Should more use be made of music in airshow commentaries?

NO, especially when a merlin engine can be heard 😉

+1.

I don’t mind music being used before displays commence to set the atmosphere, as they often do at Shoreham and did to an extent at Legends this year, but once the displays commence I want to hear the engines, not music.

Newspaper?

At one Fighter Meet the Spitfire display was recovering and Carolyn turned left base against a beautiful cloudscape.

The PA was playing Nimrod, and it was a truly neck hair-prickling moment.

Moggy

I do like the idea that it could be transmitted on the radio etc as most smart phones can receive radio stations, simply plugging in your headphones or hands free you could listen the it through that. They could even do it in different languages.

I seem to remember either Mildenhall or /and North Weald used to have their own airshow radio stations you could listen to in the car.You also got a free airshow version of the Express [ i think] newspaper.

Same could be said about commentaries !! seems you have it sorted ! :rolleyes:

I do like the idea that it could be transmitted on the radio etc as most smart phones can receive radio stations, simply plugging in your headphones or hands free you could listen the it through that. They could even do it in different languages.

Each to their own !

No..no..no…no… The odd glider routine yes, but the rest no.. If I want to listen to music I’ll go to a concert, I go to an airshow to see and listen to the aircraft…. And that commentator that Duxford used to have, they should have set his booth up on the middle of the airfield and had a set piece where they bombed and strafed it…

My thoughts ! music works with the Jungmann and Gliders 🙂

Equally, there have been some terrible musical choices.

Whilst I wouldn’t go as far as to call it ‘terrible’, the vocal version of Bolero used to accompany Anna Walker’s otherwise excellent Jungmann solo last weekend was, quite frankly, bizarre.

Oh dear Trump you are REALLY offended by our friendly Gallic commentator aren’t you?

A different commentator at another venue is under discussion here Charlie. 😉

Oh dear Trump you are REALLY offended by our friendly Gallic commentator aren’t you? And he speaks highly of you too, I understand!;)

It’s my view that well-chosen, appropriate and well-timed music can help enhance a display. Case in point: the ‘Hanna slot’ that traditionally saw Spitfire MH434 displaying to a combination of The Last Post (a stirring version I’ve never been able to track down commercially) and Lesley Garrett’s Jerusalem; the latter received an airing at the end of Flying Legends last weekend, incidentally!

That Biggin solo benefitted from the musical accompaniment; it helped heighten already stirred emotions, and didn’t detract from the sounds of the Merlin. That said, there are some occasions – the 16 Spitfires at Duxford spring to mind – where no music is necessary. It’s about balance and judging the right moments, if you ask me.

Equally, there have been some terrible musical choices. Southend Airshow was always a good example of how not to do things in that sense – Battle of Britain March for the Lancaster, Dambusters for the Hurricane, Spitfire Prelude for the Hurricane etc…

I can remember going to shows at Duxford be it Legends or their main September show when during the morning big band or appropriate themed music was played, i think this helped the crowd to relax and soak up the atmosphere at such a historic airfield.

During the 2010 show a tape of Winston Churchill ‘few’ speech was played as 16 spitfires taxied out it didn’t drown out the sound of all those Merlin engines and in my opinion enhanced the act like many have said it can enhance the show if played right.

perhaps during a Spitfire tail chase with a Bucon one could play simulated gun fire and even commentate as a reporter would during the time. Isn’t there a clip of a reporter describing an attack on a convoy from Dover he was watching ? for die hard aviation experts it would obviously detract from the display but for the majority of Joe Public attending an airshow it could be a worthwhile discription of what is trying to be recreated ! Just my opinion i know and probably not worth much :very_drunk:

But I bet they’ll have him back for the next show. 🙁

Any commentator who can talk all the way through three passes from the BBMF needs to be pelted with rotten fruit.

I am disappointed it’s as lenient as that–if the fruit was still in the tin it may be getting closer,bricks better though 🙂

Any commentator who can talk all the way through three passes from the BBMF needs to be pelted with rotten fruit.

^^ THIS! ^^

Well said.

I remember a couple of glider displays with well done musical accompaniment.

Yes, maybe with glider shows, otherwise I’m not a fan and usually find a spot as far from the PA as I can find. Nothing worse than aweful music and a pair of dickheads talking rubbish being blared over the PA

I think you can guess, Mike. All the way through.

Anyone we know Rob? 🙂

Any commentator who can talk all the way through three passes from the BBMF needs to be pelted with rotten fruit.