I run across many people who firmly believe that one "must be passionate" to play music, or that to play music "is to be passionate". That's not to mention all the bands which seek only "passionate, dedicated" members.

While I don't think there's much wrong with being passionate, insisting that it is the only correct and acceptable way to play music is... well... I'll admit it's quite useful if you are a loser. I don't have to be passionate because I'm skilled and reliable. People will hire me for gigs without ever asking whether I actually like the music, or knowing that I think the music is silly and bad. I'm up front and honest about this, so if anyone does want passion, they can hire somebody else. I've hired many other musicians in the same manner. I don't care what you think about the end product as long as you show up on time, work efficiently, and most importantly do a good job.

That's why it's usually the young, foolish and not very good bands who insist on passion.

http://www.corrupt.org/news/the_passion_of_the_bassist

I think there's a difference between musicians and composers. Musicians can play their instruments and attempt to compose, but composers can actually write good music. A composer doesn't need to know how to play an instrument, but that certianly helps with metal/rock, etc. It's rare to find someone who is both a great composer and a great musician.

There's a gap between creativity and being able to play an instrument. One can be an artist with "passion" or "desire" for their instrument or music, but lack the desire to work on their composition.

I wash myself with a rag on a stick.

I live in a van, down by the river.

I pop pimples with a compass I used in highschool.
I eat my own dandruff.

Well, music in itself is a passionate expression of emotion and thought. If you don't have passion in music, you might as well stay away from it. Pretty simple.

People who play music without enjoying it, or without being "passionate" about it are the reason we have shit like this:



AND THIS:




Soul-less fucking claptrap garbage. Thanks for stirring the pot, though.

is that Ice Cube and Kris Kubrick on Idol

Musicians don't have to be passionate to be good. There are musicians that can play circles around most players, but are really boring because its all technique and no passion/feeling/soul/whatever and vice versa. Its all in personal taste and what you're shooting for, but I personally would rather listen to BB King play "passionatley" than listen to Satriani show off is "talent".

Soul-less yes, but damn are all those people hot.

I honestly don't know.

^^ Same reason why I get so sick of shred bands. Or bands that lack emotion in their music.
It is this sole reason why I get so sick of Rush after about 2 songs. I know a lot of people love them, but if you ask me, 90% of their songs lack soul or emotion, and the composition and style gets old. I'm not knocking their talent and passion for the instruments; but as composers, I think their style gets really boring, fast.

i think rush is a great blend of passion and talent.

My room mate in college was obsessed with Rush and played them non-stop, so I'm a little biased.

As much as I dislike Daniel Johnston and all the "look-at-me-I'm-so-crazy-and-I-can-strum-a-guitar" spin-offs he's responsible for, I'd STILL rather listen to his whiny awfulness than 99% of the tech-metal whatever the fuck, because Johnston at least came from the gut. It's all Music, some people just like to show off instead of letting things flow naturally... like... y'know... waves on the beach...

Ben you go get a haircut

ha, waves on the beach

You keep your dirty looks to yourself, mister.

I SAID TRIM THAT HAIR

mattingly, i told you to shave those sideburns!

I'M NOT A LITTLE KID ANYMORE, DAD, I'LL GROW MY HAIR AS LONG AS I WANT. It shows people that I'm not LIKE them.

i'd rather listen to someone who is sloppy and passionate than something like Necrofaggots who possess technical prowess but no heart. prime example, Bathory. Quorthon wasn't the best vocalist and was a sloppy musician, but there is more passion in his music than most bands combined. same with Godflesh and Jesu. JKB doesn't always hit the right note, nor is he loaded with insane technicality, but he made up for all of that in his ability to create incredible music.

You're going into the Army like the rest of your family boy, they'll show you how to be a man.

Mattingly!

Shave those sideburns!

I HATE YOU AND I HATE MOM! I'M GONNA GO SPEND A MONTH COMPOSING A 17 MINUTE GUITAR SOLO TO VENT MY FRUSTRATIONS

THAT'S IT YOU'RE OFF THE TEAM!!

i still like him better than Steinbrenner.

i'm so happy with where this all went.

passion of the anti-christ

ya know Tony for a while i disagreed with you on Necrophagist's approach until i finally sat down and listened to a whole cd from them. I was so unbelievable bored to tears with what i listened to.

i heard nothing but awesome things about them, and the same thing happened to me. it made me angry that i wasted the time listening to it.

See "Braindrill". SWEEPS, I KNOW, WE GET IT

For comparison, see "Varg and the Burzums".

Varg and the Uruk-Hai

Corrupt.org. More keyboard courage with nothing to say.

LORD PALMERSTON!

insert psudeo-intellectual jargon { HERE }

PITT THE ELDER!!!!

...he says, anonymously, through the internet.

You obviously win at intarnets. I bow before your superior nerdish mastery of the pseudo-socialization of internet pseudo-intellectual jargon, Sir.

If you're not passionate about music, what's the point of playing it? that's a completely honest question

wow... greg d and ellesarusrex posting?!?

How 'bout this, Rev - does a photographer need passion?

does a booger need passion to hang out of your nose?

Greg D is my real name.

Thought I had an account here. Here is my information. So much for being anonymous.

DENTAL PLAN!

LISA NEEDS PASSION BRACES

I have passion...IN MY PIZZANTS.

OH NO, PIZZA ANTS!!!!

Perhaps passion is used as an excuse for making music even if one sucks at it.

"Why are you making such crappy music?"

"I have passion for music. I don't care if you like it..." blah blah and so on.

But if you are to create music on your own or start a band I'd hope you'd have SOME passion. Even just alittle.

Unless you do it for fame or popularity or just to be part of a scene, then you're just a tool.

PASSION PLAN

PASSION OF RTTP.

think what you want about this subject. but i wouldnt be moving out of my beautiful apartment to live in squalor to afford tour and working the shittiest job ever that lets me take time off if i was anything less than passionate about my music. if you're talking about music in terms of "being hired" then you're going about it in a way that seems incredibly superficial to me. I require everyone in my band to have passion AND skill. Both are incredibly necessary to its functioning in the right way and we definitely dont suck at our instruments or suck as a band, at least not in my humble opinion.

fully funching

we are fully funching band

My feelings exactly. Discharge is pretty much my favorite band for this reason; their songs had maybe 1-2 simple riffs per song, the same drum beat, and their lyrics were just a few short lines shouted over and over, but Goddamn they sounded like they slammed you up against a fucking wall and tore you a new asshole - they weren't talented musicians but the fury in their songs was unmistakable and that's what I love in a band, the ability to express true feeling and create an atmosphere regardless of their technical abilities.

Yes, yes, indeed.

i don't know. to me, being passionate is about performing and practicing hard. it's about making the best of your craft on both those levels and pushing it to the best of eternity. it's about sacrifice. dedication. love for what you're doing. watching performers who aren't passionate is a waste of time. you can feel it on record too.

bathory - twilight of the gods = passion

"you can only love so many people but you can be passionate towards a million" - paul stanley

"thus spoke zarathustra"

financial gain and notoriety?

not exactly.

you will get lashings for this boy.