Random Play by Graham Reid

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Random Play: Police. Security. Screams. A singer comes to town.

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  • Danielle,

    That would be Chris Brown.

    Zing!

    Charo World. Cuchi-cuchi!… • Since Nov 2006 • 3828 posts Report Reply

  • Cecelia,

    It's a bit like Twilight isn't it? I find Stephanie Meyer barely literate and downright creepy, but I'm not a twelve year-old girl and I'm not supposed to get it.

    I think she tells a compelling story (first book).

    I get it and I'm 63. Yes, there are co-dependent relationships but the way she describes a girl's attraction to a boy is strangely effective IMHO.

    Hibiscus Coast • Since Apr 2008 • 559 posts Report Reply

  • Geoff Lealand,

    fuck those clowns at NZoA treating us like dumbed down peasants who think we can't choose what we want to listen to and see ourselves.

    This just sounds like a peevish, unsuccessful applicant for funds. I need a more considered explanation of NZOA's failings if you want my attention.

    Screen & Media Studies, U… • Since Oct 2007 • 2562 posts Report Reply

  • greenlove33,

    I'm glad the young women get a chance to scream their lungs out and have a bit of fun. It looks like they are having a great time.

    I just reserve the right to run once the screaming begins..

    Haven't read Twilight but again, not in my age range really. Its good for kids to have a book they love, rather than sitting in front of the TV watching pap.

    Go books!!

    Centered • Since Aug 2009 • 34 posts Report Reply

  • Lyndon Hood,

    I was seeing the Twilight graphic novels and found myself thinking, 'Well, if it gets kids reading comics...'

    -

    I was going to say, the properly popular forms of theatre were always pretty daft too. But I've got a sneaking and sometimes non-ironic admiration for proper melodrama.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 1115 posts Report Reply

  • Robbie Siataga,

    This just sounds like a peevish, unsuccessful applicant for funds. I need a more considered explanation of NZOA's failings if you want my attention.

    Maybe you need to look at who gets funded, check out the criteria for selection, who selects, why and open your ears and eyes to the constant stream of sub par shit NZ on Air has supported for the last 10 years.

    For instance, theres no good reason why applicants cant upload directly to a server, like 'Amplifier' and let the users who buy decide what we'd like to see and hear, apart from maintaining an obsolete status quo that continually sees industry affiliated 'tastemakers' decide.

    It might make an interesting assignment for your media studies students to know how our mainstream broadcasted visual and aural entertainment is dictated out of wellington by Brendan Smyth and his crew of no talent cronies.

    what do you reckon ?

    Since Feb 2010 • 259 posts Report Reply

  • Lyndon Hood,

    Add your own alliterative titles and reductive lyrics from the catalogue of the Ramones if you will.

    There was an early Chills song that could be wilfully misheard as 'Bieber Bieber Bebo' which would make it impressively, if not perfectly, precient.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 1115 posts Report Reply

  • Ian Dalziel,

    Before (and after) Science...

    There was an early Chills song that could be wilfully misheard as 'Bieber Bieber Bebo' which would make it impressively, if not perfectly, prescient.

    Damn, I spelt it wrong on page one...
    Damn, those spelling Bee Bah Bee Bah Bee Boes

    Christchurch • Since Dec 2006 • 7953 posts Report Reply

  • Lyndon Hood,

    Hm. It seems either I didn't read upthread earlier, or I did. Either way, Sir, I tip my hat to you.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 1115 posts Report Reply

  • Ian Dalziel,

    Sir, I tip my hat to you.

    ...this is the Bee Bah Bee Boe See Whirled Service...
    and a tip o' the hat back & to Martin's fillips, natch!

    may your night be chill blue...
    and your frost ever pink!

    Christchurch • Since Dec 2006 • 7953 posts Report Reply

  • Simon Grigg,

    what do you reckon ?

    Well, I reckon this, from Otaki's finest, is about as real as it gets and deserves those bucks far more than those pot addled freaks that normally get to make vids:

    Just another klong... • Since Nov 2006 • 3284 posts Report Reply

  • JP Hansen,

    Bieber.

    Not a geography (or languages) major.

    Waitakere • Since Nov 2006 • 206 posts Report Reply

  • Kyle Matthews,

    Not a geography (or languages) major.

    Woah. Hope his music career lasts a long time, limited other prospects apparently.

    Since Nov 2006 • 6243 posts Report Reply

  • dyan campbell,

    Not a geography (or languages) major.

    To Canadian ears it sounds like "Jewman" as there is no "r" sound in Newzilndish. You could see Bieber was startled by the question, which he mistakenly thought was rude.

    The Canadian take on rude questions is often passive non-comprehension which is usually interpreted as stupidity. The first time someone here described my relatives (in a photo) as "chinky-chonky" I made the moron repeat herself 5 or 6 times before she went away frustrated, disgusted and convinced I couldn't understand a word she was saying. It's a technique employed by actors (think Keanu Reeves, Jason Priestley, Michael J Fox) and is the Canadian cultural equivalent of heaving a telephone at someone's head.

    This also reminds me of an incident that took place between my sister and my Jewish (Manhattan born, Christmas-celebrating) brother-in-law. Gene (who closely resembles Anthony Bourdain in appearance, voice and vocal delivery). "Gene, you look like a gerbil" she remarked to which he responded "DID YOU CALL ME A JEW-BOY?!?"

    Besides, isn't the German word for basketball "korbal" or something?

    auckland • Since Dec 2006 • 595 posts Report Reply

  • Bart Janssen,

    What fascinates me about the Beiber thing is that it really seems as though every 3-5 years there has to be a new pre-teen idol for 13 year olds (and sorry it isn't just girls) to scream about.

    What is it about that age that requires some kind of mass hero to worship.

    And as for his not recognising "German" - well he did look at the the written question so one presumes that he really just doesn't know - not surprising since he's spent the best part of the last two years out of school.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 4461 posts Report Reply

  • dyan campbell,

    Bart, listen to the interview in NZ - the guy keeps saying "Gew-man" in his NZ accent - the interviewer - being a NZer - does not pronounce the "R" sound.

    Justin Beiber's family is German. His Opa is German. He's spent time in Germany and speaks a little German.

    Where on earth would you get the notion he left school at 14? No Canadian kid is allowed to leave formal education at 14 . He is being educated by tutor, like all squillionaire child stars.

    Justin Bieber in Germany

    All teen idols are past their use-by date in 3 years because their fans are 5 - 12 years old.

    auckland • Since Dec 2006 • 595 posts Report Reply

  • Sam F,

    And as for his not recognising "German" - well he did look at the the written question so one presumes that he really just doesn't know

    Either that or he was genuinely flustered by what he thought was a rude question, to the point where even seeing the card didn't allay the confusion. Despite the apparently extensive image and media coaching we're still talking about a 16-year-old on live television after all.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 1611 posts Report Reply

  • Bart Janssen,

    He is being educated by tutor

    Yeah right

    I did listen to the piece which is why I know he looked at the written question. Sure he could just have been flustered, him not being used to being interviewed and all, or he could just be a kid who knows very little beyond his focus.

    Setting that aside, I get why the teen idols have an expiry date I mean what self respecting 13 year old consider 18 year olds as nearly dead.

    The question is why do 13 year olds need idols/heroes that have to be adulated en masse.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 4461 posts Report Reply

  • dyan campbell,

    He is being educated by tutor

    Yeah right

    Er, yeah right and he will probably go to college after high school.

    In my entire life, I have only met one Canadian who didn't finish high school - and even he was forced (by his appalled girlfriend) to get his GED.

    Canadian children are legally not allowed to leave formal schooling at 14 and because of peer pressure, very, very few would leave before 17 or 18 as it would make them just too weird.

    The question is why do 13 year olds need idols/heroes that have to be adulated en masse.

    13 would be the upper age range of Justin Bieber's fan base. His most ardent, lunchbox-purchasing fans will be around 8 to 10 years old.

    It has ever been thus. There are no more ardent fans than tiny girls. Their little hearts beat with a fearsome passion the old, old jaded over-16s just don't get. They bond with their own set by sharing an overwhelming attraction to and adulation for a cute boy that unnerves and irritates anyone older. They cry because despite being tiny, they are old enough to realise they can't have him .

    This should be evident to anyone watching the whole frenzied scenes unfold. Jeez, how old are you Bart??

    Tiger Beat Magazine and the merchandising of very cute boys to pre-teen girls is a pretty old marketing and/or social phenomenon.

    auckland • Since Dec 2006 • 595 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha,

    adulated en masse

    and ululated

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • dyan campbell,

    adulated en masse

    and ululated

    Heh, yes the wailing can be deafening.

    auckland • Since Dec 2006 • 595 posts Report Reply

  • dyan campbell,

    <quote>The question is why do 13 year olds need idols/heroes that have to be adulated en masse.<quote>

    You know, pre-teen idols are not just in the public eye either. I remember years ago, when I taught gymnastics in Canada, I held up a jacket left behind by a very good-looking, kind and popular little boy who left the gym boarded the bus before his classmates.

    "Oh look" I said "David's left his jacket-" and at that I was bowled over by a surging tide of 6 to 10 year old girls shrieking

    "I'LL TAKE IT TO HIM!! I'LL TAKE IT TO HIM!!"

    and I watched the little jacket being stretched in many, many directions, the screaming gaggle disappeared with the holy garment. I can only assume it was no longer in one piece when it got to David.

    auckland • Since Dec 2006 • 595 posts Report Reply

  • Robbie Siataga,

    What disturbs me is, like Esmee Denters before him in getting signed by Justin Tmberlake off some impressive youtube hits and now Bieber doing likewise with Usher.

    theres now a whole gaggle (googol) of wannabe teen idols looking to do the same.

    it's like kiddie porn with live soundtrack, dunno if thats healthy eh ?

    "Hi I'm blah blah blah record label guy blah blah blah meet me in the carpark at blah blah blah and we'll go to the studio to record a demo just don't tell mum or dad"

    Since Feb 2010 • 259 posts Report Reply

  • Stephen Judd,

    Bart, listen to the interview in NZ - the guy keeps saying "Gew-man" in his NZ accent - the interviewer - being a NZer - does not pronounce the "R" sound.

    The technical terms are "rhotic" and "non-rhotic".

    That was the very first thing I thought when I heard about Bieber's otherwise inexplicable lapse, too. I have first-hand experience of rhotic North Americans being unable to cope with such mundane words as "here" or "water" when spoken without an R. I can't think of any examples of incomprehension going the other way but then we hear rhotic accents all the time via film and television and popular music, whereas non-rhotic ones are genuinely rare in North America.

    I expect the Dalzielian muse could make something of "err-rhotic" but I'm not up to the task...

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 3122 posts Report Reply

  • Bart Janssen,

    It has ever been thus. There are no more ardent fans than tiny girls.

    Oh yeah I get that. And I also get that it isn't a creation of the modern media. For some reason there is a need to adulate (and ululate).

    Jeez, how old are you Bart??

    hmmm old enough to remember the Beatles frenzy and to be horrified that my female friends liked this.

    I totally get the intensity of the emotion that goes along with these teen stars. I'm just not sure why such a need to go crazy exists in our species (and yes I am accepting that Canadians are the same species :P).

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 4461 posts Report Reply

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