Which parameters do you have in mind to qualify someone a great artist.
In short for me is something that makes them special or unique , something they standout with and with older singers and bands I could add longevity being successful for more than a decade and leave a huge legacy.
I have the highest regard for any artist that can write their own material, sing it live and also play an instrument very well.
The Beatles are legendary because all of them could do all of it and it's why people will be listening to their music in a hundred years.
Willie Nelson, Dolly Parton, Prince, Tom Petty, Mellencamp, Bruce...I love them all, who can juggle all of those skills so perfectly, seemingly easily. It's amazing, it boggles the mind.
Or take Sting, not a solo artist I love though a lot of his work with The Police was really amazing. Even if I'm not a big fan I have to tip my hat to any musician, singer and songwriter who can really pull it all off and put asses in seats and hog the airwaves. That's extraordinary talent.
I have the highest regard for any artist that can write their own material, sing it live and also play an instrument very well.
Wow! 210 shows, that's wild.
The Boss is one of the greatest and still going strong.
I stupidly neglected to mention Billy Joel, what a legend he is as well.
Speaking of Billy Joel, I first saw him in concert in the early 70's when he opened for The Beach Boys at the Miami Beach Convention Center.
His first album, Cold Spring Harbor was being released.
In addition to songs from that album, he also played a bunch of others.
The most memorable to me was Captain Jack, which thankfully was included on his next album, Piano Man.
In 2025, the next Ryder Cup (the tournament between American and European golfers) will be played at Bethpage Black on Long Island.
Prior to the tournament, during the opening ceremonies, a musical guest usually plays a song or two.
Since the tournament will take place on Long Island, I really hope that Billy Joel will be asked to appear.
And may I suggest that he plays New York State of Mind if he does appear.
Oh, and for the record, The Downeaster 'Alexa' is my favorite song of his.
I just love the lyric, "There ain't no Island left for Islanders like me."
As someone who lived the first 30 years of my life on Long Island, that lyric really strikes home.
Ha! You are a concert man!
You should compare notes with AndyKing1967, that fella does about 50 shows a year.
Ability to relate to the audience, in the end things like being able to sing or play an instrument to a high standard don't amount to a lot if when you do it you can't engage your audience. Some of the most popular artists aren't virtuoso's at all.
shareThat’s so true, being able to connect with people is a huge part. Give songs people want to listen time and Time again.
shareHard to generalize, but I enjoy stongs with percussive drive, interesting chord structures, melodies, lyrics - changes. Sort of despise these moany songs that just kind of sag out there, with breathy vocal fry & affection, droning on chorus after chorus, the sing-songy nursery rhymey excuse for music called pop/'r&b or whatevah.
Don't like much at all I hear on commercial channels, generally go for alt americana twang tasty folk & bluegrass, solid rock riffs - not a fan of r&b, pop, hop hip, rap.
tbh, I'm way out of touch.
I have the Hair Metal Nation and Ozzy's Boneyard stations programmed on my car radios, that's some GREAT stuff.
Sabbath, Judas Priest, Maiden, various hair metal bands from the 80s.... ALL the best stuff.
I admit that I also like the 'Yacht Rock' satellite station as well, it's basically lite FM music from the 70s...I sort of dig that light FM stuff sometimes... it's corny but cool.
I saw Pablo Cruise live at Chico St. in the late 70s. The girl I was dating was a huge fan.
shareMusical talent and ability, first and foremost. I don't care about record sales or how popular a particular artist is...the talent is what I focus on.
Something else for me...is the ability to put that musical talent into "song form." I have the highest respect for composers and songwriters, because it's one thing to master an instrument and another to use that mastery to make it "listenable," for lack of a better word.
Magic
sharePassion.
And I'd post a link to Tom Jones singing the song Passion but it's nowhere to be found on the YouTubes - that's a tragedy.