The Steel Guitar Forum

I was watching Ricky Martin on Leno or Letterman last night, and I am sorry, but that guy's NOT BAD! Kick ass band! Dynamite horn & rhythm sections, hot Latin tune. And, I'm embarrassed to admit it.... but he seems to be a fairly talented guy. We could do (have done)...(commonly do) a lot worse in the Pop market.

OK - flame away!!!<FONT SIZE=1 COLOR="#8e236b"><p align=CENTER>[This message was edited by Steve Feldman on 13 December 2000 at 11:21 AM.]</p></FONT>

I'm glad you said that. I can't stand to have my credibility sink any lower.

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Carter D10 8p/10k
Richard Sinkler BS, www.sinkler.com

Steve, Steve, Steve. What is happening. What is next?

Actually there are a lot of good performers, other than the traditional country artists. There are many that I like to listen to. Hell, I played bass in a dixieland band for a year, back in the 60's.

Steve,
You might just be noticing how great Latin music is. Except for the insipid crap the imitates "our" pop music Latin pop music is some of the best in the world.

We are to Latin pop music as German pop music is to us


Bob

BTW: None of these opinions have anything at all to do with anybody I have worked with in the past.... uhh... or the future.

Bob - I've been listening to Latin music for a long time - probably ever since someone turned me ontio Airto Moriera and Flora Purim way back when. I guess what struck me last night was that this guy, for all intents and purposes, is being marketed right along there with the Britney Spears/Cristina Aquillara/Jennifer Whatserbutt phenmomenon.

Like I said, this Ricky Martin guy seems to have a pretty good act - and THAT is surprising given the hype.<FONT SIZE=1 COLOR="#8e236b"><p align=CENTER>[This message was edited by Steve Feldman on 13 December 2000 at 02:43 PM.]</p></FONT>

Well, I'm not really into Latin American music (guess it reminds me too much of the old "I Love Lucy" theme). But, I do like some Reggae music. (I think it's all those accents on the upbeat that I find refreshing.) I also think PSG would fit right in!

Musically, Reggae is a lot like old Country music. It's instrumentally quite simple and interesting (without being complicated). It gets the message out and entertains without making 40 chord-changes, 5 key-changes, and sounding "synthetic". All the instruments stand out...without covering up the singer! It's very "laid back" in its style. And, it has changed very little in the last 40 years.

(Wonder if I could get a gig in St. Thomas?) <FONT SIZE=1 COLOR="#8e236b"><p align=CENTER>[This message was edited by Donny Hinson on 13 December 2000 at 04:48 PM.]</p></FONT>

..Steve, I have to tell you, as a friend I'm concerned...I know you've been out there in the desert for a long time now, and that's why the town fathers saw fit to allow the companions for pay to settle down there..if Ricky is starting to look good to you, I suggest maybe you drop those picks, get out of that house with the pink carpets in it, stash a couple bills in your shirt, and head on down the street for a couple hours...then if you still want to listen to Latin music, start with "I Love Lucy" reruns, then Gloria Estefan and Santana just to see if you're ready for the real thing, but get this Ricky Martin thing out of your system...it's like preferring "The 1910 Fruit Gum Company" to Eric Clapton..

(on the other hand, N-Sync sounded pretty good doing the National Anthem for the world series this year)<FONT SIZE=1 COLOR="#8e236b"><p align=CENTER>[This message was edited by Pat Burns on 13 December 2000 at 04:49 PM.]</p></FONT>

That reminds me...I've been meaning to ask...what's so great about Eric Clapton?<FONT SIZE=1 COLOR="#8e236b"><p align=CENTER>[This message was edited by Donny Hinson on 13 December 2000 at 04:56 PM.]</p></FONT>

...compared to Ricky Martin?..

Or how about rayman, putting Buddy Emmons in the same paragraph as B.B. King, Give us all a break! B.B. could'nt carry Buddys empty case!

To whom these comments may concern:

I saw a Ricky Martin interview somewhere a while back. He has been acting and singing all his life. He was in Maneudo(sp?).

"Roots" Reggae is very much the same. However, Dance Hall Reggae is the most popular and is quite different. But regarding the former; yes, Country music and Reggae have similarities. There have been many Country songs redone as Reggae songs.

I heard some Cream the other day and it made me wish Eric Clapton would just take a vacation from his Strat and cut some albums with a Gibson or Paul Reed Smith.<FONT SIZE=1 COLOR="#8e236b"><p align=CENTER>[This message was edited by erik on 13 December 2000 at 08:15 PM.]</p></FONT>

B.B. King couldn't carry Buddy's empty case? Give me a break. They're both legends in their own right. No reason to denigrate Mr. king.

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Ron Plichta, former headbanger and PSG player in training.

MSA Classic S-10
Fender '62 Reissue Stratocaster
Fender Telecaster
Paul Reed Smith CE24 Maple Top
Rivera R100

Kyle,
That Einstein guy had some nice theories but he was no Buddy Emmons,right?


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Olli Haavisto
Polar steeler
Finland
olli@icon.fi

<FONT SIZE=1 COLOR="#8e236b"><p align=CENTER>[This message was edited by Olli Haavisto on 14 December 2000 at 12:15 AM.]</p></FONT>

The last good album, one that had good songs all the way through was from 1970, simply titled Eric Clapton and was his solo debut.
Sure it was mellow, but in a country funk mellow soulful bluesy way, no extemes.. just some cool laid back groove like J.J Cale.

From there on in, despite having some funky groups (the whole 1970s saw great bands led by EC, he just drifter, with two catchy songs per album, and they were usually covers.
I don't want to hear him wail or rock, I just want to hear him focus. The album with B.B, well I haven't heard it, but if I read one more interview about 'pure blues' or something like that being affixed to him!

As to the main topic of this converation, I tried evaluating the whole current blonde chick singer thing and to rate the better versions of the genre, but my friends were like, "Oh No Way, She Sucks, etc"
Which is fine, if you are fifteen and want to view all musical discussion as a black and white simplified topic, like you like it, or it's crap!

That's what I like about the forum, despite our varied taste we can discuss this without resorting to little kid opinions.

Now, feel free to rate Ricky, EC, etc.. but they're all pretty much pop and calculated to me.

Kyle,BB King is a legend and a gentleman who probably would volunteer to carry Buddys case.I know they would enjoy picking with each other.. H H H

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CJC

<FONT SIZE=1 COLOR="#8e236b"><p align=CENTER>[This message was edited by Joe Casey on 14 December 2000 at 09:52 AM.]</p></FONT>

Just sitting back and watching this thread unfold. Very interesting (sort of...). I thought I'd catch some heat about that Ricky Martin thing, but the rest of all this is kind of an interesting study...

oops<FONT SIZE=1 COLOR="#8e236b"><p align=CENTER>[This message was edited by P Gleespen on 15 December 2000 at 06:12 AM.]</p></FONT>

I hate to admit that anything so mainstream and pop that gets rammed down my throat is of value, but I have to agree. Ricky Martin is not so bad.
...and Christina Angular-a has a remarkable set of pipes. She has a tremendous voice. Britany Spheres, on the other hand has a remarkable set of something else...
(i'm sorry, I just couldn't help myself)

You may be catching heat but you will cool down if you make that move to MI. Ray

(I like his act also)

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Steeling is still legal in Arizona

Steve, a steel player doesn't lose credibility in my book until he takes up the b@nJ0. From there it's an uphill battle.

Even if Ricky Martin is a manufactured icon, the music is great. It's good that young people are being exposed to real Latin music instead of that Menudo crap that used to go around.

Christine Aguilera has an amazing voice, and an almost savant-like ability to to remember and sing back what is sung to her. I saw her performing on TV with Doctor John and realized what was going on. She has excellent teachers who can give her 'improvisations' that make her sound very sophisticated musically. She's no Ella, but she could fool you into thinking she is if that's what her management wanted her to do.

I saw an episode of Celebrity Death Match that pitted Christine against Britany. I love that show!

<SMALL>Steve, a steel player doesn't lose credibility in my book until he takes up the b@nJ0.</SMALL>

Ha! I'm actually a RECOVERING (NOT!!) b@njo player. And I will also have to agree with you, -b0b-, that Ms. Aquillaro does have quite a set of pipes. I just HATE it when these people take one little bitty syllable and turn it into 15.

<font size=1>It's OK, Bill C. - I WILL be well again....</font> <FONT SIZE=1 COLOR="#8e236b"><p align=CENTER>[This message was edited by Steve Feldman on 15 December 2000 at 09:20 AM.]</p></FONT>