Contemplazione

But yes, maybe you’re right! However, then stop buying them the records from the last 15 years, and stop filling their stadiums and gifting them more billions just because they were once good. I can understand the "affective" connection, but only up to a point; unless one is just going there to chase after some curvy and easy girls ;-) But then it would be better to go to clubs, or even better, to streets and squares, like Campo de' Fiori or Trastevere. It seems that the various discussions have finally reached a fairly satisfying and balanced conclusion from all participants. Constructive greetings and pats on the back to everyone!

And then you talked about people CHARISMATIC to die for. A quality I don't see in Rossi, I quote myself from post 42. You see, it’s not a detail.

TRICKY, since you mentioned it, I fully endorse and urge everyone to buy "The Penguin Guide To Jazz On CD Eight Edition" immediately. On the cover of the seventh edition (the one I own), these words appear: "if you own only one book on jazz, it REALLY should be this one." I can confirm that. However, if I may add, it's true that rock is ignorant, BUT IT DOESN'T TRY TO SCAM YOU! And let's not forget the time, the cultural ferment of those days! The emancipation and liberalization of sexual customs? I believe many lyrics openly spoke about free and unrestrained sex; it was one of the achievements of that generation! The breaking down of a taboo. And again, I repeat, it was ROCK, true in sound, in intention, genuine, honest, sincerely rebellious and noisy. They REALLY believed in the pseudo-revolution of customs and society that they prophesied and hoped for. Vasco Rossi, on the other hand, is POP, and he PLAYS the transgressive, PRETENDING to communicate a message (at least now).

HAL, you’re right; the topic of beauty-interpreters (or musicians in general) deserves more in-depth discussion. For instance, one could reflect on the shameful way even "serious" labels strongly promote attractive artists over others, trying to sell the artist's image even before the actual record comes out. Often against the artist's own wishes, they are forced to wear clothes that don’t belong to them and play the pretty figure. This creates a kind of repulsion among purists (but not only) towards beautiful musicians (especially if they’re women) because there's a whiff of a "commercial" operation, leading to fear of being tricked, of wasting money on a lot of smoke and little substance. For example, Diana Krall...she's very beautiful and always appears on covers dressed like a fatal seductress. Now, I admit that, despite not having any preconceptions, I’ve never felt inclined to buy one of her albums! Moreover, the sources are discordant...some say she’s amazing, while others say she’s a fraud; but are the sources OBJECTIVE? Maybe the detractors are biased due to her beauty (as if nothing good could come from someone attractive), or the enthusiasts are completely blinded by the scent of her allure and see gold where there was tin. When in doubt, I prefer not to take the risk! This is a disservice to the artist (thanks to the record companies), who may actually be great. They will still sell more, but to a public less attentive to their art, and ultimately, they will have to shape their future productions according to the preferences of THAT audience, attracted by the thigh-high slit. In conclusion, if you are a TRUE artist, showcasing your beauty will likely be a disadvantage if you want to gain the recognition you deserve. GONZO PUTRIDO, good to see you! What do you mean? Where’s the “a” without an “h”? I didn’t upload the cover myself, neither the incorrect one that was there before nor the correct one that is up now. Being completely incompetent, the thankless task was kindly taken on by the editors, who promptly addressed my report to find the right one. HARDROCK, Chopin's Nocturnes are my all-time favorite music! Read the excellent review by Sothanat (or Sotanhat?). In any case, Mozart has created melancholies that are more veiled, more subtle, less palpable, less tumultuous, but absolutely moving. And with a frightening simplicity; one of his most dramatic moments: the second movement of the Piano Sonata in A minor KV 310, the "andante cantabile con espressione" in which he suddenly opens the trapdoor of his tormented unconscious and unveils to the world the true despair of a former child prodigy used and exploited by his father (who, once he achieved independence, denied him his love), and recently orphaned of his mother. DALLAS, it's not a "bleeding-heart" sequence. At most, it’s a "good" sequence. Like the music from the Violin Concertos. And you are a meanie.

Sweet Melissa, why don't you post a picture of your ankle, or even something more? I'm curious and I want to enjoy the spectacle of those who will start drooling! If you do, I’ll put up a summer pic of mine, like "the God Neptune rising from the waters." But watch out... I'm an athlete... it's serious business!

Hello everyone! OLE, whenever you want! DONJUNIO, not exactly an expert, but if you care, maybe we could sneak in something about "Notte Trasfigurata" or "Pierrot Lunaire"... ALBERTO, indeed, as JOSI says. Among the countless masterpieces to choose from, why would one ever choose to review the "minor" works? For example, it's obvious that not all of Haydn's symphonies (he composed 104, or 109, I believe) can be five stars; if someone HAD to review them all, there would be many threes, a few fours, and SOME fives (perhaps even 2!). However, one is free to CHOOSE which ones to review, and in most cases, it will be the most significant works. BONNY, what have you heard about him? Rachmaninoff's Piano Concertos No. 2, 3, and 4 are absolute masterpieces! The virtuosity intricately linked to lyricism... RARE commodity. An impassionedness from the romantic '800 brought to the zenith of expressiveness, all in the full '900, where merely thinking of the adjective "romantic" was almost ridiculous among his contemporaries.

Thank you editors, if you tell me where I can find the covers, I will try to take care of it from now on! I'm a bit primitive and I have 56k.

To the readers: the cover is not this; it is a photograph depicting Karajan and the young Mutter facing each other. Since the CD is a reissue of a '70s vinyl (the "The Originals" series from Deutsche Grammophon), I suspect that the original cover (of the vinyl) is not easily found on the internet.

But did you know that I really enjoy you as a movie reviewer? I see that the topic of work and its distortions is close to your heart! I've never seen the movie, though. I need to fill in a lot of gaps when it comes to films... it's just that I have little free time and my favorite activity is listening to music! It almost feels like I'm giving up something when I dedicate a couple of hours to a movie; the same goes for reading. But then, after I've done it, I almost never regret it. Once this is over, I wish for another life to recover the noteworthy cultural pieces that I'm surely going to miss in this one!

Then for the general discussion about rock, read post 42, where I talk about Jim Morrison. I also see artistic qualities in the bands you mentioned, even if they are not "omnipresent" and vary depending on the lineup, the period, etc. As for Rossi, I don’t expect anything from him; I know very well that the walrus is not capable of producing that added value. I was just saying that if things WERE based on value, he would not RECEIVE such rivers of devoted fanaticism.