544: Unexpected instructions

On arriving at work today I was presented with this ˄˄˄ piece of paper, accompanied with the verbal instructions to google this, I'm saying no more. But just don't watch with children in the room. At this point, as I write, I have not yet searched for AZIS – "MRAZISH", the mysterious as-yet unknown words. I'm expecting a music video, and doubtless it will be something odd, unusual or amusing. OK, here goes: YouTube loaded, Azis Mrazish searched, top result clicked on, and...

...and, I wasn't expecting that. A dull plodding pop song with an Eastern European folk-like melody sung by a mysteriously muscular effeminate man with a little beard that reminds me strongly of Richard Branson. Azis looks like a transsexual body-builder advertising a new product or service from Virgin. It's an unusual sexuality designed to make sensitive people, with too much time on their hands, feel uncomfortable, similar to Pete Burns or Kevin Rowland. Part of the ever changing landscape of humanity with all of its similarities, differences and idiosyncrasies. Also I don't think it's at all unsuitable for children; they would either not pay any attention, or ask a couple of curious questions then get on with their lives.

I think I've said just about everything I can think of with regards to that. If you are sufficiently piqued to want to watch, here, enjoy:

280: In which I post many videos of Murder Ballads.

Illustration by Arthur Rackham of The Twa Corbies

Murder Ballads are a traditional folk music form depicting a murder and possibly also the events leading up to and after the event.  Possibly the most famous folk song in this genre is Bob Dylan’s Hurricane which I haven’t included here as copyright stuff is keeping Dylan off YouTube.  Hurricane tells the story of boxer Rubin “Hurricane” Carter who was wrongly convicted for a triple murder.

The Wikipedia article on Murder Ballads is pretty short, but sums the whole thing up fairly well, and if you want to read more, many were collected and researched by some fellow called Francis J. Childs (1825-1896), and published many years ago as the Child Ballads (wiki).

It’s not a subject I can pretend to know much about, but I do know what I like, and simple grim tunes about death seem to be right up my street.  And I’m not the only one.  Look at the popularity of hip hop, from N.W.A. to whoever the kids are bumping to nowadays; swearing, and rip=rapping about guns, n all that.

For all the right reasons I have collected together a huge swathe of YouTube videos representing many different Murder Ballads, and of course including two tracks from Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds Murder Ballads album.  Gorge yourself to death on all that follows:

132: back when music was metal, metal was METAL and mtv was Headbanger's Ball

Get me a reflective surface and a deodorant stick, or remote control that can stand in for a microphone, and in my head I’m a shirtless longhaired tattooed roaring screaming metal singer belting out the classics by Pantera, Fear Factory, Cradle of Filth, Sepultura, White Zombie, Marilyn Manson...  It’s time to re-plaster my bedroom walls with articles on Insane Clown Posse, home-made Anti-Christ Superstar banners and posters of female bass players in below average metal bands. 

Every time I’m feeling low a suicidal-headlights-off crash down darkest memory lane always cheers me up.  Back when metal was exciting; all sorts of new ideas were creeping in like the Power Groove from Pantera, the occasional melodic vocal section of Fear Factory, even the attempted rapping of Limp Bizkit held the briefest of appeals.  For a moment in time these stylistic flirtations were perfectly in balance; they added to the metal without detracting. 

Now we are in the doldrums.  All the old bands are shit: Marilyn Manson, Insane Clown Posse, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Cradle of Filth... Some of these bands are still going, but it is an incontrovertible proven fact that not a one of them has released a single scab of good music since 1997.  All the best songwriters are dead: Dimebag Darrell, Pete Steele.  All the great ideas have gone too far and been milked to death; METAL turned to Metal, then metal, then (metal)... then emo.......... 

I’ve only myself to blame for not paying attention for most of a decade.  Perhaps if I’d kept watch none of this would have happened.  Instead I was off gallivanting with IDM, hip hop, country, post-rock, pop, sometimes even just generic rock.  Oh, what was I thinking?

Where has all the anger gone, the rage, the screaming?  STOP FUCKING SINGING YOU SILLY CHILDREN.  Occasionally a band like Trivium or Mastadon will grab my attention; oh, is metal back on form?  It’s got screaming, dizzying solos; is this it!?  Oh no, singing.  Wimpy shitty singing has gone and ruined another piece of perfectly good music.  (Aside:  I better give these two bands another try before I dismiss them completely.)

 Blah.  Here’s a load of videos:  I’ve thrown them loosely and messily on the table:  Watch them/don’t watch them:  Take them with you forever, or leave them where you found them for someone else’s pleasure.  They’ve treated me well over these years, but now I gift them to you: