For someone who considers watching films on Irish history a regular past-time, the news that a new film is to be made about the Easter 1916 rebellion brought a smile to my face.
It will join the ranks of other films made depicting Ireland's turbulent history, the majority of which I have watched at some stage.
Ofcourse, there are some interpretations of our history better than others. Compare Ken Loach's 'The Wind that Shakes the Barley,' to the terrible 'Michael Collins,' starring our own Liam Neeson (and Julia Roberts with what appeared to be an accent from the little known Irish county of Pakistan.)
Scripted and directed by Neil Jordan, the latter was lauded in some circles and even won a clutch of awards. It was also criticised for inaccuracies such as showing the use of a car bomb, a weapon not actually used by physical force republicans until the 1970's.
Although these two films depicted early 20th century Ireland, such a divide between fact and dramatic fiction is always present when one looks at the film industry that has grown out of Irish history and the movies that have been produced.
A former professor of mine, Paul Bew, has recently been quoted in the Guardian criticising the new 'Easter Sixteen' film currently in production.
He quite rightly points out that historical inaccuracies in a film like this are unhelpful. If not dealt with properly, the storyline of the rebellion at the GPO in Dublin may send out a message that a minority can succeed using armed insurrection - hardly responsible at a time when a minority of dissident republicans are waging a new campaign.
But Paul Bew is a professor of Irish history. As such, facts are his priority and not necessarily a good story - his tolerance of artistic license, as the producers in Hollywood would call it, is very low.
One would also like to think that those dissident republicans Bew fears will exploit the plot line of 'Easter Sixteen' are also well versed on Irish history (or at least their version of it), I mean they bleet on about it often enough.
If a Hollywood movie on the subject strays off the facts of history and does depict a simplistic version of the Easter Rising as being no more than a successful armed struggle against the British, it should invite derision from these dissident circles, not support.
Ofcourse Bew does have a point though. Although I enjoy these films, I watch them with a pinch (and sometimes a bucket load) of salt. They don't claim to be documentaries and therefore should not be treated as such.
The conveyor belt of films on Irish history has undoubtedly been at times unhelpful in the current transitory stage of Ireland's evolution, especially in the six counties - a stage that began at the signing of the Good Friday Agreement and heavily involves issues to do with the legacy of our past.
To have a constant stream of versions of our history poured over, interpreted and some would say distorted, by directors and script writers often from places other than Ireland, is arguably a dangerous factor during this transition.
Bew is right to highlight the subtle potency of these productions.
The ripples caused by the inaccuracies in these types of films - made under the guise of artistic license should not be underestimated.
Oliver Hirschbiegel's 'Five Minutes of Heaven,' shown last week on BBC saw a true murder in Lurgan in the 70's have a completely fictional story written around it and could easily be misinterpreted as the true story of a meeting and reconciliation between killer and victim.
How ironic it is that the feature should have scenes of the pair being set-up to meet by a tv production company - the same ilk of producers who would no doubt defend Hirschbiegel's artisitic license to distort the facts of Jim Griffin's murder (all the while hamming up 'based on a true story' and playing down the fictional element in the advertising) in the name of artistic catharthis.
But it's not the films themselves that are the problem, it's what people do with them.
I find it hard to believe the C.I.R.A and R.I.R.A would, or will, use a film to base their current struggle upon. Some of the more intellectually vulnerable in society however, may by unduly influenced by what are essentially show pieces on sections of our history, and under this influence subscribe to the political dissent as espoused by hard-line republicans currently.
Those who contend it is healthy to have directors from all over the world look at our past, especially if we are not prepared to do so comprehensively ourselves, would argue these films provide a different perspective and at the very least tell a good story.
In a very immediate way these films provide a form of story-telling and story-sharing that is easily accessible to people.
I used to work in a local bookies with people from all over Belfast, and from every background. Although politics was not usually discussed, unless you count discussion of the odds on the horse 'Reds under the Bed', after lending one of my managers a copy of 'Hunger' by Steve McQueen , we spent the afternoon talking about the film and his memories of that time.
He told me it was the first time he had properly sat down and watched something about the hunger strikes, fact or fiction. He was from the Woodstock Road.
It is obvious that if we keep an open, yet educated mind when watching these films, they need not be dangerous or inflammatory.
If they stay true to the events they are portraying, such films can even teach us something we didn't know - like who knew Kitty Kiernan was from Pakistan?
Thursday, 16 April 2009
Wednesday, 15 April 2009
Telepathy
I was pleased to see the BBC news website covering a story today on the criticism some sections of the Northern Irish media have received regarding their coverage of Stormonts economic policy and operation more generally. See: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/7999934.stm
I'll be honest though - it's not because I think the criticism levelled at the Belfast Telegraph is vindicated (in fact I disagree with the majority of OFMDFM'S letter) - it's more to do with the ego scratch of knowing I wrote on this issue last week (I always knew the Beeb was reading Join the Q ;))
It seems the Brothers Grim up on the hill have taken exception to the Belfast Telegraph's 'Get the Executive Back to Work,' campaign and various other supposedly negative coverage of the goings on at the heart of the province's government.
As covered in my last blog on the issue (see Bad News is Good news?) I do think there is a tendency for media generally to reflect an entirely more negative view of socety - including the current state of our economy - than is necessary.
However, this is tempered by my enduring belief in the role of the modern media as watchdog for society as a whole. As acknowledged in Article 10 of the European Convention, the role of the freedom of the press is vital for a free and democratic society.
The importance of freedom of expression and a free media is obviously not exclusive to Europe however. The latest moves in South Africa to further censor political satire in the country after banning the political puppet show by Jonathan Shapiro is a sad move by the ANC, and is dangerous for the increasingly fragile post-apartheid country.
Like South Africa, Northern Ireland has in the past, had a media which was communally partisan and restrained in their scrutiny of government. Although the former charge may still be true, the recent criticism of the Belfast Telegraph is an unfair assault on an essential asset in modern Northern Ireland.
It is a national paper holding our elected representatives to account and should be allowed to carry out this important role accordingly.
If anything this latest incident shows that the Belfast Telegraph is doing just that.
I'll be honest though - it's not because I think the criticism levelled at the Belfast Telegraph is vindicated (in fact I disagree with the majority of OFMDFM'S letter) - it's more to do with the ego scratch of knowing I wrote on this issue last week (I always knew the Beeb was reading Join the Q ;))
It seems the Brothers Grim up on the hill have taken exception to the Belfast Telegraph's 'Get the Executive Back to Work,' campaign and various other supposedly negative coverage of the goings on at the heart of the province's government.
As covered in my last blog on the issue (see Bad News is Good news?) I do think there is a tendency for media generally to reflect an entirely more negative view of socety - including the current state of our economy - than is necessary.
However, this is tempered by my enduring belief in the role of the modern media as watchdog for society as a whole. As acknowledged in Article 10 of the European Convention, the role of the freedom of the press is vital for a free and democratic society.
The importance of freedom of expression and a free media is obviously not exclusive to Europe however. The latest moves in South Africa to further censor political satire in the country after banning the political puppet show by Jonathan Shapiro is a sad move by the ANC, and is dangerous for the increasingly fragile post-apartheid country.
Like South Africa, Northern Ireland has in the past, had a media which was communally partisan and restrained in their scrutiny of government. Although the former charge may still be true, the recent criticism of the Belfast Telegraph is an unfair assault on an essential asset in modern Northern Ireland.
It is a national paper holding our elected representatives to account and should be allowed to carry out this important role accordingly.
If anything this latest incident shows that the Belfast Telegraph is doing just that.
Friday, 10 April 2009
Recent reviews
Anyone who is interested in the local music scene, check out www.nichart.com. Theres plenty of news and information on Northern Ireland bands plus the odd review from yours truly (its all about self promotion these days!!)
Thursday, 9 April 2009
Bad news is good news?
Reading the news headlines and watching news programmes for the last while it is impossible not to feel that the world is suffering from some sort of spiritual malaise.
Whether it be a morbid fascination with all things doom and gloom or a societal dumbing down more generally, all news at the minute seems to be bad news or gossip, or both.
Anyone familiar with media knows the old saying 'bad news is good news.' It sells papers and gets viewers. I mean lets be honest, how many of us love reading about the latest politician (or their spouse - Jacqui Smith anyone?) getting up to no good, or the most recent celeb break-up? The majority of Heat readers for a start.
This sort of bad news media fodder seems harmless in light of the recent torrent of misery that has been splashed across the red-tops and even the broadsheets.
Job losses, strikes, tax increases, inflation rates, property prices falling, unemployment soaring....and Jade Goody.
Now don't get me wrong, these are clearly the issues of the day and as such the media industry has a duty to report them, indeed I am the first to want to know the ins and outs of Brian Lenihan's austere new budget in the Republic.
But I'm beginning to think that this negative media is part and parcel of a bigger and entirely more disturbing reality and is even destructive.
A perfect example of this is coverage of the untimely death of Jade Goody. Michael Parkinson has come in for some criticism after he gave an interview with the Radio Times and dared voice an opinion that the 27-year-old reality star's death, while undoubtedly a tragedy, did not perhaps warrant the media coverage that saw her sell her wedding photos for £700,000 and be on the front pages nearly every day for the last weeks of her life.
Personally I thought it was like a perverse countdown to the end, and was and am profoundly uncomfortable with it. Reading Parky's comments I couldn't have agreed more.
The whole issue is like the chicken and the egg. Do the newspaper men write the news or does the public dictate what is written based on their tastes?
I think the balance has most definitely shifted in favour of the latter with editors increasingly preoccupied with what they think will please us, the baying mob, and sell the paper and are less worried about responsible and tasteful journalism. But would it really hurt newspaper editors to push a good news story to the front pages?
Look at the fact the Emerald Project has £150m to spend in Northern Ireland on everything from green energy to waste disposal - a gift from New York state. Although none has been spent as yet, it's still £150m to be spent in the province. Or the SDLP publishing proposals for budgetary amendments which could save £400m unnecessary expenditure by Stormont.
Today the Irish government announced that people from Co. Derry/Londonderry will now, for the first time, be able to use the name of Londonderry when applying for an Irish passport. With all the focus on dissident republican activity and punishment shootings, such a story should be given the weight it is due - it is a significant step forward in the shaping of new identities on this island and a small step in the reconciliation of traditions, very much in the spirit of the Good Friday Agreement.
A N Wilson also wrote an opinion column on the coverage of Jade Goody's death in the Daily Mail. I hasten to add that I am not a regular reader of this paper, afraid as I am that I may be labelled 'disgruntled from Kent,' but the points he raised about the way her death was covered and the character of modern media was both informed and persuasive.
He argued we have become a nation of voyeurs, content to live our lives through the religious following of others', these so-called 'reality stars.' The comparisons he made between the rise and fall of Jade Goody in the way her public persona was manipulated by newspaper editors' and a baying crowd watching gladiators fight to the death in ancient Rome was completely appropriate.
The death of anyone is a sad occasion, it is also a solemn one. Jade's death was a tragedy as she was young girl and had two children, but things like this happen every single day.
Quiet sadness and personal reflection is carried in the damaged hearts of most people throughout their days - no-one is immune to tragedy in their lives. Communal grieving is all well and good, indeed it is even healthy. Veneration of Jade Goody is not.
It is however, a manifestiation of all that is ill in today's society.
The 'career' and coverage of Jade is in tune with what seems to be our generations insatiable thirst for instant gratification, a quick buck, and bad news. It as if people need to hear about the unfortunate lives of others to make themselves feel better. It's all instant, disposable, with the predictable drama and tinge of sadness - gossip for the morning tea break and then onto the next victim.
Such a desire for instant gratification is the heart of the credit crunch!! All ambition and no competence, all want and no give.
The buck has to stop somewhere and clear lines drawn. The current state of the economy and people's finances will hopefully herald in a new belief system, one which is aided by responsible media coverage reflecting it. One where hard-work, competence and a belief in the good of society rather than personal gratification is the new hymn sheet from which we sing...or maybe I'm wrong, maybe worshipping at the altar of a woman who thought Rio De Janeiro was a footballer is ok.
Whether it be a morbid fascination with all things doom and gloom or a societal dumbing down more generally, all news at the minute seems to be bad news or gossip, or both.
Anyone familiar with media knows the old saying 'bad news is good news.' It sells papers and gets viewers. I mean lets be honest, how many of us love reading about the latest politician (or their spouse - Jacqui Smith anyone?) getting up to no good, or the most recent celeb break-up? The majority of Heat readers for a start.
This sort of bad news media fodder seems harmless in light of the recent torrent of misery that has been splashed across the red-tops and even the broadsheets.
Job losses, strikes, tax increases, inflation rates, property prices falling, unemployment soaring....and Jade Goody.
Now don't get me wrong, these are clearly the issues of the day and as such the media industry has a duty to report them, indeed I am the first to want to know the ins and outs of Brian Lenihan's austere new budget in the Republic.
But I'm beginning to think that this negative media is part and parcel of a bigger and entirely more disturbing reality and is even destructive.
A perfect example of this is coverage of the untimely death of Jade Goody. Michael Parkinson has come in for some criticism after he gave an interview with the Radio Times and dared voice an opinion that the 27-year-old reality star's death, while undoubtedly a tragedy, did not perhaps warrant the media coverage that saw her sell her wedding photos for £700,000 and be on the front pages nearly every day for the last weeks of her life.
Personally I thought it was like a perverse countdown to the end, and was and am profoundly uncomfortable with it. Reading Parky's comments I couldn't have agreed more.
The whole issue is like the chicken and the egg. Do the newspaper men write the news or does the public dictate what is written based on their tastes?
I think the balance has most definitely shifted in favour of the latter with editors increasingly preoccupied with what they think will please us, the baying mob, and sell the paper and are less worried about responsible and tasteful journalism. But would it really hurt newspaper editors to push a good news story to the front pages?
Look at the fact the Emerald Project has £150m to spend in Northern Ireland on everything from green energy to waste disposal - a gift from New York state. Although none has been spent as yet, it's still £150m to be spent in the province. Or the SDLP publishing proposals for budgetary amendments which could save £400m unnecessary expenditure by Stormont.
Today the Irish government announced that people from Co. Derry/Londonderry will now, for the first time, be able to use the name of Londonderry when applying for an Irish passport. With all the focus on dissident republican activity and punishment shootings, such a story should be given the weight it is due - it is a significant step forward in the shaping of new identities on this island and a small step in the reconciliation of traditions, very much in the spirit of the Good Friday Agreement.
A N Wilson also wrote an opinion column on the coverage of Jade Goody's death in the Daily Mail. I hasten to add that I am not a regular reader of this paper, afraid as I am that I may be labelled 'disgruntled from Kent,' but the points he raised about the way her death was covered and the character of modern media was both informed and persuasive.
He argued we have become a nation of voyeurs, content to live our lives through the religious following of others', these so-called 'reality stars.' The comparisons he made between the rise and fall of Jade Goody in the way her public persona was manipulated by newspaper editors' and a baying crowd watching gladiators fight to the death in ancient Rome was completely appropriate.
The death of anyone is a sad occasion, it is also a solemn one. Jade's death was a tragedy as she was young girl and had two children, but things like this happen every single day.
Quiet sadness and personal reflection is carried in the damaged hearts of most people throughout their days - no-one is immune to tragedy in their lives. Communal grieving is all well and good, indeed it is even healthy. Veneration of Jade Goody is not.
It is however, a manifestiation of all that is ill in today's society.
The 'career' and coverage of Jade is in tune with what seems to be our generations insatiable thirst for instant gratification, a quick buck, and bad news. It as if people need to hear about the unfortunate lives of others to make themselves feel better. It's all instant, disposable, with the predictable drama and tinge of sadness - gossip for the morning tea break and then onto the next victim.
Such a desire for instant gratification is the heart of the credit crunch!! All ambition and no competence, all want and no give.
The buck has to stop somewhere and clear lines drawn. The current state of the economy and people's finances will hopefully herald in a new belief system, one which is aided by responsible media coverage reflecting it. One where hard-work, competence and a belief in the good of society rather than personal gratification is the new hymn sheet from which we sing...or maybe I'm wrong, maybe worshipping at the altar of a woman who thought Rio De Janeiro was a footballer is ok.
Wednesday, 1 April 2009
Yesssssss!
With the Manic Street Preachers announcing their gig in the newly refurbished Ulster Hall on June 6th; Claire McLoughlin writes (exclusively for Join the Q ;)) on the band and their latest offering:
Sample titles from the Manic Street Preachers’ new record: ‘She Bathed Herself In a Bath of Bleach’, ‘Jackie Collins Existential Question Time,’ ‘This Joke Sport Severed,’ and ‘Virginia State Epileptic Colony.’
Any other band would look idiotic. Only the Manics’ could get away with such ridiculous –or indeed brilliant- titles (see Freedom of Speech Won’t Feed my Children, Natwest-Midlands-Barclays-Lloyds, The Intense Humming of Evil, The Love of Richard Nixon et al), without sounding like pretentious 6th formers.
Cheerily titled ‘Journal For Plague Lovers,’ the new record, released May 18 , has been building up hysteria among fan on Manics’ fansite forums, as the Manics’ are touted to blow off their middle-aged 40 year olds tag, and show all the young bucks how it’s done.
Hardcore Manic fans (whose uniform consists of leopard print, pink feather boas and ‘4 Real’ scrawled across their arms), were ecstatic to find out that the album would consist entirely of lyrics left to them by AWOL lyricist and rhythm guitarist Richey Edwards, missing-in-action since February 1995.
Richey Edwards was (or is, depending what you believe) a troubled young man who suffered from alcoholism, anorexia nervosa and crippling depression. The now iconic shot of him staring at the camera with the phrase ‘4 Real’ carved into his forearm, dripping with blood remains one of rock’s most enduring images. Following an interview with Steve Lamacq, in which the journalist questioned Edwards over whether the band were to be taken seriously, Edwards took out a razor blade, etching 4 Real into his forearm to make his point achingly clear to the hack. The publicity this created launched the Manics’ into the media with a bang in 1991.
With his disappearance in 1995, abandoning his car near the Severn Bridge, he created a myth around himself, whilst seemingly wanting people to think he committed suicide, a body has never been found and many fans believe he is still alive and well.
In a final show of camaraderie, not seen in the money- grabbing egotistical nature of the business these days (yes Johnny Borrell I’m thinking of you) the remaining Preachers have kept putting royalties into his bank account following his disappearance in hope the complex character would return.
This of course remains highly unlikely but finally the lyrics left to the band by Richey are seeing the light of day, as the band announced last year they would record an album consisting solely of material Richey had left.
Whispers quickly began surfacing of a Holy Bible Mark II, a return to the Manics’ finest hour in 1994 with what was arguably one of the ugliest and most intelligent records of all time.
The Holy Bible contained lyrics about topics such as anorexia, the Holocaust, American foreign policy and political correctness, and judging by the titles off JFPL, the new record is just as bleak.
The first new track, played on Zane Lowes’ radio show, the fantastic ‘Peeled Apples,’ certainly sounded like a return to 1994 and made listening through the over-excitable Kiwi’s show just about bearable for once. Name checking Noam Chomsky and with lyrics such as “the Levi jean will always be stronger than the Uzi,” it is unmistakably Manics’, and is utterly brilliant.
Musically, it is the polar opposite to the lilting harmonising of ‘Your Love Alone is Not Enough’ and its angry chomping at the bit is miles away from “If You Tolerate This…”
Judging by the new track, it seems the Manics’ are back to form, complete with indecipherable lyrics, grinding guitars and lyrics straight out of tortured mind and genius of Richey.
Since 1998’s This Is My Truth, Tell Me Yours, the Manics’ had been struggling to find a niche. While successful commercially, TIMTTMY was criticised for being too middle-aged and not as complete as previous album Everything Must Go, which had proved their commercial breakthrough, bringing Brit Awards and sell out arena tours.
2001’s Know Your Enemy, referred to lazily by every music critic as the band’s ‘misguided punk album’ (despite the fact that only ‘Found That Soul’ sounds even remotely punkish) saw critics turn against them, and 2004’s quite frankly dreary Lifeblood simply confused fans, with Nicky Wire even admitting that the band were on the verge of splitting up after the ensuing tour.
With 2007’s return to form, Send Away the Tigers, bringing them critical and commercial success yet again with its pop melodies, it seemed the Manics’ were back. Even the notoriously fickle NME loved them, giving the album 8 out of 10 and crowning them Godlike Geniuses in 2008.
SATT however still alienated the Manics’ hardcore, who while always remaining loyal, dreamt of the day Manics’ mark I would return.
It is typically Manics’ for the band to decide to take a huge risk after the acclaim of SATT and once again shun commercial success by finally going back to their finest hour, washing the past 15 years under the carpet.
With no singles planned from the album and with the dark disturbing titles, is seems they are finally making music they want again, rather than pleasing the record company.
The album could be a disaster commercially, but hopefully like the Holy Bible it will stand up as much more than a record, representing a work of art, indeed Jenny Saville - last seen on the revolting but enthralling Holy Bible cover art - is back on board with one of her paintings on the cover of the new record.
JFPL is an event, and will form a sonic memorial to an articulate but troubled talent.
Keep your 80s throwbacks NME darlings La Roux and Friendly Fires, cast off the skinny jeans and scarf look all you young pretenders, and watch and learn Kings of Leon- the ghost of Mr Richey James Edwards has returned.
And by fuck we’ve missed him.
(And who knows maybe Richey give the tabloids a field-day by finally surfacing to assess his new material, if only to tell James Dean Bradfield that the guitar solo on track 5 is rubbish.)
*DISCLAIMER -However word of warning, no matter how amazing I anticipate this record to be, Nicky Wire does sing on ‘William’s Last Words’-just listen to ‘Wattsville Blues’ on 2001’s KYE to know that The Wire should never be allowed near a microphone….
Sample titles from the Manic Street Preachers’ new record: ‘She Bathed Herself In a Bath of Bleach’, ‘Jackie Collins Existential Question Time,’ ‘This Joke Sport Severed,’ and ‘Virginia State Epileptic Colony.’
Any other band would look idiotic. Only the Manics’ could get away with such ridiculous –or indeed brilliant- titles (see Freedom of Speech Won’t Feed my Children, Natwest-Midlands-Barclays-Lloyds, The Intense Humming of Evil, The Love of Richard Nixon et al), without sounding like pretentious 6th formers.
Cheerily titled ‘Journal For Plague Lovers,’ the new record, released May 18 , has been building up hysteria among fan on Manics’ fansite forums, as the Manics’ are touted to blow off their middle-aged 40 year olds tag, and show all the young bucks how it’s done.
Hardcore Manic fans (whose uniform consists of leopard print, pink feather boas and ‘4 Real’ scrawled across their arms), were ecstatic to find out that the album would consist entirely of lyrics left to them by AWOL lyricist and rhythm guitarist Richey Edwards, missing-in-action since February 1995.
Richey Edwards was (or is, depending what you believe) a troubled young man who suffered from alcoholism, anorexia nervosa and crippling depression. The now iconic shot of him staring at the camera with the phrase ‘4 Real’ carved into his forearm, dripping with blood remains one of rock’s most enduring images. Following an interview with Steve Lamacq, in which the journalist questioned Edwards over whether the band were to be taken seriously, Edwards took out a razor blade, etching 4 Real into his forearm to make his point achingly clear to the hack. The publicity this created launched the Manics’ into the media with a bang in 1991.
With his disappearance in 1995, abandoning his car near the Severn Bridge, he created a myth around himself, whilst seemingly wanting people to think he committed suicide, a body has never been found and many fans believe he is still alive and well.
In a final show of camaraderie, not seen in the money- grabbing egotistical nature of the business these days (yes Johnny Borrell I’m thinking of you) the remaining Preachers have kept putting royalties into his bank account following his disappearance in hope the complex character would return.
This of course remains highly unlikely but finally the lyrics left to the band by Richey are seeing the light of day, as the band announced last year they would record an album consisting solely of material Richey had left.
Whispers quickly began surfacing of a Holy Bible Mark II, a return to the Manics’ finest hour in 1994 with what was arguably one of the ugliest and most intelligent records of all time.
The Holy Bible contained lyrics about topics such as anorexia, the Holocaust, American foreign policy and political correctness, and judging by the titles off JFPL, the new record is just as bleak.
The first new track, played on Zane Lowes’ radio show, the fantastic ‘Peeled Apples,’ certainly sounded like a return to 1994 and made listening through the over-excitable Kiwi’s show just about bearable for once. Name checking Noam Chomsky and with lyrics such as “the Levi jean will always be stronger than the Uzi,” it is unmistakably Manics’, and is utterly brilliant.
Musically, it is the polar opposite to the lilting harmonising of ‘Your Love Alone is Not Enough’ and its angry chomping at the bit is miles away from “If You Tolerate This…”
Judging by the new track, it seems the Manics’ are back to form, complete with indecipherable lyrics, grinding guitars and lyrics straight out of tortured mind and genius of Richey.
Since 1998’s This Is My Truth, Tell Me Yours, the Manics’ had been struggling to find a niche. While successful commercially, TIMTTMY was criticised for being too middle-aged and not as complete as previous album Everything Must Go, which had proved their commercial breakthrough, bringing Brit Awards and sell out arena tours.
2001’s Know Your Enemy, referred to lazily by every music critic as the band’s ‘misguided punk album’ (despite the fact that only ‘Found That Soul’ sounds even remotely punkish) saw critics turn against them, and 2004’s quite frankly dreary Lifeblood simply confused fans, with Nicky Wire even admitting that the band were on the verge of splitting up after the ensuing tour.
With 2007’s return to form, Send Away the Tigers, bringing them critical and commercial success yet again with its pop melodies, it seemed the Manics’ were back. Even the notoriously fickle NME loved them, giving the album 8 out of 10 and crowning them Godlike Geniuses in 2008.
SATT however still alienated the Manics’ hardcore, who while always remaining loyal, dreamt of the day Manics’ mark I would return.
It is typically Manics’ for the band to decide to take a huge risk after the acclaim of SATT and once again shun commercial success by finally going back to their finest hour, washing the past 15 years under the carpet.
With no singles planned from the album and with the dark disturbing titles, is seems they are finally making music they want again, rather than pleasing the record company.
The album could be a disaster commercially, but hopefully like the Holy Bible it will stand up as much more than a record, representing a work of art, indeed Jenny Saville - last seen on the revolting but enthralling Holy Bible cover art - is back on board with one of her paintings on the cover of the new record.
JFPL is an event, and will form a sonic memorial to an articulate but troubled talent.
Keep your 80s throwbacks NME darlings La Roux and Friendly Fires, cast off the skinny jeans and scarf look all you young pretenders, and watch and learn Kings of Leon- the ghost of Mr Richey James Edwards has returned.
And by fuck we’ve missed him.
(And who knows maybe Richey give the tabloids a field-day by finally surfacing to assess his new material, if only to tell James Dean Bradfield that the guitar solo on track 5 is rubbish.)
*DISCLAIMER -However word of warning, no matter how amazing I anticipate this record to be, Nicky Wire does sing on ‘William’s Last Words’-just listen to ‘Wattsville Blues’ on 2001’s KYE to know that The Wire should never be allowed near a microphone….
Sunday, 29 March 2009
Standing on the shoulders of....Mickey-Bo
Do you remember the ad that appeared on television about 10 years ago with the two wee boys frolicking through the 'beautiful Northern Ireland landscape' and asking 'Wouldn't it be great if it was like this all the time?' It was a kind of forerunner for the film 'Mickey-Bo and me.' Cheesy as this ad was I fear this entry may lean toward such schmaltz....
Last night, on the recommendation of two good friends of mine, I went to a Belfast Giants Ice hockey game at the Odyssey.
As soon as we sat down a large group of 7-year-olds came in to be seated. All with inflatable hockey sticks and the giddyness that comes from a large Fanta with their fries...as soon as I saw them I groaned thinking it would be tantrums and toilet runs all night disturbing my view of the game.
But as the kids settled and the game began I realised there was something more significant about this group sat in front of me. Thats when the ad with the two wee boys popped into my head.
Waking up today many of you, like myself, will be reading about the rioting and violence at Windsor Park and Tate's Avenue last night. Although it is still unclear exactly what happened, it is understood a hardcore element of Polish hooligans -without tickets- came to NI with the intention of causing trouble.
That they did, causing serious damage to Wetherspoons in Bedford Street, injuries to NI and Polish fans, and chaos for traffic in Belfast city centre last night (we were stuck in the Odyssey car park in traffic for 30 mins after the game.)
This image of violent soccer fans is nothing new, indeed riot police are now a common sight at some games.
Yesterday a young man in Ballymena had his ear bitten off in a violent street attack. The reason for the assault? He was wearing a Rangers shirt. The attack had all the hall-marks of the sectarian attack on Michael McIlveen (known as Mickey-Bo) in the same town in 2006.
Unfortunately, like most other things in NI, sport has been held to ransom by people's inability to divorce political tribalism from other areas of life.
Such tribalism, and the sectariansim associated with it, is ingrained in soccer, as with many other sports.
There is, and was, none of this at the Giants game.
The allegiance to one team and desire to see that team beat others, as well as having a particular nemesis within a league, is part and parcel of the fun of following a sport. But here in Northern Ireland, as we have long learned, adherance to a particluar position or unwavering support for one side does not always bode well for intercommunity relations.
There is no d'Hondt system in sport however, and the scenes in Belfast last night, as well as the attack in Ballymena will have to be addressed by the relevant authorities to try and curb in the future.
The youngsters sitting in front of me last night hopefully won't be familiar with such scenes and could have been from any background or religion - they all just loved the Belfast Giants.
There was no sectarian or even antagonsitic chants against the visiting team - the Cardiff devils - and there was more fighting on the ice than in the crowd - the way a sports match should be.
There was something very refreshing about hearing people shout in support of a Belfast team and not having any obvious political allegiance attached to it.
Although soccer and GAA teams in Northern Ireland have done a lot over the past few years in terms of reaching out to the 'other side,' the fact that each sport has roots with one community cannot be erased.
The Belfast Giants team has no such historic baggage and offers an alternative to young people than simply following a team of past generations, support which may well carry political connotation.
Before people start thinking this blog is sponsored by the team, I have to say there was the odd brat kicking off because Daddy wouldn't buy them a foam finger so I didn't totally feel like I had stepped into the Waltons, but the atmosphere before, during and after the game was happy, healthy and lighthearted.
Although the giant Subway machine gun that fires out Subway sandwiches into the crowd and the various team mascots running around in the crowd, made the experience somewhat surreal (you really have to see Gordy the Gorilla rubbing his not insignificant backside on the head of a mortified middle aged woman to see what I mean) overall it was great night.
The formation of the Belfast Giants was billed as a deliberate attempt to normalise sport in post Good Friday Agreement Northern Ireland. The group in front of me will hopefully benefit from the existence of such a team.
Last night, on the recommendation of two good friends of mine, I went to a Belfast Giants Ice hockey game at the Odyssey.
As soon as we sat down a large group of 7-year-olds came in to be seated. All with inflatable hockey sticks and the giddyness that comes from a large Fanta with their fries...as soon as I saw them I groaned thinking it would be tantrums and toilet runs all night disturbing my view of the game.
But as the kids settled and the game began I realised there was something more significant about this group sat in front of me. Thats when the ad with the two wee boys popped into my head.
Waking up today many of you, like myself, will be reading about the rioting and violence at Windsor Park and Tate's Avenue last night. Although it is still unclear exactly what happened, it is understood a hardcore element of Polish hooligans -without tickets- came to NI with the intention of causing trouble.
That they did, causing serious damage to Wetherspoons in Bedford Street, injuries to NI and Polish fans, and chaos for traffic in Belfast city centre last night (we were stuck in the Odyssey car park in traffic for 30 mins after the game.)
This image of violent soccer fans is nothing new, indeed riot police are now a common sight at some games.
Yesterday a young man in Ballymena had his ear bitten off in a violent street attack. The reason for the assault? He was wearing a Rangers shirt. The attack had all the hall-marks of the sectarian attack on Michael McIlveen (known as Mickey-Bo) in the same town in 2006.
Unfortunately, like most other things in NI, sport has been held to ransom by people's inability to divorce political tribalism from other areas of life.
Such tribalism, and the sectariansim associated with it, is ingrained in soccer, as with many other sports.
There is, and was, none of this at the Giants game.
The allegiance to one team and desire to see that team beat others, as well as having a particular nemesis within a league, is part and parcel of the fun of following a sport. But here in Northern Ireland, as we have long learned, adherance to a particluar position or unwavering support for one side does not always bode well for intercommunity relations.
There is no d'Hondt system in sport however, and the scenes in Belfast last night, as well as the attack in Ballymena will have to be addressed by the relevant authorities to try and curb in the future.
The youngsters sitting in front of me last night hopefully won't be familiar with such scenes and could have been from any background or religion - they all just loved the Belfast Giants.
There was no sectarian or even antagonsitic chants against the visiting team - the Cardiff devils - and there was more fighting on the ice than in the crowd - the way a sports match should be.
There was something very refreshing about hearing people shout in support of a Belfast team and not having any obvious political allegiance attached to it.
Although soccer and GAA teams in Northern Ireland have done a lot over the past few years in terms of reaching out to the 'other side,' the fact that each sport has roots with one community cannot be erased.
The Belfast Giants team has no such historic baggage and offers an alternative to young people than simply following a team of past generations, support which may well carry political connotation.
Before people start thinking this blog is sponsored by the team, I have to say there was the odd brat kicking off because Daddy wouldn't buy them a foam finger so I didn't totally feel like I had stepped into the Waltons, but the atmosphere before, during and after the game was happy, healthy and lighthearted.
Although the giant Subway machine gun that fires out Subway sandwiches into the crowd and the various team mascots running around in the crowd, made the experience somewhat surreal (you really have to see Gordy the Gorilla rubbing his not insignificant backside on the head of a mortified middle aged woman to see what I mean) overall it was great night.
The formation of the Belfast Giants was billed as a deliberate attempt to normalise sport in post Good Friday Agreement Northern Ireland. The group in front of me will hopefully benefit from the existence of such a team.
Thursday, 26 March 2009
A voice worth having
Last night I was doing my usual parousal of songs on You Tube when I found a rare (and incidentally very good) collaboration between two of my favourite singers, Mama Cass Elliot and John Denver, doing a version of his song 'Leaving on a jet plane.'
I love finding wee gems like this on You Tube but it was one of those clips with lots of talking before the song actually begins. Usually I ignore these interludes but when I heard the subject on which the two were speaking I was immediately drawn in.
It was from 1972 and the two were appearing on 'Burt Sugarman's The Midnight Special.' I must admit I don't have extensive knowledge on American popular culture in the 1970's and so hadn't heard of the show. A quick glance on Wikipedia at the guests who appeared on the music showcase, indicates its popularity and searching You Tube for the artists who performed is worth a look for music lovers.
But back to the talking. As I said, the episode was aired in 1972 and both John and Mama Cass before beginning their duet, made appeals to the American public to register to vote. It was the usual spiel about having a voice and being heard etc. As I'm sure you'll know the election in 1972 they were referring to was the same election that Nixon's team snuck into Watergate - changing the face, and operation of elections in the U.S and the world over forever.
Although neither John nor Mama Cass said anything particularly new or interesting about the importance of registering to vote (and voting itself), it struck me that the message need not be original all the time. The sentiment is so important its gravity should be delivered through simplicity, i.e get your finger out and vote and if your not registered, do so!
The European election is on June 4th this year. Although the newspaper coverage thus far has centred on the divisions within unionism and the likelihood of Sinn Fein topping the poll, not much attention has been paid to voter apathy in Northern Ireland.
I'm not suggesting there is voter apathy here on the scale of mainland Britain - as mentioned before on this blog, the north, and indeed island of Ireland, is a highly politicised society, a fact borne out by our relatively high voter turnout.
My annoyance is specifically with young people in Northern Ireland who either don't vote or simply vote along tribal lines without much thought or inclination to know the manifesto pledges upon which a candidate forms his campaign.
It seems to me this is a subject that only comes to the fore near election time when its a slow news day. The fact it is not always highlighted in the mainstream media does not mean it is not an ongoing problem.
How many times have you heard a young person moan about paying so much tax, not being able to get a job or the obvious bug bear - student fees, and in the same breath saying they don't vote!
I was at a press conference at Stormont not so long ago. It was for young broadcast and newspaper journalism students to practice questioning and interviewing in such an environment in front of real-life MLAs (I resisted the temptation to get out my autograph book.)
Slowly but surely it descended into role reversal with the politicians asking the young people what they wanted to see happen in future and why they didn't vote. It was quite embarassing when someone in the audience said 'Theres just no-one exciting to vote for, politics is boring.' If this is what broadcasters and journalists of the future are saying, god knows who'll be out First Minister in a few years....
The European election is probably not the best election to try and persuade young voters that informed voting is not only easy but important. The fact that Europe has a huge bearing on every aspect of modern life in Ireland north and south is not easily translated when one looks at the bureaucracy and red tape that permeates operations in Brussels and Strasbourg. But it does have a bearing.
From the Common Agricultural Policy to the most basic health and safety legislation (exciting stuff I know) Europe calls the shots. Human Rights? That too. I'm sure Colin Duffy and his solicitor are glad to hear that.
With the current antagonism between member states on a global fiscal initiative to deal with the greedy bankers, its safe to assume the wrangling will produce ripples effecting our pockets in the near future too. For good or bad.
Northern Ireland is a tiny entity in the grand scheme that is the EU. We should count ourselves lucky to have three elected representatives - we're half the size of London. We should take advantage of this and get the best elected representatives we can voicing Northern Ireland's concerns at the heart of Europe.
Everyone knows the issues. It is now more important than ever to make sure our voice is heard in the democratic process and to inform ourselves on the people who are standing on a ticket proposing to help us within such a process.
Read their websites, watch their 5 minute political broadcasts when they start and make sure your making the right choice. They might not change the world but at the very least they are representing our interests.
And seriously do check out John and Mama Cass on You Tube - what voices...almost as powerful as ours.
I love finding wee gems like this on You Tube but it was one of those clips with lots of talking before the song actually begins. Usually I ignore these interludes but when I heard the subject on which the two were speaking I was immediately drawn in.
It was from 1972 and the two were appearing on 'Burt Sugarman's The Midnight Special.' I must admit I don't have extensive knowledge on American popular culture in the 1970's and so hadn't heard of the show. A quick glance on Wikipedia at the guests who appeared on the music showcase, indicates its popularity and searching You Tube for the artists who performed is worth a look for music lovers.
But back to the talking. As I said, the episode was aired in 1972 and both John and Mama Cass before beginning their duet, made appeals to the American public to register to vote. It was the usual spiel about having a voice and being heard etc. As I'm sure you'll know the election in 1972 they were referring to was the same election that Nixon's team snuck into Watergate - changing the face, and operation of elections in the U.S and the world over forever.
Although neither John nor Mama Cass said anything particularly new or interesting about the importance of registering to vote (and voting itself), it struck me that the message need not be original all the time. The sentiment is so important its gravity should be delivered through simplicity, i.e get your finger out and vote and if your not registered, do so!
The European election is on June 4th this year. Although the newspaper coverage thus far has centred on the divisions within unionism and the likelihood of Sinn Fein topping the poll, not much attention has been paid to voter apathy in Northern Ireland.
I'm not suggesting there is voter apathy here on the scale of mainland Britain - as mentioned before on this blog, the north, and indeed island of Ireland, is a highly politicised society, a fact borne out by our relatively high voter turnout.
My annoyance is specifically with young people in Northern Ireland who either don't vote or simply vote along tribal lines without much thought or inclination to know the manifesto pledges upon which a candidate forms his campaign.
It seems to me this is a subject that only comes to the fore near election time when its a slow news day. The fact it is not always highlighted in the mainstream media does not mean it is not an ongoing problem.
How many times have you heard a young person moan about paying so much tax, not being able to get a job or the obvious bug bear - student fees, and in the same breath saying they don't vote!
I was at a press conference at Stormont not so long ago. It was for young broadcast and newspaper journalism students to practice questioning and interviewing in such an environment in front of real-life MLAs (I resisted the temptation to get out my autograph book.)
Slowly but surely it descended into role reversal with the politicians asking the young people what they wanted to see happen in future and why they didn't vote. It was quite embarassing when someone in the audience said 'Theres just no-one exciting to vote for, politics is boring.' If this is what broadcasters and journalists of the future are saying, god knows who'll be out First Minister in a few years....
The European election is probably not the best election to try and persuade young voters that informed voting is not only easy but important. The fact that Europe has a huge bearing on every aspect of modern life in Ireland north and south is not easily translated when one looks at the bureaucracy and red tape that permeates operations in Brussels and Strasbourg. But it does have a bearing.
From the Common Agricultural Policy to the most basic health and safety legislation (exciting stuff I know) Europe calls the shots. Human Rights? That too. I'm sure Colin Duffy and his solicitor are glad to hear that.
With the current antagonism between member states on a global fiscal initiative to deal with the greedy bankers, its safe to assume the wrangling will produce ripples effecting our pockets in the near future too. For good or bad.
Northern Ireland is a tiny entity in the grand scheme that is the EU. We should count ourselves lucky to have three elected representatives - we're half the size of London. We should take advantage of this and get the best elected representatives we can voicing Northern Ireland's concerns at the heart of Europe.
Everyone knows the issues. It is now more important than ever to make sure our voice is heard in the democratic process and to inform ourselves on the people who are standing on a ticket proposing to help us within such a process.
Read their websites, watch their 5 minute political broadcasts when they start and make sure your making the right choice. They might not change the world but at the very least they are representing our interests.
And seriously do check out John and Mama Cass on You Tube - what voices...almost as powerful as ours.
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