Legacy

The Burt Bacharach Forum is a board to discuss the music and career of composer Burt Bacharach and performers associated with his songs.

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Blair N. Cummings
Posts: 1123
Joined: Fri Jun 11, 2004 4:14 pm

Legacy

Post by Blair N. Cummings »

I touched on this subject a couple of years ago, but have reason to revisit it.
I gave a copy of Woman to the most highly intelligent, best read professional woman I know. She`s thirty years old and had never in her life heard of Burt Bacharach.
I haven`t heard today what her response was.
Has anyone else had a similar experience?
Sara D
Posts: 391
Joined: Mon Oct 27, 2008 4:32 am

Re: Legacy

Post by Sara D »

I'm pretty confident that here in the UK Bacharach remains highly revered and with his legacy as a great and hugely influential pop composer assured. As to the average intelligent and informed 30 something in this country, my guess is that Bacharach's name is far better known than the likes of Irving Berlin, Cole Porter and Richard Rodgers.
Blair N. Cummings
Posts: 1123
Joined: Fri Jun 11, 2004 4:14 pm

Re: Legacy

Post by Blair N. Cummings »

Sara, Gore Vidal perfectly characterized the country of my birth as the "United States of Amnesia."
The songwriters you mentioned at the end of your post were those whose music I first heard. That was what all "Baby Boomers" first heard - the music that our parents had and played. People of my generation who claim that they cut their musical teeth on the Beatles or "Dylan" are just flat-out lying.
It`s not just Bacharach`s legacy I worry about. It`s the entire history of popular music.
I won`t even begin a discussion on how utterly ignorant people here are of classical music or jazz.
pljms
Posts: 865
Joined: Tue Feb 24, 2004 8:43 am
Location: London

Re: Legacy

Post by pljms »

It doesn't really matter how intelligent and well-read someone is, if they're not a music lover and they're under forty then it's entirely feasible that they're not going to have heard of Burt Bacharach, remarkable though that might seem to us. I just hope for this particular young woman's sake that she's familiar with at least some of his many hit songs if not his name. 
Paul
blueonblue
Posts: 1540
Joined: Fri Oct 06, 2006 3:22 am

Re: Legacy

Post by blueonblue »

I've asked many young people if they knew about Burt Bacharach ?
A typical response... "are they a band ? " :?

Gawd help us !

'blue'

Take it away boys........
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=np-UhZPld0g
ron hertel
Posts: 481
Joined: Tue Mar 16, 2004 7:08 pm

Re: Legacy

Post by ron hertel »

"blue"

Still astonished by the fact that :The Bell That Couldn't Jingle" rarely is included in Holiday Compilations on the airwaves. .... Also by the fact that Dionne did not include this song on her Christmas album recorded a few years ago! .... Was ideally suited for her back in her peak vocal years! .....
blueonblue
Posts: 1540
Joined: Fri Oct 06, 2006 3:22 am

Re: Legacy

Post by blueonblue »

Ron,
I couldn't agree more......very strange ???
I've never heard it on the radio either. :(

Herb's version.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9_JSkN4mm1s

'blue'
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