Hyperbole in discussing a musician's talents? What are the most overused words?

As with most anything, it seems to me that there is often hyperbole in discussing the talents of various musicians. As an example, I feel the term "genius" gets thrown around too much and is cheapened as a result. You know those statements like, "Joe Blob demonstrates his sheer genius on Album X....".

Am I alone here? What words do you feel are overused in discussing a musician's talents? Feel free to cite specific examples if you wish.

P.S. I am not inferring that people here particularly exaggerate the talents of musicians. My comments refer to discussions in general, as well as articles, liner notes, reviews, etc.

 

The use of the word "tasty" in describing music. Music is not tasty. Food is tasty. Maybe they could say, "the lastest song by X is a tasty dollop of blues."

mud-

 

"Brilliant" is used a lot. It's along the same lines as "genius".

 

How about "brilliant genius"

 

"Beatlesque". This adjective creates a level of expectation that often leads to disappointment.

 

"Essential," "seminal," or any other word of this nature

 

I'm not sure if you were limiting the discussion to "musicians", but if you are including "singers", the word DIVA comes to mind as one of the most over-used words in recent times.

 

Awesome!

 

One of my pet peeves is the ridiculous overuse and abuse of the word "genius", which I think should be reserved for people like Einstein, Mozart, Art Tatum, et. al.;

For cases where the word "talented" is obviously inadequate, but "genius" is still excessive, I prefer the term "gifted".

For example: On this scale, in my opinion, mid-to-late 60's Brian Wilson was somewhere above "gifted" and below "genius".

Don't remember where I saw this, but somebody (Gershwin?) once said:

"Talent does what it can; Genius does what it must."

 

If I'd read the words 'teen angst' one more time on a review during the past decade I'd have .

Edit: it wasn't 'teen angst' but 'angst ridden' I was thinking of.

 

By the way although off-topic: is there ever any software that isn't described as being "powerful"?

 

"The new Dylan."

 

OK, this is really off-topic: Skip, I've been meaning to ask you about your avatar. I dig it! Feel free to elaborate!

Jim W.

 

Quote: Edward Bulwer-Lytton
"Genius does what it must, and talent does what it can."

http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/e/q124513.html

mud-

 

"Best album since [insert seminal album here]"

Every Dylan album is the best since Blood on the Tracks....
Every Stones album is the best since Exile on Main Street...
Every REM album is the best since Automatic...

 

While not exactly describing talent, taglines like "postpunk" have lost all their meaning.

 

I agree with you Pat. Diva is definitely an overused term nowadays. "Influential" is another overused term but some artists can't be described any more than "influential," and that definitely includes Joe South.

 

Talented......that drives me nuts. Celine Dion is not "talented"....she can sing....that's it. Can't play an instrument, can't write a song.

Prince is talented.....Macca and JL were talented.....

 

Yes, that one makes me kookoo! I heard a commercial for a Cyndi Lauper concert call her "pop diva Cyndi Lauper".
?????????????

 

Joe South definitely was one of the most talented singer-songwriter-producers ever, especially in songwriting. Gordon Lightfoot definitely is talented as he can sing, he can definitely write, he can produce, he can definitely play guitar and piano. Pete Seeger can sing, write, play guitar and everything else which means he is talented. John Denver definitely was talented as he could not only sing but he could also write, he could play the guitar, etc. Emmylou Harris is talented as well, same with Linda Ronstadt, the Amazing Rhythm Aces definitely are talented, especially Russell Smith, Les Paul is talented, Chet Atkins was talented, etc. Although many are talented, not everyone is that talented so talented is definitely an overused word.

 

Superlative Style (as in Her, His or Their Superlative Style) what the hell is that exactly. It sounds like a laxative in order to take a dump!

 

My pet peeve is that the new album by any artist who has been around for at least 15 years is his/her/their "best album in a decade." I always get the feeling the critic hasn't actually bothered to look up which album came out a decade ago.

 

i hate when it is said that someone id "great".

missy elliot is NOT great
nelly furtado is NOT great
train is NOT great
john mayer is NOT great
brittany spears is NOT great

it takes time, effort and skill to be great

the stones are great
neil young is great
van morrison is great
james taylor is great
lucinda williams is great

 

You really see this sort of terminology inflation in schools, where every kid who can perform the next grade's schoolwork is "talented and gifted" -- never mind that that school work has been steadily declining for thirty years or more.

Sorry, but if you're "talented and gifted" at 18, you're not deciding which college to attend; you're deciding which Mozart concerto you're going to perform with the Berlin Philharmonic, or whether you want to pursue clinical or research medicine after completing your residency.

The idea that a good twenty percent or more of an entire high school is "talented and gifted" is statistically absurd.