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You are here: Home / Music / Late Night Open Thread: Lizzo & the Crystal Flute

Late Night Open Thread: Lizzo & the Crystal Flute

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I popped up a quick post about Lizzo’s performance yesterday because I was genuinely charmed by the idea — here’s a classically-trained flutist (who happens to be a major pop star) helping the Library of Congress publicize its many-faceted holdings. There are people (not just at that concert) who didn’t know the Library of Congress existed, outside of a Nicholas Cage movie maybe. Heck, *I* didn’t know about the LoC’s instrumental holdings, and I love libraries!

And, yes, I assumed there’d be some sniping from the usual suspects… but not that it would be the Topic of the Day on political twitter. These dudes (just about entirely dudes) are definitely exercising their outrage glands in preparation for the upcoming election, and it’s good our side is also on alert…

Reader Interactions

97Comments

  4. 4.

    LeftCoastYankee

    She clearly is having fun and showing respect.

    To all the impotent rage addicts:  check out her nails, they match the crystal.

    Yeah, that still makes day….

  6. 6.

    Major Major Major Major

    Nobody stuff me in a locker, but I do sorta get where Shapiro’s coming from. Just weird to see something like that in such a, ah, contemporary performance. I however don’t actually care. It’s a flute.

  7. 7.

    hilts

    Lizzo is a National Treasure period, full stop!

    I look forward to her receiving a Presidential Medal of Freedom and a Congressional Gold Medal.

  8. 8.

    JWR

    White people, (I resemble that statement), are so f*ckin’ weird. And so damn insecure, also, too

    ETA I thought she was a sorta jazz crossover performer.

  12. 12.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    Today I learned that James Madison had a crystal flute, which is kinda cool, that flutes can me made out of crystal, also kinda cool. And that James Madison had a violent, alcoholic step-son. Poor Dolley.

    Already knew he was… petit.

  14. 14.

    BC in Illinois

    True story from 1974 or so. My wife the instrumental music major found out about the Library of Congress flute collection while I was going to college in Indiana. So just before we went to visit my parents in the suburbs of DC, she got a referral letter from the head of our Music Department so that she could see the old flutes of the 1700s and 1800s. (Something about the changing fingerings; see Theobald Böhm.)

    Anyway, she was expecting to see a display of flutes and was very, very surprised that seeing the Dayton C. Miller Flute Collection meant that you would ask for a specific flute (of the 1,700 available) and they would bring it out to you, in a room set aside for this purpose, and place the flute in your hands! She was flabbergasted. She was expecting flutes under glass, not 150-year-old flutes to play with. 

    It was quite an afternoon.

  17. 17.

    Yutsano

    I need to see their hautbois* collection. Like now.

    *I still think this is the superior name for the oboe, even though the modern instrument is quite different now.,

  18. 18.

    Steeplejack

    At this point the midterms October Surprise is gonna be someone thinks they saw Beyoncé touch Florence Harding’s gravy boat during a White House tour or something.

    — BrieflyAsABoatHat (@Popehat) September 29, 2022

  19. 19.

    Feathers

    The immortal John Rogers of the 27% crazification factor and orcs and Ayn Rand story says that the crystal flute is this weeks “idiot ball.”

    A quick thread on what we, in TV writing, call the Idiot Ball. This is a term used to describe when one character, in order to make the show work, has to behave, uncharacteristically, like a complete idiot. It is usually a different character each week.

    Original tweet

     

    Just a reminder, the crystal flute (… this fucking timeline) is this week’s idiot ball. No need to engage.

    Today’s Tweet

  22. 22.

    mrmoshpotato

    All of the Trump trash who are being whiny, racist assholes about this can go suck James Madison’s ass.

  24. 24.

    Hob

    I kind of almost want to know wtf Matt Walsh was referring to with the “they’re outright admitting!!!” bit. Like, was there a thing that any person actually said or wrote that Walsh interpreted as “them” “admitting” their wicked plan… or was he using “outright admitting” to mean “not in any way saying, but I can tell they mean it”, in much the same way that people these days use “literally” to mean “figuratively”.

    On the other hand, no I don’t want to know. Fuck Matt Walsh.

  26. 26.

    Redshift

    @Hob:

    I kind of almost want to know wtf Matt Walsh was referring to with the “they’re outright admitting!!!” bit.

    Probably just random liberals trolling him on Twitter. “See, that proves it!!?!”

  28. 28.

    Redshift

    Even after all these years, I still can’t wrap my ahead around having such a need to make everything about white people that you’ll insist the only reason this happened was to humiliate you.

  30. 30.

    Feathers

    If you are in the DC area, the LOC also has the Mary Pickford Theater which has free film screenings of films from the Library’s enormous collection. I frequently went back when I was still living at home. Saw some amazing stuff. They did a Shakespeare on film series. Along with each will known film, they showed a silent one reeler from the archive. Yup, they condensed Shakespeare plays down to 12 minutes.

    Also saw Out of the Past for the first time there, first screening of a new print from the preservation lab. Astonishingly lovely.

    It’s a tiny theater, more of a screening room really, so tickets are snapped up as soon as the page goes live.

  32. 32.

    Citizen Alan

    Welp, I just crashed through page 50 of my thesis. So now, I’m going to bed. I think I can finish tomorrow and send it off to my advisor. It’s the last thing I need to do to get my diploma, so hopefully very soon, I can stop thinking about bifurcated fee agreements in Chapter 7 for a while.

  34. 34.

    justawriter

    Lizzo has better credentials to play Madison’s flute than Alito has to rule on Madison’s Bill of Rights.

  35. 35.

    CaseyL

    @Citizen Alan: Congratulations!  Get a great night’s sleep, but I think you’ll be dreaming about bifurcated fee agreements for a while yet.  Something along the lines of “I forgot/misnumbered the footnotes.”

  36. 36.

    rikyrah

    Lizzo playing the flute of the slave owning, 3/5 compromise creating, free Blacks need to be shipped to Liberia President…..

     

    👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾

  38. 38.

    jl

    Thanks for info. I couldn’t figure out what the fuss was about.

    I am sure Dolley Madison, who gave impromptu tours of the White House to whoever was visiting, full of wise cracks about the grave founding father previous tenants, and about the mild unpleasantness during the War of 1812, and who caused more than one international diplomatic scandal by flouting convention during state visits, would be outraged. I’m sure she would be.

  39. 39.

    jl

    Dolley Madison was accused of the early 19th century  equivalent of twerking in the White House. She was well equipped to decollatage, and made the best of it.

  41. 41.

    JWR

    @Feathers: “Out of the Past” has got to be my favorite Robert Mitchum, Jane Greer pairing. I’d love to see that in its newly restored condition.

    ETA fixed for clarity.

  42. 42.

    jl

    Aside from the racism, this is another example of authoritarian reactionaries using their faked up version of the founders for the purpose of dishonest indoctrination and social engineering. They just lie and lie about our history to keep their dupes cowed and angry, and racist, and classist, and provide a dishonest excuse for the population to submit to mindless bigoted authoritarianism. I guess I should use the F word.

  45. 45.

    JoyceH

    @Westyny: ​
     

    It’s really all about the racism, isn’t it

    It SO is! Remember the Tan Suit? I had remembered that as a humorous thing, but recently I went back and watched the contemporary conservative commentary on the subject, and they genuinely WERE, or doing a fine job of pretending to be, outraged. Obama was disrespecting the office the Presidency by being so frivolous as to wear a tan suit, etc, etc. The ANGER in their voices! Every time I see Mitch McConnell in a tan suit (which is fairly often, honestly) I remember that.

  46. 46.

    David 🌈 ☘The Establishment☘🌈 Koch

    @jl: They wouldn’t even like the founding fathers, with their big words and powdered wigs, bouffant blouses, and yoga pants. (photo)

  47. 47.

    David 🌈 ☘The Establishment☘🌈 Koch

    all this talk about Dolly Madison is making me hungry for some snack cakes​

  50. 50.

    David 🌈 ☘The Establishment☘🌈 Koch

    What ever issues Dolly Madison had, she left an enormous legacy, not only to the snack industry, but also to the shipping industry (photos)​

  52. 52.

    David 🌈 ☘The Establishment☘🌈 Koch

    @Amir Khalid: ​ That selection deserves a gold medal. Also too, her husband is the grandson of Claiborne Pell (the inventor of the Pell Grant).

  54. 54.

    JWR

    @Steeplejack:

    the quintessential film noir.

    Yep. And if not, it’s gotta be right near the top. I recently saw another Mitchum-Greer film, can’t remember the title right now, but I’d put it right up there with “Out Of The Past” as far as that genre goes.

    In another vein, “Beat The Devil” was on the Movies! Channel Wednesday night, on their “Humphday” celebration. That’s another fun romp.

  57. 57.

    Brachiator

    I’d like to extend an enormous thanks on behalf of our country to Lizzo for playing James Madison’s magic flute, thus completing the ritual and sealing the Queen’s vengeful spirit in the underworld for the next 200 years.

    Pretty much sums up my feelings on the matter.

  60. 60.

    Brachiator

    Some late night trivia. A few News items from the BBC.

    New coins featuring the portrait of King Charles have been revealed, with a 50p carrying his image entering general circulation within weeks.

    BBC News was given a first glimpse of the 50p and a commemorative £5 Crown which include an image of the King by British sculptor Martin Jennings.

    The coins follow centuries of tradition with the monarch now facing left – the opposite way to his predecessor.

    As with previous British kings, and unlike the Queen, he wears no crown.

    King Charles personally approved the effigy, and was understood to be pleased with the likeness.

    I am not perfect, not a Boy Scout (but I was one as a kid), but I do not understand crap like this. Never have. Never will. Asshole men who need harass women. Who think they have a right to do insulting, hateful shit. Don’t understand the homophobic crap either.

    Women working at Australia’s research camps in Antarctica have endured widespread sexual harassment, a report has found.

    It described evidence of uninvited touching, requests for sex, and a predatory culture which condoned pornography on walls and sexual taunts.

    Woman also felt they had to hide their menstruation, and ration tampons and pads because they were so limited.

    Officials have condemned the findings and vowed to bring on cultural change.

    Australia’s Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek said she was “gobsmacked” by the independent review of Australian Antarctic Division (AAD) sites. It was instigated after individuals made complaints.

    Australia’s Antarctic sites are located on the continent’s eastern edge, and include the Casey, Davis and Mawson research stations.

    During the summer up to 500 expeditioners can be dispatched there, but during winter months the camps are reduced to about 15-30 key workers. Those workers – including doctors, chefs, and field officers – typically spend a year living at a station.

    Women in the camps felt like they couldn’t escape or get immediate help due to the remote and isolated environment, said the report’s author Meredith Nash, a professor at the Australian National University.

    They “have to work in the fields with their abusers for weeks at a time because they simply can’t leave”, she told the ABC, which first reported the findings on Friday.

    “Or, because of the power dynamics, they are not in a position to make a complaint or get support immediately as they would do back home,” she added.

    The report also found a homophobic culture among the male-dominated field, and said people feared speaking out because they didn’t want to be excluded from future expeditions.

    In such a masculine environment, women scientists felt pressure to hide their periods out of fear of male judgement, the review said.

    Women also had to “go through a gatekeeper to access free menstrual products” with a voucher request system, reflecting a lack of adequate support in basic camp infrastructure.

    AAD Director Kim Ellis said they were already putting in place the report’s recommendations.

    “I am deeply concerned by the experiences described at our workplaces where people have been sexually harassed, discriminated against and excluded,” he said.

    Comedian Trevor Noah prepares for a final bow.

    Comedian Trevor Noah has announced he is standing down as host of The Daily Show.

    Noah said he was “filled with gratitude for the journey” but that there was “another part of my life that I want to carry on exploring”.

    Noah made the announcement at the end of his show on Thursday night, prompting shocked gasps from the studio audience.

    I enjoy his stuff and wish him well.

  62. 62.

    West of the Rockies

    I remain mystified and stupefied by how Republicans and white supremacists (but I repeat myself) live their wretched lives in a constant state of nuclear meltdown resentment.  It’s permanent defcon 1 pants-shitting with these fools.  What miserable, joyless lives.  They are always angry, afraid, pissed off, and frothing.

  64. 64.

    opiejeanne

    @BC in Illinois: That is amazing and really cool. I have no desire to play any 150 year old clarinets, I’m sure my embouchure is not very good any more and I have arthritis in my hands and fingers, but that’s a wonderful thing to find out at age 72.

    LIzzo plays beautifully. Brilliantly.

  66. 66.

    opiejeanne

    @Brachiator: A gatekeeper who doles out menstrual products on a voucher request system? I mean, what do they think women do with them?

    Jesus. Some guy must have set that up, one who has no understanding of menstruation and thinks women are careless or frivolous in their use.

  67. 67.

    Msb

    Wow, I didn’t know Lizzo is a flutist (too), that the LOC has instrument collections or that some of the instruments can be played. Thanks to Lizzo and LOC.

  71. 71.

    Tony Jay

    @Hob:

      I kind of almost want to know wtf Matt Walsh was referring to with the “they’re outright admitting!!!” bit.

    Surely he was referring to his little chum Pedro Gonzalez admitting that, in Conservative circles, “That’s what you do when you’re a conqueror. Humiliate the conquered.”

    I mean, it’s nice of them to admit it, but I wish they’d keep their weirdo circle-jerk of projection to themselves. Yeah, yeah, ofay, you don’t consider Those People or Race Traitors legitimate citizens of your fictional White Free State. We get it. Prithee, stick to your sub-reddit hives and stop pretending you don’t spray the page to gifs of Orc on Warg action.

  72. 72.

    oatler

    @Brachiator:

    Will Noah’s exit mean the possible return of Craig Kilborn? I think Beth Littleford  and John Bloom are at liberty to join him. Or how about Stewart? He must be bored out of his skull rusticating.

  74. 74.

    Evap

    Noting here that those LoC concerts are free!  Although you do have to stand in line for tickets and can’t always get them.  I lived in the DC area for two years and went to a bunch.

  75. 75.

    NotMax

    Shared this quite a while back and seems like a fine place to dust it off again. From one who was present at the time (then in slavery) , regarding Dolley:

    “It has often been stated in print, that when Mrs. Madison escaped from the White House, she cut out from the frame the large portrait of Washington (now in one of the parlors there) and carried it off. This is totally false.…” Source

  80. 80.

    MisterDancer

    @oatler: Will Noah’s exit mean the possible return of Craig Kilborn?

    I’d much rather see Wyatt Cenac get the justice — and shot — he deserves, after all the crap he went thru. Or if Jessica Williams isn’t busy being amazing on some show, she’d do great, as well!

  81. 81.

    Ken

    @BC in Illinois:  you would ask for a specific flute (of the 1,700 available)

    OK, that’s just playing to the fantasy trope that every librarian is a member of a secret society that hunts down magical artifacts and puts them in secure storage.

  82. 82.

    SFAW

    @JWR: ​
     
    I realize I’m an old fart, but Meyers just wasn’t that funny, to put it mildly. Yeah, there was interesting info contained in it, but if you’re going to attempt to be humorous about it, at least be funny.
    I have seen him do bits that really worked well; that bit wasn’t one of them.

  86. 86.

    Starfish

    I need you to appreciate DougJ’s contribution to this topic.

    New York Times Pitchbot:

    I’m sorry but James Madison owned slaves. There’s no way he would’ve been OK with a Black person playing his crystal flute.

    On the other hand, he did select George Clinton as his vice-president, so his views on this might have been more nuanced than one might think.

    To which, David Itzkoff responded:

    the rare founding father who still favored parliament

  87. 87.

    Soprano2

    @prostratedragon: I have to remind myself that everyone isn’t light skinned like I am when I see eye shadow colors like yellow and orange and think “Who on Earth would want to wear that?”

  89. 89.

    WaterGirl

    Comedian Trevor Noah has announced he is standing down as host of The Daily Show.

    This is the first time I have ever cared much about late night hosts stepping down.  This makes me sad.  To me, Trevor Noah and Seth Meyers are the two best hosts, and Trevor brings a great perspective.

  90. 90.

    Ohio Mom

    @Brachiator: Oh no, Trevor is my favorite of the late night hosts. I like Colbert too but I always feel like he’s standard issue.

    All the white guy hosts are pretty interchangeable, really. But as a Black person from overseas, Trevor’s perspective is sharper, more encompassing, global. For obvious reasons, his peers can’t discuss and address racism like he can. He also brings an authenticity that the others don’t.

    Now his crew of sidekicks, I find them tiresome. I click off the video when they come on. Though of course I wish them well in their future endeavors.

    Off to look for the video of Trevor’s announcement.

  92. 92.

    Steeplejack

    @Starfish:

    “Yeah, I knew we needed one of those serious sad songs, so I told Jimmy Madison, ‘Get your little crystal flute out and imagine your mother died … and then you find out she ain’t really dead,’” Clinton recounted in 1785. Madison recorded the solo in one take.

    — JT Aitchdeck (@aitchdeck) September 30, 2022

  93. 93.

    Mimi

    I did not know Lizzo is a classically trained flautist. Though now that I know that it makes sense. The classically trained part anyway.

  95. 95.

    artem1s

    @ghost cat: ​
     

    “I had a guy friend with a Ph.D. in engineering ask me last week how women pee with a tampon in and this is why men shouldn’t be passing laws about women’s bodies.”

    This is also why sex ed should not be left up to parents or the church. No doubt he thinks urinary and reproductive tracts are combined like in men.

  96. 96.

    Skepticat

    @justawriter: Lizzo has better credentials to play Madison’s flute than Alito has to rule on Madison’s Bill of Rights.

    Thanks; that (and the video of Lizzo, about whom I’d never heard) made my day. True dat.

  97. 97.

    David 🌈 ☘The Establishment☘🌈 Koch

    @SFAW: ​
      Madison was very, very popular. Every where she went, people would stop her and say, “Hello, Dolly”

    [I think I was permanently affected as a kid by the pun based humor of Mr. Peabody]

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