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Do you respect artists who don’t write their own songs?

Posted on 8/15/24 at 8:30 pm
Posted by SaintlyTiger88
Louisiana
Member since Apr 2013
2177 posts
Posted on 8/15/24 at 8:30 pm
In your opinion, if there is a certain artist who is a great performer but does not write any of the material they perform, do you think less of them? Do you feel like the song is not really their own because it did not come from them?

I’ve found this dynamic to be true in genres like country and pop, maybe not so much in rock because there’s usually at least one or two members of a band that write most of the songs.

What do you guys think?
Posted by DeltaTigerDelta
Member since Jan 2017
13389 posts
Posted on 8/15/24 at 8:43 pm to
No.
Posted by BigOrangeBri
Nashville- 4th & 19
Member since Jul 2012
12771 posts
Posted on 8/15/24 at 8:47 pm to
First off, they aren’t artists, they’re performers.
Posted by Tangineck
Mandeville
Member since Nov 2017
2722 posts
Posted on 8/15/24 at 8:48 pm to
No. If they don't write or compose they aren't artists, they are performers. It's like asking if I respected someone who copied an oil painting as an artist. They may be talented, but not an artist.
Posted by cgrand
HAMMOND
Member since Oct 2009
46283 posts
Posted on 8/15/24 at 8:49 pm to
typically no.
I’ve always been predisposed to singer/band/songwriters. Very few exceptions (Elvis, Johnny Cash, Linda Ronstadt, etc)
Posted by Zappas Stache
Utility Muffin Research Kitchen
Member since Apr 2009
42286 posts
Posted on 8/15/24 at 8:58 pm to
quote:

No. If they don't write or compose they aren't artists, they are performers. It's like asking if I respected 


Performers can be artists in the way they interpret the song. Was Frank Sinatra not an artist?
Posted by FightinTigersDammit
Louisiana North
Member since Mar 2006
45990 posts
Posted on 8/15/24 at 8:58 pm to
Elvis didn't write songs
Posted by DeltaTigerDelta
Member since Jan 2017
13389 posts
Posted on 8/15/24 at 8:59 pm to
quote:

Elvis didn't write songs

Ergo no respect
Posted by FightinTigersDammit
Louisiana North
Member since Mar 2006
45990 posts
Posted on 8/15/24 at 9:01 pm to
Well, you're a fool
This post was edited on 8/15/24 at 9:02 pm
Posted by Kafka
I am the moral conscience of TD
Member since Jul 2007
153884 posts
Posted on 8/15/24 at 9:05 pm to
quote:

In your opinion, if there is a certain artist who is a great performer but does not write any of the material they perform, do you think less of them?
LINK
Posted by JustinBRLA
Melbourne, FL
Member since Sep 2006
1152 posts
Posted on 8/15/24 at 9:06 pm to
quote:

In your opinion, if there is a certain artist who is a great performer but does not write any of the material they perform, do you think less of them?


I think to say you don't respect a singer who doesn't write is kind of insane. It's just a different kind of respect.

Do I respect Celine Dion as a songwriter? Well, no. Because she's not one. She's always been straightforward in saying she can't write a song for shite. Do I respect her as a vocalist? Absolutely. Is her use of and mastery of her voice to interpret what other people write a form of art? Sure, why not.

In general I respect someone like her a lot more than say a Beyonce who is a "songwriter" by virtue of "if I'm using your song, you'll be giving me a writing credit for the privilege of me singing it."
This post was edited on 8/15/24 at 9:07 pm
Posted by Tangineck
Mandeville
Member since Nov 2017
2722 posts
Posted on 8/15/24 at 9:08 pm to
quote:

Was Frank Sinatra not an artist?


You can blur the lines like this, sure, but an artist doesn't need other people to create art, and Sinatra needed songwriters and composers.
Posted by Zappas Stache
Utility Muffin Research Kitchen
Member since Apr 2009
42286 posts
Posted on 8/15/24 at 9:23 pm to
quote:

an artist doesn't need other people to create art, 


Every artist throughout history has used the work of others to create their own.
Posted by Kafka
I am the moral conscience of TD
Member since Jul 2007
153884 posts
Posted on 8/15/24 at 9:25 pm to
quote:

First off, they aren’t artists, they’re performers.
Note that this idea did not exist in popular music before Bob Dylan
Posted by Kafka
I am the moral conscience of TD
Member since Jul 2007
153884 posts
Posted on 8/15/24 at 9:31 pm to
quote:

Every artist throughout history has used the work of others to create their own
Shakespeare stole every fricking plot he ever used

Posted by RollingwiththeTide
Member since Oct 2020
5936 posts
Posted on 8/15/24 at 9:45 pm to
Good question. Never really thought about it to be honest. To me it doesn’t matter. A good song is a good song. Who wrote it never enters my mind. I will even listen to songs by bands or artist dealing with politics or religion that I strongly disagree with if the music is good enough. A cool song is a cool song that’s just how I have always rolled when it comes to music.

When you really think about it this question you asked reminds me of PED’s in baseball. Sure players get an advantage by taking them but in order for those PED’s to matter in the least a player must be a superstar in the first place. If a player is constantly swinging at the ball and never makes contact then it doesn’t matter what drugs he is taking to enhance his performance because he won’t stay in the league very long. A band or solo artist is not that different. If that artist or band can’t perform in the first place then it will not matter what person or person’s wrote the music because it’s gonna suck. Like the baseball player on PED’s a band or solo artist must have a certain amount of talent to perform the music in front of them or that person or group of people will not have any type of career no matter who wrote the music or how many times they try to perform it.
Posted by OWLFAN86
Erotic Novelist
Member since Jun 2004
194344 posts
Posted on 8/15/24 at 9:57 pm to
thats a non-sensical analogy PEDs enhance performance don't create an ability





Posted by Red Boarman
Member since Oct 2023
627 posts
Posted on 8/15/24 at 9:59 pm to
When song writers are the performers, the song is written with performance in mind. The two are entwined. That can give higher results, but not always..

When song writers aren't performers, someone has to step in. For instance, Mac Davis needed Bobby Goldsboro to watch Scotty grow. People love that stuff. I like both ways, but more so the former.



Posted by kingbob
Sorrento, LA
Member since Nov 2010
69222 posts
Posted on 8/15/24 at 9:59 pm to
I respect them as performers, but not as artists.
Posted by AlwysATgr
Member since Apr 2008
20051 posts
Posted on 8/16/24 at 1:39 am to
When you say "any" maybe a little bit. But in general, when I hear a song I don't typically withhold judgement until I know if the performer wrote the song or not.

OTOH, in classical music almost all the music was written by someone else. That said, those performing it assume some latitude in interpreting the original such that maybe they too may be fairly regarded as artists.
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