Tony Bennett America Is Culturally Void Message Board and Comments

Yeah dude and we totaly, like, invedted the industrial revolution. lancashire, england is a little town outside Boston. Says so on here!

Come on Tony dude,like, we invented the wheel and stuff lol! Europe sucks! You do the meth! Rutherford was secretly American when he split the atom and no-other contry had freedom until the late 1960s. US Segregation is a vicios rumor put out by commie frenchies. We won the war withot help from the the Brits, Canadians or the Soviets! It's all true and on this comment page. Lol dude

What Tony says is so typical from Eurocentric elitist that tend to live in Manhatten. Where do I start? Rock and Roll, Blues, Jazz, Hip Hop, Country and Western, Coybow Chic, Frank Lloyd Write, Gorgia O'keefe, the longest running government on the face of the planet, Hollywood, wow. I guess if you don't drink dry martini's and sit in lounges all day you are not culture. Sad to see so many people that jump on the anti-American is fashionabl band wagon these days. Oh and we saved western europe and asia at least a couple times from its own destruction last century. But we listen to Hank Williams we don't have culture. Bunk.

Tibor wrote: "Uhhh....the American constitution is copied from the English one." Not quite. Perhaps you are thinking of the Magna Carta. In 1787 the British did not have a written constitution - certainly not anything that even remotely resembled the remarkable governmental blueprint designed by the finest minds that ever graced human history.

Yeah, Tony is complete right in this. We haven't given the world anything except jazz. I guess modern democracy, the splitting of the atom, landing a man on the moon, the assembly line, silicon valley, modern medicine, physics, the aerospace industry, the plane, the light bulb, the phone, and the human genome project doesn't count. Asia and Europe have had thousands of years to perfect their art and culture while the US has been a country for a little over 200 years. I think we have done a damn good job inserting our influence over that short period of time. Its another case where a celebrity needs to stick with what they do best, in this case sing.

To: Mark Menanno Typical libertarian, tail-chasing, circular ill-logic. Every post here is an example of the free speech you so witlessly imply be suppressed in your anal little missive, you libertarian! Fac ut vivas, Joseph Crowley

tony is an intellectually void, america-hating liberal idiot the US is where the cream of humanity rises to the top in every important area I wonder if he's ever heard of a thing called a computer?

Uhhh....the American constitution is copied from the English one.

The United States contribution is the Constitution of the United States. The rest is meaningless fluff.

I must confess that I am a huge fan of Tony Bennett, owning a collection of his recordings and having seen him live several times. Needless to say I was disapointed to hear his comments on American culture. I was in western Europe last year, and 90% of the movies playing were American movies, a majority of American acts were topping the charts, and a I witnessed duplication of American merchandising and Marketing styles. In the food and beverage area American wines are now regarded at par with French and Italian wines by many industry analysts. The fact that these entertainers, earn a ton of of money, does not give them the rigth to say the insane things they say.

Tony, you embarrass yourself with your adolescent level of ignorance, prevelent in the myopic, overpriveleged entertainment community, which unfortunately, you are apparently unable to see beyond. Firstly, I think you confuse world culture in the years when the USA did not exist with what has transpired these last one hundred years. Apparently you are unaware of the contributions that people from every corner of the world were able to make once they, their parents or grandparents were able to function and create in the free environment of the USA. We, a single country, have won the overwhelming number of Nobel Prizes, a measure of creativity in the modern world. The world center of the visual arts, music, film, television has been the USA. Are you aware of our contributions in architecture, engineering and literature, and the entire world of cyberspace. I see not. Educate yourself, and stop embarrassing yourself.

Ah Slager... 'Few' (liberals) is the keyword though today's drive-by media tends to give them wide exposure. Don't despair - they are slowly becoming extinct... http://www.opinionjournal.com/editorial/feature.html?id=110008831 Meantime thier ranting at times can be amusing.

Nate and a few others on this Comments page, made something very clear (and very sad). It seems as though if one is Liberal then you agree with Bennett that America is vast wasteland of uselessness. And if one is Conservative then you disagree with Bennett and believe that America's culture has contributed many great things to the world. At first I was quite annoyed that some folks here tried to politicize what seemed non-political, but now reading these comments I realize that in today's world Liberals really do want to hate everything America stands for. I hope I'm wrong and that there are some Liberals who disagree with me on this. If there are then I also hope they discuss this rationally without just calling me names. I actually interested in how this debate has turned out here. Its sad, but may be true.

Tony must only go to his concerts, and listen to jazz in his hotel room when he is overseas. I to spend much of each month on the other side of the ponds and who's music are these crooks copying? Who's playing in the bars and dance joints? American. Jazz is great, but just like apple pie, not everybody likes it. Tony, you are just another spoilt American who doesn't appreciate what we have here in America. Grateful Yank. Blogger.com

Tony, you're thinking is as bad as your singing. I have also lived all over the world, and you are a fool. Euro-pop is no more bland or meaningless than American pop, and all things considered, Asian pop music is some of the most generic crap you will ever hear in your life. As far as food goes, I'd take Italian in NY, Chicago or even DC - my hometown - before some little joint in Tuscany, where I have eaten before by the way. Science, well, you really should have shut your mouth here. We may be behind the Japanese with technology, buy American scientists have helped to bring us much of what we take for granted today, from the airplane, the auto, computers and GPS. I don't know what wild hair you got up your rear end to suggest that bland pop culture is a particular disease of the U.S., but it is a worldwide phenomenon. You think the Europeans or Asians are living according to their old cultures which we love to romanticize? You know very well they're not. America has received immigrants from all over the world, and we have made the most of it, being able to contribute to all the areas of culture you mentioned. You should be signing the praises of your country for that.

Hooray for Bennett. He has the talent and the experience to speak authoritatively on this topic. Much more, he's got balls to speak his mind. Love ya Tony.

Mr. Bennett is right on about a most of his points. I'm a child of the seventies and will readily admit the music and culture from my generation forward is meaningless, childish, non-evolutionary and copies wildly and literally from past genius rather than creating its own. Witness "Hip-Hop" as a so called art form. As a former night club DJ of the late eighties and early nineties, I played my part in promoting the beginning of this form of entertainment. Childish rhyming to stolen melodies and even stolen rhythms accompanied by bass distortion that, with the exception of verbal stunts hasn't evolved since the first day I played it twenty years ago. Hip-Hop, 2006 is the equivalent of showing up at a rock and roll party in 1978 with Elvis-like rock & roll. We are truly, and have been since my childhood in an age of arrested development and the musical genius of people like Bob Dylan, Charlie Parker, Miles Davis can't be found today. There are truly talented people out there but our generation and those that follow seem to be effected by the Attention Deficit Disorder of fast moving images on TV and the drive-thru mentality of McDonalds. We cannot appreciate the art of creativity in a song from beginning to end. Some of us get it, most of us don't.

Culturally Void - Lets See.... Country, Bluegrass, Blues, are all entirely American music forms. Rock and rap are not totally American forms, but, America pioneered them, and has greatly contributed to their development. But then again, Tony Bennett comes from a generation that arrogantly doesn't consider rap or rock "music", as he was already a fading star (ala early Rock n Roll) by the time he was around 30. Outside of music, we are by far the greatest contributors to the cinematic arts. And yes, cartoons and comics, as one other mentioned. And if he actually got away from flyover country, he would see that our country has a rich tradition of folk arts, too. Besides, we have had a lot of highly skilled painters, anywhere from Warhol to Kincaid. We also pioneered the "Western" literary genre (excepting maybe Karl May), and greatly contributed to the science fiction literary genre. I have been so verbose here I don't have any more room to mention all those great American authors outside those genres, or any other literary genres we invented. Thus I needn't keep elaborating here - there is more than enough to prove my point. His rant sounds very much like that of Henry James of 1878, when Mr. James wrote his famous passage about Americans not having any "culture." This is very much the snooty attitude that European elites and their fellow travellers have had about America being a cultural backwater, while trying to hold back their masses from enjoying the (often) superior culture America delivers to them. Georges Clemenceau once said snobs are fools, which this description most accurately describes Tony Bennett.

Bennett is still upset that Elvis, James Brown, Hank Williams, rock n roll, hip hop, country music, etc. put his "old School" style in the dumpster. We also have Broadway, great theme parks, terrific sports diversity, movies, dance and many entertainment venues that no other country can touch. We have great Art Galleries, museums, architecture and county fairs, jubilees and festivals beyond number. So, ease off it Tony and drop the Euro-snob attitude.

The 314th... Benedetto was the singer in the army band that replaced Glenn Miller when he went missing. My dad played in that band too. They were both 17. In 1986 they had a 40 year reunion. Would have been a Bob Hope special if the 'headliner' showed up. Not enough money in it for him. Greedy fool. The rest of them had a good time.

Tony !!! Remember the 314th special services dance band? They had a reunion in 1986. You were informed. You didn't show. Your 'people ' couldn't make the deal. The "deal" to reunite with your bandmates from 1946. You are an ass!!! You are culturally vapid.

Tony who???

I attribute Tony Bennett's remarks to second-hand smoke. We must remember the Mr. Bennett has been around musicians most of his life, so this may be evidence that prolonged exposure to whatever it is musicians smoke causes profound stupidity.

American folk music, bluegrass music, and country music are distinctly American music and are heard all over the world as well as jazz. The Vienna Boys Choir sang a Stephen Foster song, "Oh, Susanna," in a concert I heard by them! Tony's lack of knowledge of American music history is shocking and tragic.

The man is a buffoon! What has America contributed? We easily beat Germany in science. The most famous German Physicists came to America to take part in our free exchange of ideas. Jazz sucks, but blues and country music are also American contributions. Art flourishes in America, but if you expect Fresco's America wasn't even discovered yet. We have some of the finest architecture anywhere. If you like Cathedrals, visit NYC. Like I said, this man is a buffoon and he deserves no more of my consideration than this post!

For Pete's sake Tony... how about electricity? The assembly line? The replicator? ( Oh wait... that one is still in developement)

Just checked back on comments I made this afternoon. Methinks your site has a mole! How else to explain Nimitz68 who actually responded to my post 3 minutes BEFORE it was posted. Verrrrrry interesting. Glad "Nate" gave it a rest - name-calling is not a good substitute for discourse. Oh yeah, topic at hand. Glad to see that Tony has almost unanimous disagreement against his comments. Reminds me of that book title "Shut up and Sing," but I like the guy, so I'll just say this: Tony, competence in one field doesn't qualify you as an expert in all fields, obviously.

While Mr. Bennett was still cutting his teeth in this industry, America was aquiring Plenty of culture. Look at Frank Sinatra, Louis Armstrong, Hank Williams; later Ray Charles and Elvis. America has culture, Mr. Bennett has simply rejected it out of contempt and arrogance. It may differ from Europe's culture, but it would be incestuous to emulate their culture, especially when we can do better.

Poor Tony Benedetto. It would appear that the mental decrepitude which so often and tragically accompanies those of advanced years has finally eclipsed a once great performer who rose from obscurity and is now doddering into oblivion. We wish him well.

Dear Mr. Bennett, Please check with the country first before giving opinions. If your opinion is not the same as everyone else's opinion please do not give it. How dare you? Do you know how many soldiers have died to make you free so you can give your opinion? So please shut up. Just go to work and keep your mouth shut. This is America, the land of the free. Where do you get off having a free thought? You should be sent back to whatever God forsaken country you come from. Best regards, Mark Menanno San Diego Libertarian Party

Tony Bennet is right. The garbage in society today is not nearly as enjoyable as his relaxing tunes. However, we must not start clamping down on material that is unacceptable. 2 Live Crew was banned for a while back in the 1980's. Currently, books like "America Deceived" have been pulled from Amazon (and Wikipedia) because of objectionable topics. Hopefully, Americans will use their entertainment dollar more wisely. Final link (before Google Books caves to pressure and drops the title): http://www.iuniverse.com/bookstore/book_detail.asp?&isbn=0-595-38523-0

Tony Bennett should realize, brilliant as he is, that his observations include countries that the United States has supported with blood and money for many, many years. I join him in his observation about our ignorance, something I experience every day. We have very low standards for public school students (or faculty) and, evidently, low standards for what it means to be a parent.

Nat, You're just another U.S. apologist who's so blind to what the country has given you that you don't have the sense or grace to admit it. Of course, you didn't list yourself as a citizen of the U.S., so you're statements probably should hold even less credence than they show. You're a waste of cyber-space. Move to one of the other countries that you tout as so superior. Germany? Italy? France? England? Nothing ever wrong with those places, is there? Gee, wonder why they had so many folks wanting to come to this cesspool? Why do you want to live here, Nat? It must be hell for you. Go back to Lebannon with Tony and you'll both be appreciated much more for your base and ridiculous comments.

How about all the troops that America contributed to save Europe's ass in WW2. What about all the other troops who have spilled their blood in all the other wars around the world? Tont Bennet is a joke. How much financial aid has the US provided over the past 50 years? Trillions$$$ and he praises nations who contribute recipes and stinky cheese?????

Tony is sounding a little ridiculuous. Gospel, Blues, Rock, Southern Rock, Eagles, Dave Matthews, 80's Music, Disco, Hall & Oates - yes Soul, Motown. What are you talking about?? Southern Food!! California Wine, WYLAND, SINATRA!!!! I'm laughing. Uuhhh Germans - "Science". America - "Space Program, walking on the Moon" (We wouldn't have the police song "Walking on the Moon" if it weren't for American space program). Tony is right about one thing, perhaps most Americans - individuals - don't really realize the depth, breadth or scope of what is truly American in nature and what it has contributed to the world. But that is because of it's biggest impact, the industrial revolution, which Fathered modern consumerism!!

I guess Tony hasn't heard: America contributed recording technology, movies, radio, television, the internet, and, oh yeah...the popular song.

America's Tony Bennett is culturally void America's Tony Bennett is culturally void America's Tony Bennett is culturally void Culturally void Tony Bennett is American Culturally void Tony Bennett is still American Culturally void Tony Bennett is American America's Tony Bennett is culturally void America's Tony Bennett is culturally void America's Tony Bennett is culturally void

I can't believe he said that! Can you spell the word f-r-e-e-d-o-m, Tony? Not just democracy but economic freedom and the modern free market. Can you spell c-o-m-p-u-t-e-r, Tony? Jazz, how about rock and roll? Our culture has truly infected the world, not always for the best, but surely it has dominated the globe. Where has Tony been hiding? I guess Tony hasn't read James, Dewey and the American philosophy of Pragmatism. Our Western heritage has given birth the cowboy movies everywhere. Ever hear of the spaghetti western, Tony? Every kid in the world, on all 7 continents know the word "coke" and I doubt that any child any where has not uttered the word AMERICA with a sparkle in his eye. Tony, you are a moron. The power of the American culture may be the strongest force on earth. One must choose not to see this, as you have. Now I choose never to listen to you sing again and throw out every one of your CD's. Idiot!

Have to smile at all the ravings of the young fossils. Seems that Tony hit a nerve with his truths. Keep it up, my man, we need your voice and your taste. For those who sprang to the attack on Tony's statement, di you really read what he was saying, or did you just lash out blindly in defense of the indfensible? Reread what he says and you'll realize he was talking CULTURE, not sociology, inventions, flight, or other achievements (which, incidentally, are by people, not nations). If you can't agree with his sentiments, look into yourselves. You may find a few blind spots.

His old skull is void.

Tony obviously hasn't experienced western art or heard of country music as it was essentially developed in America (before many others barely old enough to use a razor began injecting too much pop and rock into it as is the case today, and SHAME on Nashville for letting it go too far down that slippery slope!) The different sub-genres of jazz are astounding, so at least he's spot-on to that. Sadly, he's forgotten about baseball and basketball, about the golden age of automobiles from the late 40's through the mid 60's here that others couldn't touch. Most importantly, he should remember the unique characteristics which make Americans what they are. We are the mutts of the world who've refused to be kept down. Yes, we're young but we've accomplished so much, despite a government which becomes more and more oppressive with time. We will overcome that as well, and a renessance will appear. Give it time Tony! You have a brand of COOL which hasn't faded and the MTV crowd took notice. It was within 60 miles of where I live in Hot Springs where you debuted your infamous song about San Francisco at the Vapors lounge. Today as you know, the building houses a religious organization, but the STORY hasn't been forgotten. Don't be too short on the things we have and will yet make, but understand that what you're saying isn't going on deaf ears, at least as far as I'm concerned.

As an old timer from Queens, NY, I remember Tony Bennett singing in bars in Astoria, begging for a singing career start. It should be noted that he refused an invitation to sing the national anthem before a Yankee World Series game. He claimed the national anthem was a war song. He has proved to be a true leftwing idealogue.

Since American Culture has become a hodge podge of everyone else's culture, what does he want? As another poster said, we've contributed greatly to the world at large through technology, science, and government. Perhaps he and the rest in Hollywood and the Music Industry could leave us all in peace to develope a more tasteful Entertainment culture, rather than most of the trash that is put on screen and radio these days. Not to mention, how far has the man gone in his own country? Probably not too much past his rich house, Martha's Vineyard, Las Vegas, and Manhatten. Oh, and Miami. Cause, gosh, there can't be any more to this country and those major cities.

How sad that a talent as great as Tony Bennett knows so little about his own country. He is correct about Jazz being one of America's great cultural conributions. He has forgotten America's outstanding contributions to other forms of music, art, film, architecture, science (medicine, aerospace,engineering,compuer science and math for openers), education (our universities lead in a recent listing of the world's top 500), creative invention (the automobile, electricity and the flying machine). California cuisine and wine are among the finest worldwide. We qualify for fashion just on the basis of our denim blue jeans. It is not fair to rewrite history just because America bashing is politically in vogue.

Boy, the Hollywood types spend so much time trashing this country, saying it's worthless. They surely dont think the millions of dollars this country has given them is worthless. I'm getting to where I cant stand to see any of the modern actors/singers. Those priveleged idiots really are sickening.

Tony I agree that America especially in Kaliphony-a seems quite culturally challenged. They would rather watch football on tv than go to an opera or musical or symphony or play or ballet. I love all types of music and even played in a "rock" band as a teenager. My kid sings opera and loves all types of music too. She is also in SAG and loves acting like her brother who is in college. I think there is hope for us. I love your music and took classes in college from FRed Katz your cellist. He was awesome and it was a true privilege to have this opportunity. Tony instead of putting down America for its lack of culture why not be very positive and public about it by sponsoring the school of arts. Southern California, specifically, OPera Pacific is growning but could benefit immensely from financial and public support such as yours. They have a wonderful children's opera camp that I was very impressed with. May God continue to Bless you!

Nuclear energy. Automobiles. Polio vaccine. Only one's to date ever landed on the moon. Skyscrapers. Computers. Internet. Athletes. Television. Coca-Cola. Frozen dinners. The way you made your money, by selling records, you got it, an American invented it!(Edison) Been on T.V. before tony? You got it, an American. The microwave oven. This guy can still sing, but he is a complete flipping liberal idiot! Time to visit Sinatra Ton! Get lost airhead!

Senility called and Tony answered.

Yeah, and it's all Bush's fault, too. By not signing the Kyoto Treaty, the U.S. got to hot to invent anything worthwhile. Tony Bennett, The Dixie Chicks, and Harry Belafonte should make an album about it. Gore, Kerry, LaMont in 2008! Wait, is that too many names?

What is he smoking? How about rock music and country music? How about rap? Musically, few if any countries in history have produced such a wide and brilliant variety of music as America. Everybody recognizes this. Also... what about film? Last I checked we basically invented the motion picture, and continue to make excellent movies. Yeah, a lot of them are crap, but that comes with the territory when you produce a lot. Whatever, this guy doesn't know what he's talking about.

Hey what about Wal-Mart ! America does have great artists and heros too! I agree the global warming is caused by these old fossils mouths opening too often

Hey! What about McDonald's?

I think I just realized what's causing global warming. They are right, it is fossil fuel (old fossils with more time and money than brains), but it isn't oil! It's all the hot air coming out of the mouths raving political lunatics.

Let's not forget American musical theatre.

Wow, I had no idea that, according to the virulently anti-american Tony B., that the world pervading American cultural phenomena that most countries fear will overwhelm their local cultures is non-existenet. For a man to turn his back on the American people who have given him lifestyle, fame and stardom and money is disgusting. Talk about biting the hand that feeds him! Let him go live with starving orphans in third world countries who plead to be given a hand up and leave behind all his worldly good derrived from his American fans and go starve in the gutter, we can do without animals like him.

Come on Tony. While Europe still had serfs, ethnic genocide, the divine rights of kings, and religious wars, the "backwoods" hicks of America gave the world the first true implementation of "the natural rights" theory coupled with a republican based limited and constitutional system of government. The Declaration of Independence, in which Jefferson enshrined the Lockean ideas that individuals were given by God, the rights to life, liberty and property (or the pursuit of happiness) is a much more important gift to the world than French cooking. Let's not even get started with baseball, Mark Twain, Thomas Edison, the Wright Brothers, Henry Ford, and countless other contributions to culture, science, and medicine made by Americans. Heck, isn't the internet the outgrowth of a Pentagon funded project? Oh, and didn't we go to the moon? Send a probe outside of our solar system, investigate Venus, Mars, Saturn, and Jupiter?

world art n' culture: Wow, that was SO well said, I certainly agree! After I read Tony's comments, I wondered if he was right, but then I read your comments and realized that YOU are the one who is correct!

Basically, Tony is right. Our popular music is noise oriented. See Bob Dylan's similar complaint if you want an expert's opinion. Hollywood is an embarrassing disgrace, TV not much better. Mr. Bennett's type is a dying breed. Tony is right.

How about flight? How about Freedom? Dimwit.

Dear Tony Bennett, In your claim that America has not contributed anything to "world art and culture" other than jazz - I am SHOCKED that someone did not stop you before it went to press! Of course I could go on and on with a long list of America's contribution's to 'World art and Culture' - but let us just start by refreshing your memory with one that you might deem important, given your career -our world contribution of FILM and CINEMA Tony! There can be no doubt of our vast contribution, over the scope of many long decades, to World art and culture in that department!! Are we to believe that you do not recognize our contribution to 'ART' with so many famous American painters - such as Whistler, for example - the list of famous American artists goes on and on and on. -We have also produced so many contributions to the world art of BALLET, and OPERA! People flock from all over the world for our "World Art" contributions to ART - the long list of famous American painters, Our MUSIC, BALLETT, OPERA, FILM and CINEMA, and our "world Cultural" contributions to SPORTS, EDUCATION (why do so many flock here to be educated at every level?) Business, (does Wall Street ring a bell?)our advanced MEDICINE -our SCIENTIFIC discoveries that affected the entire world does EINSTEIN AND JONAS SALK, for starters, jog your memory - and our world cultural contribution of DEMOCRACY and FREEDOM! Yes we are a young country in comparison with all the other countries you mentioned - however, let us not forget that we are made up of citizens from all those 'other' countries. Tony Bennett, you have made a huge blunder. It would be wise to retract your statement - unless of course you are no longer interested in selling your 'art' contributions of music, concerts, paintings.

And rock and roll, you dimwit. How about movies and cartoons? And comics? tony bennett is culturally ignorant.

C'mon Tony, take a deep breath, think. You are so anxious to bash the US that you just make up stuff. Of course, you are entitled to your opinion on the subject, and that is what this article is, an opinion. I guess the world has to answer to Old Tony on the subject of Culture now.

Come on Tony, I love your music, but I disagree: America has brought forth: Blues, Country, Rock, Rockabilly, Soul, Rap and Pop. Classical Composers: Samuel Barber, Aaron Copeland, Ives, Sousa. Opera singers: CallasAnderrson, Price, Battle, Sills. Ballet and modern Dance: Ailey, Armitage, Fosse, Dunn, Falco, DeMille, Kirkland, Robbins, Villella, Taylor. Countless famous and talented artists: Warhol, Basquiat, Cassat, Cole, Rockwell, Moses, Lichtenstein, O'Keefe, Pollock, Whistler, Turner, Wyeth. Some of the best new chefs in the world are from America, including Julia Child. Writers: Angelou, Doctorow,Faulkner, Dickinson, Twain, Irving, James, Melville, Hemingway, Poe, EB White, Welty, Anne Tyler, Sinclair Lewis, Steinbeck, T. Morrison, P. Buck, Cather Ferber, Wilder, Cheever, O'connor, Longfellow,Eliot,Emerson, Nash, Parker, Pound, Plath, Whitman, Sandburg. Playwrights: Albee, Hellman, Miller, O'neill, Simon, Shepherd, Williams. Some of the most innovative scientists, engineers and inventors were/are American, too many to list, just a few notables who brought us electricity, phones, air flights, automobiles, PCs: Edison, Bell, Ford, Carver, Wright Bros., Jobs and Gates.

I like Tony, I like his music, I live in Astoria Queens, not far from his boyhood home. Culture is a relative term. Does art make the world a better place? Simply stated the world would be very differnt without the influence of the USA. Our culture has dominated the globe for the last 75 years.

It would be one thing if he were limiting his ridiculous comments to music, but he isn't (and as a previous poster stated, good lord, look at the musical talent that has come out of the US. I suppose rock and roll doesn't count for anything. Heck, Dylan and blues is what got the friggin' Beatles inspired) Let's look at some other items that have contributed to culture : Electricity, Automobile, Heavier than air flight (airplanes. Give it up for the French though for those incredibly useful hot-air ballons), Television, Digital Computers, Personal Computers, Video Games, Anything else Tony?

Please do not enlighten Nate any further... We want to keep liberals as they are today. Hate mongering is a beautiful thing for us Republicans. Trust me - for the upcoming elections it will stay status-quo with Republicans staying in power. So let's allow the nates of the world to continue with their warped sense of the world. Remember 'liberalism is a mental disorder' and we don't want it cured. On the Tony Bennett debacle... the poor fool has no clue. Let's let him live the little time he has left. He is no threat to anyone but himself.

Tony is just another eurotrash asskisser slamming the country and people who made him rich. f**k you Tony. If Frank were still alive he'd kick your ass for you.

Tony Bennette is just a whiny old man. He's old and he's not happy about it. America is rich in culture. There is American art from Andy Warhol, Frederick Remington and Norman Rockwell. There is classical American music by composers such as Stephen Foster, Howard Hanson, Charles Ives, and others. He forgets about American authors such as Edgar Allan Poe, Carl Sandburg, John Steinbeck, Ernest Hemmingway, Nathaniel Hawthorne and others . Literary genres such as the western novels by Louis L'Amour and Zane Grey originated in America. I think the old geezer may have left his brain in San Francisco along with his heart......

Nate is the perfect example of why liberals continue to lose elections. They still have no clue. They are still so enraged over the 2000 Florida recount ("One for you, two for me...") that their hatred for Bush outweighs anything else in their lives. Nate and people like him are actually making things worse for liberals and they cannot even see it. This was an article about Tony Bennett, but Nate made it all about his hatred for George W. Bush. Remember those liberals in Florida who had to have psychiatric counseling for post-traumatic election syndrome after John Kerry lost to "W" in 2004? I suppose they were like Nate. He must have missed his appointment. Get over it.

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NEWS FLASH Tony Bennett Still Alive!!!!

I guess this old washed up has been has never used a computer. Please tony, just f**king move overseas and bow down to the islamic facists who rule europe. We dont want and certainly dont need you in AMERICA.

ain't books culture? what about that guy who took photos of a crucifix in a gargle glass full of urine? not my cup of tea, but it pushed the boundaries of state funding of art. is Tony aware of all the foreign language DVDs available for theft on limewire? Non-US peeps love Hollywood product. plenty of artistic output from the US. respectable in amount and quality. Tony Bennett as standard-bearer? Sir, no thank you, sir. As caricature? Always room for another.

I guess this old washed up has been has never used a computer. Please tony, just f**king move overseas and bow down to the islamic facists who rule europe. We dont want and certainly dont need you in AMERICA.

GOOOOO, Tony Bennett! America is a nation on the down slope of things. A nation that WOULD ALLOW the cradle of Jazz *New Orleans* to drown......before, during, and after the storm....does not deserve superpower status...OF ANY KIND. Did Bush mention The Louisiana Purchase, Battle Of New Orleans in his Jackson Square speech??? Nope. A nation run by culturally inept philistines would not do that! HAIL EUROPE! Sincerely, New Orleans

Well thanks for helping me kill some time by listening to all this republican stupidity (liberman). I think intellectual discussion is beyond the capacity of Republicans but maybe you can prove me wrong and grow a backbone for once and admit you Republicans are wrong on all fronts. Much as I doubt its possible since Republicans use fiction for their facts and facts to them are fiction, I have a life to attend to so enjoy your useless excuse for an afternoon. Or whats left of it. LMFAO

Tony is right and wrong...I feel he is just being clever in his assesement of Amercia by compartmentalizing it to just the music industry. America is the beacon for the world today, but yes it is also a cess-pool of non-culture. Really like the last days of Rome (history does repeat, eh?) While we have been asleep, our beloved country has been corrupted from the inside out. I am shocked sometimes that folks think there is really 2 parties?? How do you really tell the difference? Divide and conquer is still the method that works best, eh? America & Americans are great..just as creative and beautiful as any other people in the world. We should be proud of everything we have created...even if it looks bad at the moment. We the people are superstars in our own right!!!

Tony who? Nate...I don't know you personally so I cannot possibly respect you ignorant comments. You have not presented one single fact... Fact is Republicans and Democrats have far more in common than folks will ever admit. Politicians have polorized this country and put power and elections above the intrest of this once great country. My father fought in WWII so you would have the freedom to voice your imature emotional wisdom. Next time you have a unique creative thought that inspires intellectual debate...please share it.

Seeing as how freedom of speech is supposed to still exist I think I have a right to talk politics where ever I see fit. Typical Republican you got there calling the Bush family fortune that of paupers. War prophiteering in the Bush family goes back to Great Grand Daddy Bush selling shoddy Muskets to Confederates. Just cause Bushy Jr. is a failed businessman doesn't mean they all are. You think Halliburton shares the Bushes have are worthless? Last time I checked price gouging hasn't gone to bad for them. That BS must really taste great for you people to keep going back for seconds.

Mr. Bennett is correct in the sense that American music is headed toward a dead end (i.e. an award for "It's Hard to be a Pimp Out Here?" - gimme a break.). But Mr. Bennett is wrong if he is talking about our history. In defense of American music, the U.S.A. has had its share of musical geniuses (i.e. George and Ira Gershwin, Cole Porter, Moss Hart, Richard Rogers, Oscar Hammerstein, Duke Ellington, Stephen Foster, Leonard Bernstein, Glenn Miller, Frank Sinatra, George M. Cohan, Lionel Hampton, Johnny Mercer, Irving Berlin, Count Basie, Henry Mancini, Louis Armstrong, Elmer Bernstein, Gus Kahn, Carol King, Aaron Copeland, Bob Dylan, etc.). The list could go on and on. Other countries could only hope to claim a fraction of the talent that the United States has produced in our short history. Whether popular or classical, all of these artists - uniquely American - have influenced music and cultures throughout the world. If Mr. Bennett had said that we were moving into an era that was culturally void, that comment would have held more truth. We must look long and hard to find true talent today. It's not that talent is not there, it is just no longer appreciated by the masses like it once was. I have a feeling that Mr. Bennett will be amending his statements sometime soon. And for the person who strangely brought politics into the subject by proclaiming that all U.S. Presidents over the past 50 years had been born into privilege: Bill Clinton is not the only contemporary President to come from humble beginnings. Richard Nixon, Lyndon Johnson, Gerald Ford, Jimmy Carter, and Ronald Reagan all came from poor or middle class families who struggled from time to time to make ends meet. Privilege means wealthy (i.e. Roosevelt and Kennedy). The Bushes are paupers compared to the them.

The guy's getting up there in years. I don't expect musicians to know much anyway. There are plenty of younger musicians who provide the rest of us with their unsolicited views of the world and I say to myself, "Stick to the music, please."

tony bennett is culturally void. Hmm...good man, put me right to sleep there in '82 in Madison Square Garden.

I find it funny how easily Republicans can be coaxed into an argument. But when hit with incorruptible facts they always resort to "God Bless America" and "Support the Troops". If you people really supported the troops you would also be calling for withdrawal from Iraq since your own ignorant Republican President said himself "Mission Accomplished". Oh wait that was 2 years ago. Maybe we should impeach him for lying about war since Clinton was only impeached for lying about sex.

Mr. Bennett isn't saying America didn't invent anything. He's saying America is a consumerist sesspool where average the American has no knowledge of the arts, history or government, and for that matter, any civic sense or responsibility. This is reflected in our entertainment and our communities. The vulgar displays of commercialism that are commonplace here, don't exist anywhere else. And the belief that America is a classless society with a two-party system is proof that he's right.

Right on Staniz as for Nate, get over it, Clinton lied under oath in a court, which is against the law, which he was sworn to uphold. Politicians always say too much too soon, but this is not lying. I want you A-holes see trying to impeach this President. Good luck. Nancy pelkosi as Speaker - you got to be kidding!!

THIS IS ANOTHER PIECE OF GARBAGE THAT IS A CLINTONISTA. Become wealthy by knocking the same principles that make them millionaires in a rotten country. But the average slub who believes in the same principles of the country have to scrub to survive on, 25to30thosand dollars a year.Iwill never foget how back in the early 60,s this guy was floundering around in abyss because of r$r music being so popular. Then he recorded the san francisco song and was made extra popular by the troops going and coming from nam. It was sort of thier anthem, he was then asked to accompany, BOB HOPE on a xmas trip and he refused to be a part of any show paying tribute to soldier,s. But then he wasted no time to volunteer for fund raiser,s for the clinton defence fund on his sex charges and lying. So please refrain from boosting this old piece of garbage. And like the dixie chick,s he should be boycotted by all veteran,s

tony bennett is culturally void. Hmm...good man, put me right to sleep there in '82 in Madison Square Garden.

Hey there fellow Americans. One need only check the commentary to find the vacuum of critical thinking inherant in American culture. It's critical thinking that causes a culture. The fact that the rest of the world has had to deal with despots is cause enough for self-reflection. Critical thinking can emerge from such an existential condition. It's like your Mom used to say, "you don't know how good you've got it" and yet we continue to abuse this by our own indifference in the face of seriously apocalyptic fanatics now running our country. What are we committed to and how is this being expressed right now? "By their fruits shall ye know them"? Ever Googled "Christian Peace Movement"? There ain't none and why not? I fear that answer and the "art" we create is now consequential to a lost child of a nation.

Nate--we haven't formally met, so I apologize for using your name, being that we ain't exactly homies, but don't you find that internet chat is the best place to unleash your hostility in the form of misguided political references? You are so awesome, I had to use your name. Don't you see? It's not merely presumed or unwelcome familiarity...it's overwhelming awe! In conclusion, you rule.

Oh and Slager you don’t know me so using my name is pointless. I have no respect for you or your ignorant opinion on the rise of American Fascism.

Nate, how (and why) did you turn this into a cliche about your hatred for "neo-cons". First of all, Bennet made negative comments about our nation's contributions to the world. His slam on America is uncalled for. America has obviously been a primary contributor on almost all fronts. Secondly, Clinton is not the only recent President to come from humble beginnings. Ronald Reagan was born into a very poor family with an alcoholic father. Reagan earned his fame and fortune through his own hard work and energy. In fact, both Clinton and Reagan are examples of why America is so great. Poor downtrodden people have the opportunity to work hard and eventually earn the right to occupy our highest office. God bless America!

Tony...,oh Tony He forgot Adolf Hitler, Karl Marx, Stalin, Mussolini and all the other "fine folks" who have created a HISTORY OF MURDER in Europ. Sorry, Mao...sorry Ho chi min, I completely forgot about you. THE UNITED STATES IS THE ONLY, DID I SAY THE OONNLLYYY, I MEANT: THHEEE ONLY BEST HOPE FOR THE FUTURE OF MANKIND. Take it from a German.

The Germans and Italians fell into the same void of blind Nationalism and Religious Fervor which gave Hitler and Mussolini the opportunity to do what they did. If you don't see the same thing happening in the US your blind or in denial. America isn’t some bright shining hope for the rest of the world. In fact from whats happened in the Middle East with Democracy I think the US should keep it’s form of government to itself. Tony is right all the way.

Funny, a man who uses his fame as a lounge singer to peddle mediocre 'art' calls America culturally void. Tony, you're not looking in the right places, but then again I wouldn't expect you to.

So a neo-con is someone who thinks America has contributed many things to the world. Maybe you are just an America hater.

In response to Nate I agree America's culture is a cesspool. The reason our culture has desintegrated is the takeover of political correctness and secularism. Parents today teach the religion of "anything goes." Call me a crazy "neo-con" but I'm a lot more worried about terrorists killing thousands of Americans than which inventions America has given the world. Wake up Nate...you should be worried about Islamic faciasts. They make no distinction between liberals and conservatives.They want to kill you as much as they want to kill Dick Cheney. Think about it!

Yeah and Clintons pardon you mention is nothing like the admitted serial killer Bush just pardoned. You people are hypocritically inept. Get a life outside of politics cause you people are ruining this country.

Clinton was not an aristrocrat- he only sold them pardons (like Billionaire tax cheat and Dem contributor Mark Rich). Certified mentally-retarded killer Richie Ray Rector recieved no such pardon, as Gov. Clinton rushed to Ark. in the middle of the '92 election to sign Rector's death warrant, knowing full well how mentally incompetent Rector was. Poor Rector (A black man, too) didn't have any money to contribute to the Criminal Conspiracy known as the Clinton Administration, so he couldn't buy justice like Mark Rich.

Legendary singer? Who's Tony Bennett? Is he really American? He sounds French, you know, like his opinion is tantamount to the word of God - like everyone should care what he has to say - but no one does. It seems every time Drudge links to a story on Contact Music.com is some has-been or wanna-be music or movie moron spouting some baseless anti-American drivel to get their name in the headlines. I was tempted to skip clicking here but if nothing else, these stories are always good for a few yucks from the loony-leftists that momentarily pull their heads out of their ass just long enough to express their undying love for anyone that has something negative to say about America. Wait a minute, was this old man one of those Rat Pack guys?

In response to another’s comment. All the countries mention are so-called Free Democracies not Aristocracies as suggested. That is if the definition of a Free Democracy even holds water anymore. Show me a President in the last 50 years that didn’t come from a Rich Aristocratic family and maybe I’ll change my mind. Oh wait that’s Clinton and you Neo-Cons hate him. I don't know if you whackos talking Freedom and Democracy have noticed but Bennett is right. Culturally, America is a cesspool at best.