Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: Bowie

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  • Soon Lee,


    Bowie with Jeremy Paxman in 1999.
    The Internet? Bowie got it.
    ETA: Annnd I see Russell already posted it.

    I think if you're already a fan of Matinee Idle you would have appreciated their Bowie tribute, but clearly that's a small percentage of RNZ's listenership. If you're not a MI fan, and they are focussed on a beloved icon who'd just died, it's likely to rub you the wrong way because they're DOING IT WRONG.

    (I'm not a fan of The Office, really don't get with the humour of embarrassment. So watching Bowie on "Extras" singing "Little fat man", even though the target was Gervais, I cringed. I also laughed and then felt bad for doing so.)

    Auckland • Since Apr 2013 • 145 posts Report Reply

  • Paul Campbell,

    I find MI insufferable some years and enjoy it others, I suspect it has more to do with me than them ... It is after all a fill in for the journalistic silly season

    Dunedin • Since Nov 2006 • 2623 posts Report Reply

  • Rich of Observationz,

    The trouble with Matinee Idle is that it very effectively satirises an under-financed radio station playing self-indulgent dreck for 30 hours a week.

    Unfortunately, rather than (after the fashion of Steve Coogan) condensing this into a one-shot, half hour programme, they do the satire on the grand canvas of an actual radio station, 30 hours a week for six weeks. This is a bit much.

    Back in Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 5550 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown, in reply to Rich of Observationz,

    Unfortunately, rather than (after the fashion of Steve Coogan) condensing this into a one-shot, half hour programme, they do the satire on the grand canvas of an actual radio station, 30 hours a week for six weeks. This is a bit much.

    I think, in the end, this is what bugs me most. The freedom to reverse the usual balance for talk and music could be used to make beautiful radio that inspired a spectrum of responses from an audience that has time to listen. Bring in guests, play country music, rai, acrobat, rocksteady and the records that well-known songs imitated or sampled.

    But instead we get these two guys playing novelty records and laughing at their own jokes. It's such a waste of those hours.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Joe Wylie, in reply to Rich of Observationz,

    The trouble with Matinee Idle is that it very effectively satirises an under-financed radio station playing self-indulgent dreck for 30 hours a week.

    The few times I've listened I'm reminded of a long-departed friend who, with his darkly cynical sense of humour, never tired of predicting that the excesses of our generation would eventually provoke our successors to intern us in concentration camps. Ffs guys, stop giving them reasons to make it come true.

    flat earth • Since Jan 2007 • 4593 posts Report Reply

  • Sofie Bribiesca, in reply to Russell Brown,

    I don’t enjoy the show’s format at the best of times and I turned it off fairly quickly today.

    And isn't that the easiest thing to do? So many folks have expressed themselves about the one man that has influenced many lives, and I think that's a good thing. Do we need to get all nanny about how that is done ? Turn the fucker off if it's not your thang . Seriously what's all with the judgy pants? An Icon has passed away. RIP.

    Look up here, I’m in heaven

    I’ve got scars that can’t be seen

    I’ve got drama, can’t be stolen

    Everybody knows me now.
    Lazurus, Bowie.

    here and there. • Since Nov 2007 • 6796 posts Report Reply

  • David Hood,

    Dunedin • Since May 2007 • 1445 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha, in reply to Russell Brown,

    But instead we get these two guys playing novelty records and laughing at their own jokes. It's such a waste of those hours.

    Welli, the worst of. #shame

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Sofie Bribiesca, in reply to David Hood,

    As extensions of the Bowie 5 years doco

    God that was good/ A friends kid was at the pub the yesterday. He said. "Who's david Bowie. Is he anyone to do with the Bowie knife
    No body knew. Later someone metioned it. I explained ,yes it did. Kids from the bush eh? :)

    here and there. • Since Nov 2007 • 6796 posts Report Reply

  • Sofie Bribiesca,

    here and there. • Since Nov 2007 • 6796 posts Report Reply

  • nzlemming, in reply to David Hood,

    And this animation is just sweet as a follow on as well http://www.openculture.com/2014/09/david-bowie-brian-enos-collaboration-on-warszawa-reimagined-in-comic-animation.html

    Awesome! Actual LOL. "No way! I've done two takes. Stuff it up your bum!"

    Waikanae • Since Nov 2006 • 2937 posts Report Reply

  • nzlemming, in reply to Sofie Bribiesca,

    Who's david Bowie. Is he anyone to do with the Bowie knife
    No body knew.

    A friend of a friend on FB noted that she'd never really been into Bowie, but she knew who he was - she'd listened to her mum's records #ouch

    Waikanae • Since Nov 2006 • 2937 posts Report Reply

  • David Hood, in reply to nzlemming,

    but she knew who he was

    I would guess Labyrinth was probably the last time Bowie as an icon had a formative influence on a growing generation, rather than being seen as an artist doing interesting thing in relation to what he had done before.

    Dunedin • Since May 2007 • 1445 posts Report Reply

  • Bart Janssen, in reply to Sofie Bribiesca,

    And isn’t that the easiest thing to do?

    You are right. Except it wasn't that easy to find a non-commercial radio playing that day and when i heard RNZ was doing it I thought hey they usually make a good fist of things.

    For me the worst part was the constant laughing at their own humour, like some old uncle at a funeral making tasteless jokes about the deceased while partner and children became more and more upset.

    Meanwhile the internet did so very much better.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 4461 posts Report Reply

  • George Darroch, in reply to Bart Janssen,

    Whereas, RadioActive put on a very good show.

    Radio Active 88.6FM
    Tuesday Drive.
    4 to 5pm.
    David Bowie - Suffragette City.
    David Bowie - Oh, You Pretty Things.
    David Bowie - Drive In Saturday.
    David Bowie - Running Gun Blues.
    David Bowie - Love Is Lost.
    David Bowie - Young Americans.
    David Bowie - Breaking Glass.
    David Bowie - Heroes (live acoustic)
    David Bowie - Always Crashing The Same Car.
    David Bowie - Lazarus.
    David Bowie - Soul Love.
    David Bowie - Life On Mars.
    David Bowie - Valentine's Day.
    David Bowie - China Girl.
    David Bowie - Let's Spend The Night Together.
    5 to 6pm.
    David Bowie - Width of a Circle.
    David Bowie - Sorrow.
    David Bowie - Space Oddity.
    David Bowie - Five Years.
    David Bowie - Ziggy Stardust.
    David Bowie - It Ain't Easy.
    David Bowie - Girl Loves Me.
    David Bowie - Warszawa (activity guide bed)
    David Bowie - Let's Dance.
    David Bowie - Kooks.
    David Bowie - Putting Out Fire.
    David Bowie - Andy Warhol.
    David Bowie - Wild Is The Wind (live)
    David Bowie - John, I'm Only Dancing.
    6 to 7pm.
    David Bowie - This Is Not America.
    David Bowie - You Set The World On Fire.
    David Bowie - Ashes to Ashes. (live)
    David Bowie - Time.
    David Bowie - The Man Who Sold The World.
    David Bowie - The Laughing Gnome.
    David Bowie - Jean Genie.
    David Bowie - Seven.
    David Bowie - Hang On To Yourself.
    David Bowie - Fame.
    David Bowie - The Bewlay Brothers.
    David Bowie - Rebel Rebel.
    David Bowie - Be My Wife.
    David Bowie - Aladdin Sane.
    David Bowie - The Prettiest Star.

    A mixture, but a terrific mixture.

    WLG • Since Nov 2006 • 2264 posts Report Reply

  • Mike O'Connell, in reply to Russell Brown,

    Bring in guests, play country music, rai, acrobat, rocksteady and the records that well-known songs imitated or sampled.

    I suggest this kind of feature such as The Pips in 'the inaugural edition of Summer Music 101's very own (and very serious) music awards' - on Boxing Day, hosted by the inimitable Anika Moa. Never laughed so hard all year! Did anyone catch it?

    Christchurch • Since Dec 2006 • 385 posts Report Reply

  • David Hood,

    In the sea of serendipity, I see another child of January 8th, Elvis,, did an unreleased song on mortality "Black Star" http://dangerousminds.net/comments/bowie_elvis_warhol_black_star_connection_popism_eats_itself

    Though it is also a term for a cancer related lesion.

    Dunedin • Since May 2007 • 1445 posts Report Reply

  • Hilary Stace, in reply to Bart Janssen,

    I really enjoyed Matinee Idle that Bowie day. I thought they were respectful but not hagiographic and I learnt a lot. The Ngati Toa piece was very interesting.

    Wgtn • Since Jun 2008 • 3229 posts Report Reply

  • Kumara Republic,

    If anyone deserves a final send-off into the solar system, like James Doohan…

    David Bowie’s body cremated in New York, say reports

    The southernmost capital … • Since Nov 2006 • 5446 posts Report Reply

  • Hebe, in reply to Geoff Lealand,

    Intellectuals can be fans too. ;-)

    Of course! I meant over-thinking the gut punch. Everyone to their own way of grief and loss.

    I've found all this confusing. I didn't think I was much of a fan person yet I am grieving: no more projects, no more reinventions, no more changes. Bowie was a form of counter-cultural gravity and I identified at some times, not at others. In the midst of a week of hugely stressful hospital doings in my partner's family, I've been amazed to find this has touched me at all. Yet it has, profoundly.

    Even The Press wrote an editorial!

    Christchurch • Since May 2011 • 2899 posts Report Reply

  • Ben Austin,

    Just saw on the NYT site a Bowie story with Iggy Pop, on all the help the former gave Iggy. Interesting stuff and there is a 12 minute video from a 1970s (i think) tv show where the two are interviewed together. Quite neat.

    http://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/14/arts/music/david-bowie-iggy-pop.html?ref=topics

    London • Since Nov 2006 • 1027 posts Report Reply

  • Tim Michie,

    Attachment

    Cancer…

    Auckward • Since Nov 2006 • 614 posts Report Reply

  • Hugh Wilson,

    Quick little tribute by Canada's Scratch Bastid

    Melbourne • Since Feb 2013 • 168 posts Report Reply

  • Grant McDougall, in reply to Russell Brown,

    George Kay’s interview with Bowie for Rip It Up in Christchurch in 1978, before the show. Pics by Laurence Aberhart.

    Excellent interview with George about Bowie in Tuesday's ODT here

    Excellent editorial on Bowie in Wednesday's ODT here

    Dunedin • Since Dec 2006 • 760 posts Report Reply

  • Scott Michael Savidge,

    Dangerous Minds spots a very non-excellent tribute here from Timaru...

    Since Nov 2006 • 6 posts Report Reply

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