George Michael

[Josef Svejk]

Honestly, you'd have been better off continuing to ignore it cos at best you're coming off as very mean spirited.

 

You came on complaining about the praise George Michael's music was receiving, ignoring the fact that accepted wisdom is that he was a very talented writer and singer. Yes, accepted wisdom, across people from all walks of life and all areas of the music industry. You don't like that because you don't like him, but instead of respectfully disagreeing with accepted wisdom you insist on forcing your entirely personal opinion onto the thread by repeatedly discrediting his abilities.

Deal with it, George Michael was a hugely respected, talented, singer-songwriter.

 

"Received wisdom"? "Accepted wisdom"? "All walks of life"? "All areas of the music industry"?

 

Have you ever made the effort to think for yourself?

[Strontium]

It's amazing how many people seem to believe that thinking for yourself involves adopting minority positions. Unthinking contrarianism does seem to be the single unifying trait of the hipster community.

[Josef Svejk]

Can see where you're coming from I do think comparing someone like George Michael who wrote some classics to Shaking Stevens is a bit wide of the mark.

 

Also, Elvis didn't write any songs. The closest he got was being credited as a co-writer.

 

Read my post. Songwriting wasn't the basis for my comparison with (another pop star like) Shakin' Stevens.

 

I don't care if George Michael wrote his own songs. On that basis, you could argue for (another pop star like) Gary Barlow's superiority over Elvis.

 

It's an utter mystery to me how Michael has been elevated above the likes of Stevens, Barlow, and (another pop star like) Robbie Williams, to be honest. Though death evidently helps.

[Juniper]

Read my post. Songwriting wasn't the basis for my comparison with (another pop star like) Shakin' Stevens.

 

I don't care if George Michael wrote his own songs. On that basis, you could argue for (another pop star like) Gary Barlow's superiority over Elvis.

 

It's an utter mystery to me how Michael has been elevated above the likes of Stevens, Barlow, and (another pop star like) Robbie Williams, to be honest. Though death evidently helps.

I have read your post? I'm not objecting to everything you said.

 

Thought I would comment on certain points of it.

 

Cheers

[KMD7]

Read my post. Songwriting wasn't the basis for my comparison with (another pop star like) Shakin' Stevens.

 

I don't care if George Michael wrote his own songs. On that basis, you could argue for (another pop star like) Gary Barlow's superiority over Elvis.

 

It's an utter mystery to me how Michael has been elevated above the likes of Stevens, Barlow, and (another pop star like) Robbie Williams, to be honest. Though death evidently helps.

He's no Alvin Stardust though

[cloggypop]

It's amazing how many people seem to believe that thinking for yourself involves adopting minority positions. Unthinking contrarianism does seem to be the single unifying trait of the hipster community.

You watch ITV and only ITV.

 

You also drink Fosters and Blue Nun on special occasions.

[Josef Svejk]

It's amazing how many people seem to believe that thinking for yourself involves adopting minority positions. Unthinking contrarianism does seem to be the single unifying trait of the hipster community.

 

Where did I say - or even imply - that thinking for yourself involves adopting minority positions? Come on? Where?

 

In any event, I don't take lessons in independent thought from pitiful ideologues.

[Kloppite]

This thread has to stop.

 

It's George Michael ffs not Shankley.

[Josef Svejk]

Those are rhetorical questions, right? Designed to show your dripping disdain? Got it.

 

Not entirely, no, since I don't know the answers.

 

But if you report his choices accurately, then I find them surprising.

[Moo]

 

Have you ever made the effort to think for yourself?

Yeah but that's not the point I was making, which is fairly obvious.

Although maybe I don't think for myself seeing as though I love Brian Wilson too and he's even more highly thought of by the masses and the industry than George is.

[Josef Svejk]

I have read your post? I'm not objecting to everything you said.

 

Thought I would comment on certain points of it.

 

Cheers

 

Sorry for the overreaction.

[Josef Svejk]

Yeah but that's not the point I was making, which is fairly obvious.

Although maybe I don't think for myself seeing as though I love Brian Wilson too and he's even more highly thought of by the masses and the industry than George is.

 

Why are you talking about the industry? Why should I care what the industry makes of George Michael? The sole function of said industry is to make money. If Mister Blobby stands to make more money than Bob Dylan, then the industry rates Mister Blobby more highly than Bob Dylan. Which is entirely rational from that industry's point of view. But not from mine.

[Josef Svejk]

He's no Alvin Stardust though

 

Damn right.

[VladimirIlyich]

The Pet Shop boys are boss. I'd have 'Suburbia' in my desert Island discs.

Its a Sin and Always on My Mind are excellent,and an excellent cover.

[Strontium]

Where did I say - or even imply - that thinking for yourself involves adopting minority positions? Come on? Where?

 

It wasn't a reference solely to you (see the Mysteries of the Universe thread), nevertheless you're the one who asserted that someone had never thought for themself merely for pointing out that George Michael was widely respected. The impression you gave is that that because something is popular, you believe those who like it are just following the herd.

 

In any event, I don't take lessons in independent thought from pitiful ideologues.

 

The idea that independent thought is incompatible with an ideological belief in individual liberty is just risible. You're having a 'mare here.

 

I would neg you for it if I wasn't reserving all my negs for the evil cunt who just negged me 5 times.

[Josef Svejk]

The idea that independent thought is incompatible with an ideological belief in individual liberty is just risible. You're having a 'mare here.

 

You don't (just) believe in (the importance of the value of) individual liberty. Quite clearly, you believe in - or dogmatically assert - the entire edifice of classical liberalism (crudely and uncritically understood). Which is why you believe in property rights, the rule of law, parliamentary democracy, etc. That entire edifice was built by others. You've demonstrated no capacity whatsoever to question it.

[Josef Svejk]

The impression you gave is that that because something is popular, you believe those who like it are just following the herd.

 

The impression I gave, eh? You could always ask whether that was my position. Which it isn't. As I've just stated.

[Strontium]

You don't (just) believe in (the importance of the value of) individual liberty. Quite clearly, you believe in - or dogmatically assert - the entire edifice of classical liberalism (crudely and uncritically understood). Which is why you believe in property rights, the rule of law, parliamentary democracy, etc. That entire edifice was built by others. You've demonstrated no capacity whatsoever to question it.

 

I'm very sorry that you are so wildly mistaken about my critical faculties, my political beliefs, and the value of George Michael's output.

[Josef Svejk]

I'm very sorry that you are so wildly mistaken about my critical faculties, my political beliefs, and the value of George Michael's output.

 

If I'm wildly mistaken about your political beliefs, at least, I'd be amazed.

[Strontium]

Are there any other parts of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights that you disagree with other than property rights?

[cloggypop]

Is this some kind of breakdown of George Michael's hit pop record "Freedom"?

[Strontium]

I don't know, but Josef S seems to think I should be showing my working out. Has he realised this is a footb**l forum and not a doctoral thesis?

[Josef Svejk]

Are there any other parts of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights that you disagree with other than property rights?

 

I don't believe in human rights (though I think they're pretty useful fictions).

[cloggypop]

I don't believe in human rights (though I think they're pretty useful fictions).

I just sang that as the opening line of Another Girl Another Planet.

[Josef Svejk]

I don't know, but Josef S seems to think I should be showing my working out. Has he realised this is a footb**l forum and not a doctoral thesis?

 

This is the general forum, is it not? Any kind of discussion of anything goes, does it not?