Friday Frivolity
I’m always reading statistics. And really I have no choice because our culture seems obsessed with them. I have a question for those of you out there who are more adept than I am with numbers (and, statistically-speaking, I’d guess that this includes over 99% of you). What does it mean when “survey results are considered accurate within 2.9 percentage points, 19 times out of 20.” What on earth does that mean?
One of the most popular videos available over at Google Video is this one. It is some Japanese kid shredding an electric guitar while playing a variation of Pachelbel’s Canon in D Major. I have a great love of classical music and perhaps an even greater love of rock music. I simply love it when the two are combined. Does anyone know of any other examples of a rock-classical fusion like this?
I went and got a hair cut this morning. I have two criteria for choosing a person to cut my hair. First, he must be old. Second, he must have an accent. Those old, European career barbers are so far superior to just about anyone else. They don’t dye, highlight, frost or gel. They cut your hair, talk a little bit, and send you packing. That’s the way it should be. The shop I went to today was great. The interior was classic ‘70’s. There was an old man getting his hair cut who said he was 86. He was talking about being married for 60 years and reminiscing about the time he brought his son for his first hair cut in this very shop, some 35 years ago. The barber cutting his hair had given his son his first hair cut all those years ago. That’s my kind of barber shop.
I received a very large box full of DVDs a couple of days ago, so I have my work cut out for me this weekend. I am going to have to spend quite a bit of time in front of the television. I hope that you have a far more constructive weekend!
Comments (22) »
1. mpethe
February 24, 2006
12:08 PM
Here’s an oppostie example of rock, classical fusion. Eruption, by Van Halen played on Violin.
This is awesome: http://www.bobbyyang.com/video/750kb.htm
2. Jared
February 24, 2006
12:38 PM
That would be a 95% confidence interval (since 19/20 = 0.95). The proper reading would be “we can be 95% confident that the true result lies within a band defined by plus or minus 2.9% of the reported result.” It is based on the sample size, etc. of the poll.
3. david
February 24, 2006
12:39 PM
I haven’t been to a barber in years simply because it’s nearly imposible to find a real man’s barber anymore. Some readers are rolling their eyes at that, but I know some of you know what I mean. A real barber shop has a red and white barber pole out front and no women inside.
4. Andrew
February 24, 2006
12:57 PM
“And really I have no choice because our culture seems obsessed with them”
Are you saying you’re solely a product of your environment? :)
5. Tim Challies
February 24, 2006
1:00 PM
“A real barber shop has a red and white barber pole out front and no women inside.”
He’s also heterosexual. The last thing I want is to end up with a haircut that makes me look like someone’s boyfriend.
“Are you saying you’re solely a product of your environment? :)”
Pretty well. At least when it comes to statistics. I’m just a statistic…
6. David A
February 24, 2006
2:57 PM
For some rock/more-or-less-classic fusion, Tim, try Trans-Siberian orchestra (for Christmas, mostly)
http://www.trans-siberian.com/intro.html
7. Joe
February 24, 2006
3:35 PM
That link to Pachelbel’s Canon in D Major was outstanding!
I first heard this kind of amalgamation with “Switched On Bach” and have loved this kind of thing ever since.
It proves that the song was good no matter the venue.
Thank you for that!
I also agree with you about barbers.
8. Jim
February 24, 2006
3:53 PM
While that guy was no doubt phenomenal on the guitar, what do think is up with his satanic horn sign at the beginning of the song?
To me this is just a classic example of how rock music takes something completely normal and distorts it. This is exactly how our young people live their lives today, completely to the excess and without any moral ground.
9. Tim Challies
February 24, 2006
4:13 PM
“While that guy was no doubt phenomenal on the guitar, what do think is up with his satanic horn sign at the beginning of the song?”
I hadn’t really noticed that. I guess it’s just part of the rock culture. Sheer stupidity.
10. Jim
February 24, 2006
5:01 PM
Tim, I honestly do not think he did that sign simply out of stupidity, in fact he repeated it. If you notice carefully you will see many rock stars giving that hand sign, it is in fact a symbol of satan.
When I was growing up in the 70’s I remember all the kids at school using that sign and I had no idea what it meant. Of course those were the days of heavy metal rock groups such as you are probably familiar with.
In fact, some rock musicians play in an almost trance like state openly admitting that they have sought demonic assistance to play as they do.
My point is that I don’t think it’s sheer stupidity or even blissful ignorance on the part of these people. Of course many fans are oblivious to the blatant occulism but nevertheless the hard core participants are ardent promoters of satan worship.
Is it no doubt? Satan’s express goal is to be worshipped.
Please don’t think I am out to condemn, but I cannot sit silently by when I have seen how incredibly destructive this music is to people.
God bless, Jim
11. Cray
February 24, 2006
6:50 PM
You need to watch Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure. There is a scene with an awesome classical/metal song being played AND Beethoven and Ginghis Kahn are tearing up a modern mall.
12. DLE
February 24, 2006
11:52 PM
Yes, but what could be better than a rock song played in a classical style on a decidedly non-classical instrument?
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=829401773913198414&q=shimabukuro
Doesn’t hurt that this is one of my favorite songs, too.
The artist is Jake Shimabukuro. Simply awesome.
13. Brendt
February 25, 2006
5:31 AM
… try Trans-Siberian orchestra (for Christmas, mostly) But not entirely. They’ve got an album of Beethoven music, too. And their Christmas music is not limited to the 4 songs that we do at church the Sunday before Christmas.
Oh, and TSO is what you heard if you saw that commercial (for a beer, I think) that incorporated that guy’s wild Christmas light show on his house (which also took over the internet first).
what do think is up with his satanic horn sign at the beginning of the song? I thought he was a Texas fan — isn’t that the gesture for “Gig ‘em, ‘Horns” ? ;-)
One final thought: He was apparently playing along to a recording that was a mix of classical and rock. Anyone have any idea what the recording was?
14. Lisa Nunley
February 25, 2006
5:23 PM
WOW! I loved watching that… I teach my children sign Language, of which that sign he uses is not ASL or SEE sign language, it is the slang sign for it. As far as barbers go… I have 5 male hair cuts to give in my home and 2 female haircuts. I am the only one to go outside of our home to get one. We have tried to have others cut their hair… and though I have no formal training, I have alot of experience… but we could never seem to find one that LISTENS! And being that I have a very conservative family that does not like their hair frosted and tipped (well, I do)… it just seems the only alternative is just getting out the vacuum, setting up the chair and …. you get the picture.
15. Sam
February 25, 2006
8:15 PM
“I honestly do not think he did that sign simply out of stupidity, in fact he repeated it. If you notice carefully you will see many rock stars giving that hand sign, it is in fact a symbol of satan.”
As a teenager who sees that “satanic horn sign” constantly, my impression is that the vast majority of people who use it have no idea what it means. The symbol has become synonymous with rap and rock, and is now used just because that’s the thing they all use. I’ve even seen Christian rappers who I respect greatly using it. In the vast majority of cases (at least in my limited experience and observation), it is done merely because that’s just what you do, not because of any conscious decision to use a symbol that represents Satan. As a matter of fact, your comment is the first time I’ve even heard that that is what that symbol means. So “stupidity” as you call it (or ignorance, which I think is more accurate) is what causes the proliferation of that symbol. I hope this makes some sort of sense.
16. Tim Challies
February 25, 2006
8:56 PM
Thanks, Sam. That is exactly what I meant by “stupidity.” It is, in all likelihood, not an indication that he is a Satanist himself. Rather, he is just stupid! He thinks it’s a cool thing to do.
17. wfseube
February 25, 2006
9:24 PM
Sam wrote “my impression is that the vast majority of people who use it have no idea what it means.”
You are quite correct, Sam. That “hand signal” is used most commonly to indicate “rock on”, according to my teenage sons. And you are also correct on the “ignorance” front. While it may be used as a satanic symbol by a few, the majority do not, and are probably ignorant of the double meaning. There are definitely rock and roll bands who follow satanist practices, but they are few and far between.
To accuse people of “satan worship” because they innocuously use a hand gesture is somewhat ignorant also, however. Those who are tempted to throw “occultism” accusations towards those who do should probably lighten up a bit. It’s similar to the silliness that the secularists throw around at Christmas time when they accuse Christians of being pagans because of the alleged origins of the December 25th holiday.
bill
18. Witsius
February 25, 2006
9:26 PM
Br. Tim: Surely you have heard ELO’s (1972) splendid splicing of Beethoven’s 5th with Berry’s Roll Over Beethoven? ELO’s early stuff (and also, The Move, before that) often incorporated classical music. Next - Am I so old, and everyone here so young, as to know that ELP (that is: Emerson, Lake, and Palmer, another British band) , regularily transmogrified (maybe that’s a bit harsh) classical music, and even William Blake, making a spectacle out of it (eg: I am, esp., thinking of Rondo a la Turk). Amongst their repertoire: Romeo & Juliet (Prokofiev), Fanfare for the Common Man (Copeland),and Pictures at an Exhibition (Mussorgsky). Other bands (incl. Canada’s own Proclo Harum) strangely flourishing in the seventies - like Genesis, and Yes, I am told, as I haven’t checked them out- also tried to incorporate classical into either rock or pop music. Check them out!
19. Malana
February 25, 2006
9:56 PM
If you want to watch something absolutely amazing, get a DVD of Bela Fleck and the Flecktones where he plays a Bach Fugue on a banjo. That guy does stuff with instruments that is different from anything I’ve ever seen.
20. Jim
February 26, 2006
10:45 PM
Sam,
I would probably agree with that assessment of hand signs among some rock musicians and the majority of fans. I think Satan would be more than happy if people didn’t even know he existed. He doesn’t really care per se, he is still corrupting culture with his influence.
Actually the devil is not some horned red hooded creature we mistake him to be. Scripture tells us that he can appear as an angel of light. So he does his best work when people are not even aware that he is behind things. However Satan’s desire is still to be worshipped and a lot of people are doing a good job of that even though ignorantly.
God bless, Jim
21. MOJO
March 2, 2006
11:57 AM
I know this post is already ancient history, but here’s a link to some more rock/classical fusion stuff you might like:
http://www.eastvillageoperacompany.com/
22. Tom Adams
June 22, 2006
2:26 AM
when I was a kid growing up in the 50’s and 60’s in Detroit MI, the raising of the hand signal with the index and pinkie finger meant B.S.— basically representing a bulls horns!!!
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