The Search for Petula Clark (Glenn Gould Radio Documentary, 1967) 2/2

[eugenecoreno]

Glenn Gould, How can u not dig him?

[joncheskin]

Great post (thanks!). It's not clear to me after listening to Gould's disgruntled analysis of Petula whether there is not a sneaking admiration--a longing to be "Methodist". If anyone can legitimize this position (and not fall into one of Gould's cynical spirals), it is Petula Clark, who achieves her happiness and sanity in spite of living through WWII and surmounting many difficulties. She contains enough depth as a person so that her "diatonicism" is perhaps a bit more than just naivete.

[micheldvorsky]

@joncheskin Thanks for your comment, joncheskin. I think this documentary is a unique insight into Gould's sense of humour and personality. Firstly, I think Gould is both satirizing musicial critics by subjecting pop music to such rigorous, intellectual criticism and also teasing Petula a bit by saying her music is worth critiquing on this level! I do agree that the whole endeavour comes across as a bit of a nerdy labour of love...Petula probably made a connection with Gould on some level!

[joncheskin]

@micheldvorsky I listened to the post again and I completely agree with you--his "analysis" is not as disgruntled and cynical as I thought, but rather just playful, perhaps even a compliment of sorts to Petula and Tony Hatch. In the end I think he pays them a strange homage for their "suburban appeal" and perhaps a bit of thanks for entertaining him on remote rt 17, while at the same time musing how incongruous the music is with the surrroundings (no suburbia here!). Thanks again for the post.