Ruminations

Blog dedicated primarily to randomly selected news items; comments reflecting personal perceptions

Friday, July 31, 2009

The World's Latest Pop Celebrity?

Hard times make for hard choices. Alas, the papacy appears to have fallen on hard times. It is not only nations and countries, institutions and corporations who are struggling to surmount the economic difficulties thrust upon them by the world financial collapse, but evidently - and why not, since the Vatican and its properties are as of a country dedicated not to national unity but to international unity - so is the Holy See.

Bringing Pope Benedict XVI to the difficult decision to popularize his dulcet-toned voice for mass-market consumption as he warbles and intones litanies and chants honouring the Virgin Mary. He will recite holy passages in some of the many tongues of the world he has mastered; Latin, Italian Portuguese, French and German. Definitely not Hebrew, but why not, one wonders?

His Holiness's sacred performances have been, furthermore, recorded in St. Peter's Basilica. Where the choir of the Philharmonic academy of Rome exercised their great good fortune to accompany him. The CDs to be released on November 30, by Universal's Geffen label. One can only wonder what manner of advertising will be embarked upon to elicit the interest of the public.

Will Geffen's public relations unit seek to enhance opportunities for sales by temptingly releasing tidbits on popular radio stations world-wide, creating in the process a burgeoning industry in papal music to equal that of popular culture? Knowing the nature of sacred music and duly appreciating the sublime essence of its melodic genius, one might think the Vatican and Geffen will have a hit on their hands.

The money will flow, enabling Geffen to boast it has become the most influential and prestigious label on earth (is it that already?), and granting the Vatican ample opportunity to dismiss its debts and redouble its holdings in real estate, art, antiques, religious paraphernalia and holy relics without anguishing over the wherewithal.

Wait for it.

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