[yarddog]

I wonder if anyone else was as disappointed as I was in the Boston Pops celebration of the fourth?

I can remember many years ago watching Arthur Fiedler sweating like a pig leading one patriotic song after another. Most of them were Sousa marches.

They did play “Star and stripes forever” and finished with “Glory Halleluiah” but the rest was just boring and I think some of it taped.

[ken5050]

I saw it..It was truly awful..I attended one live, in the early 80's.it was spectacular. PBS broadcast them for a while, their usual great job. IIRC, A&E network did it foe many years..used to be a two hour broadcats, with minimal commercials..CBS has had it for a few years..they've totally screwed it up..one hour...20 minutes of commercials, and promos for CBS shows...Chicklis is a jerk, and pleaser tell me what Hudson's songs had to do with the 4th of July?..We don't gett ot see/hear the "1812 Overture",..with the accompanying artillery, anymore..which has always been the signature piece of the concert.

On a much happier note, this year's Capitol 4th broadcatxs was one of the best in several years.

[Resolute Conservative]

I was. Last night was probably the last time I watch a televised gala. My question was, what the heck does Jennifer what’s her name singing pop songs have to do with Independence Day? That and the fact the Pops played the 1812 overture first (and it was edited) and not during the fireworks. WTF?

I noticed the other televised events featured celebrity losers as well (probably singing their crap as well) so I avoided them thinking the Pops would be the more traditional one.

Bummer.

[SuziQ]

I wonder if anyone else was as disappointed as I was in the Boston Pops celebration of the fourth?

Yeah, we always DVR it so we can speed through the 'pop tarts' warbling their biggest hits. I always watch the "1812 Overture", because I LOVE the piece, especially the big Army guns booming, and the chimes representing the Bells of the churches of Moscow. I was surprised to hear the Navy Chorus singing, because as many times as I've heard that piece, I'd never heard the hymn. Frankly I was amazed they actually sang it, because it was, literally, a prayer to God to preserve Russia from the attacks of the French.

They did do a medley of patriotic songs, though. I DO love watching the Pops orchestra play "Stars and Stipes Forever". The piccolo section is always my favorite; those ladies LOVE what they do!

We also like the fireworks, and even though they use pop music, we like the way the explosions are timed to the beat of the music.

[jch10]

Yes, I watched for the patriotic songs and messages. All three, NBC, PBS, and CBS, were weak and boring. The fireworks, however, were grand.