It seems that he crosses alot of socio-ethnic barriers. He doesn't have the greatest voice but people from all walks of life like the guy.....how come?
2006-08-09 19:23:06 · 12 answers · asked by Anonymous in Entertainment & Music ➔ Music
You are right. He isn't the best singer; He isn't the best guitar player; Many people would look down their nose at his lifestyle, mistakes, errors, etc.; He is one of the greatest writers of both music and poetry of the past 50-60+ years. However, that isn't why people love him either.
People love Willie because he has become an icon of an average American. Willie is as much a part of the fabric that makes up what America truely is as a thread in our American flag. He is humble; He is down to earth; He has made huge mistakes in his life; He has achieved the greatest triumphs; He embraces the melting pot of cultures, races, beliefs, etc. in our culture...and did so before it was culturely acceptable/culturely mandated to do so. Ignorant racists didn't get with him befriending and working with Ray Charles back in the day; Intollerant people deemed him a bad man for admitting that he smoked pot; Intollerant people wrote him off after he let his alcoholism get the best of him whenever he sang the national anthem at the Democratic National Convention; Intollerant people snubbed him whenever he was found guilty of tax evasion as well, even though he paid every dime of the taxes he owed.
However, people came back to Willie whenever he orchestrated FarmAid. People came back to Willie, years later, for his "ground breaking work" with an African American, even though the color of skin didn't matter to Willie. Finally, people began to realize that Willie WAS 20th Century American Culture. He is American in every since of the word. Willie is a true American treasure.
2006-08-09 19:50:16 · answer #1 · answered by Cing 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I think Nelson wrote the popular tune "Crazy" made popular by Patsy Cline, and probably a whole bunch of other tunes. I liked his version of "Always On My Mind". He also sang "To All The Girls I Loved Before" which I thought was pretty good.
To my mind, Nelson was able to overcome some of the stigma associated with country music and cross over into the mainstream. In other words, when he sang, he didn't sound like a "hick". I've got nothing against good country music with the southern twang sound. In fact one of the best singers I like is Hank Williams, Sr., and you can't get too much more countrified than that. But like a singer like Ray Charles, he was able to appeal to a pretty wide range of people.
As far as Nelson smoking weed, for cryin' out loud, he's a musician. That's almost a qualification, truth be told. The substance abuses by musicians in general is legendary amongst our most popular musicians. I personally don't recommend it, but it seems to be commonplace.
The quality of voice a singer has really doesn't make a lot of difference in the way he communicates with the listener. Frank Sinatra didn't have a great voice in his later career. A lot of people can't stand Barry Manilow's singing; a common complaint I hear is that he sounds like he's straining in his upper register. So there are a lot of arguments for making the case that a quality voice is not required in order to effectively reach an audience. A lot can be said of Nelson, and others, who are able to reach an audience through other means other than having a good voice.
2006-08-10 03:57:46 · answer #2 · answered by James A 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
He come across as genuine, a humble, kind, and down-to-earth guy. Randy Rhoades of Air America is a friend of his, and raves about what nice people he and his wife Annie are.
The pot-smoking reaches outside the country demographic, that's for sure, and I guess he was well established enough in the country genre by the time his progressive leanings became apparent that it didn't hurt him there.
He's a redneck environmentalist who manages not to offend anyone, or so it would seem.
Dolly Parton seems and Johnny Cash seemed to have similar wide appeal.
2006-08-10 02:45:07 · answer #3 · answered by answer faerie, V.T., A. M. 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
the guys been singing since the 50s. he wrote alot of songs that made other people famous. he smoked dope in the white house with kennedy. i could go on.
2006-08-10 03:13:15 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
he invented the phrase "it's 5 o'clock somewhere". everybody drinks beer! using the transitive property [if a=b and b=c, then a=c] everybody likes willie nelson! omg it all makes sense now!
2006-08-10 02:27:17 · answer #5 · answered by maxcreeed 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
He has great songs. Most people wouldn't expect a black chick like me to like him. But like you said, people of all walks of life seem to like him.
2006-08-10 02:26:17 · answer #6 · answered by Simmy 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
because the song "Always On My Mind",got to everyone
2006-08-10 05:48:42 · answer #7 · answered by Jenny 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
He has good music.
2006-08-10 02:29:19 · answer #8 · answered by Alyssa 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I dunno, Maybe because he used to smoke pot and he sang along with that one song that goes like this, "Mommas don't let your babies grow up to be cowboys... " Maybe.. I dunno. I'm not that into him, I just know who he is because of my parents.
:]
2006-08-10 02:28:48 · answer #9 · answered by i'mkailey.teehee. 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
he isn't afraid to be who he is. period. even if it means being arrested. lol.
2006-08-10 02:27:07 · answer #10 · answered by Betty Sue 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋