The 'Why' Factor?

I'm not usually one for ranting and moaning about popular culture, but this has been building a head of steam for some time and now and I just have to vent. It's more than an irritant; I really believe that we should start to fear the end of creative self-expression and freedom of choice as a monolithic threat that is already hurtling towards us. What's the creeping culture-cancer? 'The X Factor', that's the life-threatening disease to all we hold dear. There, I've said it. I assume that the moment this blog is posted, Simon 'smug' Cowell's cyber police will start to hunt me down as a deviant sociopath, revealed as the latest obstacle on his superhighway to world domination through light entertainment manipulation. So be it. Bring it on, Dark Lord Cowell. Some of us will not go gently into that bland night. I've said it and it feels better already.



What's my problem with the 'Vex Factor'? It assumes we're all mind-numbed sheep, incapable differentiating real talent from media-pap. It plays to the lowest common denominator in order to sell the most units of the least challenging rubbish to an unquestioning majority who have long since forgotten that there are alternatives. None of this would ordinarily cause me a moment's concern. You probably assume (quite rightly) that I spend my Saturday nights doing something improving and edifying, so why the dumbed-down TV paranoia? My problem with it came into clearer focus on Saturday night, while I was watching David Ford perform at the Boardwalk in Sheffield. For those of you who haven't yet had the pleasure, David Ford is one of Britain's most talented singer/songwriters, who plays a vast array of instruments and records them as loops into a sequencer to create a one-man-orchestrated wall of sound. His playing is phenomenal and the quality and integrity of his songs are doubtless; he sings well-crafted songs about things that matter. Good on him, and you're probably assuming that David Ford is bound for stardom on the gilded road to riches. Far from it. Two years ago, David toured as a three piece band. Now he is on his own, because he can't financially support anyone but himself. Sure, some of his adverse fortunes are due to the recession. But most of them are due to the market for good and original live music in small venues being in decline. Meanwhile, the album sales of Vex Factor wannabees keep climbing, as do the ticket allocations and prices of 'stadium entertainment'. Trust me, there is no comparison between the raw talent of David Ford in a small room for £12 and the over-produced 'experience' of sixty-somethings Fleetwood Mac 100 yards away for £80 a go.

Another personal favourite, Thea Gilmore, (undoubtedly the best female singer/songwriter working today), has even gone to the lengths of launching a whole new 'business model' to help her stay afloat. Thea has asked the core of her fan-base to subscribe to her annually, for which they will receive downloads of material and access to gigs that non-subscribers will never get to enjoy. Real talent shouldn't have to try this hard. Not at the 'business' of show business, anyway.

If you have a mind to, support David or Thea and catch them as they tour this autumn. If you don't have a mind, just stay in and play Saturday night 'Simon Says', where he will try to convince you that musical talent equates to covering tired ballads with over-wrought vocal pyrotechnics. If you believe him, then I guess your 2-CD collection of Mariah Scary's greatest hit and Whiney Houston's golden great will suffice. If that's you, then maybe you shouldn't venture out at all. I wouldn't want you to get frightened, confused or hurt on my account. I have to go now, I think I just heard the Dark Lord's troopers knocking at the door.