Favorite Artists

My list will probably be the weirdest, but hey, this IS BHZ I'm talking bout' here. Here's my favorites, in no particular order, and with reasons (I HATH DISTINGUISHED MYSELF FROM THE CROWD.)!

EDIT: Gadzooks, what did I do to the rules of this thread?

Carpenters - Ahhh... Karen has the most beautiful voice EVER, and such a great range! Richard's arrangements are complex, balanced, interesting, and oh so beautiful as well! Not to mention they both play their instrument of choice very well. Anyone who's known me since the beginning of my time here will know how long this obsession of mine with them has lasted, and it's still going on, contrary to popular belief. -- "Mr. Guder, say, Mr. Guder, may I have a moment with you..."

The Beatles - Gots to love um' British Revolution-era men! Their songs are just absolutely amazing, with uber creative lyrics and the catchiest melodies around! They deserved every hit they got. -- "Michelle, my belle. These are words that go together well."

Tom Lehrer - The king of satire, and he's oh so intelligent, as well! He's able to poke fun at real issues so well, and also did wonders on The Electric Company, with his clever songs on silent E, -ly, sn-, and n't. -- "First you get down on your knees, fiddle with your rosaries, bow your head with great respect then... genuflect-genuflect-genuflect!"

Allan Sherman - Even if he may've wrote a song entitled Pop Hates The Beatles, he's one of my top, as well. Who knows how they get along in my playlist when I'm not around. A HUGE laugh-out-loud parodist that really deserves more credit for the other songs he's written, besides his Hello Mudduh, Hello Fadduh. -- "Sarah Jackman, Sarah Jackman, how's by you? How's by you? How's by you dah family, how's your sister Emily? She's nice, too. She's nice, too."

"Weird Al" Yankovic - The king of parodies, who has outlived so many of the artists he has a parodied in fame. This guy is the BOMB. -- "There's travel in your future when your tongue freezes to the back of a speeding bus!"

James Taylor - -- "Shower the people you love with love! Show them the way you feel! Things are gonna just fine if you only will... do as I say!"

Carole King - -- "And it's too late, baby, now, it's too late. Though we really did try to make it."

Carly Simon - -- "I bet you think this song is about you, don't you?! Don't you?!" All three of these amazing singer-songwriters go together in the same package, I think! They're doggone amazing, and continue to be!

Michael Jackson - Naah, he's messed up now. But before, he was one of the best around. But he better not mess around with any more Beatles songs. Anyone else notice most of his hit songs starts with a really good bass? -- "So, Annie are you OKAY?! You've been hit by- you've been hit by- a SMOOTH CRIMINAL."

Simon & Garfunkel - This duo is AMAZING! Simon writes such poetic lyrics, and they mesh so well. Oh, and the stuff I've heard of Simon's solo work is awesome, too. Anyone else see the episode of Arthur with Garfunkle guest starring? -- "Are you going to Scarborough Fair? Parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme."

Vanessa Carlton - Play dat' piano! Singer-songwrite, AWAY! -- "The unicorns are riding high, powerful in coats of white. I turn to look and burn my eyes. I carry on, I carry on."

Frou Frou - Okay, so I don't care for ALL the music Imogen does, but techno is a confusing genre... and a lot of the things of hers I really do like! She's a very good lyricist. -- "Pay close attention, don't listen to me from now. George will be flying this way, and it's anyone's guess how he does. This is the right turn, wrong universe."

A Cappella - How can you not LOVE a cappella music?! It's, like, the best thing EVER! It's just a magical medium of song. EXAMPLES.

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/YOhIODkOk6M" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/v/YOhIODkOk6M</a>

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/-c7jkmIQb6Y" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/v/-c7jkmIQb6Y</a>

-- "I L-O-V-E U... if you trust in me..."

Phil Collins - This guy can play the drums, and he can REALLY rock out! Everything, from Genesis to his solo work, and even Mike & The Mechanics, the other branch off of Genesis was really really great! And Tarzan couldn't have been as good as it was without him! -- "Help me, someone! Let me out of here. Then out of the dark was suddenly heard... welcome to the Home by the Sea."

Disney - ... the previous entry seems to lead to this! I have to say, I love when Disney is at its best work, and hate Disney when they're not. Some of my favorite songs ever come from the Disney classics, like The Little Mermaid, Aladdin, Beauty and The Beast, Hunchback of Notre Dame, Pocahontas, etc. -- "Out there among the millers and the weavers and their wives, through the roofs and gables I can see them! Every day they shout and scold and go about their lives, heedless of the gift is it to be them!"

Musicals - And from there, I was introduced to the magic of MUSICALS. A lot of my absolute favorite artists are broadway musical writers- like Stephen Schwartz, Stephen Sondheim, Rogers and Hammerstein, (from here I'll just list Musical titles, since I'm not too sure about their career as a whole) The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, The Light In The Piazza, You're A Good Man Charlie Brown, Singin' In The Rain, The Drowsy Chaperone, Once Upon A Mattress, etc.! They can show so much emotion, entertainment and power through song! Go, Broadway! -- "Come with me, walk with me, walking in my city. In a passeggiata, you and I."

... aaand I think that's it! Next time someone asks me what my favorite artists up, I should have this page ready. It really takes me a while to gather my thoughts on them, since they're so great.

EDIT: *looks up* BAAGH! How could I forget?!

Queen - Hooo, YEAAAAH. *rocks out* -- "Oooh, let me hear your heart beat. Grow faster- faster..."