[Hans Andersen]

Originally Posted by august

they are... Edith Piaf is a 20th century classic. She is the same for music as, say, Hemingway is for literature.

You may argue that not knowing is not a shame, but your opening this poll suggests that you are kind of defending your right not to know basic things Kind of boasting even - I don't know her, so what?

It's childish...

maybe

[Varg]

Well, this is what russians call "палка о двух концах".
Some people have not even heard of Leonard Cohen, even though he is also a classic...
But I agree with August, there are some extents for "not knowing" the stuff that every intelligent person has to know.

PS The earth is not round, it is elliptical

[Junior]

Originally Posted by august

they are... Edith Piaf is a 20th century classic. She is the same for music as, say, Hemingway is for literature.

You may argue that not knowing is not a shame, but your opening this poll suggests that you are kind of defending your right not to know basic things Kind of boasting even - I don't know her, so what?

It's childish...

Comparing Mozart and Piaf is childish.
Mozart is undoubtely one of the top composers in history of music. Him, Beethoven, then-as you like. Piaf is a LEGENDARY french singer-and that's all. You can find Piafs among almost all nations, everybody has beloved performers. The impact she has had on music is miserable, unnoticeable-nothing compared with Mozart's or whatever top-10 classical composer.
Comparing Hemingway and Piaf is odd too. Though Hemingway is not the brightest writer of the period nor he is a founder of a literature line or something(just good imo), he is much more a must-read writer than Piaf is a must-hear singer.
She is not The Beatles at last!
No, it's not a shame Hans. Anyhow I'll give you some songs of her's to you to compare her with Mozart

[Shauri]

I love her voice... It brings back memories of the things I never knew...

[Hrach_Techie]

Мы хотим Эдит!!!

[burnash]

Originally Posted by august

is it OK for, say, a secondary school graduate not to know that the Earth is round? There are limits to what you can afford not knowing without a shame.

it's a typical soviet thinking - if you do not know sth, than it's a shame...
i am not saying that it's ok for a secondary school graduate not to know that the Earth is round - I am saying that this has nothing to do with "shame"...

[burnash]

is this a poll in English only section?

[burnash]

Originally Posted by Varg

Well, this is what russians call "палка о двух концах".
Some people have not even heard of Leonard Cohen, even though he is also a classic...
But I agree with August, there are some extents for "not knowing" the stuff that every intelligent person has to know.

PS The earth is not round, it is elliptical

we were talking about intelligent people?

[august]

Originally Posted by burnash

it's a typical soviet thinking - if you do not know sth, than it's a shame...
i am not saying that it's ok for a secondary school graduate not to know that the Earth is round - I am saying that this has nothing to do with "shame"...

This is exactly the reason why we have journalists who think Bruce Springsteen is a group

[august]

Originally Posted by Junior

The impact she has had on music is miserable, unnoticeable-nothing compared with Mozart's or whatever top-10 classical composer.

OK, Mozart may not be a relevant comparison, since he's a composer, not a performer, then let's talk about performers...

She is a legend in performing. Callas is a legend for opera, Piaf is the legend for chanson. It's as easy as that.

As to the impact on music - i am not going to argue about that. That's even more childish.

She IS a top singer. Just like Hans Christian Andersen is a top fairy tale writer. These are top names - for each one in his/her own sphere.

[burnash]

Originally Posted by august

This is exactly the reason why we have journalists who think Bruce Springsteen is a group

anyone can make a mistake or miss something in his/her education - even you, dear ("a group" or, rather, "a band"???? ), or- oh, God - even me!

still, there is nothing to be ashamed of....

[Hans Andersen]

Well, first of all, I am considering myself as an intelligent person. Tho I didn't know who is Edith Piaf.

I've just googled her and it seems Param-Param is one of her songs. Well, I'm familiar with this song and I remember the voice singing it pretty well.
The fact is: I never heard/cared to hear the name of this particular singer. And I honestly don't even think an "intellignet" person should know every great singer/drawer/gamer/sportsmen etc of every nation.

august, just a question, do you know, say, Paul Tergat, one of the greatest sportsmen ever? or Nal_rA?
i really do not consider this kind of knowledge has something to do with one's intelligence.

[burnash]

Originally Posted by august

This is exactly the reason why we have journalists who think Bruce Springsteen is a group

we have journalists who can think whatever about anyone, what out of it? this is a very different matter, aziz....

[Mighty]

daesh molodeji zanyatost

[burnash]

Originally Posted by Hans Andersen

august, just a question, do you know, say, Paul Tergat, one of the greatest sportsmen ever? or Nal_rA?
i really do not consider this kind of knowledge has something to do with one's intelligence.

this is exactly what I was trying to say for the last two pages )) - you can be an extremely intelligent person and fail to know a lot of "elementary" or "primitive" things - what out of it??????????????? shame on all of us, because each of us does not know very many very simple things....

hey guys - you still do not know the capital of Brunei???????????????????? what about Katar?? shame on you, people - and you dare talk about intelligence after this???????? now, please go home, open up your encyclopedias and do not get back to the forum until you learn the capitals of all Asian countries!!!!!
vot tak vot....