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Nobels Frespris Konsert
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What's so funny about
THE WORLDS OF POP AND POMP COLLIDE AT
BY GINA ARNOLD | Have you ever felt like the whole point of this planet is merely to act as a stage for big showbiz productions? Judging by the profusion of entertainment-oriented events in the sociopolitical complex, there may be some truth to that view. For the past five years, the Nobel Peace Prize has been awarded at the Oslo Town Hall on the anniversary of Alfred Nobel's death, in conjunction with a pop concert meant to be, in the words of Nobel Institute director Geir Lundstadt, "a musical tribute to peace in general and to the peace laureate of the year in specific." (Past concerts have featured Jewel, Sinéad O'Connor, Mariah Carey and Boyz II Men.) When it was announced earlier this year that the lineup would include the Cranberries, it fueled speculation that the peace prize winners -- then unannounced -- would be the Irish entrants, John Hume and David Trimble, as indeed turned out to be the case. Although this year's concert was somewhat overshadowed by the Amnesty International benefit concert held in Paris the night before, which drew the world music press to its gates with a bill boasting Radiohead, Peter Gabriel and Bruce Springsteen, the Nobel Peace Prize lineup featured Alanis Morissette, Shania Twain and Phil Collins, as well as several well-known international acts. One has to wonder if the Nobel laureates are as edified by Twain's presence as she is by theirs. During last Friday's three-hour event, there were many times when I eyed both Trimble, Hume and His Royal Highness, King Harald of Norway, and wondered what they were thinking. Well, I can only imagine what they were thinking about Shania Twain, who's extreme prettiness overshadows anything else she does. But is there not an unintentional trivialization that takes place when you add pop to pomp? Though that was my initial thesis, when the concert was over I had to revise my thesis. The Nobel Prize may have dignity on its side, but pop music has a power all its own -- a power that can, in certain situations, work its own kind of miracle. The concert was a relatively intimate gathering, attended by about 2,000 extremely well-heeled Norwegians in smart black coats and boots. But with regard to eclecticism, it had Lollapalooza beat by miles -- some of the world's biggest pop acts, like India's Pandits ShivHari and Africa's Oumou Sangare, delivered a fitting homage to the peace process that the Nobel Institute attempts to honor and facilitate. But make no mistake: It was corny. Cornier than Christmas, cornier than "Cats," even. I think I cried about 17 times, the first time when Trimble and Hume came into the arena together. Then I cried for the king, because earlier in the day I bought a postcard of him as a sweet little boy on a horse -- and now, it turns out, he's bald. Then I cried for the little boys in sailor suits who sang "God Save the King" in Norwegian. And it was all downhill from there. I managed to stay dry-eyed for the Cranberries and Phil Collins, but just barely. I choked up again when poor President Clinton came on the video screen to congratulate the laureates, and the audience audibly snickered. Luckily, Clinton had learned a sentence in Norske, and when he uttered it -- "thanks and God bless" -- the giggles turned to cheers. N E X T__P A G E .|. The irony-free zone PHOTO BY AP/WIDE WORLD |
