Reasons why we're proudly South African
Wysdiman Cover Art Competition
A cricketer goes musical, a black station looking for a white guy, an Afrikaans band sings about Taxis and … Aqua comes form Denmark! Man, we love this country.
Back to the drawing board: Does taxis make you see black?
You have to respect any band with the gumption to voice their opinions – regardless of the controversy surrounding certain issues. To Wysdiman their art is not only a creative outlet for mind-blowing rock insanity, but also a mouthpiece for social commentary and a vent of frustrations. Since their first release in 2007 Wysdiman has been making waves and is gaining more than just fans – but loyal followers that hangs on Mr. Bleed’s every impassioned word.
Earlier this year we reported that Wysdiman were in studio revamping their “Taximan” track and that fans could also expect an album later this year. A few anxious months later we are proud to announce that the Afrikaans rockers did their time in studio and are now ready to release “Taximan”. And in true Wysdiman style, a simple release just wouldn’t do, and to spice things up they have (in conjunction with Kreators Art Community) introduced the Taximan Art Competition. It’s very simple: Check out Taximan. Be inspired. Interpret the track in visual format. Send your illustration to taximan.art@gmail.com. Wait.
The best illustration will be used on T shirts and posters as well as cover art for the Taximan single. Apart from this there is also a cash prize and a gift voucher from Reader’s Den Comic Shop up for grabs. I’m feeling inspired already! For more info click click. or just mail Die Man.
AB De Villiers: Yes, We Can!
Recently I spent an afternoon watching mindless (entertaining nevertheless) You Tube videos on anything from the mating patterns of the extinct Megalodon shark to MRSA infections and Idol clips when I stumbled upon a clip of cricketer AB De Villiers’ single. Wait! What is wrong with this sentence?!?
Reading up on this strange find, I find a website that claims that this track receives extensive airplay. I give this statement the benefit of the doubt and phone a (very clued-up) friend. Did you know AB De Villiers recorded a track? “No, really, did he?” Yes, with Ampie someone. “Ampie Omo?!? Are you serious” No, not Ampie Omo. I know Ampie Omo. This is Ampie someone else. Ampie du Preez. “Ampie WHO?” From here the conversation pretty much goes pear shaped. It ends up with an argument on whether people believe that Omo is Ampie’s actual surname. Mmmm, dead end.
I listen to the track again. His voice isn’t crap – its pretty much on the same standard as most of the commercial stuff with average sales at the local supermarket. The problem with this track is what then? Ab’s pronunciation or the fact that it is nauseatingly optimistic? A bit of both, I think, although the latter weighs much heavier. I listen to the snippet again and decide that this track would be best suited as a Dr Phil /Tony Robbins theme song. Don’t get me wrong; I’m all for the half full glass, but this is just too much.
But then, beauty (and art) is in the eye of the beholder, so listen to the track and decide for yourself. For some “Yes, we can” Ab-style check out "Show Them Who You Are"
Fake Plastic Trees: The Auto-Tune Debate
We live in an artificial world. I recently found out my favorite pop star has silicone breasts, lied about her uhm, bedroom shenanigans (the video proved it dammit) and does not write her own songs. But at least she can sing. Or can she?
At the centre of the latest industry debate is rapper Jay-Z. Jay-Z’s “D.O.A” (Death of Auto-Tune) started a fiery debate on what amount of editing or correction on a track is acceptable. This in itself is ironic as the genre that uses this software the most is in fact rap and Hip Hop.
But what is this controversial plug-in software? Auto-Tune is used to correct pitch in vocal and instrumental performances and disguises any mistakes the artist might make. Country and rock singers are said to use Auto-Tune to protect themselves from hitting bum notes in concert. I don’t think I’m alone when I say that I do not expect a pitch-perfect performance when I go to a live concert. Part of the magic of a live concert is just that: its live and real. Or maybe not.
Pop singers use it when they have a hard time singing while executing complicated dance moves. Or when they just have a hard time singing. Period. Auto-Tune has become so ubiquitous that rockers Death Cab for Cutie wore blue ribbons at this year’s Grammy Awards in protest of its misuse. AT is also used as an instrument - to deliberately distort the human voice. Called the “Cher-effect” this distortion provides the tin can, robot sound that you hear on some artists tracks. (T Pain, The Game & Lil Wayne).
I am actually not sure what the hoo-ha is about. The purists are screaming for the burning of the Auto-Tune witch, but since the seventies voice correction & modification software and devices were used in the recording process. It gets a bad rap as we only become aware of it when it is used incorrectly. When Auto-Tune (or similar programmes such as Melodyne) is used correctly it serves as an aid in the recording process and not the basis on which the sound of an artist is built. Any musician will tell you that studio time is expensive, and after hours in studio the fatigued voice of a musician will inevitably not perform at its optimum level. In cases like this the advantage of Auto-Tune is plain to see.
I suppose fans mostly reject the use of Auto-Tune because as much as we want to idolize our musicians, we want them to be authentic. When you’re as passionate about music as I am you want the experience to be real and have meaning, and not the result of a pc programme. At the same time one cannot reject technological advances. After all, electro is a genre in its own right and consist of mostly/entirely electronic instruments and technology. And although I’d much rather listen to real mistakes as opposed to fake perfection I am sure as hell not going to live with the Amish any time soon.
Pretty Fly For A White Guy
Gauteng youth radio station YFM has announced that they are looking to add to their line-up. The criteria for the new presenter is that he must be fluent in not only Afrikaans or English but at least in one of the other official languages, he must know the music of the YFM target audience. Oh, and he must be a white boy.
There has been some white okes feeling that they are at the bottom of the food chain (getting the jobs after all other races, sexes and dead people!) But YFM says there is a place for a “hot white boy” at the station, adding that they “…fervently believe in Affirmative Action...and rejects tokenism…”
This position will surely come with some resistance from certain members of the public. The ou omies will skinner of the sell-out, the streets will be rife with talk of the legoa wanna-be, but we are sure this will be a minority (like the white male!) and along with the rest of SA, we here at Streetlamp will be cheering on the newcomer and YFM.
For more info on how to apply visit Y World.
Snippets
- Danish dance/pop group; Aqua just released their new single: “Back In The Eighties”. Unfortunately this track reminds us way to much of Barbie Girl and all the other bubblegum bull they sold in the nineties. Lene’s screeching vocals remind of nails on a black board and Rene is still doing the…well, what is it that he is doing? Can’t quite call it singing, rapping or talking for that matter. He sounds a bit like the cookie monster, doesn’t he? On the other hand, many artists make it big because of factors other than their (lack of?) musical talent, such as mass-bribery or purely because of a catchy tune. C’mon Barbie let’s go party, ahh ahh ahh yeah…
- Another new release: the video for Albert De Wet’s track: “Heks van die Sekelmaan Vallei” was released earlier this month. We just can’t help but to love this guy! De Wet’s music has substance and soul. Worth a listen!
- And the new releases just keeps on coming…Linkin Park’s “New Divide” video (Form Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen Soundtrack) was filmed on the Transformers set and is everything you’ve come to expect of the rockers. Awesome track! Awesome video! Awesome Linkin Park!
- The strangest collaboration of 2009 will surely be that of Lady Gaga and dysfunctional rocker Marilyn Manson. Lady Gaga has recruited Manson to contribute vocals to the remix of her “Love Game” track. Should be interesting. We’re all stars now in the Love Game!
- Trent Reznor (Nine Inch Nails) is so disappointed with his experience on social networks and online communities such as Twitter that he is contemplating never logging on again. On Twitter fans experienced Reznor on a more personal level, but as expected (by everyone except Reznor) this also gave the haters more ammunition. At the core of his anti-Twitter stance is the online community Metal Sludge. According to Reznor “…Metal Sludge is “…the home of the absolute worst people…” he has ever come across. Metal Sludge is having a laugh at the sensitive rocker calling him a “miserable little goth b&*%^” And so are the days of our lives…
- Our favourite Afrikaans singer Kurt Darren has just released a new album. Yes, another one. Yes, the camera still loves him. And yes, we will unashamedly admit we loved Kurt’s music in the past and judging by the tracks we heard on 94.7 this morning we will love this album just as much. Check out your local music store for: “Smiling Back At Me”
- Check out the most awesome pics of STRAB 2009! This fest was held in Ponta Malongane in Mozambique late last month and according to Streetlamp’s very own Klapperfrans it rocked!
You Didn’t Say That!
“Do I have a large frog in my hair?”
Joaquin Phoenix
“I always loved Pat Benatar.”
Britney Spears on why she did a cover of “I Love Rock n Roll”.
“I loved Jordan. He was one of the greatest athletes of our time.”
Mariah Carey on the death of the King of Jordan.
“It’s really hard to maintain a one-on-one relationship if the other person is not going to allow me to be with other people.”
Axl Rose
“I would rather start out somewhere small, like London or England.”
Britney on where she might start her theatre career.
“I am for the death penalty. Who commits terrible acts must get a fitting punishment. That way he learns the lesson for the next time.”
Ahhh Britney, you never disappoint.
Sources
www.rollingstone.com; www.news24.com; www.tonight.co.za; www.taxiviolance.com; www.wikipedia.org; www.spinearth.tv; www.mtv.com; www.youtube.con; www.streetlamp.co.za; www.myspace.com/wysdiman; www.nin.com; www.msnbc.com; www.mio.co.za; www.yworld.co.za; www.abdevilliers.com; www.arkade.com;