American Idol 2008 July 6, 2008
Posted by Ria Keen in performing, singing stuff.Tags: american idol, talent, tv
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I’m following this season closely, and continuing to wonder (as I do every year) why the show is so much better than our poor X-factor offering. The talent in the American show puts anything we have to offer completely to shame. I know they have a far bigger ‘talent pool’ from which to draw, but even so there’s a disparity in standards that beggars belief. Even their weakest singers make ours look bad. With the exception of Leona Lewis, who is a great voice, we’ve never produced a really huge star from one of these shows, but the Americans produce at least two major names from every single series.
And why should this be? Are we really so inferior in the talent department? I don’t think we are, actually. What we lack here is the right attitude – we don’t work as hard at developing talent as our American cousins do. In all areas (not just performing arts) we seem to be raising a generation of kids who are told from a young age that they can be anything they want to be. Wrong. They can’t. They can be the things that they are gifted at, if they’re properly developed – but too many kids now think that they can be a huge success when they’re actually just mediocre. Time to start telling them ‘no’ so that they don’t end up bitter and disillusioned.
I digress 
The other thing that we’re getting wrong here is, I think, that the people with the real talent aren’t actually entering X-factor, because it’s seen as a bit of a joke – you’re either made a laughing stock, or else your sob story / family tragedy is seen as a way of making ‘good’ television. Surely it’s putting off the people with genuine talent? I mean, does anyone who’s really ‘got it’ want to prostitute it in that way? If you tune in to ‘American Idol’, you won’t find every other contestant telling the world about how they’re singing in memory of their recently-deceased husband / brother / girlfriend / dog. What you will see, though, is some genuine ability. And of course, Simon Cowell continues to be hilariously spot-on 99.9% of the time with his feedback. You just have to get past the nausea-fest that is Paula Abdul
Shadowmania 2008 July 6, 2008
Posted by Ria Keen in performing.Tags: bruce welch, jet harris, performing, the shadows
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With Jet Harris, the Rapiers and Sue Southall (backing vocals, right) at Huntingdon Hall, Worcester
I am delighted to have been asked to appear at this year’s Shadowmania – the annual ‘Shadows Fest’ hosted by the legend that is the very charming Bruce Welch. I’ve sung there for the last two years, working alongside Jet Harris and The Rapiers (currently to be seen being decapitated in the Walker’s Crisps advert!) and it’s been a very enjoyable experience.
So if you’re into all that 60s guitar-music vibe, get yourself along to The Lakeside Country Club and enjoy the weekend. I shall look forward to sitting around in the lovely Lakeside complex with my good friend Kirsti (singing there for the second time, this year), and – apparently – doing some new material with the ever-hilarious Jet.
I’ll also be seeing some of you at the benefit for the sadly-departed Colin Denning, working alongside the lovely Bruce and no doubt a whole host of other 60s-tastic names. Colin’s widow is holding the show ‘one more time’ in Colin’s memory (he’d have loved it!) and raising a lot of money for charity at the same time. I look forward to it immensely!
Political Correctness gone mad July 6, 2008
Posted by Ria Keen in rants.Tags: political correctness
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The Rapiers onstage with Jet Harris
The world has actually, finally gone mad. I hear that the Walkers’ Crisps ad has been withdrawn (to be re-released soon, with a different ending) because all of 12 people have complained that it’s ‘offensive’. Apparently these folks have been involved in real-life crashes and don’t think it’s suitable to see the top coming off a bus.
Look, I would never, ever make light of their injuries, and of course the loss of a family member in an accident is a complete tragedy but people, can we get a grip here? If we’re going to start withdrawing / banning everything that offends 12 people in a population of 60+ million, there will be no television, theatre, music or film industries left!
Let’s see – we’ll have to start by losing Punch and Judy shows, on the grounds that they might offend anyone who’s ever been the victim of domestic violence (that would include me – I’d best become outraged immediately)! Then Casualty is going to have to go, because near enough every week, someone dies, and that might remind someone out there that someone they know once died. Oh, and all of the action films ever made will have to be banned (including all the John Wayne and Audie Murphy westerns), because they’ll almost certainly offend victims of gun crime. Or native Americans.
Eastenders needs to come off the screens straight away, for all manner of reasons. Corrie too, in case it gives psychotic teenagers too many ideas about pushing their mothers down the stairs. What else? Let’s see………. Supernatural is going to have to go because it recently featured some ‘bad’ witches (offensive to pagans); Songs of Praise is out because it’s not inclusive enough (not everyone’s a Christian). Oh, and while we’re about it, we’d best get rid of everything involving an element of competition (I’d Do Anything, Millionaire, Strictly Come Dancing) because sooner or later some poor bugger is going to have to lose, and that simply won’t do………………
No more repeats of Blackadder Goes Forth (it’ll upset people who’ve been in a war); Schindler’s List had best never be seen again (offensive to anyone who’s related to anyone who lived through or died during the Holocaust); The Battle of Britain is clearly beyond the pale (anti-German propaganda); and we really ought to cancel Christmas-time showings of The Wizard of Oz on the grounds that it’s clearly having a pop at short people.
I’m not trying to be flippant here. I am aware that the people involved issued their complaints because they thought that the ad was making light of their experience or causing them emotional trauma, but with respect, they are entirely missing the point – no-one in the advert is injured, and it was very clearly not designed to shock or offend. The fact that these people are shocked and offended is truly unfortunate, but is it really reason enough to withdraw the ad? Anyone who’s ever read ‘1984′ will perhaps get the same internal shudder that I do, because at this rate it won’t be very long before The Thought Police really will be out to get us all. This Politically Correct world in which we live is a very, very dangerous place.
Clarkson for Prime Minister? Absolutely! July 6, 2008
Posted by Ria Keen in rants.Tags: feminism, girlyness, life, top gear
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The Right Honourable......
I like high heels, expensive wine, good grooming and nice manners. Note to men everywhere: some of us don’t take offence when you hold the door / order in the restaurant / go to the bar / open the car door for us. No. Some of us think it’s charming, and don’t give two figs if our feminist sisters don’t agree. They are absolutely entitled to their opinion, and to open doors for themselves if that is their wish.
I am intrinsically (some would say, hilariously) female, and I make no apology for it.
However…………….
I also think that Top Gear is one of the very best programmes on TV. It may very well be testosterone-fueled and politically incorrect…. but actually, isn’t the latter a really good reason to love it?
Clarkson is hilarious and easily gets my vote in the cult movement to make him Prime Minister. The country would be a better place if it was run by someone as straight-talking, no-nonsense and bright as him.
Other reasons to love Top Gear? It’s unpretentious, it brings out your inner child, it’s completely hilarious, and Richard Hammond is – let’s face it – small but beautifully formed. Hot, even. And the episode where they drove across America was the best TV I’ve seen this year.
Y’see, we girly girls are quite capable of enjoying boysy things too. You don’t have to be fluffy or brain-dead to be girly, just as you don’t have to be aggressive or unfeminine to be a feminist.
Grand Delusions July 6, 2008
Posted by Ria Keen in performing, rants, singing stuff.Tags: celebrity culture, fame, singing, wannabes
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Watching ‘The X-Factor’ this evening, I heard one of the contestants saying that if she had to go back to being a receptionist, she would be heartbroken.
Now, I understand that she would be disappointed because, naturally, everyone in the competition wants to win. That aside, her comment made me wonder: what on earth is wrong with being a receptionist? Or a dinner lady? Or a school-teacher? Or a shop assistant? Or an accountant?
We’ve gone fame-and-celebrity mad in this country, and I’m certain it’s not a good thing. Everyone’s now convinced that they’ve got what it takes to be a star, when the fact is that most people are stunningly mediocre. The reason we’ve got no plumbers, electricians and knowledgeable wine waiters left is that everyone’s too busy trying to be a television presenter, a reality-tv star or a one-hit wonder.
People increasingly seem to think that their lives are terribly dull if they’re not poncing around on a red carpet every weekend. Ridiculous.
My advice to anyone considering a career in the music industry (or in television, or whatever) is forget it. Train to do something worthwhile that will give you some security, meals on the table and a roof over your head. Be good at whatever it is that you do. Be a nice person. Live a good life. You wouldn’t like fame if you got it. (Just ask anyone famous).
And why would a singing teacher and professional singer say these things? I realise I appear to be trying to talk myself out of a job, but my point is that you should take singing lessons because you love to sing, not because you want to be famous. You should make music because you have a passion for it, not because you want to be a so-called ‘celebrity’. If fame follows, then so be it, but beware what you wish for, as you just might get it. Famous people aren’t necessarily happy people, you may have noticed.
Meanwhile, congratulations on her glorious No. 1 single to the only genuinely world-class voice that the X-Factor has ever produced. Leona Lewis is a truly wonderful vocalist. Note to wannabes: very few are as good as her, and quite honestly, talent like that isn’t learned, it’s born. Unless you’re that good, go away and be grateful to have a job as a receptionist. It’s easier than working down a mine.
Ladette to Lady July 6, 2008
Posted by Ria Keen in rants.Tags: life, manners
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Stop the yobbishness!
This should be compulsory viewing in all schools. The end.
Give the newbies a chance July 6, 2008
Posted by Ria Keen in performing, rants.Tags: am dram, performing, wannabes
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I’m lucky. I get to work with some fabulously talented, been-there-done-that singers, actors and musicians, and it’s always a privilege to work in the company of the deeply talented and experienced. Nice job.
I also get to work with young, fresh, inexperienced talent. Now we all have to be inexperienced at the beginning. That’s how it works. So it makes me a bit mad when genuinely talented young people go onstage, albeit a bit green and in need of some polish, and then get slaughtered by their so-called friends and acquaintances. I wonder if it’s a country-wide thing, or just in my locality, that exponents of amateur dramatics can be such a bunch of unutterable bitches? (Nothing against am dram per se – it’s a form of entertainment that puts a lot of bums on seats in otherwise struggling theatres, and it’s a great hobby for those who realise that making a living out of the arts is a privilege afforded to the few. However, I reserve the right to fiercely object to those practitioners of the form who are kidding themselves and others that they could have been professional ‘if only they’d got the breaks’, and then slag off their colleagues who actually do something in the world of paid performance work).
Here’s the thing: until or unless you prove that you can do it better, you are cordially invited to keep your sniping to yourself. If you only think you can do it better, then I refer you to my blog about wannabes, above. ‘Nuff said.
Bring back grammar schools July 6, 2008
Posted by Ria Keen in rants, teaching stuff.Tags: education, life, teaching
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Recently, I hooked up with some of my old schoolfriends. We grew up together and are still in contact. It struck me, looking around the room, that each and every woman there present was not only extremely successful in her chosen field, but also exuded warmth, humour and beautiful manners.
Given that we all sprang from perfectly ordinary working-class backgrounds, it cannot be argued that we are all successful because we had privileged upbringings. I think it can be argued, however, that our collective successes may be due – in large part – to having been on the receiving end of a first-class education in a state grammar school.
What a shame that successive generations of kids have been denied that pleasure and privilege.
Craft moment? July 6, 2008
Posted by Ria Keen in performing.Tags: performing, singing
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Billie Davis, Katie Massey and me
Ha! I now know that I have been having ‘craft’ moments regularly for years.
Young voices and belting July 6, 2008
Posted by Ria Keen in singing stuff, teaching stuff.Tags: belting, singing, young singers
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An interesting topic came up in conversation the other day. A colleague of mine is on the committee of an amateur dramatics youth group, and she was voicing her concerns over the way in which children as young as 7 or 8 are coming in to auditions and belting! For goodness’ sake! She wanted to know if this was safe for young children, or if they are potentially damaging their voices.
The answer: of course it’s not safe! Belting is a much-in-demand vocal quality and can be very safely taught in an adult voice – but please don’t be thinking that it’s a ‘natural’ sound for anyone to make – let alone a child.
Apparently, parents are encouraging their kids to sing in this physically-demanding way, as it’s ‘fashionable’ in musical theatre. How about we let these kids’ voices strengthen and grow naturally, before we start imposing this ultra-demanding sound on them?
