BS: I Love Lawrence Welk!

Subject: RE: BS: I Love Lawrence Welk!
From: Dewey
Date: 01 Oct 04 - 03:42 AM

I'd like to set the record straight so I am not perceived as being rude to those who enjoy the actual music of the show.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with Polka when you are playing Polka tunes. But Lawrence was fearless in his interpretations of the various genres.

He would easily attempt to do Elvis Presley, the Beatles, even Disco, SCANDINAVIAN STYLE if given the opportunity.

I am not making fun of German Polka music or other Scandinavian Genres, They sound absolutely wonder when done to Scandinavian compositions.

What made Lawrence so bizarre and seemingly entertaining was how he could take a style of music Country, Rock and Roll, Folk etc, and MUTATE IT to the Lawrence way of performance.

I'm Sorry folks but some music was never met to be done that way, and most musicians know this to be a fact. The fact that it was done this way, and the same way, all of the time with WRECKLESS ABANDONMENT FOR THE ORGINAL INTENT is what made the show so laughable.

Like the T-shirt your get for donating blood, one size fits all: no matter what size you are, or who you are. WYSIWYG!

The man was a fearless god of simple cookie-cutter corny entertainment, and I have to admit I loved it! but probably for the wrong reasons.

But, I will not confess too openly (outside the internet) WHY I love Lawrence Welk, for the sake and respect of the Scandanavian Population that would otherwise probably beat me to death (The North Dakota native that I am)

Sorry to any Scandinavian that enjoys the show. It IS great music, whenever it is being performed seriously; but, it is even GREATER entertainment regaurdless of how it is performed.

Dewey

Subject: RE: BS: I Love Lawrence Welk!
From: M.Ted
Date: 01 Oct 04 - 10:18 AM

Dewey has got it right--the WRECKLESS ABANDONMENT FOR THE ORGINAL INTENT is absolutely amazing, it is completely surrealistic, and even transcendental--an absurd juxtaposition so intense that it allows us, for a brief moment, to experience the ineffable--

Subject: RE: BS: I Love Lawrence Welk!
From: Metchosin
Date: 01 Oct 04 - 11:21 AM

I will agree there, truly the music was ineffable, but the show was not. It was and is effing crrrap.

Subject: RE: BS: I Love Lawrence Welk!
From: M.Ted
Date: 01 Oct 04 - 10:52 PM

Good one, Metchosin--wunnaful, wunnaful!

Subject: RE: BS: I Love Lawrence Welk!
From: dianavan
Date: 02 Oct 04 - 04:04 AM

Thanks to the four above for re-affirming my sanity.

As a child I didn't buy that fantasy for one minute but there I was, a little half-breed with pig-tails and an accordian just like the Lennon sister. Can you imagine? It was pretty strange. But then again, you have to remember the era.

Nat King Cole, Liberace, That crazy Danish piano-comedian, Jose Jimenez, Ozzie and Harriet and of course, McCarthy.

No wonder I went back to the land.

d

Subject: RE: BS: I Love Lawrence Welk!
From: GUEST,Ron
Date: 05 Oct 04 - 02:59 PM

Someone mentioned that Lawrence's son married Tanya Tucker....WHOA!!

He married Tanya FALAN, a gorgeous dark haired Italian singer who can do it today as well as she did back then!! Her NAME is TANYA FALAN WELK ROBERTS......

There has never been and there isn't now....any program on TV that is as wholesome and entertaining as the Welk Show...and this is the 50th
anniversary of that show ON THE AIR. Can you name any others that have lasted so long and remain so popular?

The Welk Show brings in more pledge dollars for PBS than ANY OTHER show or series that they carry...

If today's kids were sitting with their parents or grandparents listening to this kind of music we wouldn't have so many delinquents in this world...

Ron

Subject: RE: BS: I Love Lawrence Welk!
From: PoppaGator
Date: 05 Oct 04 - 03:07 PM

"That crazy Danish piano-comedian" -- Victor Borge, a truly funny guy and a very quirky talent. I don't remember him as a guest on Lawrence Welk, specifically, but he was all over the TV in the 50s, guesting on many programs (probably including Ed Sullivan, etc.)

Thanks, dianavan, for shaking that memory loose for me!

Subject: RE: BS: I Love Lawrence Welk!
From: Rabbi-Sol
Date: 05 Oct 04 - 04:48 PM

Tanya Falan it was. I stand corrected. However, Lawrence Welk, who was so much against divorce, is probalbly turning over in his grave, now that his son, Larry,and Tayna are divorced. SOL ZELLER