CDIH

you can see greatness without it appealing to you. i know that citizen kane is a great film but its not a film that appeals to me.
so you think billy joel is "great"?

Why didn't they include "Famous Hero" or "Greatest Victory for Country" in that list? :lol:

i think you belittle billy joel because he is a modern composer. why does 20-30 years have to pass before you can consider someone great? i would also consider Johnny Cash, Bob Dylan, Jimi Hendrix, and Janis Joplin great American composers.

Quote:i think you belittle billy joel because he is a modern composer

i belittle him because he writes mediocre pop music.

ok maybe Joel might be pushing it slightly but Johnny Cash, Bob Dylan, Jimi Hendrix, and Janis Joplin certainly could be referred to as great American composers.

i agree with cash and dylan. hendrix was a great guitar player and writer for the guitar, not a composer. i cant stand joplin and refuse to acknowledge her.

Quote:irving berlin, gershwin,adolph green,duke ellington..........

What is music for old farts?

Quote:Jimi Hendrix, and Janis Joplin certainly could be referred to as great American composers.

AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

Hendrix is great, don't get me wrong, but he's not a composer, if anything he's the complete opposite of a composer because his greatest work was never written down on paper but rather created as he was playing the guitar. Infact most modern guitar players would admit that Hendrix is not hard to play if you look at the pure mechanics of his playing, what seperated Hendrix from everyone is his ability to make the guitar portrait his emotions. That makes him a great player, but not a great composer.

And Joplin? Are you on crack? She sucks, always has, always will. She had no talent or skill.


Cash and Dylan I would agree on, but I still wouldn't think of them as the greatest composers America has produced.

The greatest American Composer is 50 cent. duh

Gershwin and Ellington were a buncha wankstas. sho nuff

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Quote:Gershwin and Ellington were a buncha wankstas. sho nuff

Come on that was actually funny.

Billy Joel is an amazing lyricist but greatest ever from this country?

Gershwin is the greatest composer this country has produced. Rhapsody in Blue is the greatest piece of instrumental music ever written by an American.

Billy Joel is great, but composer involves writing music for many instruments and bringing it together and creating something bigger than any one of them. Great lyrics and piano licks don't really quallify.

Quote:Billy Joel is great

billy joel sucks!!!! he is a mediocre writer of mediocre pop songs.you people need to realize that just because someone plays piano and drunk jersey teens like it doesnt mean that they are a good. this criteria would make bon jovi the greatest band in the history of mankind. get some history folks!! life didnt begin in 1982!

you are starting to sound like a cranky old man

Quote:billy joel sucks!!!! he is a mediocre writer of mediocre pop songs.you people need to realize that just because someone plays piano and drunk jersey teens like it doesnt mean that they are a good. this criteria would make bon jovi the greatest band in the history of mankind. get some history folks!! life didnt begin in 1982!

Dude you're being ignorant now, I agree with you that billy is not the greatest composer this country has ever produced but he is very talented in my opinion. The keywords being "my opinion", for you to tell me my opinion is wrong is ridiculous. I appreciate the past and I appreciate talent, I honestly don't think Dylan is such a great talent but I respect other peoples appreciation of him.

Gershwin is probably the best but my personal preferance goes with Irving Berlin.

i have trouble subjecting myself to listen to Gershwin and Irving Berlin, but i recognize their greatness. it just aint my cup of tea.

Understood, I just would never think to put billy in but thats your opinion, I understand.

I say we just claim the beatles as our own and end this.

the beatles own

revolver, sgt pepper, or white album?