Posted: August 13, 2006 9:30 pm
Kenny Chesney is the best, worst thing to ever happen to Jimmy Buffett. Same as Harry Connick, Jr. was the best, worst thing to ever happen to Frank Sinatra. Let me explain my reasoning...
In both cases there is a well-known, established performer who has a rabid fan base and decades upon decades of success. Then a young guy comes along and strikes oil with a certain audience when they do a cover of the old guy's song, or when they start making music eerily similar to that of their predacessor. Then they milk it to death and make a career of it.
I feel like Kenny Chesney has made a career (at least the portion of his career when he's enjoyed sold-out crowds and Top 40 songs) out of whoring Jimmy's music, style, presentation, etc. Now I realize Jimmy can't (and doesn't want to) patent his own style--other than Margaritaville-related stuff--just like Sinatra couldn't patent his. However, it seems to me like if a performer isn't talented enough to make a career doing their own thing instead of copying someone that's come before them and had success, then they are doing nothing but stealing people's money. But as long as people are silly enough to pay money to see a second-rate talent, people like Kenny Chesney will continue to be millionaires.
(I'd like to add that I like quite a bit of Chesney's music; but I like his country stuff, not his rip-off "island" music that wannabe Parrotheads cling to).
That being said, I'd like to see Jake Shimabukuro put a small ensemble together and open for Jimmy. Then again, I wouldn't mind seeing a Club Trini instrumental set to open for Jimmy. It would be nice to have something to open the shows, just to mix the routine up a bit.
In both cases there is a well-known, established performer who has a rabid fan base and decades upon decades of success. Then a young guy comes along and strikes oil with a certain audience when they do a cover of the old guy's song, or when they start making music eerily similar to that of their predacessor. Then they milk it to death and make a career of it.
I feel like Kenny Chesney has made a career (at least the portion of his career when he's enjoyed sold-out crowds and Top 40 songs) out of whoring Jimmy's music, style, presentation, etc. Now I realize Jimmy can't (and doesn't want to) patent his own style--other than Margaritaville-related stuff--just like Sinatra couldn't patent his. However, it seems to me like if a performer isn't talented enough to make a career doing their own thing instead of copying someone that's come before them and had success, then they are doing nothing but stealing people's money. But as long as people are silly enough to pay money to see a second-rate talent, people like Kenny Chesney will continue to be millionaires.
(I'd like to add that I like quite a bit of Chesney's music; but I like his country stuff, not his rip-off "island" music that wannabe Parrotheads cling to).
That being said, I'd like to see Jake Shimabukuro put a small ensemble together and open for Jimmy. Then again, I wouldn't mind seeing a Club Trini instrumental set to open for Jimmy. It would be nice to have something to open the shows, just to mix the routine up a bit.
