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigStar303)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2001, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-most-overrated-musical-artists/71930/34 "2001-07-11T20:09:19Z")
#1 overrated artist of all time: The Eagles Here’s a group of guys who have all the women, all the money, all the dope, all the booze, all the California sunshine anyone could want. So what do they do? They **whine** about it…almost incessantly. Poor, poor Eagles…my heart bleeds for them. What a horrible pity that they had to endure such a decadant lifestyle. They have about two songs that I can stand…the rest of their work is like fingernails on the blackboard to me. ---
**Author:** ![Purd\_Werfect](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e47c2d/32.png) [@Purd\_Werfect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Purd_Werfect)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2001, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-most-overrated-musical-artists/71930/35 "2001-07-11T20:33:51Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Deacons Trucked \* > \*\* > and three words: \*\*Radiohead, Radiohead, Radiohead \*\*(I sure wish someone could tell me why EVERYONE has such a hardon for their music…) \*\* Well, I certainly can’t speak for everyone, but I think their last three albums are amongst the most beautiful and bleak records released over the last five years. And whether you like them or not, they certainly can’t be accused of resting on their laurels. I agree with you about Beck, though he’s fun to watch live. And the Stones should have garnered accolades all out of proportion to their output. Also, I can’t see what the fuss is about Spiritualized or The Flaming Lips. I also thought that Mercury Rev’s last release was praised far beyond its worth. And as I alluded to in another thread, Pavement elude me almost entirely. U2 has made noises lately about re-applying for the title of “Worlds Greatest Band”, and I can’t seem to recall the first time that title may have belonged to them. ---
**Author:** ![Weird\_AL\_Einstein](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c67d28/32.png) [@Weird\_AL\_Einstein](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Weird_AL_Einstein)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2001, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-most-overrated-musical-artists/71930/36 "2001-07-12T02:34:23Z")
Well, this is perpetuating a hijack, but [second grade]he started it![/second grade] > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Ukulele Ike \* > \*\* > > > [@](#): > > > > \*Originally posted by Weird\_AL\_Einstein \* > > **I agree with the others who have said Elvis, The Beatles, Hendrix, Dylan…basically, for me, all the so-called “legendary” artists and bands from the sixties. I see nothing special about any of them.** > > Yeah, and we also had incredibly great sex seventeen times a day > \*\* :rolleyes: Surrrrrrre you did. I bet when you _did_ have sex it was with some not-recently-bathed hippie chick who didn’t shave her legs. Every generation thinks it invented sex. > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Ukulele Ike \* > \*\* > without undue fear of debilitating disease, > \*\* True. Given this, would I have given up being a teenager in the 80s for being one in the 60s? Not for all the unprotected sex I could handle. > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Ukulele Ike \* > \*\* > and the drugs were powerful, cheap, and plentiful. > \*\* As opposed to today, when drugs are…powerful, cheap, and plentiful. > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Ukulele Ike \* > \*\* > Eat your heart out, Bozo. > \*\* Get a haircut, hippie. ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2001, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-most-overrated-musical-artists/71930/37 "2001-07-12T02:59:57Z")
Okay, so you don’t like long hair. Or sex. I’m cool with that. Gin Rummy? Deal 'em, Bozo. ---
**Author:** ![Heath\_Doolin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Heath\_Doolin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Heath_Doolin)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2001, 6:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-most-overrated-musical-artists/71930/38 "2001-07-12T06:44:53Z")
I know its been said But goddammit needs to be said again: STING! STING! STING DAMMIT! Pompous self rightoues asshole! The Police were one of the greatest and there is 1 reason they do not get back together. 3 guesses and the first 2 don’t count. You can take that “dream of airrr” and shoved it up your tantric ass. for others: Second on Prince: It just getting too weird with the freak. And I still think he was a jerk for not singing with everyone at the awards show. And big razz to the following: Fiona Apple - Whiny lil bitch does nothing I have heard before and goes around acting like her shit don’t stink. Its called originality you hack. Jewel - Another jump onna bandwagon and hold on. Sure she does poetry and all but you want a song with meaning listen to Tori Amos. I read her book and heard the exact stuff from my old girlfriends poetry at least 8 years older. Oh and Ms Jewel for all her down with us charm, did exactly 2 songs once for a concert I was at and cursed out everyone before leaving the stage in a snit because (gasp) a beachball landed beside her. Marilyn Manson- Bleh, there are some death thrash bands out there there really push it. Take away the sideshow of Manson and its not all that and a bag o chips. The guy is like KISS mixed with Nine Inch Nails without all that needless talent. ---
**Author:** ![Daniel\_Sugar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/da6949/32.png) [@Daniel\_Sugar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Daniel_Sugar)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2001, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-most-overrated-musical-artists/71930/39 "2001-07-12T13:44:41Z")
My wife is really getting into the whole indie rock thing. I’m trying really hard, seeing shows, listening to the songs, and I just can’t get in to it. Now on to individuals: Neil Young–why do so many people think he’s the crap? Smashing Pumpkins–what an arrogant, pretentious fathead! Jimmy Buffett–??? Granted, there are more, but these come to mind most readily that make me scratch my head why they have such the following that exists. ---
**Author:** ![horhay\_achoa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ccd318/32.png) [@horhay\_achoa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/horhay_achoa)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2001, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-most-overrated-musical-artists/71930/40 "2001-07-12T13:58:41Z")
RUSH BLOWS!! especially…Neil Pert. He is an alright drummer, but he is way, way overated. U2 sucks Radiohead sucks…too artsy fartsy Tom Petty [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-most-overrated-musical-artists/71930.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-most-overrated-musical-artists/71930.md?page=3)