Archive for April, 2011
Ok, so the link between music current affairs and Al Fayed’s statue of Michael Jackson may be a little tenuous, but everyone else is talking (or laughing) about it, so I thought I’d join in…
It shouldn’t really have come as a surprise. We’ve all experienced Al Fayed’s tastes in interior design before – just think of the sphinxes and gold in Harrods.
Again, we’ve all witnessed his desire to immortalise those he loves – remember the Diana and Dodi statue? So, seeing as Al Fayed was friends with Michael, his commissioning of a statue following the singer’s death was almost foreseeable.
And yet, Harrods is pretty different from Fulham Football Club. Whereas the flashy and frankly bizarre ‘likeness’ of Jackson could have blended in with Harrods’ more flashy design, it stands out like a sore thumb at the FC.
Reactions to the giant statue have been mixed, but Al Fayed is unrepentant:
“Football fans love it. If some stupid fans don’t understand and appreciate such a gift they can go to hell.
“I don’t want them to be fans. If they don’t understand and don’t believe in things I believe in they can go to Chelsea, they can go to anywhere else.”
So, there you go. Whatever you think of Craven Cottage’s newest resident, the message is: like it or lump it…
I’ve been reading about pop star Adele this morning, and about how her new album ‘21’ (follow-up to ‘19’) has helped her to replace Madonna as the female solo artist with the highest number of consecutive weeks at the top of the album charts.
Now, I admit she has an impressive voice, and I’ve never tried to write a song (I imagine it’s not that easy, which would explain why a lot of songs just regurgitate the same old rubbish), but can’t help thinking that we’re just seeing 2011’s musical bandwagon pick up speed.
Reading comments on an article about Adele, what becomes clear is an overwhelmingly cynical view of the music industry, the feeling that everything is orchestrated to make as much money as possible and that even her Brits slot had more to do with riding the wave of hype.
Some feel she is an exceptional talent, an antidote to the over-sexualised pop stars that dominate the charts, and seem to feel that she is an authentic songwriter. Complaints from the ‘against’ camp include the argument that material isn’t innovative, let alone ground-breaking, and that the hype is completely exaggerated.
It’s all a bit ‘same old, same old’: manufactured pop vs. authentic talent… the debate rumbles on.
Ai Weiwei, a Chinese artist and activist was arrested in China the weekend before last for alleged economic crimes. No-one has been able to contact him since his arrest. Human rights activists believe that many activists have recently been arrested or have disappeared, and that Ai Weiwei’s detention is part of a wider attempt to suppress those who contest the government’s approach to human rights and who ‘incite subversion’.
And yet, in the same week, the Chinese authorities allowed Bob Dylan to play a gig for the first time. Not without imposing conditions, mind you. His set list had to be submitted for approval, and any songs that could be interpreted as offensive to the government had to be dropped. He was bound to adhere
“strictly… to an approved programme”.
Apparently, Chinese officials have been reluctant to allow big Western names to play in China since Bjork’s outburst in 2008, when she chanted pro-independence messages for Tibet. Now, they allegedly check the records, and particularly opinions, of any artists who want to play in China, to ensure they do not hold views that go against those of the government.
In Britain, too we occasionally refuse entry to famous artists – US singer Chris Brown was refused a visa for the UK last year by the Home Office on the grounds for being guilty of a serious offence.
It started 3 days ago and will run until April 21st. EMI have started an auction on e-bay of items donated by artists and songwriters on the label’s books in order to raise cash for victims of the earthquake and tsunami in Japan.
Artists include The Beatles, David Bowie, The Chemical Brothers, Radiohead and The Beastie Boys while the items on offer range from private recording sessions and ‘meets and greets’ to signed albums and photos.
At the time of writing, a signed and used Hermès bag belonging to Serge Gainsbourg’s ex, singer and actress Jane Birkin, had reached more than $7,500. A Robbie Williams life-sized cardboard cut-out (?) had so far attracted 3 bids and £67.
EMI is promising to match the money raised, up to a maximum of €1,000,000 and is adding more items to the auction over the coming weeks to sustain interest. So, if you fancy splashing out for a good cause, go and have a look at the EMI auction before 21st April…
Don’t know if it really was the “best funeral ever”, although I’ve never been to one in Madison Square Garden in New York, or one that attracted 14,000 people… and that already makes it sound quite good…
LCD Soundsystem played their last gig (3 ½ hours long) last Saturday. When tickets went on sale, they sold out in 15 seconds.
No surprise then, when touts started selling tickets for as much as $1,500 to see the band that has been going for 10 years and released three albums and nineteen singles.
LCD frontman James Murphy tweeted in response to the prices: “NO MATTER WHAT WE DO, IT IS NOT WORTH THAT KIND OF MONEY TO SEE US!”
This was a popular funeral, though, and neither Murphy nor the touts seemed to put people off. There have been some though who see more of a cynical stunt in this event.
As this is just the end of a project for Murphy, could the spectacular end of LCD Soundsystem be an attempt to promote future solo work, or is it refreshing to see a band go out with a bang rather than clinging on until the bitter end? Either way, would have been good to be able to judge for myself…