It’s Max Raabe day!
Published by Becky S December 1st, 2005 in arts, philadelphia
Today is the long-awaited Max Raabe show at Philadelphia’s Kimmel Center. As of now, there are still tickets available, which is amazing because why wouldn’t all of Philadelphia want to see this sardonic German cabaret singer and his Palast Orchester?
If you want to know more about Raabe, Jekyll* alerted me to a profile in Tuesday’s New York Times. Registration, etc., but the article is a good read and provides some history of Raabe’s fascination with classical and big band music. Also, who knew that Raabe, in addition to performing 20s and 30s music and covering American pop ditties, also writes his own songs?
Many of his songs comment slyly on current events, just as some of the material he was influenced by did when it was written. In one of his originals, “Cloning Can Be Worthwhile,” Mr. Raabe sings that if a lover leaves him he will “go out on a date/ With your duplicate.”
Unfortunately, tonight’s program doesn’t say anything the cloning number, unless Bei mir bist du schön somehow translates to Cloning Can Be Worthwhile. Here’s hoping that Raabe will do an encore and include some of his originals and cover songs**.
*The final nicknames of my new bosses are Jekyll and Hyde.
**See that? The cover songs links go to secret files!
UPDATE: Wow, what a show. Both Raabe and the Palast Orchester are talented and funny entertainers. Blankbaby Scott wrote a great review of the proceedings, which ended with one of my favorite numbers: You’re the Cream in my Coffee.
UPDATE II: Scott took the random stuff off the end of the Cream in my Coffee file. Sheesh.
arts boss kimmel center max raabe music Philadelphia
Does this mean your personal MP3 gigolo has use of a laptop?
Regardless, Raabe’s take on “Tainted Love” is exquisite.
Thanks for sharin’.
bvsc, the mp3 gigolo is back in business, and he is on the case, though it might take a few days to clear the backlog.
So glad you all enjoyed the concert. I loved hearing the “Tainted Love” and the first 3:12 minutes of “Cream in my Coffee”. But,from 3:12 to 4:36 the voice changes to ????. Where doing a “mix or what? Finally from 4:36 to 7:39 was “dead air” Technical difficulties?
Not to be picky..but ust wondering.
Also wondering about Jekyll and Hyde name selection? Are their personalities that different. Is that is why “Thing 1 and Thing 2 could not be used? (the names which I would have voted for)
Glad to hear the show was great!
Can’t wait for more cookies!
Moon Pappy, I can’t believe you would complain about a free mp3. No Christmas fruitcake for you!
So you will deny your father the possibility of catapulting fruitcake? I’m too lazy to look up the link.
Becky, you mean I can keep to mp3? Well who knew? But if the true be known I’d rather have a fruitcake. Please have all your friends catipulte them my way.
PS. Type E on Blankbaby Scot’s blog, mentioned midgets at the Max Raabe concert… Were your seats that far away? Do you want to add a pair of binoculars to your wish list?