He and our friend Doug, tease me constantly, saying that I only like 'obscure' music and that i am an utter music snob. They both know that I like Joni, Leonard Cohen, DYlan, Frank Zappa, and so on, and think that is what constitutes as "obscure". They even went so far as to say that I was not open minded about music and that it probably kept me from listening to good quality music.
Now, about Madonna, my friend Doug is a big fan, but even he realizes Madonna's weaknesses. HE believes that she is an influence in the sense of how she sells her product, and how she markets herself and how she asserts her opinion openly and carefree and that those things left somewhat of an impact on other artists.
Doug, likes JOni mitchell alot, but not as much as I and he has mentioned that she is a large influence, but he even quips now and then that she isn't the best thing to come along since slice bread.
To me, it seems people prejudge an artist on the basis if they aren't known or arent on the radio all the time, "Well, I have never heard any JOni MItchell songs on the radio.." "I don't see any Joni MITchell videos on MTV.." etc.. Ofcourse these are comments made in naievety and ignorance. It is as if in some people's minds that being on MTV and visual is the scale to which you rate an artist. Maybe this is a paradox for those in my generation.. (anyone born shortly before or after 1980 ) that if they havent seen them on tv.. then they really don't matter. Ofcourse, NOT everyone has these views..
My feelings about Madonna, I respect her for doing what she wants to do, she has made great music, she changes with the times, sometimes, and alot of the times, CHANGING the times, but if what she had done supposedly marks the standard for being an influence then those people are completely off. You might want to remind your friend that we are talking about Musically here and maybe not visually. Ask him, what has madonna done musically bar any videos, movies, events, concerts, etc that makes her a great influence.
Blair
NP: JImmy Mack-Laura Nyro and Labelle
What makes Madonna more or less influencial that Joni?Erica
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