Latest news with #Who'sNext
Boston Globe
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Boston Globe
Tom Lehrer's influence on political satire is still playing out today
Advertisement Lehrer proved not just that the absurdity of American life could be an endlessly replenishing source of comedy, but that there was a decent-sized audience for that comedy. Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up As Lehrer's subject matter encompassed the nuclear arms race ('Who's Next,' 'A Song for World War III,' 'We Will All Go Together When We Go'), organized religion ('Vatican Rag'), the sanctimony of self-satisfied liberals ('The Folk Song Army'), bigotry ('I Wanna Go Back to Dixie,' 'National Brotherhood Week'), military might as a tool of diplomacy ('Send the Marines'), saccharine nostalgia ('My Home Town,' 'Bright College Days'), the falsity of Hemingway-style glamorization of bullfighting ('In Old Mexico'), and unusual forms of recreation ('Poisoning Pigeons in the Park'). Advertisement Few satirists have zeroed in on contradiction, hypocrisy, or inanity with more scalpel-like precision than Lehrer. In the prescient 'Pollution,' he sang: 'Pollution, pollution/ You can use the latest toothpaste/And then rinse your mouth with industrial waste.' With 'Whatever Became of Hubert?', Lehrer lampooned onetime liberal lion Hubert Humphrey, whose voice grew muted after he agreed to be Lyndon B. Johnson's vice president: 'Whatever became of Hubert?/Has anyone heard a thing?/Once he shone, on his own/Now he sits home alone/And waits for the phone to ring.' In 'Wernher von Braun,' Lehrer lampooned the morally flexible scientist who designed weapons for the Nazis and later worked for NASA, with the lyric, sung by Lehrer in a German accent: ''Once the rockets are up, who cares where they come down?/That's not my department,' says Wernher von Braun.' Dressed in a suit and tie and accompanying himself on the piano, Lehrer loved to upend expectations. His 'I Hold Your Hand in Mine' starts off as a delicate ballad but quickly turns disconcertingly … literal. There was a genius to some of his rhymes. In 'Smut,' he sang: 'Who needs a hobby like tennis or philately?/I've got a hobby: rereading Lady Chatterley; But now they're trying to take it all away from us unless/We take a stand, and hand-in-hand we fight for freedom of the press/In other words: Smut!' Advertisement Growing up in Manhattan, Lehrer saw a lot of Broadway musicals. And it showed. His affection for Gilbert and Sullivan was also palpable, especially in 'The Elements,' a listing of the chemical elements set to the tune of their classic patter song 'I Am the Very Model of a Modern Major-General.' Lehrer contributed songs to NBC's satirical 'That Was the Week That Was' (1963-1965), a US version of a British show, and later released the songs in an album titled 'That Was the Year That Was.' In the early '80s, his songs formed the spine of 'Tomfoolery,' a musical revue presented in London and New York. His debut album, 'Songs by Tom Lehrer,' released in 1953, sold half-a-million copies, But part of Lehrer's mystique stemmed from how relatively soon he left the public stage. Academia was where he felt most at home, and that's where he spent most of his life. He taught math at Harvard (which he had entered as a student when he was only 15) and MIT. However much they mine similar territory, today's late-night TV hosts are different from Lehrer in one important respect: They are idealists. Disappointed idealists, to be sure, but idealists all the same. Not Lehrer, at least not on the evidence of his songs. What undergirds his comedy is a certain wised-up quality. Not disillusionment, because he had no illusions to shatter. Whereas today's political satirists seek not just to garner laughs but to change minds, you always got the sense that Lehrer was primarily interested in amusing himself. His brilliance was such that he ended up amusing the rest of us as well. Advertisement He famously said that 'Political satire became obsolete when Henry Kissinger was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.' Lehrer was wrong about that. And he himself was a big part of the reason why. Don Aucoin can be reached at
Fashion Network
10-07-2025
- Business
- Fashion Network
Sourcing, innovation and décor: What's new at WSN in September
From Saturday, September 6 to Monday, September 8, WSN is back in Paris with three main shows running concurrently: Who's Next, Interfilière Paris, and Bijorhca. In Hall 1 of the Parc des Expositions at Porte de Versailles, the "triumvirate" of trade events will take place under the theme "Where Summer Never Ends," an "Ode to Solar Creativity." In September, Who's Next inaugurates the Who's Next Lab, a hub at the crossroads of fashion, tech, and design. This new module plans to welcome Blanca Martin Hernandez and her demonstrations of 3D printing applied to a clothing collection, and the French brand Incxnnue, which offers accessories combining silicone and textile printing. These guests are joined by Reflexlab and Mikera, a duo of companies between solution and creation, and their live-printed ceramic objects. New products galore Who's Next is also launching its "Home" branch in September, dedicated to interior objects. Some 50 brands, including Manu Matters, Bàng, and Léonor Berrehar, will be on hand to illustrate the "new dynamics of retail," particularly the "concept-storization" of stores. Finally, WSN partner Ankorstore, a B2B marketplace, will have its own space offering a selection of home decoration products. A major new feature of WSN this season is the creation of a dedicated Sourcing and Solutions Track, designed to introduce professionals to the entire creative chain. This track covers the apparel, knitwear and jersey, lingerie, accessories, and leather markets, as well as jewelry, and covers four categories of business: production and sourcing, manufacturers and craftsmen, finishing and finishing, and components and accessories. A dedicated sourcing track This module brings together the three trade shows, including suppliers to Bijorhca's existing Elements area. WSN plans to incorporate a Creative Hub dedicated to exchanges and demonstrations of innovation, know-how, and trends. The hub is working with the Comité Français de la Couleur to propose a new chromatic range and is presenting a matériauthèque, where professionals will be able to handle assortments of materials and samples. The sourcing itinerary is accompanied by a series of conferences, three a day, on the following themes: "Textile Innovations and Manufacturing: Local Solutions" (Saturday), "Colors, Ornamentation and Embellishment, Crucial Market Drivers" (Sunday), and "Bodywear Trends and Textile Value Chain: Waste, Dormant Stocks, Excellence of the French Offer" (Monday). Also, between September 6 and 8, the Parc des Expositions de la Porte de Versailles will host the Neonyt trade show, with its selection of sustainable and innovative brands. Based in Düsseldorf, this show is organized by WSN and Messe Frankfurt. In addition to this program, a final trade fair, Impact, was launched in 2019 by WSN, listing sustainable initiatives in fashion and design.
Fashion Network
10-07-2025
- Business
- Fashion Network
Sourcing, innovation and décor: What's new at WSN in September
From Saturday, September 6 to Monday, September 8, WSN is back in Paris with three main shows running concurrently: Who's Next, Interfilière Paris, and Bijorhca. In Hall 1 of the Parc des Expositions at Porte de Versailles, the "triumvirate" of trade events will take place under the theme "Where Summer Never Ends," an " Ode to Solar Creativity." In September, Who's Next inaugurates the Who's Next Lab, a hub at the crossroads of fashion, tech, and design. This new module plans to welcome Blanca Martin Hernandez and her demonstrations of 3D printing applied to a clothing collection, and the French brand Incxnnue, which offers accessories combining silicone and textile printing. These guests are joined by Reflexlab and Mikera, a duo of companies between solution and creation, and their live-printed ceramic objects. New products galore Who's Next is also launching its "Home" branch in September, dedicated to interior objects. Some 50 brands, including Manu Matters, Bàng, and Léonor Berrehar, will be on hand to illustrate the "new dynamics of retail," particularly the "concept-storization" of stores. Finally, WSN partner Ankorstore, a B2B marketplace, will have its own space offering a selection of home decoration products. A major new feature of WSN this season is the creation of a dedicated Sourcing and Solutions Track, designed to introduce professionals to the entire creative chain. This track covers the apparel, knitwear and jersey, lingerie, accessories, and leather markets, as well as jewelry, and covers four categories of business: production and sourcing, manufacturers and craftsmen, finishing and finishing, and components and accessories. A dedicated sourcing track This module brings together the three trade shows, including suppliers to Bijorhca's existing Elements area. WSN plans to incorporate a Creative Hub dedicated to exchanges and demonstrations of innovation, know-how, and trends. The hub is working with the Comité Français de la Couleur to propose a new chromatic range and is presenting a matériauthèque, where professionals will be able to handle assortments of materials and samples. The sourcing itinerary is accompanied by a series of conferences, three a day, on the following themes: "Textile Innovations and Manufacturing: Local Solutions" (Saturday), "Colors, Ornamentation and Embellishment, Crucial Market Drivers" (Sunday), and "Bodywear Trends and Textile Value Chain: Waste, Dormant Stocks, Excellence of the French Offer" (Monday). Also, between September 6 and 8, the Parc des Expositions de la Porte de Versailles will host the Neonyt trade show, with its selection of sustainable and innovative brands. Based in Düsseldorf, this show is organized by WSN and Messe Frankfurt. In addition to this program, a final trade fair, Impact, was launched in 2019 by WSN, listing sustainable initiatives in fashion and design.
Fashion Network
10-07-2025
- Business
- Fashion Network
Sourcing, innovation and décor: What's new at WSN in September
From Saturday, September 6 to Monday, September 8, WSN is back in Paris with three main shows running concurrently: Who's Next, Interfilière Paris, and Bijorhca. In Hall 1 of the Parc des Expositions at Porte de Versailles, the "triumvirate" of trade events will take place under the theme "Where Summer Never Ends," an " Ode to Solar Creativity." In September, Who's Next inaugurates the Who's Next Lab, a hub at the crossroads of fashion, tech, and design. This new module plans to welcome Blanca Martin Hernandez and her demonstrations of 3D printing applied to a clothing collection, and the French brand Incxnnue, which offers accessories combining silicone and textile printing. These guests are joined by Reflexlab and Mikera, a duo of companies between solution and creation, and their live-printed ceramic objects. New products galore Who's Next is also launching its "Home" branch in September, dedicated to interior objects. Some 50 brands, including Manu Matters, Bàng, and Léonor Berrehar, will be on hand to illustrate the "new dynamics of retail," particularly the "concept-storization" of stores. Finally, WSN partner Ankorstore, a B2B marketplace, will have its own space offering a selection of home decoration products. A major new feature of WSN this season is the creation of a dedicated Sourcing and Solutions Track, designed to introduce professionals to the entire creative chain. This track covers the apparel, knitwear and jersey, lingerie, accessories, and leather markets, as well as jewelry, and covers four categories of business: production and sourcing, manufacturers and craftsmen, finishing and finishing, and components and accessories. A dedicated sourcing track This module brings together the three trade shows, including suppliers to Bijorhca's existing Elements area. WSN plans to incorporate a Creative Hub dedicated to exchanges and demonstrations of innovation, know-how, and trends. The hub is working with the Comité Français de la Couleur to propose a new chromatic range and is presenting a matériauthèque, where professionals will be able to handle assortments of materials and samples. The sourcing itinerary is accompanied by a series of conferences, three a day, on the following themes: "Textile Innovations and Manufacturing: Local Solutions" (Saturday), "Colors, Ornamentation and Embellishment, Crucial Market Drivers" (Sunday), and "Bodywear Trends and Textile Value Chain: Waste, Dormant Stocks, Excellence of the French Offer" (Monday). Also, between September 6 and 8, the Parc des Expositions de la Porte de Versailles will host the Neonyt trade show, with its selection of sustainable and innovative brands. Based in Düsseldorf, this show is organized by WSN and Messe Frankfurt. In addition to this program, a final trade fair, Impact, was launched in 2019 by WSN, listing sustainable initiatives in fashion and design.
Fashion Network
10-07-2025
- Business
- Fashion Network
Sourcing, innovation and décor: What's new at WSN in September
From Saturday, September 6 to Monday, September 8, WSN is back in Paris with three main shows running concurrently: Who's Next, Interfilière Paris, and Bijorhca. In Hall 1 of the Parc des Expositions at Porte de Versailles, the "triumvirate" of trade events will take place under the theme "Where Summer Never Ends," an "Ode to Solar Creativity." In September, Who's Next inaugurates the Who's Next Lab, a hub at the crossroads of fashion, tech, and design. This new module plans to welcome Blanca Martin Hernandez and her demonstrations of 3D printing applied to a clothing collection, and the French brand Incxnnue, which offers accessories combining silicone and textile printing. These guests are joined by Reflexlab and Mikera, a duo of companies between solution and creation, and their live-printed ceramic objects. New products galore Who's Next is also launching its "Home" branch in September, dedicated to interior objects. Some 50 brands, including Manu Matters, Bàng, and Léonor Berrehar, will be on hand to illustrate the "new dynamics of retail," particularly the "concept-storization" of stores. Finally, WSN partner Ankorstore, a B2B marketplace, will have its own space offering a selection of home decoration products. A major new feature of WSN this season is the creation of a dedicated Sourcing and Solutions Track, designed to introduce professionals to the entire creative chain. This track covers the apparel, knitwear and jersey, lingerie, accessories, and leather markets, as well as jewelry, and covers four categories of business: production and sourcing, manufacturers and craftsmen, finishing and finishing, and components and accessories. A dedicated sourcing track This module brings together the three trade shows, including suppliers to Bijorhca's existing Elements area. WSN plans to incorporate a Creative Hub dedicated to exchanges and demonstrations of innovation, know-how, and trends. The hub is working with the Comité Français de la Couleur to propose a new chromatic range and is presenting a matériauthèque, where professionals will be able to handle assortments of materials and samples. The sourcing itinerary is accompanied by a series of conferences, three a day, on the following themes: "Textile Innovations and Manufacturing: Local Solutions" (Saturday), "Colors, Ornamentation and Embellishment, Crucial Market Drivers" (Sunday), and "Bodywear Trends and Textile Value Chain: Waste, Dormant Stocks, Excellence of the French Offer" (Monday). Also, between September 6 and 8, the Parc des Expositions de la Porte de Versailles will host the Neonyt trade show, with its selection of sustainable and innovative brands. Based in Düsseldorf, this show is organized by WSN and Messe Frankfurt. In addition to this program, a final trade fair, Impact, was launched in 2019 by WSN, listing sustainable initiatives in fashion and design.
