Justin Bieber

5 Degrees

Tween idol, Justin Bieber and fourth degree, Kim Kardashian are friends.

Here they pose together in a photo reminiscent of the Dustin Hoffman
film, The Graduate

Kardashian (front row toward the right in a blue dress) and third degree, Beyonce Knowles (blue cigarette pants and yellow shoes front row toward the left) at 2012 Fashion Week for Vera Wang's show.

We already read in a previous post how Beyonce went to Egypt and met Zahi Hawass to give her three degrees.  Let's take a different tack here to link to Blessed John Paul II.  

In January of 2011, Vera Wang was invited to a state dinner at the White House to greet
Chinese President Hu Jintao

Jackie Chan was also on the guest list

Yo Yo Ma was awarded the Medal of Freedom at
the Chinese State Dinner.  He also performed at Senator
Ted Kennedy's funeral with first degree, Placido Domingo.

This is another picture of the Kennedy funeral.  Note first degree,
President George W Bush and first degree Jimmy Carter.  Cardinal O'Malley is also
a first degree.

Blessed John Paul II and President Jimmy Carter at the
beginning of JP's pontificate

At Castel Gandalfo

4 Degrees

Bieber to Kardashian to Vera Wang to Placido Domingo to Pope JP2

5 Degrees

Bieber to Kardashian to Beyonce to Dr. Hawass to Laura Bush to Pope JP2

Bieber to Kardashian to Vera Wang to Yo Yo Ma to Jimmy Carter to Pope JP2

Bieber to Kardashian to Vera Wang to Yo Yo Ma to Cardinal O'Malley to Pope JP2

The Three Tenors

Placido Domingo, Jose Carreras, and Luciano Pavarotti 

Placido Domingo, Jose Carreras, and Luciano Pavarotti were the three greatest tenor voices of their generation. In 1990, as I sipped celebratory beer in a German pub after the World Cup victory, we watched this historic performance.

The tenors laughed and sang their way through the evening.  The power of their song was felt by me in Germany and is still felt by all who hear them sing.

Placido Domingo: 1 Degree
My personal favorite was Spanish singer, Placido Domingo.  A devout Catholic, Mr. Domingo made an album inspired by the writings of Blessed John Paul II.  Here is a Reuter's film about the album.  This album also gets Josh Groban, Vanessa Williams, and others into "first degree" status.



Jose Carreras: 1 Degree
Catalan, Jose Carreras is a dynamo.  He sang at the Vatican for Pope John Paul II in celebration of the Jubliee year, 2000.  The video of that concert is available on Netflix, but not for purchase.  Here is Carreras singing from Puccini's "Turandot."

Luciano Pavarotti: 1 Degree
Although Domingo was my favorite, Pavarotti is the one who is most like me.  He loved the opposite sex, a good meal, a good laugh, and a good bottle of wine.  Mr. Pavarotti was all about pleasure and joy.  I wish I had his musical accumin, but we definitely shared a personality!  Here he is singing for Blessed John Paul II when he visited the United States in 1979.