[Dixielandjazz] Aretha blesses America

[Don Ingle]

400 pounds -- pretty good estimate. Her boobs were at least 100 alone. In
Michigan we'd have built a ski lift on her and called here Mt. Aretha!
Your comment on the Beethoven 9th was exactly as you stated - I said the
same to Jean as we watched...why did they do that? The "Ode to Joy" movement
is the most uplifting piece of music one can hear -- if played as written,
not as jerry-rigged to fit a guest who can't give the score its respect. The
anticipatory note that gives the "bridge" its punch was overblown by the
"Diva's" lack of timing.
Completely inappropriate pairing.
Sorry I didn't hear the Louis/Lenya radio bit. Lotte was the wife of the
composer, Kurt Weil, but was never a jazz singer, though in her own niche
was a gifted artist. Some people never learn to swing...or in the first
case, to match material with talent.
I have shown Jean your comments and she said..."Was he listening to our
conversation somehow ?" Your aura must have been cherry red when you heard
the first notes of the 9th and realized Aretha was still on stage.
  Attuned in Michigan,
  Don and Jean Ingle

----- Original Message -----
From: <JimDBB@aol.com>
To: <dixielandjazz@ml.islandnet.com>
Sent: Friday, July 05, 2002 1:42 AM
Subject: [Dixielandjazz] Aretha blesses America


> In a 4th of July extravaganza from the Capitol this, nation once again had
to
> endure having its national songs subjected to abysmal renderings by
american
> pop singers.  Biggest offender today was the soul Queen, Aretha Franklin.
> Ms. Franklin arrived onstage, weighing in at about 400lbs and gave us a
> dreadful 'God Bless America.'  Every 'Soul' vocal distortion that you've
ever
> heard was thrown into this.   Worse was yet to come when the Orchestra
went
> into a truncated Beethoven Ninth and Aretha  added her vocaleses to the
> finale.  Mercifully, the orchestra, chorus and the fireworks pretty much
> overwhelmed her offerings.
>
> On a jazzier and brighter note, earlier in the day and on the way to
> Milwaukee I turned on the radio and dialed in WEBZ, NPR in chicago.  A
> marvelous interview with MIchael Cosgrove was underway. Cosgrove is the
> curator on the Louis Armstrong Archives and he had some interesting things
to
> relate.  He played a tape of a record session that was never released.
> Columbia thought that it would be clever to have Louis record, "Mack the
> Knife" with Lotte Lenya, who had sung this song in the original show, "the
> Three Penny Opera". she is mentioned in the song.  She is a square show
> singer and can't get the ending that Louis is trying to show her.  It is
> amusing to hear this as Louis is very gracious and patient, and over and
over
>                  tries to show her the ending.
>
> Louis Armstrong's creative genuis will continue to unfold as the years go
by.
>
> JIm Beebe
>
>
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