The Russian folk song in the Coen brothers’ Raising Arizona
I thought it was a recent version of Stravinsky’s Petrushka theme, but it turns out that Pete Seeger is the intermediary. Plus an East End Jewish version of Khachaturian’s Sabre Dance.
Tag: london
The Singing Organ-Grinder’s tweets for September
A rubbish heap in which a Ukrainian nuclear fireman finds romance with Willie Nelson.
August’s tweets from London’s Singing Organ-Grinder
Bit late. Twitter trouble. Apologies for any distress caused. Money-back guarantee applies.
Great British Blake-off
William, patron saint of hatters and well-hatted bohemians? Photographs of the crowd at the Blake Society’s unveiling of a new memorial on Bunhill Fields.
July tweets from London’s Singing Organ-Grinder
A remarkable gravestone in Waltham Forest Muslim cemetery
If tears could build a stairway / And memories a lane, / We’d walk right up to heaven / And bring you home again.
The true origins of an 18th century tomb inscription at Zennor, Penwith, Cornwall
“‘Tis glorious misery to be born a man,” generally taken to refer to a hen-pecked husband, is in fact a misquotation of verse by the 17th century Romford and London poet, Francis Quarles, dealing with human mortality.
June tweets from London’s Singing Organ-Grinder
More barrel organ news from Hackney. Includes first posts from Top 10 Russian Football Song series.
Top 10 Russian football songs: No. 9: Okolofutbola (“Round Football”, ahem) by Feduk (2013)
The hiphop theme of a cinematic tribute to Spartak ultras: “Stand in line with your brother and don’t take one step back / Russian brigades, like a bumper, ram our opponent.” Extras: Russian football hooliganism’s English roots; Anglicisms in a Russian hooligan lexicon; and use of “hooligan” in Russian before English, in an 1892 decree issued by a Petersburg mayor of Scottish descent.
When’s the cheapest time to make strawberry jam?
Average wholesale prices, May-September 2015-2019.
