Do Re Mi Fa So La Ti Do - Music - The NME Awards, 'Worst Bands' and Why It Doesn't Make You Cooler to Drag Others Down.

Hi!!!



Aloha. I'm feeling so inspired to write this post, which will hopefully make it a good one. This is a few parts music, a few parts social commentary and I am so passionate about this particular topic. I hope that you find this an interesting read.

I was reading NME online on my break the other day and I stumbled across the list of nominees for this year's NME Awards which are sponsored by VO5. I was scrolling through the lists for Best Band, Best Female Solo Artist and so on and then I hit upon the following,
 

a worst band category.

I was shocked. A Worst Band Category - are you kidding? And it got me thinking.

 

Most of the nominees in this category are hugely successful and widely loved - I think Clean Bandit's 6 Top Ten hits and The (Grammy Nominated) Chainsmokers 5 Top Forty hits are evidence of this. It seems so odd to try and downplay these significant achievements in this way.

Aside from the numbers is the point I feel I am always going back to - music is subjective. What you love, I may not and my favourite song might not be yours. It doesn't mean that what I like is the worst or that you are wrong, it means that we have different likes and dislikes.

Some of these groups, like Five Seconds of Summer, have a predominantly teenage fan base. It can be difficult when you're thirteen or fourteen to feel like your opinions are appreciated or respected, and by shoving the groups that teens love into this category, it may make them feel as though they aren't cool enough, or don't have mature enough opinions, or don't know enough - the last things most teenagers want to feel.

 

In my eyes, this whole thing seems like an attempt to be more controversial, more edgy and therefore, somehow, more cool. Maybe, in writing this, I'm buying into a notion that this might stir up conversation or maintain relevance. But I don't want to stand by quietly, watching hard working musicians and performers with a passion for what they do having their reputations damaged by somebody's idea of 'banter'.

Having done a bit of research for this post, I've discovered this is nothing new at the NME awards, and if anything, only having one 'worst' category might be progress for them. That's a shame. I don't closely follow award shows and so I hadn't realised how normal this was.

I don't have a problem with awarding the acts that the majority of people on a panel or participating in a poll like most - these people have made their decisions about their preferences in a subjective field, and rewarding success is good. But I don't think it's necessary to add into that an option to 'award' people that they dislike because it doesn't make sense. What purpose doesn't it serve? For a winning act of a positive category - Best Solo Male, for example - new opportunities and positive press arise.
So, following this idea, doesn't that mean that the 'winning' act of a negative category will lose out on opportunities and get caught up in negative press? Who does that help? I don't think it does the real winners any more favours than winning already gives them. It just seems pointless and unkind.

When it comes to subjective things, like music, I think it is definitely more than alright to celebrate what you and others like, and award shows are a means of doing that. But I personally think it's unnecessary to publicly make a scene of what people dislike in the same way.

We do not need to add any more condescension and frankly hate into this world. It is ridiculous. Tearing other people down does not make you seem cooler. I think it makes you seem idiotic. I don't want to be told by somebody else what I should or shouldn't like, be that in relation to people, music or beliefs. And I won't stand by and watch others spread negativity about certain people or things to this effect.
 

Ultimately, I think it comes down to this. You have a right to an opinion. Of course you do, you're human. But that does not mean that you have the right to be nasty.

Thanks so much for reading.

What do you think of all this? I'd love to hear your thoughts, so do leave a comment.

Hope you enjoyed the post.

I hope your day is amazing!

GingerSnaps xxx

Do Re Mi Fa So La Ti Do - Music - Six Songs From the 80s.

Hi!!!

The first music post of 2017 then, eh? You excited? I am. This idea came to me while listening to the first song on the list the other day. Music from the 1980s is pretty blooming great, whatever your tastes, so here are some of my favourites from the decade that brought you the Rubix Cube, great movies and big hair. Let's rock and roll.

 

In Between Days - The Cure.

Released 1985.

I love The Cure and In Between Days is one of my favourite songs of theirs. It's poetic and musically, it is their style at its best (in my opinion). The video is a bit weird, but it is The Cure so... Anyway, there's so much more to them than Friday I'm In Love so check this one out.

Tainted Love - Soft Cell.
Released 1981.

Right, before any Northern Soul fans get salty with me, I really enjoy the Soft Cell version of this song. It is iconic, it's catchy and it's synth heavy - what more could you want from 80s pop? I can't help but dance to this one when I hear it and it just begs you to sing along.

This Charming Man - The Smiths.
Released 1983.

What do you get when you add together a Johnny Marr baseline, Morissey's vocals and poetic lyrics, and approximately six billion bunches of gladioli? An amazing song. This Charming Man shows all those things at their best and it's an essential on all your playlists. 

Faith - George Micheal.
Released 1987.

I don't think it would be right to do a post about 80s music without including George Micheal and this is my chance to say how much I love his music and how shocked I was by his passing. Faith has been one of my favourites all my life, always makes me think of treehouses dunno why, but yeah, very catchy song, and definitely one for fans of an acoustic guitar.
 

Don't You Forget About Me - Simple Minds.
Released 1985.

Honestly, if this song isn't already in your head after reading it's name, then points to you. This is so catchy and definitely one you have to do the loud sort-of-singing-but-mostly-yelling type of karaoke to. An 80s essential, which any fans of The Breakfast Club know already.

Love Will Tear Us Apart - Joy Division.
Released 1980.

This song. I love this song. I don't think it's possible to dislike this song. Awesome lyrics, distinct vocals and have you heard the music? Sheer genius. I could play this on repeat for days and days, it's such a dynamic track (and a great introduction to New Wave).

I hope you enjoyed that, it was actually a lot of fun to curate this list. I might do this again- for the 80s and other decades. Thoughts?

What are your favourite songs from the 80s? Do you have anything else to say? Maybe a suggestion for future posts? Leave me a comment below and tell me.

Thanks so much for reading.

I hope you're day is rad!

GingerSnaps xxx

I've Been Thinking... - 25 (More) Facts About Me

Hi!!!

I've been wanting to do another Facts About Me post for a really long time, and I'm finally getting round to it. I think it's such a nice way for you to find out more about me, so hopefully you're interested. Let's begin.

1. I love Italian food - hopefully one day I'll be able to go on a (food centred) trip to Italy.
2. I haven't worn Skinny jeans since 2015. I'm all about a straight leg, a boyfriend jean and so on.
3. My guitar is called Linda.
4. I watch an appalling amount a whole lot of reality television and to be honest, I have no shame. It brings me joy.
5. I have few talents but one is that I have Butlins Red Coat level skills at party dances. Saturday Night, the Macarena, the Cha-Cha Slide? I'm a pro at them all.
6. I used to take Irish Dance classes.
7. One of my favourite movie soundtracks is the soundtrack from The Theory of Everything - it's engaging and beautiful.
8. I don't take sugar in my tea.
9. I'm currently reading the second Peter Kay autobiography - Saturday Night Peter - and I laughed audibly at it at least three times a chapter.
10. I was born in Birmingham (in the UK).
11. In Year 10 and Year 11 I insisted on wearing my school blazer with the sleeves rolled up permanently.
12. I actually used to be really fussy about how I wore my school uniform - although, lol, not sure if anyone else would think that.
13. My favourite sweets are Parma Violets.
14. My favourite film is About Time - its funny, charming, full of love and feelings, it features time travel and the cinematography is beautiful.
15. I collect old (or vintage, if you're cool) children's books - Enid Blyton books in particular although I have one or two others.
16. I'm really determined to reach 25 facts...
17. I definitely have a sweet tooth.
18. My favourite musicals are Hairspray and Les Miserables.
19. I went to see Top Hat three times when it was on in the West End - it was a really great show. 
20. I once sat next to Adrian Scarborough in the Watford Palace Theatre and spent the whole play trying to work out who he was. I went home, turned on the TV and there he was, in Gavin and Stacey (which is one of my favourite shows). I've been kicking myself ever since.
21. I really like socks and own far too many pairs because I have a socks aesthetic. Not even joking.
22. I played the first Scouting for Girls album on repeat for approximately a year when it came out until one day the CD player in the car ate it. Still haven't got it back. Sad times.
23. I'm that person who always has their CDS and DVDs in the wrong cases - it annoys me to no end but I can't stop it, no matter how hard I try.
24. I'm an ENFP, for anyone as interested in the Myers-Briggs personalities as me.
25. I absolutely love ice cream.

I hope you enjoyed getting to know me a bit more today through this, it's funny how hard it is to come up with 25 facts but I did it.

Tell me something about yourself in the comments. Or maybe some other comments or suggestions for future posts. Let me know by leaving a comment.

Thanks for reading, speak soon.

Have a wonderfully brilliant day!

GingerSnaps xxx

Recent Reads - Books - Why It's OK Not To Finish Books.

Hi!!!

I've been wanting to write this post for quite a while but this is the first time I have actually sat down at my laptop to do it. I haven't written about books for some time and this is a bit different so hopefully you'll enjoy it.

I talk about books a lot. Lots of my friends and family like reading, and so its a natural topic of conversation. Sometimes, people tell me that they are ten chapters into a book and when I ask them about it they tell me they aren't all that keen on it but they don't want to stop reading it in case it gets better.

I personally see no point in persisting and powering through, reading books that honestly, you don't even like whether its Pride and Prejudice or Gok Wan's autobiography. Chances are it won't get any better if you really haven't been all that enamoured by it from the start. Its a waste of time. Its a waste of your energy. You could spend those things on something else, be it reading a different book that you actually like or something completely removed from literature.

If you don't like a book, that's up to you. It doesn't mean that you aren't intelligent enough to understand it. It doesn't mean that you don't have good taste in books. Books are subjective things. Just because the world and his wife think that a book is great, doesn't mean you have to. You are allowed to enjoy whatever you want to and so in turn are allowed to dislike whatever it is you dislike.

I've listed some examples of books that received critical acclaim and huge popularity that I didn't finish. I haven't listed them to bash them or turn you against them or discredit the authors or the views of those who enjoyed them. I just wanted to show you that just because hundreds of other people love them, it's fine to walk away from books.

Some Examples Of Books I Didn't Finish:

The Trouble With Goats and Sheep by Joanna Cannon

Look Who's Back by Timur Vermes

Curtain Call by Anthony Quinn

 Just like with anything in life, you are allowed to make your own opinions. Just because others like a book or anything else doesn't make it definitively good and likewise just because you or others dislike something, it doesn't mean it is 100% bad. It means that you have your own mind and that's a wonderful thing. So don't suffer through to the end of books or films or anything else that bores you or bothers you or makes you angry and so on. You are an individual with a life to lead - take the responsibility of filtering out the less wonderful things in all aspects of life into your own hands.

Thanks for reading. I hope you enjoyed the post.

What are your thoughts like this? Do you have any comments or suggestions for future posts. Let me know in the comments.

Speak soon.

Have a spectacular day!

GingerSnaps xxx





So, To Sum It All Up - December in Photographs

Hi!!!

How are you guys today? I hope you're all doing well. I spent December doing lots of fun things and I took a lot of photos and I thought I would share those things with you today - I figured that sharing some Christmassy snaps with you in January would be fine so long as I'm still in the Twelve Days of Christmas right now. I hope you like it.

Obviously I started my month by opening the first window on my advent calender - this one is the Cadbury one.

 I also opened a tub of Celebrations because Christmas. 

I went to see Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them with Elf Girl and one of our friends.

Elf Girl and I spent the afternoon in Costa - I had a Black Forest Hot Chocolate (one of many many more festive Costa drinks) - and taking photobooth photos until our friend could meet us.

We went for a meal at Chimichanga which I would highly recommend, for both food and decor (I had sea bass in case you were wondering). I enjoyed the film - I thought it was funny and charming.

I spent quite a lot of time Christmas shopping last month and went to several shopping centres on my mission.

The Bull in Birmingham was dressed up like a Christmas pudding which brought me far too much joy, and Coventry had some super snazzy decorations, shown below.

The beautiful ceiling lights were in Hemel Hempstead - I went shopping there while staying with my Auntie the weekend before Christmas.

December was filled with delightfully wintery weather, as showcased in these shots. I was running late one morning and cut through an alley way, but then got distracted by the pretty mist and fog and took photos - I made it with about ten minutes to spare so it all worked out fine. I just thought it looked really cool.

Later on in the month, while staying with my Auntie, it was really foggy again - it took us about one hundred years to complete the drive down.

Then of course there have been frosty mornings which I love having a walk around in.

There have also been some occasions to break out the sunglasses - I love those days when it's sunny but freezing cold.

I went for a meal with my friends before we all began our Christmas breaks. We went to a local Pizza Express and swapped gifts, ate pizza, pulled crackers and posed for photos, which was great.

We also had a walk around a local Christmas market and some shops (with plenty of time spent in Waterstones) before a final stop at Costa and heading home. I did all of these things wearing the paper hat from my cracker because those little hats make me so happy, I don't even really know why.

As I've mentioned, we had a pre-Christmas meal with one side of my family the weekend before Christmas.

We had a full turkey dinner with an array of puddings available to us which was lovely.

We then spent the rest of the afternoon exchanging gifts - watching my little cousins open presents makes me so happy! - catching up and eating enough olives to sink a ship (that last one might just have been me, haha).

I made my nails look all festive too - you might remember this from here.

I saw these Shetland ponies while we were there.

They were so sweet, I just had to show you.

My parents and I went into London while staying at my Auntie's. We went to see Hamlet and also to have a walk around. We went for a stroll along Bond Street to admire the window displays. We also went to Selfridges (which was a bit overwhelming on that particular day, I'm not going to lie - really crowded, really loud music...) and to Liberty where we bought Christmas crackers and I swooned over the pretty clothes.

We saw all of the Christmas lights on display. My favourites were these gorgeous angels on Regent Street and Jermyn Street.

Later in the month I went to Stratford upon Avon where I saw these lovely lights.

I ate this snowman cupcake.

I went to see a pantomime at the Birmingham Hippodrome with my Mom, Elf Girl, my Uncle B and Auntie A and had such an amazing time.

I love pantomime and the Hippodrome outdid themselves this year. It was so fun, so well performed and visually fantastic.

Oh and I had my first Starbucks since 2015.

It was a Fudge Hot Chocolate. It was really nice.

Not shown in photos:

Two of my friends celebrated their birthdays in December and I had so much fun at both.

I received some wonderful and thoughtful Christmas presents from my family and friends which I am super grateful for.

A relaxed, and very enjoyable, New Year's Eve.

And that was what December looked like for me.
What did you get up to last month? Do you have any other comments or maybe some suggestions for posts you like to see? Let me know in the comments.
I hope you enjoyed this post. Thanks for reading!

I hope your day is marvellous!

GingerSnaps xxx