Quote of the day:

And those who were seen dancing were thought to be insane by those who could not hear the music.
—Friedrich Nietzsche

The Saturday Q&A at electoral-vote.com had a question that gives me an opportunity to get something off my chest that I’ve been wanting to do for some time.

F.S. in Cologne, Germany, asks: Chuck Berry or Elvis? The Beatles or the Rolling Stones? Michael Jackson or Prince? Billie Eilish, Taylor Swift or Beyoncé? Tom Brady or Patrick Mahomes?

I pretty much stopped listening to most pop music after about 1972 or thereabouts, so I have no opinion on the last three matchups, as in most cases I haven’t heard any of their music or in some cases I haven’t even heard of their names. But regarding the first two matchups— 

I have to select Chuck Berry even though I’m only generally acquainted with his music, because I consider Elvis Presley to be the single most overrated performer in the history of Western civilization, bar none.

I lived through his appearances on The Ed Sullivan Show when his hip twitching was supposedly so sexually provocative.

I didn’t get it, but I was only seven at the time. Still I never did think he was all that sexy. And I never liked his voice. Listen to some of his slower tempo songs; he has a ghastly, wide vibrato. I loathe wide vibrato. Yuck!

He was supposedly good in his movies, but I’ve tried watching Blue Hawaii where Angela Lansbury (only a few years older than he was) played his mother; she made a mini-career out of playing older than she was. I simply could not get through it. Perhaps if he didn’t sing.

He was a talentless schmuck as far as I was concerned. When he died, I thought that would be the end of him. I never expected the explosion of Elvis nonsense that followed his death, but I guess that I should have. I mean this is America, the land of the brave and the mediocre.

Next, of course, anyone who knows me knows that I’d pick The Beatles over any other pop group. They were extremely versatile, unlike the Stones who could only do hard rock. Buy a Stones album and there were maybe two worthwhile songs on it. Best to wait for their Greatest Hits album, which is the only one that I have these days. Yes, I enjoyed the concert performance of theirs that I attended, but as I wrote, their performance was high energy but Jagger’s movements around the stage seemed mostly random, not well choreographed. 

The Beatles, however, could do just about anything and practically each of their songs still stands up to scrutiny today. I have at least one copy of each of their albums and several copies of most of them (remixed, remastered, super deluxe edition, whatever), plus I have about a dozen books devoted to The Beatles, either biographies or musical studies, and I’ve read most of them.

We know them best from their studio albums, and they did some amazing work in the studio, especially after they stopped touring, but they were a band and they could play together like the best of them. Here they are in a live performance of “Ticket to Ride”.

Here are the answers that the folks from E-V.com gave:

(A) answers: Chuck Berry. I never could get into Elvis.

The Beatles. The Stones have always seemed overrated to me.

Michael Jackson.

This is the toughest one for me. I’ll go with Beyoncé, barely. No, Taylor Swift. Ah, I can’t pick (I’m least familiar with Billie Eilish’s music).

I barely know who one of these people is. I’ll substitute a pair that’s more in my wheelhouse (pun not intended): Fredric Aasbø or Ryan Tuerck? Tuerck before he went AWD; Aasbø after. But really, Hiroya Minowa.

(L) answers: Elvis. He expanded Chuck Berry’s reach and built on the sound.

Beatles—what (A) said.

Prince! I think he gave Jackson a run for his money in the dance department and he’s a much better musician. And he wasn’t afraid to push the envelope.

I agree, this is tough. I gotta go Beyoncé—she’s influenced so many singers.

Tom Brady. Mahomes may eclipse him someday but he can’t touch the GOAT yet. If Mahomes ever comes back from 31 points down in the 3rd quarter of a Super Bowl, then we can have this conversation.

(Z) answers: Chuck Berry. I actively enjoy more of his songs, with “You Never Can Tell” at the top of the list.

The Beatles, by many country miles. I have the Rolling Stones’ greatest hits, and a couple of others. I have well over 100 Beatles CDs (released albums—mono and stereo, released singles—mono and stereo, special collections, remasters, deep cuts, bootlegs, live performances, etc.). If you include collections of Beatles covers, we start to approach 150 CDs.

Michael Jackson, because I am going to give him credit for his work with the Jackson Five. I like that material better than his solo stuff.

Beyoncé, because I am going to give her credit for her work with Destiny’s Child. I like that material better than her solo stuff.

Mahomes, because I cannot stand Tom Brady. First, because he is clearly MAGA, but pretends not to be. Just own it, Tom. Second, and most importantly, because he has marketed a bunch of B.S. supplements, Alex Jones-style or RFK Jr.-style. I don’t approve of anyone who plays games with other people’s health to make money. I disapprove even more when they have half a billion dollars in the bank, and have absolutely no need for the money they’re making. For the exact same reason, Gwyneth Paltrow can also go to wherever it is that Trump’s headed.