Showing posts with label field recording. Show all posts
Showing posts with label field recording. Show all posts

Tuesday, August 24, 2010

Drunk Neighbor Recites Opening of "Also Sprach Zarathustra"


Drunk Neighbor Recites Opening of "Also Sprach Zarathustra"

recorded in 2009


Some while ago, I had a neighbor at the apartment complex where I live who was usually loud and obnoxious during the night and occasionally during the day too. This was mostly due to his drunkeness although he acted the same way sometimes even when he was sober. He lived across the hall from me. Sometimes he would play his stereo and sing along to whatever was being played. The music was mostly mainstream "classic" rock. Other times he would just yell to the point that the people living close to him could hear him. A few times the landlord gave him warnings to be quiet. If he did not do as he was asked, the landlord asserted that he would be evicted. He always was quiet for a few times each time he received a warning. Then when the landlord was not present he would start again getting drunk and yelling. I think I was the only one who was displeased with his behavior especially when I can hear him from my place.


One night, the obnoxious neighbor visited my next door neighbor whom he made friends with. They started talking and laughing. Then the obnoxious neighbor started getting drunk. I don't think the other guy was quite as drunk as the obnoxious neighbor was the only one being loud. I was getting pissed off at having to hear him while I was reading a book. Immediately an idea came to me. I decided to record the drunken idiot. Maybe I would play back what I recorded to the landlord. Actually I never did play anything back for the landlord or anyone else [until now].


I used the recording feature on my Sansa mp3 player. As a recording device, it is inferior, but it will do. During the recording, the drunk neighbor screamed, made an ass of himself, said some incoherent things loudly and recited the opening music of the famous Richard Strauss composition "Also Sprach Zarathustra" which I'm sure many people are familiar with it from the Kubrick masterpiece 2001. The audio presented here is the drunk's version. It's quite riveting which is why I am willing to present only this part of the recording here. I think the same reasoning given on the Raymond and Peter post applies here: "you have to wonder how much right to privacy a person who's screaming at the top of their lungs expects." No identifying information about him is given nor will be given to anyone.

I recorded him at the entrance to my apartment. I never stepped out in the hallway the entire time. The drunk is in the next door neighbor's apartment when he does his thing. Obviously, he did not care if anyone could hear him or not. I should note that there was a fan in the hallway during the recording as the ventilation was not working in the hallway at the time. Anyway, that should tell you how loud he was.

The good news is that he moved out some time ago though it was amazingly by his own desire to move elsewhere rather than him being evicted. I can sleep without worrying about being awakened by him. Just in case I somehow miss him, I have a few recordings to remember him by.


Tracklisting:


1. Drunk Neighbor Recites Opening of "Also Sprach Zarathustra" {1:19}