Subject: RE: Bellowhead on BBC Breakfast From: Steve Gardham Date: 18 Dec 09 - 04:24 PM Sorry, Dave, spotted the right thread too late. I've read the whole of the other thread now and curiously I find myself lining up with FOLKPUNKROCKER. Sorry! |
Subject: RE: Bellowhead on BBC Breakfast From: Folkiedave Date: 18 Dec 09 - 03:51 PM Bit hard to judge that show Steve - 49 seconds of song and some awkward (in the sense of not knowing what they were talking about) questions. |
Subject: RE: Bellowhead on BBC Breakfast From: Steve Gardham Date: 18 Dec 09 - 03:45 PM Wot, no comment on the show itself???? |
Subject: RE: Bellowhead on BBC Breakfast From: Folkiedave Date: 17 Dec 09 - 05:16 PM Looking forward to seeing Benji on the show tonight too!! Let's hope you're a Jim Moray fan then, if you watched the bit of tonight's show played this morning. No Benji . . . I knew. Lack of continuity I'd say! |
Subject: RE: Bellowhead on BBC Breakfast From: Folknacious Date: 17 Dec 09 - 03:43 PM Nice as it was to see Bellowhead on the breakfast show, the interview was the predictable buttock-clenching cringiness. "What's that?" "It's a sousaphone". "A sousaphone? Gosh, isn't it big". And "a melodeon, or it's also called a diatonic accordion." "Diatonic? Is that like gin and tonic? Never let the facts get in the way of axe-grinding. Inspired by those quotes I just went and watched the clip on YouTube. Nobody said "Gosh, isn't it big?". And It was John Spiers who made the joke about "gin and tonic", not the presenter. OK, it was early in the morning, but get a grip . . . Looking forward to seeing Benji on the show tonight too!! Let's hope you're a Jim Moray fan then, if you watched the bit of tonight's show played this morning. No Benji . . . |
Subject: RE: Bellowhead on BBC Breakfast From: GUEST,PeterC Date: 17 Dec 09 - 03:30 PM Show? definitely off topic! |
Subject: RE: Bellowhead on BBC Breakfast From: GUEST,Captain Jack Sparrow Date: 17 Dec 09 - 02:26 PM John Spiers has something to say about the actual show, if that isn't off-topic. John Spiers Blog |
Subject: RE: Bellowhead on BBC Breakfast From: GUEST,Lizzie again Date: 17 Dec 09 - 01:37 PM ....very good, Cap'n Jack. :0) Villan, I like Norma best when she sings that Grateful Dead number, she rocks with that one. Poor Phil....held captive by Madame Intelligensia. I need to go rescue him! Panic Ye Not, Phil, I'm a-comin...and....I have a Suggestive Biscuit, so all is not lost! :0) Is it time for Bellowhead yet? I'm having such fun in this thread that I've lost track of the hours... |
Subject: RE: Bellowhead on BBC Breakfast From: GUEST,Lizzie Cornish Date: 17 Dec 09 - 01:32 PM Yay! It IS Christmas, after all...and finally Madame Intelligensia has been able to use her Secretly Stored 'Phil Phile' at long last..... Er....I havent' seen them in over 2 years...and it wasn't me who was a-kissing and a-snuggling up to Phil..but you forgot to put that part in..Woopseedowndaisy... As I said, I haven't actually compared anyone to anyone, Sweet Pea...but don't let that stop you, eh... 'Scuse me, but I just have to check the Suggestive Biscuit thread down below... |
Subject: RE: Bellowhead on BBC Breakfast From: Ruth Archer Date: 17 Dec 09 - 01:25 PM "Nope, Phil said he preferred vitriol to niceness...." Really? Cause I thought this was what he said, which deals with both obsessive fandom AND the accusations of an exclusive "folk intelligentsia": "LC. I don't know who you are, only that you are from my patch and seem to have seen us rather more times than is, perhaps, healthy. Maybe I spoke to you even on the last two local shows . I don't know. I understand that you mean well and that you feel you are championing some sort of cause on our (and indeed others) behalfs. Let me explain a bit about this internet place. Its not a universal fanzine. Its a genre specific place of chat and discussion for a bunch of folks, many of whom have a great deal of knowledge and indeed expertise in their subject. I know many of them as both friends and acquaintances. My band makes music that has one of its (Possibly cloven) hooves in this place and the other three 'Out There' in the rest of the world. Many of the folks here consider themselves as (self appointed) guardians of something rare and precious. I have ABSOLUTELY no problem with this. All I ask is that they maintain visiting hours so that I can get on with building the new wing (Crap metaphor, sorry!) whilst having access to the edifice. (Also a self appointed task) Virtually everyone contributing here decided whether they liked/disliked our music more than 15 years ago. Our task is as always to bring the music to a wider audience and whether or not anyone here likes or dislikes us is not relevant. ...Please Lizzie. I'm delighted that you like our music. We are absolutely clear about who we are, what we are doing, and where its going. I just turned 56 last week. I still have the will and the energy and the best is yet to come. I can handle any form of abuse, misconception, or downright vitriol. What I do NOT wish to be portrayed as is a member of some form of geriatric Boy Band. This sort of adulation is utterly embarrassing and I'd really like it to stop now." |
Subject: RE: Bellowhead on BBC Breakfast From: GUEST,Captain Jack Sparrow Date: 17 Dec 09 - 01:18 PM Bloody Peasant |
Subject: RE: Bellowhead on BBC Breakfast From: Rasener Date: 17 Dec 09 - 01:14 PM I love this song, just to get away from Bellowhead and SoH http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zmtEy_2rv3Y |
Subject: RE: Bellowhead on BBC Breakfast From: GUEST,Lizzie Cornish Date: 17 Dec 09 - 01:14 PM Nope, Phil said he preferred vitriol to niceness.... Course, I realise it's because he's been kidnapped by the Folk Intelligensia and they're threatening to burn his favourite violin unless he says these things......so I take no notice.. (naughty splutter) I like Bellowhead...I ain't once 'compared' them to Show of Hands..I merely took a pop at the BBC for NOT having Show of Hands on their show AS WELL...if you read my first post... Course, that won't enable you to lose it all over the place and try to kick me with Steve and Phil, but heyho.... The folk intelligensia are in this thread....they always are in Bellowhead threads...Of course, that's not Bellowhead's fault though... I have Jon Boden's solo CD too..where he Went Electric! That's COOL. He does Brilliant Electric! And I wrote about them when they appeared with Show of Hands at Abbotsbury a few years back...you know, with that other chappie...Jon Spiers..that's the fella..Gawd but they were good...And of course, when they joined Steve and Phil and Simon Emmerson for the first ever live performance of 'Roots' on that stage,well.....the whole of Dorset LIT UP!! What a night that was, WHAT a song! WHAT a reception! The ENTIRE audience rose as one to 'Roots'.. Marvellous! |
Subject: RE: Bellowhead on BBC Breakfast From: Ruth Archer Date: 17 Dec 09 - 01:04 PM Well, it would be nice if you could resist any opportunity for having a pop at your own peculiar folk devils, "Lizzie". After all, Phil Beer specifically asked you to stop championing SoH to the detriment of other people. They don't want it, and it serves no purpose. Neither does this ridiculous conspiracy theory about the folk "intelligentsia" who surround Bellowhead. As you can't produce any evidence for your wilder accusations and theories, how about giving them a rest for a while? |
Subject: RE: Bellowhead on BBC Breakfast From: GUEST,JM Date: 17 Dec 09 - 01:04 PM Folkiedave : if you're looking forward to seeing Benji on the TV tonight you may be in for a surprise. He might be looking a bit different from usual...! ;) |
Subject: RE: Bellowhead on BBC Breakfast From: GUEST,Lizzie Cornish Date: 17 Dec 09 - 01:02 PM Um....I forgot to mention, earlier on.... Methinks that Trinny and Susannah should be brought in to give Jon a bit of a Makeover Doodle.....That suit? Uh Oh... Tell me, WHERE is the Gypsy in that suit? Trinny! Quick, you're needed! Bring brocade waistcoats, and long riding boots, long tailed jackets and white gypsy shirts... Far too dark and handsome for a suit... ;0) |
Subject: RE: Bellowhead on BBC Breakfast From: GUEST,Lizzie Cornish Date: 17 Dec 09 - 12:59 PM Blimey, Villan, I had no idea they had peasants in Pennsylvania! LOL Oh fer fooks sake, 'Ruth'.....DO lighten up a bit.. Try reading that naughty thread in BS, it might bring a smile to your sousaphone! .....but, then again... |
Subject: RE: Bellowhead on BBC Breakfast From: Ruth Archer Date: 17 Dec 09 - 12:54 PM Oh yes, the "peasants". A theory you have put forward on numerous occasions, and when pressed for any evidence to support your claims of marginalisation, you couldn't come up with any. Not one bit. In fact, as a concept it holds as much credibility as the tension you keep trying to engineer between Bellowhead Show of Hands. |
Subject: RE: Bellowhead on BBC Breakfast From: Rasener Date: 17 Dec 09 - 12:51 PM Oh do you mean this guy Lizzie http://www.myspace.com/peasant |
Subject: RE: Bellowhead on BBC Breakfast From: GUEST,Lizzie Cornish Date: 17 Dec 09 - 12:47 PM Sorry if it's pissing you off that SoH are being mentioned in here, but er....we've moved on from that now...We're now into Peasants. Thank oo.... :0) |
Subject: RE: Bellowhead on BBC Breakfast From: Mrs.Duck Date: 17 Dec 09 - 12:45 PM I had heard of a sousaphone but didn't know what one looked like except that it was big and brass and not a tuba. |
Subject: RE: Bellowhead on BBC Breakfast From: GUEST,Lizzie Cornish Date: 17 Dec 09 - 12:45 PM Oh yes, Villan...but I was assuming that everyone already knew it was Miranda. I have that CD of hers..and that song is one of my favourites....I wrote about it many a time on the BBC and on here too, way back... Her Dad is a Musical Artist...because he creates an entire film with that song, I have all the moving images of Lincoln and Lincolnshire in my head when I listen to Miranda sing it....Utterly beautiful. I think that Show of Hands sound has been tremendously added to with Miranda....She has the most gorgeous voice too. |
Subject: RE: Bellowhead on BBC Breakfast From: Ruth Archer Date: 17 Dec 09 - 12:41 PM Constantly setting up Bellowhead against Show of Hands is a false construct (though admittedly the rather ridiculous one on which this thread is predicated, for no good or apparent reason). Neither band would, I'm sure, wish to be projected by Lizzie into yet another internet scrap (and one of the banbds in question has publicly said as much). You like Bellowhead? Fine. You like Show of Hands? Fine. You like both? Great. Is there any reason to be whining about why one was on telly today and the other wasn't? No. Is there any reason to be constantly banging on about the (real or imagined) iniquitites of BBC folk awards that took place nearly ten bloody years ago, when both bands are in fact nominated in those self-same awards this year? No. Is there any purpose this constant shit-stirring serves, apart from allowing Lizzie to draw attention for the gazillionth time to one of her personal hobby horses and, by association, herself? No. So how bout everyone who likes Bellowhead watches them tonight, and everyone who doesn't watches something else? Hurrah. |
Subject: RE: Bellowhead on BBC Breakfast From: Rasener Date: 17 Dec 09 - 12:40 PM >>and that gal on the double bass<< Surely you can do better than that Lizzie. That is the wonderful Miranda Sykes from the backwoods of Lincolnshire. Her dad wrote a wonderful song called Lincolnshire Song and Miranda and her dad allowed me to use that song on the Yellowbellies CD which comprised of songs and singers from Lincolnshire and the CD made over £1500 for charity. |
Subject: RE: Bellowhead on BBC Breakfast From: Lizzie Cornish 1 Date: 17 Dec 09 - 12:30 PM "The Christmas song they did this morning sounded as though it was a trad jazz band playing. " Actually, I have to say, I didn't much like it. It was erm..er...very old fashioned and rather twee..but that's just my thoughts. Someone send for Steve and Phil, immediately....and that gal on the double bass... |
Subject: RE: Bellowhead on BBC Breakfast From: Lizzie Cornish 1 Date: 17 Dec 09 - 12:28 PM Nope, I come from peasant stock......and I know that I'd have been very happy standing on the sidelines just watching and listening...and no-one would have made me sing or dance, if I didn't want to....and a load of other peasants would have felt exactly the same, I'm sure. Sousaphone sounds more like the latest mobile whatsit to me... Anyway, no-one has an instrument as big as Barry Lister's. (and a row of peasants were to be heard helplessly giggling mischievously behind the fine lords and ladies of the Folk Intelligensia) |
Subject: RE: Bellowhead on BBC Breakfast From: Rasener Date: 17 Dec 09 - 12:25 PM The Christmas song they did this morning sounded as though it was a trad jazz band playing. |
Subject: RE: Bellowhead on BBC Breakfast From: Ruth Archer Date: 17 Dec 09 - 12:23 PM Well, the Sousaphone is not a folk instrument, and is often found in brass and marching bands. So long before I knew what a melodeon was, I had heard of a Sousaphone. |
Subject: RE: Bellowhead on BBC Breakfast From: Ruth Archer Date: 17 Dec 09 - 12:18 PM "I was using the term 'peasant' to describe the likes of myself actually...but way back...the people who merely loved the music, who loved to listen and watch the musicians play," Dare I say that this evocation of the "peasant" is more than a little fanciful. Those people "way back" did not divide themselves into those who made music and those who watched and listened. "Way back", music was something communities did collectively. If you didn't play, you probably sang or danced. It was participative. The disconnect between audience and performer is an outcome of the commodification of music, and largely a feature of the late 20th century and the commercial music industry. |
Subject: RE: Bellowhead on BBC Breakfast From: GUEST,Lizzie Cornish Date: 17 Dec 09 - 12:17 PM Why would you be surprised? Who the heck HAS heard of a Sousaphone, for Gawd's sake? And here is a link to the thread with the times of the actual programme Bellowhead are on tonight, which is called 'Frost and Fire' on BBC4, at 9pm. Frost and Fire, the details... |
Subject: RE: Bellowhead on BBC Breakfast From: GUEST,Lizzie Cornish Date: 17 Dec 09 - 12:13 PM "If not snooty then certainly nerdy, but there is that element in folk -" No, I disagree with you there. In my opinion, it's snooty, exceedingly so....and those who sniff in such a manner love to do it, because they really do regard themselves as 'better than the peasants' who know nuzzink... Trust me, I'm a peasant! ;0) |
Subject: RE: Bellowhead on BBC Breakfast From: Ruth Archer Date: 17 Dec 09 - 12:13 PM manirtas - of course it is, but there was a bit of silly flippancy that probably wouldn't be trawled out if the topic was, say, classical music. I was more surprised that they had never heard of a Sousaphone, to be honest. Sweeney - depends, of course, by how you're defining folk. The thing that most of us define as folk will, happily, be screened on BBC 4 tonight, which was rather the point of this morning's spot... |
Subject: RE: Bellowhead on BBC Breakfast From: GUEST,Lizzie Cornish Date: 17 Dec 09 - 12:11 PM From Diane: "I am taking "peasants" as a somewhat derogatory term intended to encompass pre-industrial revolution musicians. These were highly skilled on the instruments available to them (excluding free reed ones, obviously) and were highly pissed off when the new-fangled organ led to their being booted out of church galleries." Er...no. I was using the term 'peasant' to describe the likes of myself actually...but way back...the people who merely loved the music, who loved to listen and watch the musicians play, who never worried about who was playing what, and if they were playing it correctly, because they were just too darn busy enjoying the lovely music. |
Subject: RE: Bellowhead on BBC Breakfast From: manitas_at_work Date: 17 Dec 09 - 12:05 PM But a melodeon *is* an accordion so Bill Turnbull (is that the one) *was correct*. I'm sure he was only asking for the benefit of the viewers, sort of 'what's different about your ban, then?'. |
Subject: RE: Bellowhead on BBC Breakfast From: Jack Blandiver Date: 17 Dec 09 - 11:59 AM but...er...don't you feel that sniggering because the presenters got the names of the instruments is just a tad snooty? If not snooty then certainly nerdy, but there is that element in folk - Folk Geeks, who dig such exotica as bowed psalteries and dulcimers, so much so that no matter what instrument I perform with, be it a crwth, kemence, or a citera invariably some Folk Nerd will ask "Is that a bowed psaltery?" or "Is that a dulcimer?" instead of being honest about it and asking "What sort of instrument is that?" Folk isn't normal, nor will it ever be, thank God, but I still find it ever-so-slightly alarming to find the nerd / geek element snickering Moss-like when someone mistakes a melodeon for an accordion. English folk alive & in rude health? Well, yes it is, but you'd never see it on TV - unless of course you hooked your telly up to YouTube... |
Subject: RE: Bellowhead on BBC Breakfast From: Folkiedave Date: 17 Dec 09 - 11:47 AM Looking forward to seeing Benji on the show tonight too!! |
Subject: RE: Bellowhead on BBC Breakfast From: Folkiedave Date: 17 Dec 09 - 11:46 AM get in the guys, and gal So since you clearly acknowledge (as indeed they do) they are a trio, have you made your views known to the BBC known objecting to SoH being nominated as a duo in this year's Folk Awards? And I don't want to preach to the Traddies, but...er...don't you feel that sniggering because the presenters got the names of the instruments is just a tad snooty? Nope, I expect people paid as much as that with a number of researchers to get the names right! Put the music back in the hands of the people.... who has it currently then? I have been to lots of local traditional carol events, ones that clearly date back over a couple of hundred years over the past five weeks. (And another four or five to do). Those there have ranged from young people to very old people, a judge, builders, steelworkers, redundant steel workers, university lecturers, OAP's, a retired highway superintendent, insurance broker, farmworkers etc etc..... This Folk Intelligensia, particularly the one that tends to surround Bellowhead Tell me, how did you identify this Intelligentsia? Most of the Bellowhead concerts I have been to have been full of young people who loved the music. There were some older people there, but they were clearly there for Bellowhead's fresh look at English traditional music. So, I am genuinely interested in this intelligentsia and why they surround Bellowhead in particular. And that is exactly what Show of Hands were doing, until they...er....got a bit side-tracked wanting to get the adoration of the Traddies (imo). I never noticed that! When did they start doing that? And how is it going? Have the traddies taken any notice? And now, back to those who love to look down their high fallutin' noses which are probably bigger than any instrument Bellowhead could ever play, at us dimwitted peasants... Well if you wish to identify yourself as dim-witted who are we to disagree with you? |
Subject: RE: Bellowhead on BBC Breakfast From: Ruth Archer Date: 17 Dec 09 - 11:37 AM There were definitely some daft moments, manitas, but it wasn't the worst folk piece I've ever seen on the telly. More people will probably watch the programme tonight as a result. English folk is alive and in rude good health. Hurrah. |
Subject: RE: Bellowhead on BBC Breakfast From: manitas_at_work Date: 17 Dec 09 - 11:20 AM As a melodeon player I fail to see what the fuss is about. He asked about the instruments, got direct replies and now thousands of people know what melodeons and sousaphones are. The question 'is that an accordion' was correct, relevant and evoked a more detailed reply. What other questions would you have asked - what brand eyeliner do they use? |
Subject: RE: Bellowhead on BBC Breakfast From: Folkiedave Date: 17 Dec 09 - 11:16 AM They get paid a lot of money for that and probably have an army of researchers too. There were so many simple questions they could have asked that would have done so much more..... |
Subject: RE: Bellowhead on BBC Breakfast From: Ruth Archer Date: 17 Dec 09 - 11:06 AM I'm not sure how a presenter on the BBC Breakfast programme qualifies as a "peasant", but I think the posts here represent more of a response to the lack of research that often accompanies folk music when it is presented in the mainstream media. No one expects a BBC TV presenter to necessarily be able to identify a melodeon when it is presented to them for the first time, but surely if you are going to do an interview on national television, a bit of background research is not too much to expect. I'm reminded of Alan Partridge's question to a guest: "So, your autobiography. What's that about?" |
Subject: RE: Bellowhead on BBC Breakfast From: The Borchester Echo Date: 17 Dec 09 - 11:00 AM As a former news researcher on Breakfast, for such an item I would have briefed the presenters on all instruments featured in the band along with bios and historical evolution. If this occurred (and I know not whether it still does), these presenters would have been subjected to a bollocking at the post-transmission production inquest. As for "peasants" being unable to distinguish an accordian from a melodeon, indeed they would not unless particularly clairvoyant as these instruments had not yet been invented in their countries of provenance, still less been transported to and incorporated into English music. I am taking "peasants" as a somewhat derogatory term intended to encompass pre-industrial revolution musicians. These were highly skilled on the instruments available to them (excluding free reed ones, obviously) and were highly pissed off when the new-fangled organ led to their being booted out of church galleries. |
Subject: RE: Bellowhead on BBC Breakfast From: GUEST,Lizzie Cornish Date: 17 Dec 09 - 10:22 AM Show of Hands weren't mentioned in connection with Bellowhead, by me....I merely said that it was a shame that they mentioned Bellowhead had been voted Best Live Act on a few occasions, yet no-one thought to actually get in the guys, and gal, who are so good that the Folk Awards Folk had to change the public voting system, after Show of Hands were voted Best Live Act in the first public vote ever...'cos..."they'd just keep winning it"..... ....and a band that can do that should ALSO be on Breakfast TV, in their prime time slot! And I don't want to preach to the Traddies, but...er...don't you feel that sniggering because the presenters got the names of the instruments is just a tad snooty? Folk music is the music of the people, born out of the peasants who wouldn't have known a melodeon from an accordion, but who simply loved the sound of the music the instrument made. This Folk Intelligensia, particularly the one that tends to surround Bellowhead, is one of the reasons, in my 'umble peasant opinion, as to why English Folk Music struggles to get 'out there' in the first place, because Les Intellektchewals have taken it over... Put the music back in the hands of the people.... And that is exactly what Show of Hands were doing, until they...er....got a bit side-tracked wanting to get the adoration of the Traddies (imo)... But, hopefully, we all live and learn... And now, back to those who love to look down their high fallutin' noses which are probably bigger than any instrument Bellowhead could ever play, at us dimwitted peasants... |
Subject: RE: Bellowhead on BBC Breakfast From: Ruth Archer Date: 17 Dec 09 - 08:56 AM "a melodeon, or it's also called a diatonic accordion." "Diatonic? Is that like gin and tonic? How does it work...?" Fantastic. |
Subject: RE: Bellowhead on BBC Breakfast From: G-Force Date: 17 Dec 09 - 08:46 AM Nice as it was to see Bellowhead on the breakfast show, the interview was the predictable buttock-clenching cringiness. "What's that?" "It's a sousaphone". "A sousaphone? Gosh, isn't it big". "Is that an accordion?". "No, it's a ... MEL ... O ... DE ... ON". Etc. etc. |
Subject: RE: Bellowhead on BBC Breakfast From: The Borchester Echo Date: 17 Dec 09 - 08:41 AM Here via YouTube are 5 of them on Breakfast. Worth watching for the expression on Pete Flood's face at the idiotic interviewing. |
Subject: RE: Bellowhead on BBC Breakfast From: The Borchester Echo Date: 17 Dec 09 - 08:23 AM Is there an anti-spiers&boden hate squad? I'm as puzzled as Guest JM over why anyone would think that interviewing SoH in a trail for a later transmission of Bellowhead would be in any way useful. Having actually seen SoH in a Country File outside broadcast some weeks ago, I agree too about the necessity for extensive cosmetic preparation, subtle lighting and dry ice. |
Subject: RE: Bellowhead on BBC Breakfast From: WalkaboutsVerse Date: 17 Dec 09 - 08:18 AM I may have missed that so thanks, Lizzie; although (as I've suggested here) I find Jon's singing in Bellowhead far too heavily accompanied for the folk genre. |
Subject: RE: Bellowhead on BBC Breakfast From: A Wandering Minstrel Date: 17 Dec 09 - 08:10 AM Always great to see (and hear) Jon and John... (let's enjoy this thread before the hate squad find it) |
Subject: RE: Bellowhead on BBC Breakfast From: GUEST,JM Date: 17 Dec 09 - 07:19 AM The TV appearance was to trail the BBC Four programme tonight (which Show of Hands don't appear in, and are nothing to do with) - why on earth would they have been mentioned? All good stuff. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j3s0FMtzT7w |
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