FROM THE SUBLIME TO THE RIDICULOUS

Culture of quality

AMAZING – a packed house at Skali in Nicosia last Tuesday night had a rare opportunity to witness the live and ethereal performance of Cristina Branco. I was literally hypnotised by the power and tone of this singer’s voice for two solid hours. In addition to the bitter sweet character of Portuguese fado, Branco explored other genres and languages, including Joni Mitchell’s historic America, expressed in a creative and respectful way. The only drawback of the night was a series of unnecessary and annoying interruptions from the lead singer’s microphone cable. Despite efforts by the sound engineer, the problem was not rectified. In true professional style, Branco placed the mic on the stand and simply said “I guess I will have to stand still and sing for the rest of the show”. Which she did so magically. Big respect to Alma Productions for organising yet another quality music promotion.

JACKO WALKS – fans of the former king of pop, Michael Jackson are jubilant with the result of his agonising court case, with the jury reaching a verdict of not guilty on all 10 counts. It was all a bit bogus from the start but a couple of things are clear. Whatever the outcome Jackson has exposed himself globally in a way that challenges his former imagery. He is in deep financial waters and may even have to sell some of those treasured Beatles songs he owns. Finally, Michael Jackson won’t have a comeback, more like a climb down. There will no longer be any huge stadiums with all the David Copperfieldesque stage show antics. One place that may welcome Jackson with open arms could be Las Vegas, that glitzy home for former celebrities. It’s still a lucrative way of earning a living for most of us plebs but it must be quiet mundane compared to being the ‘king of pop’.

UNIVERSAL LANGUAGE – the things that divide are often weaker than things we have in common as human beings based in the Mediterranean. Through the medium of music people speak a universal language. The Cultural Association of the Morphou Bishopric will be organising a concert featuring music from Asia Minor, with musicians from Greece and Turkey. Artists scheduled to appear include Christos Tsiamoulis, Khalil Karandouman, Katerina Papadopoulou, Socrates Sinopoulos, Haris Lambrakis, Costas Meletakis and Yiannis Playianakos. All this happens on Sunday 3rd July 2005 at 8.30pm in the square of Phaneromeni in the old part of Nicosia (behind the church and in front of the entrance to the School of Phaneromeni).

REFUGEES – catching a glimpse of parts of the government’s new proposals on housing I could not help but wonder when people will finally stop living in the past for the sake of giving people incentives at the next elections. The compulsory refugee postage stamps are also another example of the parethontologia which plagues our society. Yes it all happened, but this is 2005 – no people live in tents with barbed wire around them. Besides many people have not even been considered by any government as refugees. Cypriots living abroad have always had a vague existence. Politically they were requested to be dedicated compatriots, people who lobby, march and protest with the same slogans and placards dating back to 1974. Practically however, any Cypriot residing elsewhere has never been given refugee status – despite the practicality of losing their homes and land. Furthermore this issue was never taken up effectively by any of the organisations that represent Cypriots abroad or repatriated Cypriots in Cyprus. Most of these people are usually content with looking official at conferences in posh Nicosia hotels that simply rubber stamp government policies. Populism on the part of any government – the previous regime is just as guilty over the title deeds issue – has to one-day give way to honesty and reason.