I Didn't Do My Due Diligence, or How I Have to Pick a Favorite Black Gen X Musician For Real This Time.
I'm a big fan of Dr. Strangelove, and Peter Sellers. Can you tell?
First, the obligatory links to the rest of this ongoing discussion with my pal,
Second, mea culpa. I’m generally better at looking stuff up. Honestly, I have the IMDB app on my phone. I really do love Rihanna, and am looking forward to the Super Bowl Halftime Show today. But, she doesn’t qualify as Gen X.
Playing a Gen X station on Apple Music/I Heart Radio while I type this, BTW. Also, according to the memes I’ve seen recently, I apparently need to schedule a colonoscopy soon. It’s funny, I don’t feel almost 48.
Ok, that’s not true. Sometimes I feel it. Right in my lower back LOL
Anyway. I humbly submit Will Smith (September 25, 1968) for the title of Greatest Black Gen X musician. I think he’s got an amazing body of work, both as a rapper and as an actor (I’ll come back to this on another post.) Up to, and including, the stuff he did for Men in Black and Wild, Wild West (I’m probably the only person on the planet that actually enjoyed that movie), along with stuff like this:
That one was practically an anthem for my generation. Or, at least for me. I have issues a subscription.
Let’s not forget this gem:
I’d also like to acknowledge the contribution of Tupac and Biggie, as my friend suggested. It just wasn’t part of my early musical history, but I can look (listen?) back and appreciate the talent. MC Hammer and Bobby McFerrin get Honorable Mentions as well.
Now, on to the debate as to if Billy Corgan or Dave Grohl are the GOAT of Gen X musicians…
This is one of my all-time favorite songs. I’m a big fan of symphony instruments being used in rock tracks:
Also, this video harkens back to two of the pioneers of film and special effects, Harold Lloyd, along with Fritz Lang (Metropolis).
They also had a pair of songs (actually, different arrangements of the same song) on the Batman and Robin soundtrack that I thought were great, the second of which was used in the Watchmen trailer back in the day.
Sorry. Apparently you have to go to YouTube to view that one. I’ll wait.
So, is Billy better than Dave? That is the question presented by my friend.
I love hearing this kind of stuff about people I like. Keanu Reeves also strikes me as this kind of human being. I also think it’s funny that they look similar.
Amazing stuff. I guess I just have more of an appreciation for Grohl because I know more about him. Nirvana, Queens of the Stone Age, The Foo Fighters… I also like that their song was featured over the closing credits of the first Thor movie.
But, Billy Corgan is also currently the owner and promoter of the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA). That has to count for something…
Oh! Here’s somebody else of your generation I forgot who might qualify for the list: how about Moby?
OK - so your challenges for your next post: gotta decide on another great black Xer artist for your #1, if Dave Grohl is truly better than Billy Corgan then I want to hear your argument, and then: gotta rank ‘em. What’s the top 10? And if you need a top 15 or more then I suppose I’ll allow it.
I’ll get back to Moby in a minute. I have his discography. “Extreme Ways” will always be iconic, mainly because of Jason Bourne LOL. I also want to talk about Daft Punk.
This is a rough one. This is like asking me about my favorite movies. I have several in various genres. Same with movies LOL
Now, I’m assuming that we’re expanding beyond Gen X here, so this requires a bit of background. I was essentially raised by my maternal grandparents, so there’s a lot of stuff that I was exposed to that isn’t generally known by Gen X. Things like the original Mission: Impossible, Hogan’s Heroes, The Rockford Files, Black Sheep Squadron, etc… So, favorites. I’m combing through my library, and here are the standouts for popular music:
Michael Jackson. One of the greatest artists of all time.
Prince (I think he’s on par with MJ)
Bowie.
Dave Grohl
Peter Gabriel (I want to include Phil Collins on this one, too)
Tim McGraw (along with Faith Hill). Country has some of the best love songs.
Eminem (Lose Yourself is practically an anthem with me)
Metallica (You MUST listen to the full version of “One” at least once)
Guns n’ Roses (November Rain was a killer track. I’ll fight LOL)
Yoko Kanno and the Seatbelts (Google the Cowboy Bebop anime. For God’s sake, do not watch the live-action crapfest on Netflix)
Frank Sinatra (and by extension, Robert Davi)
Jimi Hendrix (One of the greatest creatives of all time)
Bob Marley (Three Little Birds helped me at a critical time)
Stevie Wonder (probably ranks higher on this list, TBH)
AC/DC
Led Zeppelin
Pink Floyd
Yes, I know I’ve exceeded my mandate.
The Who
Ok, I’ll stop now.
I think I’m reaching the limit for this post, so I’m going to wrap up now. More on music, and movies, and other pop culture stuff that I love, coming soon to an email near you.
Good morning from Western Wishes.
Kilgore