12 thoughts on “nina hagen”

1. LOL @ Kelley thinks Nina Hagen barks like a dog. Play her the < HREF="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W24yBiduubE" REL="nofollow">Ave Maria<>. She does posses The Voice, so she can use it whenever she wants. It’s just that it’s more fun to bark. Especially if it gives new meaning to classics like < HREF="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=edOAwczm16M" REL="nofollow">Somewhere Over the Rainbow<> and < HREF="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rDV3HG4AJTQ" REL="nofollow">My Way<> (a bit of lag on this clip, sorry). I love how she can strip off the sappyness in any song with one of her trademark gestures. I saw her live in 2005 and she’s still a blast.

2. I like her Ave Maria but have to say I don’t much care for her version of My Way. And, yep, I think she has a brilliant voice.

3. Please. Ok, I enjoyed the skulls and the tongue action and the guys on the water, but to butcher such classics? I could see watching one of those once for a joke maybe, but I’m afraid it’s more like a punishment than a laugh. Say I don’t have a sense of humor or whatever, but I in order to cleanse my ears, I had to quickly look for some < HREF="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lXVSnGkuibU" REL="nofollow">Frank Sinatra<>. It’s ok — it’s the national anthem, but you needn’t rise.And now how about some of the lovely Judy Garland, singing, yes I admit it, < HREF="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rc9FEI7W4LY" REL="nofollow">one of my all time favorite songs<>.Or how about one of Nicola’s favorite performers, yes, < HREF="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sFEU_9lZrTk" REL="nofollow">THE KING<>. As he says, “Thank you, thank you……” I know you listened to the whole clip. :)Ah well, ya’ll do it your way, and I’ll do it my way…

4. I have never, never understood the American fascination with the Wizard of Oz. Will someone explain it to me?

5. Jeniffer, sorry those clips were such a bad experience. But hey, at least they prompted you to revisit your old time favorites. All’s Well That Ends Well.Nicola, I don’t understand the US’s fascination with <>The Wizard of Oz<>. I think neither does Nina. We won’t be much help in that department.

6. I may have been a little too strong in my comments there, I was really kind of half-way joking around. I like to think I have eclectic tastes in music, and I do like to learn about different people even if it’s not to my taste.As for The Wizard of Oz, let me say first that when I hear that song, I don’t think of liking it because I associate it with the movie. I picked that clip because it was the best recording of Judy Garland singing it I found on there.Having said that, I won’t deny that I am a huge fan of the movie although I haven’t seen it in many years. Many of us in the US grew up watching that film on tv once a year.Why do we like it? Maybe it’s because we’re a nation of dreamers.The lines spoken by Judy Garland (to her little dog Toto) leading into the song pretty much say it all: “Some place where there isn’t any trouble. Do you suppose there is such a place, Toto? There must be. It’s not a place you can get to by a boat or a train, it’s far, far away, behind the moon, beyond the rain” (somewhere over the rainbow)This film has everything – the triumph of good over evil, adventure, excitement, comedy, friendship, community — love. Our worst childhood fears are dredged out and overcome. The friends that Dorothy (who’s basically an adopted kid trying to find her way) makes along the way teach us about accepting ourselves and others when they are silly or funny looking, or afraid, and she learns to ask for and give help and to be brave, to be grateful, etc. And let’s not forget Glenda – the Good Witch. What I wouldn’t have given to have her swoop down, wave that wand, and take care of me. It’s got lions and tigers and bears, witches, monsters and a wizard, magic, music and dancing and Munchkins! What kid could resist?Judy Garland’s performance was perfect.Sadly, in the end we are disappointed to find out that the great and powerful wizard is a fake, we have been deceived, and so we are force to learn along with Dorothy, that acutally, we have the answer right inside ourselves already – if we just look.And though the wizard told us, “hearts will never be practical until they can be made unbreakable,” it didn’t bother me much because I never worried too much about being practical.It’s ironic maybe, that the most famous line, ‘there’s no place like home,’ is strangely comforting, despite the fact that I never want to permanently return to my childhood home. And as a child, much of the time, I would’ve rather been anywhere but home. But as ‘they’ say, these days I find that “home is where the heart is.”Mostly though it’s not The Wizard that I think of when I hear this song, I more often think of Judy Garland and a life of sadness ended too early. She couldn’t seem to make it over that rainbow.I’m also fond of < HREF="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eUwTdqPkluY" REL="nofollow">this version of Somewhere Over The Rainbow<> sung by Eva Cassidy, also taken from life too early.Here’s a British guy that likes this song a lot too – < HREF="http://jenniferdurham.com/audio/Clapton_Rainbow.mp3" REL="nofollow">Eric Clapton.<>Whew, I knew I couldn’t sum that up in just a few words… If I haven’t convinced anyone, all I can say is maybe I should order the DVD and swing by your house sometime. Meanwhile don’t ask why we love the movie It’s a Wonderful LIfe.So Nicola do you hate the song, the movie?

7. jennifer, thanks for your thoughts on Wizard of Oz. It’s a film (I’ve read the book but, frankly, don’t remember a thing about the experience) that’s always baffled me. Kelley and I discussed it last night over beer and between us decided that it’s comforting because it’s all about the value of conforming. The basic message seems to be: sure, go out there to the sparkly place/big city/gay metropolis and have an adventure, but then you come home, fit in and settle down in your pre-ordained place. Shudder.I actually kind of like It’s a Wonderful Life–though I’ve seen it twice now, and that’s definitely enough.

8. Yuck, that makes me shudder too. But I prefer that message and stick to my own interpretation. Which is basically that adventures are good, making good and loyal friends is good, and as I said, we have the answer right inside ourselves already – if we just look.

9. Jennifer, I did get the humor in your comment. I laugh (especially at myself) quite a bit.I appreciate you taking the time to explain why you like <>The Wizard of Oz<>. I confess there are many things our friends in the US or Canada absolutely love and my sweetie and I just don’t get. One such example is <>Deadwood<>. We rented the first season on DVD and tried to watch it. Really tried. After the fifth episode of not-getting-it, we just moved on. We must be missing a chip or two.

10. Jennifer your explanation of the fascination with OZ was pitch perfect. If I could add one additional comment, I think the fact that the great and powerful Oz was a fraud was a perfect metaphor for the generation that came of age in the 60’s and 70’s. The government and people in positions of power were inept and deceptive (Hello George Bush).Anyway, I think that is part of the reason the movie continues to resonate.Thanks for all the great Nina Hagen links, I did not realize she was still performing. For some reason I have not heard her name in years but she is still immensely entertaining.

11. rory, you’re welcome. I hadn’t realised she was still going strong, either, until I saw this video on karina’s blog.

12. Yes, Rory, I’d agree with that. People in power including (some) parents when we were younger — not to be relied on or trusted.

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