Review: Opinion (which he is entitled to) article by Jon Savage in SA Rolling Stone

Jon Savage

I would tell you more about him, but don't worry his own articles give his life story in excruciating detail so I don't need to. He has written an article for the Rolling Stone SA about the local music industry. This is what we think about it:

This is a revolting article.

This is of value "local is not lekker, lekker is lekker" and the seperate charts for SA music.

The rest is garbage and probably explains who 5fm really are in the modern South African musical world, the first half of the article is a description of how awesome and relevant our esteemed author is. Followed by advertisements for himself and his employer. Not only that but it was also written BY THE AUTHOR! If the Editor had written an "about the author" piece then cool, that is what should be written, but no this drivel was written by Jon Savage about himself!

Then we get to the real crux of what he is saying, which is that South African music doesn't cut it in any environment because "local is lekker" stagnated our music.

I disagree, I think that a lot of local music is kak and that a lot of "local" music is kak everywhere else in the world too. However his broad statement that ALL local music is kak, well that smacks of an idiot who doesn't do his research, doesn't actually go out and see bands, doesn't embrace the music scene enough to actually make a statement regarding it.

This the man who says "And I'm as opinionated as hell. I just can't help myself."

WOW well fucking done, well done Jon you have an opinion. So with your massive opinion (of yourself) as well as on music. How many songs that you actually like do you play on your radio show? This leaves 2 possible answers:

A: all the songs you play on your show you love, in which case you are just like every other piece of kak in the machine that you work for.
B: you play some tracks you like and the rest 5fm put on a little disc for you to rehash every 25 minutes.

The bold statement about your opinion is defunct and invalid if you are not allowed to have an opinion on what represents you on the radio, and that is the music. So if you are a big fan of all that international bullshit that is played in 5fm then shut the hell up about local music.

Then lets get to " 5FM – SA's national youth station" IT DOES NOT represent the youth, NO ONE represents the youth on Radio.

finally a list of bands you should actually listen to before you say local is crap:

To hire a nurse.
The Black Cat Bones.
Rambling Bones
Juggernaught
Hot Water
The Brother Moves On.
Nakhane Toure
Black Pimp'n Jesus.
Jet Black Camaro.
Eyes Like Mirrors.
Mr Cat and the Jackal.
Death Valley Blues Band.
Blk Jks
Ree-Burth

now bar 2 of those, they are all Jhb bands. There is still the rest of the country to go through. Come on Jon.

COME ON DUDE!

go listen to that stuff, then tell us SA music hasn't developed. Sure the kak they want you to play on 5fm is shitty prime circle rock circa 1995. I get that, but there is more dude.

there is more.

Comment by Nomsa Kagiso on December 7, 2011 at 17:14: Well said Jon!

Comment by Paulo Do Carmo on December 7, 2011 at 17:52: This sounds like a typical school yard fight...for 5 year olds.

I push you, you push me, I pick up the ball and run home. Eventually I figure out i can't play by myself and need you to play with...but I pushed you. Oops.

For the record, I have read the article, and indeed Jozi Review is off on a wild tangent of giant proportions with the message in the article. Jon does indeed raise the point that SA or local music is indeed "lekker", however it possibly needs to loose its tag.

Jozi is a patriot and defender of local talent, but in this case, me thinks he reacted a little too fast. The exuberance of youth me thinks.

As for the journalism, you are both shocking. Punctuation, grammar and the structure are non-existent in either rant - my concern is Rolling Stone needs a new editor.

Opinions are great, libel is another and despite our good intentions of freedom of speech, these two gentleman may have chewed a little more on this one then they can handle. Throwing stones has perils attached to it.

Ultimately, I would like to see both of them do what they do best ;

Jozi publishing great localized, JHB content (whilst improving his writing skills),patronizing local talent and harnessing his great passion for the "made in SA" - hey that was launched today.

and

Jon playing the great music he does, for a radio station who breaks the SABC mould and continues to support local talent in a variety of genres, whilst maintaining that commercial balance everyone always finds so hard to understand - real world dynamics.

The disappointment for me in this script of opinionated soap is Rolling Stone - I expected more.

In the interim, support talent, regardless of where it comes from.

Comment by Jozi Review on December 7, 2011 at 19:01: Dear Jon

I really think that your article does not display what you have just expressed about South African music. I think that the reaction to it should tell you that.

I really think that you have a better touch of what is happening (yes from listening to your show) than any number of other musicians, but I disagree that the sentiment of the article is that there are good bands here. We are a sensitive nation, over-sensitive perhaps Paolo, and you were talking about Musicians (artists) and when an over-sensitive group of people from an over-sensitive nation perceive themselves as disrespected shit overflows.

My partner and I at JR hold no grudge against you, rather we respect your history and future in South African music. I certainly hope and encourage the possibility of us having a beer together and shooting the shit about the good and bad stuff in our country in the industry we love.

Kind Regards

Brr and Vlad

Comment by Shaamila Cassim on December 8, 2011 at 10:53: Chill out everyone.. Go listen to some music...wherever its from..as long as it makes you happy!

Comment by Strato Copteros on December 8, 2011 at 12:49: And none of you have heard of a band called SunshiP yet - tucked away in the Eastern Cape, breaking the mould and getting ready to take this country by storm :-)

Comment by Socratis Avgitidis on December 8, 2011 at 13:04: @Strato having heard your amazing sounds I second that. Viva SunshiP!

Comment by Strato Copteros on December 8, 2011 at 14:03: @Socs. Thank you my friend :-) You are too kind. Having read this blog post and the flurry of exchanges emanating from it, as a musician I have this to say: Regardless of who you are and how you engage, it is always only ever just about the music. Or should be. As a musician who started late in life and was lucky enough to be guided by magnificent players and to now be playing in a band with such gracious human beings, more than anything I'm grateful just for the opportunity to contribute to the making of music. I think real musicians actually don't care if they're on radio daily and playing to stadia, or lost somewhere in myspace and playing to 30 people in a pub - as long as they have given what it takes to delight an audience. And both within a band and within the industry, gracious collaboration with, and acknowledgement of, each other creates magic. This year at the National Arts fest, SunshiP was described as the festival's moment that blew everyone away. We were begged to enter Battle of the Bands. We didn't. And we never will. Why? Because music is not a competition. Because there's no such thing as 'mine is a better band than yours'. Because all of us who play music do so from love - and to turn it into a win:lose experience taints it. Ultimately, what I think I'm saying is that SA is no exception to the global rule that around every corner is a band capable of creating magical musical experiences. Some make it, others don't, ces't la vie. Local is lekker, lekker is lekker, bla bla bla. What matters is that as much as possible SA radio starts to truly engage with local music - not because it's local, but because much of it is awesomely cool - and has a serious rethink about what its role is as a disseminator of amazing material that many wouldn't otherwise hear. Who's heard of Babu? They're ours and they're packing arenas in Europe. You'll never hear them on radio. But let's not forget that commercial radio is perrenially behind the curve. It's commercial for crying in a bucket - a money spinner first and a voice second. In the late 80's for example, while commercial US stations were still in glam rock teased hair and inane lyrics nowhere land, it was the student stations that began playing unknown bands like the Black Flags, REM and Nirvana, years before the rest cottoned on. Everything finds its place eventually. But I promise you, from a musicians point of view, and I think I speak for many - we don't give a fuck whether someone calls us the 'new big thing' and sticks us on the cover of YOU. What matters is the bliss of making music and doing our best to with joy and skill give those who experience us the best time we possibly can! The magnificent bliss of making music is reward enough indeed!

Comment by Jozi Review on December 8, 2011 at 15:00: Strato FTW

Comment by Socratis Avgitidis on December 8, 2011 at 15:13: @ Strato-inspirational!

@Jozi- I had to look up the meaning of FTW-lol! (For the win)

Comment by Strato Copteros on December 9, 2011 at 14:16: I love the way the world works :-) and if you make it just about the music, magnificent things begin to happen. SunshiP is going to be the radio from next week. We've just been playlisted by local coastal station Kowie fm!!!! I could scream for joy! All this talk about music on neofundi got me thinking; and I forwarded some of our tracks to Kowie. Took a chance. And we're in. We're playlisted from next week, will also be on their Rock Twins Friday afternoon rock show, and will go in for an interview. I am so thrilled! Thank you Socs and neofundi! And look out for our festive season online release right here on the website we love!

MUSIC IS LEKKER - and that's the total truth of that!

Review: Opinion (which he is entitled to) article by Jon Savage in SA Rolling Stone

You need to be a member of neofundi to add comments!