Barbra Streisand Says She's Bored by Her Own Songs

Washpost ^ | 9/23/03 | Reuters

[Revolting cat!]

I was just thinking during my morning dogwalk about Brbra saying she's bored with her records. This may be the beginning of wisdom. I mean the ardent fans of these pop artists, those who say 'such and such is the Mozart of this century' must think they (the pop artists) are the end of it all, there is nothing beyond them, and they listen to their own music for inspiration.

Who does Brbra listen too? Being an ego driven, insecure diva, she probably wouldn't tell you the truth, afraid you might discover her "secrets" or even abandon her for her idol. But the pop artists have at one time or another been influenced, inspired by people they regarded and perhaps still do as better than themselves. In 1963, the Rolling Stones listened to Muddy Waters, more recently Keith Richards said he listens to Mahler (or somebody, I don't remember.) They certainly didn't get inspired listening to the Swinging Blue Jeans in 1963 and to grunge in 2003. And hearing such things always pushed me to explore those sources as well. And then the sources' sources. You've heard the term "the artist's artist" - a writer or musician who is most often unpopular with the general public but known and regarded by other artists.

What's more, the influences can be heard or felt in the music. You can hear that the grunge groups listen mostly to themselves and to each other. You could hear that country artist John Anderson listened to the blues, while some of the country lightweigths listened only to the country radio top 20. And so on...

You've heard the term "the artist's artist" - a writer or musician who is most often unpopular with the general public but known and regarded by other artists. It ain't Brbra, however she chooses to misspell her name.

[xp38]

I can take Babs in audio form in small doses. Any song if played ad infinitum can induce revulsion at some point.

[moodyskeptic]

Good insight. Anderson, indeed. You know of the others: Chet, Miles, Ella, JL Hooker, Louis, Marley, Mingus, Taj, Django, Tom Waits, Lonnie Mack, Monk, Booker T, Jaco, Zappa, Selif Keita, Leon Redbone... the list is big but not widely known by pop music listeners.

The movie "Standing in the Shadows of Motown" shows the Funk Brothers (the backup band that played on more pop hits than the Beatles, Elvis and the Stones combined) as actually hard working jazz club musicians. They considered their day gig at Hitsville USA as musically secondary to their first love: jazz. If you already knew who James Jamerson was, you know plenty about unsung musical genius.

Jazz sets the bar higher than pop artists can reach, and no amount of money can get a Barry Manilow into the respected (but poor) club. The club is small and smoky, on the bad side of town. The only reward is a silent nod from another music master, which is the highest accolade any musician can attain.

Barbara will never get that nod.

[GSWarrior]

Well, her movies must make her downright suicidal.

[Jorge]

If you are a Babs fan, you are impervious to gagging. Let me guess, you're into karoake?

I'm not a big Babs fan and out of 1,000s of songs in my collection, I probably only have one of hers.

Personally I don't like her politics, which pretty much turns me off to her completely.
But it doesn't change the fact that she is one of the best singers of our time who for many years has been on the top of the heap when it comes to popularity in the music industry.

And when it come to "karoake", I think it's ridiculous.

But not any worse in taste or lower classed than insulting talent like Streisand on the basis that one's personal tastes are so superior to the masses.
That's something to gag about.