Death Factor: The Un-Easy Marriage of TV & Music

It seems everyone writes a Blog these days so I thought I’d join in an write about something I genuinely care about = music Now, I know it’s an easy target for the critics these days, but X-Factor really does have the most profound & negative effect on British (and in some instances global) music. So, without sounding like judge, jury & executioner, I have decided it does have a lot to answer for … Many years ago when I decided to choose the guitar as the instrument to play as it was always the epitome of cool. I was inspired to play (albeit in a pretty naff fashion as many of you can vouch for) the guitar due to the likes of Jimmy Page, Izzy Stradlin, Keith Richards & Mick Taylor = all worthy icons of instant hero status from an amazing age of music that will sadly never be repeated no doubt. It was real music played by real, honest people who took time in what they created and played. But, those days are truly over and the burial march of true, proper music has begun in the shape of the X Factor Since the creation of X Factor by serial tight kex wearer Simon (2 eggs in a hanky) Cowell the show has turned into a global phenomenon that has changed the relationship of music & television to a new level … for the worse! I won’t give you a history lesson as that’s not why I’m here, but TV & music has been around for many many years since the early days of Opportunity Knocks to the revolution that was MTV. But, since the arrival of X Factor a few years back they have re-written the rules of marriage between TV and music and in the process made it obviously clear to an entire nation that Warhol’s famous quote is alive and (maybe not) well and proves that ANYONE really can get on telly if they have talent or not. Apart from the cringe-worthy attempts by the wanna-be’s who sell their soul (and maybe even their own mothers) who queue for hours outside various studios up and down Britain, the show is made even worse by the pathetic, attention seeking ‘judges’ who bay for blood all in the name of light entertainment. If it isn’t Louis Walsh’s ridiculously continuing (staged) running spat with the afore mentioned Cowell, it is the over-emotional Cheryl Cole trying her best to pull on the heart strings of the nation with her crocodile tears and constant false reminders that she “luvs” every singer who takes to the stage. Lengthy careers beckon for all I suspect.

This may sound slightly controversial here, but I also think as well as musically, X Factor has a cultural impact on the people of Britain. Without sounding like some old fart that bursts kid’s footies with a knife, the rise of X Factor goes hand in hand with the ‘we-want-everything-now’ culture of the youth of today. It wasn’t too long ago that many children and young adults yearned to be in a band playing an instrument (drummers excluded, of course) that would eventually lead to a musical career of substance and a worthy placed amongst their peers that included the admirable likes of Stradlin Taylor, Page & Richards. It seems this has now been replaced by the pursuit of the extremely detestable ‘instant fame’ which is available to all be it if they are in possession of talent or not (just look at Daniel Evans for an example) after that, it’s Butlin’s all the way for the usually jaaag X Factor Tour. Success? I don’t think so It only seems fitting to end this debut Blog with a quote from a band of real talent & substance. I read an interview a few months back with the brilliant Elbow just after they had picked up the very well deserved Mercury award. Their enigmatic singer Guy Garvey made a rather fitting comment about X Factor: “for fucks sake, don’t these people who laugh at these poor fuckers realise that they are someone’s son or daughter?” After reading Garvey’s quote it made me think about the desperate attempts some people will go to in the short quest for ‘Instant Fame’. Self humiliation, embarrassment, desperation and damn right lack of self respect are obviously not part of their remit. The final nail may not yet be in the coffin of British music due to the much celebrated remaining troubadours like Elbow who are continually driven underground that still fly the flag of decency & taste. But, I hate to sound like a Daily Mail headline writer here, the threat still remains and the masses are gathering. So, go and blow the cob webs off that old Telecaster you’ve got in the loft as the battle lines are drawn