Oops She Did It Again...
There’s been a lot of talk this week about Britney and her Miming…Circus World Tour. She touched down in Perth to controversy when fans starting walking out of her show because she mimed.
Personally, I don’t see what the big fuss is. Britney Spears has never made an effort to hide the fact she mimes. It’s something she has done for years and is well known for doing so. Did fans seriously believe that she would touch down in Australia and think ‘You know what ya’ll I think I’ll start actually singing my tunes live’?
Now if it was AC/DC miming or even P!nk miming her whole show- then I’d be scratching my head and asking wtf? But this is Britney- Queen of the Mimes. From what I’ve heard, her miming live is not a bad thing and you’ve got to give her kudos for not bothering to try and hide it. And, trust me hiding it ain’t easy when you’re not singing or shall I dare say miming in time to the vocal backtrack.
Brit’s Management of course tried their best to work all the overexposure of her concerts to their advantage, stating that it was only Journalists walking out. Honey, I don’t think that many Journalists went to Brit’s shows.
This was all said on Twitter- incidentally Britney also doesn’t write her own twitter posts. No big surprise there right?
They need to suck it up and accept the fact that fans walked out. Yes, there were some stupid enough to believe she would sing but there are others that walked out for another reason. They could deal with the miming- what they couldn’t deal with was the crappy performance. Her stage show was described by one fan as lacklustre.
This is where I do have an issue with Britney.
Now if you’re going to mime throughout the whole show- which even includes your small talk with the audience, at least put on one hell of a show. Don’t keep your back to the audience for most of the show (You do realise that this will only make you a brilliant bulleye for anything they want to throw at you?) and do try to act like you want to be there. Either that or pretend to. (Although after seeing crossroads many would know her acting is just as appalling)
And please, just please try and acknowledge your fans are even there- maybe by spending a little more time on the stage. Or better yet, make them feel like that you actually give a damn about being there instead of acting like you are a badly programmed robot and to you this is just another nameless crowd and another tour date completed.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m a Britney fan. I own all her CD’s and will gladly admit it. But am I going to spend hundreds of dollars to see her mime badly live and put on an equally bad show? Nope, not this gal.
Call me old fashioned but I like my music live and when I mean live, I mean exactly that - live. I want to see a band actually singing the words (however off-key it may sometimes be). I like a band to play their own instruments, to interact with a crowd and show fans their appreciation by wanting to be there rather than acting like a marionette on a string.
That’s just my five cents worth people...
To me Christmas just doesn’t begin to feel like Christmas until I am listening to some of the cheesiest, powder puff Christmas songs. For some reason, I held off on the Christmas music this year until the last minute. I just couldn’t bring myself to play anything. I didn’t feel like I was in the Christmas spirit – I didn’t think I would ever get into the spirit.
But what do you know? Christmas Eve came around and I turned on the radio to hear Band Aid’s ‘Do They Know It’s Christmas?’ and that little switch plug inside of me turned on neon red and green. All my protests of how much I hated Christmas disappeared and instead I was flooded with feelings and joy.
In the spirit of all things Christmas, here are my top ten Christmas tunes you should have on your ipod (In no particular order whatsoever!)
White Christmas- Bing Crosby
This was recently voted the top Christmas tune of all time and I’ve got to agree with it. The best selling single of all time, this is probably the epitome of Christmas. While I live in a country where hell is more likely to freeze over than a White Christmas happening, that doesn’t change the fact my vision of Christmas is always winter and snowy.
This song has been done by many- from The Drifters to Twisted Sister (No, folks I am not kidding you although I seriously wish I was!), Bing is still the man when it comes to this song. His vocals are smooth, and wistful- the perfect start to the Christmas season.
Do They Know It’s Christmas? –Band Aid
I love this song. This is the song for me. This is the one that puts me straight into the Christmas spirit. I’m talking about The Band Aid version- not the piece of crap versions that came out a few years back and even further back than that. Let’s face it, if the original is the best you just don’t try and cover it again and again. They’ve covered it twice now, and I’m hoping that they’ve now decided to give up and accept that the original rocks. A Charity single, it soared to the charts and is still played on radio here at Christmas time.
I heard it for the first time and it struck a chord in me. Not just because it is a charity single, but because the tune is actually quite nice on the ear. With a bunch of musicians big in their heyday (some still are soaring the charts- Bono for an example), it was a brilliant marketing move that worked.
And even if you don’t like the song, check out the videoclip. See Bono before he grew into his looks and donned the trademark glasses. Mullet galore peoples.
Snoopy’s Christmas- The Royal Guardsmen.
This song is as old as the hills and another personal favorite. It’s also another that gets played repeatedly at Christmas. I was about 7 the first time I heard this tune. It was in Ms Hart’s class at Brown Owl Primary School (Yes I actually went to a primary school named Brown Owl but let’s get past that fact shall we?) and it caught me as soon as I heard it. We actually had to learn how to sing it for a performance. I don’t know why it stuck with me but it just has. It’s a cheerful little tune about Snoopy and the Red Baron and how Christmas is a time of forgiveness. Maybe it gives me hope in a world where there is not much of that- I don’t know. It’s just a beautiful tune.
Happy Xmas (War Is Over)- John Lennon
This is another overplayed tune that I still love. I grew up on this song. Hearing this tune was an indication that Christmas was coming. I have to admit I have a soft spot for anything Beatlesque. Written by John Lennon and Yoko Ono, it is actually a protest tune (as with so many of Lennon’s signature tunes) and is actually based on a campaign that Lennon and Ono launched in late 1969 – posting billboards around the world stating War is Over (If You Want It). While that may not have worked, the song quickly has become a Christmas standard.
Interesting little factor- if you hear the beginning- most people think Yoko is whispering Happy Christmas John and Lennon whispering Happy Christmas Yoko. Ono actually whispers Happy Christmas Kyoko and Lennon Happy Christmas Julian.
Belleau Wood- Garth Brooks
Taken from his Sevens album, Belleau Wood is very similar in some aspects to Snoopy’s Xmas. It’s a sad tune about a truce over midnight. One of my favorite tunes- it’s another about forgetting and forgiving everything and everyone during Christmas. Christmas is always represented as a peaceful time (rather ironic really since it is a time for all family, who studiously avoid each other during the year, are expected to spend time together) although it not always is. The tune goes on about a German Soldier and a British soldier acknowledging each other at Christmas time before the clock strikes midnight and the truce is broken with the battle beginning all over again.
The song is sung with such beauty and in such a way only Brooks can that it always makes me feel like I want to cry each time I listen to it.
Last Christmas- Wham
Another holiday favorite of mine, it’s been redone over and over by many artists but there is nothing better than the original. Released in 1984, it reached #2 on the British charts (Beaten by Geldof’s ‘Do They Know It’s Christmas?’), it seems to make a habit of re-entering the musical charts around the world each December.
Another tune that reminds me of everything that is Christmasy- it is also a little bit about heartbreak and not being with the one you love at Christmas.
My Only Wish- Britney Spears
Yes, you did read rightly. I’m throwing Britney into the mix- something I never thought I would do but let’s face her version of this song does make me want to just jump around and get all hyper. It actually inspires me to laugh and dance at Christmas and I don’t dance.
It’s an upbeat, soda-pop, bubble-gum tune but I love it anyway.
Merry Christmas- Butch Walker
This is an Anti-Christmas tune but I love it anyway. One of the reasons I love Butch so much is that he’s not afraid to take on the topics that no one else will. Take this song for example. Instead of singing about joy, peace and hope he strips it down and tells a tale about what real Christmas is like for some people.
Gorgeous little anti-Christmas tune and one to add to the ipod.
I’ll Be Home For Christmas- Rascal Flatts
Any version of this song is gorgeous and a must have. Again, it’s the ‘White Christmas’ version. One of the reasons I love this tune so much is that it is pretty much just vocals and harmonies. No jingly instruments- nothing but stripped vocals. It’s peaceful, it’s beautiful and the guys from Rascal Flatts have amazing voices.
Please Come Home For Christmas- Jon Bon Jovi
Again, this is another tune I have many different artists singing but I prefer Bon Jovi’s version to the rest. Released in 1992 as part of the very successful A Very Special Christmas compilation, it reached #7 on the music charts.
There’s been a lot of talk this week about Britney and her Miming…Circus World Tour. She touched down in Perth to controversy when fans starting walking out of her show because she mimed.
Personally, I don’t see what the big fuss is. Britney Spears has never made an effort to hide the fact she mimes. It’s something she has done for years and is well known for doing so. Did fans seriously believe that she would touch down in Australia and think ‘You know what ya’ll I think I’ll start actually singing my tunes live’?
Now if it was AC/DC miming or even P!nk miming her whole show- then I’d be scratching my head and asking wtf? But this is Britney- Queen of the Mimes. From what I’ve heard, her miming live is not a bad thing and you’ve got to give her kudos for not bothering to try and hide it. And, trust me hiding it ain’t easy when you’re not singing or shall I dare say miming in time to the vocal backtrack.
Brit’s Management of course tried their best to work all the overexposure of her concerts to their advantage, stating that it was only Journalists walking out. Honey, I don’t think that many Journalists went to Brit’s shows.
This was all said on Twitter- incidentally Britney also doesn’t write her own twitter posts. No big surprise there right?
They need to suck it up and accept the fact that fans walked out. Yes, there were some stupid enough to believe she would sing but there are others that walked out for another reason. They could deal with the miming- what they couldn’t deal with was the crappy performance. Her stage show was described by one fan as lacklustre.
This is where I do have an issue with Britney.
Now if you’re going to mime throughout the whole show- which even includes your small talk with the audience, at least put on one hell of a show. Don’t keep your back to the audience for most of the show (You do realise that this will only make you a brilliant bulleye for anything they want to throw at you?) and do try to act like you want to be there. Either that or pretend to. (Although after seeing crossroads many would know her acting is just as appalling)
And please, just please try and acknowledge your fans are even there- maybe by spending a little more time on the stage. Or better yet, make them feel like that you actually give a damn about being there instead of acting like you are a badly programmed robot and to you this is just another nameless crowd and another tour date completed.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m a Britney fan. I own all her CD’s and will gladly admit it. But am I going to spend hundreds of dollars to see her mime badly live and put on an equally bad show? Nope, not this gal.
Call me old fashioned but I like my music live and when I mean live, I mean exactly that – live. I want to see a band actually singing the words (however off-key it may sometimes be). I like a band to play their own instruments, to interact with a crowd and show fans their appreciation by wanting to be there rather than acting like a marionette on a string.
That’s just my five cents worth people…
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