There is rejoicing on the streets of Newcastle today. Crowds have gathered, thousands upon thousands flooding out from shops and offices, from homes and pubs, a spontaneous outburst of public emotion not seen since the death of Princess Di. Children beamed with joy, grown men wept, mothers clutched their bosoms in maternal pride. Old men compared it with the last time Newcastle United won anything. (They were very very old).
Experts agreed, this was possibly the most momentous and important event in regional cultural history since the Venerable Bede turned up and asked if he could borrow a biro as he had an idea for a book. Suddenly the pain of a century of economic hardship and decades of industrial decline melted away. The impending closure of Corus, the demotion of Newcastle and Middlesborough, nothing mattered in comparison. The world was a better place: Geordie Joe had won the X Factor.
Just rejoice at that news.
Now can we get back to some real music please?
I agree, Paul, there has been an overaction to the news. Nothing against Joe as he seems to be a genuinely likeable young man, but there are other more pressing issues facing the world. As for the music – well, he will more than likely be a puppet for Simon Cowell singing over-produced slow to mid-tempo ballads in the main that other people have written. The current music scene really needs artists with an edge who write and perform their songs with passion and feeling. How many artists in the Top 40 meet that criteria? The punk era in the 70’s, the “Madchester” scene in the late 80’s/early 90’s and the following Britpop explosion spawned groups of that ilk. Can any of today’s artists hold a candle to the Sex Pistols, The Clash, Blondie, The Smiths, The Stone Roses, Happy Mondays, Radiohead, The Verve, Blur and Oasis? Or am I a grumpy old man, too nostalgic for my own good?
Hi Phil, Each generation will believe its heroes were the best, it’s only natural; what I think is unusual is the extent to which all sales of recorded music are currently so dominated by the Cowell machine. I don’t remember things ever being so bland before. I agree that Joe seems a nice lad and he certainly has a great voice – but he’s not the future.
The artists on amazingtunes.com are. Maybe we should start a Campaign for Real Music! Or come to think of it – maybe we already have. PC