sing us a song, and we'll sing it back to you

So, this has been a long time coming – my review of the Paramore (w/ You Me At Six) gig at Wembley. This was a gig that I had been looking forward to for so long, and there is a sense of not fully realising what it is that I have been lucky enough to experience, of not knowing that that experience is now gone.

Now, now every children was the only other support band (apart from YMAS) worth my early arrival. Paper Route were...simply shit. Well, they had some good sounds, but it was so incredibly boring that after a while I literally wanted to go out for a break. But, I didn't.

You Me At Six came on stage and gave a set which, I have to say, was much too short! It just went, like that; I clearly did not enjoy it enough while it lasted. They played more new songs than old: Kiss and Tell, The Consequence, If I Were In Your Shoes, Save It For the Bedroom, Jealous Minds Think Alike, Finders Keepers. Did they play Underdog? Can't remember. Oh, and Always Attract, with a special guest appearance from Elissa Franceschi (it's actually not that special – I'm pretty sure she appeared at Reading too...). Anyway, it was great, but not that great, I think. In my diary, I wrote 'they were as good as they can get', i.e. not amazing. You Me At Six have seriously dropped in my esteem, probably since they got big. Mainly because their sound has majorly mainstreamised (phwoar, I invent words by the day) for the worse. I won't go on about how I prefer 'raw' sound again. Haha, I'm about to undermine and contradict all that I've said so far, but whatever, I loved them during that set, and still love them as I now listen to 'Underdog'.

'Underdog' - You Me At Six [first play on BBC Radio 1]

'Save it For The Bedroom' - YMAS

Paramore came on stage relatively quickly, considering they're the next big thing and I expected them to take at least half an hour. I guess they've really not let fame get to their heads. Josh Farro came on stage, closely followed by Hayley, opening with... I can't quite remember. Anyway I know that Ignorance was next and that's enough. The tracks not from 'brand new eyes' were Pressure, That's What You Get, Crushcrushcrush, I Caught Myself, Misery Business, Decode, My Heart. One track that they didn't play from their album was 'All I wanted', which I was SO upset about. I can't imagine what that would have made me feel, listening and watching them play such an epic song. Sob. I'll put it up here for you to see what it is I missed. Check out 2:30 onwards. Spine-chilling.

'All I Wanted' - Paramore

'Crushcrushcrush' - Paramore

'My Heart (live)' - Paramore
My favourite live track by them

What made me enjoy their set apart from the music has to be Hayley's interaction with the crowd. You guys who weren't there really have no idea what Paramore's idea of crowd interaction is. Get this: Hayley started talking about a letter that Josh Farro (the guitarist, and also her ex (?)) had received, from (username) liam1. They asked 'Is liam1 here?' And some other girl's name which I don't remember. It took a little while for the two to come up on stage, and there was a variety of things which I was expecting, but definitely not what actually happened. Of all the things I was expecting (the two singing a song to Paramore about how awesome they are, or something) I was NOT expecting... a marriage proposal. That's right, liam1 proposed to his girlfriend. I'm so slow, when he went down on one knee it took me at least five seconds to get what he was doing and why the whole room erupted in screaming. But, when I got it, I screamed alright. While the girl hugged and kissed Liam (I assume that's his name), Hayley gently took the microphone from Liam's hand, saying 'I'm guessing that's a 'yes'', and dedicated the next song to them. That's 'The Only Exception', which I've got here for you.

'The Only Exception' - Paramore

Which song did I most enjoy? 'Misguided Ghosts', which they performed as part of their encore. Its being acoustic automatically puts it in 'tear-jerker' category, and though my tears were not jerked, I did feel something inside of me stirring and my heart going kaboom-kaboom-kaboom for Paramore. I know, I'm cringey, but I'm just saying, is all. If Paramore can make me say the cringiest of things, doesn't that mean something about their ability to move people to EXPRESS themselves? Hah, what bullshit, I'm just cringey anyway.

'Misguided Ghosts' - Paramore

Hayley was so fit that night, even a straightie like me cannot deny it. They were all on form, which I think is something you can expect from Paramore. You know, not letting fame get to their head, keeping their heads focused on the what they're doing, doing it for the music. They went out on the stage to enjoy themselves, that's undeniable, but also to share the night with a few thousand of their fans. And you can tell, as well, that even though they're guaranteed big bucks (big for a band like them, anyway) they still put their everything into those gigs and don't take them for granted. Concluding note to self and to you readers: Paramore will not disappoint. So I'm defs gonna see them next time they're in town.

And I'm gonna say it. Paramore are my perfect band. Call me emo, call me fangirl, call me teenage... but you're just an old, boring, lifeless soul who listens to... what do you listen to? Ok I was just about to say something but I'll restrain myself, because I totally respect your music. Yeah, totally.

:P love you really.

xxxx

Finally the Noughties: you've got the lovebug

Right, let's get you started with some 'Finally the Noughties'. The three bros that all dem girls rave around screaming for: the Jonas Brothers (+ general Disney teenies mania).

I can't remember when exactly I discovered this band (funny how it feels weird describing them as band – will get onto that later). Possibly 2006? I definitely remember the mainstream rage starting in 2008. But I'd discovered them back when I was looking for 'Year 3000' by Busted, and this came up as one of the results. So when the mainstream wave of Jo Bro love came along, I was thinking 'erm, why is it re-starting now – haven't they been around for ages alreads?' Apparently not.

So as 'S.O.S.' swept across the country I was smugly thinking 'muahahaha I've known this band for ages'. I was so obsessed that – get this – I got our band to play 'S.O.S.' At our school's Bands Night. Yuh-huh.

The day came when I was blessed enough to see them live... at HMV Oxford Street. 

Wow. I went very early in the morning to try to get a wristband, which would have allowed me to get right up close to them. I missed it by 2 people (what they do is ensnare people to come and queue and actually have a specific cut-off point, after which they say 'no, we're right bastards cause we asked you to get up at 6am so you could come get this wristband, and now we're not giving you it'. Ok, what they said is 'we've had 200 people now, you came too late'.)

I went anyway, but couldn't get to the front. Even when surrounded by a hoard of twelve-year-olds – no, I do not have twelve-year-old taste, the twelve-year-olds have my taste – in that crammed camera flash flash flash kind of environment, a rejuvenated love for Jonas Brothers was rising inside of me. I'm not joking. By that time, I'd already established my obsession for the younger Jonas god that is Nicholas Jonas. Slightly paedophelic? I don't think so.

They took ages to come out. And this is why:

'Dude, let's go out' – Kevin

'Nah man, let's not, let's make them wait [lazes around on a chair]' – Joe

'Come on dude, they're our fans out there!' - Kevin

[Nick is silent and admires himself in the mirror]

Or something. Admire mine and my friend GM's amazing imaginations. We were bored, OK?

So the one thing that sticks in my mind the most is this: seeing them standing on the stage for what must have been at least a whole 60 seconds, not doing anything, apart from posing. For the flashing cams. Lord help our music industry. I sincerely hope that's their manager making them pose, and not their own egos looking for some more fangirl appreciation, as if they didn't get enough already. Yep, I'm that desperate to keep my idea of the Jobros pure that I'd be willing to accept the corruption and heavy and fake staging in the music industry.

I bought their album ('Jonas Brothers', I think?) after I saw them, and was, at first, a little iffy about it. I'm VERY iffy about it now. But I love it regardless. A year later I bought the album 'A Little Bit Longer' and returned it. I realised that my love for the Bros had subsided and that the point when I was obsessed enough to buy their albums had passed.

That's not saying, at all, that I don't like them. I LOVE THEM. Even if I haven't been to a proper live gig. Or if I don't have all their albums. Clearly I'm not obsessed. I can still get really excited about them if they come up on a music channel (which I no longer have access to since my Sky box has decided to be a right anus and now does not work any more) and even today harbour a love for Nick Jonas strong enough that I have an A3 poster of him holding a guitar, as well as a calendar page for November which is decorated with a lovely pic of them three wearing sunglasses (thanks to my friend GM).

 
Thinking of this video made me see how much they care for their fans.

...Er, what?! Do they? Even I have to say: I think fame may have changed them, even if they themselves do not realise it. Or perhaps it's just growing up? How can you tell whether they're the way they are because of the fame or because they are just older and less innocent and therefore less loveable? As products of the crazy Disney teenies mania, which also includes Miley Cyrus, Demi Lovato, and Selina Gomez, they will have to work very hard if they want to shed that stamp off of themselves. I know that the world is currently starkly divided into the JOBROS camp and the .... I don't even know what the other camp calls themselves. Granted, if this other camp dislikes the fact that they are just a commercial product as opposed to a band, then that's fair enough. Too often do I see people who dislike them just for the sake of disliking them, either because too many people like them, or because everybody around them dislikes them. Or because they're just music snobs (yeah, sorry fellow snobs, I can wholeheartedly and happily express my love for them).

So I leave you with my Top 3 Jo Bros songs. This was excruciatingly painful to select: 'S.O.S', 'A Little Bit Longer', 'Inseparable'.

Ok no, I can't do this, here's a list of my top 10 Jo Bros songs:

-         S.O.S

-         A Little Bit Longer

-         Inseparable

-         Lovebug

-         Hold On

-         Goodnight and Goodbye

-         What Did I Do To Your Heart?

-         Pushin' Me Away

-         Tonight

-         Video Girl (FTT note: I am actually one of the video girls they talk about in that song)

Right, so you're permitted to puke now.

xxxx

a proper blog

OK, let's get serious. Here's your song for the day:



'Without Me' - Eminem

'Now this looks like a job for me, so everybody- just follow me, cause we need a little..controversy, cause it feels so empty without me'. Freakin amazing chorus. Oh and also 'I'm the worst thing since Elvis to do black music so selfishly and use it to get myself wealthy'. Well at least he's honest about himself.

I only rediscovered this song sometime a month ago when I downloaded all of his albums. He is a fookin legend, that guy. I'd been looking for this song for ages and when it randomly came on my shuffle I nearly collapsed. Well, no, I didn't, I was just really happy.

I know I'm not alone in thinking that he's not the rapper he used to be. It really is the mainstream-ness that's ruined him. Starting out in a clearly defined 'rap' pigeonhole meant that he could do his thing, swear all he wants, have that raw 'ghetto' (ok that is not something I can pull off) energy. He's been blown up now though, and the wants of the people and the majority have fed into his music. You see, now, the snares of mainstream culture? ALL AGAINST MAINSTREAM MUSIC.

No? Suit yourself.

You mustn't get the wrong idea, I'm not being snobbish and looking down my nose at all mainstream stuff (...maybe a little) – no, I'm only condemning the mainstreamness that makes initially perfectly alright (and perhaps even amazing) things into overplayed, mis-valued (I totally invented that word. Hell yeah, I'm the next Virgil), abused works in order to do the one thing that everybody in this room wants to do: get some extra dosh into their pocket. Maybe it starts out as 'giving the artist more coverage and radio play', but soon it's all flashing-lights, overcrowded-schedule, you-have-to-say-and-do-this-to-get-the-paparazzi-talking-about-you-in-the-right-way. It's all 'we're doing this for you', but secretly it's 'we're doing this for us'. I appreciate that there are several people behind the scenes who deserve the credit and reward, but that is what is making the music industry so corrupted and distorted. The artist wants fame, wants wealth, wants luxury... because of the mainstream culture that has been thrust upon them.

Although I'm a whole-hearted music fan, I completely disagree with the fact that it is these artists who are some of the top earners. It's warped. Why should someone who provides such a basic service as clearing our streets of litter, or as cleaning our buildings, earn millions fewer than someone who busts a few tunes? Of course, music reaches further, deeper, able to lift our moods, inspire us, understand us. But that doesn't keep us living (realistically). The world should get real.

So, guys, if in ten years' time you hear about me, it'll be cause I'm causing waves of change in the music industry.

Let's travel back to Eminem.

He's old now. Dare I also say his music sounds way too chirpy or jokes. I know he is one for the jokes and pranks, but that means he can't really be taken seriously for that kind of music. Maybe if he puts out another album (celebrities just don't let it go do they), he might regain that energy and some (not too much) of that solemnity.

OK he's just lost some of my respect. I'm listening to 'Cleanin Out My Closet' (from The Eminem Show) and he called his father a 'faggot'. I've no idea whether his dad actually is gay, but even if he isn't, I hope Eminem doesn't realise that 'faggot' is derogatory. Cause if he was fully aware of it and still used it, then he's going downnnnnn in my books.

[Later Edit: Nope, just researched it, and, assuming this interview is genuine and true, then he says he only uses it because he was taught it as meaning 'coward', 'sissy' etc., and because he doesn't wanna put on a face for the record... Mmyeah. I damn right hope you're being honest Marshall Mathers. Cause if you are, then there's a lot of respect being felt over here.]

Right, this was hard to choose, but

Top Three Eminem songs: 'Without Me', 'Business', and 'My Dad's Gone Crazy' (though I do have put on my feminist hat and condemn his attitude to 'pussy' and 'clit'. But i do admire his lyrics '"if you ain't got nothing nice to say, then don't say anything”...fuck that [...] I'd rather put out a motherfucking gospel record')

Whew, that was some long post. Hope you enjoyed!

xxxx