[Julie in the rv mirror]

First, I'd like to say thanks to the folks who have been indulging me..it has been an interesting discussion.

Originally Posted by CarylB

A couple of years ago I went to a concert to see a performer who had been one of the icons of my youth. I was very disappointed as were the friends I went with, and we wouldn't repeat the experience, but nor did we seek out his website to leave criticism. And the more I like and admire the person, the more I would want to be sensitive to their feelings.

When you say you were disappointed, do you mean you thought the performance was poor, or the setlist was not what you wanted to hear? Or was it the performer's "personality"? You say you'd never see him live again, but do you still listen to/ like his albums? I'm not a Bob Dylan fan (don't dislike him, just don't really know his music), but I've heard (as in read) from people who like him a lot, that he is awful live. Yet they still really like his albums.

I wouldn't purposely seek out an artist's website to slam them, either. But let's say that you were already a member there. What, if anything, would you say about your experience?

Originally Posted by CarylB

Interesting and difficult. Certainly I have no emotional attachment to say, Motzart or Handel .. but I love their music. I don't need to like the composer as a person to enjoy the work being performed by someone else. I had no liking for much of wjat I knew of Michael Jackson as a person, but there were songs he performed that I enjoyed very much, and there are many artists with whom I feel no emotional attachment to the person, but whose performances I've attended which I've enjoyed, and some whose performance has made a real emotional connection.

Originally Posted by suzieq

Here's where it gets sketchy for me....I've enjoyed an artists output, then find out that he/she has done some morally wrong things....at times I feel I shouldn't support that person because they are a bad person....but then sometimes the music is so good, I can't help it. I struggle with this. But I always go back to the music vs. the character of the artist.

OK, good, this is what I was getting at, albeit in a roundabout way. As Caryl said, I didn't think too much of what type of person Michael Jackson seemed to be (other than to have sympathy for him as being very troubled), but I can't deny that he was an extremely talented person.

I've heard (read) some people say that they wouldn't want to meet their idol, for fear that he or she would not live up to their expectations, and that would affect their opinion of the artist.

I've thought about this, using my own favorite artists, and honestly, I don't think there is a given proportion of how much I like their music versus how much I "like" them. For example, I saw Elton John and Billy Joel together. Billy was much more engaging with the crowd, funny; Elton stood up and waved a few times. Billy graciously introduced his band members toward the end of the show; Elton never acknowledged his. (Granted, this is probably just personality differences between both performers.) Yet, if I had to choose just one of them to see again, it would be Elton, hands down.

Originally Posted by suzieq

This is how I discover new music/artists. I hear a song...it's played a few times...I like the song enough to find out who the artist is....then maybe buy the single off Itunes or the next time I'm near a music store, I may check out the CD. So in my world, I like the music first then figure out the artist. So, I like a broad scope of music and can totally separate the artists from the actual output. Occasionally, I'll get the advice from friends....hey check out, XXX, I think you'll dig it.

This is pretty much how it goes for me as well.

Originally Posted by suzieq

Flip side, if someone sings a Meat song (inevitably at Karaoke), I don't enjoy the song, etc. It's often just the wrong voice for me. The same will hold for me if someone was singing an Elvis song, it's just not enjoyable for me. I'm not even emo. to Elvis.

However, I can enjoy a song from Britney Spears, Justin Timberlake, or Bon Jovi that is covered by someone else. I enjoy a lot of music on American Idol that are done by the contestants. All in all, I think it just depends and there isn't a blanket answer.

Suzieq

You're right, it does depend. In the case of Karaoke, it's probably just the performance that's awful (Not knocking Karaoke, I think it's loads of fun, and some people are very good at it)

In terms of not liking a cover, the only one I really can't listen to is Barry Manilow's version of Read 'Em and Weep. And I know Jim Steinman produced it and all, but I still think it's awful. But I like other stuff Barry has done.

It's rare, but sometimes I even like cover versions more than the original. I think Mary J. Blige absoulutely kills on U2's One, for instance. (I like U2, don't love them)