The Poptimists Review Of The Year 2006: Dancing about Arguetexture

[freakytigger.livejournal.com]

Two somewhat difficult categories to administer today - the "argument of the year", difficult because only one thing really got widely nominated. And the "thing to dance (to)", difficult because nothing got nominated twice!

Here are the 'argument' nominees.

The Paris Hilton Wars: Is PH's album a triumph or a travesty? Should it be taken seriously? What are the hataz really playing at? Here's The Lex vs Plan B, and Dave Moore on Paris at Stylus.
Indie vs Emo in the Freaky Trigger Comments Box: This one will run and run. Delve in here and here.
Lordi: Worthy Eurovision Winners?: The argument that tore the Eurovision community apart - pantomime or "real rock"? And is that a good thing anyway? If anyone can point me to evidence for this argument I'd be grateful.

As for the dance to nominees...

"Monster" is a rock song about a hill and a monster.
"We Are Your Friends" is a much-loved golden oldie.
"Chicken Noodle Soup" is big on YouTube.
Magda is a tea-making DJ.
"We Share Our Mother's Health" is Scandiravian.

[Poll #893038]

You can still vote in earlier polls and nominate for the remaining categories.

Comments

Re: Shitheads March To Victory

[piratemoggy.livejournal.com]

I find the fact the CD was just a tickbox on the Paris brand the worst thing about it, to be honest. I guess whether you can accept that and like it or instinctively hate it for that is the decider on Paris, no matter how likeable the songs were I'd still never, ever buy her CD. Her vague underdoggery, pop-wise, is what should have been focused on in order to make it successful- 'everyone thought this would be shit- it's not!' but while reviewers etc. said that, I didn't get that from Paris herself. That kind of ballsy statement would have led me to give her at least a little sympathy and hence made her music accessible to me. And yeah, this is basically because I can't get past the fact it's Paris Hilton but if that's preventing me liking her music and we're talking about her as a serious musical offering, then that's a problem with her music because she knows she's Paris Hilton and knows what that makes a lot of people think, cus that's the brand she built herself.

I was actually gunna compare it to Rachel Stevens. I had to get my head around a lot of stuff to like her, cus I was still in my 'OMG BUT IT'S NOT INDIE' stage a bit when I heard 'Negotiate With Love' (having known precisely zero about her solo career until then) but even with brilliant songs (imo, far better than Paris') she flopped because the record company didn't understand how to market it, released the wrong stuff (Paris should have released 'Screwed,' if you ask me, it's much more fun than 'Stars are blind' and pokes fun at herself and so makes her likeable) and did the wrong things. Only difference is that I like Rachel Stevens and don't like Paris Hilton, possibly based on, as mcarratala mentions, their relative attractiveness. I think it's probably because throwing my lot in with Rachel was a bit of a statement for me in terms of deciding not to be such an indie elitist anymore and short of her announcing allegiance to the Nazi party, I'd find it hard to stop doggedly supporting her.

Like I said... I don't find it inconceivable that Paris could've had some kind of similar revelatory effect on me but she did it wrong. I think she's shut a lot of doors now, musically- she had the opportunity and the resources to do it well, so did her record company. Neither of them did. End of, for me. It's the same as Rachel's second album flopping was seen as just desserts by a lot of people. I have my own reasons for hating Paris but the lack of success of her music career can't be blamed on people going 'ooh god it's Paris she's a right bint' because if she really wanted it to be successful, she should've planned for that and at least tried to overcome it. It's the lack of effort to do that (and to be fair, people like Rachel Stevens tried, albeit badly) that really makes me think 'whatever, songs could've gone to someone who really wanted them' cus they weren't successful with Paris so it doesn't matter if someone less market-viable would've had them otherwise.

Re: Shitheads March To Victory

[freakytigger.livejournal.com]

Actually she did put out "Screwed" a couple of years ago - I think maybe only as a promo but it made its way round the net - which was the right time and scale to do it: whether from a branding or a personal point of view, I don't think she wants the sex tape to have THAT much of a role in her iconography.

Re: Shitheads March To Victory

[piratemoggy.livejournal.com]

I guess that's true. I thought it'd just totally put the matter to bed, though- being serious about it it'll just mean it keeps going around. On the other hand, I guess sex-tape management is another dimension to the Paris brand, thus...

Re: Shitheads March To Victory

[koganbot]

xpost (er, that's an old ilX meme; it means that while I wrote that post you were all writing these posts, and I missed them and now I'm responding):

Her vague underdoggery, pop-wise, is what should have been focused on in order to make it successful- 'everyone thought this would be shit- it's not!'

I am so so so glad she didn't do this. Why should she have to eat our shit! I think this is the CRUX! This is what reminds me of Jagger, that she doesn't do this, doesn't play the underdog. Now, I'm not betting on her developing Jagger's talent and intellect, but she most definitely should not sell records by playing for our sympathy. I'd rather she languished in obscurity.

Re: Shitheads March To Victory

[piratemoggy.livejournal.com]

I dunno, I thought it'd fit in with her general arrogant stance but possibly I misunderstand what she's like. I generally can't watch/read anything featuring her for longer than about thirty seconds.

'Sympathy' was maybe the wrong word, 'empathy' was perhaps what I meant. Like I said below, she's very inaccessible-seeming to a lot of people, I suspect. (within and without the Paris-hating demographic I'm talking about below)