Media

music

Dolly Parton did good

Written By: advantage
Date published: - 17 comments

Dolly Parton was raised in poverty but excelled not only as a musician but also as a humanitarian. What she has left behind is social progress any left leaning government would be proud of.

Let’s celebrate Kiwi music

Written By: mickysavage
Date published: - 18 comments

Something to do on Matariki Day, celebrate Te Ao Aotearoa. RNZ has invited people to vote and comment on the list of the 100 best Kiwi songs and the top 50 will be played today.

We Deserve Better

Written By: Guest post
Date published: - 68 comments

New Zealand’s media landscape is falling apart. We need a publicly-funded media entity covering television, radio and a digital platform

Going cold turkey on Spotify

Written By: mickysavage
Date published: - 166 comments

Neil Young’s decision to withdraw his music from Spotify because of its insistence on highlighting self declared idiot Joe Rogan has seen a number of people either cancelling their subscriptions or considering alternatives.

Shake It Up, Taylor Swift, Shake It Up

Written By: advantage
Date published: - 36 comments

There is a long a proud history of musicians adding their weight to the Democratic cause in the United States, but Taylor Swift’s recent action is about as on-message as you can get.

Appalling men and great art

Written By: advantage
Date published: - 49 comments

There have been some great artists face some appalling allegations.  Would they have been as successful if their great crimes had been exposed?

Eminem case could cost Nats big

Written By: Natwatch
Date published: - 82 comments

Eminem’s lawyer on the Nats’ email chain – “Also, the focus is on not just whether it’s an infringement. But whether they can shift liability to someone else.” Typical.

★

Written By: te reo putake
Date published: - 15 comments

Te Reo Putake spins the black circle and has a listen to Bowie’s final album, Blackstar.

Keep on rocking in the free world

Written By: mickysavage
Date published: - 25 comments

Donald Trump has attracted adverse comment for using Neil Young’s song “keep on rocking in the free world” during his campaign launch.  There are a number of other examples, both local and in the US, where right wing candidates have misappropriated progressive musicians’ music for campaign purposes.

“There is Power in a Union”

Written By: karol
Date published: - 80 comments

Unions have been under concerted attack for several decades. Though weakened, they still produce results for workers. NZ Teachers’ Unions act on sound research, aiming to provide a quality and fair education system for all Kiwis. Global federations are campaigning against anti-worker corporates, like DHL.

Tickets to the Laneway Festival

Written By: lprent
Date published: - 4 comments

I have 3 tickets in my hot hand to give away to the Laneway Festival (the one that we have been advertising for months). It is all day at Silo Park down at the waterfront in Auckland on the Monday the 28th of January.

I’ll hand out tickets for those who request them (e-mail to me) in the usual order – authors, commentators, and readers and then on order of request.

Upcoming talk on Canadian student uprising

Written By: Guest post
Date published: - 6 comments

This Sunday hip hop artist and political activist Darius Mirshahi will be speaking in Auckland about the political situation in Canada and how the left are organising to resist Neo-Liberalism. Later he will be performing material which has lead to attention from Glen Beck and the Canadian police.

Let’s sing it! Songs for ‘ordinary’ people

Written By: karol
Date published: - 109 comments

Revolutions, political movements and protests are fueled by songs.  They bring people together in common cause, draw attention to devastating conditions, reassure the oppressed that they are not alone, and inspire people to take political action. What songs have engaged, inspired, or motivated your political conscience and compassion? Update: : The winner is…

Listen to us – Homebrew

Written By: Eddie
Date published: - 2 comments

We’ve been getting links to this song for a week or two. Wish I’d gotten round to posting it earlier. Just fantastic.

Hiding in his mansion/While half the population flies across the Tasman/The other half try to act like it’s not happening

There’s no depression in New Zealan’/ Just a slow sinking feelin’

When I fall

Written By: lprent
Date published: - 4 comments

One of my favorite bands and one of my favourite of their tracks. Barenaked Ladies playing “When I fall”. Great lyrics for the […]

On supporting the Rugby World Cup

Written By: lprent
Date published: - 113 comments

In my sleep deprived state I have to confess that I don’t like rugby supporters, especially drunken ones who argue about teams at 2am in the morning on the street. I suspect that will be the enduring memory I will carry away from this years Rugby World Cup. But I do like Dead Cat Bounce’s video about rugby.

Without ambition…

Written By: lprent
Date published: - 3 comments

A classic cover with updated lyrics of the 1980’s classic. Now we have “We have no ambition for New Zealand”. Give a big hand to the artists and start asking the radio stations and TV channels when they will be playing it.

Now we know what John Key was so depressed about in this image?