Good catch! I think Mick Jagger does qualify in this category.
Though I would not consider his on-stage act to be particularly sophisticated, my understanding is he is an astute business person and thereby quite intelligent and maybe even sophisticated in his ability to leverage his art!
Assuming we are talking about people and not music, can we please back up a minute here and define "sophisticated"?
I may be wrong, I think a "sophisticated" person might be well traveled, liberally educated, stylish, well mannered, know something about food, architecture, music and literature in more than one culture, speak more than one language fluently etc.
Intelligence can take tests and write dissertations, but it takes sophistication to travel the world with grace and wisdom.
So off the top of my head, one could be a virtuoso musician and/or have a PhD in astrophysics, yet remain an uneducated and unsophisticated person.
Herbie Hancock strikes me as both "sophisticated" and "intelligent" while also being world class musician. Next on my list might be Mick Jagger.
I started to nominate Roger Waters, but his ego, politics and I am still a rock star schtick in the end knock him off my truly "sophisticated" list.
And if we are talking about music, I find it hard to think that any music could be truly sophisticated or intelligent, unless it was created by a truly intelligent and sophisticated person.
Otherwise it would not be sophisticated and intelligent, merely pretentious.
Keith Jarrett, without a doubt, he's the most intelligent musician that ever lived. Who else on the list can play classical equally as well as jazz? The man's a genius, but he's often moody...but then again reportedly so was Beethoven!
Tvad to answer your question, Is it necessary to bring religion into the discussion ? My answer and subsiquent question is ,...No... and Why did you? Your first proposition was not stated by the OP unless I read it wrong. Tvad please bring something to the table beside critique.
Inna : I m sure you have heard of that guy King David. His notiarity, I am sure will outlast that of Garth Brooks as well as Pink. Integellant enough to become king. As well as good enough with a slingshot to render the NRA irrelevant. Many many copys of his lyrics exist today and he has played before Kings as a juvinile.
Do you know an intellegant musician that can top that.
@Sit: Yes, this is a bit silly. It's difficult to have an opinion about someone's "intelligence" based on their artistic expression.
I agree that Leonard Cohen is a bright man. Very well spoken and thoughtful. I add him to my list. :)
I have issue with Curt Cobain, too. It's important to remember that he left family, fans, wife and child with his burden. A true intelligent and caring person would have been more thoughtful of himself and the people around him. Suicide is never a smart move, no matter who it is, and what they accomplish. :(
I interpreted the post as asking about traits of the person, not of their music.
So I did not include intelligent musicians that do not come across as sophisticated in general as people, even if I might think their music is sophisticated as a result of their intelligence .
Lyrically, Beck's stuff on Odeley was sick smart. I'd also add Paul Simon and Tom Waits for lyrics. Theo, props on Gilmour for his beautiful phrasing on guitar...he hits licks and subtleties that one cannot imagine being played any other way.
David Gilmour, Al Dimeola, Neil Pert, Tony Levin, Agree with Knopfler, Clapton,maybe you should have narrowed it by instrument. Names just keep popping in my head.
Peter Gabriel Frank Zappa Van Morrison Brian Wilson Peter Asher Booker T Jones Jon Leventhal Bob Dylan Donald Fagen Robert Fripp Paul Simon David Byrne Thom Yorke
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