It is not our intention to cause you pain, dear reader, but if this is popular culture I’m a banana.
We have posted two videos on our homepage. One is Adele singing the theme tune to Skyfall – which may or may not be your cup of tea. It’s not particularly something we’d rush to put on our Ipod, but it’s here for reference purposes.
The second vid is Jedward doing the same piece.
Now, we are all justifiably proud of our own children, grandchildren, nephews, nieces and friends. We may well video them at a school concert or singing into a hairbrush in front of the TV. We treasure these records of our nearest and dearest and we share them round the family (or save them for when the kids grow up). We don’t go out and pitch for a record deal – unless they’re worth it (it happens). We are proud, but realistic.
Jedward were on the X-factor a couple of years back, and I can still hear Louis Walsh in my head, warbling “the boys can sing”. Lordy, lordy: they can’t. This performance should be watched by their (presumably) doting parents and extended family and that should be that.
It isn’t. These twins have record deals, been in Eurovision, been on TV and all that stuff. They are reported to have become millionaires as a result. It is not music or talent that has won them the reward, it is industry hype (and a massive absence of self-awareness).
Should we blame the industry for whipping us up to buy Jedward products? Should we blame ourselves for buying such rubbish? Do Jedward believe their own publicity, or are they laughing all the way to the bank?
When we propel mediocrity to fame and stardom, we are duping our young people into stifling their critical faculties. And that won’t help them become creative themselves or enrich their lives by engaging with the creativity of artists in any medium. End of lecture.