Political Seen & Heard

Yes... yours truly has finally succumbed to the temptation of blogging about (gag) politics & the media. I started out writing an essay-style post, but I decided to ape the media and give you soundbytes instead.

• My Peers- I'm really annoyed with them. I used to be the only one of my friends that voted in primaries, watched the conventions of both parties and debates, etc. Now I can't wear my tiara and sash that reads: Most Responsible Citizen- Young Voters Division.
• Palin- gained loyal fans and diehard enemies almost instantly. Mind boggling- I know people who won't hear a word against her and people who refuse to give her a chance. Personally- the verdict is still out. I will point out- if she becomes V.P., it will be the first time in a loooooong time that we've had anyone truly good-looking in that office.
• "They broke me." Said McCain about being tortured in Hanoi (I paraphrase from his acceptance speech at the RNC). I was stunned- normally, when public figures talk about wartime experiences or hardships, they spout the usual "Nothing could break my spirit" type of garbage. I thought it remarkable he would admit to being broken, and that did more to win my vote than anything else he said. Of course, the warm fuzzies were crushed by "Drill, baby drill!"
• Obama- should stick with the 8 is enough theme. It worked for Dubya in 2000.
• Joe Biden. I don't really have anything to say. I just felt bad- nobody's giving him much attention.
• Hypocrisy- I fully admit to being a hypocrite. I get annoyed when people suggest Sarah Palin should stay at home with her special needs baby and pregnant teen. But I also blasted John Edwards for staying in the race when his wife's cancer returned.
• The politics of fear- is when someone threatens to burn your house down if you don't vote a certain way. Not when someone says we live in dangerous times. I'm just as tired of that phrase as I am of "... and his liberal allies will raise your taxes!"
• Local vs National news- big difference. National news reports police use tear gas/percussive grenades against protesters. Local news reports that a week before the RNC, police raided the headquarters of a group planning a protest and found barrels of urine and weapons. Oh, and let's not forget protestors who broke windows, obstructed traffic, and had bags of feces in their possession when arrested. Neither national nor local news paid much attention to the fact that most of the protesting was peaceful.
• The Emmys- are not a political venue. Please tell the celebs. We can't take anyone seriously whose clothing can only stay on with the aid of double-stick tape.
• Celebs - if you must comment on politics, watch your mouth. Tape of you saying "I f^&#^ing hate those f$*#ing right wing mother....ers" will come back to haunt you. Just ask Al Franken.
• Should be fun to watch. First time I've ever heard (or said) that about v.p. debates.
• Tina Fey- won't you please please please do that impression again? Our country needs you.

P.S. I will do my utmost not to blog about politics again. Unless my voting experience on Nov.4 is as frustrating as caucusing was.

I Heart Luciano

I happened to flip to PBS last night just as a biography of Luciano Pavarotti was beginning. He died a little over a year ago- an event I noted at the time with a glib, "Pavarotti died. Oh, that's too bad."

But watching the biopic last night, I realized that Pavarotti had a big influence on me, musically. I can even pinpoint what became known as his signature aria- "Nessun Dorma" from Puccini's Turandot- as incredibly significant.

Like a lot of Americans, The Three Tenors(Pavarotti, Placido Domingo & Jose Carreras) - who had their first concert in 1990 (I was 12ish)- is what got my attention. I had a vague knowledge of who Pavarotti was- maybe I'd heard him sing on a talk show, or maybe his name was associated with a joke about opera singers. But the Three Tenors is what made me start learning about the opera world.

Unfortunately- just as I'd started listening to Pavarotti it stopped being cool to like him, at least amongst "serious" opera enthusiasts. He had sold out and was singing with pop stars; his voice was going. People started saying they'd never really liked him anyway- his voice was too metallic sounding or he was a horrid actor. I convinced myself that I liked Placido Domingo more, or some tenor du jour.

Of course, I'm older and more emotionally secure now and don't mind being a "serious" music lover who loves Pavarotti.

For one thing- hearing him sing opened up a whole new type of music to me- something all my own. My family didn't listen to it or like it (although it was a thrill to see a sister cry watching a Met Opera Broadcast of Boris Gudonov with me); it wasn't a hip art form in the booming metrop of Tolono, Illinois.

I already liked classical music, but when I started listening to opera was when I really started learning about important classical and operatic musicians, music history, and the arts in general. Listening to opera with the translation of the lyrics helped me pick up bits and pieces of Italian, French and German. I started learning names like Jussi Bjorling, Joan Sutherland, Montserrat Caballe, Samuel Ramey, Leontyne Price, Nicolai Gedda.

And of course- the voice!

P.S. I also simply love Placido Domingo- how can you not love someone who inspired his own Muppet?