Talk:Neil Young

Proto-grunge

I went ahead and removed the "proto-grunge" genre. While he certainly may have had some influence on some grunge bands (such as Pearl Jam) and even recorded a grunge album with Pearl Jam, this does not make grunge one of his primary genres, especially since the Mirror Ball album appears to be his only work in the genre. Because of this, I removed the "proto-grunge" genre and left a note saying it should only be added back in if he records more grunge in the future, which is highly unlikely. If anyone can find evidence that Young had much more involvement in the grunge genre besides Mirror Ball and influencing grunge bands and has reliable sources to back it up, then by all means, add it back, but as of right now, I fail to see Neil Young as having involvement in the grunge genre outside of the Mirror Ball album and influencing a few grunge bands such as Pearl Jam. Moline1 (talk) 15:23, 17 March 2020 (UTC)

I'm going to have to put my vote in to bring proto-grunge back, as there is literature referring to Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere, Rust Never Sleeps, and Ragged Glory as having proto-grunge elements. SweetTaylorJames (talk) 05:10, 19 April 2020 (UTC)

Have the sources for it? I want to see them myself. They should also be credible. And let's not forget that grunge is made up of many genres besides hard rock, and includes genres such as heavy metal, something I don't see Neil Young as having ventured in on those albums. Nonetheless, if you have the sources, please do post them here. Also, do not add in the genre until a consensus can be reached (hopefully). Also, if we can reach a consensus that proto-grunge is appropriate here, then we should include a blurb with those sources on the grunge page, most likely in a section called proto-grunge, which would detail Younf as well as the other artists and bands that have been described as having elements of grunge before the full genre emerged in the mid-to-late-1980's. Moline1 (talk) 23:36, 7 May 2020 (UTC)

I agree that there should be a distinction between grunge and proto-grunge. I don't think authors are saying that Neil Young is a grunge artist as much as they are using the term "proto-grunge" to describe grunge in its pre-natal form on display in his work with Crazy Horse (due to the synthesis of garage rock elements, low-fi production, cathartic lyrics, extended jam sessions, and grungy fashion all coming together to influence the eventual grunge movement). But again I agree that there is no point in calling Young a literal grunge artist, just that maybe "proto-grunge" is appropriate in the spirit the authors intend. So there's no big conflict, I would be good with either could work to either put it in the infobox, or to put it in more informally in the lead paragraph (or neither if that's the way the vote goes, I'm easy). And without further ado, here are some texts with authors that refer to Young in the context of proto-grunge. I don't know how many of them are academic, I just looked for a bunch.

https://www.google.com/books/edition/Dixie_Lullaby/mor24CeBsGwC?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=Neil+Young+proto-grunge&pg=PA90&printsec=frontcover

https://www.google.com/books/edition/Neil_Young_Nation/3zzZBAAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=Neil+Young+proto-grunge&pg=PT144&printsec=frontcover

https://www.google.com/books/edition/Exit_Music/0q9bTJp2Bi4C?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=Neil+Young+proto-grunge&pg=PT356&printsec=frontcover

https://www.google.com/books/edition/Pearl_Jam_Eddie_Vedder/LB43DwAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=Neil+Young+proto-grunge&pg=PT189&printsec=frontcover

https://www.google.com/books/edition/Grown_Up_All_Wrong/EdN8VLiEZtcC?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=Neil+Young+proto-grunge&pg=PA468&printsec=frontcover

SweetTaylorJames (talk) 03:18, 8 May 2020 (UTC)

I looked through albums such as Ragged Glory and Rust Never Sleeps, and they are both described as grunge and proto-grunge with sources respectively. I am going to add back in the proto-grunge genre and "close" this discussion down since it is not needed and found evidence of more involvement in the grunge genre besides the Mirror Ball album and influencing his backing band for that album. I am also gonna update the grunge page to account for this as well. Moline1 (talk) 02:20, 15 May 2020 (UTC)

Sounds good, thank you. SweetTaylorJames (talk) 08:11, 15 May 2020 (UTC)

For posterity's sake, in case this rather silly debate is ever considered by anyone in the future to be raised again, just Google "Grandfather of Grunge" and see what the effective consensus of the Internet is. 73.69.251.97 (talk) 04:06, 8 June 2022 (UTC)

Instruments to add: piano, organ, bass

Young plays piano frequently as listed on multiple studio albums with Buffalo Springfield, CSNY, and Graham Nash's "Songs for Beginners" album--among others, and his solo albums, as well as seen in numerous concert videos showing him playing it. The article reference him playing piano and includes a photo of him playing piano. He also plays organ and bass, per multiple studio album credits from said artists.

Genwicky (talk) 03:16, 31 January 2022 (UTC)

Genwicky (talk) 03:19, 31 January 2022 (UTC)

Secondary instruments are not listed in the infobox, they're meant to be brought up in the article body per Infobox musical artist - FlightTime (open channel) 03:42, 31 January 2022 (UTC)

What constitutes a primary vs. secondary instrument for a given musician? Piano is clearly a primary instrument for Neil Young. I understand organ and bass would not be primary instruments, but not piano. For example, here's what's listed as Instruments on Stephen Stills' wiki page: Vocals, guitar, bass guitar, keyboards, drums, percussion. Drums and percussion are not primary instruments for Stills Genwicky (talk) 19:08, 1 February 2022 (UTC)

I agree that piano is a primary instruments, but organ and bass, maybe not. 80s Sam (talk) 09:38, 20 October 2022 (UTC)

Powder Finger

No mention of one of Young's greatest songs in article! 2603:8000:5C3E:F21A:1830:A625:D120:7AC0 (talk) 21:20, 18 September 2022 (UTC)

Wiki Education assignment: Disability Rhetorics

This article was the subject of a Wiki Education Foundation-supported course assignment, between 29 August 2022 and 12 December 2022. Further details are available on the course page. Student editor(s): Other Friend, Different Hat (article contribs).

— Assignment last updated by Other Friend, Different Hat (talk) 02:52, 20 September 2022 (UTC)