Young violinist tells Simon Cowell he hasn’t a clue about music
mainThe Nottingham violinist Braimah Kanneh-Mason, 18, appeared on Britain’s Got Talent. Here‘s what he remembers:
In the semi-finals of Britain’s Got Talent, Simon Cowell said, ‘It’s nice to see you’re happy, because a lot of people are quite miserable when they play this kind of music.’ Of course, on stage I had to smile but I was thinking, ‘No, they’re not miserable. There’s concentration and there’s being miserable, and they are two different things.’
It’s a shame that classical music has the image of being middle class and very serious. There are a variety of reasons for it, one being that music is expensive, so you only get a certain type of people doing it. I think a lot of people just haven’t had a chance to just listen to it, especially young people.”
Read the full interview here.
Indeed. I’d be fascinated to know how the nonsensical headline can possibly be justified: what is reported of the exchange with Simon Cowell suggests that Braimah had (unsurprisingly) much more of a clue than his host evinced by his question. The issue of ‘clues’ does, interestingly, arise in a quite different context elsewhere in the interview when he describes his teacher’s tip on improving memory retention by association, a technique which I have found especially useful in language learning.
Erm, that’s precisely what the headline does say: ‘Violinist tells Cowell he [Cowell] hasn’t a clue’.
It’s just a shame that he [violinist] didn’t tell him [Cowell] this to his face on national TV.
It doesn’t have to be justified; it only has to get you to click on the article.
Interesting that in the UK view, “middle class” is something lofty.
A delightful and intelligent young man talking about his passion, about which he has many “clues”. I have no problem with the headline by the way, it’s there to pique interest and since I can’t stand Cowell it did that very thing.
Cowell was just being a tool, playing to his audiences!! He has to watch circus acts and singers who shriek; obviously he has not been able to finesse talent and styles as a result of these experiences – either that or he just needs to get out more.
“Not being able to finesse talent” has brought him a fortune in excess of $500 million and an annual income close to $100 million. I doubt if he is going to change his mind and get out more any time soon!
Fair point, totally, if money is the way you measure culture and taste.
The count of comments is eight. Interesting. And there is still the discrepancy between the headline and what Braimah Kanneh-Mason really says in his lovely interview.
Only in your perception, apparently.
Appearances can be deceiving.
No, really, the headline is quite inaccurate. Much license has been taken…
There were more — some were deleted.
That’s why the count of comments is off.
Criticism of the blog host is not permitted around here.