Music is a very subjective thing and so it is hard to say something is ‘good’ music without adding what that really means is that it is good for me. I had assumed for quite some years that the fact I regarded almost all the popular music I heard on the radio or TV as dismal crap was more indicative that I had reached a certain age where I was just perminently out of phase with younger tastes, rather than some sudden collective inability of the modern pop music industry to be creative… No, it had to be me. Maybe 10 years ago there was a narrow tributary off the seething mainstream that I could swim in musically, but that was clearly no longer the case.
Well, maybe not. Whilst wandering past the Virgin Megastore on the King’s Road in Chelsea yesterday I heard what sounded like a rather danceable bit of vaguely sinister pop/darkwave/electronica that sucked me into the shop irresistibly.
Upon asking at the desk what was being played, I was surprised to discover it was a track called Vertigo (extended mix), which is a remix of bubblegum popstress par excellence Holly Valance‘s latest song ‘State of Mind’ on a CD EP single. It sounds like Siouxsie & The Banshees (think ‘cities in dust’) being morphed with Kylie at her most virally and annoyingly catchy… yeah, yeah, I know… hard to imagine. I bought the extended play CD single and slunk out into the street worrying about the state of my ‘cred’… and have been unable to stop playing it since.
Anyway, I guess it is nice to know that, circa 2003, a teen singer in a tiny skirt can front something that brings a pleasing snarl even to the lips of a doomed and jaded old geezer such as myself… plus I rather liked the delightfully arrogant and essentially meaningless video for ‘State of Mind’ on the CD. Ah the joys of Western civilisation.
Holly does darkwave, sort of… and surprisingly well
Too old for rock and roll, too young to die. Mick Jagger?
Jethro Tull.
Two points for JohnJo!
Being (very) young and loving jazz is an odd combination amongst my friends. I find myself facing blank faces whenever I tell them I heard this amazing solo on this recrod by that guy yesterday…
Being old (25+) and listening to popmusic is an odd combination amongst them too.
Long live individuality!
i just bought it and waddayaknow… the remix *is* kinda darkwave-ish! who da thunk it? pretty good actually.
What the heck is darkwave?
Where goth meets electronic music…
I saw a list somewhere of Songs You Hate To Love. I have to admit that I really like Kylie’s ‘Can’t Get You Out Of My Head’. And the video was very nice, with The Best Bum In Christendom™ struttin’ her stuff. I’m normally more into Zeppelin, Floyd, Allman Brothers etc., but there is still a small smattering of decent stuff out there bobbing about in the oceans of crap. It’s probably just an infinite monkeys sort of thing, though.
old but….
x = the day/month/year that music died for you
therefore
x+17= your current age
QED
Works 75% of the time.
Doh! shurely x-17 = year of your birth
ooops.
Where goth meets electronic music…
Should be called “Electro Vamp”. Sexier.
I like the Ramones Tshirt. Lots. Now if only some hot babe would get in front of a real, ass-kicking rock band and sing some great 3 minute rock songs with great anthemic choruses … .
Sigh.
Some people who read Samizdata are waiting in sincere hope for John Galt to come along and slay the State.
I know that even my humbler dreams are hopeless.
“Art beware, it’s all been done.
There’s nothing new under the Sun.”