Now that yesteday is yesterday, where do we think we are?
Hopefully today is another day as she tweeted. I note Prof Green came out in support (good on him), and having trawled the Daily Fail comments I was pleasantly surprised.
As far as I can see there were a small minority of utter headbangers who posted the "she deserves it" type of comment, and would do so in all circumstances whatever the facts. These are beyond hope, and redemption unless they change their ways.
There were the great majority of "it's disgusting she might not me my cup of tea but nobody deserves that". Good on them.
There were fans. Upset naturally and supportive.
Then there were what I can only call the "music snobs". This bunch seemed to post on the Fail comments board ahead of the great majority (probably beacuse they are intrested in festivals and music). Essentially their argument is "she/Xfactor/pop etc are not "real music" and get all that's coming to them in these circumstances". Now these "guardians of cool" are self proclaimed and nebulous and so tough to reason with, but in my experience folk who are deeply into whatever narrow music they are into, to the exclusion of what they don't consider worthy are often fairly inadequate, and desperate to create an aura of "exclusive knowlege" about which they cannot be contradicted because it's so obscure. Not all of course, but more than a fair share. Closed minds see.
The problem for festivals such as V is: do you accept this and split festivals into genres more? (or at least the stages - and I accept there appers to have been an absence of thinking on these lines yesterday, thereby putting Cher up infront of a bunch of 30 yr old + Indie band types apparently), or do you do something about the security? The issue is if you paid £190 or whatever and wanted to see Cher as part of that experience, you were deprived of that by violence yesterday. Not right is it?
There seems to be way too much acceptance amongst the "self appointed cool" that this kind of behaviour is OK "'cos it happens". And they moan about the lack of "real" bands coming through - well music is an industry under pressure from other forms of entertainment and the money aint there to develop new bands as it was - (hence things like the X Factor as a means of getting publicity for a new singer). Yesteday's nonsense will not help sell tickets long term for festivals,which in the download era are important for artists, thereby perpetuating the decline. Less money in the industry equals less future.
Football faced the same sort of thing pre 1989 and has made huge strides over the past 30 years to improve. It's still not perfect, and never will be, but it doesn't stop the effort starting somewhere.
I really fear Skeggy tonight (assuming it goes ahead) could be her last gig in the UK for a long long time. That would be a shame if it were the case, for her fans. Hopefully she has a good future abroad, and will have a long last laugh but given the US success so far, and the UK hate, you can't help hark back to her first audition lyrics abou"getting haters and making paper like you wouldn't believe". Both are true.
now that is The BIZ, always my fave and showcases her ability of adding emotion to a song which makes your heart melt...c'mon!!
