Pat Metheny Talks YouTube

**Stevebol** · 02-15-2013, 02:43 AM

My generation and Pat's, born in the 50's, sold out in regards to technology. The younger generation sold out in regards to teaching from what I see.
I don't believe Pat has much of an argument here.

Too bad Pat, it's Youtube. Deal with it.

**shredmiyagi** · 11-22-2013, 02:51 PM

It's a double-edged sword:

The music enthousiast can often appreciate things that the casual listener, the critic, the schooled musician or the artists themselves do not.

The music student can appreciate any bit of musical integrity, mistake or not.

The artists themselves deserve the right to control their "product." It's unfair to have un-prohibited film footage against their wish.

Humans deserve the right to limit their private photos and information (Facebook).

I think PM's criticism of it is very fair and needed, because "online rights" are going to be a reality. You don't want it spinning out of control, and in many ways, it already has. The early ages of internet were exciting, like discovering a new world, but inevitably it became overpopulated and so began the battle for chaos control.

All this said, I remember the first few times I heard myself recorded on a cassette tape.. I knew it'd be bad, but I didn't think it'd be THAT bad… I wonder whether a public upload would've hurt my confidence any more, given as I felt rock bottom, and really had a lot of work to do. A stage humiliation in front of 10 people has as much emotional impact as Youtube comments from around the world.

The only sad thing is I can tell amongst good young musicians (18-24 year olds), who were/are completely born into the Youtube generation:

They're getting as much exposure to great musicians noodling in their bedroom as they are to the classic records which all had interesting stories as to how they were spawned. Conceptually, there's just something that's getting lost in the artistry and creativity. I can't put my finger on it, but the over-academiaziation (sorry if I invented that word) and "insider look" is interconnecting people in a weird way. I value isolation and distance, or exposure in a controlled way (a "studio" album, edited footage, etc.), so that I can maintain my personal life.

I really appreciate Metheny's point. The irony is I almost shared the Youtube video on my Facebook wall… but decided to keep myself out of it. LOL

PM always struck me as a very colorful personality with lots of wisdom to bestow. He is one of those few musicians who could probably change your life just by having a conversation with him.

**ecj** · 11-22-2013, 04:53 PM

I love Pat Metheny. He is one of my all-time favorite musicians. But...he just sounds like a grumpy old man here. Maybe he's right. Maybe. But what are you going to do about it? The revolution happened, and now we have to live with it. I feel like this just comes across as complaining.

On the plus side, I know I've heard way more music than I ever would have otherwise without YouTube. Not all of it is great, but there are amazing bootlegs of Benson jamming in bars after shows, and plenty of cool collaborations that never got released in an official way.

I do see his point. You can't control your image anymore. You can't hide your sketchbooks. Everything is out there. But to me, that doesn't make the best stuff any less amazing.

**JazzDreams** · 12-20-2013, 11:50 PM

"You can't control your image anymore..." is precisely the point. It doesn't make the best stuff less amazing... but there will be less of it. There'll be fewer impromptu sessions, new material may not be exposed to audiences... more will be rehearsed to death before it ever appears in public, and the spontaneous aspect of performance will suffer and may even disappear.

Someone said its a boone to the young musician without a publicist- that's true. But he chooses to put himself out there in that way. When an artist doesn't choose to do so, and asks for some consideration... and receives an upraised finger in return... ?

**maxsmith** · 12-21-2013, 02:09 AM

Apart from the rudeness factor - why do people think that because they buy a concert ticket they are entitled to photos or full length live concert videos? - I think there's a weird cultural phenomenon going on where people sacrifice the full experience of the moment in exchange for an artifact they will share with people who aren't there and therefore are getting out second hand - no one's actually experiencing the love music making process while it's happening.

I attended an incredible Robert Cray concert where several people in the front row watched the whole thing on the ten inch screen of their constantly recording iPad - it's hard for me to believe they were really engaged with the music in the moment.

And it's definitely rude to take photos or video of ANYONE when they explicitly ask you not to.

Max

**maxsmith** · 12-21-2013, 02:10 AM

Haha I meant live music not love music...

**vhollund** · 12-21-2013, 11:34 AM

I think the important phrase is "Everything is a world premiere"

The competition is harder than ever , but maybe also more equal
Everybody have accès to distribution on the internet , everybody have acces to good soundtools.
If you let something half finished out there people lastingly loose interest for you after 5 seconds.
There's no "demo-tapes" anymore. Everything is produced as a finalized product
unless you add that "x-factor" "home" feeling to it that seem to be very popular, but your chops have to over the top, if you are not an amateur and selling yourself as such...

The "x-factor"-mentality make some people think they can skip some steps to get the fame theare after.
Mostly they are proven to be mistaken.
I've seen many singers putting money into promoting them selves on the internet, but in a product that is not holding up as far as composition and singing/artistic craft...

It used to be that "all publicity is good publicity" , but I don't think that's true for upcoming artists anymore.
And most people are too busy getting famous in a hurry, to bother enough with the important details, and artistic self-criticisms.
And because it has gotten easier to get a polished sound , that sounds professional... the mistake is made not to know that your essential content is missing, or what is not cared for enough.

**redrube** · 03-15-2016, 06:10 PM

It's a pretty well known fact that he wears a wig.

**Flyin' Brian** · 03-15-2016, 06:11 PM

Originally Posted by redrube

It's a pretty well known fact that he wears a wig.

You're his hairdresser?

**redrube** · 03-15-2016, 06:14 PM

Originally Posted by Space Pickle

I wonder if Metheny dyes his hair. I mean, he's like 60.

He's wearing a wig guys

**Flyin' Brian** · 03-15-2016, 06:19 PM

Originally Posted by redrube

He's wearing a wig guys

You're not his hairdresser? Maybe you have a close personal relationship with his hairdresser?

Just busting chops, but wondering in what way does ANY of this have anything to do with music in general and jazz guitar in particular?

I wonder if there's a hairdresser forum somewhere wherein the members are delivering non-sequitors about using solid body guitars for jazz.

Oh wait! Joined this month. 2 total posts, both about Pat Metheny's hair. So you have either an unnatural attraction to Metheny's physical person, or just have absolutely nothing to say about music.

**rictroll** · 03-15-2016, 09:14 PM

Is there a process or interface for transferring posts to TGP?

**whiskey02** · 03-15-2016, 09:24 PM

Originally Posted by redrube

It's a pretty well known fact that he wears a wig.

Why don't you work on/come to terms with your sexuality on a different forum.

Pat makes excellent points though I'm sure he realizes that on the whole, people are f*cking dopes and their lack of intelligence and character is what rules their behavior, so, it's unlikely to stop any time soon.

**mr. beaumont** · 03-15-2016, 09:24 PM

Rictroll, just copy, paste, and change any reference to actually playing to "boutique amp."

**christianm77** · 03-16-2016, 06:24 AM

Yeah what pat says is a common feeling. I was talking to Emma Kirkby (clang!) and she said the same thing.

If you are not famous they will video you anyway and not link to it cos they don't know who you are. So there are loads of videos of me out there that I have no way of knowing about - people are always filming gigs on phones.

In the extremely unlikely event that I ever do become well known, loads of crappy videos will suddenly surface all over the net.. Haha

But yeah, it's a bit rude. Why can't people just enjoy the moment? Why do they feel they have to bottle it up and take it home?

I suppose its like bootlegging in a way...

dortmundjazzguitar · 03-16-2016, 08:46 AM

Originally Posted by christianm77

Yeah what pat says is a common feeling. I was talking to Emma Kirkby (clang!) and she said the same thing.

If you are not famous they will video you anyway and not link to it cos they don't know who you are. So there are loads of videos of me out there that I have no way of knowing about - people are always filming gigs on phones.

In the extremely unlikely event that I ever do become well known, loads of crappy videos will suddenly surface all over the net.. Haha

But yeah, it's a bit rude. Why can't people just enjoy the moment? Why do they feel they have to bottle it up and take it home?

I suppose its like bootlegging in a way...

yeah, it's gotten out of hand. bootlegging is a labor of love, but the phones are just a major pita.

and he does wear a wig