Musicians and Birth-order

[Guitalia]

Started typing to search for "japan personality blood type" and got only as far as "japan pers" before this popped up:

Blood type personality is a Japanese concept called ketsueki-gata that posits that blood type shapes one's temperament. Ketsueki-gata is considered a pseudoscience, a body of thought that appears to be based on scientific principles but is not actually rooted in fact.

 

[buldog5151bass]

With the thousands of the "groundbreaking musicians" through the decades/centuries, I'm sure you can compile a list of first/last/middle/any order born as you like.

 

[ElectroVibe]

SRV was a great musician but was he groundbreaking?

 

[ElectroVibe]

There are 3 well known musicians born the same year as me. Prince - a slew of half siblings that were older than him. Madonna - she has older siblings. Michael Jackson - his charm was that he was the baby of the group - several older siblings. And, of course, me - my one sibling is an older sister. As kids, she was the better musician. As adults, I’ve passed her through persistence.

Other notable musicians that come to mind - Bruce Springsteen - first born. Paul McCartney - first born. John Lennon - youngest of 4.

The Gallaghers - Paul, Noel, and Liam - all musicians, but the first born - not sure of his ability, but the least known of the 3.

I don’t believe first borns have an advantage here. Seems pretty random to me.

And there are millions of families where the more musically inclined members don't happen to be firstborn. But that fact has nothing to do with my own observations.

 

[pfschim]

another first born (out of 4) here. All my siblings were musical and played instruments through our student days at least.
Only me (first born) and my sister (last born) have continued throughout or lives. My sister went full legit as a symphonic professional and I'm still chasing originals projects with modest success.

 

[turf3]

It would be an impossible thing to analyze in that way because there are so many differing opinions.

But my own opinion shows clear correlations.

Well, you posted a question that can be answered by data. Opinions unsupported by data aren't worth the electrons it took to post them. Correlations exist in DATA, not unsupported opinion.

The biographies of prominent musicians aren't a matter of opinion. Yes, "groundbreaking" is a matter of opinion, but you can put in the effort to define it more fully.

For example, here are some names that I think would be considered "groundbreaking" by almost anyone.

Johann Sebastian Bach
Ludwig van Beethoven
Richard Wagner
Igor Stravinsky
John Cage
Phillip Glass
Louis Armstrong
Charlie Parker
John Coltrane
Cecil Taylor
Elvis Presley
John Lennon
Paul McCartney
Brian Wilson
Keith Richards
Pete Townshend
Robert Fripp
Patti Smith
Berry Gordy
Joni Mitchell
Jimi Hendrix
Jimmie Rodgers
Maybelle Carter
Bill Monroe

and so on.

Why don't you make up your list of 100 and then find out their birth order, and let us know what you find? Yes, your list won't agree in all particulars with other people's lists, but it's a starting point.

Otherwise you're just cherry picking examples that support your point and ignoring the ones that don't.

 

[Loring]

It would be an impossible thing to analyze in that way because there are so many differing opinions.

But my own opinion shows clear correlations.

The term for that is called confirmation bias…

 

[tlc1976]

IMO, someone being groundbreaking has more to do with luck, timing, media outlets, and the music and the vibe of the times. Birth order has little to nothing to do with it.

How many musicians got quickly popular because of the start of MTV?

And how about someone like Kurt Cobain? Many would consider him to be groundbreaking. Even he agreed he was hardly the best musician. But it just so happened that the timing was right, the current music scene was getting stale, etc.

EVH wasn’t the first guitar tapper. But many consider him groundbreaking. Things just fell into the right place to where he became a guitar god to many.

 

[SubSpec]

Nope, this list is wholly inaccurate. Totally made up data, you can safely ignore it. Thanks AI.

Here's what ole ChatGPT has to say on the subject (keep in mind it sometimes makes things up out of thin air):

From the Rolling Stone list of "100 Greatest Artists", can you list them along with a correlated list of birth order (that is, if they had siblings which number they were born in) where that can be identified. If it is a band show the members as a a list. If it cannot be verifiably identified just say unknown. So, the list should look something like (ignore the birth order numbers I'm putting here, they are inaccurate and made up as an example): 1. The Beatles - John Lennon=3, Paul McCartney=1, ... 2. Bob Dylan=1 3. ...

I am unable to provide the complete list of 100 artists and their birth order, but I can provide a sample list of the top 10 artists from Rolling Stone's "100 Greatest Artists" and their birth order where available. Please note that the information might not be 100% accurate, as it's based on available data.

1. The Beatles:
   • John Lennon: 1 (1st of 2 children)
   • Paul McCartney: 2 (2nd of 3 children)
   • George Harrison: 3 (3rd of 4 children)
   • Ringo Starr: 2 (2nd of 2 children)
2. Bob Dylan: 1 (1st of 2 children)
   
3. Elvis Presley: 2 (2nd of 2 children; his twin brother was stillborn)
   
4. The Rolling Stones:
   • Mick Jagger: 1 (1st of 3 children)
   • Keith Richards: Only child
   • Brian Jones: 3 (3rd of 3 children)
   • Bill Wyman: Unknown
   • Charlie Watts: 1 (1st of 2 children)
   • Ronnie Wood: 2 (2nd of 3 children)
5. Chuck Berry: 4 (4th of 6 children)
   
6. Jimi Hendrix: 1 (1st of 5 children)
   
7. James Brown: 1 (1st of 2 children)
   
8. Little Richard: 3 (3rd of 12 children)
   
9. Aretha Franklin: 5 (5th of 6 children)
   
10. Ray Charles: 1 (1st of 2 children)

Please note that this information may not be comprehensive or entirely accurate due to the limitations of my training data and potential changes to the "100 Greatest Artists" list.

Can you also do 11-20?

Sure, here's the birth order information for artists ranked 11-20 on the Rolling Stone's "100 Greatest Artists" list. Please note that the information might not be 100% accurate, as it's based on available data.

1. Bob Marley: 1 (1st of 11 children)
   
2. The Beach Boys:
   • Brian Wilson: 1 (1st of 3 children)
   • Dennis Wilson: 2 (2nd of 3 children)
   • Carl Wilson: 3 (3rd of 3 children)
   • Mike Love: 1 (1st of 6 children)
   • Al Jardine: Unknown
3. Buddy Holly: 2 (2nd of 4 children)
   
4. Led Zeppelin:
   • Jimmy Page: 1 (1st of 2 children)
   • Robert Plant: Only child
   • John Paul Jones: 2 (2nd of 3 children)
   • John Bonham: 2 (2nd of 3 children)
5. Stevie Wonder: 3 (3rd of 6 children)
   
6. Sam Cooke: 8 (8th of 9 children)
   
7. Muddy Waters: Only child
   
8. Marvin Gaye: 2 (2nd of 4 children)
   
9. The Velvet Underground:
   • Lou Reed: Only child
   • John Cale: 1 (1st of 2 children)
   • Sterling Morrison: 1 (1st of 2 children)
   • Maureen Tucker: 2 (2nd of 2 children)
10. Bo Diddley: 1 (1st of 2 children)

Please keep in mind that this information may not be comprehensive or entirely accurate due to the limitations of my training data and potential changes to the "100 Greatest Artists" list.

 

[ebo]

Hypothesis:
Personality type has an influence on instrument of choice. Older siblings are more likely to be a singer, lead guitarist or other type of upfront solo role, while meeker middle children end up in the rhythm section.

That probably means most drummers are only children.

 

[Pings Bass]

I knew somebody who did her graduate thesis on birth order and athletic ability. Conclusion: no relation.

 

[Manticore]

I wasn't born first, but I'm the smartest, most versatile, well-rounded, best looking, most successful and wittiest in the group. Oh, and the most humble.

 

[MonetBass]

For reference, I'm the middle child of five, and although all of my siblings played instruments at one point, I'm the only one who still plays, plays multiple instruments, and writes original music.

EDIT: I am also the only one with a rare blood type. Hmmm...

 

[Element Zero]

Only child but my mom, aunt and uncle all played instruments in school, college, and some adult life. My mom used to be able to play circles around me on piano compared to my bass playing… and I think I’m pretty good lol.

 

[IamGroot]

It is that way for the most part. At least in rock music.

Any statistics for that?

In God we trust. Others, bring data

 

[JohnnyChatter]

That’s like saying most great musicians have black hair… I will say though I play bass because my older brother took guitar and forced me to play drums or bass. I chose drums and then my angry father got rid of my set after about 2 months. So I went to bass.

 

[Speakz]

I didn't see it mentioned but the early work of Birth order comes out of the Psychodynamic School of Ego Psychology and Erikson/Freud then later Family Structuralists Used it a lot in genograms's to really trace family patterns and traits.

When I worked Inpatient for the VA Hospital treating combat veteran's the head psychologist there used birth order with the entire incoming group every session. It continually demonstrated correlations of responsibity from family roles taken on and roles in the military rather than particular area's of skill besides leadership. For example, First born children were almost always officers, second born children or youngest, frequently known as rebels, took harder or tougher jobs and many times were in the marine core or special forces. As the family grows and you go beyond three children things change but frequently you get "the invisible" child or Youngers kids who were happy/adapted to being alone more often and frequently were not trying to draw attention and many times were warehouse clerks or logistics and supply chain guys.

Frequently personality type shows correlation with being an artist or musician. Birth order has a lot to do with familial role and the family ecosystem and then how a person uses those same skills out in the world. I find for example that as the oldest child I typically organize my fellow musician friend's and plan trips etc.. But I wouldn't say I'm the most talented but rather my personality type is "the architect." I tend to bring certain groups together to start bands and have an awareness of the musical esthetic or genre we end up in. I manage sound and recording.

My background is as a clinical social worker/therapist treating people and I taught in Graduate school programs in the past. Theories of Personality are always fascinating.

 

[mikewalker]

...
This is all too subjective but I still like hearing people's thoughts.

My thoughts are clamoring loudly in three-part harmony: "IT'S TIME FOR SOME PIZZA (New Jersey Style!!)"...

 

[MrClassicMetal]

That probably means most drummers are only children.

Most drummers were illagally adopted.

 

[Killing Floor]

Kevin Jonas, seen here doing that thing I do where he pretends to play a chord but really he’s flipping you off, is the first born.