To a very large extent I haven’t a clue what today’s teenager listens to – nor am I particularly interested. I'll just assume that it's garbage.
I’ve never actually been taken by what comes out of the radio, as it all seemed like dreck anyway. My late brother, Tobias, often tuned in to Radio Luxembourg and the pirate stations in the NorthSea, but insofar as I paid any attention to what was coming from his desk while he was studying, it was to marvel at the commercials.
“Decide for yourself whether you are small, medium, or large”
Excellent advice! Even if it was only to purchase a shirt featuring the visage of some lithe and hairy pop trog. Expecially, perhaps, because of the haughty Brit accent and supercilious delivery. I have taken the recommendation to heart.
It is SO multi-applicable.
What I actually listened to was the victrola.
When I was about ten or eleven I discovered my father’s collection of Bertold Brecht & Kurt Weill operas, which featured the voice of Lotte Lenya.
There was just … something. Husky. Nice plonky music. A bit sleazy and nightclubish.
PLONK PLONK PLONK!
One of the most recognized songs from the Dreigroschen Oper by Brecht and Weill is ‘ Mackie Messer’. You’ve probably heard the limpwanged version sung in English – heck, some dillwad did a bad rendition of it every time you visited the karaoke bar – but this version is different:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aPG9GcykPIY&feature=player_embedded
That's how it's supposed to sound.
I rediscovered it while reading Treppenwitz today.
[This post: http://www.treppenwitz.com/2010/08/overheard.html ]
Thanks, Trepp.
Tell Gilad that Lotte Lenya does NOT sound "just like Lily von Shtupp".
Not in the slightest!
If you, dear reader, are interested in songs that haven't been bollixed up by English-speakers, here's Lotte Lenya singing Surabaya Johnny:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iJKkqC8JVXk
This is a lively tune about soldiers - Kanonen song:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gi433VgJ5bc&feature=related
[Fun version subtitled in Portuguese: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yuj0HEght0E&feature=related Or how about the 2006 performance at the Theaterhaus in Jena: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iorl1qin54E&feature=related - it's very German.]
We'll finish this recital with Kurt Weill and Bertold Brecht's most famous song, Alabama:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6orDcL0zt34&feature=channel
Now, wasn't that much better than the crap you hear on the radio?
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Sounds like elevator music from the Hindenburg!
Don't even have to click that, so often have I listened to these recordings.
I they they are listening to Garbage. I like them, you should check 'em out.
Kevin
Not sure how I feel about Brecht - diehard Marxist...
Yes, that disenamors me too. It’s not his most likeable character flaw.
But that era was conducive to German flaws.
FYI: A lot of Kurt Weill Lieder ("short angry German songs") were also performed by Teresa Stratas. She too does a stellar job on them.
Just ran across this song: "Das Lied von der Unzulänglichkeit
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zZo0oY6cq6E&feature=related
Still have it memorized from years ago.
Kurt Weill could sure write a tune.
I think I like both the original and the jazzy version....
Actually, I just noticed that the theme from 'La Dolce Vita' sounds a bit like it as well...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wJkJ5td0Jgo
I wonder if poor Schmul Meier was a real person....
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