Tuesday, January 31, 2012

Paint It...What?

.
Veterans Parade 4

No patriotic parade is complete without a marching band. But look carefully at the flip-chart sheet music of the horn player above. It's the Rolling Stones Paint It Black, not exactly flag waving and not at all marchable unless you try to force a square peg into a round hole. Sheesh, that song was popular when I was in high school. The tempo is much too fast for marching and, anyway, the Stones' original version, although in 4/4 time, is built on bars made of four fast doublets (listen to Charley Watts rhythm on the drums). The trombonists would trip on their slides. However, by the time the band was stepping down Market Street it was John Philip Sousa all the way. That was just right.

I think I'm going to do theme day for a change tomorrow with an animal shot from the parade.

NOTE TO LOCAL READERS: it's only a few days until our national festival of beer, guacamole dip and giant screen televisions. Oh, and some event in which behemoths repeatedly damage one another's brains. For 25 or 30 years Mrs. C and I have had our own private Stupid Bowl party. We are horrified by the way American football destroys players' bodies and minds for the sake of money and spectacle. We always go out to dinner during the game. If the restaurant is open, you can have your pick of tables and most attentive service. Any like-minded St. Louisans who might care to join us can email me. We have a few choices in under consideration.

Veterans Parade 15

16 comments:

Olivier said...

j'aurais bien aime entendre la version fanfare de cette chanson des Rolling stones, cela doit bien sonner ;) bien le regard du joueur de tubas, juste les yeux a la Clint Eastwood

cieldequimper said...

I wish I was Saint-Louisienne for the day, I'd love to have dinner with you, Stones or not Stones.

cieldequimper said...

Now is that sync on the French side or what?

Nathalie said...

Great photo, interesting story.
I wish you a most successful and happy Stupid Bowl dinner.

Dave-CostaRicaDailyPhoto.com said...

Good for St. Louis to have its parade.

The marching band playing "Paint It Black" makes about as much sense as the changing of the guard at the Royal Palace in Stockholm when the military band's play list included "St. Louis Blues," which I was delighted to hear.

Pat said...

Maybe that's what they play when they're on a break. Love the Stones and that song. Marching bands aren't bad either! ;<)

Birdman said...

Well, tsk, tsk, tsk! Go Pats!

PerthDailyPhoto said...

Paint it Black you say Bob, would like to hear that played by a brass band, but maybe not while they're marching! So, you guys have a great Stupid Bowl dinner and I have to say I see your point totally, who wants to watch grown men do damage to themselves AND the bonus of having great table service would be too hard to resist.

Kate said...

Uniforms are always so attractive and the Marching Band looks handsome indeed. Looking forward to your theme day photo!

Sally said...

I will have to remember your local dinner for next year. Of course, there are lots of very good restaurants out here (and since the 49ers aren't playing, I am sure the bars will have plenty of open space as welll). Love the shots - parades are fun!

Wayne said...

Good one Bob

Unknown said...

Now I have Paint It Black in my mind! :-) Fantastic and sharp portrait, Bob.

P.S. No, we don't celebrate Dia de los Muertos here. Many people go to cemeteries on Nov 1st but everything looks dull and dark there. :-)

Olivier said...

suite a ta question sur l'instrument de musique , c'est un Nyckelharpa qui vient de suède.

Shandi P said...

What band is this? A military band? An academy of some sort?

Stefan Jansson said...

Would have been fun hearing them play the stones.

b.c. said...

oh that's so funny and unexpected,

and i love these welcome home shots too...