TAS: Last Tango in Launceston

AAP General News (Australia)
04-14-1999
TAS: Last Tango in Launceston

By Don Woolford

LAUNCESTON, April 15 AAP - Paul Keating's life has been put to music. To tangos, to be
exact.

When the music-loving former prime minister sat down last night before giving the keynote
speech to a University of Tasmania Asian business seminar in Launceston, he was serenaded with
The Keating Tangos.

The series of eight tangos for piano and clarinet, written by seven different composers,
covered the high and low notes of his career in no particular order.

It started with World's Greatest Tango, followed by Tango Republic and then went back to
his early days with Ramrod Tango.

Then came The Tango we Had to Have and Tango on a J-curve. His 1993 election victory was
celebrated with The Sweetest Tango of All, followed by his 1996 defeat, Blue Bankstown Tango
Epilogue.

The series ended with The Lizard of Oz.

Mr Keating was apparently impressed.

"It's not so often I get a prelude of the kind I had tonight," he said before starting his
speech-proper.

"I appreciate the thought, sentiment and effort you made.

"And I'm sure the Liberal Party will do everything they can to make sure they are not heard
again. They are such culture vultures. "

However Mr Keating should be a little wary of his tangos.

More are being composed, though whether they include Piggery Tango could not be confirmed.

AAP dw/trm

KEYWORD: KEATING TANGO

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