He’s a leading cultural figure with designs on saving the world. Politicians love him but he has the sense of humour of a doorstop. Sounds familiar? Well before you start humming 'Vertigo', apparently this list could apply just as much to Beethoven as well as Bono.
Despite a 200-year gap between them, classical music magazine Gramophone says it was stunned by the similarities between the pair, not just musically but in terms of their outlook on the world.
Editor James Inverne said, “Beethoven was a major cultural figure in his day, just as Bono is now. In the 18th century, composers were the pop stars of their day. Beethoven was also a regular guest at court and would have been a point of reference for the Austrian aristocracy.
“Bono has a comparable relationship with Tony Blair and George W Bush, and the dynamic is still the same.”
The magazine was trying to find ways of linking Beethoven to contemporary music and found that the Austrian composer shared more than just music.
“Beethoven believed the world should work to make itself a better place and that we should stand up against oppression,” said Inverne.
Who's better - Bono or Beethoven?
11:25 AM | 22/11/2006
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;D Even 5-years old kids know that Beethoven was German.... When he was 22 he moved to Austria from Bonn...
Posted by azya at 10:31 AM | 28/11/2006 | Report Abuse
Of course. Our classical editor has been sacked.
Posted by Q4music.com Editor at 3:04 PM | 30/11/2006 | Report Abuse
Bono's a legend but I'd like you to consider young artists coming through who ahve not yet reached the heights and are writing some fantastic challenging songs about the world now e.g. the young singer songwriter Fran O'Hanlon from the N East of England - He writes and performs some beautifuyl songs that everyone should get a chance to hear.
Hope you enjoy them
www.myspace.com/franohanlon
Posted by Icarus Down at 9:53 PM | 17/02/2007 | Report Abuse
if Bono is the next Beethoven, then i just don't care. I'll be keeping on listeting to Beethoven and forgetting Bono, come what may...
Posted by massimiliano morelli at 1:54 PM | 04/01/2008 | Report Abuse
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