Wednesday 2 April 2008

Isn't He Dead Yet?

I don't often listen to the radio, and certainly not British radio these days, but I have heard a reasonable amount over the years. When we lived abroad, the Forces Radio and the World Service were important, especially in a country where there was only one TV station, and that only broadcast in the evening.

A couple of weeks ago, whilst driving Helena home, she asked me to put on Classic FM. This is a national classical music radio station. A familiar voice was talking. I'm not good at descriptions so I'm not sure what is so recognisable about it. It may be the American accent, or the tone, or both. Anyway, it was obviously Paul Gambaccini. Doing the classical charts.

When I was a teenager he used to do pop charts every week, and for some reason we often had the radio on at home during part of this. So when I heard him in the car I thought "Isn't he dead yet? He must be getting on a bit."

Still With Us

Today, I happened to see on of those lists of people born on this day, and there was Mr Gambaccini, born 2nd April 1949, in New York. So now I know. Not only is he not dead, he's not even 60. He must have been about 30 years younger than I'd imagined when I was a child.

Not that my childhood was that long ago. I'm a long way from 60...

23 comments:

Bee said...

First!

Bee said...

Recently, I did a post where I quoted some sports guy and I said "he was cool" then I was corrected by Rickey Henderson saying the guy was still alive.
Oops!

I made peace with myself by thinking that if his life doesn't affect me one iota, then I can refer to him as "was" if I want too.

You may quote that Beeism.

Bee said...

Maybe that should be a regular bit for you.
For example, I've always wondered if Ricardo Montalban was still alive.

Brian o vretanos said...

Bee:

I'm not in any way unhappy about PG being alive. He'd better stay that way for a while longer though, otherwise I'll feel that I've jinxed him by doing this post, which'll be like the time I almost killed the Pope...

RM is still alive according to Wiki.

Bee said...

I remember your close call to murder! That was funny!

Brian o vretanos said...

It's the 4th anniversary of his death today as it happens. I remember that we were talking in the pub about his state of health on the the 1st Feb 2005 - I remember because it was the day before Groundhog day, and that evening as we spoke he had got suddenly very ill. He never really recovered...

Brian o vretanos said...

All right, it's the 3rd anniversary.

Bee said...

Maybe it's manslaughter then?

Brian o vretanos said...

The Catholics would never believe it, since that would be suggesting that God's will could be circumvented. And John Paul II's probably going to get made a Saint, so I shouldn't think he's too fussed.

Bee said...

“TOO FUSSED” HA HA HA HA!!

I don’t know Brian, I’d rather be alive than a saint. Can a demigoddess become a saint? I’d have to be nice to people, right?

Brian o vretanos said...

... erm... I don't believe it either...

... at all...

I just had a vision of a headline:

"Self-Confessed Pope-Slaying Blogger Struck by Freak Lightening Bolt"

Brian o vretanos said...

Ha! Eleventh! That's your fault for posting when I wasn't looking.

We've discussed your saintliness before. Even Mother Theresa had to wait till she died.

The only exception was Elijah, who went to heaven without dying and is now a Saint.

Bee said...

We've discussed it before? What did we conclude? Remember, I'm old so I can't remember stuff anymore.
Remember, I'm old so I can't remember stuff anymore. We've discussed it before?

I do remember you can't be 11th on your own blog. Rules are rules.

Brian o vretanos said...

Oh okay, I've just checked back, and you had suggested that they ought to name a Saint after you.

Anyway, I checked and there isn't currently a St Bianca, which should give you something to work towards ;-)

There is a Blessed Brian (16th Century Yorkshire martyr).

And a Brian Blessed ;-)

Bee said...

Brian, I did 3 things today that would make my application for saintship null and void!
I know the catholics (sorry Dan) pride themselves on "repent and be forgiven" but... yeah, I don't repent/regret/revisit.

Bee said...

I got here early(ish) so I don't feel like working. I also told OZ I was leaving early on Friday so I will not be meeting with him.
Who's the boss? ME!

Brian o vretanos said...

You're the boss?? Does that mean you get to saw people's legs off?

Bee said...

::shudder:: Nuh-uh!

Maybe I'll go back to being a peon.

Tracy Rambles On And On said...

Is there a Saint Tracy? If not then I am totally taking that spot. I am WonDerFul!
I was wondering if someone was still alive the other day but now I can't remember whom I was wondering about. I guess they just weren't that important.
I missed the near murder of the pope. What happened?

Dan said...

Brian
Do you come from a military family?

Bee
Don't apologize to me, I didn't make the rules.

Brian
Some Catholics bealive the Virgin Mary went to heaven body and soul also. I would want to do this cause I hope to regain all my hair once I'm dead and in heaven.

Tracy
John Pual II was shot at by some guy named I forgot.

Brian o vretanos said...

Tracy:

There isn't, according to the online list. You have to live a blameless life, then once you're dead perform miracles...

Dan:

My father was in the Army.

I hope you get your hair back in heaven - otherwise people won't be able to look at you, as the light from the halo will be reflected off your head...

Jean Knee said...

I came, I read, I have no comment

Brian o vretanos said...

Jean Knee:

Good Morning!