Botcher on CD

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Botcher on CD

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bernd

Posts: 680
Joined: Feb. 15 2004

Botcher on CD

On another community I was advised to take a look at cdbaby.com. I just did. Looking for flamenco I´ve found Gary Meyers.

Oh my god! It sounds like he began to play a half year or less ago. Somewhere I read that since youtube we are living in the golden age of uninhibited imbecility. Everyone can demonstrate his embarrasment. And so does this guy.

Imho his style is nothing else than try gone bad. I seldom heard such a slampy "music". His tremolo sounds like mine, but I´m beaten with focal dystonia.

Here he is: www.cdbaby.com/cd/garymeyers
Would you really pay money for such an album?
(I hope I haven´t bashed a foro member

)

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Dec. 1 2014 10:54:13

Sr. Martins

Posts: 3079
Joined: Apr. 4 2011

RE: Botcher on CD (in reply to bernd)

The beggining of the video says a lot, doesn't it?

He makes a microphone sound like a piezo, that's a talent

Estas Tonne part 2... just wait until this guy puts up a video of himself playing in the street and gives it a title such as "amazing street musician".

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Dec. 1 2014 11:18:54

gj Michelob

Posts: 1531
Joined: Nov. 7 2008
From: New York City/San Francisco

RE: Botcher on CD (in reply to Sr. Martins)

These are the musicians who make me feel really confident about my own humble musicianship and playing skills.

Where is he even going with that piece, and was it a composition, or even an improvisation of any kind? It sounded more as if someone who never touched a nylon string guitar before, were trying out a cheap one, in the loud lobby of Guitar Center.

And obviously, the audience was clapping for some other dude, in a different corner, doing something else... God bless his heart...
(as they would sarcastically put it, in the South)

Edit: I also followed the link to CDBaby... LOL.

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gj Michelob

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Dec. 1 2014 13:14:46

Morante

Posts: 2230
Joined: Nov. 21 2010

RE: Botcher on CD (in reply to bernd)

Criticar a otro músico me parece de poca gracia. Puede ser que no es super bueno, puede ser que es poco flamenco, pero un poco de respeto por favor

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Dec. 1 2014 14:26:26

gj Michelob

Posts: 1531
Joined: Nov. 7 2008
From: New York City/San Francisco

RE: Botcher on CD (in reply to Morante)

quote:

Criticar a otro músico me parece de poca gracia. Puede ser que no es super bueno, puede ser que es poco flamenco, pero un poco de respeto por favor

You do have a point, Morante, and I apologize if I sound discourteous.
At the same time, however, I propose that it is important and helpful to give praise where it is deserved as it is to review critically or even criticize music that is ill conceived and poorly performed, as in Bernt's example.

I may even go further and say that it is the gentleman in the video and CD who is lacking respect for music by posting such ridiculous performance.

(Leave alone the fact that he is usurping the "flamenco" definition/label which we all most deferentially cherish here).

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gj Michelob

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Dec. 1 2014 14:42:00

BarkellWH

Posts: 3464
Joined: Jul. 12 2009
From: Washington, DC

RE: Botcher on CD (in reply to gj Michelob)

quote:

I may even go further and say that it is the gentleman in the video and CD who is lacking respect for music by posting such ridiculous performance.

We live in an age in which everyone is supposed to possess talent, regardless how latent (or non-existent) it may be; an age in which it is considered perfectly normal to "express" ons's self publicly as a sign of "self-esteem." There was a time (long ago, it seems) when a certain reticence and humility was considered the hallmark of a cultured individual. No longer. Today, in elementary schools every student gets a trophy, whether or not his play moved the team forward; many schools have done away with the "Honor Roll" because those who failed to make the Honor Roll lost their "self esteem"; and in this age of social media, anyone can (and does) post videos of himself "performing," regardless how awful the performance may be. There was a time when a quiet competence was admired. No longer. Today, it is all about "look at me."

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."

--Rudyard Kipling

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Dec. 1 2014 17:45:35

Escribano

Posts: 6424
Joined: Jul. 6 2003
From: England, living in Italy

RE: Botcher on CD (in reply to BarkellWH)

As Andy Warhol predicted

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Foro Flamenco founder and Admin

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Dec. 1 2014 18:11:36

ToddK

Posts: 2961
Joined: Dec. 6 2004

RE: Botcher on CD (in reply to BarkellWH)

quote:

We live in an age in which everyone is supposed to possess talent, regardless how latent (or non-existent) it may be; an age in which it is considered perfectly normal to "express" ons's self publicly as a sign of "self-esteem." There was a time (long ago, it seems) when a certain reticence and humility was considered the hallmark of a cultured individual. No longer. Today, in elementary schools every student gets a trophy, whether or not his play moved the team forward or not; many schools have done away with the "Honor Roll" because those who failed to make the Honor Roll lost their "self esteem"; and in this age of social media, anyone can (and does) post videos of himself "performing," regardless how awful the performance may be. There was a time when a quiet competence was admired. No longer. Today, it is all about "look at me."

Unfortunately, this is true. As far as youtube goers are concerned, anybody can do
anything, and if you say they can't, you're just jealous and trying to bring them down.

The world is getting too crazy. This is why i am home schooling my son.

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Dec. 1 2014 18:21:21

gj Michelob

Posts: 1531
Joined: Nov. 7 2008
From: New York City/San Francisco

RE: Botcher on CD (in reply to BarkellWH)

quote:

We live in an age in which everyone is supposed to possess talent, regardless how latent (or non-existent) it may be; an age in which it is considered perfectly normal to "express" ons's self publicly as a sign of "self-esteem." There was a time (long ago, it seems) when a certain reticence and humility was considered the hallmark of a cultured individual. No longer. Today, in elementary schools every student gets a trophy, whether or not his play moved the team forward; many schools have done away with the "Honor Roll" because those who failed to make the Honor Roll lost their "self esteem"; and in this age of social media, anyone can (and does) post videos of himself "performing," regardless how awful the performance may be. There was a time when a quiet competence was admired. No longer. Today, it is all about "look at me."

Bill

Well said, Bill.
In my days, music and performances needed to really deserve it before being recorded, publicized, offered for sale on those sacred "albums" I worshipped.
Above all, those albums were reliable teachers of good music, something to look up to and safely emulate. Record Labels filtered a few good ones out of the mass... now.... as you eloquently put it, every kid gets a trophy

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gj Michelob

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Dec. 1 2014 21:29:31

Lorenzo714

Posts: 76
Joined: Oct. 8 2013

RE: Botcher on CD (in reply to Sr. Martins)

Outch....Scary...besides the serious technique & timing issues ...it rambles on with no clear direction as to where it's going....no concrete melody or theme...sounds like a mix of improvised chops thrown together......

Sorry if that is offensive to Mr Meyers but my criticism should not hurt him but hopefully rather help him improve....

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Lorenzo Bonc
http://www.youtube.com/channel/UCp9GaFPV-Ax4mR-ZoGzYmyg

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Dec. 2 2014 2:04:27

jmb

Posts: 119
Joined: Oct. 14 2014
From: Vallecas - Madrid - Spain

RE: Botcher on CD (in reply to gj Michelob)

quote:

In my days, music and performances needed to really deserve it before being recorded, publicized, offered for sale on those sacred "albums" I worshipped.

I agree with you concernining filtering but there were lots of mediocre, so-so, and poor music records now and before. I think that most of the people can distinguish between gullible entertainment and music with substance. And the good part of Internet age is that you can simply say "Next!" and change easily to the second .

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Suenas payo ¡y lo sabes!

Sing and string - other flamenco blog

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Dec. 2 2014 9:28:38

por medio

Posts: 289
Joined: Nov. 15 2009

RE: Botcher on CD (in reply to jmb)

I thought it was the Rock for a second.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Dec. 2 2014 9:35:21

Xavi

Posts: 68
Joined: Jul. 10 2012

RE: Botcher on CD (in reply to bernd)

Some of these observations are harsh.

Even Paco had bad nights.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Dec. 2 2014 15:50:26

gj Michelob

Posts: 1531
Joined: Nov. 7 2008
From: New York City/San Francisco

RE: Botcher on CD (in reply to Xavi)

quote:

The server name or address could not be resolved Some of these observations are harsh.

Even Paco had bad nights.

Thank you, Xavi. No matter how many times I watched this, it still and always gets me laughing. It is so well done, matching the tempo of every movement with the perfectly wrong note... but the wrong note at the right time (!!)

'still much more interesting a performance than that of Mr. Meyers

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gj Michelob

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Dec. 2 2014 16:40:29

chester

Posts: 891
Joined: Oct. 29 2010

RE: Botcher on CD (in reply to BarkellWH)

quote:

We live in an age in which everyone is supposed to possess talent

...also an age where everyone thinks it's a good idea to announce their opinions publicly, regardless of how valuable they are. Arguably also a form of "look at me"-ism.

There was a time when gossip was considered fit only for old ladies.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Dec. 3 2014 5:12:53

Ricardo

Posts: 15151
Joined: Dec. 14 2004
From: Washington DC

RE: Botcher on CD (in reply to chester)

quote:

ORIGINAL: chester

quote:

We live in an age in which everyone is supposed to possess talent

...also an age where everyone thinks it's a good idea to announce their opinions publicly, regardless of how valuable they are. Arguably also a form of "look at me"-ism.

There was a time when gossip was considered fit only for old ladies.

Yes, totally agree. I envision the original movement was for nerds and geeks that got beat up in grade school to finally be the bully. But at this point everyone seems to have found their way in the internet world.

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CD's and transcriptions available here:
www.ricardomarlow.com

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Dec. 3 2014 17:03:49

BarkellWH

Posts: 3464
Joined: Jul. 12 2009
From: Washington, DC

RE: Botcher on CD (in reply to chester)

quote:

There was a time when gossip was considered fit only for old ladies.

A non-sequitur. Commenting on the zeitgeist of the age in which we live has nothing to do with "gossip."

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."

--Rudyard Kipling

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Dec. 3 2014 17:52:22

Leñador

Posts: 5237
Joined: Jun. 8 2012
From: Los Angeles

RE: Botcher on CD (in reply to bernd)

People are too sensitive. Nothing wrong with being critical or "talking sh&t". If you're offended by it, you're a hypersensitive little girl.
My work that I spend 50+ hours a week pouring my heart and soul into gets criticized in a public forum somewhat regularly. Some of it has helped me get better and others I just laugh off.
PS, this guy sucks lol

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\m/

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Dec. 3 2014 19:24:59

El Kiko

Posts: 2697
Joined: Jun. 7 2010
From: The South Ireland

RE: Botcher on CD (in reply to Leñador)

One of the problems bout posting on the internet, most of which is public domain..is the poster must realize he iwll invite critics from all sides.
My site has plenty of people who tell me how **** I am...if you don't like ...don't post....
However it is probably best not to criticise without offering a way out.
To wit I would have thought this guy should be recruited to join here, isn't that what we want?

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Don't trust Atoms.....they make up everything.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Dec. 3 2014 22:26:44

chester

Posts: 891
Joined: Oct. 29 2010

RE: Botcher on CD (in reply to chester)

The guys talent isn't the issue here. Doing something in a public forum obviously carries consequences and people have the 'right' to say whatever they want apparently.

My question is what kind of person feels the need to ridicule a complete stranger on the internet? At what point is it 'fun and games' and at what point is it, well...psychiatric?

quote:

To wit I would have thought this guy should be recruited to join here, isn't that what we want?

Would you join if you were him, after seeing this post?

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Dec. 3 2014 23:21:37

Paul Magnussen

Posts: 1809
Joined: Nov. 8 2010
From: London (living in the Bay Area)

RE: Botcher on CD (in reply to chester)

The crux of the matter seems to be the CD. All sorts of people of varying degrees of competence try to play flamenco guitar, and in general they deserve encouragement, and constructive criticism at worst.

But to release an album that people are expected to pay money for, at that level of ability, argues an ego of monumental size. Hence the derision.

We had one of those of Paco Peña’s course in Córdoba in the ’80s. He was stupefied when told he would have to take an audition to determine which class he would be in: he said “I don’t need to take an audition! I’ve made a record!”

If I recall correctly, he didn’t last very long…

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Dec. 4 2014 0:19:51