Marek Weber's Orchestra - Bubliczki, 1930

Berlin Decadence: Marek Weber un sein Orchester - Mascha (Bubliczki) (G.Bogomazow; bearb. von Luis Feigel) (by G.Bogomazow, converted by Louis Feigel) Aufgennomen in der Singakademie zu Berlin (Recorded in Berlin's Vocal Academy), Electrola 1930 (Germany)

NOTE: "Divine decadence" is an expression used by an unforgettable Sally Bowles in Christopher Isherwood's novel "Bye Bye, Berlin" and repeated by Liza Minelli in the famous movie "Cabaret" by Bob Fosse. Both - the novel and the film - depict the last "decadent" years of the Weimar Republic in Berlin, with the dark shadow of nazism approaching from around the corner. The word "decadence" I used in the title of this clip has so far caused a couple of unexpected controversies among my guests, therefore adding a few words of my explanation in this note I considered as indicated.

NOTE2 (added a few hours later) - after the fierce protests of the French speaking internaut Memale 2009 - who a couple of times expressed in the forum below his (or her?) disapproval to the word "decadence" which I made a tittle of this movie ("Berlin Decadence") I decided - only in purpose to avoid further and unnecessary conflict in my site - to erase it. The unbelievable lack of sense of humour and of artistic understanding of the historic sub-meanings and contextual derivation of words - rather surprising at someone who apparently comes from the country of Marcel Proust - has won. Congratulations.

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[demalenpis]

No, we must never allow politically correct censorship to deprive us of the richness and depth that writers, poets and composers bring to our world. Onward and upward!

[240252]

@demalenpis I absolutely share your point of view. If you are following the development of discussion on the forum, you see what I'd like to say now also to you. Thank you!

[genia106]

I love the expresssion "DIVINE DECADENCE!"

[240252]

@genia106 Look, what is going on in the forum! I should be thankfut to Memale, though, for having provoked with his attack on my "Berlin Decadence" quite an interesting discussion,which reveals many points of view. Thank you for your immediate friendly reaction and supporting me from the beginning!

[barbcard]

Danke for this latest version of Bubliczki. You are right: decadence, at least in English, is not necessarily a pejorative term. "Onward and Upward with the Arts" --the name of an ironic feature in the New Yorker magazine. But I fear irony is very much threatened these days. Jonathan Swift, where are you?

[240252]

@barbcard Dear B., yes, you are perfectly right! Our world is slowly passing away: the world of the multi-meaningful language of irony & wit. Yes, Jonathan Swift would be immediately persecuted by guys like Memale for using "hostile terms" against almost everything! It's better for writers and poets nowadays either to keep their mouths shut or to join the "mainstream choir" of the front page entusiasts of the words-that-mean-nothing though they simply pour out from mouths of politicians or tv.

[flon5flon]

Bublichki, Koyft mayne beygelecht, Heysinke bublichki, Hu,koyft... Di nakht es geyt farbay, Here I stand thinking What's gonna be? There's nothing but pain at home I'm so hungry, I'm about to faint You could call this decadence: to swing and dance on these lyrics! (partly written down here) Here I stand thinking What's gonna be? There's nothing but pain at home I'm so hungry, I'm about to faint

[1920sbuff]

There's so much political correctness these days - no need to be oversensitive and we should be grateful language is much richer and offering a lot more nuances and contexts than some crusaders of strict morality are trying to impose.

[danilogiotto]

sempre musica rara!!!

[slessorpr]

Based on the word 'decay', decadence can also mean decomposition as well as degeneration. This was the sort of criticism Hitler levelled at modern artists, who were some of his keenest critics. 'Degenerate' & 'decadent' he called all modern art, which he destroyed with glee. I wd humbly point out that without 'decadent' Bohemia there wd be no avant-garde, & what a dull world that wd be...

[muscleco]

I think most of us - native English speakers anyway - would understand "decadence" in this context, to mean something we approve of. That is, it is far preferable to the fascist alternative.

[barbcard]

@240252 Decadent is a very decadent word. Modern dictionaries link it with self-indulgence (decadent chocolate, etc.), but it has feasted on irony with a possible risque and/or naughty twist--e.g. cabaret music. And, bien sur, it also is a cousin of rebellion and innovation. A French state of mind, I believe. 

[240252]

@slessorpr I appreciate you sharing my point of view! I just gave two rather big answers to tanynzh and dzegher about that subject - so please, let me ask you to read them as the comment of mine given also to what you've just written. Thank you!