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Any of you see these Quincy Jones interviews that just popped up? Comical stuff from an 85 year old man who seems to give zero fucks about anything. He says the Beatles "were the worst musicians in the world. They were no-playing motherfuckers. Paul was the worst bass player I ever heard. " Then he trashes Ringo's drumming even more harshly.

I was really quite surprised by all of this. While I know Jones' has a long career in jazz, pretty much the only reason I know about him is because of Michael Jackson and "We Are The World," a cheesy bit of 80s junk. So to me, he's a pop guy. I'm sure a major part of Jones' bile is rooted in his age, but regardless, it's still strange. Even if the Beatles weren't the greatest musicians in the world, the parts they played in recording the songs they wrote are, obviously, some of the most recognizable recordings ever made. Whether or not they were the best instrumentalists is a side issue, and you'd think Jones would recognize that. Maybe it's the jazzman in him and some underlying belief virtuosity and versatility trumps a distinctive playing style. I don't know. What do you think?

Interview is here: http://www.vulture.com/2018/02/quincy-j ... ation.html

Between that and the GQ article, he's been pretty active in the I-Have-Zero-Fucks-To-Give category. He also says Marlon Brando had sex with Richard Pryor.

burpgun wrote: ↑

Thu Feb 08, 2018 11:26 am

I'm sure a major part of Jones' bile is rooted in his age, but regardless, it's still strange.

Paul McCartney is 75 and hasen't turned into a miserable old cunt yet last I checked. He's also still out there playing and making music, when was the last time Quincy Jones did anything relevant? 25 years ago? Age is no excuse.

burpgun wrote: ↑

Thu Feb 08, 2018 11:26 am

So to me, he's a pop guy.

You say like that's a bad thing or like the Beatles aren't pop music...there is no shame in pop music. I'm not too bothered with reading up what he's says since I've no interest in the Beatles whatsoever and find the endless media brouhaha somethign to avoid but Quincy Jones has been involved in some amazing music.

Checketh;Quincy Jones - Summer In The City

I can forgive him We Are The World, as you can forgive McCartney The Frog Chorus, Simply Having a Wonderful Christmas Time and Obladi Oblada three songs that will surely await me in hell.

D

Telliot wrote: ↑

Thu Feb 08, 2018 11:39 am

Between that and the GQ article, he's been pretty active in the I-Have-Zero-Fucks-To-Give category. He also says Marlon Brando had sex with Richard Pryor.

Pryor's widow backed him up on this one.

shadowplay wrote: ↑

Thu Feb 08, 2018 11:44 am

burpgun wrote: ↑

Thu Feb 08, 2018 11:26 am

So to me, he's a pop guy.

You say like that's a bad thing or like the Beatles aren't pop music...there is no shame in pop music. I'm not too bothered with reading up what he's says since I've no interest in the Beatles whatsoever and find the endless media brouhaha somethign to avoid but Quincy Jones has been involved in some amazing music.

Checketh;Quincy Jones - Summer In The City

I can forgive him We Are The World, as you can forgive McCartney The Frog Chorus, Simply Having a Wonderful Christmas Time and Obladi Oblada three songs that will surely await me in hell.

D

I don't have anything per se against pop music. I've got young kids and I'm around it all the time. Even had to buy a Taylor Swift record to make them happy!

It's just that's the context in which I know Jones is as a pop record producer. I know nothing of him as a jazz guy, because, quite honestly, I find the vast majority of jazz boring, even as I fully appreciate the skill it takes to make it. I'm also not a huge Beatles fan either. I was just shocked to see such a dismissal of the band, from a man who has had success, but has had nowhere near the cultural impact the Beatles had. And if "We Are The World" is one of your major contributions to pop culture, one might be more circumspect before trashing others.

^^^

well 99% of music talked about on OSG is pop as far as I'm concerned.

Still you've got three of the ingredients for a multi reply thread in music; hate, superannuated golden oldie component and no music...nicely done!

D

I suppose one of the benefits of age is that you can tell it like it is and you don't really have to care anymore. Not that criticizing the Beatles is edgy. It will soon be fifty years since they broke up, and two of them are no longer with us. Of course they are now icons so people will continue to hold strong opinions. It is a bit anathema not to like the Beatles.

I give Quincy Jones's opinion a lot of weight beyond the usual statements of an elderly curmudgeon. He more than earned it. He certainly wouldn't be the first to find Ringo's drumming wanting. The crit of McCartney's musicianship is harder to understand (from our perspective). But it's understandable since he came from a world where musicians really had to know their stuff, and he worked with the best. A lot of it could be a generational thing where he just didn't really "get" rock music.

I don't really care what an 85 year old Quincy Jones has to say about the quality of music that was produced a half-century ago. The impact of the Beatles has long since been established. This isn't a hot take or anything. What's the next headline? Buddy Guy slams Elvis Presley's guitar technique?

The most relevant thing in the last 20 years about Quincy Jones is his daughter. She's hilarious.

He was talking about their musicianship, and he was right. The Beatles weren't known for being amazing instrumentalists. They wrote great hooks, that was their talent.

Rashida couldn't possibly be any cuter.

mackerelmint wrote: ↑

Thu Feb 08, 2018 9:17 pm

Rashida couldn't possibly be any cuter.

You and me both, sister.

The Dead Ranch Hands wrote: ↑

Thu Feb 08, 2018 9:14 pm

He was talking about their musicianship, and he was right. The Beatles weren't known for being amazing instrumentalists. They wrote great hooks, that was their talent.

Maybe I'm not qualified to judge, never having had much interest in jazz virtuosi, but I say he's W R O N G. McCartney single-handedly rewrote the book on pop bass playing (while wishing he could play like James Jamerson) and his melodic guitar playing wasn't bad either. Plus, anyone who doesn't appreciate Ringo's unconventional drumming style is the one with the problem, not Ringo.

burpgun wrote: ↑

Thu Feb 08, 2018 11:55 am

And if "We Are The World" is one of your major contributions to pop culture, one might be more circumspect before trashing others.

Why do his songs have any relevance to his opinions on other people's songs?

I've never written a popular song, but I can still opine on other's songs, and there is nothing to say my opinion isn't relevant (or yours for that matter).

UlricvonCatalyst wrote: ↑

Thu Feb 08, 2018 11:57 pm

The Dead Ranch Hands wrote: ↑

Thu Feb 08, 2018 9:14 pm

He was talking about their musicianship, and he was right. The Beatles weren't known for being amazing instrumentalists. They wrote great hooks, that was their talent.

Maybe I'm not qualified to judge, never having had much interest in jazz virtuosi, but I say he's W R O N G. McCartney single-handedly rewrote the book on pop bass playing (while wishing he could play like James Jamerson) and his melodic guitar playing wasn't bad either. Plus, anyone who doesn't appreciate Ringo's unconventional drumming style is the one with the problem, not Ringo.

Agreed wholeheartedly. I’d also like to point out Q’s close relationship with MJ probably informs his opinion of Paul a bit. Macca doesn’t have very nice things to say about MJ after he cozied up to Paul and stole his songbook out from under him.