[MD] Burning Point?

[Platt Holden]

Quoting Ant McWatt <antmcwatt at hotmail.co.uk>:

> Platt,
> 
> Opera is one thing Platt but Barry Manilow?  You've got to be joking?  Isn't 
> the case that someone who can sing, sings from their heart?  I don't think 
> Manilow does that, does he?   He sounds extremely false to me.  Moreover, I 
> very rarely hear any '50s covers that beat the original sound of Berry, 
> Lewis, Penniman etc for an authentic feel.  If you want to listen to 50 year 
> old songs at least try to buy the original recordings.

Hi Ant, "Singing from the heart" and "authentic feel" are different subjects from the
one I raised about singing ability. Say what you will about Manilow's alleged
"falseness," at least he can carry a tune and sing on key which is more than you can
say for the shouters, growlers and screamers of many rock and roll groups.

> For more about my opinion on Manilow and his ilk listen to the Bill Hicks 
> audio clip on David Buchanan's paper at robertpirsig.org.  That Manilow is 
> number one on the Billboard album chart is definitely a low point but 
> absolutely no surprize seeing that Western culture is presently going down 
> the pan with the neo-cons.  A new turning point on a steeper static slope 
> towards banality, safety and unoriginality!

No doubt about Western culture going "down the pan" (a British expression I take it),
but I suggest the reason is reluctance to defend intellectual values like free speech
against challenges from the Muslim world and elsewhere, the current cartoon flap
being a vivid case in point.

> Even without playing Manilow's recordings in reverse, you can hear the 
> Devil's voice coming through loud and clear.  And I'm sure Richard Rigel was 
> a big fan too.
 
You suggesting Robert Pirsig is a fan of Mick Jagger?

Best regards,
Platt


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