Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: The Sound of Music

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  • Lilith __, in reply to Ian Dalziel,

    Maybe a kind of God wind...

    Hats off, Ian! :-)

    Dunedin • Since Jul 2010 • 3895 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown, in reply to BenWilson,

    One of the things I find most incongruous about NZ music at the games is that they always, always, evoke thoughts of people who would most likely have been very much on the anti-tour side. It doesn't cause nice feelings, I feel just that little bit alienated from the game every time. The kind of people who dig kiwi music and the kind of people who like rugby, as cliches, would seem to be very different tribes.

    ¿Que?

    I think the two have become inseparable in the last 20 years. The big game-day tunes like 'Why Does Love Do This To Me?'and 'Slice of Heaven' are an established part of the rugby experience and I think -- particularly on their OE -- young New Zealanders relate strongly to both music and the All Blacks as signifiers of home.

    And the musicians? Neil Finn wrote a rugby song. Shayne Carter's a big rugby fan, Sam Flynn Scott and James Milne ditto. Scribe called his debut album The Crusader for a reason. Tiki Taane and Optimus Grime both created new works for the RWC 2011 opening ceremony.

    And Don McGlashan -- who with Blam Blam Blam famously got in a brawl at Lincoln University during the 1981 tour, and who formed Right Left and Centre to record 'Don't Go', which urged the All Blacks not to tour South Africa in 1985 -- actually wrote the music for the RWC 2011 opening fireworks show.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha, in reply to Yamis,

    even teenagers on a camping holiday don't torture themselves that much

    I had a friend with a cassingle stuck in his car stereo for some time...

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha, in reply to Russell Brown,

    Scribe called his debut album The Crusader for a reason

    To improve sales in the middle east.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown, in reply to BenWilson,

    In the mid 90s, I was once paid to do a focus group on ...

    This amuses me. You are one of the more singular people I know. You'd be a nightmare for a market researcher :-)

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Emma Hart, in reply to BenWilson,

    One of the things I find most incongruous about NZ music at the games is that they always, always, evoke thoughts of people who would most likely have been very much on the anti-tour side. It doesn't cause nice feelings, I feel just that little bit alienated from the game every time. The kind of people who dig kiwi music and the kind of people who like rugby, as cliches, would seem to be very different tribes.

    I think you're equating anti-tour with anti-rugby.

    I was fifteen in 1987. I'd been anti-tour in '81, but also a child. Somewhere at my mother's, and now lost to the mists of time which is a pity, was the fervent essay I wrote at high school opposing the Cavalier's tour of South Africa. So when the first Rugby World Cup rolled around, and we were playing a very young an inexperienced team because those players who had gone to SA had been banned? I was equally fervently supporting the Baby Blacks. Rugby was making a fresh start. A fresh, pretty, lovely-cheekboned start. And now we're hosting again? That's what I think about: how important that team was then as a statement.

    Christchurch • Since Nov 2006 • 4651 posts Report Reply

  • BenWilson, in reply to Russell Brown,

    You'd be a nightmare for a market researcher :-)

    You'd think so, but I had regular work at $50/hour on evenings for ages, until I just got sick of doing it. Considering I was employed to do marketing at that point, they were getting some pretty high quality time from me, probably didn't get a lot of people who genuinely engaged with their questions and used as much lateral thinking as I possibly could for them.

    I'm only commenting on my own impressions about the music - newer Kiwi stuff, particularly Maori/Pacific oriented, doesn't do that, but the golden oldies just immediately put me back into my childhood when I thought rugby crowds were racist violent arseholes. It's not something happening at a conscious level, and I try to suppress it, so that I can enjoy the games, but the fact that I even have to do that...

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 10657 posts Report Reply

  • 3410,

    It's not so much the music, per se, that grates - after all, there's rubbish music everywhere - but the act of selection; always strictly limited to top-20 material - and even then never the good stuff but heavily leaning on "novelty". That or only the most extreme obviousness in nostalgia. In short, the aural equivalent of an evening meal consisting of chocolate chippies and jet planes.

    The organisers of these events have a cultural responsibility. This sort of thing is one the very most social events in modern life. The choice of music there is, on a cultural level, not at all like that in a bar, where, if you don't dig the scene, you split for somewhere you do. Basically, it's an expression of cultural power, and the message here is not local, of-the-people, innovative, or anything good, instead celebrating corporate colonialism and demagoguery.

    As well, it's an insult to the local cultural sector. The are quite a few genius selectors in this town, who'd make a good test transcendent.

    Thanks, RB, for taking a swipe at those who would have a society so experientially stait-jacketed that it needs to be reassured that a sour-dough bun isn't actually sour.

    For the record, Pop trax at the cricket is a definitive sign of insanity in the guy who implemented it. If you don't actually enjoy cricket, then GTFO of cricket event management.

    but the golden oldies just immediately put me back into my childhood when I thought rugby crowds were racist violent arseholes

    I feel that way about Bon Jovi.

    Auckland • Since Jan 2007 • 2618 posts Report Reply

  • Marcus Turner, in reply to Geoff Lealand,

    Geoff: In our house it's "Australians all love ostriches ..."

    Since Nov 2006 • 212 posts Report Reply

  • Steve Barnes,

    Well, I had to at least try ;-)

    Peria • Since Dec 2006 • 5521 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha, in reply to 3410,

    needs to be reassured that a sour-dough bun isn't actually sour

    it's still white though #phew :)

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Matthew Littlewood, in reply to Russell Brown,

    Scribe called his debut album The Crusader for a reason. Tiki Taane and Optimus Grime both created new works for the RWC 2011 opening ceremony.

    I seem to remember Gary Steel writing an article about the state of NZ Music back, in say, 2003, where he made some off-hand reference to NZ Hip Hop "paying literal lip service" to their own country, the implication seemed to suggest Scribe was a particular offender. No disrespect to Steel's- he's a great music writer, and I'm not really a fan of Scribe , and there probably is some merit in the broader scope of his comments. But I felt he was off-base on that one. One of the reasons that album really connected with young New Zealand audiences is the fact that he was rapping about something that was literally on their doorstep. It's probably the only rap record (thank goodness) that features a literal shot-out to South Canterbury. And surely "Not Many" would sound great blasting over the PA System after the All Blacks score a try off a rolling maul?

    As an aside, whenever I've heard Shayne Carter talk about cricket, football or rugby, I often feel he's missed his calling as a Sports journalist. And then I remember that y'know, one of the finest artists New Zealand music has produced. Again, I nominate "She Speeds" to be played after a runaway try, or just to screw with everyone Dimmer's "Crystallator" at some wildly inappropriate moment.

    As for the music over the PA system, I agree, it was perhaps the one dud note of the otherwise awesome atmosphere of the Ireland vs Italy match in Dunedin. It reduced what was something pretty unique- an Irish throng in Dunedin!- to something that could've existed anywhere, if only for a few seconds.

    Today, Tomorrow, Timaru • Since Jan 2007 • 449 posts Report Reply

  • Ian Dalziel, in reply to Matthew Littlewood,

    knock, knock...

    ...really connected with young New Zealand audiences is the fact that he was rapping about something that was literally on their doorstep. It's probably the only rap record (thank goodness) that features a literal shout-out to South Canterbury.

    ahem.. from the '90s...

    you beauties... not beasties :- )

    Christchurch • Since Dec 2006 • 7953 posts Report Reply

  • jo kerr,

    I was able to witness the music selection process fairly close up. For the RWC the great big events crew turn up with a wallet of cds and an instant replay machine that plays a track per button. They have 8 country specific stings for tries and conversions and a single cd of country specific music and several of in game music when game time is stopped. When the choice is restricted to country specific tracks their choices sucked a bit, who knows what you are going to hear at Roumania vs Georgia. GBE do all the games in Aus, whereas we are a bit spoilt here in Wellington with Mark Mcleod's track selections from a large laptop collection for the sevens etc. A good announcer operator with a laptop based system can do a much better job than a house sound operator plus a radio announcer and Australian event directors. Also, the sound quality on the big screen video ads is appallingand it is pointless playing a broadcast ad to a stadium crowd.
    The choir replay tracks for the Rwc are a full mix, the mics are real and the choir really sings well, but its pointless putting them in the mix because of the wind noise. Sorry to burst anyones bubble. The Pukaia is also prerecorded and mimed.

    Since Apr 2010 • 24 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha, in reply to Ian Dalziel,

    I'm getting the impression that the Rena oil map pic I posted may have come from Jody originally too. Smart bloke.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Ian Dalziel, in reply to Matthew Littlewood,

    Strait up!

    I nominate "She Speeds" to be
    played after a runaway try...

    ...as a fitting tribute to every New Zild announcers'
    favourite female rugby player - Annie.
    "...Annie's scooped up the ball,
    Annie's fended off two tacklers,
    Annie's racing up the pitch,
    Annie's gorgeous by the posts!"

    (Yeah I know I've done this one before,
    but Kiwi classics need reinforcement)

    Christchurch • Since Dec 2006 • 7953 posts Report Reply

  • Steve Barnes, in reply to jo kerr,

    The choir replay tracks for the Rwc are a full mix, the mics are real and the choir really sings well, but its pointless putting them in the mix because of the wind noise. Sorry to burst anyones bubble. The Pukaia is also prerecorded and mimed.

    So not only do they not get a free seat there is little point of them being there at all?
    That is sad.

    Peria • Since Dec 2006 • 5521 posts Report Reply

  • Ian Dalziel, in reply to Sacha,

    Smart bloke.

    Indeed he is!
    Unlike this bloke, his memory has
    never really improved has it....

    Time to just GO John...

    Christchurch • Since Dec 2006 • 7953 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha, in reply to Ian Dalziel,

    any relation to "Go Anna" that rude Aussie sheila?

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Steve Barnes, in reply to Sacha,

    any relation to "Go Anna" that rude Aussie sheila?

    I've heard she likes a cockatoo...
    :-X

    Peria • Since Dec 2006 • 5521 posts Report Reply

  • BenWilson, in reply to 3410,

    I feel that way about Bon Jovi.

    & many others. But I'm being convinced here that maybe I'm just conflating not liking the particular music, to not liking music generally, in that setting. If good alternate picks keep rolling, I'll buy it. What would you play, and when? This is a question to the readership.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 10657 posts Report Reply

  • 3410,

    What would you play, and when?

    That'd take while to work out properly, but basically, work up from:

    to:

    (In seriousness, you also need to have a multiple-zone setup as well, really).

    Auckland • Since Jan 2007 • 2618 posts Report Reply

  • 3410,

    (Ahem, sorry,) ... to this:

    Auckland • Since Jan 2007 • 2618 posts Report Reply

  • Sofie Bribiesca, in reply to Sacha,

    Edge of DarknessBrilliant series. Haven’t mustered the courage to check the US remake.

    Having just watched both I can say “don’t bother”

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

  • Crunchy Weta,

    Then again, I dream of hearing ‘Point That Thing Somewhere Else’ before a game, and that ain’t gonna happen.

    I think you're on to it Russell. Just for you... and it's so good!

    Mamaku • Since Nov 2006 • 35 posts Report Reply

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