Artistic Integrity Part TWO of TWO

Lets consider the past, when artists had “sponsors” or “patrons”

Almost any artist in the past you can think of made something “for” someone because they paid them.
Its an extraordinarily difficult argument as, we would not have mozart had the Royals of Austria and a number of patrons not paid him to do his Art. Also backing the theory of backers being good is that, as artists get wealthier they get to choose who sponsors them and who is the KFC of their time.

Still, I cant help thinking that the sponsors of these modern day “Artists” are of such a low caste that it makes the artist look a putz.

Compare Lady Gaga and Die Antwoord.

I was sent a music video done by Lady Gaga and Beyonce. Telephone I think it was called.
I was watching it, as it was kicking up a stink for being “...a disgrace to feminism” which was utter tosh. Its a cool video. However every time you see a phone it has a Virgin Mobile Screen shot.

Its awful and I cant help thinking that its unnecessary for a couple of musicians who are that wealthy to sell out.

Followed by Die Antwoord who are currently taking over the world as “real South Africans”
I do not enjoy their music but I do have respect for them despite their Ad-Alignment. They live their Characters. Its a double edged blade, I find their dedication impressive but pretentious in its existence, the only thing keeping them from being “sell-outs” is their dedication. You can see how I could become confused with my own opinion.

So that said, I think the conclusion of the argument (I can do that, its my blog) is that it is very difficult to discern between being corporate wankers and ... not being corporate wankers.

Its safer to not have adverts using your Artistic image. But if you have to, please, dont promote a goddam fast-food chain.

Also, have some taste and dont listen to bloody Parlotones.

Jesus, if you think that its great that SA music is getting some airtime overseas, maybe consider the impact of these talentless fools. Send Kobus instead. At least then they'll think we are hard as fuck.

Artistic integrity Part ONE

Artistic integrity in the modern age

What does it mean and is it different from the past?

I have been having this discussion recently with a friend. It was a difficult question to answer and it started because I insulted The Parlotones.

It stands that I still think they are a bunch of sell out wankers with a penchant for 13 yr old girls and “ladies with cats”


An excerpt from a recent news site:

"Ending their year on a positive note, South African alternative rock band, The Parlotones has nabbed yet another lucrative deal. This time, the Johannesburg-based band has signed a deal that sees fast-food chain KFC funding the production of their new music video."

lets grab some words from that:

"positive note"
"ALTERNATIVE"
"Lucrative deal"
"Fast-food chain"

and a sentence

"funding the production of their new music video"

I refuse to be apologetic about this.

They are evil corporate shills, they are not artists and they and their fans deserve each other.

So they sold their souls to KFC for a the opportunity to film a music video... and I assume a great wad of cash. They have in the past sold their slutty souls to a number of different corporations. Fuji and Multichoice come to mind.

Now this friend said that it was not a problem and that I am just sensitive because I do not like their music. This is true, I do not like their brand of Pead-Oedipal Pop. However I think I would have had a little sympathy had they not been in a KFC ad.

There is little good to be said for artists in advertisements, as far as I am concerned. If you are in an advertisement, you lose your artistic licence. You have sold your image for a few bucks.
The difference between me (who has been in a few commercials as a “model”) and them is that they have sold “themselves” they have sold their identities to the highest fast-food bidder.

Why is it that they have aligned themselves with that brand of cultural barrenness? Couldnt they have pursued ... I dont know ... something with value to them as artists?

Maybe they could have gotten their manager (who I think is Kahn himself btw) to approach ... gosh this is difficult. There is almost nothing that they can go for considering their image. Maybe cat sellers.

The make Pead-Oedipal Pop and the Kahn wears fucking emo make-up. Its difficult to approach rolex isnt it.

That said, is it acceptable if the “artist” does a promo for a brand he/she considers appropriate to their “brand”? I dont know that it is. I am NOT an artist so I dont suffer from artistic driven poverty, but I think that if you sell your soul to the highest corporate bidder. Then you are no longer an artist, but a product aligned with that particular corporation.


According to “friend” and this was a spectacularly stupid statement . “That is like saying a sportsman is not a sportsman if they are in an advert”

Insanity, a sportsmans ethical code is on the field of their play. Not in the public realm. That statement is a no go.


... Next, Die Antwoord, Lady Gaga and Mozart

O Fortuna

So

O Fortuna by Carl Orff. I suggest the BBC philharmonic.
Listen with headphones. I highly highly recommend this as the music has many little nuances that you will need to hear.

1:36 the main chorus starts with MASSIVE drums, its great. really great with loud speaker
then finally at
2:12 the final drum plays and its like thunder, beautiful.

Please do listen

I really wanted to play this song for you guys somehow. Alas there are no (none that I can find anyway) widgets that work properly.

I might just pop the Amazon one on, even if it only gives 30secs, at least it'll give an idea of the awesomeness of this track