Trygve Seim: Rumi Songs
Forcing words into songs is tricky business that rarely works. Critics and prize-committees like to pretend otherwise but almost universally the music suffers resulting in painfully awkward presentations. Hiding behind the avant curtain doesn’t change the truth. These are dissertations that won’t be read. No amount of hard work can change that. The poetry is poison.
Don’t get me wrong. I like Rumi. It might not even be so distracting if it were a hybrid attempt at crossing Norwegian experimental with Farsi vocals (that I wouldn’t be able to understand) but the English vocals are untenable.
I’ll read Rumi and listen to music separately, thank you. Not recommended.