TV Ad: Folk music ridiculed - again

Subject: TV Ad: Folk music ridiculed - again
From: GUEST, Sminky
Date: 13 Oct 08 - 05:19 AM

The latest BT Broadband advert (UK TV) shows a guy ridiculing the banale TV channels his friend's broadband package offers him.

The list includes:

Owl TV
Deep Sea Fishing
Cats Do The Craziest Things

and

Legends of Folk Music.

Is there no end to this?

Subject: RE: TV Ad: Folk music ridiculed - again
From: Seaking
Date: 13 Oct 08 - 05:31 AM

I'm sure ornithologists, fishermen and pet owners will all be feeling the same way. They (BT) are only attempting to be clever but actually highlighting their ignorance.

Chris

Subject: RE: TV Ad: Folk music ridiculed - again
From: Colin Randall
Date: 13 Oct 08 - 05:33 AM

....and they're also too ignorant to realise how many of us are perfectly content to be marginalised (while reserving the right to whinge about it, of course)

Subject: RE: TV Ad: Folk music ridiculed - again
From: quokka
Date: 13 Oct 08 - 05:45 AM

What?! They've got a WHOLE channel dedicated to Legends of Folk Music? Where do I sign up???

;->

Subject: RE: TV Ad: Folk music ridiculed - again
From: Paul Burke
Date: 13 Oct 08 - 05:48 AM

All that list sound better than the sh*te that's really in offer on TV.

Subject: RE: TV Ad: Folk music ridiculed - again
From: SteveMansfield
Date: 13 Oct 08 - 05:48 AM

Ah, don't worry about it.

People mock what they don't understand, and media people also mock what they can't co-opt and shoehorn into their neat boxed-off formats.

If it's really bugged you that much write a letter to UK TV registering your complaint, but I suspect traditional music will survive some advertising wonk having a dig on a small cable channel.

I must say a line-up of Owl TV, Cats Do The Craziest Things, and Legends Of Folk Music sounds a whole bunch better than most of the endlessly-recycled output of the UK TV channels, where do I sign up?

Subject: RE: TV Ad: Folk music ridiculed - again
From: Dave Sutherland
Date: 13 Oct 08 - 05:58 AM

Just think of all the fun we could have if we did have a "Legends of Folk Music" channel. The opinions, the arguments..........

Subject: RE: TV Ad: Folk music ridiculed - again
From: Brakn
Date: 13 Oct 08 - 06:08 AM

I have just complained. I think we all should.

Subject: RE: TV Ad: Folk music ridiculed - again
From: Folkiedave
Date: 13 Oct 08 - 06:12 AM

Where to?

Subject: RE: TV Ad: Folk music ridiculed - again
From: theleveller
Date: 13 Oct 08 - 06:24 AM

I wouldn't mind, but the presenter is the most puke-making dork, with a stupid little-boy haircut (despite being in his late 40s). That's far more irritating than the reference to folk singers. Any advertiser whi has so little tatse as to use that prat can't be taken seriously.

Subject: RE: TV Ad: Folk music ridiculed - again
From: Brakn
Date: 13 Oct 08 - 06:31 AM

I complained here.

Subject: RE: TV Ad: Folk music ridiculed - again
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 13 Oct 08 - 06:33 AM

a waste of indignation.

the folkmusic movement made choices that it didn't want mass acceptance. this whole site is knee deep in threads saying that anything resembling popular music is crap (which incidentally is not a nice way to regard the lovers of pop music - but they don't bitch at us!). live with it.

its only an accurate reflection of the path that we have chosen and the popular view.

Subject: RE: TV Ad: Folk music ridiculed - again
From: Brakn
Date: 13 Oct 08 - 06:35 AM

For some reason that link doesn't always work but it's there or roundabouts.

Subject: RE: TV Ad: Folk music ridiculed - again
From: GUEST, Sminky
Date: 13 Oct 08 - 06:36 AM

I suggest we all Ask Emma about how to get Legends of Folk Music.

Subject: RE: TV Ad: Folk music ridiculed - again
From: GUEST, Sminky
Date: 13 Oct 08 - 06:48 AM

I just tried it. She flashed her eyelids at me and replied:

All you need to get going with BT Broadband is a BT phone line and a compatible computer. Visit the broadband pages to find out more.

So there you go. Then, bless her, she asked:

How useful was my answer?

Tempting or what? Is 'corporate arseholery' a proper phrase?

Subject: RE: TV Ad: Folk music ridiculed - again
From: Bernard
Date: 13 Oct 08 - 06:48 AM

On the other hand, the Country Life Butter ad featuring John Layden (Sex Pistols) at least acknowledges Morris to be 'Very British'... sadly, some of the subtleties of that ad are lost on many people...!

Subject: RE: TV Ad: Folk music ridiculed - again
From: GUEST,Michael Winner
Date: 13 Oct 08 - 06:57 AM

Calm down dear, it's only an advert.

Subject: RE: TV Ad: Folk music ridiculed - again
From: GUEST,Jonny Sunshine
Date: 13 Oct 08 - 07:04 AM

I'm sure a deluge of complaints to the advertising standards agency would do nothing but give advertising agencies the idea that lovers of folk music are just a bunch stuck-in-the-muds with no sense of humour.

Subject: RE: TV Ad: Folk music ridiculed - again
From: Ernest
Date: 13 Oct 08 - 07:22 AM

We are telling so many jokes about ourselves (bajo-, bodhran-, accordion-jokes etc.) - why should we care if someone else is making a joke about us?

Best
Ernest

Subject: RE: TV Ad: Folk music ridiculed - again
From: quokka
Date: 13 Oct 08 - 07:37 AM

Sorta like siblings who fight like cats 'n' dogs between themselves but woe betide an outsider picking on one of us, er I mean them...

why yes I do have quite a few siblings...

;->

Subject: RE: TV Ad: Folk music ridiculed - again
From: mauvepink
Date: 13 Oct 08 - 07:44 AM

A great many adverts make a great deal of mockery about many types of people and interests/hobbies. All sorts of adverts are blatantly sexist, for instance, and I think so many '-isms' are covered with the advertising industry generally. In general I think Folksters probably get a little less fun poked at them than a lot more other groups of society.

Subtle ageism, sexism, racism, genderism, sizeism, hairism, etc., etc, runs through many adverts. So now we have folkism to add to the list. Folk is about and part of the real world. We know we are not doing any harm and are just 'normal' folks (whatever normal is) so I guess we have to be used in 'normal' life things.

I find far more offensive things being used in advertising, far less subtle too, so maybe this is a sign that Folk is now more mainstream and accepted as such?

I think it would be far easier to poke fun at BT than the other way around?

Best wishes

mp

Subject: RE: TV Ad: Folk music ridiculed - again
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 13 Oct 08 - 08:12 AM

Ask Emma - produced...

You asked me:
How can I get the "Legends of Folk Music" channel?

My answer is:
Please ask me a question about BT's products or services.

Subject: RE: TV Ad: Folk music ridiculed - again
From: GUEST,DaveP
Date: 13 Oct 08 - 08:36 AM

I think we should celebrate it.
Can't wait for the first act to be introduced as:
"And now, a band you definetely won't hear on BT Vision, ..." :o)

Subject: RE: TV Ad: Folk music ridiculed - again
From: Charley Noble
Date: 13 Oct 08 - 09:33 AM

Well, at least Folk Music made the top four, and as legendary!

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: TV Ad: Folk music ridiculed - again
From: WFDU - Ron Olesko
Date: 13 Oct 08 - 09:45 AM

Look at the bright side - at least they mention "folk music".

Here in the U.S., PBS will bring out all the "legends of folk music" at fund drive time to boost their pledges. Then, when they go back to "regular" programming, folk music is forgotten.

Subject: RE: TV Ad: Folk music ridiculed - again
From: GUEST, Sminky
Date: 13 Oct 08 - 10:13 AM

Coming soon to BT Vision!

Legends of Folk Music

A new twelve-part series of one-hour programmes. Each documenting the life, career, influence and contribution of twelve legendary figures of Folk Music.

So......(and I've a feeling I'm going to regret asking this).......who would you have?

Subject: RE: TV Ad: Folk music ridiculed - again
From: Spleen Cringe
Date: 13 Oct 08 - 10:28 AM

As my strapline will soon insist, we're talking about

esoteric music for a niche market.

And if I'm honest, I suspect most of the time we're fair game.

Still it's not like there's more pressing issues to worry about right now is it? Is it?

Subject: RE: TV Ad: Folk music ridiculed - again
From: GUEST, Sminky
Date: 13 Oct 08 - 11:10 AM

Still it's not like there's more pressing issues to worry about right now is it? Is it?

Is it OK with you if we discuss lighter matters?

Subject: RE: TV Ad: Folk music ridiculed - again
From: Spleen Cringe
Date: 13 Oct 08 - 11:22 AM

It's fine by me, Sminky, you don't need my permission for anything. No offence intended!

But d'you not think it says something about the sensitive little flowers that are the whingeing folkies of this parish, when stuff like this causes so much angst and handwringing? Those on the thread who are firing purple prose off to advertising standards or whoever, are potentially making this strange little world look even stranger. That's ok though. Eccentricity and handbags-at-dawn are fine things and probably far more traditional than most folk music...

Having said that, when I got to the impassionated Is there no end to this? at the end of your OP, it gave me my first decent laugh of the day. For this I truly thank you.

In answer to your earlier question, one of them has to be Peter Bellamy, of course.

Subject: RE: TV Ad: Folk music ridiculed - again
From: Bernard
Date: 13 Oct 08 - 11:44 AM

Yes, Peter Bellamy... and Carthy, Dylan, The Spinners, Fairport, Steeleye, Julie Felix, Ewan MacColl, Ted Edwards, The Oldham Tinkers, Harry Boardman, Tony Rose...

The real problem is who to omit...

Subject: RE: TV Ad: Folk music ridiculed - again
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 13 Oct 08 - 11:47 AM

What's a 'strapline'? Sounds like some kind of weird acoutrement for the sexual deviant. :-)

Subject: RE: TV Ad: Folk music ridiculed - again
From: r.padgett
Date: 13 Oct 08 - 11:49 AM

I posted this on another folk chat page a while ago

Clearly a bit of fun, although I went through my TV channels and couldn't find anything remotely the same (yep I am gullible) for Legends of Folk

So I ask myself isn't it time that some of the great music and folk programmes that appear on TV on all channels started to appear and that an initiative to record archive and show our folk related musical heritage was put in place?

I have just seen the electric folk guitar programme, recently Ralph Vaughn Williams, Liza Carthy and The Transatlantic Sessions with Aly Baine and Phil Cunningham and Paul Brady

There are Legends of folk music such as the late Tony Rose, the living Martin Carthy and Norma Waterson (and family), Dave Burland, Nick Jones, Martin Whyndham Read and newer Living Tradition Bearers such as Keith Kendrick, Brian Peters, Cockersdale, Jez Lowe, Bob Fox, Steve Tilston, Steve Turner, June Tabor, Maddy Prior, Alison McMorland, Cilla and Artie, High Level Ranters and on and on___

So whats it all about and yes I did also enjoy Cambridge ff coverage ~ more power to yer elbow John Leonard and all!!

Ray

Subject: RE: TV Ad: Folk music ridiculed - again
From: TheSnail
Date: 13 Oct 08 - 11:55 AM

Bob Copper.

Subject: RE: TV Ad: Folk music ridiculed - again
From: Uncle_DaveO
Date: 13 Oct 08 - 12:11 PM

A new twelve-part series of one-hour programmes. Each documenting the life, career, influence and contribution of twelve legendary figures of Folk Music.

Twelve program(me)s, each with twelve legendary figures, so they are going to highlight one hundred forty-four musicians!   Great!

Dave Oesterreich

Subject: RE: TV Ad: Folk music ridiculed - again
From: GUEST,Jim Knowledge
Date: 13 Oct 08 - 12:12 PM

Subject: RE: TV Ad: Folk music ridiculed - again
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 13 Oct 08 - 12:15 PM

The media will never really go for folk music, because if the music's public domain, no money can be made off it through copyright. And if it doesn't make them money, it's okay to ridicule it.

It's revealing that the advertiser preferred to ridicule another channel (although fictional) rather than concentrate on what on what he had to offer. No doubt because he had nothing much to offer!

Subject: RE: TV Ad: Folk music ridiculed - again
From: GUEST,Jim Knowledge
Date: 13 Oct 08 - 12:19 PM

I `it the loud pedal just then, too quickly. Anyway, I `ad that chairman of BT in my cab the other day.
I said to `im, "On your latest tele ad, you`re taking the rise out of that folk music that is dear to many people`s `earts."
`e said, "Well, that makes a change".
I sadid, "Whadda you mean then?"
`e said, "Well, normally they wheel out the Morris Dancers!!"

Whaddam I Like??

Subject: RE: TV Ad: Folk music ridiculed - again
From: WFDU - Ron Olesko
Date: 13 Oct 08 - 12:19 PM

Folk music is fair game. We ridicule the media, so let them get in their licks. It doesn't change the tune and the songs remain the same.

Subject: RE: TV Ad: Folk music ridiculed - again
From: Spleen Cringe
Date: 13 Oct 08 - 12:20 PM

What's a 'strapline'? Sounds like some kind of weird acoutrement for the sexual deviant

It's for beating on the bared buttocks of be-chapped linedancers...

or is that a 'linestrap'?...

D'you you want a sensible answer, too? It'll be very boring...

Subject: RE: TV Ad: Folk music ridiculed - again
From: Bernard
Date: 13 Oct 08 - 12:23 PM

Well, the cable channels seem to get away with running the same three episodes of something-or-other over and over again...

Subject: RE: TV Ad: Folk music ridiculed - again
From: Harmonium Hero
Date: 13 Oct 08 - 12:26 PM

Never mind 'Leg Ends of Folk', what's wrong with 'Owl TV'? I think it's a hoot.
Sorry (yeah, like)
JK

Subject: RE: TV Ad: Folk music ridiculed - again
From: GUEST, Sminky
Date: 13 Oct 08 - 12:26 PM

In answer to your earlier question, one of them has to be Peter Bellamy, of course.

Absolutely agreed, Spleen Cringe. And no offence taken or intended.

Sorry, my maths was never very good. As Uncle_DaveO has pointed out, I made a gross error. It's 12 one-hour programmes featuring ONE artist each.

All very UK so far.......

Subject: RE: TV Ad: Folk music ridiculed - again
From: Compton
Date: 13 Oct 08 - 12:49 PM

Was it not Oscar Wilde who that there was only one thing worse than being talked about...and that was NOT being talked about!!

Subject: RE: TV Ad: Folk music ridiculed - again
From: Will Fly
Date: 13 Oct 08 - 01:34 PM

So folk music's being ridiculed in the media is it? Hah - join the club! Try counting the number of times the librarian stereotype - female, glasses, plain, hair in a bun, sexless, going "shh" all the time (and that's just the men) is shown on TV. Count the number of times in the press where you can read "as boring as a librarian".

So try being a librarian who plays folk music - double jeopardy...

Subject: RE: TV Ad: Folk music ridiculed - again
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 13 Oct 08 - 01:56 PM

So try being a librarian who plays folk music and is a psycho killer and dribbles, and fondles without permission.........


People are always taking the piss, but I bet its fun.

Subject: RE: TV Ad: Folk music ridiculed - again
From: Will Fly
Date: 13 Oct 08 - 02:09 PM

Have you been reading my biography? :-)

Subject: RE: TV Ad: Folk music ridiculed - again
From: Peace
Date: 13 Oct 08 - 11:33 PM

Stan Hugill.

Subject: RE: TV Ad: Folk music ridiculed - again
From: Peace
Date: 14 Oct 08 - 12:36 AM

"The latest BT Broadband advert (UK TV) shows a guy ridiculing the banale TV channels his friend's broadband package offers him."

Ignore them.

Subject: RE: TV Ad: Folk music ridiculed - again
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 14 Oct 08 - 12:39 AM

I contacted them - they didn't seem to care that I'm in Oz! So EVERYBODY now ask them when the program is on! :-)

Subject: RE: TV Ad: Folk music ridiculed - again
From: open mike
Date: 14 Oct 08 - 01:35 AM

on the other hand how many folk songs put down television..