Serious question about that UBS ad and Puccini's

[malaise]

O mio babbino caro.

I'm sure there are DUers who know that Puccini was a supporter of fascists early in his career and that Mussolini et al appropriated his music.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SvrHxQ3qjAE

Were the good old boys signaling one another?

oops - add

[eleny]

1. Hubby and I were talking about that ad just yesterday

We didn't get the connection you made so, thanks!

I've also wondered about the 3 keys symbol, too. Wealth, health & love turned up on the google.

[malaise]

3. I was singing along and my hubby

raised the fascist connection. I'll now have to examine the three key symbol and see where else I find it.
Here it is again - they sure are showing it an awful lot.

[Manifestor_of_Light]

2. I don't think so.

O mio babbino caro is used often in commercials. It's one of those pieces of classical music that people love to hear. I've heard it in champagne and perfume commercials.

By your inference, anything in that commercial could be associated with fascists.
Are Yo-Yo Ma, Maria Callas, and Salvador Dali fascists?

:shrug:

[malaise]

5. That's often the problem with lovely songs

and it's true some of our favorite performers do songs for love and don't have a clue about associations. On the other hand I would describe Phil Gramm as a fascist.

[DavidDvorkin]

4. Puccini's support of the fascists seems to have been both early and brief

The fascists made a big deal of it later, but I think that was after he had died and was no longer around to defend himself.

[malaise]

6. You're right

but other fascists may still love appropriating his music.