Hype Talk

[freakytigger.livejournal.com]

The EMP Pop Conference is next weekend in Seattle. Now I'm not suggesting you all go out and buy hugely expensive plane tickets to Seattle - hold on, I am suggesting this because the EMP Pop Conference is GREBT. It is lots of clever people saying - mostly - clever things about pop, and some of them you might know from TV's The Interweb, including the two things I wish I was seeing most - maura talking about weight and indie, and Mike Daddino talking about muzak. I remember email conversations with these people about these topics and both of them had k-interesting things to say.*

The entire conference is about guilt and doubt in pop, though I dunno how much of it addresses the niggly nexus of "guilty pleasures" that we tend to negotiate here (though most of the negotiation SHOULD be taking place on the dancefloor).

(You still have 30 minutes to vote in the pop world cup by the way.)

*apols to M and M if I've got the wrong ends of their respective sticks here.

Public Apology

[braisedbywolves.livejournal.com]

Some time ago, I raised the possibility of Singstar Nindie, where you could caterwaul along to the finest in non-pop whinery. I didn't realise that anyone influential was reading, but clearly they were, and so we have Singstar Rocks. I'm really very sorry.

SHINE FOUR: NO TEARS FOR YOU

[atommickbrane.livejournal.com]

This is the very last solo cd Shine Compilation! Clearly whoever commissioned this thought the mix of horrifying Dadrock in the forms of not only the Uproar, the DULLER Scene, the Wasis AND the SMOKIN' MOJO FILTERS (as seen on a Now poll near you!) and the obligatory Marion/Longpigs two-parter was such a winner that Shine 5 promises you a MASSIVE 40 tracks - some of them are even GRATE! But before we get to that, on with Shine 4. Tellingly, the first time I tried to submit this poll, LJ went down and I had to go out and get a sandwich! LJ can't take the Dark Therapy!!!

[Poll #714289]

*SURELY SOME MISHTAKE...

Real World Cup

[freakytigger.livejournal.com]

Embrace anthem 'does not mention football'

But McNamara told BBC News the song featured football references.

He said: "There's 'You lift it up with one proud kiss', which is obviously about lifting the cup.

"Then there's 'You're the first in my life to think we might just go all the way'.

I THINK I KNOW WHAT THIS SONG IS ACTUALLY ABOUT.

RAMPANT IRAN SMASH SERBS

[freakytigger.livejournal.com]

Pop World Cup Round of 16
IRAN 3 Serbia and Montenegro 0

In what had been billed as a close encounter, a confident Iranian team thoroughly outplayed Serbia and Montenegro at their own Europop game last night. If the final scoreline was a little unfair on the Serbian players, there can be no question that Iran thoroughly deserved their win, taking the lead early and holding it with ease. For much of the sparsely attended game the spectacle of the Iran manager on the touchline was perhaps more exciting than the action on the pitch, with Iran content to stroke the ball around and frustrate their opponents. Their second and third goals, coming in quick succession after the break, sealed an already inevitable win. What controversy there was, surrounded the second goal - a penalty given after strong pressure from the Iranian bench. In truth though the Serbian team can have few complaints about the final outcome.



Commentators had suggested that umlauts' squad lacked strength in depth and they were proved right, with the manager's ambiguous hints that he'd rather have taken the vacant Croatia job hardly likely to raise team morale. dubdobdee meanwhile suggests he has plenty left in his locker, and on this evidence who would doubt him: his Iran team face Trinidad and Tobago for a place in the Pop World Cup semis.

SCORES IN FULL

IRAN - 86 points
Serbia and Montenegro - 54 points

Join us for Brazil v Czech Republic on Monday (Ghana v Japan rescheduled, as the Ghanaian manager is believed to be at a GOTH WEEKENDER.)