Axl Rose is the most underrated genius of the 80s-00s

[Backslash]

I wouldn't go as far as to say Axl is a genius.  Although, from a marketing perspective, he's been pretty smart lately, creating a huge buzz around Guns N' Roses.  This is, of course, if he plans to release some material this time around.  Axl is probably the only person who excites tens of thousands of people when he lifts a finger and does anything.  The potential of one of rock's biggest names performing again is exciting, but only Axl can create such hysteria around almost appearing at a post-Oscar party, for example.  Musically, he's a great songwriter and composer, but I wouldn't put him in the same class as Mozart or Beethoven.  And intellect?  Well, I've never seen the guy complete a math problem or invent a lightbulb.  As well, Axl lets his emothions get the better of him.  Cancelling/leaving shows, taking stage dives, physical assault, and his rants (though I love them) don't really constitute genius behaviour.  On the whole, it may be a little extreme to call Axl a genius.  A hell of a songwriter, crazy wailer, and pretty damn good publicist, but not a genius.

[gilld1]

Talented yea but genius no way.  Bob Dylan is a genius, Neil Young, Springsteen but not Axl.  Silence does not equal genius.

[Neemo]

Yeah, I love that Morrisey song about wanting to be loved while not wanting to eat meat

Lyrically the smiths blow guns n roses out of the water.

How soon is now > Illusion albums.?

pleaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaase?

Surely you jest.

to be fair judging by you're picture and you're posts I can clearly see an overly conservative brainwahsed hillbilly,? far too thick to understand clever, challenging and thought provoking lyrics. I really dont expect you to understand the smiths anyway, so in the meantime crack open a can o gasoline and hail the under current of pure genius in lyrics such as "turn around bitch i got a use for you" and "get the money motherfucker cuz i got no more patience" and erm "what? you pissed off cuz your daddy gets more pussy than you"

its also clear that you've never thoroughly listened to a great songwriter.

to make things a bit more clear, you're either;

1. a bellend.
2. a bellend.
3. a bellend.

Morrisey can suck my balls. And he can suck Axl's balls. And I ain't no hillbilly. I am a middle class liberal, drunk at the moimenbt.

one line from the Smiths ruins it all for me as far as song writing capability goes

"And you go home and you cry and you want to die"

and i have heard more than that song...my friend is the biggest morrisey freak in the whole fucking world..and has everything they guy ahs ever done musically...but that line pisses me off every time i hear it

fuck that line sucks why wouldn't they change that?

and to get back on topic... in the GnR internet community he's certainly not underrated. 

[speed_stone]

w. axl rose is definately a genius. from the first time i heard his voice, his lyrics, the emotion he displays through his music, i knew this guy was unique, and not only that, but the way he has carried himself and his image is impressive, going from the most interesting rock n' roll rebel on the planet to the most interesting mythical rock figure on the planet, while never falling off like 99% of his colleagues. songs like estranged, november rain, coma, sweet child of mine and the heavy hitters like nightrain and jungle, the sheer variety in this man's work and personality is amazing, his voice the same. all these things melted together, along with his obvious proven intelligence, makes axl rose a musical genius, and songs like madagascar, the blues and catcher in the rye merely give us glimpses of what axl's genius is capable of now that he's freed of the 80's hardrock chains of his former bandmates.

[RachieRose]

Lyrically I think he's definitely up there with the best of them. From reading and watching interviews I think he's also pretty intelligent in general. My Media Literacy teacher said she didn't see Axl as an "intelligent individual" and I wanted to stab her with my pencil 

[speed_stone]

Lyrically I think he's definitely up there with the best of them. From reading and watching interviews I think he's also pretty intelligent in general. My Media Literacy teacher said she didn't see Axl as an "intelligent individual" and I wanted to stab her with my pencil?

aim for the eye

[DCGNR2006]

The best way to answer this post is to make this observation:

You have heard hundreds of people refer to the guy as an asshole. Hundreds more say he's completely nuts. You have heard people who have never worked with him be-little his talents,

BUT:

Has anyone EVER heard from someone who has actually spent time working with this man, say anything but that he is either a genius, extremely creative,
or way ahead of his time?   I personally haven't......

[McDuff]

Axl's not a genius,sure he can write great music,but that doesn't mean shit when it comes to calling someone a genius

[speed_stone]

most geniuses are misunderstood.
if anyone's a misunderstood genius, it's axl.

[Krispy Kreme]

He is talented for sure.
Genius? No.
I reserve that  label for people  who do "real" things (other than write music), like curing diseases or bringing lasting peace  to the mid-east.

[RichardNixon]

He is talented for sure.
Genius? No.
I reserve that? label for people? who do "real" things (other than write music), like curing diseases or bringing lasting peace? to the mid-east.

You can be exceptionally gifted in many areas, and music is one of them.

[speed_stone]

He is talented for sure.
Genius? No.
I reserve that? label for people? who do "real" things (other than write music), like curing diseases or bringing lasting peace? to the mid-east.

You can be exceptionally gifted in many areas, and music is one of them.

excactly.

[Fusion]

I'm not sure if Axl is a musical genius, but if he's not he isn't too far off.  It's more than lyrics and melodies, it's the whole composition and the way the lyrics are sung.  The man just knows how to get a feeling across to the listener unlike most other people I have heard, both vocally and by what is said.

The same could be said for Slash when it comes to guitar.  The solos in Estranged are surreal and are his best work IMO.

One point I have to make is some of the posters here quoting lyrics like "turn around bitch I got a use for you", and "get the money motherfucker cuz I got no more patience" in their defense that Axl isn't a genius.  The last one I'm sure was Izzy but no matter.  These lyrics were not written to be anything other than what they are.  To point to them in saying Axl is lacking something that would make him a genius is pretty silly.  There are plenty of other examples that would go the other way.

[coolman78SLASH]

One point I have to make is some of the posters here quoting lyrics like "turn around bitch I got a use for you", and "get the money motherfucker cuz I got no more patience" in their defense that Axl isn't a genius.? The last one I'm sure was Izzy but no matter.? These lyrics were not written to be anything other than what they are.? To point to them in saying Axl is lacking something that would make him a genius is pretty silly.? There are plenty of other examples that would go the other way.

Yeah, read the lyrics to Locomotive, and tell me they are not deep, and great!

" Gonna find a way to cure this loneliness
Yeah I'll find a way to cure the pain
If I said that you're my friend
And our love would never end
How long before I had your trust again
I opened up the doors when it was cold outside
Hopin' that you'd find your own way in
But how can I protect you
Or try not to neglect you
When you won't take the love I have to give
I bought me an illusion
An I put it on the wall
I let it fill my head with dreams
And I had to have them all
But oh the taste is never so sweet
As what you'd believe it is -
well I guess it never is
It's these prejudiced illusions
that pump the blood
To the heart of the biz

You know I never thought
that it could take so long
You know I never knew how to be strong
Yeah, I let you shape me
But it feels as though you raped me
'Cause you climbed inside my world
And in my songs
So now I've closed the door
to keep the cold outside
Seems somehow I've found the will to live
But how can I forget you
or try not to reject you
When we both know it takes time to forgive

Sweetness is a virtue
and you lost your virtue long ago
You know I'd like to hurt you
but my conscience always tells me no
You could sell your body on the street
to anyone whom you might meet
Who'd love to try and get inside
and bust your innocence open wide

'Cause my baby's got a locomotive
My baby's gone off the track
My baby's got a locomotive
Got ta peel the bitch off my back
I know it looks like I'm insane
Take a closer look I'm not to blame
No

Gonna have some fun with my frustrations
Gonna watch the big screen in my head
I'd rather take a detour
'cause this road ain't gettin' clearer
Your train of thought has cut me off again
Better tame that boy 'cause he's a wild one
Better tame that boy for he's a man
Sweetheart don't make me laugh
you's gettin' too big for your pants
And I's think maybe you should
cut out while you can
You can use your illusion -
Let it take you where it may
We live and learn
and then sometimes it's best to walk away
Me I'm just here hangin' on
It's my only place to stay at least
For now anyway
I've worked too hard for my illusions
Just to throw them all away

I'm taking time quiet consolation
In passing by this love that's passed away
I know it's never easy -
so why should you believe me
When I've always got so many things to say
Calling off the dogs a simple choice is made
'Cause playful hearts
can sometimes be enraged
You know I tried to wake you -
I mean how long could it take you
To open up your eyes and turn the page

Kindness is a treasure -
and it's one towards me you've seldom shown
So I'd say it for a good measure
To all the ones like you I've known
Ya know I'd like to shave your head
And all my friends could paint it red
'Cause love to me's a two way street
An all I really want is peace

But my baby's got a locomotive
My baby's gone off the track
My baby's got a locomotive
Got ta peel the bitch off my back
I know it looks like I'm insane
Take a closer look I'm not to blame
No

Affection is a blessing
Can you find it in your sordid heart
I tried to keep this thing ta-gether
But the tremor tore my pad apart
Yeah I know it's hard to face
When all we've worked for's gone to waste
But you're such a stupid woman
and I'm such a stupid man
But love like time's got its own plans

'Cause my baby's got a locomotive
My baby's gone off the track
My baby's got a locomotive
Got ta peel the bitch off my back
I know it looks like I'm insane
Take a closer look I'm not to blame
Yeah
If love is blind I guess I'll buy myself a cane

Love's so strange... "

That song is purely genius, both lyrically and musically, so both Slash and Axl had a genius moment, and they are both amazing and talented artists, but geniuses?  hmm, well?

[oldgunsfan]

Personally, i don't think Axl was underrated at all during GnR's heyday back in the late 80's early 90's.  During that period, i was at my most impressionable as it came to music, followed the band religously, and they received their just do.  All the criticism Axl's received since the mid 90's-present, by print and radio medial alike, has been well earned by nobody but Axl.  Yes, their is musical genius to some of GnR's work, but to say it's all Axl influence is shortsighted.

And to quote Nixon as saying thet CITR is the equal to best from Zeppelin and Floyd is laughable.   I think the greatness of any musician/band's work is how is stands the test of time 5, 10, 20, 30 years after it was originally released.  Zeppelin, Floyd are both played more on the rock station I listen to than GnR, and when GnR is played, it's mainly from AFD. 

People on this board may think CITR/Better/TWAT, et all are the greatest thing since sliced bread, but only time will tell how it's viewed from music fans that don't live, breath, and fie by anything GnR.

[AxlsMainMan]

Axl's songs are poetry Im enclined to say more than a standard, generic songs.

Look at the lyrics to Better....

That is utter brilliance...

Only Axl can come up with those kinda metaphors

[ppbebe]

Personally, i don't think Axl was underrated at all during GnR's heyday back in the late 80's early 90's. 

Yeah like it's not hard to imagine that Axl was praised as an unparalleled lyricist back in the late 80s, for his lyrics on AFD. 

one line from the Smiths ruins it all for me as far as song writing capability goes

"And you go home and you cry and you want to die"

and i have heard more than that song...my friend is the biggest morrisey freak in the whole fucking world..and has everything they guy ahs ever done musically...but that line pisses me off every time i hear it

fuck that line sucks why wouldn't they change that?

and to get back on topic... in the GnR internet community he's certainly not underrated. 

Neemo, that's bloody out of context. Obviously I shan't go on about the smith, as here is not bad obsession but I just have to point this out.

"There's a club, if you'd like to go
  you could meet somebody who really loves you
  so you go, and you stand on your own
  and you leave on your own
  and you go home, and you cry
  and you want to die"

Hey it's nice to know some GNR fans are open-minded.

Outwardly speaking they are poles apart in character, Axls lyrics are bright, straight and extrovert and Mozs are introvert, twisted and dark. However it appars that uncle Morrissey is not any less unmanageable than Axl. Merck must have a pretty tough stomach.

They both have respective genius for writing lyrics (mmm up to UYI, Moz in the smiths ≧  Axl. firstly Morrissey's words are much easier to catch. that said, Morrissey is in a league of his own as mentioned and no way his lyrics would fit for the GNR tunes.) and vocal tunes, for singing (Axl > Moz Axl got many voices and that on IRS is untouchable), and  for attracting the people who they don't even know (Axl > Moz).

Still I wouldn't call them musical geniuses. Basically I don't look for a genius/ prodigy /god in pop/rock music but something more human. Mozart or Renoir would bore so many Wagner fans or Gogh's to death.