Cathy Berberian: Revolution

Eventually, record producers realized that it's a bad idea to make entire albums of Beatles songs done in some unique or perculiar non-rock style. Unfortunately, that seminal moment did not occur until some time after opera singer Cathy Berberian recorded this unbelievable LP.

The liner notes on "Revolution" (a Beatle song that Cathy doesn't actually perform on it) start off rather tongue-in-cheek, asking "Who are they kidding? Is this another put-on, some sort of musical joke?" The notes quicky go on to assure the reader that it is not, but one listen to the music on this album and you won't know what else to make of it. Opera. The Beatles. Error. Error.

Call your friends over. Place your jaw squarely in the open position. Drop the needle on Revolution, and prepare to be amazed.

Maybe you could try listening to her in Berio's Folksongs, Sequenza III, Recital 1 (for Cathy) to truly get the full range of her abilities. (01-16-2005)

andre michel (michelnewton@hotmail.com) says:
this LP of berberian singing the beatles has been re-masterised by the label "telescopic/discograph" under the title "Beatles Arias". Where can we purchase it? (12-21-2004)

H. Turd Ferguson says:
YES!!! this is why i love the internet. This is hilarious. I don't care how bad your day has been, how depressed you are with the outlook of life, just listen to this track. You will, at least, smile, if not break into laughter. (11-25-2004)

Mad Dr. Matt (magob@aol.com) says:
This type of thing was a last-ditch attempt make classical music hip and appealing to the "young crowd." Didn't work. Classical music was MUCH better off as an elitist old-foggie endeavor. Now the classical labels go out and look for hot babes who can play some Bach on the cello and who are not adverse to getting naked for the CD jacket. I'm not complaining - mind. But in an age where you can get hot nude girls streaming unnatural acts on your computer 24/7 - a naked blond cuddling up to an over-sized violin doesn't seem to have the impact it used to. (Man, I must be getting OLD.) No, the classical world was better off as the exclusive old-guard intellectual club it used to be. There's always people who wanna be exclusive old-guard intellectuals, and now they have nothing to aspire to. Pity. (11-10-2004)

KERRY & EDWARDS IN '04! says:
VOTE KERRY/EDWARDS! (10-28-2004)

BOBORAMA says:
BEATLES RULE U DROP KICKS (10-28-2004)

KERRY & EDWARDS IN '04! says:
VOTE KERRY/EDWARDS! (10-27-2004)

John Lennon says:
Thank you for kill the Beatles songs. (10-27-2004)

Joli (purplevioletsquishies@comcast.net) says:
OMIGOD! Hold the phone. Save me, Jesus, SAVE ME. Help, I need somebody, HELP! I don't think I really want to know what they were thinking. SCARY. The only thing that would be conceivably worse would be Ethel Merman doing Beatle's covers. (10-12-2004)

Bruno (bruno@discograph.com) says:
Cathy Berberian's Beatles Arias album will be re-released in late November 2004 / early 2005!
With bonus tracks: 4 live tracks recorded in 1982!
Watch out for more infos! (10-04-2004)

Bruno (bruno@discograph.com) says:
Cathy Berberian's Beatles Arias album will be re-released in late November 2004 / early 2005!
With bonus tracks: 4 live tracks recorded in 1982!
Watch out for more infos! (10-04-2004)

antonietta.gentile (antonieta.gentile@fastwebnet.it) says:
cerco materiale su Cathy Berberian di ogni tipo.
grazie (09-22-2004)

antonietta.gentile (antonietta.gentile@fastwebnet.it) says:
Sto scrivendo una tesi su Cathy Berberian,
se qualcuno avesse qualsiasi riferimento su di me , sia articoli di giornale, recensioni, libri, riviste, date di spettacoli etc...
prego di scrivermi.
ringrazio (09-22-2004)

Madeleine Lamontagne (aimez2@hotmail.com) says:
I am from canada montréal i look the show everyday in i think she the most incredable personne in the wolrd in she is so butiful to look in to witsh i will love so much to si her live is my dream one day i now that my english is not very good in writing but i talk very good i am a frenche mather witt 4 child in like i sade i live in montréal Canada im not woking because i have to stays at home for my kid that they come hit at home and my man work in constrution in hi finish late working hi have to make a lot of hour so wy can suvive (09-14-2004)

Jim Winfree (wjimfree61@aol.com) says:
I bought the Beatle's Baroque album and after many moves since then, I've lost it. I'm wanting to hear this again and introduce my musical friends to this incredible artistry. If anyone out there knows of a re-release, please let me know. If it hasn't been re-release, it should be as I think that it could create some good sales. (08-04-2004)

Jim Winfree (wjimfree61@aol.com) says:
I bought the Beatle's Baroque album and after many moves since then, I've lost it. I'm wanting to hear this again and introduce my musical friends to this incredible artistry. If anyone out there knows of a re-release, please let me know. If it hasn't been re-release, it should be as I think that it could create some good sales. (08-04-2004)

Larry Grinder (Mentutivon@yahoo.com) says:
Addendum!!!
Penn! You Potty Mouth! You Jack-Booted Pimp! You are right about the Free Design's masterful pop. I just discovered them through Jason Willett (from Half Japanese). Such uncommon beauty skill and purity. The first four albums are so tremendous (1967-1970). Make the Madness Stop is such a masterpiece. (06-27-2004)

Larry Grinder (Mentutivon@yahoo.com) says:
It's side-splitting funny hearing modern pop done in a style from 150 years ago with such crazy conviction. Just because the liner notes claim it is not a "joke" doesn't mean you shouldn't laugh. C'mon. Its funny as hell and way ahead of it's time. A virtually unparelled modern master like Berberian is clearly aware of the shocking results here (having made herself a legend by recording strange pieces throughout her career). Think of the lukewarm, mildly humorous cheesy lounge singer versions of Nirvana songs or Weird Al's tepid parodies, or all the tame-ass bluegrass versions (e.g. Hayseed DC) of "heavy" rock songs. This is much more outrageous! Guaranteed smiles and gasps. (06-27-2004)

Penn Gillette (ci852230@yahoo.com) says:
Yo! You bunch of dumbass motherfuckers. She's a musical genius and if you don't get a joke don't just stand there sayin' dumb shit! Jimmy Buffett may be more your speed. (Don't be givin parrots a bad name with your stupid straw hats and queer-ass sandals)

Quit watchin Green Acres and listen to the Free Design's first few albums and maybe your heads will clear the fuck up. (06-27-2004)

soundnut says:
Holy sweet mother of Jeebus... Stinky-bad. (06-21-2004)

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