jamesg1213

clintmartin
I don't look at classical music as being better or more important than Rock & Roll, Jazz or Blues.

Nor me. Songs loosely in the rock idiom are what 'speak' to me, and chime with my life. However, I could take my absolute favourite song or piece of music written by anyone since I started listening to music 50 years ago and it wouldn't even come close in terms of compositional quality to 'Lark Ascending' by Vaughan Williams.

I can't even imagine a more beautiful piece of music than The Lark Ascending. I've asked around for suggestions but nothing even comes close in terms of pulling at the heart strings. Having said that, being British might well have a lot to do with it. There's something distinctly English about it's melody and harmony, even though it could be argued that it sounds kind of Chinese in places. But that's the pentatonic scale for ya.

sharke
But that's the pentatonic scale for ya.

I thought we're supposed to keep religion out of our discussions?

Paul Simon gets my vote. 

bitflipper
Paul Simon gets my vote. 

And to some he's probably called "Sir"
 
Win-Win

Riddle me this.  All four Beatles are listed in Wikipedia as being MBEs.  Why, then, is MacCartney the only one who is referred to as "Sir Paul".  Is "Sir" different from MBE?  I understand that "Sir Ringo" doesn't necessarily fit his basic demeanor and image.  But John and George could easily referred to as Sirs.  

Because he's the greatest composer of all time?

Guinness' criteria for such a record illustrates why it is absurd to compare him to classical music composers.  The criteria is so completely weighted towards the modern era.  Record sales and a lot of other measurables used have only been around a short time compared to the history of music. Even if we tossed that sort of thing aside, can we really refer to pop music writers as composers in the same sense?  Do we simply let sales dictate this? If so does that mean the "composer" of the average Justin Bieber or Drake song get billing as being a greater composer than the best living classical composers?

This discussion needs to be held by a group much smarter than us.
 
I wonder what People magazine would say?

Speaking of People...why does the 50 most beautiful people list change every year?  Shouldn't it mostly stay the same unless someone dies or gets uglier or someone somehow makes a massive jump in beauty?

I'm still trying to figure out how any of this applies to cheese...