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He fooled enough people to get into office - guess he thinks he can continue, or he knows there are that many clueless people out there.
The oath wasn't perfect. True music is rarely perfect; that's what makes it so great. A live performance is unique, why mess with it?
The outcome was wonderful and would have been a disaster if no one could hear it or the weather interferred. Those professional people know what they are doing so we should drop any criticism that is being expressed. As a fellow musician - it was great ****
#1 - Fri Jan 23, 2009 2:02 PM ESTIf the instruments would have been out of tune due to the temperature (as stated in the article), who would have wanted to listen? Right choice due to conditions beyond anyones control.
#2 - Fri Jan 23, 2009 2:06 PM ESTCan anyone say "Chinese"? The Olympics that is...Maybe they should have brought out a pretty girl while an ugly girl sang behind a curtain...It's all about appearance in this country anymore so what does it matter?...It's the whole basis in which Obama was elected...Don't believe me? Then why was his election historical? Oh yeah - the color of his skin, in which he appears to be black...But let me guess? I'm the one who's racist, right? Well, I'm not - I just like genuine people, genuine qualifications, genuine campaign promises that don't get broken before inauguration, and genuine live music no matter how cold it is outside. What is next? Are we going to see a stand in look alike for Obama during state of the union addresses because he's too busy?
I seen this flashy, show'em and tell'em what they want to see and hear Presidency coming from MILES away...Too bad so many ignore all of the previous and current warning signs for the sake of "hope" (which means to wish), and the sake of "history" (which means race played the largest factor), and for the sake of at least "looking good" to the rest of the world again. Well it all looks pretty fake to me so far.
I have played the violin and the harp and the piano for years and yes - the instruments are extremely sensitive to weather changes and much more so to weather extremes HOWEVER....honesty is the only way to go. I am very surprised that Maestros Ma and Perlman would allow the deception. What a dishonest way to start off a new administration - So this is our New Deal???? Ew!
I'm not sure why this is even an issue, but no instrument would stay in tune in that kind of weather, nor could their fingers have played with that fluidity. It was freeeeeezing. That being said, I hardly think anyone in the "administration" had anything whatsoever to do with the decision. Those things are done by committees within committees within committees and while that quartet would not have been my choice for the festivities (understanding the limitations of instruments in cold weather) I believe they were chosen more for what they represented (a disabled jewish man, a hispanic woman, a black man, and an asian man) in the way of diversity. The whole thing was nice to watch, pleasant to listen to, and it is really no big deal, except to those who are looking for any little thing to gripe about. Get over yourselves and sit back and enjoy the next 4 or 8 years. I intend to. Just sayin'
I am very surprised that Maestros Ma and Perlman would allow the deception. What a dishonest way to start off a new administration - So this is our New Deal???? Ew!
It was the performer's decision to use the taped version. You should read the article on it.
I guess the Big"O" team obviously did not heed his hero's advice, "You can fool all the people some of the time, and some of the people all the time, but you cannot fool all the people all the time." If it was too cold to play live then why didn't they just pipe it in. As several other respondents noted, what's the big deal; why fake it? Faux pas by the entertainment committee.
All I can say, remember the lines from the song....( "There goes the old boss...here comes the new boss" ).... from "We Wont Get Fooled Again"...lol right. Striking pix... one a few weeks ago showed the outgoing Bush folks...all in blue suits and blue skirts.... a little later, shot of Obama's group... same blue looking skirs and suits... only difference... one group wore red ties...one group blue ties.... "there goes the old boss...here comes the new one"... God help us
#3 - Fri Jan 23, 2009 2:06 PM ESTIf people who say they should have played live would realize how out of tune they would have been broadcasting it live, they would definitely side with the tape.
#4 - Fri Jan 23, 2009 2:06 PM ESTMy feeling on this is that considering they were swearing in the commander and chief of the free world I think they could have found a solution for this issue.
and how could they find a solution....put them in a heated tent?
nannyb, they DID find a solution....record the actual performance in a controlled environment and play live to it. NO ONE who is not a musician is fit to comment on this...ever try to play along to a recording - even one you recorded - and make it appear you are being heard live?? It was brilliant. Oh, and by the way, I did not vote for Obama, but I will give him a chance, as opposed to all the immature knuckleheads who booed, protested, chanted and cheered at the departure of the former "leader of the free world (still free, thanks much in part to him).
nannyb you are retarded.
nannyb you are retarded. I bet you voted for Bush
first of all, it's not commander and chief of the free world, it's commander-in-chief of the military and leader of the free world. the only other sloution would have been for them not to perform there, but wait until later and perform at one of the indoor ceremonies. i suggest you borrow one of your kids school books sometimes, start with civics.
They should have played 'live' inside and wired outside on the 'jumbo-tron' screens, those old masters didn't need to be out in that cold either.
The fact that the instruments would not have been in tune due to the cold, justifies the use of tape. Anyone who has played an instrument would know that.
#5 - Fri Jan 23, 2009 2:07 PM ESTThe Red Sox tape the guest performers of the Star Spangled Banner every game, so what else is new? A second real talent is the ability to lip sync to the Jumbotron image!
Musical instruments don't stand a chance in cold weather! Of course it was the best decision. It's hilarious and depressing that the media--or anybody--thinks this "issue" is newsworthy.
#6 - Fri Jan 23, 2009 2:08 PM ESTYes, without a doubt. This is not a political issue it is a weather issue.
Right on!! Anyone who knows anything about instruments knows it would have been folly to amplify them in that weather. Another case of the media trying to judge something they know nothing about.
Haha! Wooden instruments can't be played in frigid cold, no matter whose election it is! It's not political, it's a matter of physics and accoustics.
And for you conspiracy theorists out there, wanna hear more? I bet they weren't even playing their normal instruments (because it would be insane to risk damage to $$$$$ instruments)...gaspomigodnoway, call the media!
erin, first bright thing i've heard, WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE $$$ THAT IS INVESTED IN YO-YO'S AND Mr Perlmans instrument alone, I cringe at thinking of having them exposed to the elements. Their call actually reaffirmed my belief in them. When I saw them at the ceremony I have to admit I did a double them triple take and was looking for resin on the instrument just to try an make my mind comprehend what my eyes were seeing. I would nevfer have exposed my viola to that kind of enviroment
Honestly, the music was taped to assure good production values in a difficult environment. It was recorded by the the same artists on the same instruments who were in fact playing live music simultaneously. Maybe they should have been as careful to produce a quality experience with the oath of office. This is a non-issue.
#7 - Fri Jan 23, 2009 2:08 PM ESTIt was freezing cold!!! have you ever tried to play an instrument (at a level that they would have to play) with stiff hands? too much chance of mistakes. It was still beautiful.
#8 - Fri Jan 23, 2009 2:08 PM ESTIt was 30 degrees and musical instruments are safe in that temperature. I know this because of two of my children being in the marching band at their schools. As football season comes around it gets very cold but the band marches on. Ever hear of gloves?
And a marching band musical instrument and a 300 year old violin are of course equal for the case of comparison?
I am a band director and can tell you - as would your childrens' band director - that cold weather affects the instruments - woodwinds and strings especially.
What ever! Try and play a string instrument with gloves on. "It Don't Work" However, an announcement in reference to cold weather and string instruments would have been appropriate. It is now over and done with - lets move on......
BAND instruments are made of BRASS and METAL whereas the VIOLIN and CELLO and PIANO are made of WOOD and STRING. These instruments are all impacted by ANY extreme temperatures. You're probably one of the people who places the piano against an outside wall. PUHLEEZ!!!!
Nannyb, do your kids play 17th century string instruments in marching band? How about $8000 clarinets? No? Then you don't understand.
Here's a little physics lesson for you (and everyone else who is complaining)...wood (and metal, for that matter) expand when warm and contract when cold. Wood cracks when it expands or contracts too much, as when in extreme temperatures. Cracked multi-thousand dollar instruments are bad. Similarly, pitch goes up and down for the same reasons. Cold instruments don't stay in tune and sound bad. Thus, it was a GOOD IDEA that it was prerecorded.
nannyb you are just a hater... you are making yourself look as foolish as some of these other tools
marching bands dont play violins, cellos, and pianos , duhhhhhh. they are not only affected by extreme cold but extreme heat as well. and any one of these instruments cost more than your entire high school bands inventory. not to mention that in a crowd that large, no one past the first 20 rows could tell the difference. the people in the back couldn't even see them. it was far more important for them to sound properly, in an event like that.
Erin, You wrote "Wood cracks when it expands or contracts too much, as when in extreme temperatures. Cracked multi-thousand dollar instruments are bad."
Given the fact that the only thing I think should have been done was making it clear that they were "finger synching", your comment above is slightly inane since you imply that "mulit-thousand dollar instruments" only crack when they are played in cold weather. What were the boys fake playing that day? Plastic stand ins?
Why is this news? The artists themselves said the cold weather would affect the ability of the instruments to stay tuned. If the instruments were not in tune, the music would not have sounded good. What is more insulting, world class artists playing poorly for the inaguration, or those same artists playing the day before, recording it, and playing it again.
The while Milli Vanilli comparison is simply irresponsible reporting. That was a case of people using other people's voices to sell themselves. If you are the greatest in the world on your instrument, it is ludicrous to think that you are going to use someone else to cover for you
#9 - Fri Jan 23, 2009 2:08 PM ESTDon't you think we have bigger things to worry about! Taped or Live still gave me goosebumps!
#10 - Fri Jan 23, 2009 2:09 PM ESTwhat a stupid discussion, who gives a care anyway, isn't there more pressing government matters for us to be concerned with anyway
#11 - Fri Jan 23, 2009 2:10 PM ESTAMEN!
Double AMEN!!!
The media would have raked the musicians over the coals if they would have been out of tune. I mean ... look at the response to Aretha Franklin's hat of all things ...
#12 - Fri Jan 23, 2009 2:12 PM ESTI liked her hat. Not for me, but I loved it on her.
absolutely true. if they had done an out of tune performance for a presidential inauguration, especially this one, the media would have been calling for them to be executed. they would have been so villified it would have ruined their lifetimes work and reputation.
Bottom line, the weather played a great part.. it was live when was recorded. so what.
#13 - Fri Jan 23, 2009 2:13 PM ESTThere was a perfectly good excuse to do what they did. The instruments just do not perform at their best level in that type of weather. No matter what the conditions were, the performers really did play that music and it was made possible for everyone to hear it. Everyone already knows that those musicians really play that well and are exceptional. Don't even compare them to Milli/Vanilli, those two were just untalented wannabees. Not anywhere near the level of Perlman, Mann and the others.
#14 - Fri Jan 23, 2009 2:14 PM ESTNo. I'm a musician and I actually wondered how they were able to play so beautifully in such cold temperatures. Besides, there are FAR greater issues to worry about here. Anyone noticed the state of the nation?
#15 - Fri Jan 23, 2009 2:15 PM EST99% of the nation probably does not care. Artists have been doing it for years and its not as though any paid for the performance.
Look at the reasons for doing it and thats fine by me.
Lastly, did anyone really listen to the music in any case.
#16 - Fri Jan 23, 2009 2:15 PM ESTThis is precisely the type of petty grievance that President Obama mentioned should be avoided in his inaugural speech. Apparently, there was no attempt to cover up the fact that most people were listening to a tape. Additionally, the expression on Yo Yo Ma's face during the telecast said it all. He has an unequalled sense of joy in creating something sublime.
#17 - Fri Jan 23, 2009 2:16 PM ESTIt was as beautiful as Ashley Simpson on SNL. LOL
#18 - Fri Jan 23, 2009 2:17 PM ESTI understand why they did after hearing about how the cold weather would effect the tuning of the instruments. In that case why not give the musicians a heated enclosure, that's pretty easy to do these days. Or perhaps have the musicians just inside the Capitol where their instruments can stay warm. Or tell the producers to get another act. The music was beautiful and John Williams arrangement was steller, as usual, but I would have preferred a live performance. Just my thoughts, I won't lose sleep over this and neither should you.
#19 - Fri Jan 23, 2009 2:18 PM ESTThis is not news, and whomever came up with question should not continue to be gainfully employed if this is what they do all day. Yes, I am responding to point out to whoever is responsible for this BS question, that there are greater issues that deserve attention, discussion and work. If something was taped, come on, give me a break, get a grip.
As much I believe the media has a place in society and government, it is crap like this that takes credibility away from the media, be it left or right leaning.
I have seen some really stupid questions on Newsvine, but this one comes close to topping them all.
#20 - Fri Jan 23, 2009 2:21 PM ESTYou're in Easy Mode. If you prefer, you can use XHTML Mode instead. |
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The fact that the instruments would have been out of tune due to the cold justifies the use of the tape.