"Talented" Artists
 

Okay, so in every Britney thread known to man on GC someone has said "i hate it that she's not talented and she gets credit" or "there are more talented artists out there". So, this got me thinking....who are these talented artists, or groups?

So I would like to hear from you, who do you think is a talented artist in today's society? Please don't note that the Beatles, Jimi Hendrix, Patsy Cline, Bach, etc are talented. B/c yes they were talented....but I"m looking for TODAY's talented artists. Artists that in the past 5 or so years, or especially this year or so have come out. Please no discussion of Britney....there are enough threads out there dedicated to her as it is.

Really, its just a matter of taste - but I'm really curious to see who's name is on or left off the list.

I think John Mayer, however you spell it, appears to be pretty talented - dont' know much about how he writes or if he writes most of his work. But he is pretty popular right now. I can't really think of anyone else right now....

Alicia Keys, Michelle Branch, Norah Jones, Vanessa Carlton. There are a lot of bands that aren't popular that I think are talented too, but that's pretty irrelevant to this discussion.

Nora Jones
 

As much as I hate their politics, the Dixie Chicks are talented.

Rascal Flats is talented.

The entire Dave Matthews band is talented.

Compared to Spears, Aguilara is talented (actually capable of some vocal acrobatics). Spears likes to speak her songs these days.

It's hard to say vocalists are "talented". I've seen better singers than most of your pop stars out of the University of Central Oklahoma music school. It's the lucky breaks that mean everything in that business.

jason mraz, dave matthews (+band), eminem, matt nathanson, outkast, howie day, howie day, ari hest, marc broussard.. to name a few

i don't really listen to female musicians very often though..

ktsnake, do you not like the Dixie Chicks' politics, or just those of Natalie Maines? I had read that the other two are much more...restrained. ;)

Tori Amos is one of the most talented piano players performing today.

Justin Timberlake is fair, not talented within classic parameters, but talented among his contemporaries.

I agree with Norah Jones and Alicia Keys...otherwise, I'm just not into contemporary music.

Norah Jones, Alicia Keys, Eminem (although he's starting to be considered "pop music", he still one of the most talented rappers out there), OutKast, Pearl Jam (I <3 them), Carlos Santana, and there's more that I can't think of right now because I'm having a brain fart.

Coldplay, Linkin Park (Not because I love them so much, but they are actually talented, NORAH JONES, Jason Mraz, John Mayer, incubus (lyrically-talented)

U2, Sting, Melissa Etheridge, Sheryl Crow, and some of the musicians previously mentioned. I saw Al Green last night on Letterman, and it doesn't get much better than him.

I guess the newest musicians I like are Alanis Morissette, Norah Jones, DMB, Alicia Keyes, Lauryn Hill and Hole. I know that they aren't that new, but I don't know new music.

LINKIN PARK is awesome! They put on one hell of a show for the start of their Meteora tour last Friday!!!!!!!! Okay, back to the question. Dave Matthews Band, Eminem, P.O.D., Jay-Z....that's all I can think of right now.

I'm not attacking anyone and I don't want to start an uproar, but I just don't see how Linkin Park is talented. I guess their DJ is pretty good, but they sound just like most other bands on the radio right now. Maybe it's because I don't like their style of music so I don't listen as closely, but would an LP fan please explain their intricacies?

I'd like to add They Might Be Giants to my list. They never really enjoyed huge commercial fame, but their music appeals to a wide range of people, regardless of their preferred musical style. And that takes talent, yo.

ETA: I'm adding the Beastie Boys for the same reason (even though they have had commercial success).

Metallica, Luther Vandross, Alecia Keys, Outkast, Jay-Z, P.O.D., Norah Jones, Isley Brothers, Reuben Studderd, Gerald Levert, R.Kelly

Mariah Carey, Janet Jackson, Christina Aguilera, Jay-Z, Jason Mraz, Norah Jones, Alicia Keys, Dixie Chicks, Shania Twain, Beyonce/Destiny's Child, No Doubt, Coldplay, Kelly Clarkson, R. Kelly, Outkast.

Jack Johnson
John Mayer
DMB (the whole thing... especially Boyd Tinsley)
Paul Van Dyk (German trance DJ)
Tori Amos
Alicia Keys
Outkast
David Gray
The Smashing Pumpkins... or what they used to be
Tom Morello (Audioslave guitarist... just him though)
Evanescence (sorry, I can't spell it...)
Dido
Clay Aiken and Ruben Studdard

Mmmm, where do I start . . .

Umphree McGees
Karl Denson
Norah Jones
Radiohead
Tori Amos
Outkast
Phish
String Cheese Incident
many many bands that just started

IMO, unlike a lot of other bands out there, when playing live Linkin Park actually sounds like they do on their albums. Chester has an incredible voice and Mr. Hahn (sp?) is good at DJ-ing. When I think of talent, not only does sound come to mind, but whether or not they actually energize you. Can this performer last in times like today when "one-hit-wonders" are so common? How fast would their concert or performance sell out? Obviously, I am a LP fan, so I listen to their music more indepth. I guess it all depends on what you define as talent.

a talented artist i think is great is my girlfriend Mandy Moore :D

Gavin DeGraw (I would listen to him sing the phonebook!)
John Mayer
Jason Mraz
Amanda Marshall
Stacie Orrico
Norah Jones
India Arie
Christina Aguilera
Frankie J
Alicia Keyes
Pharell
Shakira
Stained
Linkin Park
Evanescence
Carlos Santana

Alicia Keys is a virtuoso piano player . . . I'm going to leave my personal feelings at just that. Her new song though? Doesn't do anything for me. At all.

Anyway.

In terms of actual vocal talent, there are millions of great singers around, but not many convert to great performers.

If you're talking about talented songwriters, Ted Leo comes to mind, as well as Conor Oberst (from Bright Eyes). The best pop songwriting out right now, in my opinion, comes from The New Pornographers, and not just because Neko Case has probably the best pop pipes available . . . the writing is top tier.

The new Outkast album breaks down a lot of walls with regard to 'what IS hip hop,' and Talib Kweli did something top tier with Quality. I know I'm on record as an Anticon apologist, but as a collective they top anything around (excepting maybe Def Jux, depending on what you like), check out Seven's Travels by Atmosphere for a good, accessible introduction to 'nerd-rap'.

Rob Swift's The Ablist is a masterpiece of turn table/ambient work, and Zero7's Simple Things is a more laid-back take on ambience. Both are very complete as CDs, and each track is emphasized by those around it . . . this sort of composition is a talent in and of itself.

I guess it depends on what you consider to be the definition of 'talented' . . . here's some suggestions though, and if you want I can go more in depth depending on what you like.

I think that it is more accurate to say that talented people are often not marketable. Britney Spears has zero musical talent, but she is a very marketable product.

The music industry was run by people with musical backgrounds. Starting in the 1970s, this began to change. Today, you'd be hard pressed to find an executive with a music lable who has formal musical training. They have MBAs, but couldn't play a C scale on a piano of their lives depended on it.

The music industry today has more to do with image, then it does with music. It has become rare to sign a musically promising act, and actually develop them. The technology has also made the music worse. You can now take someone, like Britney, who does not have a very good voice, have her sing, and then postprocess her voice with Apogee ProTools to make sure that her voice is now in tune. You can make her match the beat, even though her sense of rhythm as a vocalist may be off. There is less incentive to get talented people, because talent is not needed to sell the product anymore. Well, to a point.

There is now a rebellion against the garbage, and its being fought in the marketplace. People just aren't interested in poor quality music.

The internet has also hurt the music industry, but its not just the internet. I've talked about this with a lot of music producers. The main problem with the music industry is that they need the quick sale that a Britney brings. Talent is time consuming. It has to be developed. Britney is not talent. She is product.

To address this problem, NYU has teamed up with a number of people in the music industry to start the Clive Davis Department of Recorded Music. Part of admissions is a musical audition. This program looks to teach people with a musical background all of the facets of the record industry. Such people will be able to spot, and develop, real musical talent. It will take years for this program to have an impact, but eventually, it will.

SHAKIRA, Peter Cincotti, Josh Groban, Norah Jones, Dixie Chicks, Brad Paisley, Martina McBride, Rascal Flatts, Jason Mraz, Matchbox Twenty, Rooney, Train, DMB, Goo Goo Dolls

Yay! Glad to see someone else mentioned Shakira.

Russell - I pm'd you!

Hahaha... okay so lots of you are putting down Norah Jones. Which is really funny.... b/c I have a friend who when she drinks sounds exactly like that! So we all joke that Norah sounds like a drunk girl trying to sing. So when we're all together we start singing that song "i dont' know why i didn't call" really loud. Don't slam me for that.....:p

I agree with the Outkast album! Its really awesome. And Clay Aiken needs to marry me!

Who put down Norah Jones?

Okay.....let me see :

Lil'Hannah
russellwarshay
Munchkin03
ZTAngel
_Opi_
Peaches-n-Cream
sigtau305
Geoffz
moe.ron
LeslieAGD

I think that's it.

I love Norah's voice! It has a jazzy sound. When her first song came out, I thought she was older, way older. I saw her CD and was :eek: because of how young she is. Wow. She's just awesome.

Oh babe....I'm not making fun of you all for liking her. She is talented.....I just don't dig her music - that's all. She just reminds me of my friend. That's all...we all have our tastes! ;)

Oh but I thought she was older too when my ex played her music for me.

We didn't put her down, we all praised her.

by "put down" i believe she meant wrote down. as in "i put down my thoughts in my journal"

Ohhhhhhhhh! Thanks for the clarification.

Add him to my list. I forgot to put him down. He is one of the most talented vocalist out there.

Red Hot Chili Peppers - Flea is one of the best base players ever. Anthony Keidis is a phenomenal song writer and front man. John Frusciante is one of the few guitarist today with a distinctive style easily picked out by even non-fans. and Chad the drummer is always where he should be...fantastic

Ben Folds - another good pianist

Jurassic 5 - amazing hip-hop, their two dj's are amazing in their blending/creating of songs, and the 4 rappers are great. Download "Day at the Races" for evidence

Me First and the Gimme Gimmes - has to take some talent to turn showtunes in to punk rock gems

Tom Morello from Audioslave/RATM - all the sounds from every RATM album were made with only guitar, drums, and bass, and 99% were from Tom Morello's guitar. He really stretches the types of sounds you can get out of a guitar.

Evanescence, They Might Be Giants, Blackmore's Night, Sissel.

I added some
 

Johnny Lang, Madonna, Sheryl Crow, Nappy Roots, DMX, Ben Harper , Lauryn Hill, Faith Hill, Garth Brooks, David Gray, and Josh Kelley.

Yea, thats what I meant.

Pearl Jam
Josh Kelley
Jeff Buckley
U2
John Mayer
The Neptunes
Jermaine Dupri (sp?)
P. Diddy
Sarah MacLachlan
Michelle Branch
The Who
Pink Floyd
Lauryn Hill
Frank Sinatra
Phil Collins
Coldplay
Harry Connick Jr
John Coltrane
Stan Getz
Miles Davis
Billie Holliday
Jack Johnson
Rovert Randolph & the family band
Billy Joel
Elton John
Dave Matthews Band
Johnny Cash
Willie Nelson
Outkast
Rolling Stones
Jason Mraz
Ben Folds
Beatles
Aretha Franklin
Ben Harper
Beck
Better than ezra
David Gray
Stevie Wonder
The Doors
North Mississippi Allstars
Tupac
Pat Green
Cory Morrow
Bob Dylan (& Jakob)




just to name a few---in random order. I am VERY into music...and I haven't named them all. So, please don't be offended if I forget someone. I'm sure no one will.

while all of these artists are undoubtedly talented..she was looking for relatively new artists - not the classics :)

great list tho, either way

Oh, I know. Your post just reminded me of what I posted. So sorry!

Oh well. I just kinda got away with it. and just started typing.. sorry when someone says talented artists...the little wheels in my head go at it.
With that said I'd probably add...

Teitur
Alicia Keys



And while I agree that Norah Jones has a unique voice and I love her CD...I was VERY disappointed to find out that she only co-wrote like 2 songs on the entire album that she won 5 grammys for. Not that she's not talented...but that fact is a little disappointing.

BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOORING.

-Rudey
--I listen to some of that Justin Timberlake every time I'm ready to go meet some cuties.