Perceptions Attitudes and Prejudices

[rexsteed]

About a month ago, the conversation at Thanksgiving turned to my friend Ray's passionate obsession about Deanna Durbin.  Now if you don't know who she is, Ray will proudly explain that she saved Universal from bankruptcy... her films from the 40's and apparently her recordings pulled the ailing studio from the brink of disaster - they were ready to

Comments

[mondragon]

If you're cogitating on this stuff, check this out. It's fascinating:

http://www.amazon.com/Celine-Dions-Lets-Talk-About/dp/082642788X

[rexsteed]

Thank you!~! I'll give it a look!

[sunbeam_bears]

We love her, and have since she started her career. Find a copy of "Blue", her first big hit, and then remember she was around 13 years old or so at the time. We refer to it, as our song. It was a huge hit among the gays in the country bars, including the one I went to in Boston. The Ramrod, of all places!!!
As for Deanna? I do like her music. Somewhere there is a history of the Judy/ Deanna, who gets a contract at MGM thing. They sing together in a short film, Judy won out for MGM, Deanna went on to Universal.
Judy, Deanna, LeAnne, all teenagers with great voices when first starting out.

[rexsteed]

Yes Ray has mentioned the whole Judy/Deanna thing... I can ask him!

[joebehrsandiego]

Steve - Thank you so much for writing this. It captures the moment at the concert and our conversation very well.

Here's LeAnn and her song that Frank & John like so much:

And here, the DeAnna Durbin clip that's so over-the-top fun.

Also: http://talkingmoviezzz.blogspot.com/2007/06/what-ever-happened-to-deanna-durbin.html

[sunbeam_bears]

Thanks for the vids.
LeAnn's song came out when I was taking country dance lessons, and winning contests dancing with women at the local Holiday Inn. Some of my gay friends couldn't understand why I liked "that country crap". Meanwhile I never hid being gay at the str8 dances. The guys got jealous of me dancing with their wives, and girlfriends. But when they got to know me, I was always called over to sit at their tables. Some men were so comfortable with me, they asked me to dance. And we did.

[quirkstreet]

The thing I notice about myself, is that I am growing less and less tolerant, the older I get and the more I deal with them, with people who carry AB's attitude for very long.

I would say--based on my own experience and things I've seen with a lot of other people--that it's generally a more common attitude when one is young and less experienced. But I know a 24-year-old whose taste in and genuine appreciation of many kinds of music is FAR broader than mine: I've grown able to let myself be pleasantly introduced to more things, whereas he is already aware of so many, and finds value in so many of them.

I was less happy as a young music snob than I am now as an actual musician with a desire to learn and know more. And I find snobbery very tiring, and need to be away from it most of the time. ;-)

[rexsteed]

Pete- I find it very tiring also...

For what it's worth, my friend AB is in his late 40's.

[joebehrsandiego]

Pete: Yeah, Steve and I decided the attitude is very high-school-cliqueish; "Like what I like, or you're out.".

In my personal areas of obsession, I try to put what I love out there, and why and just leave it at that.

[joebehrsandiego]

Steve: I think "The Rose" is a song that because of overplaying when it first came out, took on a lot of snark baggage that makes us forget how beautiful it is.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Rose_(song)