His big voice and big smile made him a hit sensation from the 1960s onwards and he sold millions of records throughout his long career.
His biggest markets were Czechoslovakia, Germany and Russia. His folk-style Schlager went down well in those parts.
I first became acquainted with him whilst watching the film Kdyby tisíc klarinetu (1965). He plays himself - already a pop star back then. The film is full of music. With a little help from a statue of Bach, all the weapons on a military camp turn into musical instruments to the delight of one pacifist soldier. Well worth watching.
Back to Gott (which is German for God, if you weren't so sure). He had four daughters with three different women and now he will have a semi-state funeral with a service by the archbishop of Prague.
Some Czechs (not many), are not only questioning his Catholic credentials, but also whether such an honour should be bestowed upon someone who was simply a popular singer. He largely rode above political issues during his long career and remained content with communism as long as he could cut his records and continue to travel (something most of his countrymen were unable to do).
Give him his service, I say. He was a happy-go-lucky guy who enjoyed singing and entertaining. To reach 80 in the music industry is quite an achievement. After all, drugs and alcohol don't seem to have been big issues for him and with a name like his who could deny him a holy send off?
A clip of Karel Gott singing in the film Kdyby tisíc klarinetu - If a Thousand Clarinets (1965).
No comments:
Post a Comment