Davey,

I tend to agree With Truman somewhat except that I will disagree with your assessment of both Tim McGraw and Faith Hill. I really don't like Tim's voice, but that doesn't mean he isn't singing from the heart. Faith has some serious vocal chops and can pass the ol' "goosebump" test with me on several of her songs.

I'm no Britney fan either, and tend to think of her more as a personality and entertainer than as an artist - but that's just my opinion. Cher also fit into that category as do a dozen current European Model/Singers.

It sounds like you're equating musicianship with being an artist. Is Britney much of a musician? I don't think so and I personally haven't heard great things about her vocal talents. That doesn't mean she's not creating some form of art - even if it's pure entertainment...more power to her.

If someone is creating "something from nothing" and it expresses something from within the person, isn't that art? Wasn't "Fiddler on the Roof" a huge commercial success? Isn't it still considered a great piece of art ("The Musical")?

I don't think success has any bearing on whether the person producing it is an artist or not.

...and there was a comment earlier about commercialism being something recent. That couldn't be further from the truth. JS Bach worked for the Church and was PAID to write songs for Mass which is why he has so many "songs" that begin with "Jesu or Jesus".

He wrote "secular" songs (I guess) in his spare time. Some of his songs would have been the modern equivalent to today's Billboard Hot 100. Ever hear of the Brandenburg Concerto? How about his Minuets, Polonaise, Rondo and Waltz pieces - certainly dance music of the time.



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Larry
www.audibleresponse.com

Larry
http://www.audibleresponse.com
http://www.myspace.com/larrywilliamsproductions
...now writing/producing with Natascha: http://www.myspace.com/nataschacorrigan