. . . and a couple of paintings from Sears.
— Billy Joel, "Scenes from an Italian Restaurant"
Trivia: On this date in 1967, Ed Sullivan compelled an alteration in lyrics, and Mick Jagger sang, Let’s spend some time together; now I need you more than ever . . . .
Bryan Kirk on ComposerBastard wonders why anyone could be hatin' on Sergei Vasilyevich, and I am happy to share his puzzlement. Recently I've made closer acquaintance with the First & Second Symphonies, and have learnt that I like them entire and uncut. (Fair disclosure: This is in conspiratorial keeping with an earlier determination that that's just how I like the Third Concerto, too.) This week is also the first I have listened to The Isle of the Dead.
Today is the first in . a . long . . time . . that I've listened to King Crimson's Red played out of speakers in a room (rather than headphones). As always, was especially enjoying the riff in 13 dominating the center of "Starless" . . . and then realized that there are actually two: the slow-burn crescendo riff I've long known and loved; and then afterwards a riotous double-time section, which in spite of feeling persuasively chaotic, is a tightly counted 13.
In the spirit of Ed Sullivan bowdlerizing the Stones . . . over the closing credits of As Good As It Gets, Art Garfunkel sings the crucifix-tapper from the end of Life of Brian, "Always Look on the Bright Side of Life," only with the subtitutionary phrase, Life's a counterfeit. Which, viewed from a certain angle, is a cosmically right alteration, the faux phrase itself being a counterfeit.
Today saw the passing of Patrick McGoohan and Ricardo Montalban, № 6 and the wrathful Khan, respectively. What a different world it might be, if McGoohan had played Mr Roarke on Fantasy Island. It should no doubt have gone much harder on Hervé Villechaize.
Today also, I was reminded that the Shostakovich Fourth Symphony has not released me, at all, from its fell grip.
But for now: back to The Isle of the Dead.
[ title courtesy of Greta Brannan ]
Isle of the Dead: 5/8 time, and those strokes of the oar, bringing you closer to the ultimate mystery.
ReplyDeleteAnd there is Patrick McGoohan as #6, in "The General", asking the ultimate question:
"W---H---Y---Question Mark."
"Why?"
"Why."
"Why?"
Love! Hilarious! Perfect usage. When I drop by our pub. radio station to see my friend (program director), he pulls out the King Crimson and Frank Zappa vinyl...educating me. What I've heard so far is groooovy.
ReplyDelete