This video made me smile tonight. The European "Parliament" in Strasbourg invited some musicians. They would play a wonderful hackneyed song by Ludwig van Beethoven, one of my favorite catchy 18th century melodies.
See also a somewhat sharper video from different angles.
But what is the right body posture when such a song is being played?
The British conservatives were sitting. But that's actually not the right answer. It's right to stand up and to look forward, in the same direction as the musicians. You may see the man on the left side at 0:08, the boss of Britain's most powerful party in the European "Parliament", Nigel Farage.
The other "lawmakers" (who aren't allowed to make any laws) from the UKIP got the same correct answer, much like the Czech member of the same club in the European "Parliament", Petr Mach, whom I voted for a month ago. I think it's Mach on the left side of the screen at 0:18.
As you can see, most of the "lawmakers" don't have a clue and their bodies were directed exactly in the opposite direction to the right one. They apparently failed to realize that it's illegal on the EU territory to present the song by Beethoven as a symbol. Attempts to legalize this song as a symbol (that some people even wanted to call an "anthem" as if Europe were a country) – and to establish an EU flag – were proposed in the 2004 "European Constitution" and these attempts were rejected in some referendums.
At least one of the large fractions of the "lawmakers" must be terribly confused about the legal status of the song.
The Lisbon Treaty which was later approved – despite Václav Klaus' patient but not dogmatic opposition – revived pretty much all the aspects of the failed European "Constitution" but the EU symbols are exactly among the plans of the EU Constitution that had to be erased.
Some people obviously don't have any respect to the people's will in referenda or the laws of their countries in general.
When the girls grow up, they will be just like Bára Špotáková. They plan to become javelin throwing Olympic winners, too. The last girl will once become a terror of all the measurers, too; she is only uncertain where she will look for her own firefighter (Špotáková's partner). I just find this version of the song extremely witty and touching.
Good to see UKIP and Mach giving the Eurocrats a taste of their own medicine, too. ;-)
Due to its hidden power, "An die Freude" was popular with the German filmmakers even in 1940. The bombers were particularly freudlich. :-)
The song is the anthem of the elementary school in Kunratice, too.
A girl managed to ignite an "Ode to Joy" megaconcert in Sabadell, Catalonia, 2012.
Mr Bean, ex-mathematician Rowan Atkinson, has sung the song, too, LOL. His German is similar to mine! ;-)
Just to clarify my sentiments. I do think that the song will ultimately be officially associated with Europe in one way or another – unless someone more powerful hijacks it. However, I find it very important that it is not the case now. The people who are shamelessly treating the song as a state symbol even though it's demonstrably not one according to the laws are showing their insatiable thirst for power and their utter disrespect for the law and the will of the European people. Beethoven's ingenuity notwithstanding, they are a grave threat for democracy on the Old Continent.
See also a somewhat sharper video from different angles.
But what is the right body posture when such a song is being played?
The British conservatives were sitting. But that's actually not the right answer. It's right to stand up and to look forward, in the same direction as the musicians. You may see the man on the left side at 0:08, the boss of Britain's most powerful party in the European "Parliament", Nigel Farage.
The other "lawmakers" (who aren't allowed to make any laws) from the UKIP got the same correct answer, much like the Czech member of the same club in the European "Parliament", Petr Mach, whom I voted for a month ago. I think it's Mach on the left side of the screen at 0:18.
As you can see, most of the "lawmakers" don't have a clue and their bodies were directed exactly in the opposite direction to the right one. They apparently failed to realize that it's illegal on the EU territory to present the song by Beethoven as a symbol. Attempts to legalize this song as a symbol (that some people even wanted to call an "anthem" as if Europe were a country) – and to establish an EU flag – were proposed in the 2004 "European Constitution" and these attempts were rejected in some referendums.
At least one of the large fractions of the "lawmakers" must be terribly confused about the legal status of the song.
The Lisbon Treaty which was later approved – despite Václav Klaus' patient but not dogmatic opposition – revived pretty much all the aspects of the failed European "Constitution" but the EU symbols are exactly among the plans of the EU Constitution that had to be erased.
Some people obviously don't have any respect to the people's will in referenda or the laws of their countries in general.
When the girls grow up, they will be just like Bára Špotáková. They plan to become javelin throwing Olympic winners, too. The last girl will once become a terror of all the measurers, too; she is only uncertain where she will look for her own firefighter (Špotáková's partner). I just find this version of the song extremely witty and touching.
Good to see UKIP and Mach giving the Eurocrats a taste of their own medicine, too. ;-)
Due to its hidden power, "An die Freude" was popular with the German filmmakers even in 1940. The bombers were particularly freudlich. :-)
The song is the anthem of the elementary school in Kunratice, too.
A girl managed to ignite an "Ode to Joy" megaconcert in Sabadell, Catalonia, 2012.
Mr Bean, ex-mathematician Rowan Atkinson, has sung the song, too, LOL. His German is similar to mine! ;-)
Just to clarify my sentiments. I do think that the song will ultimately be officially associated with Europe in one way or another – unless someone more powerful hijacks it. However, I find it very important that it is not the case now. The people who are shamelessly treating the song as a state symbol even though it's demonstrably not one according to the laws are showing their insatiable thirst for power and their utter disrespect for the law and the will of the European people. Beethoven's ingenuity notwithstanding, they are a grave threat for democracy on the Old Continent.
Ode to Joy: the right body posture
![Ode to Joy: the right body posture]()
Reviewed by MCH
on
July 01, 2014
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