Then and now
I wrote a draft for a huge post focusing on Ukraine’s history and on NATO. It’s probably going to be a two-parter. Instead of racing to get the first part up here for the weekend, I’ve decided to postpone that … Continue reading →
Category Archives: Music
Dueling violin prodigies playing Winter in Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons
Christian Li is fourteen years old here. This seems to be a rehearsal. I love the way prodigies get a very adult and focused look on their faces when they play. His delivery is very fast, with lots of attack. … Continue reading →
On the ugliness of the German language
[NOTE: This post was inspired by a discussion in the comments in this thread.] I don’t speak German at all except for a few words. In fact, foreign languages aren’t my forte, although I’m sensitive to sounds. Until a few … Continue reading →
Christa Ludwig disagrees with Leonard Bernstein about tempo
I had no idea why YouTube decided I would like this video called “Vocalist Disagrees With Bernstein’s Tempo.” But they recommended it, and I idly clicked on it and watched it: “It doesn’t matter; who can hear the words anyway?” … Continue reading →
Those Spotify would-be censors, Neil Young and Joni Mitchell
Yes, Neil Young and Joni Mitchell and whoever else has joined their cause have the right to threaten to leave Spotify if the platform doesn’t boycott Joe Rogan. But they would serve their cause better if they just state clearly … Continue reading →
Sometimes you just know it will be a hit: Stayin’ Alive
Instant hit: …[The Bee Gees’ tech guy Karl Richardson] also has a clear recollection of how he first came to hear ‘Stayin’ Alive’: “I distinctly remember Barry saying ‘Boy, Karl, have I got a song for you,’ and sitting down … Continue reading →
RIP Marvin Lee Aday (aka Meat Loaf)
Here’s another death of a celebrity in the arts, the actor and singer who adopted the memorable moniker Meat Loaf. He was 74 and no cause of death was given, and although COVID is rumored, I don’t know whether or … Continue reading →
Open thread 1/18/22
Here’s a companion piece to the video in yesterday’s open thread: Hey, why not sneak in a Bee Gees tune, who with 1000+ songs have one for everything? Originally released in 1975, this is a slightly later live version (and … Continue reading →
RIP Terry Teachout
Another person connected with the arts has died. This time it’s WSJ drama critic and playwright Terry Teachout, who died unexpectedly at the age of sixty-five. Teachout wasn’t just a drama critic and playwright, either; he was “an acclaimed author, … Continue reading →
RIP Ronnie Spector
On Monday I mentioned that it seems as though there have been a lot of celebrity deaths lately. And now I see that pop singer Ronnie Spector has died: Like burning magnesium, the Ronettes flared hot, brightly and quickly: Their … Continue reading →
There’s some fight in the old GOP yet
Kevin McCarthy shows some of it: House GOP Leader Kevin McCarthy told Breitbart News that as speaker of the House he would strip Reps. Adam Schiff (D-CA) and Eric Swalwell (D-CA) of their assignments on the House Permanent Select Committee … Continue reading →
Rick Beato on autotune
Oh how I detest autotune. Rick Beato doesn’t detest it quite as much as I do, but he’s not the least bit fond of the way it’s commonly used today:
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