Taking Sides : putting money into a tsunami appel box VS buying Mike Read's charity appeal record.

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He's doing some 'many artists' single, pronto style, "Grief never ages" or something like that, and has Cliff and Olivia on board, poss Boy George, now waiting on a 'name' guitarist to complete the music bits...

I mean, besides the fact that the song is GODAWFUL!...

is it really necessary? What's wrong with just putting the money in the nice white box? Or getting M&S to clock it straight into the till under 'charity donation' specifically? Hey, bless Mike for doing his bit, but why foist a bad 'touching' style ballad no-one actually will want?

― mark grout (mark grout), Tuesday, 4 January 2005 10:22 (twenty years ago)

(You know, I usually check my postings for typos, etc. I really should check my thread titles too...)

― mark grout (mark grout), Tuesday, 4 January 2005 10:27 (twenty years ago)

Because he's a fucking idiot. Does the fact that people are giving more money for this than Comic Relief and CiN and Band Aid 20 put together not suggest that we don't need his fucking shitty record? I've donated money online along with my girlfriend, my family and her family. I shan't be buying his record.

― Sick Mouthy (Nick Southall), Tuesday, 4 January 2005 10:34 (twenty years ago)

Give a donation but don't buy a crap record. I mean, the same goes for Band Aid 2. It's just shit, and I don't trust overly wealthy celebs asking me for cash. It gets my heckles up and makes me suspicious. There was an interesting editorial on the tsunami appeal in the Independent yesterday... just a good point (I think) about how us rich Westerners will still expect the area to rebuild itself with the usual cramped together hotels in former beauty spots and environmental areas.

I might buy it now that nick won't though. If an Embrace fan who loves himself is against it, it must be good.

― Ceezah, Tuesday, 4 January 2005 10:38 (twenty years ago)

i bet quite a few people will buy this. i will donate my winnings on this bet, to charity.

i guess this kind of records will always be 'touching' style ballads. anything with too much of a beat will just appear inappropriate.

― ken c (ken c), Tuesday, 4 January 2005 10:41 (twenty years ago)

how clever of the independent. but 'beauty spots' are the give-away words: or does the indy only cover ethical holiday destinations (clue: no).

― henry miller, Tuesday, 4 January 2005 10:42 (twenty years ago)

Well... I didn't actually agree with the editorial, but I just mentioned that I thought it was an interesting point.

I suspect the writer didn't donate and was just trying to justify his own guilt (I thought anyway).

― Ceezah, Tuesday, 4 January 2005 10:45 (twenty years ago)

Mark you did buy the Band Aid 20 single did you not?

― Frankenstein On Ice (blueski), Tuesday, 4 January 2005 11:06 (twenty years ago)

Story in full...
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/music/4140133.stm

ARRGGH!!!!

(but hey, This thread is not about the record)

― mark grout (mark grout), Tuesday, 4 January 2005 11:07 (twenty years ago)

Xpost..

Yes. I Did. Your point being?

― mark grout (mark grout), Tuesday, 4 January 2005 11:07 (twenty years ago)

'Grief Never Grows Old' is the most horrendous title i've ever heard in any case. why not just call it 'Well You Know, You're Born, You Die, Anything You Get Inbetween Is Really Just A Bonus' and be done with it?

Your point being?

how is this any different to Band Aid 20? if you really think that's a good song and worth owning on it's own merit then fair enough but personally i would imagine Read's song to be no better/worse, and not really any different in terms of the motivation behind it.

― Frankenstein On Ice (blueski), Tuesday, 4 January 2005 11:11 (twenty years ago)

OK I'll assume your point and add:

The band aid single

1) The kids wanted it, it was a way of showing them what happens in poor countries, and how something popular can contribute. (Alice, however, took it to Nursery along with the Ramones first album for her leaving party, and LEFT THEM BEHIND!)

2) There were no common 'donations' boxes for direct contribs.

3) The instigators did it for honest and not self-serving reasons, originally, and the Band Aid single continues.

4) It's not COMPLETE cak.

― mark grout (mark grout), Tuesday, 4 January 2005 11:13 (twenty years ago)

Former Boyzone singer Ronan Keating may also take part if a studio can be found close to where he is holidaying in Switzerland.

dang!

― ken c (ken c), Tuesday, 4 January 2005 11:18 (twenty years ago)

if anything the band aid single is worse, lyrically. i don't mean the tried and trusted 'aahaha but they aren't CHRISTIAN' line, but the radical wrongness of the 'it doesn't rain in africa, that's why people are dying'. the fact it's for kids makes it worse: there must be lots of people who were (like me) 4 or 5 for the first band aid who still have no idea why there was starvation in ethiopia.

― henry miller, Tuesday, 4 January 2005 11:22 (twenty years ago)

The kids wanted it

i'm interested in this. the singles market's quite different now as opposed to 20 years ago but i remember as a 6 year old being moderately into the original Band Aid buzz, only i don't recall ever wanting to own the single and my Mum never bought it. i'm sure a lot of other kids at the time did want it tho. maybe i'm just weird!

― Frankenstein On Ice (blueski), Tuesday, 4 January 2005 11:23 (twenty years ago)

From t'NME

The track was written by radio DJ Mike Read before the Boxing Day disaster – but he says he thought it was too gloomy for release until now.

"It's a natural home for it because people kept saying to me, 'it's such a good song', but it's such a sad song," Read told the BBC. "I was totally shocked at the enormity and suddenness of the disaster and in tears on seeing the orphaned children wandering aimlessly in search of their parents," he said.

He added: "I'd only be pleased in terms of what it meant for sales if it got to number one."

― mark grout (mark grout), Tuesday, 4 January 2005 12:59 (twenty years ago)

The track was written by radio DJ Mike Read

Until this bit in the thread, i.e. the last post, I honestly thought the record was being made by the Mike Read (Reid?) who plays Frank Butcher in Eastenders.

― Kicks Eyeballs, Tuesday, 4 January 2005 14:00 (twenty years ago)

i would rather have 'Ugly Duckling 05' as the 1000th number one, all proceeds going to tsunami victim aid, or even just Mike Reid's pockets.

― Frankenstein On Ice (blueski), Tuesday, 4 January 2005 14:02 (twenty years ago)

bands banned from participating in charity appeal recording

1. wet wet wet

― ken c (ken c), Tuesday, 4 January 2005 14:03 (twenty years ago)

2. katrina and the waves

― ken c (ken c), Tuesday, 4 January 2005 14:03 (twenty years ago)

3. ocean colour scene

― ken c (ken c), Tuesday, 4 January 2005 14:05 (twenty years ago)

4. outhere brothers

― Frankenstein On Ice (blueski), Tuesday, 4 January 2005 14:06 (twenty years ago)

5. beach boys

― MarkH (MarkH), Tuesday, 4 January 2005 14:08 (twenty years ago)

Jenny Toomey won't be getting any calls either.

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Tuesday, 4 January 2005 14:15 (twenty years ago)

6. Smoke City

― Max Cherry, Tuesday, 4 January 2005 14:17 (twenty years ago)

7. Aqua

― ken c (ken c), Tuesday, 4 January 2005 14:57 (twenty years ago)

Tom nails it perfectly

― Frankenstein On Ice (blueski), Tuesday, 4 January 2005 14:58 (twenty years ago)

Britain doesn't need another charity single, especially for a situation like this where those affected will still need money in 1, 10, 20 years, when copies of "Grief Never Grows Old" are mouldering in landfills and charity shops.

er. surely, if they, end up, in, charity, shops...... etc.

― ken c (ken c), Tuesday, 4 January 2005 15:01 (twenty years ago)

The thing I disagree with Tom's discourse is, is that I don't think this record will be a hit. I think it will flop as folks who wish to donate will do so by the many direct means. Leaving the folk who want a Mike Read record with Boy George/Cliff/Oliv/Ronan on it, to buy it.

― mark grout (mark grout), Tuesday, 4 January 2005 15:05 (twenty years ago)

I think it will flop as folks who wish to donate will do so by the many direct means. Leaving the folk who want a Mike Read record with Boy George/Cliff/Oliv/Ronan on it, to buy it.

so that's mission accomplished then? extra money that otherwise wouldn't have been there?

― ken c (ken c), Tuesday, 4 January 2005 15:15 (twenty years ago)

No. This seems to be destined for overproduction, contributing to a mass of unsold returns and a loss making enterprise.

― mark grout (mark grout), Tuesday, 4 January 2005 15:20 (twenty years ago)

it will be a hit if released. maybe not a number 1 but a hit nonetheless.

― Frankenstein On Ice (blueski), Tuesday, 4 January 2005 15:26 (twenty years ago)

We shall see. *sits on a hill and waits*

― mark grout (mark grout), Tuesday, 4 January 2005 15:27 (twenty years ago)

I suspect it would flop.

― Sick Mouthy (Nick Southall), Tuesday, 4 January 2005 15:29 (twenty years ago)

depends what you both mean by flop tho. are you saying it wouldn't make the top 40? even in these all time low times for singles sales?

― Frankenstein On Ice (blueski), Tuesday, 4 January 2005 15:32 (twenty years ago)

I dont think it would make the top 10. Maybe not even the top 20. Who remembers singles outside the top 20, aside from Swygart?

― Sick Mouthy (Nick Southall), Tuesday, 4 January 2005 15:34 (twenty years ago)

are you seriously asking that question here?

― Frankenstein On Ice (blueski), Tuesday, 4 January 2005 15:35 (twenty years ago)

To flop, thesedays, is to get an entry at number 23 or thereabouts.

Then again, 'flop' is a relative term.

Robbie Williams single enters at 12 = flop.
Momus single enters at 12 = massive hit.
Kylie single enters at 32 = career ending flop
Mark Grout single enters at 94 = sensational hit.

You know.

― mark grout (mark grout), Tuesday, 4 January 2005 15:36 (twenty years ago)

i do

― Frankenstein On Ice (blueski), Tuesday, 4 January 2005 15:38 (twenty years ago)

Nick must know alot about singles outside the top 20 as an Embrace fan.

― Ceezart, Tuesday, 4 January 2005 15:42 (twenty years ago)

Kylie single enters at 32 = career ending flop

Kylie's Keep on Pumpin' It in 1991 peaked at 49 and GBI in 1998 stalled at 63, so I think Grout underestimates Kylie's ability to bounce back.

― MarkH (MarkH), Tuesday, 4 January 2005 15:43 (twenty years ago)

No, not at all. But she would have to restructure herself when that happens/ed. As she did.

― mark grout (mark grout), Tuesday, 4 January 2005 15:44 (twenty years ago)

4 top ten singles, 4 top twenty singles, 3 top 30 singles, 2 top 40 singles and counting.

― Sick Mouthy (Nick Southall), Tuesday, 4 January 2005 15:50 (twenty years ago)

Chances of career revival without Chris Martin = 0. Still cannot sing. Still not one good song. Still one of the worst Brit band of late 90s.

― Ceezarg, Tuesday, 4 January 2005 15:53 (twenty years ago)

I was actually referring to chart positions nowadays anyway.

Anyhow, never mind Kylie. Charity record here, contrib box there. Why wait three mins to buy £3 single when you can just pop the coins into the box?

I reckon, like I say, number 23 if they are lucky. My actual guess = 32.

― mark grout (mark grout), Tuesday, 4 January 2005 15:53 (twenty years ago)

which artists have had chart flops recently? by their own standards?

i was surprised Goldie Lookin' Chain's 'You Knows I Loves You' charted so low, but i doubt it will end their career, sadly.

― Frankenstein On Ice (blueski), Tuesday, 4 January 2005 15:56 (twenty years ago)

OMG I JUST REALISED THAT CAN'T GET YOU OUT OF MY HEAD IS ACTUALLY ABOUT GIVING BLOW JOBS. :(

― ken c (ken c), Tuesday, 4 January 2005 15:56 (twenty years ago)

xpost I suppose I did not mean 'third single off album' but i shall let it pass...

― mark grout (mark grout), Tuesday, 4 January 2005 15:57 (twenty years ago)

Why wait three mins to buy £3 single when you can just pop the coins into the box?

Mark you can't criticise it on this basis alone when you bought the Band Aid single! ok it was for your kids who wanted it and you cited other reasons why but might these not apply to GNGO as well for some other people?

― Frankenstein On Ice (blueski), Tuesday, 4 January 2005 15:59 (twenty years ago)

Umm I don't actually criticise it on this basis.

The band aid thing, everyone knew that when they bought it, money would go there. So they waited, bought, and so it happened.

This new one, the money is already in. The boat has sailed. If people want to buy it, OK that's fine. But. This just seems to be something that's going to fall on its face.

― mark grout (mark grout), Tuesday, 4 January 2005 16:05 (twenty years ago)

why is there already lots of money flowing for this cause but not really for sudan?

― henry miller, Tuesday, 4 January 2005 16:08 (twenty years ago)

because Sudan's governing regime would not allow it?

― Frankenstein On Ice (blueski), Tuesday, 4 January 2005 16:11 (twenty years ago)

Because there's lots of nice holiday destinations here and it hits home to those that want to go there.

That reads madly cynical, I don't really mean it that way.

― mark grout (mark grout), Tuesday, 4 January 2005 16:11 (twenty years ago)

Kylie's Keep on Pumpin' It in 1991 peaked at 49

This is unbelievable news and makes this thread interesting. I have never even heard of Keep on Pumpin' It. What were the singles before and after?

― Eyeball Kicks (Eyeball Kicks), Tuesday, 4 January 2005 16:13 (twenty years ago)

Just a bit of fun, so lets be cool?

― mike read (ken c), Tuesday, 4 January 2005 16:15 (twenty years ago)

Everybody be cool.
You.
Be coooooool...

― mark grout (mark grout), Tuesday, 4 January 2005 16:16 (twenty years ago)

It was a collaboaration with Visionmasters and Tony King (like, who?). The singles which straddled it were If You Were With Me Now and Give Me Just a Little More Time, which went to numbers 4 and 2, respectively. Overall, the Deconstruction years were cruellest to Kylie, although she started well with Confide in Me (no. 2 in September 94) her following chart positions on that label were as follows:

Put Yourself in my Place 11
Where is the Feeling 16
Where the Wild Roses Grow (with Nick Cave) 11
Some Kind of Bliss 22
Did it Again 14
Breathe 14

― MarkH (MarkH), Tuesday, 4 January 2005 16:25 (twenty years ago)

likewise GBI was really Towa Tei's record FEATURING Kylie and came during her 'difficult' mid 90s phase where she was struggling enough as it was solo (despite releasing some great material - Did It Again deserves more love!)

― Frankenstein On Ice (blueski), Tuesday, 4 January 2005 16:27 (twenty years ago)

Confide In Me is fucking ace.

― Sick Mouthy (Nick Southall), Tuesday, 4 January 2005 16:28 (twenty years ago)

Well there you go. It's been accepted as received wisdom that the De-Construction years were kylie trying and failing to 'cross over' but that's still not a bad haul.

Seek out the "Did it again" with the "Won't get fooled again" backing track...

― mark grout (mark grout), Tuesday, 4 January 2005 16:28 (twenty years ago)

this is blatant, monstrous careerism. read has always wanted to be a poet/songwriter. the post i'm a celebrity months have been thin for him, with his west end musical closing after only one day so he's hitching the wagon to charidee. it would be repulsive if it wasn't so naive and misguided.

― debden, Tuesday, 4 January 2005 16:36 (twenty years ago)

He had that 'Jungle Rock' after 'celebrity' which was also a charity thing, and fair enough. It was his first hit after quite a few goes...

As you prob know, he was a proper aspiring musician around 1972 to 1978 or so, when the DJ thing took off.

Naive and Misguided I think covers it.

― mark grout (mark grout), Tuesday, 4 January 2005 16:39 (twenty years ago)

Did you watch 'An Audience with Kylie'? I don't like it when she talks.

'Where the Wild Roses Grow' was on Mute, unless it came out twice.

Grief *does* grow old.

I will only buy Mike Read's record if the 'name' guitarist turns out to be Dick Dale.

To be fair, I think most people who buy this record will have already contributed, and you might as well squeeze a couple of extra quid out of Cliff completists.

Was Alice made to sit on the naughty chair for taking 'Beat On The Brat' to her nursery?

― Puddin'Head Miller (PJ Miller), Tuesday, 4 January 2005 16:44 (twenty years ago)

I dunno, I wasn't there at the time.

She prefers the "Rock and roll high school" soundtrack anyway.

― mark grout (mark grout), Tuesday, 4 January 2005 17:10 (twenty years ago)

two weeks pass...

and now, howsabout a Sharon/Ozzy single with... singing "Tears in Heaven"? What you think?

http://www.nme.com/news/111111.htm

― mark grout (mark grout), Wednesday, 19 January 2005 14:31 (twenty years ago)

i felt really bad for not being able to take ozzy's charity appeal advert seriously :\

― ken c (ken c), Wednesday, 19 January 2005 14:34 (twenty years ago)

OMG I JUST REALISED THAT CAN'T GET YOU OUT OF MY HEAD IS ACTUALLY ABOUT GIVING BLOW JOBS. :(
-- ken c (pykachu10...), January 4th, 2005. (ken c)

OMG I DIDN'T REALIZE THIS UNTIL I READ IT!

OH SHIIT!

― MY FAVOURITE LIGHTER IS CHEESEBURGER (trigonalmayhem), Wednesday, 19 January 2005 14:38 (twenty years ago)

Right, well it looks like it's top five this week.

― mark grout (mark grout), Sunday, 30 January 2005 11:57 (twenty years ago)

I'm slow to the punch:

http://reneauranch.com/Merchant2/graphics/00000001/apple%20Box%20200a.gif

― papa november (papa november), Sunday, 30 January 2005 14:04 (twenty years ago)

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