"We owe so much to England; that when you come here there's that sense of familiarity, as well as difference, that makes it just a special place," Barack Obama said during a press conference with Mr Brown at the Foreign Office. okaaaaaaay, no teleprompters, that's clear. But, then there is this really special thing:
Mr. Obama redeemed himself with his gift to the Queen. Yes, one gift was an iPod loaded with footage of her visits to the States, that's nice. BUT, infinitely more wonderful was an autographed songbook of Richard Rodgers songs! I WANT ONE! But, ONLY if it has MY ROMANCE in it....
Bernadette Peters does a very tasty job. Enjoy. WHAT a tune. You should hear Z and her great friend Susan do it! We never stopped getting requests for that one! I must admit our harmony was QUITE sublime!
z
Hello world!
5 years ago
39 comments:
It would have been nice if Obama had learned how to properly shake the Queen's hand.
Right Klik ... let's just be greatful he didn't dap with her. Now honestly, I've never met a sovereign, but an iPod would be the absolutely last thing I would consider as an appropriate gift. Well, okay ... next to a set of cheap DVDs.
But now I'm wondering ... do you think it's too late to ask for reinstatement of our status as a British Colony?
Great song Z. Bernadette Peters is terrific, as always.
The IPod I think she could have done without, the other gift was nice. I wonder if Obama even knew who Richard Rogers was.
I know I'm being catty, but he just doesn't deserve any better.
Pris
what DID he do about the handshake? I hadn't heard anything!
Mustang..what's DAP? The iPod had some footage she might like but I have a hard time picturing her walking around watching it, or listening to her favorite tunes...!
Still, to be fair, I think the signed Richard Rodgers songbook is VERY American and wonderful.
I mean, what's she need..another statue or a new Corgie?!!
Hi, Pris..!
Good point about Obama not knowing who Rodgers is...but, I'll give him the benefit of the doubt...am in a good mood after having researched whose MY ROMANCE rendition I should use...Doris Day's is wonderful, but the video was half dialogue...Carly Simon's was so flat I couldn't use it..
Bernadette's was PRETTY darned good!
But - believe me, Z and Susie are much better with that song than anybody else, trust me!
King Obama remains a dope. Even I don't want an iPod - what do you think the Queen does with that thing? May be give it to Party-Harry. What do you think he brought this time with him to #10 - another set of movies?
The King will have serious wind in his face during the meetings, though. Merkel's position is non-negotiable (so she said): more restrictions on financial gambling (hedge funds, derivatives, currencies etc.), and NO MORE subsidies to companies or other stimulus measures à la King Omaba. Most Europeans have in the meantime figured out that King Obama leads the U.S. straight to socialism, way left of any country in Europe. We have said that on this blog for more than a year that that would happen. Nobody wanted to believe it. How more proof do we need?
Mr.Z
Hopefully he gave Gordon a bit more than some old CDs that won't work.
richard rogers who is that? did he sing with lawrence welk? this is old people music!... he he!!
The "double handshake" was a terribly faux pas, as RightKlik mentioned. Doesn't anyone coach BHO about proper protocol?
I'm fascinated with this concern over the gifts. Why don't some of you apply for a job in the protocol office if this really concerns you.
Hell, all he got from that Queenie was an autographed glossy. I'd rather have the iPod. The iPod was meant to accompany the song book which is rare and signed by Richard Rogers.
Now who's auto would you rather have? Queenie's or Rogers'. I'll take "Some Enchanted Evening", what's she ever written?
The true outrage here is giving Brown's kids a freakin' Derek Jeter autographed bat. How gay is that? A singles hitter with no arm and no range. Perfect.
I don't know Z, I think maybe Ducky has a point with mentioning the office of protocol. I'm certain he wouldn't have given the gifts if that office hadn't signed off on it.
However, the fip side of that is; the office of protocol is diliberately setting President Obama up to look like an idiot in the first place. Just some thoughts to consider.
Blessings.
Well, when Chuckles went to meet Queenie he gave her a bronze replica of the statue at the entrance to the National Cowgirl Museum in Dallas. Evidently Pickles just grabbed some Chinese article from the gift shop and had it inscribed.
I'd rather have the Rogers' songbook.
I'm amazed that with the problems we are facing this sort of silliness is what the right has latched onto. Talk about being down to seeds and stems.
I.H.S....True. I wrote that in my last piece on the dreadful gifts the WH gave Brown.."isn't somebody advising them?" that's plain wrong that they're not, apparently. I asked "Did they fire the protocol people?"
I don't entirely blame the Obamas for this...only half, really, because while you and I know that these gifts aren't anything a dignitary like the Queen might like, you'd think the protocol people know what she WOULD.
I'd have thought, though, that the obamas wouldn't think DVD's are a great gift.
Ducky, it is important because they speak for US. And, if the countries to whom they've given gifts are so upset... not good.
Oh, ya...it's important. Imagine if Bush had done anything like this? The media'd never let us forget it.
Pat, the QUEEN IS old...she'd love that music. Heck, I'm not old, and I DO! Didn't you listen to the video!? :-) That isn't OLD, it's timeless!
So, what's a double handshake, anyway? He took her hand in both of his or something?
That's ANOTHER thing protocol should have taught him, that's WHAT THEY DO. Especially for the QUEEN!!! Does he not listen, is he so sure in himself he feels HIS actions are better than protocol, that it's too Republican to do things correctly? It seems like that might be true.
After all, it's not Republicans taking America, incorrectly, into socialism. But, I digress...
http://news.yahoo.com/s/time/20090402/wl_time/08599188896200
They're now saying Michelle Obama shouldn't have touched the Queen like she did...a very quick touch on the Queen's back. Michelle does this to everyone, as far as I've noticed...while she might have been told one 'never touches the Queen', the Queen did that to HER FIRST, so it would seem natural to return that touch on the back...
This is going a little too far...
Z, I couldn't agree more. I mean enough already.
Blessings.
Ducky, it is important because they speak for US. And, if the countries to whom they've given gifts are so upset... not good.
------------------------
The only ones who are "upset" are the blogosphere who have found a new toy.
Whine about gifts. Silly.
must admit our harmony was QUITE sublime!
I'm sure it's wonderful...BUT
can you fill that dress like Bernadette? She looks good.
My Romance is a lovely song. This interpretation is charmingly wistful and full of feeling. Lovely arrangement!
The pianist, of course, was largely responsible for the success of the presentation. I've always wondered why so few people notice that and give credit where it's due?
I'd love to hear you and your friend sing this, Z. I wish you'd recorded more of your stuff, so we could all enjoy it.
I have to admit I just don't understand Bernadette Peters' HAIR. Could someone please explain it to me. I mean WHY would anyone want to look like that? EEEEEEEUW!!!
~ FT
she has hair?
Ya think it's a wig, then?
~ FT
HEADLINE on DRUDGE re QEII and BO:
QUEEN IPOD LOADED WITH OBAMA SPEECHES
UPDATE: Michelle Obama takes London by storm...
Queen and Michelle Obama - the story behind a touching moment...
SPLAT! Vo dodeo DO! Vo dodeo DOOOO!
I.H.S...The thing is that many of our beefs are not so much with the obamas regarding gifts, or gaffes, etc., it's MOSTLY "What if Bush had done that?" And we all know would have happened.
The media was SO unfair to the Bushes and so overly fawning and forgiving to the Obamas that it's painful and upsetting to many Americans.
For instance, he didn't get much of what he hoped to get from Europe and I've yet to see a headline like Bush got in the day "Bush's plans failures with European leaders" etc..
Elbro. YES, I COULD fill that dress...if Susan was in it, too! :-)
FT..is that a joke about the obama speeches? TELL ME, please.
I love her hair, by the way.
also, in Michelle Obama's defense..I just saw a picture of her with her arm around the Queen's back...she's a foot taller than the queen..a feeling I know all too well as I'm 5'9" myself.
I tend to draw people to myself like Michelle Obama did...it just feels natural for a tall woman, I think....it does me, anyhow.
I just hadn't noticed her hair.
Z,
Did you HAVE to tell us you love her hair?
For Heaven's sake WHY? It looks downright FREAKY. I know darned well YOU aren't freaky at ALL --- or have you had me fooled all these years? Hair like that is definitely a by-product of the Sick-sties --- wouldn't have been allowed before thee Counterculture took over and ruined the West.
If the ipod line is a joke, DRUDGE is the one who made it.
I'm sure Michelle Obama didn't mean to be offensive when she touched QEII, but the long-established fact remains that the Royals don't LIKE being touched.
Years ago the inestimable Jimmy Carter made the HUGE error of planting what-I'm-sure-he-thought-was an affectionate KISS on the cheek of the Queen Mum, and Britain nearly burst into flames with indignation.
No matter how nice and well-meaning it may seem to US, one just DOESN'T touch the Royals.
I think it's silly, myself, but I respect THEIR right to have things the way THEY want them.
~ FT
PS: I never knew you were so tall. It's probably a great advantage in today's world. I like tall women. The poor Queen seems to have shrunk with age. The Obamas positively MINIATURIZED her when the three had their picture taken together.
Mrs. Obama miniaturizes her husband, so that wasn't tough, FT!
Yes, I'm tall!
Elbro missed the hair for the 'shoulders', I KNOW!
FT...Bernadette Peters IS her hair ...and her, um...'shoulders', shall we say!(plus her style, of course) I think she's very feminine..I know most men hate the frizzed thing. I don't have it, but I like it on her!
Z,
Fine tune. I think she did a credible job. I also like Gershwin tunes. In one of my favorite movies "Mr. Holland's Opus", teacher thing, Jean Louisa Kelly does a wonderful job on "Someone To Watch Over Me."
I wonder how you would do on this? Fine I'm sure.
BTW, dapping is a 70s orchestrated handshake thing done between blacks. We military guys saw it at its dawning and I was amazed that anyone could remember all the various touches, slaps, bumps etc.
Check it out my site.
Z,
The music I mean, not the dap.
L&0..jean Louise Kelly does an amazing job of Someone..and I THINK I remember she did it a capella..it gave me the shivers..WONDERFUL rendition. so pure and simple, I remember. I love that movie too.
But, FREEDOM WRITERS trumps it..I DO hope you rent that..it's incredible!
Z,
Freedom Writers. Got it. I put some of Rod Stewart with the American Songbook. Like or not he loves American music.
Elbro missed the hair for the 'shoulders', I KNOW!
Yes..ahem it was her shoulders
Elbro..
That's one girl I'm sure YOU wouldn't mind giving you the "Cold shoulder!" HA!!
Wanna enjoy another great Gershwin song try "Our Love is Here to Stay."
I love the way Fredericka von Stade sings the music of Jerome Kern, George Gershwin and others from American Musical Comedy.
Fredericka (known to her friends as Flicka) is a beloved world-class, world-renowned, operatic mezzo-soprano, but her earliest ambition was to sing show tunes. We were students together in New York, and I had the privilege of "knowing her when."
Kiri te Kanawa, a great lyric soprano, who built her reputation singing the arias of Mozart and Richard Strauss, also does a beautiful job in the lighter repertory.
Dawn Upshaw's another.
Kiri, I'm no fan of. I'd rather hear WORDS than SOUNDS. More words and less 'head voice' sounds also protects the singer's voice.
But I do like Fredericka...very saucy and adorable.
She probably is a head voice girl, too, but that's about all they taught back then.
They found an old manuscript of SHOWBOAT in a trunk and that's been produced with Cameron Mackintosh......who produced CATS...She is fantastic on that..played Magnolia.
"My Romance" a superb number, but what about the not quite as well-known "Falling in Love With Love"? No-one wrote as many classics as Rodgers, not even Lennon-McCartney. Excellent, lengthy column on him from the likewise excellent City Journal here:
http://www.city-journal.org/html/13_4_urbanities-richard_rodgers.html
Thanks Z, a terrific post.
Zack, I like "Fallingin Love..." but not that much. I'm a jazz singer and, as you probably know, MY ROMANCE is the Number One jazz musician's song... Actually, I was surprised to learn that but it's apparently true.
I love (LOVE) to sing "I'll take romance" and "Teach me tonight", "I Took a Trip on a Train", but, of course, they're not Rodgers and Hart. They sure did write wonderful music, didn't they!!
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