I thought you would enjoy the thoughts that my wife had regarding the Ferry/Meier show from the fall. She is a big fan of Bryan Ferry, and was able to shed some valuable insight into his character which helps give the show much more meaning and depth. as an aside, she laughed a lot at the scene where Dieter gave Bryan the scarf. Her comment was something along the lines of " I love the way men give gifts. it was all over in just a few minutes. If that were two women, or a woman getting the gift, they'd have talked about it for hours.." I have to agree with her. She is very insightful! (that's one of the reasons why she is my wife!) Laurens van Graft The Grip Guy All your gymnastics grip needs right here! Abolish Daylight Savings Time; it's past its usefulness Begin forwarded message:
Laurens's wife here. Thank you very much for sending the video. Laurens was thrilled to receive it, as was I for him. I just finished watching it, and captured the end of it from Jon's version of the recording, so I was able to get the whole thing! I apologize in advance for the length of the e-mail, but I must express my appreciation to you for sharing it.
Being a huge fan of Bryan Ferry (in my top 5 if someone forced me by gunpoint to pick my top 5 - any music fanatic would relate to this horrible nightmare), I was very interested to see what sort of show could come about in a musical match up with someone such as the eccentric Dieter! As a fan, my guard was up for Ferry prior to watching this, knowing what I know about him. It took me some time to get the nerve to watch it - not just because I am basically married to my work and have zero time to watch anything outside of my very scheduled life, but I truly was struggling with this whole thing as a concept. Bryan and Dieter? What for? Who's crazy idea was that? What were they thinking? It was curiosity more than anything that lead me to play it, and perhaps a little defensiveness.
Knowing he would more than likely be uncomfortable, and be embarrassed by mostly.....well everything, I watched Bryan Ferry's fate unravel anyway. Self torture for human sacrifice? Like tearing your eyes away from a bad car crash? I had to watch. I was bug-eyed and magnetized. However, I struggled and squirmed through the video. I couldn't bear not to watch - mostly because I love Ferry, and absolutely hold Dieter in the highest regard as a talented musician...........and-I-was-bug-eyed-and-magnetized. (!) I sensed from the beginning that something amazing would come of it. In my mind, it did. I looked for it, and it was there.
Laurens introduced me into Yello in the very early time of our musical courtship (it was music that brought us together in the first place we are convinced), and if it wasn't for him, I could not appreciate the very two-sided nature of this. I was completely blind to Dieter pre Laurens. I actually could not have watched it pre Laurens. It would have made no sense, and I would have had absolutely no appreciation. It would be one-sided, and would be quite boring. Let's not go there. Philosophical discussion of who should watch this is not to be.
Whoever decided to put these two together is actually incredibly insightful.
Despite the netter-natter back and forth of the Yello fan e-mails I read post viewing, I have my own opinion and loved the video on 2 completely separate levels. Fortunately, I was able to separate the cringe factor from the brilliance of the two, and thoroughly enjoyed it. It brought out emotion that I rarely feel anymore due to my workhorse life, and rekindled my passion for music - however I'm not sure what ever left me besides time. It was nice to be inspired again.
I will try to express everything going on in my head in a brief synopsis.
I will admit openly that I wept for Bryan and also for Dieter. Not sure if it is the sensitive woman side of me or not, or could be my overtired and emotional brain, but I cried several times. I cried at Dieter's sensitivity to Bryan. I cried at Bryan's attempt to participate in every generous round of galavanting Dieter had planned. I cried at the brilliant, inspired places that Dieter took him. I loved the segment in Dieter's store. I cried every time they discussed music. I cried the most in the art gallery. A true meeting of their minds perhaps. I cried watching two men discuss love and how painful it can be - nothing is more beautiful than watching that. The art gallery and that one particular car discussion were the only moment in the whole show that I placed them on the same field. Any other moment, I could only revel in their brilliance as individuals.
In summary: 1. As a real introvert and sculpted Brit, Bryan expressed himself in a perfectly predictable way and I applaud that.
2. As such, Dieter graciously took every signal from Bryan as a great host will, and carried on with his planned day in a perfectly timed, comfortable sequence, and I applaud that.
3. I truly believe Bryan loves the scarf he was given. The scarf is a beautiful expression of art and music, I believe he knows it, and will treasure it. However, nothing is more funny than watching one man giving another man a gift!
4. I truly believe that Dieter will get Bryan to play in Buenos Aires. Dieter is a passionate expressionist, and will go to all lengths to ensure that the right thing is done.
Kindest regards, Kathleen