Eric Carmen

@loomisjohnson: Wow, I'll have to give "Let's Pretend" a listen. Nashville songwriter Harlan Howard ("I Fall To Pieces" being one he wrote) coined the term "Three chords and the truth" to describe Country music songs.

The Raspberries wore matching suits and were unashamedly a Pop Group during the 1970's, when both were considered uncool in the world of Rock music.

Celine Dion took a beautiful Eric Carmen song that borrowed heavily from Rachmaninov and reduced it to soppy, cheesy milquetoast for soccer moms.  
“Let’s Pretend” has 10 chords, btw.

Wow!

Can't we judge a song by how well sung/played/orchestrated it is?

Several songs bum me out but it is always my choice to listen or not, why blame the artist?

I happen to like his work and news of his passing bummed me out more than his song(s).

"I happen to like his work and news of his passing bummed me out more than his song(s)."

@luynes 

Is that supposed to be a compliment?

No, I was just acknowledging that at least his most famous song can bum you out depending on your mood. But C'mon! I'm not the only psycho that listens to music for that express purpose, no?

News of his death saddened me more than that song ever did; that's all.