Sinister: Youth is the time of life lived for some imaginary audience

[NALeigh82 at xxx.com]

I should be happy right now, I technically became an adult yesterday which 
should have been a joyous occasion but the world conspired to depress me.

I was watching the conclusion to BBC Music Live and although a day 
celebrating music is a good thing it just made me sick.  How can the BBC 
claim to care about music when last week they sacked one of the finest radio 
dj's in the world, Andy Kershaw.  I know radio 1 is supposed to be 
'commercial dance for 16-24 year olds' but surely a public service could 
allow this show to continue, in a timeslot where only people passionate about 
the show itself will listen.  This means that the only time I will hear any 
music from Africa in the future will be on the odd occasion that John Peel 
decides to play something by John Chibadura and that makes me sad.  I think 
being controller of radio 1 would be one of the greatest jobs in the world, 
you have no obligation to maintain high audience figures as you have no 
sponsors and so you could play any music you like.  Andy Parfitt has the 
power to change peoples lives and give them profound experiences through 
music, but he seems happy to play mindless twaddle and only allow one or two 
good songs onto the C-list if the artist allows the first verse to be cut 
(American Trilogy - The Delgados).  What makes this more sickening is that he 
claims that he is sacking Andy Kershaw in the interests of exciting new 
music.  Somehow I don't think his PR man thought that through when he  wrote 
his statement for him.

Jen sez:

" I went to see Final Destination last night, and you know how the adverts 
where people are screaming and stuff and it says 'actual audience reaction', 
well, believe me, it's true. People were being sick and screaming and me and 
my friend just clutched on to each other for the whole film, it was so scary."

When I saw that 'actual audience reaction' I knew it was real too as it 
looked as though there were only about 12 people in the cinema at the time 
and just row after row of empty seats.  Personally I prefer it when an advert 
for a film has a quote saying "THE GREATEST MOVIE EVER MADE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" 
and then the quoted publication (TV Quick) in really small writing 
underneath.  But still i'm glad Jen found Final Destination interesting, I 
hope it was self referential enough for you. (My god that phrase is becoming 
a genre of film in itself all to quickly for my liking)

OK, i've followed the 15 minute rule but I still feel that i've flouted 
sinister etiquette (Oh Yeah: 'Insert self-depreciating comment so no-one will 
take the piss out of anything you've said')

Sorry to have wasted your time with loads of mindless twaddle.

Nicholas Leigh
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