Tony Bennett: 'America is culturally void'

Contact Music ^ | 8/22/06

[NormsRevenge]

Legendary singer Tony Bennett has slammed his home country of America for not contributing anything other than jazz music to world art and culture.

The If I Ruled The World crooner feels that Europe and Asia offer far more culturally than America does.

Bennett says, "I have travelled around the world to Asia and Europe. They show you what they have contributed to the world. The British show you theatre, the Italians show you music and art, the French show you cooking and painting, and the Germans show you science.

"The only thing that the United States, which is still a young country, has contributed culturally to the world is jazz - elongated improvisation. It's tragic."

And Bennett feels that Americans don't even appreciate the impact of jazz in popular culture.

He says, "Fifty years from now people will be bowing to Dizzy Gillespie and Charlie Parker, just like impressionist painters like Monet, who were starving in their day. The Americans don't even know what they have come up with."

[BJClinton]

"The only thing that the United States, which is still a young country, has contributed culturally to the world is jazz - elongated improvisation. It's tragic."

Thank God America invented the internet so I could read tripe like that.

[dfwgator]

Gotta tell ya, when you look at the hip-hop culture and the music, I think Tony has a point.

I agree somewhat with Tony. Frankly what recently has stood for American Pop Culture sucks, and I believe it does not reflect well on this country.

[llevrok]

Thank God America invented the internet so I could read tripe like that.

And thank God for Al Gore on that, specifically. llevrok running for cover......

[pissant]

Tony, STFU. You know nothing about culture you little prick.

[Continental Soldier]

Fifty years from now nobody will even recognize the name, Tony Bennet, except for the occasional disconnected geek doing non-publishable research on musical anomalies of the past century.

[thoughtomator]

Yeah wake me up when another country produces a Frank Zappa.

[Quix]

Tony Bennet . . .

Just never construed him to be a paragon example of . . . culture.

We may not have the 7,000 years of cultural depth that China has . . . but we sure have blessed a lot of people around the world with hospitals, schools and most importantly THE GOSPEL.

In eternity . . . I suspect that will count for a lot more than China's 7,000 years of culture.

GOD IS THE BOSS.

THE BOSS WINS.

THE BOSS IS ALWAYS RIGHT.

Thankfully THE BOSS is Love personafied.

[Quix]

Hmmmmm

The Blues, Country and Rock & Roll.

God have mercy on us if that constitutes some of our main cultural contributions to life and the pursuit of happiness.

Though there are some Country ballads I like.

Sons of the Pioneers era is my preference.

And Marty Robbins.

[Quix]

Gotta tell ya, when you look at the hip-hop culture and the music, I think Tony has a point.
= = = =

Sadly we have been over energetic at majoring in minors and minoring in majors in our culture.

[pissant]

Hey dude. Randy Travis, George Striaght, Merle Haggard, Johnny Cash, even Toby Keith. They will be remebered more fondly than Bennet in 50 years. He's so damn overrated its pathetic.

[MortMan]

Actually, the Italians gave the French the gift of cooking, historically, so Bennett's a bit off in his praise of the unwashed masses, too.

Perhaps he should have specifically "rocket science" from Germany, as well.

I guess America should start showing off its gifts to the world... Freedom and Leadership!

[MortMan]

Nice reply to another hate America first guy, who would be nothing if not for America....I guess he left his heart in San Fransisco.

And his brain in Tijuana... ;-P

[Mike Bates]

Tony's raised money for Democrats and even gave his own cash to wannabe president Dick Gephardt. A 'Rat criticizes America. Nothing to see here.

[Choose Ye This Day]

"Fluff" & Peanut Butter?

Is that Marshmallow Cream? If so, I loved those as a kid. Although we affectionately called them "poop & glue" sandwiches.

[butternut_squash_bisque]

"Fluffer-Nutter^®" sandwiches, we used to call 'em, C. Delicious with a Mike's Cream Soda^® or Mike's Root Beer^®, in the Summer.

"poop & glue" sandwiches? ROTFLMAO! Needs a ^®, IMO.

Screwdriver adult beverage backing-up through my nose... Oooops! Thank heavens for paper towels. (((burp)))

[af_vet_rr]

Gotta tell ya, when you look at the hip-hop culture and the music, I think Tony has a point.

Turn on daytime TV or look at the majority of movies in the theaters.

I'm nowhere near Bennett's age, but I can imagine that if you had been a part of the entertainment business as long as he has, you'd see a definite decline over the past 20 years.

This generation coming up, yeah yeah, it's me being the cranky old guy, but it's getting worse - the kids growing up these days are surrounded by just utter crap whether it's music, TV, movies, literature, whatever.

[Mr. Mojo]

Good post.

Bennett is showing astounding ignorance; it can't just all be senility.

[Wolfstar]

Good post.

Thanks. :)

Bennett is showing astounding ignorance; it can't just all be senility.

I think he's another show biz long-time lib-Dem. In his youth, to go outside the country and speak ill of it was unthinkable. If nothing else, it would have killed his career. Too bad he's jumped on the current lib-Dem bandwagon of fools who leave our country and then trash it. Too bad such fools are no longer afraid of killing their careers when they do it.

[Kewlhand`tek]

do you think Tony and Harry Belefonte could do a tour with dixie hicks?

[eleni121]

Yeah Tony ol' man...where else can you make millions singing music written by others? (Have you paid your royalties on time?)

You need to check out the VOID between your ears...