Archive for opinions

Art is the Weapon

January 17, 2012 / Maddy / No comments

I have been a fan of My Chemical Romance for a few years but it is only in the last year and a half that I have become involved in the fanbase. I have found and met some great people and am truly grateful for that.

One thing that I have noticed, and that is beginning to annoy me, is the criticism. Now I do suggest anyone should be free from criticism and I certainly do not say the band members are perfect, however there are some things I feel the need to get off my chest.

The latest uproar is over the video for Kids From Yesterday. It seems it isn’t good enough for some fans, they are disappointed, the band don’t care. Well let me tell you, whether they care or not (and think evidence is overwhelming that they do) it was their decision to create that video for that song.

The whole idea behind the video fits perfectly with the idea behind the song. To contact a fan and credit her with part of the video, I feel is typical of how this band like to involve their fans. It seems fitting also in reference to the fact that they have spent 10 years together, rising from the clubs of New Jersey to headlining Reading and Leeds.

OK, that’s my say about that.

The main thing I want to say is that art is personal. True artists create what they feel is right at that moment in time; create for themselves not their public. Art comes from the heart not from a need to make money or gain more fans. By all means express your disappointment if you must but temper your complaints with the knowledge that these four men are creating something that makes them happy in the hopes that it makes others happy too – isn’t that more important than creating to gain popularity?

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Hang ‘em High

August 6, 2011 / Maddy / No comments

I did something bad last night. Something that I really didn’t want to do but could see no other way of getting to hear what I desperately wanted to hear.

I illegally downloaded some music. Three tracks that I didn’t know about til well after they were released on a special limited edition of the album that I bought the day it was released.

I would love to have paid for them. Hell I even downloaded the dreadful monster that is iTunes to buy some tracks the other week. But I couldn’t find them to buy anywhere.

I do feel bad. My hubby is in the music industry so I know how hard bands work and how little money they get from record sales (unless they’re mega big)  – buy official merchant and see them live if you want your favourite bands to make money. If I knew of a way to send this band the money to cover the cost I would. But I can’t.

Yeah. I hear the comments about how I should have just not downloaded the tracks. But then I wouldn’t have got to hear them. So what I hear you cry? My reply – have you never been obsessed with a band, so much that you want to had every track no matter how obscure? That’s how I feel about this band. Yeah, even a woman in her 40s can get the obsessions supposedly reserved for teens.

Please don’t sue me (I haven’t got any money anyhow) but bands should realise that if the don’t make their music catalogue available legally then they are only pushing people to download illegally.

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what happens?

April 23, 2011 / Maddy / No comments

We are teenagers, we rebel, we get grounded, we have parents forcing us to be something we’re not. We swear blind that we are not going to end up like that.

Then we become parents…

Through Twitter, university & my own teens I have connected with young adults over the last few years. I find it so sad that there are so many of them who have problems with their parents over the music they like, the stuff they want to do, the friends that they have (ok, sometimes we do worry about the friends for a reason).

Why do parents seem to want to stifle individuality and self-expression? Why do they want to halt exploration of new ideas, thoughts, experiences? Why do they want their child to ‘fit in’?

OK, yes, as a parent I do worry about my teen’s friends, activities, and ambitions. It’s my job to worry. However, as far as I am concerned it is my place to advise & guide not shoe-horn into a box. It is my job to ensure they don’t break the law or injure themselves or others. That is as far as it goes.

My children are individuals. They are both different from me and from each other. Yes there are some similarities; I do often see myself in them, but I also see so much more. I want them to grow into balanced, happy, fun, inquisitive, self-aware, kind, caring adults – but mostly I want them to be themselves.

Sure, I have rules and boundaries. But I always explain why I have the rule and, as they get older, we can discuss compromises (although they don’t always win). Mainly my rules are to do with respect for each other and how we all fit together as a family unit. For instance, I have always told my children – even at a young age – where I am going, what time I will be back and so on. Now they are older I expect the same treatment. It’s not parental interference it’s a common courtesy.

So, to any parents out there reading this – please, please remember your teenage years and try to have some empathy for what your teenagers are going through now.

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hate to be famous

April 13, 2011 / Maddy / No comments

This post has been bubbling around for sometime. I have always disliked the idea that people intrude into your personal affairs just because you are famous. OK, I know I read stuff on the internet etc but often the information I see leaves a bad taste in my mouth. Hubby disagrees with me but this is my blog so my opinions!

The catalyst for me actually getting down to writing about this occurred over the last few weeks. I have been a fan of a certain rock band for a few years but only just found the huge online community that surrounds them. I have started following fans on Twitter just so I can discuss my love of this band and also to meet new, interesting & like-minded people.

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1. While tweeting and surfing I found news about how the singer (allegedly) had offended a teenage ‘fan’ by calling her a cunt. I do not know the full story at all but from what I can gather this girl had been tweeting personally insulting words about not only the singer but his family. The use of the word’cunt’ as an expletive directed against a teenage girl seems to have enraged some (feminist?) sections of the interwebs and they are now referring to him as a misogynist despite lots of evidence to the contrary.

Now, this is where I get annoyed about fame/fans. A man is supposed to sit back and allow someone to insult him & his family but he isn’t allowed to retaliate without censure “because he’s famous” and shouldn’t say things like that to people. WTF? Fame does not make you better than human, you are prone to errors, anger, upset just like everyone else. Unfortunately what you say & do is now public fodder but nevertheless you should be allowed free speech without being attacked for your choice of words. If you don’t agree with the choice then that’s your problem – everyone uses vocabulary differently and some words are always going to be more offensive to some than others. Try some empathy on for size.

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2. This singer is quite, erm, well, gorgeous. He has an army of frenetic fans who think likewise – also a wife & daughter whom he apparently loves to bits. His wife is also in a band and has an online presence. It appears that she gets a lot of hate comments from so called fans just because she is lucky enough to be happily married to the object of their warped desires. Again, WTF??? OK, if you want to have private (or, having read some fan-fic, not so private – yuck) fantasies about the man then go ahead. But do not have a go at his wife. Do you really think he will leave her & come running to you? If you do than you really, really need to get an appointment with a man in a white coat.

So, if you’re famous it’s not only you that’s fair game but your family? No, I don’t think so. If this guy was a neighbour down the street and you verbally abused his wife then you’d find yourself in legal trouble. Him being famous does not give you any rights to treat him or his wife in any way less than you would someone you met in real life. Please have some respect.

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3. This is so immature. There are kids setting up twitter accounts naming themselves after parts of the band members’ anatomy and then auto retweeting what they post. Unsurprisingly they are being blocked by said band members and then complain about it. Grow up for goodness sake.

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I am sure I could find more examples but these are the ones that caught my eye over the last couple of weeks.

Being famous is great in some ways I guess, especially if (like this band) you are doing something you love. But to me all the intrusion and weird stuff is not worth it. I know the band probably ignore most of what is out there but sometimes they have it shoved right in front of their noses and it must be so difficult to deal with.  Well done for not letting it get to you guys and thank you for some fantastic music.

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