Pavarotti is in the Google logo today.
Gee, that's a pretty prominent position for an individual to be in, isn't it?
Secondly, I thought: Oh, is he dead? And it turns out he is, since last month. So I'm thinking: isn't it funny how we celebrate people a lot more when they're dead? Isn't that a bit backwards?
Of course, it has also been said that those that celebrate a birth and mourn a death might have it backwards.
ReplyDeleteAnd considering that many in my country get uptight over nudity on television but not violence, getting other things backward does not surprise me.
It's weird that anyone could not know he died, it was all over the papers and TV when it happened. I don't know that he's more celebrated now that he's dead, but you kind of take these guys for granted when they're alive. That's true of almost anyone, whether famous or not.
ReplyDeleteAs Poison sang, you don't know what you've got till it's gone. :)
I am not an opera buff, and it's funny that his fame among non-opera people is from his Three Tenors work.
The only opera I've ever liked was "Carmina Burana," which has that one number, O Fortuna, which has been used in numerous TV shows, movies, and promos for TV shows and movies.
"it was all over the papers and TV when it happened."
ReplyDeleteI've no doubt it was. Like when Nicole and Tom broke up. It's partly focus on BS like that which makes me stay away from TV and newspapers.
In Google's eyes, not all dead are equal. They made no special logo for Memorial Day.
ReplyDelete"Pavarotti"
ReplyDeleteHe co-sang with the musical legend Elton John on his hit "Live Like Horses."
A tragic loss in my view. The man (like sir elton) was world famous for his beautiful and uplifting vocal gift. I will miss him.
"It's partly focus on BS like that which makes me stay away from TV and newspapers."
ReplyDeleteI would have thought you'd be all into that kind of thing, you definitely seem the type. The death of a great opera singer is hardly on the same level as Tom & Nicole breaking up. Unless you were living in a cave on Mars at the time, with your fingers in your ears, you would have at least heard about it even if you did not read about it in the papers or see it on TV.
We can add to the list of things (like history) which keep you out of the category of the cultured and well-rounded person a lack of interest in or understanding of opera.
By the way, I do not believe that Pavarotti's death exactly made the front page. I really doubt the breakup of a celebrity couple would either.
So, does Google do local icons? I mean, does google.co.uk have different icons from google.com? I know there are a lot of differences between those two site.
ReplyDeleteDoes Google do patriotic stuff? I seem to remember a 4th of July. Lets check out on Armistice day.
As for Pavarotti. My favourite track was "Miss Sarajevo" from the album U2/Eno album "Passengers: Original Soundtracks".
scuba steve said: "The only opera I've ever liked was Carmina Burana"
ReplyDeleteCarmina Burana is not an opera. It's a choir piece.
Eolake said: "I've no doubt it was. Like when Nicole and Tom broke up."
Are you seriously comparing the death of Pavarotti, probably the greatest tenor that ever lived and a notable humanitarian, with the break up of Tom and Nicole?
Alex said: "As for Pavarotti. My favourite track was "Miss Sarajevo" from the album U2/Eno album Passengers: Original Soundtracks."
You know, there was this one other guy, who lived in the 1800s, who also dabbled in music, whose works Pavarotti also sang, and who --dare I say it -- might have had a somewhat better grasp at composing music than U2/Eno. I think his name was Puccini. You may want to check him out.
"We can add to the list of things (like history) which keep you out of the category of the cultured and well-rounded person a lack of interest in or understanding of opera."
ReplyDeleteThere are so many different definitions of "culture". If you were interested in *all* of them, you'd know nothing about each.
I just don't like opera, aesthetically.
I probably know rather more about history than the average person. Probably as much as the average university graduate.
"By the way, I do not believe that Pavarotti's death exactly made the front page. I really doubt the breakup of a celebrity couple would either."
Are you kidding? Here in the UK at least, Tom and Nicole breaking up was on the front page of *all* the newspapers. It was nauseating.
"Are you seriously comparing the death of Pavarotti, probably the greatest tenor that ever lived and a notable humanitarian, with the break up of Tom and Nicole?"
ReplyDeleteNot exactly on the same level, but they are both in the trivia ball park.
Since I have no interest in opera, for me he is just another singer, only very famous.
Perhaps I'd feel different if David Bowie died. I wonder if he'd get a google logo?
But see, I'd find that odd too.
I don't think Miss Sarajevo was absolutely stellar, but most of the straight Pavarotti I heard, and there tenors was that stuff that you got to hear ad nauseum in Looney Toons, that one from the Marriage of Figaro especially, then that soccer ad one, Nessun Dorma.
ReplyDeleteEno typically has a minimalistic feel, especially in his solo and Fripp and Eno compositions. Music for Airports is, on the surface very simple, but listening to the layers is fascinating, they are there to be uncovered, not burried in the business of a full orchestra. Some of the waveforms he elected to use, sounding more like a sawtooth then curve, give an interesting feel. The inventiveness of techniques like Fripponics (loop tape used for delay and echo) gave an imaginative edge.
Who was on Heroes? That was Glass and Bowie and Eno, I can see how their musical styles fit together. I need to hear that. So far the Glass I've enjoyed most was with Shankar.
I saw an interesting opera last year/year before. It was by a bit of an upstart, John Adams. I thought the overture was great, but he didn't follow through and slumped back into more traditional sounding pieces. Still, the fluid motion on stage, was like watching a Peter Greenaway movie (think Prosperos books). Ah, there's a composer who is fun, Michael Nyman.
Ah, just looked up puccini, seems t be responsible for La Boheme, Tosca and such. Just a phase of music I don't get. Sure, it's pretty, but too strong. I'd rather have something less full.
..."if David Bowie died. I wonder if he'd get a google logo?"
ReplyDeleteI'd rather not find out. Or as late as possible. There's no hurry to bury Bowie. :-)
I don't feel the least bit of interest for the ceremony or tributes that would accompany my death. I'm much more concerned about the effect it would have on those close to me, those I care for. Just donate all of my spare parts that can help somebody still alive, and be respectful with the rest of my machinery for the sake of all the time I spent being it.
Oh, and my manhood can be auctioned for billions and the profits donated to feed Africa.
Surely somebody with a huge wallet will want to uniquely improve his personal assets. ;-)
When you think about it, celebrity is one big liar. Un miroir aux alouettes. Just an image, a mirage. Sometimes (often?) entirely fake. The Carnival King, a paper statue destined to burn after the party is over.
It's like believing a WWE "heel" is actualy a horrible person in real life, or means his role. To perform such risky stunts live on a ring, you need to actually have full trust in your "opponent" NOT to break your spine.
Elvis was a voice of legend. Fact.
He was also an immature drug-addicted bulimic who couldn't handle all the unprecedented fame. Too bad for him, and for those who liked his gift. Was idolized, but remained human just like you and I.
alex said: "Ah, just looked up puccini, seems to be responsible for La Boheme, Tosca and such. Just a phase of music I don't get. Sure, it's pretty, but too strong. I'd rather have something less full."
ReplyDeleteI agree, pretty strong it is. But "less full"? You mean less full of emotion and geniusness?
Here's Pavarotti blasting "E lucevan le stelle" from Tosca.
The guy could certainly sing. And that other guy wasn't too shabby at composing either. Those clarinet lines alone send shivers down my spine every time I hear them.
I like genius in my music, but also ingenuity. I like emotion and evocation. My taste in music seems split in three or four ways. I like some classical, I like ambient, and I like New Romantic and rock.
ReplyDeleteFor classical, I kinda tune out swiftly after a short amount of time on Gershwin and that sound. I like some of the stronger instrumental pieces, "Night on a Bare Mountain" and parts of "Peer Gynt" are very listenable. I like bits of Romeo and Juliet, that piece, "The Montagues and the Capulets", very strong and confrontational. I also like the run of the popular composers, Beethoven, who doesn't like the Moonlight Sonata, or Fur Elise. I like the 9th, but the actual Ode to Joy, too choral, though I've read Schiller in translation, and I think it a great poem. The planets annoy me, either too whiney, or Mars is just too strong again, it also brings Pavlovian responses in me, I see those endless snippets of war movies and war footage that they used to show in documentaries with the afore mentioned Holst as a backdrop. I can never hear 'Ride of the Valkyrie' without picturing Bugs Bunny and Yosemite Sam in a parody of an opera, whilst also hearing "Killed the Wabbit" sung in the voice of Elmer Fudd.
Overuse of some great tunes have totally destroyed them for me. I'll get over it someday.
I really like Vivaldi's four seasons, I first heard that through in "A Very British Coup". However, Nigel Kennedy, with his over domineering solo violin passages, made an unbalanced rendering to my ear.
Thing is, a lot of instruments in an orchestra just don't sound that good to me. Yes, I like saxaphones and cellos, but you seldom here the harpsichord, sitar, Hammond or Moog in a classical piece.
One of the first composers I really started to appreciate was Carlos, later Anne Dudly. You'll see I'm leaning to avant guard here. I soon discovered Vangelis and Jarre, and then Edgar Freose and Chris Franke. All excellent composers, but not in the classical field.
Just as my eyes see blue as the most pleasant my ears hear simpler tunes as more pleasant.
ttl wrote:
ReplyDelete"Carmina Burana is not an opera. It's a choir piece."
It could easily be mistaken for oper by those who do not know much about opera. I looked it up and it is a "scenic cantata." I don't know if that is same thing as choral music, which everyone knows only fags listen to.
eolake wrote:
"There are so many different definitions of "culture". If you were interested in *all* of them, you'd know nothing about each."
No one expects you to be interested in all of them, but opera is one of the biggies. Although I too do not care for it (apparently the only opera I ever liked isn't actually opera), some of the music that goes along with it is quite nice. Mozart apparently wrote most of his stuff for operas. Take the singing out and it's pretty good.
eolake wrote: "I probably know rather more about history than the average person. Probably as much as the average university graduate."
You're giving us conflicting information, then, Big E. You said in an earlier blog entry that you do not care much for history, or plays. Now you say you know more about it than the average person? Well for one thing there is no way of knowing what the average person knows, "Joe Sixpack," the man on the street.
Sure, if you look at the music only. I quite like many of the songs of Carmen, for example. I just think singing on stage should be limited to in-between audible dialogue, if a story is to be told effectively.
ReplyDeleteRe history: there's a difference between not having a big interest in something, and being ignorant about it. I haven't read history books since school, but I pick up stuff from books, films, articles, of course.
Steve said, "It could easily be mistaken for opera by those who do not know much about opera."
ReplyDeleteI understand. The differences in format become more obvious when you go see them live.
I think many opera haters would very quickly learn to love it if they were properly introduced to it. In my opinion, unless you've seen a high quality opera performance live you can not know what you are missing.
"I just think singing on stage should be limited to in-between audible dialogue, if a story is to be told effectively."
Mozart's The Magic Flute is done this way. It works very well and is especially approachable to children because of this.
In general, though, opera fans don't care because you easily get into the story through other means: From reading the program, and nowadays from translated subtitles shown in realtime.
And believe me, when you watch Carmen flirt, dance and sing all at the same time, you are so mesmerised by the phenomenon that the last thing you would want is have any part of it reduced to plain theatre.
Sure.
ReplyDeleteAnd David Pogue is big on Opera too (he wrote Opera For Dummies), so I'm open to the idea that it's not all ridic. :)
A good book to read is "Opera 101" by Fred Plotkin.
ReplyDelete