Who are 3 of your favorite musicians and composers?

[misa.j]

I know there have been similar threads, but what you listen to can change time to time. I know it's hard to pick only 3, but I would like you to focus on the ones who are the most important to you right now.

Here are mine;
1. Frank Zappa- an American composer, who wrote as many songs as Beethoven did.
2. David Byrne- Singer and guitarlist of the band Talking Heads
3. Fred Frith- an English composer, improvisor

I'm sure you guys have your favorites who had a big influence on your taste of music; or the ones you can listen to over and over.

Who are yours?

 

[Goldiegirl]

Well I loved the 80's so I am a big Erasure fan....but I also really love the music from Howard Shore (Lord of the Rings)...and ok I have to admit that I secretly listen to Neal Diamond!

 

[Iron Chef]

Composers:
(3-way tie)

1) Eric Serra, Angelo Badalamenti, Ennio Morricone

All three have wonderfully moody and ambient scores to their credits.

Musicians/Performers:

1) David Bowie (timeless, even by today's standards)
2) Russell Watson (The Voice)
3) Kirk Franklin (highly underrated)

 

[Reiku]

Hm, that's difficult...

...the odd thing is that alot of times I will really like a song but not like much of the other songs from the same group or composer.

For example, I absolutely love Rage Against The Machine's "Killing in the Name" and "Gorilla Radio", but can't stand most of their other stuff.

Similarly, I really like Mozart's darker pieces, while the more upbeat ones like the Turkish March just annoy the **** out of me--same for Cab Calloway: Saint James Infirmary and Minny the Moocher = Rocks, Chicken Aint Nothin But A Bird and The Flat Foot Floogy? Utter **** in my opinion.

As far as groups who's stuff I consistently like...

Drain STH, Voltaire, and Weird Al Yankovic

Weird Al would have to be my favorite amoung those--I usually like the "Wierd Al version" of a song better than the original, and even songs I hate are usually enjoyable in his hands--go figure.

 

[Flashjeff]

Oooh! I like this one! Okey dokey, here's my choices for composers:

1 & 2) John Lennon & Paul McCartney: Need I say more?

3) Billy Joel: I've always loved his songs

 

[Kinsao]

Hmmmm... I'm going to have to leave "classical music" composers (broad as the genre is) out of it, otherwise I just would be unable to pick...

1. Kozi -- A guitarist and bassist, who also sings, plays keyboard and synth, and composes and produces his own material. I love his music because it has such a huge range of moods and styles (from very classical-like ambient pieces to heavy industrial goth-rock style, with a touch of nearly everything else along the way!). It has unusual quirky twists. I really admire his compositional skills and the intricate layers in his pieces, which makes them become even more interesting the more I listen to them.

2. Steve Vai -- one of the world's most famous and most awesome guitarists. Need I say more?

3. Buckethead -- crazy guitar playing... it's just wow... like... wow... like... breathtaking wow. ☝

@ Goldiegirl: I listen to Neil Diamond too. Sssshhhhhh!

 

[leonmarino]

Hm.

1. Beethoven
2. Mozart
3. Bach

Yeah.

 

[misa.j]

leon, you listen to classical music?! Bach is one of my favorite composers, too.

Well I loved the 80's

Yeah! The 80's rocks! I used to listen to the 80's pop like Cindi Lauper, Debbie Gibson, Duran Duran, Culture Club, etc., pretty shamelessly.

It is so cool to know what kind of music you listen to! I hope the list goes on.

 

[leonmarino]

leon, you listen to classical music?! Bach is one of my favorite composers, too.

I have to admit that I only know Bach from hearing it couple of times. I don't know any works by name.. I know I like it though. I think it sounds very.. Strong. And beautiful.

The first cd I ever bought was Beethoven's fifth symphony. But the pieces I love most are Beethoven's piano sonata's.. It is so full of emotion and I find them so touching that they make me cry often.

I rarely listen to classical music nowadays though. Maybe I should start listening to it again!!

 

[Mycernius]

Which Bach? There are several of them (*jk:I know you mean J S)

Composers if difficult as I am a big classical music fan. I'd probably go for
1. Mozart - Very Prolific composer and straddles beween Baroque and classical eras
2. Albonini - I like baroque and I think he is opne of the best
3. Rimsky-Korsakov - One of the best Russian composers IMHO. Wrote some damn good music.
Others could enter quite easily such as Wagner, J.S.Bach, C.P.E Bach, Beethoven, Strauss (all of them), etc. To be honest the list is long.
Musicians, or rather contempory music would have to be
1. Jean Michel Jarre - Hated him when I was young, but really became fond of his music as I entered my teens. Equinox is one of the best albums, despite its age
2. The Doors - In their early albums all songs were credited as by The Doors. It wasn't until The Soft Parade they started putting individual names on the songs. So it is better to lump them in as just The Doors instead of trying to sort them out individually
3. Benny and Bjorn from Abba - Come on, those songs are still good.

@ Reiku - Another Weird Al fan I am waiting for his new album to be delivered.

I used to have a crush on Debbie Gibson (I didn't just type that, did I? )

Nowt wrong with Neil Diamond, luv.(Must be said in a Yorkshire accent) I am now entering an age when I don't care what others think of my musical tastes.

 

[Kinsao]

I didn't count classical in my list because... well, because I'm torn between wanting to make a "top 3" from all different genres! I like Bach though. And the first piano piece I learned was Albinoni's Sonata in... I think it was D minor. My main memory of Rimsky-Korsakov is of learning to play The Flight of the Bumblebee on the flute (always a great option for showing off! ). I used to love playing Hindemith, too.

 

[Clawn]

1. Beatles
2. Beethoven
3. Billy Joel

 

[kooo]

If I had to pick only three I'd say

Neutral Milk Hotel
The Mountain Goats
Of Montreal