March 28, 2009

On a Lighter Note...

Music Literacy on a Saturday

Justin Katz

I'll see Peter Robinson's Gene Krupa "Sing, Sing, Sing" and raise him one Duke Ellington "Cotton Tail," although I prefer the faster-tempo version of the latter that Ellington recorded with Louis Armstrong.

Speaking of Armstrong, Robinson posted an email from a reader who cited a duet of his with Danny Kaye ("When the Saints Go Marching In," I believe) with reference to the literacy that the pair exhibited. One would be hard pressed, I believe, to argue that we haven't dumbed down the popular culture in the decades since those two entertainment giants roamed the Earth. Isolated instances have persisted, of course; Billy Joel's "We Didn't Start the Fire" comes to mind.

I'm sure there are more recent examples, but my drift toward fogeyism leaves me unable to cite them.

1:52 PM | TrackBack (0)
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Economics news:
From Irving R. Levine to Jim Cramer and Neil Cavuto. Now there's some serious dumbing down.

Posted by: rhody at March 29, 2009 12:49 AM

"Jim Cramer"

The guy is all over the map. Presumably, people find him entertaining. But he needs to hold up a can of glue or otherwise signal when he has finally reached a position on a matter that he is going to stick to.

Posted by: Monique at March 29, 2009 7:27 AM
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