As someone who would normally be listening to hard thrash or something complex and deep I’ve found myself listening to early Guns n Roses on repeat. I mean, I haven’t ventured into Poison or anything like that but still… young me would be ashamed.
hahaha this is the most "Swedish thing" ever. "Curling with desiire!".
On a personal note, I was once attending a swedish countryside wedding, and the local priest, was coming directly from Sweden Rock Festival and changed from his metal outfit, black slacks and a Bolthrower t-shirt, to his ministers garb, and then went on with the ceremony, then jumped in his car and drove back to the festival waving goodbye..
Keith, for inappropriately facile, escapist music in hard times, you need look no further than the cabaret scene in the Terezin, Lodz, or Warsaw ghettos—
Some was, but much of it wasn't. Kurt Gerron and Peter Kien in Terezin put on cabaret that had some satirical content—or content that in some way marked the circumstances. But there was a great deal of "light" entertainment. For a description of the cabaret in Westerbork, look at Etsy Hillesum's diary, where she describes the escapist cabaret and the audiences response to it ("People laughed 'til they cried") and how the whole thing was sending her to the edge of despair. There was also the problem of theatrical ego, unsurprisingly.
I was watching/listening to the first episode in the current series of Later..., which featured a nice cold open in which - a shock far bigger than the US election - Jools Holland's piano-playing actually added to my enjoyment of the programme.
As someone who would normally be listening to hard thrash or something complex and deep I’ve found myself listening to early Guns n Roses on repeat. I mean, I haven’t ventured into Poison or anything like that but still… young me would be ashamed.
Young me despises me while being secretly envious. Your young you may be the same
I think probably so!
hahaha this is the most "Swedish thing" ever. "Curling with desiire!".
On a personal note, I was once attending a swedish countryside wedding, and the local priest, was coming directly from Sweden Rock Festival and changed from his metal outfit, black slacks and a Bolthrower t-shirt, to his ministers garb, and then went on with the ceremony, then jumped in his car and drove back to the festival waving goodbye..
Wouldn't happen in the UK! Might happen in Finland though...
Keith, for inappropriately facile, escapist music in hard times, you need look no further than the cabaret scene in the Terezin, Lodz, or Warsaw ghettos—
But wasn't cabaret music also bitingly satirical? Or did they give up the satire in the ghetto?
Some was, but much of it wasn't. Kurt Gerron and Peter Kien in Terezin put on cabaret that had some satirical content—or content that in some way marked the circumstances. But there was a great deal of "light" entertainment. For a description of the cabaret in Westerbork, look at Etsy Hillesum's diary, where she describes the escapist cabaret and the audiences response to it ("People laughed 'til they cried") and how the whole thing was sending her to the edge of despair. There was also the problem of theatrical ego, unsurprisingly.
Personally, I find music that's mellow but has some substance feels best in times of crisis.
I'm the opposite - mellowness gives me space for thoughts when I don't want to think
I was watching/listening to the first episode in the current series of Later..., which featured a nice cold open in which - a shock far bigger than the US election - Jools Holland's piano-playing actually added to my enjoyment of the programme.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jHTCshUfhSk
(Surprisingly adventurous first solo single from Jade - of Little Mix fame - too.)
You are correct that some enjoying Jools Holland's piano playing is an event of world-historical proportions.