My OperaWith A Song In My Heart....
Monday, September 24, 2007 12:13:58 AM
Whilst waiting at traffic lights I realised that several pedestrians were chuckling and... even worse I was the source of their merriment! It was then that I realised I had been jigging around to “Staying Alive” by the Bee Gees. For a while I had been transported back to the era of John Travolta, Abba and all the others on the disco scene. It's not that I enjoyed discos or the dancing but some tunes are just infectious.
I guess we can all think of melodies that evoke particular memories or associations – happy or sad. I remember “Afternoon Delights” by the Starland Vocal Band (who?) - a hit during the hot summer of 1976 - not for its rather cheesy lyrics but ...... I think I will leave that to your imagination! “Vienna” (1981) by Ultravox brings back all those electronic hits by the likes of John Foxx, Tubeway Army, Depeche Mode, OMD and Visage. “Olivers Army” and “London's Burning” remind me of the punk era and working on the trade counter of an electrical wholesaler. Music conjuring up pictures in my mind.
Unfortunately not all pictures are the ones you want to see. On Friday morning Ken Bruce had played "Who Wants To Live Forever". I remember seeing the video of this track with a frail and gaunt figure leading the band. Freddies' voice was tentative and strained. Of course the record goes on to provide the trills and fripperies that you expect of Queen but then it comes back to Mr Mercury. At this time he was clearly aware of his own mortality and perhaps the title is meant to be ironic. I'm not a sentimentalist but I can't help but be moved by the track whenever I hear it. Listening to it was painful.
I guess we can all think of melodies that evoke particular memories or associations – happy or sad. I remember “Afternoon Delights” by the Starland Vocal Band (who?) - a hit during the hot summer of 1976 - not for its rather cheesy lyrics but ...... I think I will leave that to your imagination! “Vienna” (1981) by Ultravox brings back all those electronic hits by the likes of John Foxx, Tubeway Army, Depeche Mode, OMD and Visage. “Olivers Army” and “London's Burning” remind me of the punk era and working on the trade counter of an electrical wholesaler. Music conjuring up pictures in my mind.
Unfortunately not all pictures are the ones you want to see. On Friday morning Ken Bruce had played "Who Wants To Live Forever". I remember seeing the video of this track with a frail and gaunt figure leading the band. Freddies' voice was tentative and strained. Of course the record goes on to provide the trills and fripperies that you expect of Queen but then it comes back to Mr Mercury. At this time he was clearly aware of his own mortality and perhaps the title is meant to be ironic. I'm not a sentimentalist but I can't help but be moved by the track whenever I hear it. Listening to it was painful.
