Love the music...hate the artist...how do you deal?

ii7-V7 · #1 12-12-2006, 09:11 PM

I have a real philosophical dilemma. Perhaps it shouldn't be but it is!

What do you guys do when you love the music of an artist, but later you find out more about them that causes you to really dislike them as a human being?

My for instance is this. I love Tori Amos music. I don't even know why. She plays piano and sings beautifully, but that isn't really the style of music that I typically like. So, I've been listening to her for years. I've had trouble with some of her lyrics, but I didn't let it bother me. Recently, I found a website that had a bunch of interviews with her. I watched most of them and was really completely turned off by her. But I still think that she is brilliant.

Ridiculous I know!

Dr. Cheese · #2 12-12-2006, 09:13 PM

Unless you strongly disagree with her on an issue really important to you, why worry about it? You don't have to like her, just enjoy her music.

ii7-V7 · #3 12-12-2006, 09:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr. Cheese

Unless you strongly disagree with her on an issue really important to you, why worry about it? You don't have to like her, just enjoy her music.

Thats the problem. I disagree with her on every issue that is really important to me. But, If I hadn't heard those interviews I probably wouldn't have known.'

I know its stupid....I just wondered if anyone else had any similar experiences.

ric1312 · #4 12-12-2006, 09:32 PM

I think it is sooooooo ultra offensive when stars of any sort do interviews, or for some reason do a press conference about their opinions about politics and world issues. Like anyone should care, or think that stars have better judgement than anyone else.

Give me a break most of these stars live in fantasy worlds where they make millions of dollars for making music/movie/and art that most of the time is really nothing special.

I wish they would just make their media, count their lucky stars they can make a living at it and otherwise STFU.

( EDIT MM Please do not refer to people or things as " Retarded " on Talk Bass )

Ye_olde_dragon · #5 12-12-2006, 09:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ric1312

I think it is sooooooo ultra retarded when stars of any sort do interviews, or for some reason do a press conference about their opinions about politics and world issues. Like anyone should care, or think that stars have better judgement than anyone else.

Give me a break most of these stars live in fantasy worlds where they make millions of dollars for making music/movie/and art that most of the time is really nothing special.

I wish they would just make their media, count their lucky stars they can make a living at it and otherwise STFU.

+ 10^23

I hate when artists, be they recording or acting, feel like they have authority in matters of politics. And furthermore why should we care what they think? What makes them so friggin special that their opinion matter more than anyone else's?

I do understand the OP point though. I think Sean Penn is an ass in just about every interview I've ever seen him in, but at the same time Mystic River was a great movie. The man can act.

I think the answer is to just try to ignore everything a celebrity says and just enjoy the music/movie/whatever.

Lower-Than-Low · #6 12-12-2006, 10:02 PM

And remember most stars have at one point or another, fried some or most of their brains on drugs, they have a pretty altered perception of things.

However, I have this problem as well but I am slowly getting over it.

Alex · #7 12-12-2006, 10:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ye_olde_dragon

+ 6.022 x 10^23

+1 mol!

uh oh I'm making nerdy chemistry jokes again...

Ye_olde_dragon · #8 12-12-2006, 10:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alex

+1 mol

Thank you! I kept trying to think of what the exact number was, and couldn't. Should've used wikipedia or something!

Yeah, I'm a nerd too. I likes being a nerd.

driver800 · #9 12-12-2006, 10:22 PM

It's easier when the music is not explicitly controversial.

For example, r.e.m. put out some awesome music for a few years in the early 80's. I still listen to it today. However, I generally disagree with most of their (Stipe's) political/social commentary away from the music. Their music is generally separate from the politics, so it's pretty easy to enjoy it for what it is.

It's nearly the same thing with the Dixie Chicks (for me); great music, ignore the rest.

It is different and more difficult when the artist uses the music specifically for political/social commentary (if you disagree); RATM, SoaD (?), Billy Bragg, Gil Scott Heron (dug into the way-back machine for those two).
I've noticed that I usually don't take the message (and sometimes the music) seriously - but simply enjoy the music for it's aesthetics.

canopener · #10 12-12-2006, 10:46 PM

It's nice to identify with your favorite entertainers, but remember, they're just regular people too but with some area of talent. Exceptional musicianship, athleticism, artistic ability, etc doesn't necessarily make them obligated to identify with their fans.

Poop-Loops · #11 12-12-2006, 10:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alex

+1 mol!

uh oh I'm making nerdy chemistry jokes again...

Phew, I thought I was the only one that caught that.

I think Hetfield is a jerk and Mustaine is whiny. But I'll still listen to their music. I mean, it's not like I'm ever going to sit down and just shoot the breeze with them. Why should they mean more to me than their music?

Peter McFerrin · #12 12-12-2006, 11:42 PM

As is the case with voting for a politician, one should not make one's decision to purchase a piece of music based on whether one would like to have a beer with the person who made it.

Charles Mingus was violently mentally ill. Miles Davis was a horrendous misogynist and an unrepentant cocaine addict. Paul McCartney beat Linda and he probably beat his last wife, too. I still listen to and love their music.

The Sermon on the Mount says, "Ye shall know them by their fruits." If you believe this--and I suspect that you do, if you claim that you're 180º from Tori Amos--judge an actor by his films, a novelist by his books, and a musician by his music, period.

Neb Maro · #13 12-13-2006, 12:07 AM

I like Michael Jackson's music, but can't stand him.
Same with Elton John. I really like his work, but I'm not a fan of him.
I'd be much happier not delving into the lives or actions of those artists who I listen to.

bongomania · #14 12-13-2006, 12:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Peter McFerrin

"Ye shall know them by their fruits."

I work in a natural-foods store in San Francisco... That quote should be our motto.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Peter McFerrin

...judge an actor by his films, a novelist by his books, and a musician by his music, period.

I agree and disagree. I agree that the good things a person gives to the world around them (great or enjoyable art for example) should not be ignored or belittled on account of their human failings. OTOH, I don't think the human failings should be ignored either, as they call our own humanity into the light. If I call Picasso an *******, I have to ask myself whether I do the same things he did. If I had a religious conviction that was contradicted or rejected by someone whose art I appreciate, I have to ask myself where those contradictions come from, which is naturally very uncomfortable.

arbitrary · #15 12-13-2006, 12:20 AM

Damn people and their whole having opinions thing...

RareBear · #16 12-13-2006, 12:29 AM

The "mystique" an artist can build around his or her creation is sometimes as alluring as the music. Interviews and comments kinda destroys the mystique. It's best to keep it on the art and the aura at least until the artist is in memoir mode. I love Pete Townsend's music for instance and his macho aura but over the years some of his commentary makes me think ***? I wish I didn't hear what he just said.

Peter McFerrin · #17 12-13-2006, 02:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bongomania

I work in a natural-foods store in San Francisco... That quote should be our motto.

It'd be cute, but somebody would probably accuse you guys of either:

1. being homophobic;
or
2. "inflicting" Christianity on them.

jomahu · #18 12-13-2006, 04:44 AM

i had that problem too. i NEVER listened to Miles. or John Lennon. or any other wife-beater.
then i realized that if i continued to do that, i'd probably end up not listening to much music at all.

and now...well, i can't fight against something if i don't know what it is i'm fighting against, can i? so i NEED to listen to these folks, regardless of whether i agree with them or not.
i'm hoping in the end, it gives me greater scope in my world view, which may (or may not) have a positive impact on the music i make.

and it doesn't hurt that they're amazing musicians.

to the OP: out of curiosity, what about tori amos did you not like? i used to have the same issue with her...then i found that dissing her for being a kate bush ripoff was more of a legitimate reason.

Spector_Ray · #19 12-13-2006, 05:33 AM

Everyone's entitled to their opinion and that's fine. What I don't like is when they do it at their appearances. Unless Natalie Maines is at a political debate, I wouldn't give a rat's a%* about what she thinks. As long as I hold a ticket at a performer's concert, they should shut up and sing or play.

jomahu · #20 12-13-2006, 08:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spector_Ray

Everyone's entitled to their opinion and that's fine. What I don't like is when they do it at their appearances. Unless Natalie Maines is at a political debate, I wouldn't give a rat's a%* about what she thinks. As long as I hold a ticket at a performer's concert, they should shut up and sing or play.

see, i have always found this POV interesting. mostly because i think of it in context: i wonder what would have happened if bob dylan just shut up and played. or john lennon. or pearl jam.or public enemy. or james brown.
then again, that's my own bias. i'd hate to go to a toby keith concert and hear a political rant....darn my hypocrisy!