Hurdy Gurdy Man
(from "Zodiac")
Songs in Our Heart # 46 Hurdy Gurdy Man (Donovan) (Written by Donovan; released May 1968) [Outwardly Sweetness and Light, actually, brilliantly creepy as hell, well suited for use on the film Zodiac.]
Continue Reading →The Narrow Mind of Genius
"Mars Destroying the Arts" by Michiel Sweerts
There are mammoth contradictions in the creation of Art. The pursuit of perfection begs the question: according to whom? The artist’s internal impulse, an objective standard set by the good and the great, or that which accords with immutable laws? We talk not so much of various arts and anti-arts movements (a mere symptom) but rather the endogenous source of artistic effect, that breathes in stimuli, imbues it with the self, and releases the product, which may be toxic or sweet or both. In preparing to assess the imminent expelled air, we anticipate relying on: Our own visceral reaction; The Critical reaction;…
Continue Reading →Wallflower
Songs in Our Heart # 45 Wallflower (Peter Gabriel) (Written by Peter Gabriel; released September 1982) [A beautiful, soulful, quiet howl, in honour and recognition of prisoners of conscience everywhere.]
Continue Reading →Wolfie’s Wheel Turns
"Where's my 'Best Of' Compilation?" - 'Mozart's Last Days' by Hermann Kaulbach (1873)
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (27 January 1756 – 5 December 1791) was identified in Charles Murray’s Curious historiography, Human Accomplishment, as ‘measurably’ the most eminent and significant person in Western Music (along with Beethoven). Mozart finally gets his collected hits properly done. (Now that Mrs Gibb has passed, we can note that Andy Gibb got a greatest hits record after one hit single). Now, we see not only Figaro, Don Giovanni, Cosi, et al, but just about everything the great prodigy ever scribbled, a huge undertaking that will pose a giant test of his admirers. Deutsche Grammophon & Decca Records are marking Wolfie’s…
Continue Reading →Vale Gene Wilder
Jerome Silberman (Gene Wilder) (11 June 1933 to 29 August 2016) He was a great understated comedy star, a master of timing and amplified understatement. Best moments: as a very overheated Dr Frankenstein (make sure you pronounce that correctly) in Young Frankenstein; a great 2nd banana in Blazing Saddles, a superb put-upon pie in The Producers (“I fell on my keys”) and Rhinoceros, and an agreeable leading man in The Silver Streak, as well as in good work in many other films and TV productions [check out his great work as Bernard in the late 60s Death of a Salesman, or…
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