06-20-2003, 05:00 AM
Don't laugh, but, for me, it's ... it's ... THE 1812 OVERTURE!
ya, ya, bombastic, martial, blah blah blah, but listen me out--
There's one part, about 2/3 of the way in, that's a kind of "pre-finale". It's the finale that everyone remembers. Well, before you get to the finale, there's a long "descent", and then suddenly bells are pealing! At this point, to me, this song is not a song about winning an earthly war, but an overwhelming triumph of good over evil, as if all evil had just been washed away forever, and yet we still existed, ready to start an eternity of joy. (Surprisingly, I am not at all a religious person, not yet anyway.) Then the trumpets join in to announce this Beginning, and then the overture's finale comes with its cannons and it's as if the universe makes sense, we all know how to use it for the benefit and happiness of everyone and ... and ... well, it's just a very positive emotion.
no, i swear i'm not smoking anything!
Whenever I listen to 1812, without distractions, at the point with the bells I get so giddily optimistic and joyful that I am on the verge of tears.
as for sad tears ... hmmm... that would be U2's New Year's Day, i think, the song with "I .. will be with you again" makes me think of family members who have died and meeting them again someday (am i in denial about being religious??)
also, i used to hate, really hate, Eric Clapton's song, the one asking if we met in heaven would you know my name. I thought it was really stupid-- I thought it was about lovers and i never really listened to it. Then I heard that the song was written after EC lost his 2(?) year old son, then I actually listened to it, and now it makes me cry. What happened to him (and the poor son) is my worst fear, not only for the loss itself, but for the unbearable pain of permanent separation.
there's also a movie which will do it to me, but movies can do it so much easier, so never mind!
-V
ps I too really enjoy the Carol of the Bells.
ya, ya, bombastic, martial, blah blah blah, but listen me out--
There's one part, about 2/3 of the way in, that's a kind of "pre-finale". It's the finale that everyone remembers. Well, before you get to the finale, there's a long "descent", and then suddenly bells are pealing! At this point, to me, this song is not a song about winning an earthly war, but an overwhelming triumph of good over evil, as if all evil had just been washed away forever, and yet we still existed, ready to start an eternity of joy. (Surprisingly, I am not at all a religious person, not yet anyway.) Then the trumpets join in to announce this Beginning, and then the overture's finale comes with its cannons and it's as if the universe makes sense, we all know how to use it for the benefit and happiness of everyone and ... and ... well, it's just a very positive emotion.
no, i swear i'm not smoking anything!
Whenever I listen to 1812, without distractions, at the point with the bells I get so giddily optimistic and joyful that I am on the verge of tears.
as for sad tears ... hmmm... that would be U2's New Year's Day, i think, the song with "I .. will be with you again" makes me think of family members who have died and meeting them again someday (am i in denial about being religious??)
also, i used to hate, really hate, Eric Clapton's song, the one asking if we met in heaven would you know my name. I thought it was really stupid-- I thought it was about lovers and i never really listened to it. Then I heard that the song was written after EC lost his 2(?) year old son, then I actually listened to it, and now it makes me cry. What happened to him (and the poor son) is my worst fear, not only for the loss itself, but for the unbearable pain of permanent separation.
there's also a movie which will do it to me, but movies can do it so much easier, so never mind!
-V
ps I too really enjoy the Carol of the Bells.