The least of 3 evils?

[Jemmers]

I KNOW I KNOW, there are too many of these topics already, so I'm posting this under miscellaneous.

Anyway, the subjects of our discussion are.... Richard Clayderman, Maksim, and the electrifying Ali Wood.

The question is, who do you hate most? As in, rank them.

And reasons, please. I'll post mine later when I'm not so drowsy as to mistakenly call anyone of them a "pianist".

[liszmaninopin]

Who's Richard Clayderman?

[eddie92099]

Satan, Lucifer, the Devil - he has many names,
Ed

[liszmaninopin]

Does he do midi arrangements?  Ms. Wood is not too terribly mediocre at doing those.  Or perhaps he likes corrupting otherwise merely substandard piano "playing" and turning it into pop, like Maksim.

Anyway, of the two I know, I'd say Ali Wood is the greater evil (Chopstix!), Maksim being the second worst.

[comme_le_vent]

no, the legendary mr clayderman re-records pop songs in piano arrangements - with backing.

here is amg's summary -

With his lush, sophisticated, instrumental, approach to pop music, Richard Clayderman (born: Phillipe Pages) is, according to The Guinness Book of World Records, "the most successful pianist in the world." Clayderman's albums routinely sell millions of copies and his concerts are quickly sold out. In a review of his 1985 Carnegie Hall concert, Variety wrote, "(Clayderman's) main appeal lies in his youth and boyish good looks...coupled with his gentlemanly charm and his thick French accent, they promise to rope in the romantically inclined middle-aged Yank ladies who cotton to this ilk of soothing entertainment." Nancy Reagan referred to Clayderman as "the prince of romance." Instructed in classical piano by his father, Clayderman enrolled in the Paris Conservatory of Music at the age of twelve. Four years later, he placed first in a piano competition at the school. Despite his classical background, Clayderman opted for popular music when he launched his professional career. A tour as opening act for French rock musician Johnny Hollyday introduced him to an international following. Clayderman's debut album, Ballade Pour Adeline, recorded at the urging of producers and composers Oliver Toussaint and Paul De Senneville in 1977, sold more than twenty million copies and was distributed in 38 countries. Clayderman, who took his stage name from his Swedish grandmother, has continued to tour throughout the world to enthusiastic audiences. A live concert, broadcast on Chinese television in 1987 attracted more than 800 million viewers.

e is the most financially succesful pianist in the world,  
thats what they call success, his artisting merit is a less obvious success, i loathe various things about him, with a passion, but his arrangements arent all that bad, just pop music with the vocals took out and replaced by piano. my favourite is his version of Barbra Streisand's woman in love.

yes, i do love to contradict myself.

[chopinetta]

oh those people...

rank 1-5 decreasing hatred.

1. Maksim
2. Richard Clayderman
3. Ali Wood

[eddie92099]

e is the most financially succesful pianist in the world

In real terms Paderewski is,
Ed

[Jemmers]

Time for me to contribute to my own topic.

I'd say I hate Richard Clayderman the most. This simply because, not only is he bad, nowadays he's just cheesy. He's lost his appeal to everyone!

This followed by Ali Wood, who sounds like a midi.

Then Maksim, who, to the general public, is at least pretty well-disguised.

[liszmaninopin]

Just how financially successful are the best of pianists?  I don't suppose that there are any with a net worth over about 50 million dollars, or are there?

[piglet]

Why hate anyone?

[Jemmers]

Hate drives me.

I think the closest you can get to 50 million worth is Clayderman. But he might even be more. It's hard to tell.

[Plaz]

Why hate anyone?

Well, it's easier than beating them.

I think the closest you can get to 50 million worth is Clayderman. But he might even be more. It's hard to tell.

I doubt he's worth $50 million.  Celebrities aren't as well paid as you might think (unless you make it into the upper echelon).  Either way, he's much richer than he deserves to be based on his music.  

[Beet9]

Fortunately, the only one I have heard is Richard Clayderman.  I almost gagged.  He completely turned the Grieg concerto into a pile of crap!!  

[steinwaymodeld]

Fortunately, the only one I have heard is Richard Clayderman.  I almost gagged.  He completely turned the Grieg concerto into a pile of crap!!  

So did Maksim
not only the Greig Concerto
Rachmainoff's transcription of Flight of BumbleBee.
and Handel's Sarabande
and Rachmainoff's rhapsody on Pagnaini.

[bitus]

I bet some of you actualy listened or even played their music when you were learning piano, right? You might have to admit that your musical tastes weren't as... enlightened and critical when you were just a first grader pianist. It's really funny to imagine the 5 year old ed listening to Clayderman with his eyes closed and spirit moved  
The Bitus
p.s.Has anyone ever seen Adeline? (from Balade pour Adeline by Clayderman)  

[bitus]

I just came up with a brilliant idea!
We should have background music to the pianoforum... maybe a nice MIDI file of Maksim, or Clayderman? (I would prefer Clayderman)
The Bitus

[liszmaninopin]

No, please no; no background music!  Few things annoy me as much as a website that has some cheesy midi file playing in the background.  Also, we can't have any live performances by Ali Wood, she sounds just like a midi.

[Amygdala]

well,Adeline i believe is the daughter of one of Clayderman's producers: Paul Seneville or Olivier de Toussaint..I think its Paul De Seneville 'cause most of the pieces he played are composed by these two guys...    

[comme_le_vent]

are you sure you want us to know that you know that?

[bitus]

hahaha comme_le_vent
Indeed, i was surprised to read such a complete history of the song Some people know more about this guys than they know about Mozart... (i'm not talking about Amygdala)
The Bitus