What a Wonderful World

What is art? What is beauty?

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tbieter
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Joined: Wed Oct 17, 2007 6:45 pm
Location: St. Paul, Minnesota, USA

What a Wonderful World

Post by tbieter »

tbieter
Posts: 1206
Joined: Wed Oct 17, 2007 6:45 pm
Location: St. Paul, Minnesota, USA

Re: What a Wonderful World

Post by tbieter »

tbieter wrote: Mon May 22, 2017 1:28 am https://www.youtube.com/watch?v
I'm reading this book by a phenomenologist philosopher:
https://www.amazon.com/Aesthetics-I-Die ... hildebrand

From the introduction, Kindle location 382:

"Some things can be approached only with great reverence, for it is only then that they disclose themselves to us as they truly are. One of these is beauty".

I wonder if Mr. Armstrong's had a sense of reverence which made this song disclose a great depth of meaning to him.

Any thoughts?

See also:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/What_a_Wonderful_World
I would suggest that that reception of the song in the UK compared to the anemic reception in the US may reflect a more pronounced philosophical habit of mind in the former than in the latter. Alas, we Yanks are a practical people.
marjoram_blues
Posts: 1629
Joined: Sat Mar 28, 2015 12:50 pm

Re: What a Wonderful World

Post by marjoram_blues »

A lovely song often played at funerals; as a reflection on a love of life, even if not always beautiful.
It can lift the spirits and bring a sense of love and peace, if not reverence.

I wouldn't know about Louis Armstrong or if he held any great reverence. I would suggest he held love in his heart.
Whatever that means. Google would be my friend. I suppose.

As for any differences between American and Brits - best not generalise.
Your suggestion is a teasing one.
Anyway, thanks for the music. Have a wonderful day.
Walker
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Joined: Thu Nov 05, 2015 12:00 am

Re: What a Wonderful World

Post by Walker »

The first link only goes to the youtube site for me. No specific video.

Here’s a favorite performance.
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x1ysp1 ... l-wo_music

The context of the lyrics with his expressions and voice, from 1:45 to 2:00, says a lot about his life. It’s all a build-up to that 15 seconds of revelation, echoed by the trombone behind him. A lot of irony, but also acceptance. Bitterness there too, like a slap. The ending after that, the brief denouement, is perfect.

At the end, you see really means it. Or does he?

Quite sophisticated.
marjoram_blues
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Joined: Sat Mar 28, 2015 12:50 pm

Re: What a Wonderful World

Post by marjoram_blues »

Walker wrote: Mon May 22, 2017 9:53 am The first link only goes to the youtube site for me. No specific video.

Here’s a favorite performance.
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x1ysp1 ... l-wo_music

The context of the lyrics with his expressions and voice, from 1:45 to 2:00, says a lot about his life. It’s all a build-up to that 15 seconds of revelation, echoed by the trombone behind him. A lot of irony, but also acceptance. Bitterness there too, like a slap. The ending after that, the brief denouement, is perfect.

At the end, you see really means it. Or does he?

Quite sophisticated.
Have never seen it sung like that. He really doesn't seem to look happy at all. Out of sorts.
Yes, more complex - ta for the sharing. Another perspective...
Walker
Posts: 14280
Joined: Thu Nov 05, 2015 12:00 am

Re: What a Wonderful World

Post by Walker »

marjoram_blues wrote: Mon May 22, 2017 10:13 am
Have never seen it sung like that. He really doesn't seem to look happy at all. Out of sorts.
Yes, more complex - ta for the sharing. Another perspective...
Before he says it’s a wonderful world, he says that he thinks to himself.

That has two meanings.
1. He is observing the world, and he describes what he sees and hears.
2. He is convincing himself with thought, that what he sees is wonderful.

What is not said, but implied in the revelation of the performance:
- The less than wonderful things he has seen.
- The things he had to do.
- The way he had to act.

The message:
- He has a broad horizon seen from a substantial height.

That affords him a principled, totality view of what wonderful actually means.

*

Funny, I know an expression that is used, that used to be used. I couldn’t find the definition with a quick web search, although I know this is the meaning. This is how languages lose nuance. People end the search for meaning after the first couple pages of google.

Anyway, the expression is “putting on the shine.” It means shining shoes, making them look bright and happy. Putting a shine on them. If you’re putting on the shine, you're making your being bright and happy for people to see. And you better do that in certain situations, under certain conditions noted by the historical times when Louis lived, if you’re singing for your supper.

The young Armstrong playing trumpet without vocals is quite a treat.
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