image: work 289 by Martin Creed
By Friday evening I was feeling thoroughly bad-tempered, having spent the afternoon haggling with a prospective employer. I then fought my way through rain and dense London traffic to another meeting but I was late and missed the rendezvous. I ended up damp and out of breath outside Tate Britain feeling more than a little sorry for myself.
The classical façade of the Tate building is written across with a big neon declaration that EVERYTHING IS GOING TO BE ALRIGHT, a sentiment ludicrous enough to cheer me up immensely, putting me in mind of the final scene in Monty Python's Life Of Brian when rows of crucified men sing Always Look on the Bright Side of Life.
Inside, the Tate was hosting a series of events under the title Extraordinary Voices, I arrived in time to see two women trussed up in elastic dresses, each at opposite ends of a long gallery at the top of tall stepladders, they sang to each other through megaphones, it was lovely - like I’d imagine mermaids would sound.
And then I saw a long-lost friend - singing with The London Bulgarian Choir, it’s the sort of music that makes me weep – in a good way.
They’re worth seeing if you get a chance to catch them.
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ReplyDeleteI wish I could believe, "EVERYTHING IS GOING TO BE ALRIGHT". All indications are to the opposite. But we go on hoping, trying and making the best of it.
ReplyDeleteGood moments are always diamonds.
Always Look on the Bright Side of Life is my cheer-up song.
ReplyDeleteUgh, what a day!
ReplyDeleteYou know when everything is going to be alright? When they open stores JUST FOR ME and I don't have to deal with people. :)
That and when Diet Pepsi becomes free.
Isn't that a song? Clapton? At least it didn't say, "It's the end of the world as we know it..."
ReplyDeleteI'll check 'em out if they're still there this weekend!
ReplyDeleteamen, baby! i firmly believe everything is gonna be alright!
ReplyDeletei'm still riding the win-win wave! xoxoxoxo
Wow! what a beautiful sound they make! If you got to hear them, then the bad journey was worth it. I love this!
ReplyDeletexxx
I like that sign!
ReplyDeleteCan't believe MJ let "Pilentce Pee" go by!
Oh Hai MJ, Savannah!
http://ellisnadler.blogspot.com/2007/12/its-ok.html
ReplyDeleteIt's sort of sad when "Everything is going to be alright" becomes a matter for art (and not life). But you got to hear the angels sing, so maybe everything IS going to be alright after all.
ReplyDeletewhich one is your friend?
ReplyDeleteI like this - it sounds like things did start getting better for you after you read the neon sign. Nice.
ReplyDeleteThat Life of Brian song is the one that pops into my head during most castatrophes.I've just had 700kg of champagne delivered so I'm singing harder now ;-)
ReplyDeleteYou are a champion Lulu! Mine anyway!!
Bisous
As always, loved this.
ReplyDeleteI always love falling into happiness holes (you don't have to watch your step).
ReplyDeleteWhat a nice end to a day. Love the thought of ladies in elastic dresses on ladders, singing...
ReplyDeletePerhaps, feel glad that only in London could you find such fantastic things
(Topiary living in a sadly elastic dress-neon happiness-Bulgarian singer-deprived area)
Cheerup Moo!
Bill - Me too on the view that, in the broader sense anything will be alright. But we do need these diamond moments
ReplyDeleteMJ - Look on the Bright Side of Life is the best cheer-up song too.
Ms Assassin - I'll only shop when shops are empty - which does condemn me to spending time in rubbish shops a bit!
Wow - I bet it's in many a song
Borah - they will have moved on but I'm sure you can catch them somewhere
Sav - you, my darling are a born optimist - and that's why I love you!
ReplyDeleteMap - If you got to hear them, then the bad journey was worth it. Exactly how I saw it
xl - I am making my own version of that sign in muti-coloured light bulbs draped over my house
Ellis - as always that is a masterpiece
Ana - I think most things in my tiny world will be alright - in the end
Nursey - my friend is a quarter of the way down the line of women, the camera doesn't linger long on her, I was Best Woman at her wedding
Ms Eyeball - things did start getting better - which is the right direction.
Ange 700kg of champagne
Is this your way of doing weights with elegance?
Alphawoman - thank you!
Mr Red - happiness holes what a great term for them!
Mrs Cow - The day popped back into proportion when I saw the elastic ladies.
I have certainly seen such fantastic things on your side of the water too.
Ah, that Bulgarian women's choir stuff is magic. I'm afraid I can't gaurentee I'd be able to say the same about the two trussed up ladies with megaphones though ;-)
ReplyDeleteI don't tend to listen to what artists have to say. To may of them have got their head stuck up their bottys. I like the choir's outfits. Are they kaftans.
ReplyDeleteI loved the choir, and Pilentze Pee. (I had to look up what it meant. Useful - if I have to leave the room from now on I shall be '"Going to sing").
ReplyDeleteIsn't that odd - I could have sworn I left a comment on here. This keeps happening to me. Anyway, sorry for trying to find out where in Hampstead you were - I should have known better than to ask.And as for that choir - bloomin' gorgous singing
ReplyDeleteGadjo - I thought the Bulgarian women's choir stuff would be up your alley - the megaphone ladies only did 3 minutes per hour, which was exactly enough.
ReplyDeleteEmerson I don't tend to listen to what artists have to say
quite right too - I only listen to footballers opinions!
Brother T - if I have to leave the room from now on I shall be '"Going to sing"
which is always a good thing
Frenchie - glad you like that. My friend (the one in the choir) and I used to listen to this sort of music when we shared a flat together.
Blimey, you were practically next door to me when you were at the Tate. How almost exciting. Great music.
ReplyDeleteMusic hath charms to soothe the stressed breast.
ReplyDelete