Pop Britannica

Last week I watched a great documentary about pop music in England. I think it was a multi-parter but I saw just one part. In the timeline of the show, right after discussing the manufactured pop bands of the 90’s and then the rise of shows like Pop Idol and X Factor, there was a segment on Damon Albarn’s next project, Gorillaz which he created with a graphic artist. It was described as the ultimate manufactured band since it was made of two dimensional characters.

Damon Albarn said this of Gorillaz: It was “An English version of hip hop very successful in America… it is British but because it’s a cartoon it is very hard to identify that. Especially for the Americans and that’s why it did well because Americans don’t, to be honest with you allow anything other than American hip hop”

Well, my first thought was if they keep sending things like Lady Sovereign to our shores, yes, we will only accept American hip hop! But then I also started thinking about Gorillaz and how, if I am remembering correctly, Gorillaz was totally marketed to the U.S. alternative market, not the hip hop market, so I guess it still wasn’t accepted as he intended it to be. Whenever I play Feel Good Inc. I’m taken back to the summer of 2005. It was on heavy rotation on my iPod and part of mine and K’s late night drives back from concerts. --J

Houston Bound

My friend M is moving to Houston next week. I knew this was coming for some time, but I guess in the back of my mind, I was hoping it wouldn’t. To avoid missing him, I’ve been giving him shit about his latest musical passing fancies. About three weeks ago we went to lunch together and on the way back he said “Lady Sovereign”. I don’t think I let him say much more before I went into a tirade about how much I can’t stand her. I have a real problem with the Brit hip hop stars. I challenged him to find a picture of her without that side ponytail. He has yet to produce such a picture! Two weeks ago we were at brunch and he mentioned Lily Allen. He laughed when I rolled my eyes. I don’t hate her but I think she has zero stage presence and she’s not half as clever as her P.R. machine says she is. But then he went for the jugular with me. He went to Houston last week and saw Beyonce in concert. I can’t abide by this. I texted him the day after the concert and asked how the show was and he started in with “Brace yourself”, and blah-bity blah she was awesome. I had a one-word text response: “Bullshit”. If he feels the need to pull away through music, that is his choice.

Today for my birthday, M sent me the attached birthday greeting which made me laugh out loud.

M, I’ll leave you with this parting comment: the STL hip hop scene kicks Houston’s ass. I know after some self-reflection, you will understand how important that is. –J