All Pop, No Fizz
- 10 Jan 08, 10:12 AM
The value of great pop music is that it transcends the music industry, the sneering critic and the envious classical bod. A three minute song that registers in your soul and excites your intellect is rare. And I¡¯m not sure how many examples were in last night¡¯s ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Four programme. ¡®How Pop Songs Work¡¯.
The presenter Charles Hazlewood seems like a decent enough chap, with his orchestral credentials and blokish demeanour. I just get nervous of those people rummaging around in our territory, and making glib comparisons between The Beatles and Schubert. In the past, we¡¯ve been patronised by tweed-wearing academics who will blether for money about Doric modes and Georgic interludes. They don¡¯t rate the music, but they think they can explain the forensics of structure and style. Yes, but does it rock your heart?
The best lesson I ever got about pop music was when a girl sang me the Hot Chocolate song, ¡®You Win Again¡¯. She made it sound like the most powerful statement in the universe. A few days later, and I was in a disco when her burly ex-boyfriend broke down in tears. The DJ was playing that song. And the boyfriend had lost, again. Take it away, Errol Brown...
Anyway, Charles Hazlewood played a bit of Abba and made the case for Amy Winehouse. He wibbled about the Arctic Monkeys and connected Jamie T to the operatic tradition. Sorry, but I wasn¡¯t buying this, and additional quotes from the grinning Professor Of Pop just seemed silly. Also, anyone who compares that buffoon Wyclef Jean to Bob Marley just isn¡¯t listening properly.
And I¡¯ll not be lectured to about ¡®Bohemian Rhapsody¡¯. The song stinks. Forever. I¡¯m thinking instead about the Moli¨¨re play, The Bourgeois Gentleman, when the central character is royally confused by the academics with their posturing and arcane references.
A Hot Chocolate tune is the better investment.
Stu Bailie presents The Late show on Radio Ulster, every Friday from 10pm until midnight. See his playlist here.
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