We’re back to that party in Bucharest. The Bucharest, that is, before Ceauşescu knocked it down to make way for something he’d seen on Dallas only 10 ten times bigger. Here’s Gabi Luncă, a tribute to hydrogen peroxide and Romanian dentistry – and also Elena Ceauşescu’s favourite singer, which is no recommendation at all - singing about a glass of something. The food still doesn’t seem to have arrived though. I reckon Mrs Ceauşescu (pictured) has intercepted it between the kitchen and the tables and traded it with some gypsies for a new velvety dress and some more plastic flowers. But Gabi is a very charming performer and the party will kick off soon I’m sure. You would buy a sprig of used lucky heather from this woman.Thursday, January 29, 2009
Gadjo’s Video Jukebox #6
We’re back to that party in Bucharest. The Bucharest, that is, before Ceauşescu knocked it down to make way for something he’d seen on Dallas only 10 ten times bigger. Here’s Gabi Luncă, a tribute to hydrogen peroxide and Romanian dentistry – and also Elena Ceauşescu’s favourite singer, which is no recommendation at all - singing about a glass of something. The food still doesn’t seem to have arrived though. I reckon Mrs Ceauşescu (pictured) has intercepted it between the kitchen and the tables and traded it with some gypsies for a new velvety dress and some more plastic flowers. But Gabi is a very charming performer and the party will kick off soon I’m sure. You would buy a sprig of used lucky heather from this woman.
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Great voice and striking appearance. Romania's answer to Mrs Slocombe.
ReplyDeleteAre people allowed to snap their fingers to the music in Romania?
I hope it's a wig. It kind of glows.
ReplyDeleteSx
I too hope it's a wig, but fear it is the pelt of the last known Carpathian Luminous Poodle, shot for the occasion.
ReplyDeleteI'm slightly nervous about the concept of used lucky heather.
"Used lucky heather sir? One careful owner?"
"What happened to him?"
"Drowned in a freak photo-booth accident. But don't let that put you off..."
"
Love the vid, I'm sure I have bought heather from that woman. I expect Elena needed the velvetty dress so she could take off the one made of tree bark
ReplyDeleteWas that a decorated tree? Does the faintly desperate expression on the accordeon player indicate that this was recorded at the Ceausescus' office Christmas party?
ReplyDeleteRomania's answer to Mrs Slocombe, I hadn't thought of that! Oh yes, finger snapping is compulsary in some of the dances here.
ReplyDeleteNo Scarley, they're all her own luxuriant locks, and it's a style that hasn't yet entirely gone out of fashion.
Gyppo, :-) I was thinking of the phrase they used to use about prospective American politicians (when people still believed in The American Dream): "Would you buy a used car from this man?" I can't think of anybody I'd rather be the recipient of the last Carpathian Luminous Poodle!
You probably have, Lulu, and it's probably the reason you've been so lucky! Elena had poor dress sense, but knowing her it's likely that even the acquisition of a simple dress made of tree bark cost several native lives.
Welcome to you, Mr Autolycus! Ooh, "the Ceausescus' office Christmas party", it doesn't bear thinking about and yet you could be right. The accordian player is Gabi's husband Ion Onoriu, trying not to look too gypsy, as per orders.
Here they all are again, with ţambal genius Toni Iordache, in glorious 70s Technicolour.
Tony Jordache? I knew there was something Transylvanian about Brookside.
ReplyDeleteThe more I listen to this - and I've listened to it quite a lot now - the more it grows on me.
ReplyDeleteThere always seems to be a delicious moment in Romanian Gypsy music - and on this clip it's at 1'45" or thereabouts - when the accompanying lautari try desperatly to speed things up, presumably as they realise the bar is about to shut and there are 15 more verses to go...
Was there really somebody called Jordache on Brookside, Boyo? How was it pronounced?? Now I'm intrigued. (I confess I never watched the programme.)
ReplyDeleteQuite a subtle shift of pace, Gyppo, but you are probably highly attuned to such things. Yes, that would be an excellent reason to speed up a song! I must post some really quick stuff soon. Cheers.
It was pronounced "Jaw-Dash", not that I ever watched it after Damon left.
ReplyDeleteCan we have more photos of Mrs Dildo nude but for furs please?
I take it that the unconvincing photoshop is deliberate; the micro-radiator is a particularly clever touch. Or is your pic in fact a still from Little Shop of Horrors?
ReplyDeleteBaz, thanks for your enthusiasm - no, really - but that's definitely the last picture you'll see of Mrs Dilo wearing furs or otherwise. (It may be the last I see of her too if she finds out the nature of this discussion.) And, for the record, she wasn't nude.
ReplyDeleteTrust Mr Inkspot to see beyond the obvious! Yes, the miniture radiator might be very symbolic of communist-era Romania; they should have added a single 40W lightbulb as well, but then they'd have needed an unfeasably long exposure time for the photograph.