Directionless Anger And Frustration – ( Or Half Of What Could Have Been A Slightly Decent Essay On How Awful The Charts Are)
Genuinely depressed that the top 3 selling singles on the UK iTunes at the time of writing are the atrociously flaccid and characterless “Fireflies” (written by the equally beige and appalling Owl City, who also wrote an entire song about a trip to the dentist – no joke, unfortunately), the debut single from the fucking irritating teenage sensations Jedward (who only became famous because even the undemanding X Factor audience realised that they didn’t possess a single piece of laudable musicianship between the brain-dead two of them ) and a ridiculously obvious single from the cast of Glee; yet another example that youth culture is seriously and extremely fucked.
I really shouldn’t care. I should be used to this – lots of people enjoy exceptionally tired and mundane music, and that should be fine. But it’s not fine, at all. Put simply, it’s not fine because if you bother to even scratch the surface of what’s beneath the vapid layer of shit that Simon Cowell (don’t get me started on him, that would require another post) et al have spread over the charts, there has arguably never been more of a wealth of fantastic music, of all genres. It’s not a case of being a fan of pop music, or being a fan of alternative music; there’s mounds of insanely brilliant and affecting pop music out there, it just tends to get ignored because they don’t have EMI’s chequebook behind them.
What has made this dire situation even worse (if that was possible) is that Miike Snow released “Silvia” last week – to general disdain and lack of reaction. I’m not going to argue that “Silvia” is their strongest single; it’s not, but it had more than enough instant appeal to scratch the charts. Here we have a group of super-producers who between them have written hits for Kylie, Britney and Kelis, have released a hugely critically acclaimed album within the past year, and yet when they release just one of these agonisingly perfect pop songs onto the shit munching public, the reaction is just…. non existent. It’s clear that something’s wrong. The great music is there, and it’s being recognised more and more by a music loving community that, ironically, barely buys music anymore, whilst meeting nothing more than indifference from the record buying public. The trouble is that, as fun as ridiculing the indefensible Own City is, it’s going to make next to no difference, and that if we genuinely want things to change, then we’re going to have to do something about it. I’ve no idea how this is going to happen but… you know… if I find the answer I’ll let you know.
This is really more than convenient, because in the past 24 hours I stumbled across this Netksy drum and bass remix of “Black & Blue”. I’ve also been completely hammering their debut album for next to no reason in the past week – and here’s my album highlight that I have somehow not managed to mention yet.
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February 3rd, 2010 at 6:10 pm
OMG – literally every single word that you put before us all re: the state of the UK charts is just bang on and genius! I would love to begin a nationwide petition to get Simon Cowell permenantly handcuffed to Jedward, so that neither of them could make our ears bleed any more than they already have done…..the bastards!
However, what intrigued me more is your love for Miike Snow – possibly the greatest thing to happen to music in the past year! I saw them in Amsterdam back in July 09, and haven’t turned my back on them since. If only our radio stations would support such amazing talent, rather than plugging some 2 bob dickhead with a casio and mac in his bedroom….the UK would be a better place!
Anyway mate – I love Miike Snow, U love Miike Snow – THE WORLD SHOULD LEARN TO LOVE MIIKE SNOW!
Cheers for the Netsky Mix by the way – fucking awesome!
February 3rd, 2010 at 9:01 pm
yep – totally agree with the sentiment and the song used as example.
i was, if not a chart geek pre downloads, certainly a keen weekly follower. when downloads were eligible i was excited, thought it would open it up to the likes of miike snow etc. it hasn’t (generally) and so i don’t pay much attention now. maybe the music we like isn’t bought, or not bought at chart eligible places? maybe the chart just isnt relevant now>
sure, they’ll also be many campaigns to get tracks in but thats not a genuine popluar, loved track.
the uk isnt the idiosyncratic market it was once – it’s global now – they’ll always be the odd nugget that gets through but few and far between. maybe the new, midweek chart will shake things up?
February 3rd, 2010 at 9:23 pm
Cheers for the kind words, both of you. I completely agree that Miike Snow is a good example, but the depressing thing is that there are just so many other artists that I could have used as an example! is there going to be a new midweek shitboyfriend?
February 4th, 2010 at 6:00 pm
not a new midweek Phil, but radio1 to start airing the midweeks on greg james, wednesday afternoons from march: http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2010/feb/01/radio-1-midweek-charts
February 5th, 2010 at 1:22 am
owl city is so postal service 2010.
charts aren’t reflective of good music, just popular music.
February 5th, 2010 at 2:50 am
It’s all marketing isn’t it? If Miike Snow’s UK label threw a shitload of money at them then they’d probably be selling a bit more. But the question then becomes whether they’ll recoup those advertising costs…
saamFG
February 5th, 2010 at 6:12 am
does anyone have the link for cult logic?
February 5th, 2010 at 6:09 pm
Fireflies totally rules – It’s a brilliant track. You’re treading all over your own point with that one. Such a bad example.
February 5th, 2010 at 6:56 pm
Robert, you couldn’t be more right, but what I’m saying is that there is music out there that is accessible enough to be popular – yet record labels choose to peddle weightless rubbish, as Saam mentioned (ps, anyone who likes films / music like this will like http://www.fadedglamour.co.uk/ , I can recommend it).
I’m afraid that I did not provide Cult Logic for download, Brody, because it is an album track.
Finally, Gamblehands… we’re just going to have to agree to disagree – just a difference in taste. And whilst there’s no such thing as good or bad taste, just taste, I still think that you’re wrong
February 7th, 2010 at 12:47 pm
This was an enjoable post. Totally agree with the points you raise.
Sadly, there’s this over-confident crowd of bosses in the music industry that believe they can make anything number one with the right ingredients. Unfortunately one of those ingredients is not musical talent. It’s nulified the chart for the rest of us for many years now.
When they quit selecting artists based purely on the amount of money they can generate then we may see things alter, but that will be a long time me thinks.
Bill Hicks says it best back in 1994 here – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xRkA6zugNMQ
Government approved pop all round then.
Add to this the fact that the general public are seemingly stupid doesn’t help. The Sun is the most popular newpaper, the X-Factor is the most popular TV show, etc.
Rant over.
Mike
February 7th, 2010 at 12:52 pm
Just found this other Bill Hicks clip on music moguls. Is Simon Cowell Satan? Perhaps, but sadly this was made over 16 years ago, before Simon was even in the public domain. RIP Bill…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J10w3FuCwfQ&feature=related
Mike
February 8th, 2010 at 5:56 pm
Good call on those videos Mike – I spent all of yesterday trawling through Bill Hicks videos on youtube!!
March 27th, 2011 at 7:20 pm
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March 28th, 2011 at 4:46 pm
“If something is popular, it must be wrong.”
March 28th, 2011 at 6:28 pm
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