I wouldn't consider myself a fan of the Eurovision Song Contest, but I'll use the excuse of not feeling particularly well, meaning I can't go out, and I've already watched everything on Sky+! So I ended up watching it last night. Wow, what an experience. I've missed out. Clearly.
Anyway, the UK entry came last. We've been pretty bad in the Eurovision over the last few years - our last win was in 1997, when Katrina and the Waves (an established group with a Canadian lead) won with a pretty Europe-friendly song - "Love Shine a Light". However the UK is a historically successful country - We've won 5 times, along with France and Luxembourg, with the only country to get more wins being Ireland with 7.
So what went wrong in 2010? Why have we dropped down the European peckking order over the last few years?
I think our problem is the way we appear to be going about our song and performer selection. Our 2010 song was a Stock / Waterman production, written for... a winner of a contest - Not written specifically for a named performer. So instantly there is a compromise in what is being produced. The song itself was reminicent of the late 80s mass manufactured pop that Stock / Aitken / Waterman pumped out for the likes of Jason, Kylie, Rick and Sonia, so was at best dated, and at worst a complete rehash of the Stock Aitken & Waterman sound that we oh so hated 20 years ago! Whilst not wishing for musicians to over-analyse things, did they actually look at what Europe might like? Did they actually look for anything unique? Or did they just churn out a rubbish generic song in 10 minutes and say "That'll do"? Whilst the German act may have been similarly "manufactured" through a talent show, at least the German song had a modern Lily Allen-like quirky quality!
You then have a televised contest of singers singing the song that has already been produced. They're having to compromise themselves, and then be voted on by a ficke public, who tend to vote for what looks good as much as what sounds good. They're having to perform in a way that perhaps they've never performed before, with people they haven't performed with. So it potentially makes for an uncomfortable mix. Then for the final performance add backing singers who seemingly can't sing in tune. Why?!
Why do we not have someone who can write and perform their own music, rather than having to rely on some tired old 80s generic rubbish rehash sung by some random face pulled out of a crowd. Surely we need something something unique and interesting?? Its not like we don't have the talent and ability available in the country - we are the center of the musical universe after all! Yet everything now seems to involve a TV-fronted talent show with premium rated vote-lines, where bands and acts who have worked hard for years to get success are being left behind in favour of one-dimensional fame-hungry wannabes who can rake in millions for the producers with very little in return for themselves, who can then be thrown away afterwards when the next winner comes along!
Whilst music talent is seen as a cash-cow for the producers, then we wont (and don't deserve) to win anything. because the music will simply be meaningless, and have no passion. Give the music back to the people for whom music has a meaning, and is a passion, and for whom that passion isn't just how much money they can make!
Oh, and whilst I like the German song, it has apparently been No1 across Europe? How come a song that has already been No1 can be in the Eurovision? Surely thats an unfair advantage and surely its supposed to be the other way around - played first time on Eurovision, THEN make No1? Think the rules need looking at...? Or perhaps we need to read the rules, and use them to OUR advantage?
Sunday, 30 May 2010
Friday, 28 May 2010
Blog 4 - Why do I hate Apple?
Anyone who knows me knows that I have an overwhelming aversion to anything Apple. Mac,iPhone, iPad, iPod, whatever. The iPad was released in the UK today, and again there were queues of people standing for days to buy a product that is - lets face it - pointless. Its an enormous iPhone without the phone functionality. Its a tablet PC without the functionality of a PC and effectively the functionality of a netbook. It isn't cheap. Its tied down. The 3G version requires a custom mini SIM card - why?? So that only those tied in to Apple can use it? Wow, if ever there was an overhyped launch of a pointless product, this was it!
This could apply to to any of the Apple product line.
The iPhone is a phone. Its not a particularly good phone at that - it lacks features other phones have had for YEARS. Its vastly overpriced! It was until recently locked down to only 1 operator, and Apple are closing it down as a system. This goes for pretty much EVERY Apple product as they gain market share. I'm sure Steve Jobs was once a champion of open source? Yet for some reason there is a cult around Apple! WHY?! Christ, they even have the BBC running daily adverts for them!!! You don't see the BBC doing that for anyone else.
They're bigger than M$ now, have much bigger monopolies and market share, particularly in the music sector. Apple are doing the same (and worse) than the likes of Micro$oft, Google, etc have been panned and prosecuted for, yet they get away scot free? The much trumpeted iPod operating system was stolen from Creative Labs for example. They're embroiled in battles with Creative, HTC, Google and Nokia. I'm not saying that any of these other companies are any better or worse than Apple, and I have to be fair - Apple are clearly doing something right, and are renowned for being easy to use. Yet sheeple seem blind to anything Apple does. I'm sure Apples fortunes will change, another company will become the media darling, the media, users and technology sector will turn against Apple, and they'll be subject to the same regulation that their predecessors have. It always happens.
I just don't ever remember the same irrational blind hype around any of these other companies, and its quite sickening to see sheeple blindly jumping on it. Wonder how much they'll charge for the iEmperorsClothes, and how many will be stupid enough to buy it?
This could apply to to any of the Apple product line.
The iPhone is a phone. Its not a particularly good phone at that - it lacks features other phones have had for YEARS. Its vastly overpriced! It was until recently locked down to only 1 operator, and Apple are closing it down as a system. This goes for pretty much EVERY Apple product as they gain market share. I'm sure Steve Jobs was once a champion of open source? Yet for some reason there is a cult around Apple! WHY?! Christ, they even have the BBC running daily adverts for them!!! You don't see the BBC doing that for anyone else.
They're bigger than M$ now, have much bigger monopolies and market share, particularly in the music sector. Apple are doing the same (and worse) than the likes of Micro$oft, Google, etc have been panned and prosecuted for, yet they get away scot free? The much trumpeted iPod operating system was stolen from Creative Labs for example. They're embroiled in battles with Creative, HTC, Google and Nokia. I'm not saying that any of these other companies are any better or worse than Apple, and I have to be fair - Apple are clearly doing something right, and are renowned for being easy to use. Yet sheeple seem blind to anything Apple does. I'm sure Apples fortunes will change, another company will become the media darling, the media, users and technology sector will turn against Apple, and they'll be subject to the same regulation that their predecessors have. It always happens.
I just don't ever remember the same irrational blind hype around any of these other companies, and its quite sickening to see sheeple blindly jumping on it. Wonder how much they'll charge for the iEmperorsClothes, and how many will be stupid enough to buy it?
Thursday, 27 May 2010
Blog 3 - In sickness
I feel crap. I've been signed off work for the last 2 weeks with "dizzyness"... a natural blonde trait perhaps, but this isn't particularly pleasant and not the sort of dizzyness you want to be signed off for. Much of the time I feel OK, but much of the time I feel pretty crap so I'm just parked on the sofa. The doctor reckons that it might be Labyrinthitis, which I guess isn't so bad considering!
However boredom makes you think crappy things. I had a head MRI last week to look into why I've been having a tingly head and headaches and things. Now the Labyrinthitis might just be coincidence, or it might not be. That worries me somewhat. As does the waiting for results which might take up to 2 weeks apparently.
I've also never been signed off before. That might sound like nothing in comparison to the whole MRI dizzyness thing, but I honestly worry that everyone at work thinks I'm a lazy arse skiving off, that I've dumped them all with my work, that they discover how crap I am at my job, etc etc. I keep toying with going in just so I have something to do and to feel less useless, and I sometimes think that I am well enough and that I could just go in, but as my boss says, what do I do if I get there and feel crap? What do I do if I feel crap whilst I'm driving? I drove to Tescos last night to see how I got on, and on the way back drove straight across the top of a mini roundabout whilst barely registering it. So I guess that said to be that driving really isn't a good idea! :c)
So I'm sitting here feeling pretty useless, writing a website and a blog on my laptop to keep my mind active. What fun!! I'm also hoping this dizzyness goes away before I go on holiday (the week after next) and before going to Scotland (in a month), cos I've no idea how I'll get there otherwise!!
MEH!!!
I feel crap.
However boredom makes you think crappy things. I had a head MRI last week to look into why I've been having a tingly head and headaches and things. Now the Labyrinthitis might just be coincidence, or it might not be. That worries me somewhat. As does the waiting for results which might take up to 2 weeks apparently.
I've also never been signed off before. That might sound like nothing in comparison to the whole MRI dizzyness thing, but I honestly worry that everyone at work thinks I'm a lazy arse skiving off, that I've dumped them all with my work, that they discover how crap I am at my job, etc etc. I keep toying with going in just so I have something to do and to feel less useless, and I sometimes think that I am well enough and that I could just go in, but as my boss says, what do I do if I get there and feel crap? What do I do if I feel crap whilst I'm driving? I drove to Tescos last night to see how I got on, and on the way back drove straight across the top of a mini roundabout whilst barely registering it. So I guess that said to be that driving really isn't a good idea! :c)
So I'm sitting here feeling pretty useless, writing a website and a blog on my laptop to keep my mind active. What fun!! I'm also hoping this dizzyness goes away before I go on holiday (the week after next) and before going to Scotland (in a month), cos I've no idea how I'll get there otherwise!!
MEH!!!
I feel crap.
Monday, 24 May 2010
Blog 2 - Why?????
I'm asking myself that now... Why??? What do I have to say about anything?!
As I was revamping my website (in other words, actually creating one!) I thought I needed content, and this would at least be vaguely dynamic content! But also, Facebook / Twitter really isn't enough, and to be honest I am getting fed up with Facebook.
FED UP WITH FACEBOOK?!?!
Yes, indeed, I do seem to be jumping on the anti-facebook bandwagon! In the products hype lifecycle, I've gone over the peak of inflated expectations, and am swiftly sliding down into the trough of disillusionment! But why now?? I've put up with the infestation of application notifications and change after pointless change to the interface, and the privacy argument seems to have passed me by. Well, I thought it had. The straw that finally broke the camels back is the fact that everything I do - anything I "like" or join, now means opening up my profile to whatever it is I'm joining - opening up my profile, and that of my friends. I've had Emails from what look like facebook friends that turn out to be advertising crap! Effectively, Facebook is a spammers dream! Create a facebook app or group or picture gallery with a catchy or provocative name to lure people into joining, and then have instant access to all the details of both themselves and their friends? Genius! Suddenly Facebook doesn't look so shiny - it looks rather sleazy...
I mean you'd hope that they'd at least vet apps and have some sort of automatic sweep of groups to make sure they are not being used for the sole purpose of gathering user info? Well if that was the case, there would be no such thing as facebook-bourne viruses...
What started off as a fantasticly useable free social network suddenly doesn't seem to fantastic or free.... I guess they've got to make their money somehow, and I don't grudge them that, but surely they have a responsibility to their millions of users to be open and honest about what their aims are? TELL us that you want to monetise the site! Don't just do it on the fly using members personal information that we thought was only being shared with friends! That's deceitful.
The main problem is, Facebook is the ONLY kid on the block. There is NO competition (yet). The media might be hyping up the likes of Diaspora or StatusNet, but they're not the same, and in the case of the Media darling Diaspora, doesn't actually exist!!!!! Its a concept! Twitter has its plus points, but again it isn't the same!
The other problem is that Facebook is actually quite good! Look past its MASSIVE failings, lock your security down, block spurious apps as they keep popping up, and just put up with the crap and pointless system updates, accept it for what it is, and it does its job very well indeed! I don't hate it enough to leave (and there is no competition to migrate to), but I don't like it enough any more to engage with it.
So I'll engage with something in MY control - this blog. This website. It might be simple, it might be pointless, but its mines and I like it!
As I was revamping my website (in other words, actually creating one!) I thought I needed content, and this would at least be vaguely dynamic content! But also, Facebook / Twitter really isn't enough, and to be honest I am getting fed up with Facebook.
FED UP WITH FACEBOOK?!?!
Yes, indeed, I do seem to be jumping on the anti-facebook bandwagon! In the products hype lifecycle, I've gone over the peak of inflated expectations, and am swiftly sliding down into the trough of disillusionment! But why now?? I've put up with the infestation of application notifications and change after pointless change to the interface, and the privacy argument seems to have passed me by. Well, I thought it had. The straw that finally broke the camels back is the fact that everything I do - anything I "like" or join, now means opening up my profile to whatever it is I'm joining - opening up my profile, and that of my friends. I've had Emails from what look like facebook friends that turn out to be advertising crap! Effectively, Facebook is a spammers dream! Create a facebook app or group or picture gallery with a catchy or provocative name to lure people into joining, and then have instant access to all the details of both themselves and their friends? Genius! Suddenly Facebook doesn't look so shiny - it looks rather sleazy...
I mean you'd hope that they'd at least vet apps and have some sort of automatic sweep of groups to make sure they are not being used for the sole purpose of gathering user info? Well if that was the case, there would be no such thing as facebook-bourne viruses...
What started off as a fantasticly useable free social network suddenly doesn't seem to fantastic or free.... I guess they've got to make their money somehow, and I don't grudge them that, but surely they have a responsibility to their millions of users to be open and honest about what their aims are? TELL us that you want to monetise the site! Don't just do it on the fly using members personal information that we thought was only being shared with friends! That's deceitful.
The main problem is, Facebook is the ONLY kid on the block. There is NO competition (yet). The media might be hyping up the likes of Diaspora or StatusNet, but they're not the same, and in the case of the Media darling Diaspora, doesn't actually exist!!!!! Its a concept! Twitter has its plus points, but again it isn't the same!
The other problem is that Facebook is actually quite good! Look past its MASSIVE failings, lock your security down, block spurious apps as they keep popping up, and just put up with the crap and pointless system updates, accept it for what it is, and it does its job very well indeed! I don't hate it enough to leave (and there is no competition to migrate to), but I don't like it enough any more to engage with it.
So I'll engage with something in MY control - this blog. This website. It might be simple, it might be pointless, but its mines and I like it!
Sunday, 23 May 2010
Blog 1
Hmm talk about jumping on the bus 10 years too late...!
As much as anything, I'm using this blog as a diary of sorts, and to give my website some dynamic thoughtful (ahem) content, that I'm in control of and that you can't really find or place on Twitter or Faceache!
As much as anything, I'm using this blog as a diary of sorts, and to give my website some dynamic thoughtful (ahem) content, that I'm in control of and that you can't really find or place on Twitter or Faceache!
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