Talk:Anoushka Shankar/Archive 1

Virtuoso?

I love the way people here throw around words like virtuoso and genius for just everyone. She just happens to be the daughter of one of the most famous indian musicians ever, and that's about it. Virtuoso? rofl. I'll just take that off. and like someone else said, she is not a "great artist". Beatallica 10:19, 15 January 2006 (UTC)

Such truth, Beatallica. I am glad you changed it.. --128.120.57.19 02:40, 13 March 2007 (UTC)

this is a lovely article —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 212.85.15.66 (talk • contribs) .

wikified a few key parts, edited first para formating. needs a lot of help —The preceding unsigned comment was added by Cornellrockey (talk • contribs) .

She is not to be thought of as great an artist as this blurb says...just yet. Many say she doesn't play that great! —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 80.1.115.156 (talk • contribs) .

Give her a chance- she's only 24!!!!

I don't know who these unsigned comments are from, but she is certainly widely regarded as a virtuoso and a great artist. Can these mysterious "many people" be cited? --Mel Etitis (Μελ Ετητης) 10:47, 15 January 2006 (UTC)

I agree, I think comments like these are not helpful and if they cannot be substantiated they should be removed!

Her accent is "cute" except when she says "irritates the crap out of me", see http://www.littleindia.com/news/123/ARTICLE/1192/2006-02-12.html, then it probably kind of loses "cuteness"! —Preceding unsigned comment added by 92.2.218.195 (talk) 17:23, 4 April 2008 (UTC)

Anoushka

Can anybody make sense of this statement?

The name "Anoushka" was inspired by a very good friend of the family – Dr Anne Pennington – and the Russian version came because of the then-popularity of the actress Anoushka Hempel.

What "Russian version" are they referring to? Is "Anoushka" a Russian name or isn't it? If it is, then what was Pennington's original suggestion, and why should we care where it comes from? And what does all of this have to Anoushka Hempel, who apparently has no Russian connection at all? Anyway, I'm not tremendously interested in the answers to these questions, but the paragraph as it is doesn't make a lot of sense. --Saforrest 13:34, 22 April 2006 (UTC)

I believe there was some sort of disagreement over which partner actually named her- I don't think it is relevant in an encyclopedia such as this as it is a personal dispute- this goes for any other parental dispute relating to this artist. (A google search reveals some sort of family dispute.)

I dont know how this can be verified except by asking her? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 92.2.218.195 (talk) 17:19, 4 April 2008 (UTC)

Can anybody make sense of this statement?

She also became the first Indian woman to perform at the Grammy Awards when she performed during the pre-telecast ceremony of the 48th awards.

If Nora Jones is her sister through her father, doesn't that make Nora Jones the first Indian woman to have achieved this status? Or is it all about nationality? Or homogeneity? Or does it have to do w/ colour? That should be cleared up.

House of Commons Shield

"In recognition of her artistry and musicianship, the British Parliament presented Shankar with a House of Commons Shield in 1998. She is the youngest as well as the first female recipient of this high honor."

Does anyone have any verification that the 'House of Commons Shield' is in fact an 'honor' which is 'presented' by the 'British Parliament' 'in recognition' of some achievement? Of the 146 Google hits for the term, all but one refer to Shankar, which is probably Wikipedia's fault for spreading the rumour. The other one is this, which seems to suggest a more likely situation - that a House of Commons shield is simply a wooden shield with the Parliament symbol on it, which is given by an individual MP or group of MPs to commemorate someone having been at a parliamentary event, just as someone who speaks at a university might be given a plaque with the university arms on it to take home - not an honour, just a gift. TSP 11:11, 12 October 2006 (UTC)

Ah, here we go:

"The second event was on 17 July 1998 (not 17 July 1997). This was the Gala Dinner at which Anoushka Shankar the daughter of Ravi Shankar performed a concert immediately before the dinner and the Guests of Honour were the Foreign Secretary, Robin Cook MP and Terry Leahy the Chief Executive of Tesco." [1]

(Incidentally, this is the only mention of Anoushka Shankar on the UK Parliament website - she has never been mentioned in a parliamentary debate, which seems to further decrease the likelihood of this being some sort of parliamentary honour.)

I suspect that the House of Commons Shield was a standard item which Robin Cook took along and presented to Shankar, in thanks for her having played at the dinner, unaware that the gift would later be taken so out of context. TSP 11:22, 12 October 2006 (UTC)

http://www.todmordengolfclub.co.uk/competitions.html Here a House of Commons Shield is used as a junior trophy for a golf club. I don't expect it is especially valuable except as a trinket... —Preceding unsigned comment added by 86.21.103.171 (talk) 23:41, 22 February 2008 (UTC)