If I know anything about music journalism, it’s that writers aren’t always 100% right. Sometimes, opinion pieces age poorly, criticisms of artists are unfounded, and takes are more hot than honest. The following three writers from back in the day ended up being totally wrong about the famous musicians they dunked on. Let’s take a look, shall we?
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Simon & Garfunkel
This writer was wrong about this particular duo of musicians to the point that it’s almost kind of funny.
Back in 1970, Simon & Garfunkel made waves with their gorgeous folk-rock record Bridge Over Troubled Water. There’s virtually nothing to hate about this record, unless you hate folk-rock music. In that case, why even listen to this record at all? That’s precisely what Gregg Mitchell of Rolling Stone did, and he really didn’t love the record that would go on to become a legendary best-seller.
“That the duo could only come up with 11 new songs in two years didn’t seem to bother those fans,” said Mitchell in the review. “That nearly all of those songs were hopelessly mediocre fazed them even less. […] Maybe Paul Simon has gotten fat and lazy. Maybe Arthur Garfunkel is devoting his time to acting or teaching. Whatever the cause, their music has gotten stale.”
Elvis Presley
When Elvis Presley first hit the scene, it was clear that the young rocker had a lot of promise. While no one could have predicted his meteoric rise to rock and roll fame, one publication made a prediction that ended up being incredibly wrong. Surprisingly enough, that prediction came from the historically trustworthy New York Times back in 1956.
“Presley has no discernible singing ability,” the publication stated, via a review from one Jack Gould. “His specialty is rhythm songs which he renders in an undistinguished whine; his phrasing, if it can be called that, consists of the stereotyped variations that go with a beginner’s aria in a bathroom. For the ear, he is an unutterable bore, not nearly so talented as Frankie Sinatra back in the latter’s rather hysterical days at the Paramount Theatre.”
Leonard Cohen
It’s hard to imagine anyone hating on beloved singer/songwriter Leonard Cohen. However, shortly after the release of Cohen’s now-legendary debut contemporary folk record, Songs Of Leonard Cohen, one Rolling Stone writer couldn’t find much to love about the Canadian crooner. Oh, how wrong he was.
“The record as a whole is another matter,” said Arthur Schmidt of Rolling Stone in 1968. “I don’t think I could ever tolerate all of it. There are three brilliant songs, one good one, three qualified bummers, and three are the flaming sh*ts.”
Ouch.
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