Carol Kaye
Esperanza Spalding
Alicia Keys (keys not vox)
Tori Amos
Kaki King
Emmylou Harris
Allison Krauss

...come to mind immediately as recognized for being good instrumentalists / performers / songwriters. I did have to think for a minute or so to come up with this list. Most of these have been mentioned here in PG Forums threads of which I have either read or had some contribution.

If I use the same criteria for men, I can generate a list 10 times longer in a shorter amount of time.

Now, however, I will go in a different direction with this discussion, as I think it mainly has to do with cultural and societal trends and so forth.

Why are so many inventors that are recognized as being 'good', also men?

Scientists?

Engineers?

CEOs?

Political Leaders?

It's a historical trend that has a chicken or the egg aspect to it that self-perpetuates.

(Sandra, if that doesn't translate well - it means that there is a question behind it: Which comes first, the chicken or the egg?)

Now, when one thinks of the singing musician - the list is a little more balanced I would say.

These days, I would say that there is just as much booty shaking by the males as the females. That isn't to say that just because someone has good looks and can dance, that they are not talented musicians. I'm sure most would say that Elvis was a musician, but let's be honest, there are more than one reason why he became popular and he stood on lots of unrecognized shoulders to get there.

I will even go out on a limb and state that I think that Justin Bieber is actually a decent musician. I don't like the cutesy pop-songs that he does, but I will say that the control he has over his voice while also breaking out some pretty impressive dance moves, involves very similar talents and control that 'legitimate' musicians employ.

For other weird inspiration, take a look and listen to Tony Bennett's soon to be released new Duets album.

Sorry - Tony is a musician in my book as well as most of the others on his new album.

In my mind's taxonomy anyone who contributes to music as either a writer, composer, accompanist, soloist etc.

is a musician, whether that sound is generated externally of their body or not. It includes paid and unpaid persons; even the old lady in the choir of the church on the corner who's voice warbles around the melody instead of on it - she is contributing to the overall sound of that choir.

This even would include beat poets and rappers in my opinion. If you don't think that rapping takes musical talent, precision timing, crafty creativeness, control of making sound in a rhythmically interesting way, then just go ahead and try it yourself.

I am not talking about the lyrics btw. There's plenty of 'clean' rap - but you do have to dig for it. One guy that's making it big right now is Lecrae. I encourage my kids to listen to him. The message he brings gives me chills.

For technical complexity, I heard him and his band (yes it was a band with a killer drummer as well as turntable-ist and other musicians) perform this song:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7RWEllqh5J0

live - up close and personal. I was in the front row, as I was volunteering for Compassion International and on the floor of a local arena where Lecrae and a bunch of other popular Christian artists were performing. Sure looked like he was nailing this one as well as the other songs they performed. I mean NAILING it. I was glad I had my hearing protection in, as the bass bins were earth shattering.

-Scott

(edited to get Sandra's name correct: First time around I had it as Sarah - oops!)

Last edited by rockstar_not; 09/12/11 05:27 AM.
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