Happy Birthday, Barry Gibb
Fangirl here, wishing Sir Barry Gibb a very happy birthday number 76 and wedding anniversary number 52.
In honor of the occasion, I offer the following video of Barry singing “Stayin’ Alive” at Glastonbury in 2017 at age 71 . He’s understandably lost quite a bit of his voice quality and some of his high notes. But this song was always extremely difficult to sing live, even with his brothers. It’s so fast, with so many words, and the breathing can be tricky.
Notice, though, how happy everybody in the audience is. If songs were measured in the amount of joy they bring, this song would be number one or close to it (yeah, I know some of you may hate it, but you are very heavily outnumbered). His son is the bearded guy with the tattooed arm playing the guitar. Note that while singing at such a fast clip, Barry also has to keep up a frenetic rhythm guitar. Not bad for an old guy who’s stayin alive.
And here’s the same song in his handsome-as-all-getout heyday:
Close to two years ago I heard that a biopic was in the works for the Bee Gees. I’m still waiting. I hope they don’t muck up the story and change the “narrative” like they did with Queen. I also can’t imagine who would be good-looking enough to play Barry, or charismatic and charming enough to play any of the Bee Gees or their brother Andy. The singing they always can lip sync. But the rest? Much more difficult, and in my opinion probably impossible.
Yes, I’m one of the malcontents who find “Stayin’ Alive” about as pleasant as a Joe Biden speech. The composer/musician with a September 1 birthday who brings joy to me is Johann Pachelbel (9/1/1653–3/9/1706). Here’s his Canon in D, performed on original seventeenth-century instruments: three violins play the canon over the basso continuo, here provided by a Baroque organ, a bass viol, and a theorbo (a large lute with an extra-long neck and two pegboxes):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JvNQLJ1_HQ0&ab_channel=VoicesofMusic
Yes, it’s a slow and meditative piece rather than a frenetic disco number, but at this point in my life, it’s where I find joy. Anyway, happy 369th birthday, Johann!
Neo, you have brought joy to my life in sharing your obsession with the Bee Gees!
Thank you.
I have always loved the BeeGees. I took my kids to see them in Dodger stadium when they were tops. I think we must have been a mile away.
PA+Cat…I’m going to give you an Amen…although I’m not as intimately versed on the intricacies of the music as you are.
And Boss…you need counselling for this addiction…Jus’ sayin’
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PA…just listened to that piece…now I’m feeling the joy too!
Well, I’m sure no one has noticed my obsessions, but I have them, they are passionate, and, up to a certain point anyway, they make my life worthwhile.
Sail on, neo!
Re: Pachelbel’s Canon
A friend once played me that Musical Heritage Society version, which exploded in the 70s/80s:
–“Jean-François Paillard, Pachelbel Canon in D major”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1wiRRv80ehM
At the time I was personally shattered and the music was like God telling me It Was All Right. If I really listen, I still can’t hear that piece without tearing up.
Later, when I went home, I discovered my mother had a recording of the Canon but it sounded nothing like the MHS one I had come to love. Then I learned of the vagaries of classical music, especially when it comes to the earlier periods.
PA+Cat’s linked version is quite splendid, though I can’t speak to its authenticity (whatever that means) beyond they are using the original instruments.
I love them for that. I once I had box of vinyl Brandenburgs in the original instruments. Long lost. I’d like to replace them if I could. Perhaps Voices of Music is on the case.
neo:
Have you heard Gibbs’ “Greenfields” (2021)?
I’m kind of intrigued. It’s Gibbs going country, though that’s too glib. Anyway, he’s got Gillian Welch and David Rawlings, who are personal faves. What I’ve heard, I’ve liked. Plus Olivia Newton John!
–“Barry Gibb – Greenfields: The Gibb Brothers’ Songbook (Vol. 1 / Album Trailer)”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OqxTqkR_qRM
I like both Barry and the Pachelbel. I do love the outdoor music festival atmosphere and the enthusiasm that it can generate. Though I don’t think I’ve ever been to one that big. Some giant indoor arena rock’n roll concerts, yes. But that’s not the same IMO.
The smaller festivals are nice in that anyone can walk or dance up to the front of the stage.
The Pachelbel is wonderful and a familiar piece. I do like the period instruments, though the period performances that trigger my inner smile the most are the ones (earlier compositions?) that sound more medieval and include the recorder.
huxley:
Yes, I heard it when it came out.
By the way, the Bee Gees had many country or country-ish songs even when they were the Bee Gees, my personal favorite being “Come On Over.”
The “Greenfields” album is okay, and I think it’s sort of interesting. I’m glad if it’s making Barry some more money and introducing a younger generation to some of the Bee Gees’ songs. But it’s almost painful for me to listen to it, at least much of it. I know the way the Bee Gees sounded singing the same songs, and to me all of the songs on that record are inferior versions. For me, there’s something exceptional in the Bee Gees voices and their voices as a trio. What’s more, Barry’s voice is somewhat diminished now, and when I hear it, in my head I compare it to his old voice and the comparison makes me sad at times.
I still love him though.
Huxley: the âGreenfieldsâ album (sold at Target) has two bonus tracks: âWith the Sun in My Eyesâ https://youtu.be/pqzJ5XvWl20 and âThe Morning of My Lifeâ https://youtu.be/EB74lHCdyvQ.
Both are Barry acoustic solos. Both originally appeared on 1968 Bee Gees albums.
I take Neoâs point about age, but isnât it charming to think that a tender song, composed and sung by a very young man, could have even deeper meaning when he sings it 50 years later? Something about the older the violin, the sweeter the musicâŠ.
@ PA Cat > “itâs a slow and meditative piece rather than a frenetic disco number,”
Yeah, but one of those violinists looked pretty frenetic to me!
Thanks for the link – nice to see the organ and the theorbo (how does anyone play that thing?!?)
@ huxley > likewise, the Jean-François Paillard version is the one I’m most familiar with.
Wikipedia has the scoop.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pachelbel%27s_Canon
After reading about Pachelbel, I went looking for the Gigue that originally accompanied the Canon and found this.
The consort plays the Canon considerably faster than most; the Gigue starts at 2:55.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BPYqzUWUgqM
As a bonus, here is another Pachelbel piece, a Ciacona starting at 6:00, after the slow Canon.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=59HAq_wKOr0
As far as who has the handsomeness and charisma to play Barry, I envision a younger (than today) Matthew McConaughey. He has a playful side but not sure he has the pep.
“In 1968, the Jean-François Paillard chamber orchestra made a recording of the piece that would change its fortunes significantly.”
This is the first version I first heard, I think, and it did change my life for the better. I was working at my first job out of law school—a stage in life where adulthood sets in and you realize that you somehow need to navigate the tangled world, to find and follow the right strings. I was lonely, I was isolated. But when I had the chance, I would sit outside and watch the clouds; hope for the sun, and listen to music that moved me and grounded me. Pachelbel seemed to give me a glimpse into the workings of the universe, that there was an intricate dance and sweet purpose to life no matter the surface struggles.
RigelDog:
Not a bad choice – but you’re right that he’s a bit old for it.
However, although he’s good-looking and has a nice smile (the latter is absolutely necessary), IMHO no one is good-looking enough to play Barry in his prime.
The other thing that would be almost impossible to get right is that Barry was slim but muscular, somewhat like a ballet dancer. Today’s actors tend to be bulkier and more pumped.