April 12th, 2007
Daffodil Rap
This left me speechless and AJM had to leave the room.
From the Cumbrian Tourist board, Wordsworth for the YouTube generation. Yep. Wordsworth’s “I Wondered Lonely as a Cloud” has been turned into into a rap in order to make it appeal to a new, younger audience.
“A spokesman for Cumbria Tourism, which was behind the innovative approach to th. poem, said: ‘Wordsworth’s Daffodils poem has remained unchanged for 200 years and to keep it alive for another two centuries, we wanted to engage the You Tube generation who want modern music and amusing video footage on the web’.”
I don’t mind the rap nearly as much as I mind the guy dressed up as a squirrel in the video…er, that’s MC Nuts…actually Sam the mascot for the Ullswater Steamers. shudder
There were no daffodils in bloom the last time I was in the Lake District and, I’m happy to report. no rapping squirrels either!
by M Sinclair Stevens
April 12th, 2007
My husband heard this on the radio, but he didn’t have the benefit of the visuals. I dunno…that squirrel reminds me of Peter Rabbit for some reason.
Me, too. And the Beatrix Potter did make her home in the Lake District, although long after she wrote Peter Rabbit. — mss
April 13th, 2007
I saw the rapping squirrel on The Daily Show this week. I’m not sure that Wordsworth would have appreciated it.
Loved your photos of the Lake District. My husband and I were there in 1992. No daffodils during our visit either, but it was lovely! We stayed at the Low Wood Hotel in Windermere. I’d love to go back someday.
Regards,
Dawn in NW Austin
I’m lucky enough to have in-laws with a time-share in Langdale. We all think Langdale is the most beautiful valley because it is relatively steep and narrow…and out-of-the-way. — mss
April 14th, 2007
I haven’t seen the footage, and I don’t think I need to in order to know that I wouldn’t appreciate it. I actually do approve of using classics in new ways, but that just seems so out of spirit with the kind of poetry Wordsworth wrote. At least the squirrel bit.
But if other people want to have fun with it, why not?
I’ve always vacationed in Scotland and so have missed out on the Lake Country. Maybe one day we’ll break routine and visit it. I’ll bet I’d enjoy myself quite a lot!
This year we’re breaking OUR routine and going to Scotland instead. Anyway, that’s the plan we’re kicking around right now. I’ve never been but I’ve always wanted to go. — mss
April 14th, 2007
What good fortune to have relatives with a house in that area, mss. I looked up images from Langdale and it is breathtaking!
I hope you get a chance to visit Scotland. I’d recommend going in August to catch the International Arts Festival and especially the Edinburgh Military Tattoo. http://www.edintattoo.co.uk/
Regards,
Dawn
Not a house, exactly. Just a time-share that allows us a week in the summers that we visit England. My inlaws live down in Cheshire. Thanks for the suggestion. Unfortunately we will be in the UK early in the summer. — mss
April 14th, 2007
According to Transatlantic Plantsman, the daffs weren’t u. in time for the tourists to see on early planned trips. He said they had to install plastic ones; I hope he was kidding.
I like the video, but I am very immature. I particularly like the “Respect Wordsworth” at the end.
I think the daffodils at the very end were plastic. I’m not sure who they think the audience is…looks more like the Barney/Teletubbies crowd than the YouTube generation. It’s funny that they said that and then didn’t even make the video available on YouTube. I don’t mind the concept of a Wordsworth rap. In fact, I’m intrigued that people are playing around with it. Wordsworth was criticized in his day because he wrote poetry about ordinary people and things (like daffodils) rather than “proper” poetic subjects. I just don’t think it’s a very good rap. — mss
April 16th, 2007
M, I’ve had something of an obsession with Wordsworth and daffodils and made my way up to Grasmere as a 24-year-old backpacker to visit his homes. This is classic. I sent it to a long lost friend who I tracked down via google, because when she and I were young and angst-ridden we used to send poems to each other from our separate cubicles at the job we both hated. “I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud” was a frequent sendee.
Your blog was the first garden blog I ever visited, and the only one for at least a year. It’s informative and terrific. I’m excited to have been brought into the fold and to meet you and the others this weekend.
Vive
Well, I’m glad you’ve decided to join in the discussion. It’s always nice to get feedback…to know someone’s out there reading. Looking forward to meeting you, too. — mss