Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: Sweet Rocksteady

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  • Sacha,

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report

  • Sacha,

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report

  • Pete Sime,

    I've been partial to Johnny Cash and Joe Strummer performing Redemption Song since I first heard their rendition.

    Dunedin • Since Apr 2008 • 171 posts Report

  • Bruce Wurr,

    Russell, are you sure it was Tricky singing? I understood that he didn't want anything to do with Massive Attack anymore......

    Auckland • Since Dec 2006 • 97 posts Report

  • Deborah,

    Regarding Louis Nowra's piece on Germaine Greer (summary in The Independent, original article seems to be behind a paywall), there are, unsurprisingly, several responses:

    - Hoyden about Town (Australian feminist blog, probably the biggest one) - responds itself and lists some other responses.
    - Loved or hated, but still Germaine in The Australian.

    New Lynn • Since Nov 2006 • 1447 posts Report

  • Ross McA.,

    Since Mar 2010 • 51 posts Report

  • Russell Brown,

    Russell, are you sure it was Tricky singing? I understood that he didn't want anything to do with Massive Attack anymore......

    Nah, I meant 3D, didn't I? Gah.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report

  • Blake Monkley,

    Sunday sessions....

    ...where's the lighter gone.

    Auckland • Since Jul 2008 • 215 posts Report

  • Peter Darlington,

    Can I just say the linkage here has been teh awesome! Well done everyone.

    When's Danielle back?

    Nelson • Since Nov 2006 • 949 posts Report

  • TracyMac,

    Um, it's 3D/del Naja doing the "chuntering". And that's ok, I would never have gone to a Lyndard Skynard concert. I'm not that fussed about certain rap artists making their opinions known about their hos either. So, funny thing, singing is often political.

    Also, I thought the "classics" were ok, but I really like some of the new tracks. I really don't get why everyone was so enthused about Emo Chick doing Unfinished Sympathy. Yeah, powerful voice, but holy fuck she wanked on. Bring back Shara Nelson.

    Also, sitting down towards the floor, the sound was shite. I feel sorry for the people dancing, although they gave it a good go.

    Canberra, West Island • Since Nov 2006 • 701 posts Report

  • Russell Brown,

    Um, it's 3D/del Naja doing the "chuntering".

    Well, the whole band really, but yeah: I corrected myself above.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report

  • Stewart,

    @Islander, tbh I hadn't seen the video of that when I posted it. I was aware of the song & linked to the 1st example I found in YouTube. Sadly, Jamaica seems to have become stuck with its "blam blam kulcha" since that track raised early concerns.

    Te Ika A Maui - Whakatane… • Since Oct 2008 • 577 posts Report

  • Russell Brown,

    I went to see Rocksteady on Saturday -- and got the impression that if I hadn't given it a plug to Public Addressers, the audience would have been half the size.

    I loved it. It's no cinematic masterpiece, but the soulfulness and good humour of the people on screen comes through very strongly.

    There's a fairly obvious comparison to be made with Buena Vista Social Club, but I've never really had a stake in the music at the centre of that film. But sweet, sweet rocksteady? My children were born to that music.

    Oddly enough, I had another soul musical experience the night before. My mate Andy and I kinda gatecrashed a party in Ponsonby.

    We'd taken a punt because we knew Voom were playing. The slightly garbled message that got through had it as a "senior alternative" crowd, and we thought we could pass as that. As it turned out, I did know a few people there, and the hosts themselves were very gracious. Also, the margaritas were good.

    Voom played the beautiful, innocent rock 'n' roll music that Buzz Moller makes, and people danced and sang cheered. It was special. Then they came back for another round -- playing five songs for the second time -- and Buzz called out for Andy to sing 'Beth'.

    It would be fair to say that Andy was, um, gathering his his thoughts out on the deck at the time. Those margaritas weren't trifling, and he'd neglected to eat dinner. And when he swayed up to the mike, you could tell people were wondering if it was going to be a bit embarrassing. But they started, and he just freakin' nailed it. By the end, the whole room was singing along with him.

    Music. It's a beautiful thing.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report

  • Jolisa,

    On the Louis Nowra dis of Germaine Greer, I rather enjoyed Helen Razer's hilarious/ furious response. Contains jolly excellent swears and a few leg-crossingly disturbing mental images, not least the one about Clive James.

    Shame the original article isn't available online; it would be interesting to see if the rest of it was anything like that opening salvo, or if it was creatively edited to bring more publicity to the (aptly named, in this instance) Monthly.

    Auckland, NZ • Since Nov 2006 • 1472 posts Report

  • philipmatthews,

    Thanks Jolisa -- one of the funniest things I've read in ages.

    Christchurch • Since Nov 2007 • 656 posts Report

  • Stephen Judd,

    That is some top-notch high-grade 24-carat invective there. And righteous too.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 3122 posts Report

  • Russell Brown,

    Shame the original article isn't available online; it would be interesting to see if the rest of it was anything like that opening salvo, or if it was creatively edited to bring more publicity to the (aptly named, in this instance) Monthly.

    Yep, it is online right there on the website.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report

  • Russell Brown,

    That is some top-notch high-grade 24-carat invective there. And righteous too.

    Fabulous. There are times to let rip with language, and this was one of them.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report

  • stephen walker,

    Yep, it is online right there on the website.

    was it worth a good chunk of the AU$40 annual subscription price?

    nagano • Since Nov 2006 • 646 posts Report

  • Ian Dalziel,

    Germane thoughts...
    all this talk of Germaine Greer (and wombats!) makes me miss that fabulous old '70s Oz paper Nation Review
    I still have yellowing Leunig cartoons torn from that august organ... I had peripheral, but enjoyable, involvement in two publications that tried to emulate its outlook - Ferret published from Resistance Bookshop and The Week an alternative national news weekly that ran 17 issues and faltered due to lack of lawsuits (free publicity!) and money...

    Christchurch • Since Dec 2006 • 7953 posts Report

  • Russell Brown,

    was it worth a good chunk of the AU$40 annual subscription price?

    Duh. My mistake.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report

  • Jolisa,

    That is some top-notch high-grade 24-carat invective there. And righteous too.

    Reckon! Vicks Vaporub-quality fury. There's a fair amount of rhetorical throat-clearing before she gets to Nowra, but that only makes for a more satisfying yield of hawkable loogies when she finally deals to him. (Mixing my oto-laryngological metaphors a bit there but it works).

    I still would love to read the original piece in its entirety, since my suspicion is that the dodgy stuff is all up front and some of the rest may in fact be favourable. (His partner sprang readily, and quite wittily, to his defence.)

    But oh, the irony of him tossing ageist and appearance-related slurs her way, by way of a warm-up for his reappraisal. I'd forgotten Greer's classic line about how "women have very little idea how much men hate them" -- until then. (Generally I'd forgotten the sensation, too; lulled into a false sense of security by the men in my life who demonstrably do not hate women).

    Auckland, NZ • Since Nov 2006 • 1472 posts Report

  • Jolisa,

    Probably NSFW portrait of Greer at 60. Hot damn! I hope I look this befuddled, unruly, and demented* when I'm posing nude for the National Portrait Gallery at that age.

    Er, not that it's all about appearances or anything, of course, and yes, I know, "show me the distinguished bloke writer whose NPG portrait has him wearing nothing but a cheeky smirk" etc etc.

    But still, the sizzle!

    *ETA: Nowra's words, not mine, and not about this particular image, just for the record.

    Auckland, NZ • Since Nov 2006 • 1472 posts Report

  • Russell Brown,

    Reckon! Vicks Vaporub-quality fury.

    I read that and thought about where she might actually be applying it on Mr Nowra's unfortunate body.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report

  • Joe Wylie,

    . . . an alternative national news weekly that ran 17 issues and faltered due to lack of lawsuits (free publicity!) and money...

    Right, money. This highly singular entrepreneur bankrolled the glorious Nation Review through its twitchy startup phase, and occasionally stepped in to prop it up when it faltered. An interesting guy.

    flat earth • Since Jan 2007 • 4593 posts Report

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