Monday, May 22, 2006

Pop vs Snobs

I just thought I'd add this because I like it and it basically encompasses my total philosphy on the pop music vs snobs war. It's from Nick Hornby's Songbook.

"That's the thing that puzzles me about those who feel that contemporary pop (and I use the word to encompass soul, reggae, country, rock -- anything and everything that might be regarded as trashy) is beneath them, or behind them, or beyond them -- some proposition denoting distance, anyway: does this mean that you never hear, or at least never enjoy, new songs, that everything you whistle or hum was written years, decades, centuries ago? Do you really deny yourselves the pleasure of mastering a tune (a pleasure, incidentally, that your generation is perhaps the first in the history of mankind to forego) because you are afraid it might make you look as if you don't know who Harold Bloom is?

"A three-minute pop song can only withhold its mysteries for so long, after all. So, yes, it's disposable, as if that makes any difference to anyone's perceptions of the value of pop music. But then, shouldn't we be sick of the 'Moonlight Sonata' by now? Or Christina's World? Or The Importance of Being Earnest? They're empty! Nothing left! We've sucked 'em dry! That's what gets me: the very people who are snotty about the disposability of pop will go over and over again to see Lady Bracknell say 'A handbag?' in a funny voice. They don't think that joke's exhausted itself? Maybe disposability is a sign of pop music's maturity, a recognition of its own limitations, rather than the converse."

While I'm at it... anyone watch Eurovision last night? What did you reckon?

*sings* "We are the winners... of Eurovision..."

5 comments:

Grace Suter said...

Ah, but Germany were too busy doing their weird version of country music.

I loved the "We are the winners of Eurovision" song. It cracked me up! I would have voted for them, just because they were only band that actually had the words "VOTE! VOTE! VOTE FOR THE WINNERS!" in their song.

Otherwise, I quite liked Sweden and Denmark. The Croatian woman scared the crap out of me with her weird botoxed face. And the UK was shit, but it made me laugh just for the desk-choreograophy.

The Monsters deserved their win. Just for the bit where the main singer's wings spread out at the end.

Samer Butrous said...

One important thing we all have to realise. If there is goin to be a contest about songs and stuff, it will most likely suck.

I know if i have talent (which i do) i wouldn't write a song that will be played to the world. Becasue if u really think about it, u have already sold out. For me, music still does mean something. in my few songs i have already written (well actually only managed the lyrics so far) i have included stuff that's close to me (now i'm sounding a little bit gay). i would never want to perform my stuff for money, unlike some of the people in eurovision trying to make a quick buck by singing that shit.

Samer Butrous said...

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Grace Suter said...

Shan, I love you. (But not like that).

snowdrop said...

Otherwise, I quite liked Sweden and Denmark.

*stunned* are you serious?????

mmm we had a crap song this year...


hmm i've been sayin for ages that finland would win n i was right..im kinda happy bout it..tho it's far from my fave in that competition...

tho the one i'd wanted to see on the last place was: sweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeden...