Forget Subo

Here is possibly one of the greatest musical talents of our time, with a music video to rival Peter Gabriel's groundbreaking Sledgehammer:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4FDoMy_XhzI

Rest in Tweets

When it comes to Facebook, don’t give me grief.  And I mean that quite literally.  It’s not just the collective, trite, band-wagoning that follows the demise of a celeb that bugs me (the wonderfully original “RIP Alexander McQueen” or the touching “Corey Haim, so sad”); these updates are not that offensive but still a bit annoying.  I’m talking about people actually mourning friends and loved ones via their Facebook status and Twitter account.  What the fuck?  I’ll concede that there are situations when a bereaved person has plenty of other things to do and to worry about, so a brief shout out on Facebook or Twitter to thank everyone for their kindnesses is a painless and understandable thing to do.  But the people who are tweeting and facebooking to inform the world of a loved one’s passing, or to trumpet their sadness at the loss of a friend, or to update the world live from a funeral – these people really need to have a word with themselves. If I’d just buried a loved one or learnt of their death, the last thing I’d want to do is reach for my Iphone.  In fact, I reckon the fucking thing would be switched off.  Facebook and twitter are great for all sorts of things.  Tell us about the funny man you saw on the bus.  Share your witty observations.  But is it really decent, appropriate and right to pay tribute to someone’s life and convey the gut-wrenching tragedy of their death while constrained by a word count on a social networking site?  Can their life adequately be summed up and honoured in the 140 characters available via twitter?  It might be important for some to let the world know their every fart and squeak, but surely the line has to be drawn somewhere?  The people that need to know that you’re hurting will surely be aware of your pain already.  And those that don’t probably would rather you didn’t pump mawkish sentiment onto Facebook.  What really irks and rattles me is the insincerity and attention seeking motives that I suspect lie at the heart of this. I can’t help but feel that many people indulging in this public grief are insecure individuals with depressingly sad motives – they’re trying their best to attract sympathy.  “Look at me,” they are saying, “See how much I feel, see how much I hurt, see what a wonderful sensitive person I am!  Look at me, look at me, send me your messages of condolence!”  What’s worse is that these expressions of grief will often be accompanied by that Facebook profile picture of you pissed and gurning, dressed as Austin Powers at a fancy dress party two months ago.  And it will be replaced some two hours later by “…just saw a woman carrying a goose – LOL J” or something even less interesting and more banal about eating crisps.  What’s the harm in it, you might ask, it’s not like anyone will die?  This is true.  Except that someone did, and you do them a great disservice if you pay tribute to the sum of their life via such a clumsy, trivial and public thing as the Facebook status or the Twitter account.  Who are you to tell people what to do with their profile, you might also ask? I wouldn’t dream of telling people what they can or can’t post on there.  I think people should be able to do pretty much whatever they want, within reason, in the same way that you should feel free to leave the house dressed in welly boots, a silver wrap dress and a maroon glitter wig.  But don’t expect people not to point and laugh.

The Brit Awards 2010

My thoughts on the Brit Awards...

1. I wasn't sure if Lily Allen came as Robert Smith from The Cure or Liz Taylor, post-stroke.

2. Aston from JLS came as a negative of Kylie.

3. Florence (and the Machine) is actually Noel Fielding in a frock.

4. Cheryl Cole, I have seen better lip-syncing from a ketamine-addled drag queen.

5. Fearne Cotton would be a welcome addition to any house fire.