The Ledge

Go Back   The Ledge > Main Forums > Chit Chat
User Name
Password
Register FAQ Members List Calendar Mark Forums Read


Make the Ads Go Away! Click here.
Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 03-18-2015, 04:10 PM
sorcerer999's Avatar
sorcerer999 sorcerer999 is offline
Addicted Ledgie
 
Join Date: Jul 2010
Posts: 2,077
Default The Boy/Girl Wonder versus the Seasoned Performer

I’ve been discussing this topic with several friends the past few weeks and it has been extremely interesting getting different viewpoints and opinions on the subject.

Basically, the question came up one night about the differences in a particular artist’s music in regards to their early work versus their later work. My mind went immediately to Tori Amos, who was so extremely talented and prolific for the first decade of her career. It’s just my opinion, of course, but I really enjoyed her first 5 albums – 1992’s “Little Earthquakes” up til 1999’s “To Venus And Back”. Each one is different. Each one is genius. Each one is a gem. However, as a whole, I haven’t really enjoyed anything since. There have been brilliant individual songs on each album, but not much else. Again, this is just MY opinion. Don’t stone me.

I have felt this way about other artists/bands as well ~ Rufus Wainwright, U2, Blondie, David Bowie, Prince, etc. And even to some extent, Fleetwood Mac. It’s like there was a small window of time where their creativity was at its peak, and then everything just became subpar in their endeavors and efforts afterward.

I know I’m not the only person to feel this way. Several others I’ve talked to feel like there must be certain reasons for why this happens. Is it because after personal success, fame, riches become the norm for these artists and so ensconced in their daily lives, that their ability to relate to the common man/woman becomes severely impaired? Do the relatable emotions that come with being a destitute, unloved, tortured ingénue change drastically after happiness, motherhood, marriage and financial stability take hold? Could this be what happened to Tori and her music? As well as many other artists and bands who have found success and fame through the lyrics and music that endeared them to the working class and low income public in the first place?

Have we lost interest in what they have to say nowadays because we can’t relate? Or do we still continue going to their shows and shoveling more and more money into their bank accounts hoping that they will bring their “A Game” back for just one night and take us back to a time when everything they sang about, looked like and represented was so new, cutting edge and relevant to our situation?

I’m sorry for all the questions but I’m really curious as to what you all think about this topic. Obviously, there are PLENTY of seasoned artists and bands that I ADORE who still manage to be an ever evolving, changing creative force from the beginning of their career up to today. Leonard Cohen, Ryan Adams, Patti Smith and Kate Bush are a few who come to mind for me, personally. These people, to me, have never lost that ability to connect with all people from many different walks of life.

Stevie Nicks is still the “be all and end all” for me, and probably always will be. I’m constantly on the fence with her in regards to this topic. Could it be the only reason I adore 24KG is because 90% of the tracks were written during her most prolific and creative period? Is it telling that my favorite tracks off “In Your Dreams”, “Say You Will” and “Trouble In Shangri-La” happen to the “vault songs”? Sure there are some songs that she’s written post “Dance” that I will always adore (“Bombay Sapphires”, “Everybody Loves You”) but for the most part, I kind of think she’s sort of “lost it” as a creative force in songwriting. Again, this is just my opinion and hope that one day SOON she will prove me wrong and start writing new, brilliant and EPIC songs again like she did from '75 - '85.

I still cringe when I hear things she’s written in the past 15-20 years like “Silver Girl”, “That Made Me Stronger”, “I Don’t Care”, “Say You Will”, and a host of many more which I won’t mention for fear of having my “fan club card” being taken away.

What do you guys think? Is there something that comes along with fame and success that stifles creativity for some and fuels the fire for others?
Reply With Quote
.
  #2  
Old 03-19-2015, 03:34 PM
KarmaContestant's Avatar
KarmaContestant KarmaContestant is offline
Addicted Ledgie
 
Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 3,911
Default

You forgot Scarlet's Walk - Tori's best album.

But I think you're right - she just isn't relatable, to me anyhow, anymore. She lost me after Scarlet, and I think it has everything to do with changes in her own life - like motherhood. While this is true for many artists, it's not the case for everyone. I think some writers do a very good job of maintaining that connection they first sparked, but I feel it's dependent upon their writing style. Tori's style is so personal, it was inevitable that eventually she would alienate her earliest fans as she grew apart from her younger self.
__________________
I'm not the man you think I am. My love has never lived indoors - I had to drag it home by four, hired hounds at both my wrists, damp and bruised by strangers' kisses on my lips. But you're the one that I still miss. Neko Case
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 03-20-2015, 11:25 AM
sorcerer999's Avatar
sorcerer999 sorcerer999 is offline
Addicted Ledgie
 
Join Date: Jul 2010
Posts: 2,077
Default

Thanks for your thoughts, Karma Contestant!

Most of the time I post on this forum, I feel like I'm just talking to myself.
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 04-01-2015, 04:43 PM
SisterNightroad's Avatar
SisterNightroad SisterNightroad is offline
Moderator
 
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Italy
Posts: 5,242
Default

I think that what you stated about youth as the peak of artistry is true but just let me do some consideration:

1) Artists, when still young, are much braver and more experimenters with their output as they are more open to their contemporary tastes and more prone to changes of opinion and exchanges with other artist. This leads often to more eclectic products.

2) Growing and aging tastes become more stable and artists that has figured the field that interest them more and that they find themselves more comfortable and productive with tend to stick with it.

3) Critic and popular opinion tend to identify an artist that has already had a very great success with its most appreciated works, and the artist too tends to identify themselves with it. Probably someone that already has had a very great work tends to keep to what has been considered their successful formula.

4) Also the audience tastes are more open and eclectic when young and when they still doesn't have a defined taste. Growing up and aging if the audience stick to their favourite artist doesn't appreciate their straying novelty

5) Fans that have accompanyed an artist since their beginnig share a special bond with their earlier work, that set a too high standard for later outputs.

6) A lot of fans with the passing of time has lost that special bond with music that you have when you are very young and with no preoccupation and all your life revolves around hang out with friends and listening to music.

7) I think that 24 K Gold unify the best quality of each Stevie's time pole, her naive and straight-forward creativity from her youth and the wisdom, precision and confidence of her maturity.
Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is On

Forum Jump


FLEETWOOD MAC FUTURE GAMES FEAT JOHN & CHRISTINE MCVIE 1971 LP RS 6465 picture

FLEETWOOD MAC FUTURE GAMES FEAT JOHN & CHRISTINE MCVIE 1971 LP RS 6465

$12.00



Rare Scene 1981 Benatar John Denver Christie McVie HUGE ADS picture

Rare Scene 1981 Benatar John Denver Christie McVie HUGE ADS

$12.00



FLEETWOOD MAC 1971 CLASSIC 8x10 BW MATT PROMO GROUP PHOTO CHRISTINE McVIE MICK picture

FLEETWOOD MAC 1971 CLASSIC 8x10 BW MATT PROMO GROUP PHOTO CHRISTINE McVIE MICK

$12.99



Fleetwood Mac John McVie Guitar Pick 006.6 Vintage picture

Fleetwood Mac John McVie Guitar Pick 006.6 Vintage

$69.00



John McVie : Blues Breakers, John Mayall with Eric Clapton CD   LN picture

John McVie : Blues Breakers, John Mayall with Eric Clapton CD LN

$6.99




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 07:37 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
© 1995-2003 Martin and Lisa Adelson, All Rights Reserved