h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Entry: Folk or Fake? The Strange Journeys of Tunes and Their Composers - A87833640
Author: Dmitri Gheorgheni - U1590784

Does the world NEED this Guide Entry?

Probably not.

Will reading it make you healthier or wealthier? Or even wiser?

This is questionable.

But the facts are entertaining, and marginally informative.

In other words, like pretty much everything I write here, it's not, strictly speaking, necessary. But I thought somebody might like it, anyway.



DG

Interesting reading, Dmitri.

You say that "everyone in the Western World" probably knows "there's a place in France where the alligators dance/ladies wear no pants…" but I think it is probably an American thing. I've certainly never heard of it, nor of the hootchy kootchy dance.

Smetana's piece "The Moldau" is usually now known by the name in Czech "The Vltava". I haven't heard it called The Moldau in about 20 years.

Can't say I'd ever heard of the dancing French alligators pantless ladies lyrics either, but I think I know the tune you mean.

Other than that, I've got no comments.

<BB<

In Germany, it's still called "Die Moldau". But now I'm off to read the entry and to see if Henry VIII really did write Greensleeves.

OK - I've read it now and am none the wiser about Greensleeves, because that's not what it was about.

I see you have changed the wording to the alligator bit to read "everyone knows this tune, usually with the words...." which is fairer on those of us who have to date been unaware of French alligators in frilly pink knickers.

However, to say that >>the word 'midway' entered the world's lexicon<< is assuming rather a lot. Midway means to me simply : "equidistant", but at least English is my mother tongue. A lot of the world has quite another lexicon.

Dmitri's writing is such a joy to read, I even feel I ought to wash my hands after typing that last paragraph.

Actually, I do think I know that tune. "Oh the girls in France take their knickers off to dance..." There was also a verse involving lowly-hung testicles.

Aha, more subversive verses. I was secretly hoping for this.

Thanks for the feedback.

You're right, I called Smetana's piece 'The Moldau' because that's what the Germans call it, and that's where I heard it most often.

And I didn't realise 'Midway' wan't international. I will reword those things to avoid offence.

Okay, I tweaked here and there. Now, let me know if anything else in there is inaccurate, un-PC, or offensive to anybody. This broad a cross-section can get dodgy.

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Another excellent entry - or is this a fake?

<BB<

Congratulations

Thanks!

Well done