The Kazoo

[Bax-of-Delights]

For all those who are already sick and tired of the "plugging" of the Kazoo event, I can only offer a fragrant alternative:

http://www.mundieart.com/jgm/drawing35.htm

Interesting that Ms.Derham blurted out this morning that her producer forced her to play the opening phrase of the Ride of the Valkyries on the kazoo which would indicate that the power is definitely behind the throne.

[MickyD]

I know that this is all for a good cause, but surely Radio 3 could come up with something just a little more intelligent for their listeners with which to take part?

[MrGongGong]

Intelligent ?
this is a classic (and was published by Universal !)

http://www.universaledition.com/David-Bedford/composers-and-works/composer/40/work/5816

[Bax-of-Delights]

Did you notice that the Bedford piece it was commissioned by the BBC? Duration 18 minutes: Perhaps they have a job lot of kazoos hidden in the basement at Broadcasting House and need to get shot of them.

[Vile Consort]

It has been plugged every half hour on two different programmes this morning, too. We had a brief respite during Private Passions, but then another plug between programmes at 1 o'clock.

I have nothing against the event - it sounds an absolute hoot.

What I dislike is that these plugs are utterly irrelevant to the 90% of the population who don't live close enough to London to turn up for the event. But of course, we long ago gave up expecing Londoners to believe there is intelligent life beyond the M25.

[vinteuil]

. But of course, we long ago gave up expecing Londoners to believe there is intelligent life beyond the M25.

Oh, the "M25" is worlds away. Sydney Smith noted that he had spent several years without leaving the parallelogram described by Oxford Street - Regent Street - Piccadilly - Park Lane....

[Bryn]

Oh, the "M25" is worlds away. Sydney Smith noted that he had spent several years without leaving the parallelogram described by Oxford Street - Regent Street - Piccadilly - Park Lane....

Whereas Sydney Goodsir Smith ...

[Pianorak]

R3 is educational, innit! I had no idea what a Kazoo was until today. I daren't tell you what I thought it had something to do with! Ms Derham's diction leaves a lot to be desired. She gabbles and swallows final syllables. .

[Richard Tarleton]

On a closely allied topic, I think R3 should know that Basil Brush is essentially a sight gag. Try as I might to picture Louise Fryer sitting there talking to an amusing soft toy, it just sounded like a man talking in a silly voice.

[doversoul1]

Do you think BBC (or R3) assumed that R3 listeners were all perfectly familiar with this toy animal? I thought there was a crossover of some kind when I first heard the voice. Then it got terribly embarrassing. Honestly…

[Bax-of-Delights]

I thought it was immensely silly too and highly embarrasing for Louise Fryer. While I can quite see Katie Derham playing the straight to BB's gags on something like CBBC I do think the R3 powers have lost their collective marbles by levering in such mediocrity and foisting it on seemingly intelligent presenters. I hope Louise Fryer doesn't have nightmares about the way her expertise is commandered by the crassness of this feature - but my guess is she wakes up in a sweat at night and wonders why the hell she agreed to do it.

[PatrickOD]

I once played in a Paper and Comb band. We dreamed of kazoos. But if you said that now, people just wouldn't believe you.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gB78iFCXpeE

[Eudaimonia]

We need to lighten up and remember this is for a comedic charity fundraiser for kids.

We're introverts, kazoos are for extroverts-- and just because the very sound of the blasted thing makes us all want to cry, cringe, cover our ears, shrivel up and fall through a crack in the pavement as we die of vicarious embarassment...well, normal people just don't see it that way. Did you know introverts make up less than 30% of the population? That means 70% of the population probably doesn't have the foggiest idea why on earth you find this so bothersome.

The charity event isn't "for us" anyway, so why should they direct their pitch that way? If you find it offensive and alienating--as I do--well, maybe the problem lies with my being far too hypersensitive and twitchy. Just because we've got a whole room full of twitchy alienated curmudgeons agreeing with each other doesn't mean we're right. It doesn't mean we're wrong, but if the event isn't "for" you, don't be surprised when nobody cares that you can't stand the ads.

Just grit your teeth, soldier on, and try to remember it's all for a good cause. What else can you do?

[french frank]

We need to lighten up and remember this is for a comedic charity fundraiser for kids.

True, but slightly ambiguous - the fundraiser is apparently for kids, the funds raised are much more widely distributed

The charity event isn't "for us" anyway, so why should they direct their pitch that way?

Again, I couldn't agree more. But why should they therefore record it at the RAH and then broadcast it a few days later on Radio 3 as Performance on 3? I merely pose the question ...

[doversoul1]

I don’t think this is anything to do with the question of whether or not we like the sound of kazoo or comic shows. I am objecting to the way in which the promotion of this charity event is disrupting the programmes. I would have thought a discreet announcement from time to time is enough. Obviously, this is not the view BBC has on R3’s listeners and that is what bothers me the most.