Those of you who have the good fortune, ha ha, of knowing me are aware of my love of music.
It is something that I have had for as long as I can remember and I pride myself on having quite a range of musical tastes and will give anything a chance...there is till hope Justin! Not much hope but never say never.
One thing though does irk me in the musical world.
I manage to keep it under raps...oops...for most of the year but around about now it begins to bubble and rises to the surface for is annual gripe.
The cause? Musical snobbery.
Allow me to explain...
As mentioned I will listen to all kinds of music, and this includes classical music. I have lots of classical in my collection and have frequented the philharmonic hall in Liverpool quite regularly and watching an orchestra perform live is one of the great joys. However.
My friendship with classical music or, rather, those who listen to nothing else, becomes strained about now, for this is Proms season, a couple of months dedicated to musical celebration. All the favourites are there, Tchaikovsky, Beethoven, Mozart, Dr Who, Music from films, Lennon/McCartney...oh hang on let me amend that, Tchaikovsky, Beethoven, Mozart, Dr Who, Music from films....the irk erupts.
Now before my irk takes over completely let me say that the three greats mentioned above are just that...great...music that quite rightly is played over and over again. So, why did I have to amend my list and remove two people who it is widely agreed were greatest songwriters of the last century?
Is it because they wrote songs? But are songs not music?
Is it because they wrote popular music? Surely Mozart was the pop star of his day?
Is it because their music is probably better than anything written since, including classical? We could be getting somewhere.
Is it because they are/were 2 normal lads who would probably have been refused entry into the Albert Hall let alone have their music played there? I think we are getting warm.
There seems to be a whole range of excuses for not having a prom dedicated to Lennon/McCartney Harrison...not even I could defend a Ringo prom...sorry Mr Starkey...but you do get my point.
Dr Who soundtracks and film music are as classical as anything they wrote and until music recognises their talent, achievement and sheer genius, the little irk inside me will bubble up every year.
But, don't take my word for it, I have, hopefully, placed a link to part of a classic arrangement of Beatle songs, if it works, and I keep my fingers crossed, please have a listen and make up your own mind as to whether what you hear would be out of place in any concert hall and would have the right to promenade with messers T, B &M...enjoy!
http://youtu.be/wBLf5nMVHq0
