Signs of growing up: The Proms
As I approach the marking of my 27th year on this planet I’ve decided to take a look at the signs of growing up I keep noticing as the days steam past me.
I’m going to start with a post about one of the most iconic of British events, a centre piece of the BBC musical calender – an event that covers the summer and is on almost every part of the BBCs output. I’m talking about The Proms.
I love music, I grew up surrounded by music, I’ve always loved music. I don’t care what kind of music it is, what genre style or speed that’s playing – I can appreciate all music as long as its either (or both of) 1) a great song and/or 2) brilliantly performed.
Most of the time I tend to listen to indie/alternative stuff with a bit of punk/funk thrown in for good measure. In fact I present my own weekly music show that primarily plays those genres.
But that doesn’t mean I can’t appreciate a haunting piece of opera or an inspirational and rousing work by one of the classical greats.
I don’t know nearly as much about classical music – in terms of facts, figures and information – as I do about modern stuff but that doesn’t stop me enjoying it.
And that is the point of this post.
As I’ve got older my appreciation of the classical and alternative (in a ‘different’ sense) has increased year by year.
As I write this post I’m listening to ‘The First Night of the Proms‘ on BBC Radio 3 and I’m loving it – I can’t watch it on television as my wife is catching up on the dozen or so soaps she has on Sky+.
Image via Wikipedia
If I’m right – and it IS possible I’m not – then I’m currently listening to Messiaen La Nativité du Seigneur – Dieu parmi nous – I have NO idea what that actually means but it sounds good.
This is probably the first time I’ve ever actually listened to BBC Radio 3 for anything other than a childish attempt to piss of my wife but this is so much more fulfilling than watching constant re-runs of Top Gear on Dave (or on the BBC TG site).
I still love watching constant re-runs of Top Gear, I still love watching cartoons, I still enjoy kids TV, Simpsons, Family Guy and the BRILLIANT Lab Rats (about time we finally had a decent surreal, stupid studio comedy on TV).
But, as I grow up I find I also have time for The Proms and Radio 3 in my life as well.
I’m going to be keeping an eye on the equally surreal Jon Jacob’s Proms Videos over the next few months as he’s a funny guy and I’m relying on him making my first (from a distance) proms experience a little more accessible.
So, as a Proms virgin – what should I be listening out for, watching on TV, catching up with on demand this year?
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