Last Culturally Impactful Musician

aadfasdf wrote:

brien evans wrote:

Haven't seen anyone mention Taylor Swift but Taylor Swift.

Yep.

Also hard to believe no one has mentioned Lady Gaga, Beyonce, or Katy Perry. If you asked me..."which modern musician has produced the largest number of instantly recognizable songs" (or songs that we'll still here 20-30 years from now), I think it would be one of them.

Umm... ever heard of Adele? She doesn't have as many "followers" (people who are influenced by her style) as Taylor Swift. But I think her songs have more staying power than anyone else's in this century.

Just Another Hobby Jogger wrote:

more staying power than anyone else's in this century.

Speaking of which, David Guetta.

Everyone is just posting the last musician they cared about before they got old uncool and out of touch!

+1

Just because a lot of white LRCers haven't listened do black artists doesn't mean they're not culturally impactful.

NERunner0353 wrote:

+1

Just because a lot of white LRCers haven't listened do black artists doesn't mean they're not culturally impactful.

+ another one. Almost everyone on the thread is talking about the rock era, which ended 25 years ago.

I'm middle aged and have no idea which hip hop musicians are culturally important, but I'm sure they are.

(this is not saying that their music is great - it's saying that their music is culturally important)

Coach Jeff ROC wrote:

Up until about 20 years ago, music had gatekeepers and a relatively small number of bands made it into mainstream consciousness.

Now, we are our own "station managers," with our own "playlists." Streaming services have algorithms that suggest new music to us that aligns with our personal tastes... It's never been easier to discover small indie bands...

I'd say it's going to be tough for a musician/band to unite us again.

But that's kind of true of all media/entertainment.

Nickelback united us all in that we all think they are trash.

agip wrote:

NERunner0353 wrote:

+1

Just because a lot of white LRCers haven't listened do black artists doesn't mean they're not culturally impactful.

+ another one. Almost everyone on the thread is talking about the rock era, which ended 25 years ago.

I'm middle aged and have no idea which hip hop musicians are culturally important, but I'm sure they are.

(this is not saying that their music is great - it's saying that their music is culturally important)

Currently Cardi B is probably the most culturally significant hip hop artist, and that's not exactly a good sign for the state of music or culture.

guy being a dude wrote:

Currently Cardi B is probably the most culturally significant hip hop artist, and that's not exactly a good sign for the state of music or culture.

She learned it from Nicki Minaj, who learned from Lil' Kim and so on and so on. Thotting has been influentual in music culture since forever.

Miley Cyrus -> Madonna -> Marilyn Monroe, only to name the caucasian counterpart.

Can't wait to hear more hot takes from out of touch boomers

Sledge_Hammer wrote:

aadfasdf wrote:

Yep.

Also hard to believe no one has mentioned Lady Gaga, Beyonce, or Katy Perry. If you asked me..."which modern musician has produced the largest number of instantly recognizable songs" (or songs that we'll still here 20-30 years from now), I think it would be one of them.

because they aren't musicians. They're just celebrities.

How do you figure? Taylor Swift wrote (and initially played) her music. What else does it take to be a musician these days, according to you?

Master of Lolly wrote:

guy being a dude wrote:

Currently Cardi B is probably the most culturally significant hip hop artist, and that's not exactly a good sign for the state of music or culture.

She learned it from Nicki Minaj, who learned from Lil' Kim and so on and so on. Thotting has been influentual in music culture since forever.

Miley Cyrus -> Madonna -> Marilyn Monroe, only to name the caucasian counterpart.

There's being a thot and then there's "wet ass p*ssy."

Should probably include Prince, Hendrix, and Marvin Gaye...and Kanye is a massive tool, but he is on the list. Rihanna could be considered as well. Boyz 2 Men were pretty huge.

Another massive tool, but Beiber should be considered...can't believe I'm typing that.

Sledge_Hammer wrote:

aadfasdf wrote:

Yep.

Also hard to believe no one has mentioned Lady Gaga, Beyonce, or Katy Perry. If you asked me..."which modern musician has produced the largest number of instantly recognizable songs" (or songs that we'll still here 20-30 years from now), I think it would be one of them.

because they aren't musicians. They're just celebrities.

By this standard, Elvis was also a mere celebrity. ;)

Elvis

Beatles

Whatever rap/hip-hop/etc. artist you think best.

Those three are it since WW2. Everyone else is just derivative metoo. Even then you could argue none really changed anything - they reflected and turbo-charged cultural forces already at work.

kgxohhc wrote:

Elvis

Beatles

Whatever rap/hip-hop/etc. artist you think best.

Those three are it since WW2. Everyone else is just derivative metoo. Even then you could argue none really changed anything - they reflected and turbo-charged cultural forces already at work.

Oh, really?

As one example, I have a hard time looking past the contribution of Bob Dylan to the question authority culture of the late 60's, and into the 70's. Did the Beatles sound that drum? Or Elvis? I don't think so to any appreciable level, And let's not pretend that that wasn't much of a cultural shift.

Or the 'drop out and turn on' wave of the same era - the one who was on every turntable amongst that group was Jimi Hendrix.

Or all the hip-hop and rap culture that has blossomed. I am not one to start siting credits for it, but I do feel comfortable ruling out the fab four and the King from that lineage.

OF course, there are others. Just a few of the more obvious examples.

easy roadie wrote:

After about 2010 I can't think of a song or band that strikes me as "important". There are still talented bands and singers but music seems to have morphed into dozens of sub niches without any truly generational icons.

Discus-

Perhaps Amy Winehouse, my favorite artist of the 21st century. But her audience has been largely limited to jazz fans not the mainstream.

It would be so nice if we had more of those mainstream "pop" artists like the ones who got a lot of play on the radio. We all knew their songs and many of them had fans of all ages. I cannot think of a single example of one of those artists today.

The "sub niches" seems to correspond to changes in technology. Now, we are all in our own little worlds listening to exactly what we wish to hear on demand. The concept of a musical "album" seems unnecessary. People can now record at home using synthesizers.

What happened to the great musical production factories and personnel like the Wrecking Crew, Muscle Shoals, and the Funk Brothers? Too expensive to maintain I suppose.

...it's pretty clear that many people on this thread have no idea how important people like Kanye, Taylor Swift and Beyonce are to young people.

Again, not that they all that great. I think western pop music hit an all-time high 1955-1982ish that we are nowhere near...but there's no real excuse other than age to be ignorant of how central these musicians are to young people.

Come mothers and fathers

Throughout the land

And don't criticize

What you can't understand

Your sons and your daughters

Are beyond your command

Your old road is rapidly agin'

Please get out of the new one

If you can't lend your hand

For the times they are a-changin'

Juice Springsteen wrote:

Everyone is just posting the last musician they cared about before they got old uncool and out of touch!

this is so accurate. hip hop/R&B has been the culturally dominant music for the last 20+ years. Kanye, Drake or Beyonce (whether you have any musical interest in them or not) are just as important to this generation of teenagers/young adults as Jimi Hendrix or Kurt Cobain was for their generation.

Also - have you all forgotten how older folks responded negatively to the Rolling Stones or Fleetwood Mac when they were getting huge? I distinctly remember my grandparents absolutely trashing these artists saying how talentless they were in comparison to jazz musicians. I guess everything comes full circle.