Is the age of the Great Entertainer Over?

[dejr_8]

But I think that is the point of the question.
Even if you or I dont agree that MJ was the best (as if) he is generally recognized as such. I did not post the original question so I should not speak for the OP.

I was not thinking of talented performers. I was looking at people who became cultural icons.

You could put the Beatles in there but they only lasted 1/2 dozen years or so. The only other person I think could be included would be Madonna.

 

[npmommie]

Is that Bono?

Yes it is

 

[Duckfan]

I think as we diversify how we can get entertainment it gets harder to be that great well known person. There are so many music stations with very specific formats, all kinds of music tv channels (which really don't do video much anymore), plus the endless internet connections. It is much harder to reach a lot of people for crossover appeal. I think there are some up and comers but I am not sure of the lasting appeal of them ie Taylor Swift is currently big over many genres.

 

[sbell111]

Multi genres? Do you know who can do mullti genres?

 

[pooh6890]

I was not thinking of talented performers. I was looking at people who became cultural icons.

You could put the Beatles in there but they only lasted 1/2 dozen years or so. The only other person I think could be included would be Madonna.

When talking of any Icon I think that means history through the years. Although you may think the Beatles only lasted 1/2 dozen years (how untrue), their music is sung worldwide by all genres of music. That in itself is iconic.

 

[disneyworldluvr349]

I agree with you on this one. I also think there is no passion, its only about here and now. Notice there really aren't anymore one hit wonders because they just drown us on the radio with song after song. You eventually like it because its catchy not because you FEEL the song, if that makes sense.

I miss when songs moved me, there are very few that do that now. I do like Michael Buble' and Josh Groban but they don't get the airplay they deserve. The new music sounds the same to me. NO one is different anymore, its a shame.

I completely agree with you. Michael Buble has songs that touch my heart, as does Josh Groban, but you hardly hear them through all of the other meaningless songs.

Multi genres? Do you know who can do mullti genres?

*Prays to god that you are being sarcastic.*

 

[moon]

When talking of any Icon I think that means history through the years. Although you may think the Beatles only lasted 1/2 dozen years (how untrue), their music is sung worldwide by all genres of music. That in itself is iconic.

ITA. That they remain so relevant globaly even today it's amazing considering how long ago they split up, and the fact that they became a world sensation before MTV and the internet their success even more impressive.

ETA: Plus Paul McCartney has been touring virtually non-stop to sold out audiences around the world for 50 yrs now

 

[teacups]

I dont want to make anyone mad, and I have kids myself who like her, but Miley Cyrus just is not on the same scale as MJ ever was. He came to us more advanced in talent than she is right now. Same with Elvis. I dont mean that in a bad way. Everyone is on thier own path, as is she. And I imagine she might do great things in her future. My own opinion only.

 

[daisax]

ETA: Plus Paul McCartney has been touring virtually non-stop to sold out audiences around the world for 50 yrs now

Except for a couple of Beatles tours in the early 60s, he didn't start touring until Wings in the mid-70s.

I don't recall him touring in the 80s (in the US), though he may have had some big concert dates. And he had a detour into classical music for a few years in the 90s.

At any rate, I think the OP was talking about "entertainers" - and Paul is an amazing musician and writer. He's a musical icon, and a cultural treasure. But he never created a larger than life cult of personality around himself the way Elvis and Jackson did. And Sinatra, to a certain extent.

 

[Ember]

What about Madonna? Or Cher? They've both entertained for generations and are cultural icons.

 

[GeorgeG]

The term "great entertainer" should not be limited to such a narrow field. While Sinatra, Presley and Jackson all made a huge impact on society, they had lots of company. Jackson had a lot of impact on many, but not much on me. We all have different tastes in music and who we might put on a pedestal. The Carpenters, for example, didn't fit the mainstream of the seventies, but they single-handedly kept A&M Records in business.

If we think in terms of "pop icons," there are still many, many performers who qualify. However, if we take into account true musical talent, the field narrows considerable. A lot of very popular singers these days really couldn't sing their way out of a paper bag compared to singers who can deliver a song just by singing it and not screaming it with a bunch of fireworks in the background. I think the overall taste of the people has gone from filet mignon to tacos, and that's just sad.

 

[moon]

Except for a couple of Beatles tours in the early 60s, he didn't start touring until Wings in the mid-70s.

I don't recall him touring in the 80s (in the US), though he may have had some big concert dates. And he had a detour into classical music for a few years in the 90s.

A couple of tours in the early 60's? The Beatles toured non-stop from 62 to 66. They toured the world over, America, Europe, Australia, Asia. they would sometimes play 30 concerts in 25 days. They actually stopped touring because they didn't have a life because of it. Those tours are legendary!

Then Paul atarted touring with Wings around 72.

Here's a clip from his "Wings Over America Tour", from '75 0r '76

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AK9QVN0bpa4&feature=related

I saw him in Miami's Joe Robbie Stadium in '89. 55,000 fans on a magical April night. He played two shows there, both sold out.

On that same tour he broke the record of attendance for a paid concert in Brazil.

Just in this decade he has played in places as diverse as Russia and Tel-Aviv

Russia:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tw0kJf_15QE

Tel-Aviv

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1QKqlc-zCLI&feature=related

He did this without a "last Concert" or "Big Comeback" gimmick. And has in fact toured every decade for 50 years.

At any rate, I think the OP was talking about "entertainers" - and Paul is an amazing musician and writer. He's a musical icon, and a cultural treasure. But he never created a larger than life cult of personality around himself the way Elvis and Jackson did. And Sinatra, to a certain extent.

I don't really get what you mean here. If you mean that he's managed to live a more or less "normal" life (as much as you can with that level of fame) I agree, and I think he deserves a lot of credit for that. But I've seen him in concert. He is engaging, funny, flirty with the audience. He makes it personal. He's a true showman.

How's that not an entertainer?

 

[daisax]

And has in fact toured every decade for 50 years.

Toured every decade is not "touring nonstop for 50 years." I was a huge McCartney/Beatles/Wings fan in the 80s -- I would have gone to a concert. I don't recall it being a possibility. Maybe I missed it.

I don't really get what you mean here. If you mean that he's managed to live a more or less "normal" life (as much as you can with that level of fame) I agree, and I think he deserves a lot of credit for that. But I've seen him in concert. He is engaging, funny, flirty with the audience. He makes it personal. He's a true showman.

How's that not an entertainer?

To me "entertainer" implies exceptional ability/success at more than one performing art. So somebody who is a world class singer AND dancer (Jackson, Sammy Davis Jr.). Sinatra and Elvis both acted (Sinatra better), but I wouldn't call either of them world class. But they both achieved genuine fame in both fields of entertainment (and Sinatra was a passable dancer, too).

I would give McCartney many more points for writing (he's a genius) but that's not a performing art. He plays multiple instruments capably, and that's a genuine talent, but nobody considers him an icon of bass or piano or dum playing.

So to me "entertainer" on the scale that the OP was talking about = success in more than one performing art. I got a little muddled in my post with the cult of personality differences and Paul's unwillingness (good for him) to sell his soul the way Elvis, Jackson (and arguably Madonna) did.

 

[Belle0101]

I'm more of a country gal at heart and old country at that. So to me this has always been a touching song.

Who's Gonna Fill Their Shoes
sung by George Jones
(BTW - just saw the Possum in June )

You know this old world is full of singers
But just a few are chosen
To tear your heart out when they sing
Imagine life without them
All your, radio heros
Like the outlaw that walks through Jesse's dream

No, there will never be another
Red-headed stranger
A Man in Black and Folsom Prison Blues
The Okie from Muskogee
Or Hello Darling
Lord I wonder, who's gonna fill their shoes

(Chorus
Who's gonna fill their shoes
Who's gonna stand that tall
Who's gonna play the Opry
And the Wabash Cannonball
Who's gonna give their heart and soul
To get to me and you
Lord I wonder, who's gonna fill their shoes

God bless the boys from Memphis
Blue Suede Shoes and Elvis
Much too soon he left this world in tears
They tore up the Fifties
Old Jerry Lee and Charlie
And old Go Cat Go still echoes through the years

You know the heart of country music
Still beats in Luke the Drifer
You can tell when hew sings I Saw the Light
Old Marty, Hank and Lefty
Why I can feel them right here with me
On this Silver Eagle rolling through the night


Video here
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lrfd459TlBE

 

[KristaTX]

Yes it is

I almost didn't recognize him anymore without his sunglasses on!

 

[lovemygoofy]

What about Madonna? Or Cher? They've both entertained for generations and are cultural icons.

You can go back even longer than that with the Rolling Stones or Kiss.

Another pop culture icon, and yes another odd one, is Prince or that symbol thingy.


I don't know if we will ever see one artist that can bring so many different people together like the artists mentioned in the OP. One reason alone is that the newness factor is gone. We've seen new artists that are talented and can sing but will be compared to Michael Jackson or someone the ladies love that could be compared to Elvis. Because of already having the original, we will have to wait until the wow factor that we remember is gone so someone new can bring it back again.

 

[Serena]

Personally, I think people need to open their eyes to more possibilities.

 

[KristaTX]

I just looked through the thread to make sure Madonna had been mentioned. I didn't see Elton John on there, but I might have just missed it. He is definitely an entertainer and is very recognizable.

There are others, like David Bowie ( ) and Prince (ehh) for example, who are still making music, who are definitely icons in a way, and who have been extremely influential among other artists. But while their names may be known, their music and personalities are less well known among the masses. Off the top of my head, I can't name a single Prince song since "Kiss".

 

[disneyworldluvr349]

I just don't know if when any of these entertainers die, if there will be a world left mourning after them.

 

[lovemygoofy]

I just looked through the thread to make sure Madonna had been mentioned. I didn't see Elton John on there, but I might have just missed it. He is definitely an entertainer and is very recognizable.

There are others, like David Bowie ( ) and Prince (ehh) for example, who are still making music, who are definitely icons in a way, and who have been extremely influential among other artists. But while their names may be known, their music and personalities are less well known among the masses. Off the top of my head, I can't name a single Prince song since "Kiss".

I actually do like Prince music and wouldn't call him the Great Entertainer though I do consider him somewhat of a cultural icon. More for his oddness and rather unusual stuff than his talent. Of course wasn't Purple Rain the best of all movies ever