24 September, 2008

You see, Miles Davis was selfish, cheating, lying, drug-addicted, entitled, woman-abusing and unhesitatingly cruel. But he was a musical genius who created great beauty and on balance gave much more than he took. He was ruthlessly committed to music, and within that framework he behaved very morally, kicking a heroin habit when it threatened his career and creativity, always judging his fellow musicians fairly, resisting the easy appeal of nostalgia or repeating himself, instead challenging himself and others to constantly move forward. It was always about the music. The man didn't even masturbate.

Chet Baker on the other hand festers with all the vices of Miles Davis, but without the moral center or redeeming devotion to his art. He values his art primarily as a tool for getting his way. Musical ability becomes interchangeable with celebrity. He liked playing music--sure, who wouldn't if they could?--but his commitment was shallow, and purely utilitarian--"How can it get me to my next score?" The art he achieved was minor and passing and without much intention.

Chet Baker's narcissism drove his life, whereas Miles' narcissism drove his commitment to music.

So my question is, do we have a financial system that's a Miles Davis system, or a Chet Baker system?

Sadly, we do not have a Louis Armstrong system....

5 comments:

MikeD said...

The Louis Prima system is all you need.

Rickart said...

Clearly it Chet Baker... it's only focus is profit at any cost. We've seen what capitalism will do with no watchdogs or regulation... child labor, 7 day work weeks, below subsistence pay, sweat shops, unsafe conditions, etc, etc, etc. Basically with no over-site there is rampant abuse and no middle class. When there are no laws then people are lawless.

Mr Goodson said...

We'll have a Chocalate Rain system shortly. Yay. Finally some one gets to take over from America as world leader. Now, who will it be?

Davis Chino said...

What is Chocolate Rain? You mean a poop storm?

Yeah, I'm afraid it's become very Chet Baker....

Louis Prima is more of a national-resources economy, like Saudi Arabia or, (to be kinder to Louis Prima, who I like), Canada--it can really swing when its particular gifts are what the marketplace desires, but when they go out of favor, they drift into obscurity (aka they lack that protean quality which is at the heart of creativity).

Mr Goodson said...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EwTZ2xpQwpA

chocolate rain