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I was just wondering.. who would you consider a prodigy or even already a genio of our times (let's say 2000's until now, but preferably ~2010-2020)
I stumbled upon very few cantaores and tocaores that kept me listening for more. Rancpino Chico being one of them.. Raul El Perla being a tocaor that strikes my gusto. Recently I found Arcángel, who also sings wonderfully. But to be honest I know very few, so I'm curious of what you guys will contribute!
RE: Who are the prodigys and genios ... (in reply to Morante)
quote:
No hay
No es posible.. there must be some gems?! I mean, practically everything from the 50-80s I've listened to is pure genio.. what would cause our decade(s) to spawn so little talent(s)?
José Mendez is quite nice, thanks!
Jesus Mendez on the other hand I don't care for that much.
Posts: 3497
Joined: Jul. 12 2009
From: Washington, DC
RE: Who are the prodigys and genios ... (in reply to Deniz)
quote:
I mean, practically everything from the 50-80s I've listened to is pure genio.. what would cause our decade(s) to spawn so little talent(s)?
"Pure genio"? Pure genio comes along only once in a great while. Ramon Montoya was a genio during his era. Nino Ricardo was a genio in his era. Likewise for Sabicas, and of course Paco de Lucia. And each influenced his successors.
But "genio" should not be confused with "very good" or "popular." If, as you state, "practically everything from the 50-80s [you've] listened to is 'pure genio,'" then nothing is pure genio. That is like Garrison Keillor's old radio show "A Prairie Home Companion" where Keillor describes Lake Wobegon as a place where "all the children are above average."
Bill
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And the end of the fight is a tombstone white, With the name of the late deceased, And the epitaph drear, "A fool lies here, Who tried to hustle the East."
Posts: 15725
Joined: Dec. 14 2004
From: Washington DC
RE: Who are the prodigys and genios ... (in reply to Deniz)
quote:
what would cause our decade(s) to spawn so little talent(s)?
Young people were not inspired to learn it. They turn to flamenquito or worse ragaeton or hip hop etc popular music instead of what their grandma was singing. Basically exposure to global culture has created the likes of “Rosalia” and such. Rest assured there are probably great young artists hiding in their rooms practicing old flamenco with cel phone in hand and headphones on repeating YouTube vids just like they used to do with records. But will these people ever see a reason to sing out in public is the question, with destruction of music culture (spotify, etc) and live performance options (closing of tablaos), what the hell would be the incentive? Hobbiests one and all will be the future.
Some few Kids will get good and will grow up to become guys like this with a YouTube channel:
RE: Who are the prodigys and genios ... (in reply to BarkellWH)
@Barkell you've got a point there, maybe "pure Genio" was a bit exaggerated, but it was meant in comparison to what I find these days the "old folks" seem like "pure genio". Maybe "very talented" is a better term for it. And of those "very talented" ones, it seems, there were much more of them than these days! Where are the Caracoles and Nino Ricarods of our times?
Ricardo might've also given some good food for thought regarding this question.. and the recent Corona craze basically put the Flamenco on hold I suppose.. at least I perceive it as a live-music genre, that isn't meant to be played alone in a room filled with modern day technology. Maybe I'm being too romantic about this though..
RE: Who are the prodigys and genios ... (in reply to JasonM)
Flamenco de verdad will probably be dead in 20 years. At the moment there are still a few nucleos, such as el Barrio de Santiago, Lebrija/ Utrera when the cante is still de familia.
The music of today: rap, frap, crap, hip hop reduce all music to basic rhythm. When I was young I listened to the Rolling Stones, Chuck Berry, John Lee Hooker, Elmore James. When I discovered flamenco, I listened to El Sordero, Terremoto, Tomás Pavón.
To young people of today, the citizens of tomorrow, this "music" has no relevance, neither within España nor without. Welcome to the Brave New World.
Posts: 3497
Joined: Jul. 12 2009
From: Washington, DC
RE: Who are the prodigys and genios ... (in reply to Morante)
quote:
Flamenco de verdad will probably be dead in 20 years. At the moment there are still a few nucleos, such as el Barrio de Santiago, Lebrija/ Utrera when the cante is still de familia.
The music of today: rap, frap, crap, hip hop reduce all music to basic rhythm. When I was young I listened to the Rolling Stones, Chuck Berry, John Lee Hooker, Elmore James. When I discovered flamenco, I listened to El Sordero, Terremoto, Tomás Pavón.
To young people of today, the citizens of tomorrow, this "music" has no relevance, neither within España nor without. Welcome to the Brave New World.
I agree with your prediction about the eventual demise of flamenco as we have known and loved it, Morante. There will always be an underground, so to speak, that will appreciate it, but it will be lost for all practical purposes, relegated to something like the Folger Consort in Washington, DC, which plays medieval and renaissance music on period instruments. There is a sliver of aficionados who appreciate their efforts and enjoy the music, but most people don't even know about it.
First fusion, then, and I hate to think about it, homogenization into a version of "World Music," whatever that is at any given time. People are too busy with "social media" to take the time to really organize their thoughts on the arts, literature, and music. This phenomenon is not just a product of our time. One of the finest Spanish authors was Jose Ortega y Gasset. He was a philosopher, author, and a member of the Republican government in Spain in 1936. In Ortega y Gasset's classic work, "The Revolt of the Masses," he takes on the issue of how "mass man," with his shallow approach to everything, reduces everything to the lowest common denominator, whether it be art, literature, or music.
Bill
_____________________________
And the end of the fight is a tombstone white, With the name of the late deceased, And the epitaph drear, "A fool lies here, Who tried to hustle the East."
Of course everything that has anything to do with recreation has sold well this year ie bikes, canoes, video games etc.. but, maybe it will stick. Before the internet those were the only things to do.
RE: Who are the prodigys and genios ... (in reply to Morante)
quote:
On the other hand, according to the New York Times article , guitar companies like Fender and Taylor reported record sales this year.
which isn't too surprising considering there is a huge YouTube community of shredders that have zero empathy for rhythm, but are all about speed and noodling around and - first and foremost: buying expensive equipment and loads of guitars, preferably custom shop tier. I totally agree about the rap/hip-hop/trap-crap music, but modern day's rock genre - imho - also offers mostly bullcrap.
quote:
When I was young I listened to the Rolling Stones, Chuck Berry, John Lee Hooker, Elmore James. When I discovered flamenco, I listened to El Sordero, Terremoto, Tomás Pavón. To young people of today, the citizens of tomorrow, this "music" has no relevance, neither within España nor without. Welcome to the Brave New World.
Rest assured there still are brave young men who also appreciate that kind of music! Just keep that flame(nco) alive - I wanna attend a juerga or two before I get to be an old fart
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