Bideodromage
{Revised: 7/6/2019}
“Bowing, and squawking, Running after tidbits; Bopping and squinting, Just like a nitwit…”
Mr. Elvis Costello: One of the very greatest, most idiosyncratic performers and composers. Of this, or any, century/epoch. We will not see his likes again.
A selection of some of the most wondrous moments in re: “Girl Group”-dom. We have: The Ronettes, Martha and the Vandellas, The Shirelles, The Royalettes, Betty Everett, Doris Troy, The Shangri-Las, Lesley Gore, and Ruby and the Romantics.
The great man, pictured also with lyricist and co-composer Bernie Taupin. Elton John has amassed 27+ Top 10 U.S. singles, and achieved total world domination throughout The 70’s. As dynamic a performer as they come, Elton is simply an indelible presence on the world stage. “The spotlight’s hitting something that’s been known to change the weather”.
Belgian maestro Jacques Brel seemed to set new standards for utterly authentic, godlike intensity, every time he took the stage; he seemed possessed, magical. He also created some of the greatest songs of the last century. He served, lastly, as a huge influence to aspiring songwriters/performers…not least of all, Scott Walker. {I included Scott doing “Fils de” at post’s end} A true titan.
Gilbert Bécaud. Monsieur 100,000 volts. A truly powerful performer, few {none}{Brel…??} could outdo The Creator. On the above Seul, Gilbert gives an intimate, and increasingly euphoric, reading, culminating in {playful} pianist-shoving and back-slapping, and finally, in blissful embrace, of himself. Monsieur 100,000 Volts was a marvel. Nathalie, perhaps his best-loved composition, could provoke the assembled multitude in Stravinsky-esque ways.
Revised: Massively. 7/6/2019.
Titans of Belgian, French, and American Performing. Jacques Brel. Gilbert Bécaud. Serge Gainsbourg. Jacques Dutronc. Claude François. And, of course: The Rod McKuen.
Heino, born Heinz Georg Kramm, is a legendary, iconic figure in the world of German music. Rousing pop versions of traditional songs became his trademark. And…he has a certain…something, all his own.
{Note: Revised 7/7/2019}
The astonishing Cecil Taylor. Simply magical.
The above are audio tracks that span a fairly large time period of Scott Walker’s remarkable body of recorded work.
And a few Walker Brothers masterpieces.
{NOTE: Revised 11/19/2019}
Scott Walker, born Noel Scott Engel, 1943, a musical artist of profound depth and originality, was (and is) a cherished figure for millions worldwide. Reclusive, enigmatic, innovative, Scott occupies a unique place in the pantheon of recording artists. He’s also very near and dear to my own heart. He will be deeply missed.
Many will remember Scott Walker’s sublime work with ballads; many others love his idiosyncratic, Brel-influenced blossoming into a top-notch composer and performer; still more prefer the uneasy, discomfiting terrain and eerie beauty of his later recordings. I’ll remember him for all of it, for everything. There’s no replacing him. We’ll never see his likes again.
Memorial post here.
The sublimely gifted, somewhat offbeat {esp. back in the day…} whistling mæstro, composer, and vocalist Roger Whittaker is herein featured. Equipped with a manly baritone not unlike burnished mahogany, this great man can just plain deliver the goods (his nonpareil winning ways being what they are). A true original. ∎.
Bideodromage 