Tuesday 22 September 2009

Freshers, Varsity and a new schedule

Hello friends, thanks for coming back to this little place my thoughts like to call home. I’ve decided that my blogs really are too sporadic and random these days. You’ll find me pledging more regular posts across the last year but I really want to make as much effort as possible to do regular blogs for you guys! So from now on there will be a new schedule – Wednesdays and Fridays will be new post days, with the possibility of one on a Sunday too (Sundays are so boring).

Anyway, the last few days have been hectic, what with this year’s freshers hitting Staffs Uni for another start up year of madness. It’s been great so far, really great to see them all settling in and having fun. I’ve met quite a few of them, been in halls, been in the LRV and also helped to inform them about Varsity Radio.

Speaking of which, things are getting really good for the station, the building is virtually finished, furnished and filled up with delightful stuff. Next comes the equipment and internet connection, followed by the final major steps of filling in the schedule and getting everyone into the station to meet for a day. Remember, Varsity is YOUR station, so get your ideas into us for what you want on air and also get involved as a Rep or as a presenter/staff member! Email Kris@varsityradio.co.uk for more information.

Speaking of Varsity Staff, I’d like to welcome Millie on board as the new Assistant Reps manager for the station, a good friend and an enthusiastic  fan of what Varsity is all about. Saturday and Monday saw a whole lot of new Reps coming on board with the station, mainly down to Millie’s influence. Bring on the next step of the spoken word campaign!

Lots of new music on the scene for Reno at the moment, I’m really enjoying Muse at the moment but the big new album I’m paying attention to is La Roux’s self titled album, it’s my new contender for Varsity Album of the Year!

Here’s my favourite track from the album…

Can’t get enough of my ramblings? Follow me on Twitter for more regular junk! www.twitter.com/renoxcore

Thursday 10 September 2009

8 years, no justice.

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Tuesday 1 September 2009

Responsibilities of a gramophone

For the last year or so, I’ve been questioning bringing this up or not… I stopped doing it for a good while because I thought it would sound really pretentious and that I’d get flack for it, but I’ve decided if you’re one of the people who think that then you can go get fucked.

So here it is, I have an ulterior motive for having a dislike of both pop and r’n’b music. The reason for hating this kinds of music is because both the image and the message conveyed by artists in their songs, music videos and public appearances. Let’s take a look, for example, at a top selling pop artist at the moment – Lady Gaga. Almost every song she sings involves getting drunk, meeting guys, having sex or doing other promiscuous activities. Example, from the song ‘Love Game’;

Hold me and love me
Just want touch you for a minute
Baby three seconds is enough for my heart to quit
Let's have some fun,
This beat is sick
I wanna take a ride on your disco stick
Don't think too much just bust that kick
I wanna take a ride on your disco stick

 

Or how about this? Taken from ‘Ayo’ by 50 Cent…


Just how it be, on me, backstrokin', sweat soaking
All into my set sheets
When she ready to ride, I'm ready to roll
I'll be in this bitch till the club close
What should I do, one thing on all fours
Now that that shit should be against the law
From side to side, let the ride, break it down (down down)
You know I like, when you hike and you throw it all around
Different style, different move, damn I like the way you move
Girl you got me thinking about, all the things I do to you
Let's get it poppin' shorty we can switch positions
From the couch to the counters in my kitchen

Sounds responsible to me…


I’m aware that this attitude I have towards these kinds of artists looks like I’m trying to police people, or like my opinion of things should be how people live, and that’s not what I want to convey at all. Hell, maybe without music that states going out to find boys is essential then people would still go out, get fucked and have unprotected sex. But what concerns me is that these sort of lyrics hardly do much to try and promote people acting responsibly do they? And let’s face it, the next generations will already be listening to and singing along to these words – it’s them who I’m worried about most. These words, whether heavily influencing or not, are being drilled into kids’ minds constantly by a mainstream society which finds it not only acceptable but promotes this kind of music style which encourages such irresponsible behaviour, and to be honest it makes me sick. I mean, what kind of role model is this for the thousands of kids who look up to these girls…


wolfet_european_toxic_girls_aloud


Here’s a nice little article from the BBC about the problems with drinking teens in this country, looks like I’m not alone in my opinion of the way mainstream society seems to be rearing its ugly head these days.


http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/8227443.stm


Don’t get me wrong, I’m not blaming the music industry for those figures at all, I'm simply stating that the songs listened to by people in this demographic don’t attempt to downplay these actions at all.


The funny thing is, when you watch the adverts for drink aware campaigns on UK television, all you see is mainstream people. There’s no need to advertise to those of us going to gigs or rock clubs, because we’re not fucking idiots.


Of course, the music is only a small part of the problem, but it is a factor nonetheless. Get some alternative music in you, it has a much healthier message in it, I’d suggest starting with Green Day’s new album – but then I would say that.


So, let’s have some comments, do you think music writers have a responsibility to promote healthy behaviour? Or is music just music and has no effect on anyone’s actions? Would love to hear your opinions!


Reno