Is it wrong to say "better" when comparing musical personal preference?

Dave-W · Nov 24, 2015

Superhero Sam said:
Who do you prefer out of the two singers?

I usually am more interested in a person's instrumental chops than their vocal prowess; so I would have to say Berry.

Citanul · Nov 24, 2015

Superhero Sam said:
But I can't really say, " Frank Sinatra is better than Kurt Cobain", since they have almost nothing in common the comparison would almost be a joke.

They both sang, so it's perfectly valid to say that Sinatra is better than Cobain.

Sammy-San · Nov 24, 2015

Citanul said:
They both sang, so it's perfectly valid to say that Sinatra is better than Cobain.

Why do you like Sinatra more than Cobain as a singer?

Citanul · Nov 25, 2015

Superhero Sam said:
Why do you like Sinatra more than Cobain as a singer?

I didn't say that I did (although for the record, while I'm not really into either I them, I do think that Sinatra has the better voice). I just pointed out that because they were both singers it's entirely valid to compare them.

Sammy-San · Nov 25, 2015

DaveW-Ohev said:
Perhaps. He was an innovator and that was his forte.

People say all kinds of things. Racism is a very real issue. When the folk at Sun Records recruited Elvis, they were looking for a white guy that could sing the music of black people.

No - but truth be told most pop singers do not have all that great singing abilities. But often they have iconic voices. Jimi Hendrix had a poor singing voice but it is immediately recognizable. And don't get me started on Jim Dandy from Black Oak Arkansas. Rolling Stone said he was the only guy they knew of that could sing in every key at the same time.

Are you saying if Sun Records recruited Chuck Berry, he would've been the King of Rock and Roll?

Dave-W · Nov 25, 2015

Superhero Sam said:
Are you saying if Sun Records recruited Chuck Berry, he would've been the King of Rock and Roll?

I suppose that would have been a possibility. But they did NOT want black artists at that studio.

Sammy-San · Nov 25, 2015

DaveW-Ohev said:
I suppose that would have been a possibility. But they did NOT want black artists at that studio.

How do you know?

Dave-W · Nov 25, 2015

Interviews with different people that worked there.

Sammy-San · Nov 25, 2015

DaveW-Ohev said:
Interviews with different people that worked there.

Are you talking about what you've read online or in books, or you personally talked to people from Sun Studios?

Dave-W · Nov 25, 2015

Televised interviews

Sammy-San · Dec 26, 2015

WolfGate said:
It is a huge gray area, for sure, but I think there is a difference between "better" and "preference". However, people generally do use "better" to mean they prefer it more. Perhaps because music was such a huge part of my life when I was younger, and that meant I dealt a lot with music and artists that were not my preference, I developed a bit of perspective that people who are pure music fans would not have.

To be specific, I never had a musical preference for Michael Jackson. But he was clearly great at what he did, broke new ground in videos and musically, crossed ethnic lines and deserves to be known as a great artist. Doesn't mean I prefer his style of music.

Today, Taylor Swift polarizes people musically, but she is without doubt a creative genius and one of the best concert artists out there today. She is great at what she does, and someone can be acknowledged while also saying they don't prefer her type of music.

On the opposite side, I really like Skillet. My son and I have seen many of their concerts. But if I had to write a list of the "best" artists out there, they would not be top of the list. Still, when speaking generally (to take goingbannanas point) I would say "Skillet is totally better than Michael Jackson" which I think would be understood as my preference and not a statement on their artistic ability and influence.

How would you define a pure music fan?

Blondepudding · Dec 26, 2015

It's your personal music preference. You're entitled to say one is better than another.
How is it even at issue really?

WolfGate · Dec 29, 2015

Superhero Sam said:
How would you define a pure music fan?

In the context of that post, all it meant was someone who simply enjoys music but does not have technical or business training/interests in music as an industry.

Sammy-San · Dec 29, 2015

WolfGate said:
In the context of that post, all it meant was someone who simply enjoys music but does not have technical or business training/interests in music as an industry.

What does that mean?

Also, you don't think Skillet is influential? Obviously they dont have anywhere near the influence Michael Jackson had, but you wouldnt call them influential at all?

Sammy-San · Dec 29, 2015

DaveW-Ohev said:
Televised interviews

How did being in Chess and Mercury records prevent him from having the success that somebody in Sun Records would have had?

WolfGate · Dec 29, 2015

Superhero Sam said:
What does that mean?

People who work in the music industry often have to be able to determine if something is marketable, well written, performed at the required technical level, and will provide a return on their employers investment - even if they do not like that style of music or something about that particular artist. You do not get to work with, or in the case of music directors, play on air only the artists that you personally enjoy.

Sammy-San · Jan 10, 2016

WolfGate said:
It is a huge gray area, for sure, but I think there is a difference between "better" and "preference". However, people generally do use "better" to mean they prefer it more. Perhaps because music was such a huge part of my life when I was younger, and that meant I dealt a lot with music and artists that were not my preference, I developed a bit of perspective that people who are pure music fans would not have.

To be specific, I never had a musical preference for Michael Jackson. But he was clearly great at what he did, broke new ground in videos and musically, crossed ethnic lines and deserves to be known as a great artist. Doesn't mean I prefer his style of music.

Today, Taylor Swift polarizes people musically, but she is without doubt a creative genius and one of the best concert artists out there today. She is great at what she does, and someone can be acknowledged while also saying they don't prefer her type of music.

On the opposite side, I really like Skillet. My son and I have seen many of their concerts. But if I had to write a list of the "best" artists out there, they would not be top of the list. Still, when speaking generally (to take goingbannanas point) I would say "Skillet is totally better than Michael Jackson" which I think would be understood as my preference and not a statement on their artistic ability and influence.

Why dont you think Skillet are great artists?

Is it wrong to say "better" when comparing musical personal preference?

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