Should the personal lives of artists be considered when forming their legacy?!
Question: Should the personal lives of artists be considered when forming their legacy!?
Keith Moon, for example!. Brilliant drummer, part of one of the most iconic bands ever!.
But also a man known for destroying hotel rooms and homes in out-of-controls burst of rage and abusing the three women in his life: his wife Kim, girlfriend Annette, and only daughter Mandy!. A man who fatally ran over a friend while driving away from a drunken skirmish with skinheads!.
Do you (or should people at large) consider the personal lives of artists when forming their legacy!? Is it tabloid-y to do so!? Should the music and the music alone be considered!?
Thoughts!?Www@Enter-QA@Com
But also a man known for destroying hotel rooms and homes in out-of-controls burst of rage and abusing the three women in his life: his wife Kim, girlfriend Annette, and only daughter Mandy!. A man who fatally ran over a friend while driving away from a drunken skirmish with skinheads!.
Do you (or should people at large) consider the personal lives of artists when forming their legacy!? Is it tabloid-y to do so!? Should the music and the music alone be considered!?
Thoughts!?Www@Enter-QA@Com
Answers:
Yes!. Otherwise it's just a gush of how awesome and amazing the person was!. Which is fine, but biased!. It makes them sound like they have never done anything wrong!.
Personally I'd respect a person with different musical tastes than me more if they were aware of and accepted the icon's flaws, rather than ignored them or acted as if they didn't exist!.
Now if it's something that shouldn't involve their life, such as "How did so-and-so make an impact on today's music culture!?", then no!. It wouldn't be relevant!.
I guess it depends on what is being written !.!.!.!.!.
Edit:
I agree with shileetz, but I think that's slightly different than what Paperbag Writer was asking!. But anyway, if you're just listening to the music, then the band or artist's personal life should not affect you!. Just because a person looks "weird" doesn't mean they make bad music, etc!.Www@Enter-QA@Com
Personally I'd respect a person with different musical tastes than me more if they were aware of and accepted the icon's flaws, rather than ignored them or acted as if they didn't exist!.
Now if it's something that shouldn't involve their life, such as "How did so-and-so make an impact on today's music culture!?", then no!. It wouldn't be relevant!.
I guess it depends on what is being written !.!.!.!.!.
Edit:
I agree with shileetz, but I think that's slightly different than what Paperbag Writer was asking!. But anyway, if you're just listening to the music, then the band or artist's personal life should not affect you!. Just because a person looks "weird" doesn't mean they make bad music, etc!.Www@Enter-QA@Com
When I consider an artist's "legacy" I only consider the artistic work itself!. The best example would be Michael Jackson!. He revolutionized pop music in the 1980s, and Thriller is still not only one of the best selling albums of all time, it is one of the best SOUNDING of all time 25 years later!. That has nothing to do with the fact that he is a deplorable human being!. OJ Simpson was one of the greatest running backs in the NFL!.!.!.but he is still a criminal!.
Personally, my favorite musical artist of all time, by a HUGE margin, is Bruce Springsteen!. I do find his political views completely wrong and ridiculously naive!. But the man can write, sing, and play like no other!.
It isn't like an artist has any significance above and beyond their art in the way someone like a politician is!. An artist's character can shape their music, but so what!? The worst thing that happens is that they make a bad song!. A politician or other type of officials PURPOSE is to make decisions and cary out tasks that are supposed to directly affect you, therefore their personal lives give an indicator to how they will perform!. Www@Enter-QA@Com
Personally, my favorite musical artist of all time, by a HUGE margin, is Bruce Springsteen!. I do find his political views completely wrong and ridiculously naive!. But the man can write, sing, and play like no other!.
It isn't like an artist has any significance above and beyond their art in the way someone like a politician is!. An artist's character can shape their music, but so what!? The worst thing that happens is that they make a bad song!. A politician or other type of officials PURPOSE is to make decisions and cary out tasks that are supposed to directly affect you, therefore their personal lives give an indicator to how they will perform!. Www@Enter-QA@Com
Fantastic question!.
I think that someone is thought a legend for their music, not their personal lives!. Freddie Mercury is a legend for his fantastic vocals, not his bisexuality!. The Beatles are legends, despite their drug use!. The same goes for Zeppelin (cocaine) and Hendrix!.
I think that a musicians personal life doesn't make them a legend, but a role model!.Www@Enter-QA@Com
I think that someone is thought a legend for their music, not their personal lives!. Freddie Mercury is a legend for his fantastic vocals, not his bisexuality!. The Beatles are legends, despite their drug use!. The same goes for Zeppelin (cocaine) and Hendrix!.
I think that a musicians personal life doesn't make them a legend, but a role model!.Www@Enter-QA@Com
I don't think an artist's personal life is any business of mine!. However, some artists have such larger than life personalities that its unavoidable!. I don't think that these traits take away from the legend but add to it!. I doubt that David Bowie could have kept his private life private, or that he really cared!.
I haven't kept up with the personal lives of my favorite bands since I was in high school !. I DO think its too TABLOID-y to do so!. I think perhaps the death of Princess Diana sent a message to me about the right to privacy for or "Idols", as well!. ( though she wasn't a rock star ) Www@Enter-QA@Com
I haven't kept up with the personal lives of my favorite bands since I was in high school !. I DO think its too TABLOID-y to do so!. I think perhaps the death of Princess Diana sent a message to me about the right to privacy for or "Idols", as well!. ( though she wasn't a rock star ) Www@Enter-QA@Com
of course you have to consider personal lives, there is no legacy without personal lives!.!.!.if musicians were just nameless, inhuman figures, there wouldn't be any interest in who they were as people, and why they acted in such a way as they did, and most importantly what inspired them to go into music or to write the music they wroteWww@Enter-QA@Com
It plays a part, but the music is always the main thing!. The music should be put first - Keith Moon did some disgusting things, beating his wife!. But he was also a brilliant muscian, so what's the point in wasting that!? His personal life need not come into it for us listeners!. Www@Enter-QA@Com
Yes, I think so!.!.!.to an extent!. Www@Enter-QA@Com
Great question, and great example with Keith Moon!.
We are complex beings!. Everyone consists of so many "parts" that I think yes, everything should be considered!. You can't be a great drummer and be a complete *sshole in the rest of your life and expect that to just get swept under the rug!.!.!.!. (and I'm not talking about Keith, just making a point)!.
Still means they were a great drummer (or whatever), but it is only a part of the whole!.
Michael Jackson, for instance!.!.!. *loved* him back in the day!.!.!. can't hardly bear to listen to his music now, because he's become such a freak!. Butt! I try to never give up on anyone, so I have hope for him!. Maybe he'll get his **** together!. Never can tell!.!.!.!.
**edit**
Interesting and well said, gregghal!.!.!.Www@Enter-QA@Com
We are complex beings!. Everyone consists of so many "parts" that I think yes, everything should be considered!. You can't be a great drummer and be a complete *sshole in the rest of your life and expect that to just get swept under the rug!.!.!.!. (and I'm not talking about Keith, just making a point)!.
Still means they were a great drummer (or whatever), but it is only a part of the whole!.
Michael Jackson, for instance!.!.!. *loved* him back in the day!.!.!. can't hardly bear to listen to his music now, because he's become such a freak!. Butt! I try to never give up on anyone, so I have hope for him!. Maybe he'll get his **** together!. Never can tell!.!.!.!.
**edit**
Interesting and well said, gregghal!.!.!.Www@Enter-QA@Com
i think in terms of MUSIC itself, only the music should matter!.
all else including the artist's personal life can be talked about if people want to, but when solely listening the music, everything should be put aside besides the music itself!.
it's kinda hard i guess to not talk about an artist when he or she does retarded things, but i think if i really liked the music, it shouldn't matter to me what the artist wants to do with his or her personal life!. the artist and his work are two separate things!.
unfortunately with people these days, the personal lives of some artists get more hype than their music, which is really sad!. but let's say we didn't have tabloids to write about their personal lives, no cameras so we never know how the artist looks like, no gossip (impossible i know)!.!.!.what's left is the music!. and if it's good music, it stays good music!. and i think that's all that should matter!.Www@Enter-QA@Com
all else including the artist's personal life can be talked about if people want to, but when solely listening the music, everything should be put aside besides the music itself!.
it's kinda hard i guess to not talk about an artist when he or she does retarded things, but i think if i really liked the music, it shouldn't matter to me what the artist wants to do with his or her personal life!. the artist and his work are two separate things!.
unfortunately with people these days, the personal lives of some artists get more hype than their music, which is really sad!. but let's say we didn't have tabloids to write about their personal lives, no cameras so we never know how the artist looks like, no gossip (impossible i know)!.!.!.what's left is the music!. and if it's good music, it stays good music!. and i think that's all that should matter!.Www@Enter-QA@Com
Very interesting question!.
EDIT!
Well, the thing is that we THINK we know, but we only know what we've been told!. I mean we don't personally know our ''idols'' or other musicians!. And we were not actually there when they did the things we talk about, like Keith fatally running over his friend!.
We only know what the magazines tell us!.
I think people sometimes forget that musicians are human beings who can make mistakes!. And when you're famous everything you do, every mistake you make is blown out of proportion!.
If we judged ourselves in the same manner we judge artists, we wouldn't be very happy!.
It's not that I'm saying it's okay that Jimmy Page had a (sexual) relationship with a 14-year-old girl!. It's just that I don't think I have the right to judge people when I don't know the precise situation!. I don't know how mature Lori Maddox was for her age!. Or how normal it was in that time for a adult ''star'' to have a relationship with an underaged girl!.
Just listen to the music, and worry about your own mistakes!. Try to learn from them, and hope that they will too!.
Only the music should be part of their legacy!. Because they are musicians!. Of course some things from their personal lives could be considered, but it should never overshadow the music!.Www@Enter-QA@Com
EDIT!
Well, the thing is that we THINK we know, but we only know what we've been told!. I mean we don't personally know our ''idols'' or other musicians!. And we were not actually there when they did the things we talk about, like Keith fatally running over his friend!.
We only know what the magazines tell us!.
I think people sometimes forget that musicians are human beings who can make mistakes!. And when you're famous everything you do, every mistake you make is blown out of proportion!.
If we judged ourselves in the same manner we judge artists, we wouldn't be very happy!.
It's not that I'm saying it's okay that Jimmy Page had a (sexual) relationship with a 14-year-old girl!. It's just that I don't think I have the right to judge people when I don't know the precise situation!. I don't know how mature Lori Maddox was for her age!. Or how normal it was in that time for a adult ''star'' to have a relationship with an underaged girl!.
Just listen to the music, and worry about your own mistakes!. Try to learn from them, and hope that they will too!.
Only the music should be part of their legacy!. Because they are musicians!. Of course some things from their personal lives could be considered, but it should never overshadow the music!.Www@Enter-QA@Com