December 17 2008
Saint Jovite, Quebec, Canada.
(Lots of towns named after saints in Canada)
Artists and Performers.

I've been hearing a log about artists feeling ripped off by the internet and piracy, in the last 5 years.
One question comes to mind:
What is an Artist?
Among so many definitions, i have one that i've always lived by, very visceral and very basic:

Artist is an individual who creates demonstrations of his talents no matter the situation or context.

And thus, we find that the music industry has been very keen and quick in appropiating the term "artist" for his employees.
A performers doesn't have to be an artists, any more than an artist has to perform his/her art.

A modern day music performer, let say... Britney Spears, has to meet a few requirements before we call her artist:
We have to know she is writting her songs, composing her music (or involved to a high degree, not lesser degree in these activites), and then we should appreciate that she can perform them in public.

But what is more important, this "artist" (and any other artist) should continue creating his/her art no matter the degree of public recognition or financial success.

And artists creates art because he/she can't do anything else with all that within him/herself.

Most people that I've seen being called artists are basically performers.

Could we start using a more proper terminology?

I mean, someone like Frank Sinatra had a great voice but he sang mostly the material from other writers and composers.
He was a cog in a machine. Separate the lyrics, the music and then put them together with the voice and interpretation of the singer, but as you can see, his role as a singer is more a function of interpreting the creative process that other individuals did and giving it his spin and personal touch.
But speaking in absolute terms, any other performer can sing that song, while only that one writer and only that one composer could've had created those lyrics and that music score.

Care to share your opinion?
Disagree?
What performers you consider grossly mislabeled as artist?
Which one hold the title of artist with dignity and pride?
You got the floor.
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Your Opinions

In context

Me?
I'm a middle aged guy, born in Europe and transplanted to the US very early on.
I speak 3 languages fluently, and work in New York City.

My main mantra "A life not examined, is not worth living"


Lets exchange experiences and analyses, of those experiences.