Karel Gott: Thousands view coffin, Minister skips the queue

It's time to lay the Karel Gott story to rest now with a few final reflections.

Why did 49,000 people (see gallery) line up to pass by the late singer's coffin?

Was it that they simply loved his music? His mere artistic output brought joy to their hearts?

Perhaps. But why was this musician given a funeral with near state honours? What did he achieve for the Czech state?

An alternative view is that this was an outpouring of nostalgia for the past. Looking back with rose-tinted spectacles at those cheery days in Communist Czechoslovakia. The songs on the state-sponsored radio and TV. Who is this blogger to say? Readers comments welcome below.

One last macabre snippet: the Transport Minister was in such a rush that he skipped the queue to say goodbye to the dead singer. Scandalous and inexplicable in equal measure. Skipping a queue for lunch, if you can get away with it ok. But skipping the queue to see a stone cold dead guy? What's the point?

A video mix of Gott's hits from the 60s including a Beatles cover.

Farewell to the godfather of Czech pop: Karel Gott

Czechs are currently mourning one of their greatest and most beloved popstars: Karel Gott.

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).