Eurovision Song Contest 1973

June 16th, 2008 · 9 comments or link to (permalink)

In order to persuade anyone that any kind of institutionalized event is a bad idea, all one needs to do is say “imagine x run by the DMV”. The Eurovision song contest is what it would be like if the music industry were run by the DMV.

To commemorate Eurovision’s biggest winners, the Irish, who have just blown the European Union treaty and the last time oil buggered up the global economy, here is the 1973 Eurovision song contest, held in Luxembourg – which is a bit like a country run by the DMV.

Following the terrorist attack against Israel at the Munich Olympics, and Israel’s debut in the competition, the floor manager strongly advised people in the audience to remain seated while clapping, to avoid being shot by security forces.

Belgium’s entry at 8:15 is pretty special, and if you have a history of hallucinogenic flashbacks, I’ve no idea what’s going on at 1:05, but you might not want to watch it. Beyond satire.

9 comments » (report dead embeds in comments) tags: comedy music nostalgia world

The Story of Abba – in Swedish

June 16th, 2008 · 1 comment or link to (permalink)

The fact that this is in Swedish (a language which I cannot understand) makes this absolutely perfect. Its like having the Muppet chef narrate it, I can make up all sorts of inappropriate things that I can imagine him saying. For the world’s most impossibly white band they were unbelievably good.

1 comment » (report dead embeds in comments) tags: music nostalgia

Documentary on the series Brideshead Revisited

April 16th, 2008 · 1 comment or link to (permalink)

The celebrated film critic, Leslie Halliwell awarded the TV adaptation of Evelyn Waugh’s Brideshead Revisited 5 stars. Supposedly, it was the only TV program he ever gave 5 stars to. Here is a passable documentary about it.
This is the first of five parts.

1 comment » (report dead embeds in comments) tags: nostalgia

Composer of the Classic Electronic Track, Popcorn, Playing it 40 years later, on a Grand Piano

March 29th, 2008 · 6 comments or link to (permalink)

Popcorn was the classic electronic piece from the 60’s used countless times as backing music to represent modernity. Here, its composer, Gershon Kingsley, plays it today, on a concert grand. I love this. Below is the original for comparison.

I have also made a Wist of various versions of Popcorn, here »

6 comments » (report dead embeds in comments) tags: music nostalgia

Day to Day Communications at CERN in 1974

February 14th, 2008 · 3 comments or link to (permalink)

Day to Day communications at CERN in 1974, what a wonderfully prescient title for a short film about a place that would permanently change global, day to day communications, a decade and a half later, when the Web was invented there.

I love this film. it perfectly represents a time and place. The opening sequence with Cat Stevens and time bleached, aerial footage of Geneva makes the hair on the back of my neck stand on end.

3 comments » (report dead embeds in comments) tags: nostalgia science society