A recently released video by producer Warren Huart. A lot of familiar stuff is included but there are also some other nice tidbits.
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There are too many attention-seeking parasites, who seek to live off the achievements of others, on YouTube.
Just take a look at the so-called "review" videos that are put up by talentless nonentities..
Ayn Rand called them second-handers. -
The core of Ayn Rand's philosophy is that unfettered self-interest is good and altruism is destructive.
Her political views are often classified as Conservatism or Libertarian. Those that call her a "neo-liberal" are misrepresenting her views - she was an unapologetic Capitalist.Comment
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Ayn Rand died dependent on Social Security and Medicare, two programs she was ideologically opposed to the existence of.
I don't begrudge her access to those programs, which are the right of every American citizen, but I think the fact that she needed them and was willing to take them shows that the hard-right economic principles she espoused didn't work in her own life, were ultimately things she decided were a little fungible in a pinch, and could probably be considered to be just as harsh as they sound or read as.
As science fiction books, both of her novels were bad political screeds. I literally threw one of the books against a wall when I tried to read it in high school, it ticked me off so much. I wasn't even the center-left person I am today. Back then, I was fairly independent and she might have had a shot with me. I thought it was offensive- and bad sci-fi literature.
I sat through John Travolta's scientology movie, Battlefield Earth, and Muppets from Space, and liked both better as science fiction and, you know, if push comes to shove, probably ideologically, too.
I'm pretty sure that Kermit the Frog could do something about global climate change. I mean, he comes from a swamp, he gets it.
"A lot of the heavier conversations I was having with Chris toward the end were about his desire for this thing to go forward. He kept reiterating that to me. [...] He kept telling me, 'No matter what happens, Yes needs to continue moving forward and make great music. So promise me that that's something you want to do.'. And I have to keep making music. It's just what I do. [...] I'm a fan of the band and I want to see it thrive and that means new music." -Billy SherwoodComment
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As big a Yes fan I am, I'm not sure I would categorise them as "artists who changed music". The Beatles, Led Zeppelin, David Bowie, Prince, Miles Davis to name a few, sure. In my opinion Yes was part of a bigger movement of change in music, but didn't do it singlehandedly as the aforementioned acts.Comment
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I’m going to respectfully disagree with you here. None of the artists or bands you mentioned singlehandedly changed music. They all came from somewhere, were influenced by others and they carried it forward and took music to new heights and in new directions. In doing so, they were all artists who changed music. Yes, in my view, deserve a place on that list. The Beatles were majorly influenced by Little Richard, Buddy Holly, Elvis, The Everly Brothers and Mowtown. . Zeppelin were majorly influenced by Robert Johnson, Muddy Waters, anyone from the delta blues really, Vanilla Fudge and Cream. Bowie was influenced by Syd Barrett, The Velvet Underground, Kraftwerk and John Lennon. Mikes Davis was influenced by Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie, Duke Ellington and Thelonius Monk. Prince was influenced by Miles Davis, James Brown, Sly and the Family Stone, Parliament and Stevie Wonder. Yes were influenced by the Beatles, the Who, Mowtown, Stravinsky and many others and they carried it forward and changed music in a very important way. You could easily make the case that the Beatles, looking through a certain lens, were one of the first prog bands. Yes were influenced by their adventurousness and then took the baton and brought it to a whole other level and in doing so, changed music and influenced a whole other generation of musicians like Rush, Primus, Dream Theatre, Spock’s Beard and the Dixie Dregs.Comment
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I agree. YouTube is just too saturated with reaction videos and commentary. It was a novelty at first, but I really can’t sit through them anymore, especially when it’s almost an hour long and the guy has stupid hair like he started to do a Robert Smith, but got a phone call in the middle and then made the video anyway. I used to dig Beato’s vids, but those have gotten kinda stale at this point too. Watching this stuff cuts into time when I could be listening to the actual music and I would much rather listen to music.
Write an article or post to a blog and maybe I will read it while I’m listening.
“Well ain’t life grand when you finally hit it?”-David Lee RothComment
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Are you thinking of veteran bands like The Who or Rolling Stones? Or bands now comprised mainly members who did not record the songs that feature prominently on tour set lists? Yes Official, Rick's English Rock Ensemble and Anderson's Band Geeks would fit the criteria. Illness, death and splits or fallings out are often the main cause.
The worst example I can think of Jeff Lynn's ELO - Mike Stevens's session musicians who have also toured collectively with other artists, e.g. That That and Gary Barlow. Those musicians are very experienced and capable. However, the original ELO members who recorded the albums (now The Orchestra?) must be livid that Lynn is selling out stadiums and other big venues..Comment
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I would agree with that description but there is no way that Rand (a militant atheist) can be classified as a Conservative. Her political judgement, especially those candidates that she supported, was very poor. Anyone who thinks that Rand was a fascist should read her essay "Racism" in "Capitalism, The Unknown Ideal which was published in 1966.
Rand and her followers also hated Libertarians whom they regarded as "second handers" who lived off her "Objectivist" philosophy. That was, of course, nonsense. They were Libertarian philosophers and writers who lives many years, even centuries, before she was born There is lots of evidence that Rand "stole" much of her philosophy and even novel plots from others.
The most prominent Randian /Objectivist musician was Neal Peart. Her ideas influenced several of Rush's songs, notably "Free Will".Comment
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