I’ve got to say I don’t have much truck when people suggest anybody who’s successful/rich/famous should be automatically exempt from sympathy.
Ones got fuck all to do with the other, broadly speaking.
I remember about 20 years ago Stan collymore (English footballer) being told by the media and wider public that he wasn’t allowed to have mental health problems as he was paid £xxxx a week.
It was a pretty sad indictment of the times.
I’d like to think things may have improved.
That James blunt documentary was good I thought , he’s also pretty funny on Twitter.
And … I like some of the billie eilish stuff , some of the production is pretty good
Same with noga erez ( I’ll update spelling later )
I’ll probably see the Robbie Williams documentary coming out too … the reality of experiencing that sort of fame must be a huge mindfuck
I don’t typically idolise any celeb / actor / musician … and I would use the term ‘personality’ as an insult … but they go through a lot of unique experience’s…
There’s always been an antagonistic issue in the world of music, and seemingly only in that art medium. As someone who grew up listening to more experimental and less than radio friendly music, I was guilty of this too. I’m not better for it, it’s just what I like. I also understand what it’s like listening to hardcore music with screaming vocals and someone asking “how can you listen to this?”. It’s almost like this type of music is equated to watching a snuff film. And on the other side (James Blunt) there is almost a question of intelligence in why someone would listen to it. It’s all ridiculous and pointless.
Just enjoy what you enjoy, and don’t judge others for it or treat people terribly for it.
Insults one throws at people they don’t know personally say something about their own insecurities, I guess.
I see hatred as a burden.
A load better left on the floor as one moves on to a better, happier self.
Devin Townsend had some interesting thoughts on Nickelback and Chad Kroeger. Can’t exactly paraphrase but there’s some quotes flying around and also a video of a clinic where he talks about it. Bottom line is he has massive respect for them.
I’ve always found it’s very much a ‘muso’ thing to sneer at styles of music that said people don’t think is ‘cool’. It’s like anything commercial or mainstream is for the ‘masses’ and beneath them, almost as if they’re preserving ‘real’ music… yawn
It’s probably an attitude as old as the hills to be fair but it still doesn’t make it right.
Rant over, I’m off to listen to some 80’s soul… the more DX7 presets, the better
There used to be a website where people would post reviews of media. I posted a lot of shit talk there, but a lot of shit talk bullseyes if you know what i mean. I wasn’t famous or anything but I had a bit of a following there.
Then I made and released something. Most of the reviews people posted were positive, but some were absolutely scathing. But the scathing reviews? They were just… Dumb. Like they thought the thing i made should have been a different thing, or they misunderstood it entirely, or they based their opinions on deeply incorrect assumptions.
Then I looked at all the shit I had talked and realized it was dumb too. Funny, maybe even clever, but it was still just dumb shit talk, clueless negativity. Suddenly saying mean things about other people’s stuff didn’t feel as compelling. Still doesn’t.
When I can smile and move on at the mention of bono I will have taken a small spiritual step forward. Perhaps he is my teacher. I don’t know for sure.
And Sting.
15 years ago I went shopping with the gf off that time. Waiting patiently. Then I noticed the music playing, and was like, hey this isn’t bad. And after a while, “actually… This is very good”
Turns out us was Britney spears, one album was playing entirely.
That day my inner snob died.
I‘m also trying to talk more about things I like than about things I don’t like. This thread is a good reminder of that.
Especially when it comes to art, you learn to define yourself as much by what you don’t like as by what you do like, probably more so by what you don’t like. I also used to think everyone who makes music that a lot of people like and plays huge shows must be a cynical and greedy rich person who couldn’t give a shit about their music and just wants to make more money. I also told that to anyone who asked or didn’t ask who liked a musician like that. While I still think there are many of these types of artist, there’s also tons of successful or famous artists that love making music and invest a shit ton of time and heart into it. Doesn’t mean I have to like it, but I can just appreciate that and move on instead of talking shit about it.
Especially if there’s so many artists that aren’t successful or successful in a small niche that are complete assholes as human beings or cynical assholes about their music or both.
I like grunty Fin25 comments but i really love a wise and empathetic Fin speech.
Though i have the feeling Fin will hate me for this comment. 
I myself had a lot of hate in me towards other musicians but in the last years i’ve become way more open and appreciative for all kinds of artists or people in general. My kids also helped me with that and now i can enjoy most of the music they listen to for what it is. And i see the energy that people put into their art even if i don’t like it.
I can enjoy concerts now that i would have totally hated in the past. I think it’s true what they say. We get softer when we get old. Or at least i did.
Was it Blackout? There’s a nice Fader piece about that album where Tri Angle founder Robin Carolan talks about how much his label was shaped by it, which inspired me to check it out. It’s legit great (the Sly and Robbie remix of Piece of Me is huge)
Oh I actually have no idea I never took a further listen actually. I 'll hear your link.
I have certainly been vicious about popular artists in the past. I have stopped. What is the point? If they abuse their power, call them out. If they are just vapid and have uncritical followers, so what? They’re happy, their fans are happy. (And sometimes they are not happy, see Britney above.) I’ll spend my time talking up those who deserve more exposure.
I don’t know James Blunt, but the tweets above are pretty funny, for someone in his situation.
James Blunt deserves the hate having carved a path for the eldritch talent vacuum known as Ed Sheeran.
Thread ruined
It was always going to turn into a list of bands/singers people hate.
Might as well get on with it…
Nah psytrance can still have it
I hate psytrance but I wouldn’t refuse to have my photo taken with it