About the pop disappointments of the past few weeks, “Celebrate Culture”, Bipolar Feminin, records that look like they sound and the latest provo videos.
Yes, it’s true, it’s me. Or could it be. The successor to Taylor Hawkins, who died a year ago. I didn’t finish watching the video, in which different drummers are brought into play, …
… because there have been too many disappointments in the pop world lately. Taylor Swift is supposed to be dating that nerd from this fucking boring male band? People bought outrageously expensive concert tickets for Beyoncé only to film every snippet, upload it to TikTok and Insta, and make me jealous? Käärijä’s “Cha Cha Cha” didn’t win the Eurovision Song Contest?
I mean, it was obviously a winner of hearts… It’s also now the most streamed song in Finnish and got a whopping 376 audience points, the second-highest televoting score ever. That’s why it was hotly debated again to saw off the jury votes (which led to the victory of Loreen’s “Tattoo” this year). I vote for it, as an expert, fan and new Foo Fighters drummer.
It was also nice how Taylor Swift told security at her concert to stop harassing a fan because the fan hadn’t done anything. Luckily people filmed that! My heart beats a bit on both sides, on the one hand I’ve been to too many concerts and worked at events too often not to know how annoying guests can be, on the other hand I also know how security sometimes wallow in their position of power … But I think Judge Swift will be right.
Documentary of the week: “Celebrate Culture – Black SHeroes”
Documentary formats sprout and sprout, there is hardly a person in the world about whom there is no documentary, especially as a man you apparently only have to have been in public for five minutes, bang, you get a documentary, Netflix special, biopic. There is usually only something about famous women when they are dead and their suffering can be exhibited again (for example, what is the purpose of this documentary about Anna Nicole Smith on Netflix, what is it about??). But there is also something cool. Once you have clicked past the documentaries about Kummer, Milky Chance or Kida Ramadan in the public service media libraries, you can find this here: “Celebrate Culture – Black SHEroes”, a documentary series about four black women from the cultural sector . Thelma Buabeng, Nikeata Thompson, Sonia Mannette and Jumoke Adeyanju will be accompanied and interviewed for this. The aim is to break through otherwise common narratives, for which Black women usually only have their say publicly when they talk about racism. But here they should not only be defined by their suffering, but what they have achieved and created should be celebrated. It’s about their respective arts and their way there. It’s about their families, friendships and the solidarity networks they have created. Last but not least, it is about four individual, interesting women. Unfortunately there are only two episodes, I hope there will be more. So let’s increase the click rate.
Album of the week: A FRAGILE SYSTEM by Bipolar Feminin
The debut album of the Austrian punk band Bipolar Feminin is finally out, it’s called EIN FRAGILES SYSTEM and it surpasses my wildest expectations, which were already extremely high after the EP PICCOLO FAMILY. The lyrics, the music, and above all Leni Ulrich’s voice, yes, I’m in love. “Elemental power”, “to fear”, “shouting around” … Newspapers sometimes use such words to describe the music of Bipolar Feminin, especially Ulrich’s singing seems to trigger somehow, as if it had Tamara Danz, Östro 430, Hans-A- Plast or the Lassie Singers never existed. But maybe it’s also become a bit rare that women use their normal voices and have not got used to such a cute, tender, whispered or erotic version. Because of course there is not only the patriarchal view, but also a patriarchal ear, against which you probably have to fight a bit again. Luckily there are various efforts, for example Charlotte Brandi’s song “Der Ekel”, Blond’s “I say yes” and from Bipolar Feminin there is now “You talk so loud”, it’s an absolute mega hit.
Twitter thread of the week: Records that look like they sound
I’m not on Twitter anymore, but I’m still happy to catch something like this from time to time. It’s about records that look like they sound. Sometimes it’s very funny, but sometimes it’s really annoying!
Music videos of the week: Katja Krasavice, Shirin David and Janelle Monáe
Provozeit 5000 is obviously in the mainstream right now. First, Katja Krasavice published the zero subtle diss on Dieter Bohlen, with whom she had fallen out with a candidate at DSDS because of slut shaming, and other “old white men”.
In addition, Shirin David, in line with the opening catcalling season, turns the men’s saying “Smile, please” to just that.
And then Janelle Monáe knocks out this queer erotic film.
Of course it’s surprising that these things are still provocative, not only right-wingers have spread the rumor in recent years that all this feminism and queer stuff is now the dominant agenda. However, the comments on these current examples on social networks show: Nooooooo, there’s still a lot of room for improvement.
Finally, of course: RIP Tina Turner. What can I say? Death is the dumbest concept.
What happened until now? Here is an overview of all pop column texts.