More Against the Days/Frenesi

[kelber at mindspring.com]

I agree, the music would be more inspiring than the lyrics.  Still, the name Frenesi, as a cognate for "frenzy" might have entered into it.  The frenzy or madness brewing under the character Frenesi's surface, the fascination which drew her to the fascist Brock Vond.  When I first encountered her name in the book, I thought it might be pronounced "free 'n easy."  This has both a Big Band and a hippy sound to it.

Laura

-----Original Message-----
>From: Paul Mackin <paul.mackin at verizon.net>
>Sent: Oct 20, 2006 5:27 AM
>To: pynchon-l at waste.org
>Subject: Re: More Against the Days

>
>Another thing. What reason is there to think  either Pynchon or the  
>Gateses had the English lyrics in mind in naming the daughter?
>It was the NAME of the song in all its exoticness that would have  
>been on their minds. If the Gateses were even mildly "hip" they would  
>know and love Shaw's version. It would have been no  contest. The  
>only possible reason, among the sophisticated, for not worshipping at  
>his alter would be if  you liked Benny Goodman's playing better.  
>(that old question--Shaw actually considered Goodman the better   
>clarinetist but himself the better musician)
>
>>>
>>> On Oct 19, 2006, at 4:32 PM, Chris Broderick wrote:

>>> > As for theories, I keep fixating on the line in the English  
>>> version:
>>> > "I knew that frenesí meant "Please love me""
>>> >
>>> > The literal translation of frenesi is "frenzy", or "madness".  Hub
>>> > & Sasha sure burdened their daughter with one hell of a name...
>>> >
>>> > -Chris
>>> >
>>> > Date: Thu, 19 Oct 2006 14:13:10 -0400 (EDT)
>>> > From: kelber at mindspring.com
>>> > Subject: Re: Re: More Against the Days
>>> > Anyone ever listened to the song Frenesi?  Or have any theories as
>>> > to why Pynchon used the song to name his VL character?  I've only
>>> > found an Edie Gorme rendition.  I think Artie Shaw has an
>>> > instrumental version.  Pretty treacly stuff.
>>> > Laura
>>> >
>>> >
>>> >
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>
>
>