I told you to listen to this, didn't I? Well, I know you all ignored that, I know you were too busy walking quickly and carrying your very important papers. But you can't ignore this. This track is in a kind of scaremongering hysteria, it's circled by crazy-eyed kids stamping their feet and saying ha! and rolling their tongues. This track isn't fun, it's gnashing, thrashing, and hot. The sweat just drips off and down, leaving a black puddle on the black ground. The rest of the album feels like filler compared to this. [Buy]
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Antonio Vivaldi - "Concerto RV 425 for Mandolin I. Allegro"
Children Eating Birds - "Is That?"
Michelangelo Antonioni died on Monday. I realized that all my life I had been confusing him with Antonio Vivaldi, the two had become conflated in my mind. They're not related, they're not the same, they really only share three phonemes, and a country of origin. Antonio is full of flourish, constantly playing notes, where Antonioni is a lighter touch, one note sustaining, like a gaze, fixated. From what I can find, he sounds, his films sound, as if the images could be musical, more like Children Eating Birds. I should have known just from their musical differences (once converted) that they were not the same, but I only realize now. So instead I'll let them live on in my mind as one; an artist of densely layered compositions or often simple lines, inventing new devices while often using classical devices turned starkly on their head.
Posted by Dan at August 2, 2007 2:45 AMFiller?!! The M.I.A. album is amazing, and I can't help but feel that "Bird Flu" is one of its minor tracks. Can't wait to hear "Paper Planes" wafting from every open window.
Vivaldi was kind of a cheeseball. Do you think Antonioni was too? I wish they had the same haircut.
Posted by Sean at August 2, 2007 7:40 AMSeriously though, I do have quite a lot of important papers that need to be carried quickly.
Posted by Mr.Sirmansir at August 2, 2007 10:32 AMI've been listening to this Concerto all day. I've always liked Vivaldi for some reason.
I don't think I agree that the rest of the M.I.A. album seems filler though, haha. It's incredible!
Posted by Caleb at August 2, 2007 8:21 PMgotta agree with Sean here. in fact, 'bird flu' is one of my least favorite tracks on Kala. it's all about "paper planes" and "$20."
Posted by chris at August 2, 2007 9:00 PMThe good-- or bad-- thing about Vivaldi (depending on where you stand) is that he wrote the same concerto many times. Oh, and he had red hair.
Posted by moominpappa at August 2, 2007 10:37 PMdid you read leila peacock's callout for the pop mtl bird art show? if not, big fantastic coincidence. you should make a mixcd or do a djset for it or something
ps. i haven't heard all the rest of mia's album but this song makes me feel like i am vraiment going crazy, and that is impressive.
Posted by efff at August 4, 2007 6:37 PMAntonioni is purple dusk with a girl in mascara; Vivaldi, a priest, ate oranges with beautiful sopranos.
He may have written the same concerto 400 times but it's a hell of a concerto. Try the one for recorder, oboe, violin, bassoon and basso continuo in G minor RV 107 if you think him a lightweight.
Never forget the effect Antonioni's 'The Passenger' with Jack Nicholson had on me.
Recommended interpreters: Il Giardino Armonico
Posted by Inurbanus at August 5, 2007 6:39 AM
and it will begin playing. All songs are also available to download: just right-click the link and choose 'Save as...'
