Successful Singers/Performers that you think are overrated

[me203]

I have to say Elton John.

The problem with the PC aspect of criticizing celebrities is their connotation with virtue. Elton John seems to be a paragon of nice, but his performance seemed like it had overstayed.

I had a negative view of Elton John when I was young, although it wasn't really based on his work. What triggered me were some articles about him in some publication aimed at elementary school students. Can't remember what got me--just that there was something.

I mellowed out a bit when I got older. I got a "best of" recording at Goodwill. Someone apparently liked it--the LP was really, really worn when I got it. I found some of the photos on the sleeve a bit too much for me--but it was a different era. I kept the LP, although it's not one I'd keep if I had to downsize to the 10 LPs for a desert island!

This same staleness pretty much followed almost all the megastars, going back to Elvis, Sinatra, and probably before. Mae West and others essentially became living parodies of themselves.

It's not universally true. I think stars like Ella Fitzgerald and some other icons were terrific until the end.

Probably true of any performers. Many seem to peak at some point at some early year and that's as good as it gets. I'm surprised at how I research old TV shows, and see some major actor in that show who continued acting, but never had what they had in the TV show that made him or her a household name.

I suppose one problem is a fear of doing something different than what brought success. And I suppose there is what fans like. I remember reading that Neil Diamond's live performances had a lot of content from his early years, and supposedly that was what fans wanted. You wonder if he ever felt: If I sing "Solitary Man" one more time, I'll be in solitary confinement!

I have a lot of respect for Miles Davis. I don't know that I have what it takes to appreciate a lot of his work when I hear it. I don't think I have the right level of sensitivity or something. But intellectually, I really admire how he was able to change and evolve.

 

[Peloso]

Sting. Also, Leonard Cohen. His music sounds like the demonstration tape that came with car stereos in the 70's, his lyrics are agonizingly pretentious, and his voice makes me think of throat cancer. I'll never understand why he is so revered by so many great artists.

 

[Peloso]

It's probably an asset in the world of pop music, but Mariah Carey's a freakin' idiot.

A decade or so I saw her give an extraordinary performance as a frumpy Jewish social worker in the movie "Precious". Then I watched an interview where she was asked how she would respond to the acclaim she received for her role. Her first thought was to talk about how ugly she looked in the film and how she was embarrassed by it.

This woman has the depths of an aluminum frying pan.

 

[NotHardUp1]

There is a real difference between instrumentalists and vocalists.

In addition to the difficulties of maintaining the vocal cords over many decades of heavy use, singers are more challenged by the changing styles and fashions in song. Instrumentalists don't tend to have to shift gears as much.

When it comes to acting, I sometimes think the true greats are just so rare. For the near greats, they are discovered in that great role that highlights their style perfectly, but that can be almost a one-trick pony and repeating it in different story lines just doesn't carry greatness. Very few actors can be great in greatly different roles.

 

[rmcrae]

She was honest, true. But she also straightened her hair, started spray tanning her skin and got plastic surgery to the point that she is barely recognizable.

All needlessly, because she's incredibly talented to the point that we overlook that she's cray-cray.

She straightened her hair a few years into her career (don't see the connection between that and her racial identity but whatever) and she's definitely had her nose and boobs done (at least), but she ain't Sharon Osbourne with an entirely different face.

And she's been ridiculed for being "crazy" for well over 20+ years now...

 

[rmcrae]

It's probably an asset in the world of pop music, but Mariah Carey's a freakin' idiot.

A decade or so I saw her give an extraordinary performance as a frumpy Jewish social worker in the movie "Precious". Then I watched an interview where she was asked how she would respond to the acclaim she received for her role. Her first thought was to talk about how ugly she looked in the film and how she was embarrassed by it.

This woman has the depths of an aluminum frying pan.

She doesn't like fluorescent lighting and she's admittedly vain, but an idiot with the depths of an aluminum frying pan? Can't agree with you there. She has her issues, but she's incredibly articulate and much deeper than her diva persona (which she intentionally plays up to be funny) lets on.

 

[KaraBulut]

...And she's been ridiculed for being "crazy" for well over 20+ years now...

She does have the distinction of both having an actual mental disorder (she's bipolar) and being over-the-top diva nuts.

P.S. I miss MADTv

 

[rmcrae]

P.S. I miss MADTv

Same. Way funnier than SNL ever was imo.

 

[Riverrick]

Honestly, if they are successful its difficult to say they are overrated. By definition, they are rated very highly by the buying public.

Most of what I am reading above simply says you don't like them. Which is bound to happen.

 

[KaraBulut]

Honestly, if they are successful its difficult to say they are overrated. By definition, they are rated very highly by the buying public.

Most of what I am reading above simply says you don't like them. Which is bound to happen.

On the contrary, I like Taylor Swift. However, I recognize when someone has lost their key when singing.

On the opposite end, I don't care much for Ariana Grande but I've seen more than one performance where her backtrack drops out or her IEM fails and she continues singing on-key. In some cases, you can hear her laugh, so you can tell it's a live performance.

 

[johaninsc]

Never cared for the Stones or Led Zeppelin...or really any of the late 60s to early 70s hippy rock.

Absolutely hated Lynyrd Skynyrd...

 

[LoveMyPeppermill]

She does have the distinction of both having an actual mental disorder (she's bipolar) and being over-the-top diva nuts.

She should have studied opera and become a star soprano.

I can just picture her getting into a fistfight with Kathleen Battle over the star dressing room.

 

[Alistair]

On the opposite end, I don't care much for Ariana Grande but I've seen more than one performance where her backtrack drops out or her IEM fails and she continues singing on-key. In some cases, you can hear her laugh, so you can tell it's a live performance.

Not like Cardi B when the song kept playing when she threw her microphone at a fan?

 

[Alistair]

 

[Thad1527]

I usually like Taylor Swift. Hey, she's a Pennsylvania girl from Wyomissing. But I remember with horror a Christmas special where she butchered "Silent Night."

 

[LoveMyPeppermill]

Aren't the sounds Billie Eilish is making there pretty much just what her fans want from her?

 

[Alistair]

Aren't the sounds Billie Eilish is making there pretty much just what her fans want from her?

That’s exactly what my kid said.

And I like how you described it as sounds, but noises might have been a better description

 

[rareboy]

Because you asked for it.

 

[Peloso]

She doesn't like fluorescent lighting and she's admittedly vain, but an idiot with the depths of an aluminum frying pan? Can't agree with you there. She has her issues, but she's incredibly articulate and much deeper than her diva persona (which she intentionally plays up to be funny) lets on.

How about a plastic colander?

You may very well be right, but all I (and most people) see is her public persona. And on a related note, all this playing up of the diva image by successful pop stars is not doing impressionable young girls any favors.

 

[KaraBulut]

Because you asked for it.

I'll match your Christmas and raise you one vocal isolated track and a New Year's "We didn't do a soundcheck and my IEMs aren't working!":

I like Mariah but gurl is a mess.