SOUNDTRACK: maNga-“We Could be the Same” (2010).
I don’t know much about music from Turkey. I also don’t know all that much about music from the Eurovision contest; however, I’m led to believe that the music is generally pretty poppy and treacly. So I’m rather surprised that the second place winner is this alt metal rocker from Turkey (of course it was over 70 points behind Lena at number 1). If this was 1983, this song would probably be riding up the American charts (of course, maNga throw in some turntable & hip hop scratches, so we know the song is at least circa 1993). It’s got some pretty lite-metal guitar riffs and a big, loud chorus.
As with all Eurovision songs, it’s a plea for peace. I think it’s a love song, too. (Perhaps it’s a Romeo and Juliet deal). Lyrically it’s suspect, but the video (with flags waving and men in balaclavas) is visually interesting.
The whole package is satisfying, and I’ delighted to see that they have two albums out already.
[READ: July 15, 2010] “The Young Painters”
The most interesting thing about this issue of the New Yorker (which is not to detract from the short story) is that there were 21 pages of ads for Canada. I couldn’t get over how many maple leafs there were in here, especially since there was nothing in the issue itself (contentwise) that would suggest a Canadian connection. Most of the ads were for doing business there.
Another interesting thing was the article about the Eurovision song contest, which took place a few weeks ago. Since America’s not in it (hence Eurovision), we don’t pay any attention to it, but it’s a fun musical extravaganza, especially if you like ponderous songs sung in broken English (and who doesn’t?).
But on to the short story. I found this story a little confusing to start with. I think I was confused because the story begins with a woman saying that she is married to a man (named S.) and that they were invited to a party at a dancer’s house. Then she describes her husband and then describes the apartment, all in a few sentences. So at first I thought they were in their own house and I was confused that they had a painting she had never seen before. Rereading the paragraph clarified things quickly, and it makes a lot more sense when you get the setting straight!
Otherwise, this was a fascinating story about a successful writer. She and her husband went to the dancer’s house where they remarked on a painting. The dancer reveals the fascinating story behind the painting to the entire dinner party. The writer, being utterly transfixed by the story and feeling that it was not told in confidence, decided to write a short story about it. (more…)
I Just Read About That... 