I love this – it’s straight out of a Sicilian novel
So liberal and progressive switcher Felix Busuttil has been rewarded with the pleasures of ‘art directing’ the Gozo carnival and teeing everyone off because they don’t like it, him or Monsignor Vella Gauci, the Gozo Carnival boss.
(I can’t believe I’m writing about these things, but as the title up above says..)
A few days ago Felix and the Monsignor held a meeting for carnival dilettanti in Victoria, who were told that things would be done differently now and all dances would take no longer than eight minutes.
The dilettanti voiced their anger at this decision, saying that there is no point in preparing elaborate costumes just to dance for eight precise minutes.
Their anger became worse and louder when Felix and the Monsignor attempted to placate them by saying not to worry, because they wouldn’t be making any costumes. They would be wearing the costumes they are going to be told to wear, choices made by the artistic director, Felix.
These choices might include, for example, kostumi tac-Citadella u tal-Fanal bi skop li dawn jippromova l-kultura Ghawdxija.
Artistic director Felix, they were told, will also choose the songs and music they dance to, and they will not be permitted to choose their own as in previous years.
It’s only a matter of time now before they’re told not to bother turning up at all, because the artistic director majtezwel bring in his own dance troupe once he’s choosing everything else.
One thing’s for sure: there are going to be no papier-mache King and Queen Carnival in the distinct form of the Monsignor and Fabienne.
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FLASH NEWS:
These are the Songs director Felix will be choosing for the Karnival Ghawdxi, in Descending order:
20. Dolly Parton, “9 to 5”
19. Coming Out Crew, “Free, Gay and Happy”
18. Village People, “In the Navy”
17. Frankie Goes To Hollywood, “Relax”
16. Village People, “Macho Man”
15. Judy Garland, “Over The Rainbow”
14. Bronski Beat, “Smalltown Boy”
13. Diana Ross, “I’m Coming Out”
12. Cher, “Believe”
11. Gloria Gaynor, “I Am What I Am”
10. Alicia Bridges, “I Love The Nightlife”
9. Madonna, “Vogue”
8. Olivia Netwon-John “Xanadu”
7. Kylie Minogue, “Better The Devil You Know”
6. Pet Shop Boys, “Go West”
5. Kylie Minogue, “Your Disco Needs You”
4. The Weathergirls, “It’s Raining Men”
3. Gloria Gaynor, “I Will Survive”
2. Village People, “YMCA”
1. ABBA, “Dancing Queen”
Hilarious.
Thanks for that, Paddling Duck.
That’s pretty much the staple playlist at G-A-Y in Soho (London) on a bad night.
Felix doesn’t know much about dance or choreography either. He just knows how to put men and women in skimpy tasteless outfits and make them roll their shoulders back and stick their chests out.
It’s also a shame since it sounds to me that the whole event is going to be taken out of the hands of the local people who enjoy preparing for it, and into the hands of these guys who know little about anything that doesn’t concern their ego.
I always thought Felix belonged in jail for the amount of plagiarism he has managed to get away with. He did Moulin Rouge a while back- “everything EXACTLY like the film” was the line people would repeat and repeat, with a look of admiration in their eyes. I thought it was illegal.
The last thing any of this will be is original.
Edward, f**k them. They voted for change and they got it.
Kitten will draw the storyboards
I am sure the artistic director will bring in his own dance troupe. Obviously this will be against payment.
… and the only own troupe will be paid slightly less than the total paid out to the troupes. This will show the good governance we now have as for a lesser expenditure we will be graced by a 1st class cultural show.
In China they have some excellent dance troupes, as we saw in those old Mintoff-in-China videos. Perhaps Mrs Konrad Mizzi would organise it.
The beginning of the end of the Gozo Carnival.
It sucks anyway. Then again, that probably was the attraction.
And it will be as successful as his shows were in America.
Felix and the monsignor are going to turn the Gozo carnival into an Alison White Dancers/YADA/gay parade. Kull ma jonqos, Renato u Mary Spiteri.
Reminds me more of North Korea than Sicily.
That meeting was taped, and the monsignor emphasised the fact. Felix and he said that this was being done to avoid any misunderstanding but it felt so Big Brother or Gestapo.
People were inhibited from voicing their opinion and criticism outright.
They said that they wanted feedback, but it was obvious that everything has been fixed and decided already.
In the grand scheme of things the Gozo carnival may be a trivial matter, but it is also the time where artists and crafts people get the opportunity to exhibit their talents. Unfortunately it seems like Carnival 2014 will be one big Yada show.
Does the Monsignor not have anything better to do than get involved in the Gozo carnival?
The people who were at the meeting should immediately have walked out and then boycott the Gozo carnival or organise one themselves without any interference. Let is be a ‘spontaneous’ carnival.
Jose’ Herrerasaurus (that was brilliant by the way) had said that we needed more Carnivals, hadn’t he? So, now is the brilliant time to organise one with the locals and one with Yada.
I never knew that the Malta Taghna Lkoll movement has also permeated such insigificant affairs as the Gozo Carnival. However, this in itself is very telling. It shows how vision-less the people in government are. The PN in government always sought to promote local culture and local events. Whether they were classy or not is another matter altogether. I can sense here a pattern which is aimed more at giving out iced buns than promoting of local culture.
However, there is a question which is begging to be screamed out: what on earth is this Monsignor doing on the Gozo Carnival Board (or whatever it is called)? Pope Francis really needs to pay a visit to Gozo.
Daphne you got it all wrong- get the right information before writing anything.
[Daphne – Felix, you are more than welcome to give me the right information. I will upload it in full, as a post, and with prominence. But please don’t tell me that I have the wrong information and then fail to give me any other information you have.]
1.YADA not involved.2. Music and costumes chosen by participants 3. Advice given and directed but not imposed 4. The length of dances depend on the defile not eight minutes 5. The defile only Saturday – the dances and their length remain the same on the other four days 5. The maskri grotteski and karrijiet creations are the free expression if those involved 6. The element of the Gozo carnival remains the same but themed 6. And to all those who keep writing or trying to bring me down by saying I am gay .. I have no qualms about it. The problem lies with you.
[Daphne – Nobody has tried to bring you down by saying you are gay, Felix. And in any case, at our great age, we should be immune to insults. We’re not exactly 13-year-olds who are going to hang ourselves if somebody calls us fat, stupid, ugly or gay.]
And by the way I am heeding the instructions of some of you that yes after 30 years of dance and my diplomas and teaching abroad and building the largest dance school on the island will be taking my Masters at university next year perhaps I learn somethig more.
Stop judging and commenting on other people !! are u always successful??? everyone have there up and downs and through mistakes u become stronger !! i know Felix and i admire him alot for his determination.He is a positive person and i believe that a positive person is more successful than anyone here judging and commenting on others!! wake up do something better for yourself instead of minding others business and commenting non sense. There’s nothing more to add. Felix dont let anyone waste your time :)
sorry guys, but why can’t we leave a person like Felix do what he knows best, and that is dancing, who are we to say that he is not good at it if maybe you don’t like that type of shows.
What he has managed to build in Malta, already shows that you are wrong. He always had this idea of pushing arts in Malta when we didn’t even know the concept of it, let alone trying it or having it as part of our culture.
Whatever he does, is always at his 100% and I do believe that he will add to it rather than what you are all saying…let the person have a chance and he will prove you wrong.
I guess some people are afraid to let the past behind and look forward. I’m very sure Felix will improve the carnival in Gozo, hiis experience is not to go unnoticed. And pls stop all this homophobic rants. Ignorance is bliss!