Monday, September 29, 2008

Beresford Greene Speaks (Forth fit)....



Dear Bloggers,
 
Some folk seem to be having difficulty understanding the things that I say. Do you think it's easy for me being in cyber-space? No-one has ever understood me - sob. When that awful phrase "Beauty is in the eye of the beholder" was first cast in my direction, it seemed so clever, so smug, that I hated it at once. "What point", my mind said, "what point in trying at anything if it is to be reduced down to such a level." It might ease your brain, alas not mine.
 
However, there is a way to counter it. Since everything is judged by the mind of the recipient, all I have to do is stimulate your grey cells a little bit and bingo-bongo, you will read into it just what you will. Your decision can all be glossed over by such platitudes as "artistic license" & "beauty is in ... "    
 
Therefore I know that you will know exactly what I have been saying, who it applies to, and what it really means, WITHOUT THE NEED FOR ME TO SPELL IT OUT. I like that sequence from Yes Prime Minister: - "You might like to think that but I couldn't possibly comment"
 
Musical Jokes
Guitarists spend half their time tuning their instrument and the other half playing out of tune.
 
The organ is the instrument of worship for in its sounding we sense the Majesty of God and in its ending we know the Grace of God.
 
What is the difference between a dead trombone player lying in the road, and a dead squirrel lying in the road?
The squirrel might have been on his way to a gig.
 
What do you call someone who hangs out with musicians?
            A drummer
 
What do you call a groupie who hangs around and annoys musicians?
            A bodhran player
 
Non Musical Jokes
Ken is often unable to play these days even when he appears by arrangement with Maurice Winnock. Being intercontinent is only one part of the problem.
 
Non Joke Musical
"Rock & Roll Will Never Die" so sayeth Danny & the Juniors. Dylan's bitter song is no match for this one David.
 
 
Title to Songs or whose line is it anyway?
So Colin yer decided to tackle the old chestnut. Of course everything that you say about it makes smart sense. The real point is that we are talking art here and I need to remind you that in that arena most things just don't make sense. The degree of difficulty, the time spent, all overtaken by the magic of "beauty." 
"Popularity" is another word to consider. It has become natural to tie £ notes to popularity, rather than to beauty. It means that at some point, common opinion had it that this was a song worth spending their money on. Where should the credit go -  to the writer or to the performer? There's no single answer to that is there.
 
I too have sometimes been a bit miffed to see songs I have spent much time on, but don't own & didn't write, taken over at will. I can only but hope that it is, as you suggest, down to my immaturity. I'd settle for that!
It all depends how much you have invested in the song. Some will have rehearsed an instrument. Some will have learned the words. Some will have done both. There's a life example here. How much should one invest in any one thing?
However, if someone doesn't give way, it's like a traffic jam, no-one can get anywhere. Perhaps it's best to let each rendition speak for itself then to be judged on performance / delivery.
 
Berry

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

Who "Maurice Winnock"? Do you mean Maurice Winnick, orchestra leader (1902-1962)?

Anonymous said...

Who the hell are you? Anon. How dare you point out the trivia of my fun and spel;ling then hide your awful arris behind a bushel of sand. It is precisely those who said that they know everything that got us where we are today. BROKE!
If you look at your PC keyboard you will observe that the "O" is right next to the "I" So I slipped up there did I? It's just the same as playing the guitar a finger here & a finger there. And THAT is partly where Cb comes from but you didn't ask about that did yer?
At a later time, when I've found out myself, I'm gonna tell you just who Maurice was, but not now.

The City Folk Club said...

Regarding your self-perceived immaturity, worry not, Berry. Puberty could be just around the corner. Enjoy!

The City Folk Club said...

By the way, what's this 'Forth'?
Isn't that the river over which a famous cantilever bridge, designed by Messers Fowler and Baker, was opened in 1890?
Then again, does it have the Biblical meaning as in 'to go forth and ...'?
Or is it the ordinal number that follows thurd?
Does my bum look big in this anorak?