Friday Soirée VI: Something Lighter

Tonight I decided I needed a bit of levity, so humor (and "humour") is the theme. We have two very special guests to spend some time with: Anna Russell and Sir David Attenborough.

Anna Russell Analyzes Wagner's Ring (Part 1)

I expect I first found Anna Russell in my college days, thanks to friend and music mentor Richard Boylan (facebook), and that's when I first heard this routine, on her album "Anna Russell Sings?" This version is from her "(First) Farewell Concert" of 1984. Her own introduction will tell you what will become evident later: that her audience has memorized every joke and still laugh at all the same places they laughed when they first heard it years before. I know I do.

For tonight's humor the tone is maybe a bit high-brow; this routine probably is funnier if one is a little familiar with Wagner's Ring, but maybe it's funny anyway. You tell me. Just remember, it all happens as she describes.

[YouTube link for those who don't see the embedded player.]

Sir David Attenborough talks to John Ross (Part 1)

Being a PBS type of person (at least in the days when I still watched television), I've been familiar for some time with the wonderful nature films of David Attenborough. I may have mentioned that recently Isaac and I watched Sir David's relatively recent "The Life of Birds" and enjoyed it immensely. After we'd watched the first 10 minutes or so I remarked to Isaac that, for some reason, Sir David seemed not to be ending his sentences with his very, very characteristic "indeed". Right then he started in and continued for the rest of the series, so I felt much more at home.

I'm afraid I have no idea who John Ross is, except that he appears to be a British talk-show host. Regardless, he has a nice conversation with Sir David. While this may not be exactly humour, we do find Attenborough in a light-hearted, relaxed mood compared to his role as nature-film narrator, and it all seems like good fun. Oh, and I rather liked the musical introduction he got.

[YouTube link for those who don't see the embedded player.]

Anna Russell Analyzes Wagner's Ring (Part 2)

Russell's telling of the Ring continues, and we learn about Siegfied and his aunts.

[YouTube link for those who don't see the embedded player.]

Sir David Attenborough talks to John Ross (Part 2)

I'm inclined to think that Attenborough would be very close to the top of my list of people I'd like to have dinner with. I think we could have very entertaining dinner conversation.

[YouTube link for those who don't see the embedded player.]

Anna Russell Analyzes Wagner's Ring (Part 3)

It's easy to spot another Anna Russell fan: just wait for the right moment and say "I'm not making this up, you know!"

[YouTube link for those who don't see the embedded player.]

Last Word: Sir David Attenborough on Science & Religion

For pudding, here's a very short (2.5 minutes) video of Attenborough giving his thoughts on some people's perceptions of god. I thought the words sounded almost familiar; it's nearly the remarks I quoted of Attenborough earlier this year in this space. ("Attenborough on Creationism")

[YouTube link for those who don't see the embedded player.]

Posted on September 18, 2009 at 21.25 by jns · Permalink
In: All, Friday Soirée, Laughing Matters, Music & Art, Notes to Richard

2 Responses

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  1. Written by chris
    on Saturday, 19 September 2009 at 17.06
    Permalink

    thank you for both – this version of Anna Russell's *Ring* is longer than the usual 22min one from The Anna Russell Album? (the Valhalla branch of Elizabeth Arden is new, for instance).

    Re: Sir David Attenborough: the video omits the preview clip from the Attenborough birds in australia show. Here it is. I was gobsmacked when I saw this a few weeks ago at the skill of the lyrebird's imitation of human-generated sounds, from cameras with motors to advance the film, to … well, just watch the clip.

  2. Written by jns
    on Monday, 21 September 2009 at 12.37
    Permalink

    I noticed when we first watched our videotape recording of this performance that it varies a bit from the version familiar to me from the early album. We've all learned the cadence of "I'm not making this up, you know!", and here it's "You know, I'm not making this up." What's that all about?

    Still, it's a hoot to watch her do it.

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