Dear the American Media.
I have never heard of One Direction. I'm sure they're nice kids and all but thanks for not telling me what they did today.
Status report Page 4,405
Colleagues in the office were discussing acts that had emerged from TV talents shows; several names were mentioned, including I believe One Direction. When I mentioned that I had not heard of any of them I was asked if I had considered a career as a High Court Judge.
What do you think is the typical age when you stop attempting to keep up with the youth of today and start taking a pride in being out of touch?
I guess you can't miss certain things if you are reading the news etc. But it's the amount of interest you put to reading certain articles that determines how much or how little you're in touch with today's yoof.
Quote: Tursiops @ April 12 2012, 11:52 AM BSTWhat do you think is the typical age when you stop attempting to keep up with the youth of today and start taking a pride in being out of touch?
There's more to contemporary music than just chart music, but to answer your question, it was 15 for me.
I was trying to explain to my 11 year-old that Rhiana's We Found Love was a lot like the dance music of 20 years ago, which surprised her, since she thinks she only likes brand new music. Actually, can anyone provide a specific track which is like that one? With all that building crescendo stuff in the middle?
Quote: Tursiops @ April 12 2012, 11:52 AM BSTWhat do you think is the typical age when you stop attempting to keep up with the youth of today and start taking a pride in being out of touch?
I don't think you are out of touch by choice, a lot of modern musicians don't get any headlines because the performers are so uncontroversial and the music is so bland.
The death of Top of the Pops has certainly restricted the amount of new music shown to the masses and all the X Factor type bods just do cover versions of songs you've heard 20 years ago.
For instance, here are the current UK Top 40 singles -
http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio1/chart/singles
All of it dull, corporate, forgetable mush forged by PR companies, marketing execs and advertising agencies for a global audience of goldfish brained, fickle headed, disposably minded, consumer robots.
Quote: Renegade Carpark @ April 12 2012, 12:04 PM BSTI.
For instance, here are the current UK Top 40 singles -
http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio1/chart/singles
All of it dull, corporate, forgetable mush forged by PR companies, marketing execs and advertising agencies for a global audience of goldfish brained, fickle headed, disposably minded, consumer robots.
You may well be right, I stopped being much interested in chart music when I was in my student days, it was the eighties, and I felt much about the charts then as you do now; it is just that I am finding now that I am taking a curmudgeonly pride in not knowing who these people are, whereas in the past I would have taken sufficient interest in chart music to enable me to speak authoritatively about who I despised.
The interesting thing is that, with the advent of digital technology, there is probably a greater quantity and diversity of music being produced now than at any time in the past, yet the range of music available is less reflected in the popular media than at any time since the fifties. You would think that in our multi-media age the reverse would be true, but I suspect that it has something to do with tabloid press and mainstream television becoming ever less risk averse as they chase dwindling audiences.
*puts this month's R2 cover disc on the CD player and tunes out from popular culture*
Quote: Tursiops @ April 12 2012, 12:35 PM BSTYou would think that in our multi-media age the reverse would-be true, but I suspect that it has something to do with tabloid press and mainstream television becoming ever less risk averse as they chase dwindling audiences.
The amount of music being created may have increased, but the 'Gate Keepers' who would filter the music to the masses have changed. Thanks to downloads, the amount of money to be made from investing in an artist has dwindled considerably, so the execs have gone for the two key buying audiences - young girls and old people - who coincidentally also love the X Factor and similar shite.
Unfortunately for me, the only place I get to hear new and original music is from Later With Jools Holland, Top Gear and telly adverts.
Even my favourite radio station XFM, only plays a tiny amount of new stuff and you can almost hear the DJs groan with despair when they have to put on Plan B's new single or whatever because it's on the playlist.
Quote: Nogget @ April 12 2012, 10:31 AM BSTWhen looking for greetings cards, I noticed a section aimed at tweeny girls, which all had pictures (in black and white for some reason)of either TOWIE guys, or One Direction. That's it if you're a tweenager, just those two choices.
Well the band thing I get. Towie is The Only Way is Essex? I only saw 5 minutes of this when I was in the Uk but from the little I saw and what I've heard it's not something tweens should be watching. Unless I've misunderstood what a tween is. I thought it they were 10-13ish.
As for what age you stop caring what is in with the youth I think it varies. Was about 21 for me, not that I was ever "in with it" or whatever the saying is.
Quote: Renegade Carpark @ April 12 2012, 12:45 PM BSTThe amount of music being created may have increased, but the 'Gate Keepers' who would filter the music to the masses have changed.
I remember Malcolm Mclaren bemoaning the lack of top 20s the Sex Pistols had being down to the BBC Top of the Tops, basing its figures on very selective shops that didn't sell many of their records.
Similar things have been said by other performers.
Gate keeping and safe playing have always been the way. I mean a business is a business.
Quote: sootyj @ April 12 2012, 12:49 PM BSTI remember Malcolm Mclaren bemoaning the lack of top 20s the Sex Pistols had being down to the BBC Top of the Tops, basing its figures on very selective shops that didn't sell many of their records.
I can well believe it, but thanks to the BBC policy of banning records, the Sex Pistols were guaranteed hits, so Malcolm should shut his hole from beyond the grave.
When was the last time a record was so controversial that is was banned from the BBC entirely? And not that we live in a weirdly backwards world or anything, but do you remember when the words 'nuclear war' were taken out of the song Gay Bar by Electric 6 but all the euphamisms for bumming men were left in?
And while I'm off on one - it's Ninja Turtles not Hero Turtles - you twats!
I don't think the BBC dares ban anything these days.
Remember anything offensive is
1 Ironic
2 Part of some ones culture
3 An ironic part of their culture.
Quote: Nogget @ April 12 2012, 12:03 PM BSTThere's more to contemporary music than just chart music, but to answer your question, it was 15 for me.
I was trying to explain to my 11 year-old that Rhiana's We Found Love was a lot like the dance music of 20 years ago, which surprised her, since she thinks she only likes brand new music. Actually, can anyone provide a specific track which is like that one? With all that building crescendo stuff in the middle?
Doesn't have the crescendo, but that bit reminds me a lot of Livin' Joy- Dreamer. Which is 18 years old. Ouch
Quote: Renegade Carpark @ April 12 2012, 12:45 PM BSTUnfortunately for me, the only place I get to hear new and original music is from Later With Jools Holland, Top Gear and telly adverts.
Even my favourite radio station XFM, only plays a tiny amount of new stuff and you can almost hear the DJs groan with despair when they have to put on Plan B's new single or whatever because it's on the playlist.
6 Music plays plenty of new music. I usually have it streaming in the background at home.
Quote: DaButt @ April 12 2012, 2:56 PM BST6 Music plays plenty of new music. I usually have it streaming in the background at home.
Sorry, I should have clarified that with 'good' new music. And by good, I mean a decent variation of musical styles, not just the autotune / plastic indie 4 piece / R&B / Rap / X Factor poopies.
Can't remember the last time I heard a new punk / ska / metal / electronic / trip hop / reggae / goth / indie rock song.
Quote: Renegade Carpark @ April 12 2012, 3:56 PM BSTSorry, I should have clarified that with 'good' new music. And by good, I mean a decent variation of musical styles, not just the autotune / plastic indie 4 piece / R&B / Rap / X Factor poopies.
Can't remember the last time I heard a new punk / ska / metal / electronic / trip hop / reggae / goth / indie rock song.
Have you listened to BBC Radio 6? It's all about new, good music (and great old music), and all not about X Factor, and so on; I think you're getting it mixed up with Radio 1.