Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: Friday Music: History, motherfuckers

316 Responses

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  • Sacha, in reply to Scott A,

    He wrote his opinion

    and speech brings consequences

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Danielle, in reply to BlairMacca,

    He writes for a living. I think what he was "trying to say" was exactly what he DID say: her parents suck, she's an airhead, her music is a valueless conspiracy by the music industry - oh, and she's kinda sorta slutty. How is it a "fight to the bottom" to disagree with his approach to the review?

    Charo World. Cuchi-cuchi!… • Since Nov 2006 • 3828 posts Report Reply

  • Steve Parks, in reply to BlairMacca,

    I actually agree with what Sweetman is trying to say, but again he lets himself down with cheap shots.

    Seems to me that sans cheap shots, he's not saying much.

    Wellington • Since May 2007 • 1165 posts Report Reply

  • Chris Waugh, in reply to Sacha,

    We need to find the cultural maturity to grasp the difference between being a dick and challenging dickishness.

    Amen.

    Wellington • Since Jan 2007 • 2401 posts Report Reply

  • Robyn Gallagher, in reply to Grant McDougall,

    Maybe, but there's far less that have survived being thrown in the deep end at 16 and gone on to prosper than those thrown in the deep end at, say, 21, 22, 23, or who's success has been gradual rather than quick.

    Adele is a good example of someone who's started out young and survived in the music biz. She was 18 when she got signed, and is known for being a pretty private person. She also took her time to produce her second album (which really paid off!) and is now being a mum and working on her third album. No sledgehammer licking for her. Adele does seem really gutsy, though - the sort of person who can survive the turmoil of being an international pop icon.

    To me, it seems more likely that Lorde would have that sort of career rather than churning out album after album like Rihanna (seven platinum albums in eight years!).

    Since Nov 2006 • 1946 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    EW's newly-posted Five Quick Facts about Lorde is pretty standard stuff. But in the comments, someone in the business says something interesting:

    She's huge right now. I auditioned a bunch of teenage girls for a group this week, and so many of them chose to sing Royals. She's definitely speaking to them.

    On the other hand, she is now in the zone of excitable, highly tribal fans. A mildly critical comment about Lana Del Rey (possibly an old one) has angered many in the Lana tribe. One Lana Tweeter who kinda sorta agreed with Lorde says she's had death threats. I learned all this in a few minutes' browsing a Twitter search. This is going to be quite a strange world at times.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown, in reply to Robyn Gallagher,

    To me, it seems more likely that Lorde would have that sort of career rather than churning out album after album like Rihanna (seven platinum albums in eight years!).

    That's a really good point.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Ian Dalziel, in reply to Simon Grigg,

    Be the change…

    That she’s had the drive and desire to get this far to me indicates that she’s unlikely to be satisfied by a quiet life just making music for her friends.
    And that even if this is just a flash in the USA she has quite a future.

    …and on that note I give you Janis Eddy Fink
    Janis Ian – at seventeen

    Janis Ian – ’At Seventeen’ – at twenty-five…


    One is reassured by the fine local examples of Bic Runga and Hayley Westenra, that the harsh environment is survivable, they have kept on song, and on track admirably…

    and lest we forget our own free-range…:

    <less words
    + more listening
    = the quiet life…>

    Christchurch • Since Dec 2006 • 7953 posts Report Reply

  • BlairMacca, in reply to Sacha,

    all those global music industry experts and buyers of tunes must be wrong, eh

    And McDonald's is a high quality meal

    Wellington • Since Apr 2007 • 208 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha, in reply to BlairMacca,

    Let them eat cake, eh

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Danielle,

    "Wake up, sheeple!"

    Charo World. Cuchi-cuchi!… • Since Nov 2006 • 3828 posts Report Reply

  • "chris",

    Attachment

    in reply to Ian Dalziel

    location, location, locat… • Since Dec 2010 • 250 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    When I was out last night, two people came up to me and offered unsolicited thanks for responding to Sweetman. I was starting to feel sorry for him having half the internet down on him. Then someone else directed me to this effort in 2011:

    Ah, sod it – who am I kidding – I can answer this. Women do have terrible taste in music. More often than men do.

    Then further down:

    Toploader, Maroon 5, The New Radicals, Jewel, Paula Cole, all awful, all ghastly, all obvious, hummable, singalong dross; half an idea stretched out ad nauseam. All listened to by women rather than men – in most cases.

    And then there’s John Mayer – he exists only because of women and their appalling taste in music. The guys who like John Mayer only like him because they know girls who like him, or want to know girls who like him.

    What’s the appeal of wanting to get to know a John Mayer fan then? Well, it’s a given they’ve got terrible taste so even life’s lowest male form could be in with a chance.

    I say all of this but of course I know some women who listen to Iron Maiden and AC/DC and some who are aware of Brian Blade and Wayne Shorter. Just as, presumably, there are some men who listen to Coldplay. Possibly even some straight ones.

    Jesus, what a fuckwit. It has in common with his Lorde and MC Tali vomits the presence of a weird and unwelcome sexualisation of women he disapproves of. (He's also not on the safest ground to be dissing anyone else for having “half an idea stretched out ad nauseum”.)

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Danielle, in reply to Russell Brown,

    Ah. I hadn't seen that one before - I don't read him that often. So he's one of *those* dudes too. He's really ticking all my boxes for "things I hate in music-nerd culture".

    Incidentally, you know who else was "hummable" and "singalong"? (Hint: not Hitler.)

    Charo World. Cuchi-cuchi!… • Since Nov 2006 • 3828 posts Report Reply

  • Ian Dalziel, in reply to Russell Brown,

    Flex your JPSE...

    ...ad nauseum

    ...but he did spell ad nauseam correctly!
    That's still gotta be worth points?
    right?

    ;- )
    The Pedant Patrol Rides Again
    </sunset>

    Christchurch • Since Dec 2006 • 7953 posts Report Reply

  • Ian Dalziel,

    Oh, all right, then….

    Christchurch • Since Dec 2006 • 7953 posts Report Reply

  • Jackie Clark, in reply to Russell Brown,

    Oh for the love of someone quite deified. Just not even worth any attention at all.

    Mt Eden, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 3136 posts Report Reply

  • Ian Dalziel, in reply to "chris",

    Primate of the Month...
    oh no! get a grip...
    I need fully opposing thumbs
    for language & stuff to evolve!

    ;- )

    Christchurch • Since Dec 2006 • 7953 posts Report Reply

  • "chris", in reply to Ian Dalziel,

    ————>
    my head

    I hoped to express my appreciation quietly.

    location, location, locat… • Since Dec 2010 • 250 posts Report Reply

  • "chris",

    Anyway…phenomenal songwriting there, I’d never heard (of) Janis Ian.
    Speechless.

    location, location, locat… • Since Dec 2010 • 250 posts Report Reply

  • BenWilson,

    Did I hear Royals playing after the ABs scored a try last night?

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 10657 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown, in reply to BenWilson,

    Did I hear Royals playing after the ABs scored a try last night?

    You did. It's been played the last few times I've been to Eden Park, but the post-try slot is perhaps a bit special.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    Billboard predicts that plays of the controversial video -- which count directly towards the chart -- will get Miley Cyrus to No.1 this week, ahead of Lorde.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • andin, in reply to Russell Brown,

    Jesus, what a fuckwit

    Utterly, completely, totally

    raglan • Since Mar 2007 • 1891 posts Report Reply

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