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Topic: Who Is Truly Awesome? |
Bill Hankey
From:
Pittsfield, MA, USA
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Posted 31 Jul 2007 3:12 am |
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| "Awesome" is a term that is meant to be complimentary, when it is used to describe a player's abilities within a contexture of denotative liberties. Actually, the term is a miscue of an intended praiseworthy terminology. "Awesome" seems to have had extended usages, by displacing more suitable words depicting greatness. Like an ocean wave bringing flotsam to the sandy beaches to be collected by beachcombers, musicians readily adapt spoken words of others. |
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Roger Crawford
From:
Griffin, GA USA
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Posted 31 Jul 2007 3:54 am
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| Buddy Emmons is "awesome". |
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Shane Reilly
From:
Melbourne, Australia
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Posted 31 Jul 2007 4:07 am
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Oceans are oarsome.Sandy beaches are awesomer.Sitting on a sandy beach on a sunny day with a refreshing beverage is awesomest.  Cheers. |
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Ken Byng
From:
Southampton, England
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Posted 31 Jul 2007 4:08 am
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Awesome as in amazing, breath-taking, remarkable, astounding, breath-taking, splendid.
Buddy Emmons, Tommy White, Maurice Anderson, Paul Franklin. All have awesome technique and incredible musical knowledge. |
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Jim Sliff
From:
Lawndale California, USA
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Posted 31 Jul 2007 4:45 am
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With the traditional definition generally being "inspiring awe or wonder" the use of the term to describe another musician's skills or style seems quite appropriate. Even the slang adaptation (e.g. "dude, that was awesome") doesn't miss the mark of the more formal definition. I really don't see how the statement "Actually, the term is a miscue of an intended praiseworthy terminology." could be iterpreted as anything other than personal opinion, but without explaining HOW it's a "miscue" or what other ppraiseworthy terminology is more appropriate..
The word is universally understood as being applied to descriptions of one's personal perceptions. Replies that list names of players fit the definition perfectly, since the word is one of strictly personal and not universal application (i.e. not all folks here find the same list of players as "awe-inspiring", nor similar "awe" in a view of the Grand Canyon...or in The Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue  ).
So - what's the issue; or what alternative words or phrases are better suited and more precisely understood by readers?
_________________
No chops, but great tone
1930's/40's Rickenbacher/Rickenbacker 6&8 string lap steels
1921 Weissenborn Style 2; Hilo&Schireson hollownecks
Appalachian, Regal & Dobro squarenecks
1959 Fender 400 9+2 B6;1960's Fender 800 3+3+2; 1948 Fender Dual-8 Professional |
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Bill Hankey
From:
Pittsfield, MA, USA
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Posted 31 Jul 2007 5:18 am
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| For those who may find my interpretation of "awesome" off the mark, please take note of the continuation of vagaries, that are implied in a contentious manner. Jim, you've conveniently omitted the definition in part, that descibes the word as one causing FEAR. How do YOU associate fear with the greats of steel guitar? |
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Tommy R. Butler
From:
Nashville, Tennessee
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Posted 31 Jul 2007 5:49 am
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| Shane Reilly wrote: |
| Oceans are oarsome.Sandy beaches are awesomer.Sitting on a sandy beach on a sunny day with a refreshing beverage is awesomest. Cheers. |
That what I have been doing for about 3 weeks now. Of course I am breaking it up with a lil playn.
 Jim Walker is Awesome |
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Jamie Lennon
From:
Nashville, TN
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Posted 31 Jul 2007 6:52 am
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PAUL FRANKLIN is awesome !!! 
_________________
Mullen Guitars, Little Walter Amps, Benado Effects, D'Addario Strings
www.georgettejones.net |
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Barry Blackwood
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Posted 31 Jul 2007 6:52 am
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"How do YOU associate fear with the greats of steel guitar?"
My answer would be, "I'm afraid they're all better (players) than I." |
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David L. Donald
From:
Koh Samui Island, Thailand
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Posted 31 Jul 2007 6:54 am
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awe
–noun
1. an overwhelming feeling of reverence,
admiration, fear, etc.,
produced by that which is grand, sublime, extremely powerful, or the like:
in awe of God; in awe of great political figures.
2. Archaic. power to inspire fear or reverence.
3. Obsolete. fear or dread.
–verb (used with object)
4. to inspire with awe.
5. to influence or restrain by awe.
—Synonyms 1. wonder, veneration.
awe·some
–adjective
1. inspiring awe: an awesome sight.
2. showing or characterized by awe.
3. Slang. very impressive:
If you are a steel player,
then you know how hard it is to do
some things on the instrument.
When I see Buddy Emmons or Doug Jernigan,
(to name only 2 masters)
I AM absolutely filled with awe at their abilities.
So I don't find it out of place to say
someone doing something I suspect
only 2-3 in a half billion people can do
at that level is awesome is pushing the point
or the definition.
You can say either gentleman is 'One In A Million'..
but I think the number is MUCH higher.
And that is awe inspiring.
_________________
DLD, Chili farmer. Plus bananas and papaya too.
Real happiness has no strings attached.
But pedal steels have many!
Last edited by David L. Donald on 31 Jul 2007 9:08 am; edited 1 time in total |
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Bill Hankey
From:
Pittsfield, MA, USA
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Posted 31 Jul 2007 7:57 am
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Even though I'm merely at the threshold of ascertaining greatness, I fully realize that certain outbreaks of energy, combined with a special aptitude with musical inclinations, has been found to "play" a much larger part than "awesome" on the road to greatness. To be sure, FEAR to attempt to emulate Emmons, Jernigan, Green, Franklin, Brumley etc. conveys a message of defeat at the onset, at the same time suggesting that it is too far-fetched to consider. I maintain that this world is full of surprises, and if I were to apply such diction as "awesome", it would be contained in references to creation of the universe. Now thats awesome! The inhabitants of our earth are like the grains of sand along the beaches. Outer space with its endless stars, millions of light years away, may be described as "awesome", and then some.
Last edited by Bill Hankey on 31 Jul 2007 2:58 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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Alan Miller
From:
, England, UK.
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Posted 31 Jul 2007 2:50 pm
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| Bill, I am in awe of everyone who strives to be the best whatever their chosen discipline, what I find really awesome and then some is that Buddy emmons may not be the best pedal steel player in the world , but the best in the universe !! THATS BIG BANG AWESOME ! |
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Bill Hankey
From:
Pittsfield, MA, USA
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Posted 31 Jul 2007 3:30 pm
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Alan M.,
A steel player friend of mine who is a champion in his own right, performed at a steel show and managed to keep his cool, with Buddy seated just a few feet away. Nerves of steel, I would say! We look for words to describe that unnerving situation. The derby is synonymous with an exclusive greatness, but life must go on. I think anyone who plays steel would be thrilled to hear someone say; "Buddy is in the building." |
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Alan Miller
From:
, England, UK.
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Posted 31 Jul 2007 4:19 pm
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Bill,
Yes I think a lot of players would be a little nervous with big E in the room but from what i have read in interviews Buddy is not a judging kind of guy, I think I remember reading something he said along the lines of , "dont be afraid of making mistakes" .
You might know which interview or article that was ,I cant recall, but knowing that of him maybe thats why players are not intimidated when he's in the room.
You know bill ,just like Buddy Im a photographer (proffessionally ) and I have a lifelong interest in astronomy but unfortunately thats where the similarity ends.  |
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Bill Hankey
From:
Pittsfield, MA, USA
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Posted 1 Aug 2007 3:29 am
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Alan M.,
I'm just curious to know how you and others would respond, if I asked; is The Big "E" "UNIQUE" in everything that he does? |
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Michael Douchette
From:
Gallatin, TN (deceased)
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Ken Byng
From:
Southampton, England
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Posted 1 Aug 2007 3:55 am
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| Quote: |
| I'm just curious to know how you and others would respond, if I asked; is The Big "E" "UNIQUE" in everything that he does? |
We are all actually unique in everything we do. |
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Johan Jansen
From:
Europe
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Posted 1 Aug 2007 4:10 am
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my girls are awesome, so are my friends and bands  |
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Jim Cohen
From:
Philadelphia, PA
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Posted 1 Aug 2007 4:20 am
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| Quote: |
| from what i have read in interviews Buddy is not a judging kind of guy... |
Well, now, isn't he somewhat infamous for handing people little cards that say, "I really dig what you were trying to play." ?? LOL! 
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Jim Sliff
From:
Lawndale California, USA
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Posted 1 Aug 2007 4:50 am
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| Quote: |
| Jim, you've conveniently omitted the definition in part, that descibes the word as one causing FEAR. |
It was completely unintentional - the published definitions I quickly grabbed (as I was curious what the "book" definitions would be) had no fear reference at all. After your post noting my "convenient" omission, I looked again and found a couple of obscure sources, although not from what I would normally use as reference material - Merriam-Webster, Random House, Wordreference.com and The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, for example, have NO fear reference; at least in the online versions.
But if you want to plug in "fear" as part of your definition it makes as much sense as some of the other creative word applications I've read (and there's not the slightest implication of "fear" in your original post, so I'm not sure what your point is other than to change horses to fit today's mood), so sure - let's look at it within the scope of a personally defined context:
| Quote: |
| How do YOU associate fear with the greats of steel guitar? |
Answer - I don't.
_________________
No chops, but great tone
1930's/40's Rickenbacher/Rickenbacker 6&8 string lap steels
1921 Weissenborn Style 2; Hilo&Schireson hollownecks
Appalachian, Regal & Dobro squarenecks
1959 Fender 400 9+2 B6;1960's Fender 800 3+3+2; 1948 Fender Dual-8 Professional |
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Bill Hankey
From:
Pittsfield, MA, USA
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Posted 1 Aug 2007 6:56 am
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Jim S.,
Thanks for not hitting me with a rain of criticisms. Constructive criticism should be one of the most useful sources of advanced knowledge. It should be welcomed in each instance, whenever it is accompanied by politeness and sincerity. I know that you are involved with voluminous replies, and that your perseverance is noteworthy. I had hoped that since the word ofttimes spoken by virtually every speaker, (UNIQUE) would offer "food" for thought. It appears now, that for some reason it has reached a dry area. |
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Jim West
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Posted 1 Aug 2007 7:23 am
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| Ken Byng wrote: |
Awesome as in amazing, breath-taking, remarkable, astounding, breath-taking, splendid.
Buddy Emmons, Tommy White, Maurice Anderson, Paul Franklin. All have awesome technique and incredible musical knowledge. |
+1!! |
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Don Ricketson
From:
Llano, Texas
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Posted 1 Aug 2007 7:40 am
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I guess "SHOCK and AWE" Baghdad would have a reference to FEAR. 
_________________
GFI D10-8/6 Black/Red
Zum Encore 4/5 Red
Justice ProLite 3/4 Black
2-Nashville 112
"Making The Stars Shine" |
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Alan Miller
From:
, England, UK.
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Posted 1 Aug 2007 9:17 am
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| Jim C , I didnt know about the cards Buddy handed out, that sounds like a wry sense of humour there. If I got one of those cards which is very likely if he heard me play , I would frame it , hang it on the wall and think "hey thats awesome " |
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Bill Hankey
From:
Pittsfield, MA, USA
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Posted 1 Aug 2007 10:43 am
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Alan M.,
Those cards would be good for laughs if they do exist. I may attempt to catch up on that bit of trivia by checking with knowledgeable sources. I know that Jim Cohen possesses a multitude of intuition, but he is no stranger to humorous situations. I'd be interested in reading verbatim quotations, rather than viewing random postulations with missing letters. In either case, it would be worth a chuckle to see that kind of humor. |
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