Allison Kraus and Sting/ Oscars - what was he pl

chas smith R.I.P. · Post by **chas smith R.I.P.** » 10 Mar 2004 10:15 pm

It was one of the songs from Cold Mountain and either it or the one from Triplets of Bellview should have won.

David L. Donald · Post by **David L. Donald** » 12 Mar 2004 2:41 am

Chaz I think that's Belleville,
which is a section of Paris made famous in a song from Django.
(I also used to live not far from there.)

Not Belleview which is the nut house on Manhattan...

If I remember correctly it is a french made animation.

In any case I am looking forward to seeing both.[This message was edited by David L. Donald on 12 March 2004 at 02:42 AM.]

Andy Volk · Post by **Andy Volk** » 12 Mar 2004 3:19 am

And who could have anticipated a run on hurdy gurdy's?
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/4467512/

chas smith R.I.P. · Post by **chas smith R.I.P.** » 12 Mar 2004 8:37 am

David, Belleville is correct. Belleview is what it's like around my house.

John Macy · Post by **John Macy** » 12 Mar 2004 10:20 am

It made a lot of people curious. There is an article about it in the current Newsweek...

Colm Chomicky · Post by **Colm Chomicky** » 13 Mar 2004 8:07 am

In terms of highlighting an 'instrument' with respect to the public, I think Sting got more popular press publicity for playing the hurdy gurdy at the Oscars than Robert Randolf gets for the steel.
Saw in the recent issue of Newsweek all about Sting's Hurdy Gurdy, but I haven't seen a Newsweek article on the steel guitar, but then maybe I need to look harder. According to the article, Sting is a novice player (only using the drone strings for the televised appearance) and more or less his use was reported a nice prop. But according to Newsweek, the hurdy gurdy community was getting a lot of interest generated from the inquiring minds of the public. I'd be curious as to how much steel guitar publicity would happen if Sting uses a pedal steel for a "prop" at the next Oscars. He could start a new cause, call it the "Foundation for the Advancement of Lesser Known Instruments". Unfortunately, he would probably pick the didgeridoo for his next instrumental cameo.

chas smith R.I.P. · Post by **chas smith R.I.P.** » 13 Mar 2004 9:18 am

It helps that the Academy Awards is the grand poobah of informercials. A few years ago Doug Livingston was seen playing pedal steel on the show, but he didn't get as much face/instrument time as Sting. There will always be inequities.....

Jon Light (deceased) · Post by **Jon Light (deceased)** » 13 Mar 2004 10:00 am

Let's not ignore the fact that Sting has a large body of work, has had MAJOR success as a performing and recording artist, earning both fan and critical acclaim in incarnations as lead member of one of the largest rock acts of the 80's and with a solo career. To compare the amount of attention he draws to anything he may do with the attention that Robert Randolph can attract (or Doug) is just not a meaningful comparison.

Earnest Bovine · Post by **Earnest Bovine** » 13 Mar 2004 10:11 am

I have played at the Viva Cantina in Burbank.

CrowBear Schmitt · Post by **CrowBear Schmitt** » 13 Mar 2004 12:12 pm

as far as i'm concerned Sting has contributed a lot more to the Musik that Robert has so far
there's no comparison
i'm a Sting fan from back when the Police were hot.
i've seen him a few times in Concert. My only qualm ? really wish he'd had a Steel on stage w: him
like PF or BJ of course
btw: Manu Katché is dynomite

David L. Donald · Post by **David L. Donald** » 13 Mar 2004 3:13 pm

Steel and Hurdy Gurdy... hmm quite a sound.

I saw the Police at the Rat in Boston on their 1st station wagon tour of the USA. They were a super good band in that genre at that time.

I was also in the studio with Sting for the Michael Kamen produced Lethal Weapon III music vid. He was very nice and a regular guy to those who didn't fawn over him. Which I didn't. Also present was Eric Clapton who also was cool. I was doing some of the film lighting.

I am glad to see this thread still has legs.

Hurdy Gurdy in a country band actually would work in many ways. It is a very cool instrument.
A Fiddle for the iintonation impaired.[This message was edited by David L. Donald on 13 March 2004 at 03:16 PM.]

chas smith R.I.P. · Post by **chas smith R.I.P.** » 13 Mar 2004 7:15 pm

Years ago I played steel on a project for Ethan James, who made and played Hurdy Gurdys and also played the Nyckleharp. I knew him from when he owned Radio Tokyo, a recording studio in Venice, that was instrumental in recording a lot of the early west coast punk bands. He had some pretty interesting history, before he changed his name, he had been in the MC5.