Bloc Party and Mika create a media storm over not very much
So, todays Music Slut (quite possibly one of the better music blogs out there) has reported on two “talking points” shall we say that look set to divide opinions across our fair land.
First up, and its news that Bloc Party‘s Kele Okereke said in an interview with Total Spec magazine that:
“I think in the 21st Century drug-taking is something that is synonymous with life, really. All I intended to do with the songs is to capture what modern life feels like.”
Naturally, this has divided opinions as, in typical Okereke style, he hasn’t really admitted to taking drugs. Nor has he said that he thinks that they’re bad. Only that lots of people do take drugs, and that he wanted to reflect that fact in his songs. There’s a quick discussion going on over at Music Slut about this quote, though most of it appears to be going on personal opinions about Kele. Personally, I love Bloc Party. Granted, they’re not the most media-friendly of bands. But then they’re musicians. Not Paris bloody Hilton.
Secondly, Out Magazine has got Mika on the front, with the article and cover questioning his sexuality:
“Anyone can label me, but I’m not willing to label myself…Anybody who says that I don’t talk about sexuality or that I don’t politically sexualize my music because of taboos, because of being afraid of [not] selling records, is completely wrong. I’ve made a record that doesn’t compromise in any way what I’m allowed or not allowed to say in my lyrics.”
Music slut also has a quote from Mika’s people “who wanted to do a cover but only if it came out a few months down the road, because they were concerned about breaking into the mainstream market were Mika pigeonholed as a “gay artist” right out of the gate.”.
Why does it matter if he’s straight, gay, whatever? He makes bloody good pop music, and anything else is up to him to bring to the table. Plenty of artists have made it big by using their sexuality (Scissor Sisters anyone?) and plenty of artists have made it big by hiding their sexuality (Elton John’s first marriage anyone?)
All of it just seems to me that it ultimately just turns into some good publicity for all the artists, and gets people talking about them.
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