Tenor Bocelli says 'contaminated' by temptation of money

[Katy]

I knew it reminded me of something or someone!
David Foster wasn't associated with Liberace was he?
What a partnership that would have been!
Poor Andrea .All alone in the world with no one to tell him the truth. Those who might are obviously too busy running to the bank. Or too young to remeber liberace. Or his brother George.

[Anne]

This is rather my late-night observation on the coat with the furry collar that Andrea wore at the London premiere of "A Christmas Carol". Yes, it was a tad over the top (although I really didn't see any likeness to Lawrence Welk's style in it - it was neither yellow, pink nor powder blue!) and more than a little Liberaceish. Or perhaps rather like something the US wrestling champion Gorgeous George (anyone remember him?) used to appear in. However, the outfit Andrea wore wasn't altogether inappropriate..."A Christmas Carol" is set in Victorian times and that coat is right out of that era. As someone has already noted - it certainly must have been comfortable..........

[Katy]

I don't think Victorian gentlemen wore white coats.
I imaine the style would have been ok but if that was the idea why not gothe whole hog and dress in victorian costume?
I do not believe that Andrea would have chosen towearthat outdfit had he been able tosee it/.
A beautiful thing in itself no doubt but.......

[Anne]

It doesn't take very much imagination to figure out that gentlemen in Victorian times probably didn't wear white coats with fur collars...that wasn't at all what I was referring to - only the style of the coat. Unless the trailers are misleading, it appears that all people who appear in the movie are costumed in Victorian style dress.
Wasn't Andrea appearing only as one of several live performers at the premiere? Who's to say what he would or would not have chosen to wear in that capacity. After all, we're talking about a "gentleman" who appears on Italian balconies in his briefs..........

[columbo agnostic]

Anne wrote:

It doesn't take very much imagination to figure out that gentlemen in Victorian times probably didn't wear white coats with fur collars...that wasn't at all what I was referring to - only the style of the coat. Unless the trailers are misleading, it appears that all people who appear in the movie are costumed in Victorian style dress.
Wasn't Andrea appearing only as one of several live performers at the premiere? Who's to say what he would or would not have chosen to wear in that capacity. After all, we're talking about a "gentleman" who appears on Italian balconies in his briefs..........

Yeah but he doesnt know he's in his briefs, Ya see he's blind. DDDAAAHHHH!!!!

[Katy]

I was easing you Anne! My opinion s about the coat are probably actionable.
I am sure itwas intended to fit in wih the Victorian theme.
No gentleman would appear on a bacony in his underwear. Andrea is capable of great detachment....

[Anne]

Katy wrote:

I was easing you Anne! My opinion s about the coat are probably actionable.
I am sure itwas intended to fit in wih the Victorian theme.
No gentleman would appear on a bacony in his underwear. Andrea is capable of great detachment....

Agreed! No person with any discretion would either! But then again, I must remember of whom I speak..........
Sorry if I came on a bit testy before - I was painfully tired and should never presume to speak about anything when I've spent a day moving things to a new home and all four of the "gentlemen" with whom I share this residence suddenly disappeared and only reappeared in time for dinner. Jerks, to a man!! Guess I should have made them pool their resources and take me out to eat, huh?

[Katy]

I hope you will be very happy in your new home Anne.
I amsure that you can find many tasks to prevent them to do which will keep them busy for a while.

Perhapsyou could take to your bed wih exhaustion?

[Anne]

Have just finished viewing the "My Christmas" show with Andrea and Foster and must admit to having been monumentally disappointed in this poorly produced extravaganza! It took hardly any time at all to realize that it was nothing quite so much as a promotional vehicle for Foster, himself, and was a bit like eating mashed potatoes with absolutely no salt! Some of the pieces were beautiful as expected - Ave Maria and The Lord's Prayer, for example - but the remainder was pure David Foster schmaltz and it felt forced and unnatural. It seems to me that occasionally Foster treats AB as if he were a trained pup - pat him on the head and he'll perform! My son taped the show for me, knowing that I'd fall asleep before it was over, which indeed I did, but it's certainly not something I'll keep for posterity and certainly not what I had hoped for. Mary J. Blige, incidently, ruined "What Child Is This" with her wailing - hated that. And Natily Cole and Andrea really aren't a very good duet, in my opinion. Again, too much David Foster and not nearly enough really good Andrea!

[Katy]

Oh dear. It is due to be shown here tomorrow and i was hoping it would help reconcile me to the cd.

I will just have to acept that i don't like Foser productions. I wanted to like this one because i have always wanted to own a christmas album by Andrea. I have never liked any of his versions of Adeste fideles or Silent night but there is so much more he could have done.
I will buy this cd,or rather it will be bought for me as a present but I can't imagine that I will be playing it much. There are far more tracks I would want o skip than I would want to hear.
Cute as the Muppet pictures are- do we really want to hear the vocals? Fine on a dvd but a cd?
Thanks for your honest report Anne- I don't suppose i will read many more like that.
I will still watch but will not be expecting much.

[Anne]

Oh dear, Katy - I surely didn't intend to spoil your anticipation of "My Christmas" but I honestly was disappointed and didn't like it very much. My Ian tells me that I'm just a jaded old lady who has unrealistic expectations of Bocelli and I fear he's probably right...but this mishmash of Fosterisms wasn't at all what I wanted to view! And no, I really don't like Mr. Foster. But watch the show with an open mind, Katy, and then do please let us know what you think of it all. Is Ian correct in his assessment of Mom or is Mom winning this fall?

[Anne]

Incidently, Katy, I don't especially care for Andrea's version of Adeste Fideles either. Can't put my finger on just why, though, except perhaps his pronounciation of some of the words. Even in Italian they just don't sound quite right to an untutored ear such as mine.

[Gert]

I thought the whole thing was an embarrassment. Andrea Bocelli is really dead in the water as far as being a musician of any degree of genius, discriminating tastes and maturity. He does have a nice voice but increasingly, he looks foolish.

So ends a great musical career - highly packaged, highly processed, generic schmaltz

[Katy]

Several people have said hat they find this album embarrassing - far from wanting to play it at Christmas they don't want others to hear it or to
know that they possess a copy.
I thought that ,although, it isn't to my taste the visuals would make more sense of the whole thing.
Perhaps they do.
I know he will be laughing all the way to the bank but it makes me sad.

[Anne]

I feel saddened, as well. Up the spout goes what could have been a beautiful musical treasure (to borrow Foster's words)in favor of commercialism and foolishness. Somehow, I feel a little cheated to believe that apparently Bocelli has chosen to squander the beautiful gift he was given. What a waste! Yes, I suppose he'll laugh all the way to the bank...but at what cost?

[Katy]

I have just watched he "Santa Claus is Coming to Town "clip on Youtube"

My gut feeling is that I would very much like to slap David Foster.

[Gert]

I have just purchased and now await the Susan Boyle CD - I Dreamed A Dream. She looks very nice on the cover. Someone told be she is actually mildly retarded. Could this be so? If true, this may be good news. Maybe she will not be swift enough to go along with all the nonsense and retain some purity and innocence rather than becoming a whore as Bocelli has done. His appearance, in his white coat and hat, in the Macy's parade was another embarrassment.

Anyway, Boyle's CD, I just read, is the top seller in Britain. I am very happy for her. I think her voice is stunning.

[Anne]

I totally agree that Susan Boyle has the voice of an angel! Neither do I believe that she can ever be corrupted to the extent that Bocelli has been. But didn't Simon Cowell do a tiny bit of that in the beginning? With makeover, etc. I have to admit to having been a bit taken aback to see her singing a number of Dancing With The Stars last week. It was, however, lovely! As was she.

[Magpiefan]

Hi Katy, when will it be shown in the UK?

[Katy]

Helllo Magpiefan. I wish I knew for sure. I onderstood it was to be shown on ITV3 at 11pm but
I am currently trying to check this.

Bocelli programmes here ofen fail to materialise for one reson or another.