[apocalypstyx]

I'm sort of sick of the top talent argument.

My grandfather and group sang. From what tapes I have heard of them, they didn't sound worse than any other group of Appalachian gospel/blue grass singers.

My parents' wedding photos weren't 'professional' and I think they came out pretty well, perhaps even charming.

Sometimes I think people are putting too much stock in the notion of a 'perfect' life, rather than a lived one.

[Gare]

Exactly, that's my point. I'd rather listen to a "good enough" local band performing live than some "World's best" recorded performance.

[ipaddr]

Most people wouldn't and millions of the cds are sold from the most popular bands (world best is subjective). When it comes to live most people would pay 10x times more to sit 100x further away to see world class vs a cover band playing the same music.

This is going to push us back to making our own music like we use to. Singing/playing should be a fun group activity rather a performance given to a group of non performers. We are all artists.

[fullstackchris]

I mean the whole concept of "world's best" in terms of art doesn't even make sense. It rarely, if ever, makes sense in other areas or fields as well. (even sports, where it is is sometimes objective, records and acheivements are broken all the time again and again)