Why the movie is almost by no means as just right because the e-book

^{Damon Albarn bemoans the dearth of protest songs (PA)}

there may be an election on, and every person is indignant, or pretending to be, so where are the entire protest songs? The cry went up this week, led by way of Damon Albarn. Why aren’t the disaffected and “the dispossessed” taking to the streets?

“They don’t speak about what’s happening in the market” stated Albarn, relatively like a headmaster who is dissatisfied that his pet students have opted for sixth-form geography as a substitute of Greek.

Does anyone in reality suppose that pop stars are essentially rebellious, or that “protest songs” have modified our world? the belief that rock’n’roll is “radical”, and that radicalism translates into Left-wing activism, is nonsense. Pop song has never been about political engagement. It has always been about being younger and daft, and wanting to provoke your friends.

perhaps the rising technology have taken a look at how earlier firebrands have ended up. Keith Richards collects previous books. Eric Clapton tickles trout. Pete Townshend lives in Tennyson’s house, and has restored a country pile. Steve Winwood plays the organ at his local church. Sixties heroes all, playing the autumn of their years as males of leisure. If Albarn thinks that songs of protest have modified the arena so much up to now half of century the proof tends to point the wrong way. to quote every other Sixties hero, Dusty Springfield, “I’d reasonably see the world the way it was”. seize me if that you may. I’m goin’ back.

The proms lets itself down with the kids

With a roll of drums, the Proms season was unveiled. each yr the world’s best festival of tune finds a recent means of providing itself. This 12 months it’s a Sherlock Holmes prom, which bargains a choice of orchestral pieces the good sleuth (and beginner fiddler) would possibly like to listen to. less happily, there may be an “Ibizan club night” prom, an concept that may have sounded excellent after the 2nd cocktail, however within the cold gentle of day looks reasonably silly. there is a location for dance track – in Ibiza, funnily sufficient, where stoned young men and women could carouse all night time. intellectual curiosity is ok. Pandering to what is regarded as trendy is an indication of weak point.