55 replies to this topic

[clampett]

Probably all of you know that Luciano Pavarotti, the most celebrated opera tenor and italian icon died last week by pancreatic cancer at the age of 71. It was only a day before the Italian GP weekend had started, and yet, noone, I mean NOONE remembered him AFAIK. :

I don't want to bash any driver or any team with this... but it was an embarassment to this field really.

[Vegetableman]

It's a shame he wasn't remembered by the drivers but do you think he mentioned anything when Senna died?

[DavidR]

That surprised me too. His funeral was on the qualifying Saturday. I was really expecting to see the camera pan over to some sort of banner held up by a fan... but nothing?

Vegetableman; Senna was not Italian. His funeral was not a massive event that took place on the streets of Italy right before the Italian Grand Prix. You have missed the point.

[clampett]

Originally posted by Vegetableman
It's a shame he wasn't remembered by the drivers but do you think he mentioned anything when Senna died?

Don't know, but that's not relevant IMO.

[Ross Stonefeld]

It is. I turned in to watch a Formula One race, not an opera. Though I'm sure I would have found a trip to La Scala about as entertaining.

[schead]

It is indeed a shame. It is always a shame to lose a tenner.

[bira]

He WAS remembered. It just wasn't on TV.

At 11am Sunday, on the drivers' parade, they stopped the interviews on the truck and played on the PA system Pavarotti's Nessum Dorna. And when he gives that famous high note in the aria's climax, the whole crowd wailed. It was actually very emotional.

[Hacklerf]

Originally posted by bira
He WAS remembered. It just wasn't on TV.

At 11am Sunday, on the drivers' parade, they stopped the interviews on the truck and played on the PA system Pavarotti's Nessum Dorna. And when he gives that famous high note in the aria's climax, the whole crowd wailed. It was actually very emotional.

This pleases me, Luciano was a great performer, and a man of many talents, im glad they paid tribute in his own back yard.

[Bloggsworth]

I posted my personal tribute to Pavarotti on the BBC website.

Mind you, the goings on before qualifying on Saturday were pure opera......................

[Only Massa]

Originally posted by clampett
Probably all of you know that Luciano Pavarotti, the most celebrated opera tenor and italian icon died last week by pancreatic cancer at the age of 71. It was only a day before the Italian GP weekend had started, and yet, noone, I mean NOONE remembered him AFAIK. :

I don't want to bash any driver or any team with this... but it was an embarassment to this field really.

His death was irrelevant to Formula 1.

And he also was not so loved in Italy: he hid millions of cash in Monaco and refused to pay taxes in Italy. He got accused and had to pay a great sum for his crime.

Definitely he was not a positive figure and he is an Italian icon only for foreigners who think Italia is only pizza, spaghetti, mafia and people singing opera (which, contrary to a widespread belief, has almost no public in Italy).

[Dalton007]

Originally posted by Only Massa


His death was irrelevant to Formula 1.

And he also was not so loved in Italy: he hid millions of cash in Monaco and refused to pay taxes in Italy. He got accused and had to pay a great sum for his crime.

Definitely he was not a positive figure and he is an Italian icon only for foreigners who think Italia is only pizza, spaghetti, mafia and people singing opera (which, contrary to a widespread belief, has almost no public in Italy).

I agree. People die all the time. Death has no boundaries.

[schead]

Originally posted by Only Massa


His death was irrelevant to Formula 1.

And he also was not so loved in Italy: he hid millions of cash in Monaco and refused to pay taxes in Italy. He got accused and had to pay a great sum for his crime.

Definitely he was not a positive figure and he is an Italian icon only for foreigners who think Italia is only pizza, spaghetti, mafia and people singing opera (which, contrary to a widespread belief, has almost no public in Italy).

And whilst we are laying the boot in on the dead guy, lets also remember that he was fat.

[Vitesse2]

Originally posted by Only Massa


And he also was not so loved in Italy: he hid millions of cash in Monaco and refused to pay taxes in Italy. He got accused and had to pay a great sum for his crime.

*cough* Valentino Rossi *cough*

Isn't tax evasion the Italian national hobby?

[Lifew12]

Originally posted by schead


And whilst we are laying the boot in on the dead guy, lets also remember that he was fat.

Marvellous. Made my day. Would have been even funnier without the rolling eyes.

[Buttoneer]

Originally posted by Vitesse2

*cough* Valentino Rossi *cough*

Isn't tax evasion the Italian national hobby?

*cough* Willi Weber *cough*

And in Germany?

I'm glad they did something at the track. Whichever way you look at it, Pavarotti was one of the great Italians of our time and his passing deserved recognition.

[Only Massa]

Originally posted by Vitesse2

*cough* Valentino Rossi *cough*

Isn't tax evasion the Italian national hobby?

Sadly it is. But people is beginning to hate heroes who do not pay taxes.

Valentino Rossi's situation is quite different: he must clarify his position with Italian Minister of Finances so he has not (yet) committed any tax-crime. But he's being investigated. If he finds an agreement with the Tax Office, he will be cleared.

[Lifew12]

Originally posted by Only Massa


Sadly it is. But people is beginning to hate heroes who do not pay taxes.

Thats because we have to pay the bloody things! If I could find a way not to, believe me I would!

[Hacklerf]

Originally posted by Buttoneer

*cough* Willi Weber *cough*

And in Germany?

I'm glad they did something at the track. Whichever way you look at it, Pavarotti was one of the great Italians of our time and his passing deserved recognition.

*cough* Pretty much all of F1 *cough*

[kyriakos75]

Originally posted by Only Massa


His death was irrelevant to Formula 1.

And he also was not so loved in Italy: he hid millions of cash in Monaco and refused to pay taxes in Italy. He got accused and had to pay a great sum for his crime.

Definitely he was not a positive figure and he is an Italian icon only for foreigners who think Italia is only pizza, spaghetti, mafia and people singing opera (which, contrary to a widespread belief, has almost no public in Italy).

Not only is it extremely low to make such comments at this time, but also considering the crowd that attended his funeral at Modena, you are obviously wrong.

Thankfully people after 50 years will remember him for his voice, and not for the above accusations.

[Atreiu]

Why should he be remembered at an F1 race?

[djned]

Originally posted by Hacklerf
*cough*

wow, has everyone on this thread come down with the flu or something?

;)

[clampett]

Originally posted by bira
He WAS remembered. It just wasn't on TV.

At 11am Sunday, on the drivers' parade, they stopped the interviews on the truck and played on the PA system Pavarotti's Nessum Dorna. And when he gives that famous high note in the aria's climax, the whole crowd wailed. It was actually very emotional.

Thanks for the info.

[Buttoneer]

Originally posted by Hacklerf

*cough* Pretty much all of F1 *cough*

Fair enough!

[clampett]

Originally posted by Atreiu
Why should he be remembered at an F1 race?

John Paul II was remembered. The victims of the 9/11 terrorist attacks too. Are they related to F1?

But the case is closed now, bira clarified it.

[Only Massa]

Originally posted by kyriakos75


Not only is it extremely low to make such comments at this time, but also considering the crowd that attended his funeral at Modena, you are obviously wrong.

Thankfully people after 50 years will remember him for his voice, and not for the above accusations.

Ehm, a man is not only a voice, but also a person, a public person, etc. Don't be fooled by the number of people at Pavarotti's funeral: they were mainly there because the funeral was on Tv, but very few people liked Pavarotti as a person.

My personal opinion (shared by many) is that Pavarotti was a detrimental image for Italy: we are a modern European country and old and wrong touristic cliches such as pizza, mandolino, pasta and Italians always singing opera (which, as I said before, in Italy has almost no followers and no market).

[Buttoneer]

Originally posted by Only Massa

My personal opinion (shared by many) is that Pavarotti was a detrimental image for Italy: we are a modern European country and old and wrong touristic cliches such as pizza, mandolino, pasta and Italians always singing opera (which, as I said before, in Italy has almost no followers and no market).

Hey don't forget Gelato, Wine, and designer clothes.

Unfortunately for you, the Italian Tourist Board doesn't share your views and pushes all of what you might consider to be cliches onto the tourist advertising. Good thing too, since it's mostly true.

You may not much like Opera, but there can be no doubt that some of the very best opera's ever written were written by Italians and many more written in the Italian language. That is something to be extremely proud of and to celebrate. You may not be proud of this particular achievement, but maybe you should be. Italy is, IMO one of the very nicest countries in Europe, and I include its people and culture in that. You may feel it is a cliche but it definitely is not a wrong one or one to be ashamed of.

[schead]

Hey don't forget Gelato, Wine, and designer clothes.

Not to mention corruption, fist fighting politicians, bribery, crap parking, and an (ex) leader who makes Lex Luther look honest.

[noikeee]

Well, considering that Pavarotti was remembered in even some random party we had over here this weekend, I guess F1 could have done the same.

Although I'm not entirely sure if having a dj suddenly stopping the dance music to put a Pavarotti track, while still jumping up and down completely mashed, to an entire crowd giving him the "what the flying ****" look, is what F1 should've done.

[David M. Kane]

As a person who loves all things Italian, I should point out that on the Speed TV coverage Bob Varsha gave brief tribute to the man. Since he was a resident of that great city Modena and a icon of Italy to us Americans I thought it appropriate.

[Spunout]

Originally posted by Vegetableman
It's a shame he wasn't remembered by the drivers but do you think he mentioned anything when Senna died?

Exactly.

The fact is people die all the time. Singers, actors, politicians, businessmen...you name it. This wasn´t 9/11, tsunami or even the death of John Paul II. Those three events were mentioned because the drivers and the teams felt that way. But they don´t have the responsibility to mention opera singers, no more than opera singes have the responsibility to mention race car drivers.

[lukywill]

i bet the pavaroti moment was more emotionally than the 9/11 osanas.

or should i say o senas.

[Atreiu]

Originally posted by clampett


John Paul II was remembered. The victims of the 9/11 terrorist attacks too. Are they related to F1?

But the case is closed now, bira clarified it.

No, and I don't think F1 should surrender to all tragedies and celebrities/important figures death.

[Dudley]

No it wasn't.

If they "remembered" every dead celebrity we'd be here all year.

[David M. Kane]

Dudley I'll be sure to hit the pause button when you leave us.;)

[McGuire]

Originally posted by Only Massa


Definitely he was not a positive figure and he is an Italian icon only for foreigners who think Italia is only pizza, spaghetti, mafia and people singing opera (which, contrary to a widespread belief, has almost no public in Italy).

Not to burst your bubble but your pizza is nothing special. It's probably better than your cars though.

[David M. Kane]

I disagree, I had some excellent brick oven pizza in Firenze.

Sometimes I think Italians want to be in America and Americans want to be in Italy. That's certainly the way it is around this household.

[JSF]

Some of the best food i have is when racing at Monza, and by eck are the girls in the shops there tasty too.

[KLN]

they showed the funeral live on Pay TV here in australia.
what else do you want!
i won't tell you what they called him on the last tour!!!!!!

[Victor]

Originally posted by Ross Stonefeld
It is. I turned in to watch a Formula One race, not an opera. Though I'm sure I would have found a trip to La Scala about as entertaining.

Probably you would see more overtaking...

[McGuire]

Originally posted by JSF
Some of the best food i have is when racing at Monza, and by eck are the girls in the shops there tasty too.

There is great food in Italy, just not the pizza. But even the pizza is better than the cars, which are overpriced, laughably under-engineered junk. The Hindustan Ambassador is screwed together better than a Lamborghini.

[Dudley]

Which is German.

[McGuire]

Originally posted by Dudley
Which is German.

Not unless Sant'Agata Bolognese has suddenly become part of Germany. While it is true that Audi's ownership of the company has improved the product tenfold, it's still not nearly enough to make it worth buying.

If I ever do develop a hunger for stick welding, square tubing, and black rattle-can paint, I will commission a local bomber racer to build a car for me and save a few hundred thousand dollars. His car will probably even start.

[Lada Lover]

I remembered Pavarotti on Saturday.

[Lada Lover]

Originally posted by schead
It is indeed a shame. It is always a shame to lose a tenner.

I knew I shouldn't have bet on Massa.

[Lada Lover]

I've always thought Italian cars were good; interesting shapes with wonderful switches and fine materials. I guess I'm wrong to stereotype.

[prettyface]

What the hell is wrong with some of you people? Pavarotti was one of the more universal italians of the late 20th century, warts and all; and he died on the same weekend as the Italian GP. What's wrong with a brief moment of remembrance? I'm glad to hear it happened, even if away from the cameras.

And F1 had a gesture for the pope and 9/11, why not pav?

And the suggestion that he was not loved and that modern italians shun the traditional image... please.

Amazing.

[clampett]

Originally posted by prettyface
What the hell is wrong with some of you people? Pavarotti was one of the more universal italians of the late 20th century, warts and all; and he died on the same weekend as the Italian GP. What's wrong with a brief moment of remembrance? I'm glad to hear it happened, even if away from the cameras.

And F1 had a gesture for the pope and 9/11, why not pav?

And the suggestion that he was not loved and that modern italians shun the traditional image... please.

Amazing.

Well said. My thoughts too.

[Ross Stonefeld]

Because the death of a singer is not as important as a terrorist attack? Or at least it shouldn't be.

[tidytracks]

Anita Roddick died this week. Do you think that the drivers are all going to use Body Shop products in their race preparation as a mark of respect?

Please, this thread is a bit silly, especially as there was a remembrance of Pavarotti during the driver's parade, as bira has already pointed out.

[Ross Stonefeld]

I saw an intersting comment in the guardian this morning that surely Modena's most famous son is a Mr. Ferrari?