Aspiring writer/journalist/banterist... offering some thoughts on music, life, travel and the beautiful game.
My aim? To present ideas that get people thinking; maybe get them to try something new; raise some interesting questions; or just have a laugh. Who knows?
Please feel free to comment/sign up/get involved in the debate or raise questions of your own. Your views and opinions inspire me to write more.
"Deadlines are fast approaching, not only do I need to work, but I need to work efficiently. Need to focus. Come on!"
"Right, i can do this. First things first, I'll get up early. Yeah, thats a great start."
"What next? Ah, a nice cup of tea. Perfect. Comfy chair - check. Some snacks. Just in case."
"Nice one, right, now let's focus. Come on, focus. Focus. Yeah, that's it, I'm focussing now. Oh yeah, I'm the king of focussing. I can't believe how easy it is to focus..."
For many of us, this scenario is all too familiar. It would appear that the moment we have some important work to do, we suddenly find that folding clothes, hoovering and washing up are far more exciting ways to occupy ourselves. Focussing can be very difficult, particularly given the draws of the internet and the surprisingly high level of amusement found in endless videos of dogs on skateboards.
Help is at hand, however, via the glory of music. The following is a handy list of albums and artists that have inspired me to quit Facebook, turn off my e-mails, forget about Youtube and really get down to work. So, grab a cup of coffee, fire up Spotify, get your headphones out and see what you think...
Definitely one for the big headphones. Sit back, switch on and feel the driving base rhythms block out the irrelevance of your surroundings and channel your focus right down to your work. With tracks like 'One More Time', 'Aerodynamic' and 'Digital Love' blasting in your ears you will find yourself getting lost in the music as it kick starts your creativity. Furthermore, the high energy of the music will keep you awake therefore reducing the need for a caffeine boost.
In at number FOUR: The Cinematic Orchestra (Ma Fleur and/or Every Day)
If you find the familiarity of Daft Punk too distracting, how about some new music? The Cinematic Orchestra combine fantastic fusion of jazz, classical and chillout music with some truly brilliant guest vocalists, none more memorable than Patrick Watson who sessions on 'To Build A Home' and 'Music Box'. On their own these albums are a formidable force to combat procrastination but how about downloading the FREE software on http://www.last.fm/, typing "The Cinematic Orchestra" into the radio function and discover a plethora of similar artists with some equally interesting sounds.
For those with a more traditional and refined taste there is Classic FM, a radio station has always inspired in me a very intellectual timbre: calm; non-eccentric; sophisticated conversation and - of course - some of the best working music you could ask for. There is a terrifically rich, pure and non-aggressive essence to classical music that seems to harness the cognitive power of the brain. Great stuff.
Super chilled out. Groovy jazzy base. Catchy offbeat riffs complemented superbly by sporadic yet enriching vocals, all held together by tight and intricate percussion. I don't know what it is about Black Sands but there are no albums quite like it for drawing out your creative side. For those times when you need to really get your head together and push through with a piece of work this stunning album calms you down and gets you right on task. As close to perfection as you could need to get.
Maybe I have a slightly bias outlook given that I am head-over-heels in love with this band but I have the results to fully justify elevating the Radiohead back catalogue to number one on my list. This music is dissertation fuel and should be reserved for the most intense work sessions. The unrivalled variety of stimulating sounds, pioneering experimentalism, wonderfully composed and passionately assembled albums permeated throughout with Thom Yorke's uniquely emotional and enchanting voice are just a cross-section of the infinite list of superlatives afforded to Radiohead over the years. When listening to this band you get lost; immersed; engulfed in the music. All outside distractions are immediately eliminated leaving just you and your task. What more could you ask for? Not much I'm afraid. Radiohead - number one. Unquestionable.
Cruzeiro, PSV Eindhoven, Barcelona, Inter Milan, Real Madrid, AC Milan, Corinthians...
Three time FIFA World Player of the Year, all-time leading World Cup goalscorer, two-time World Cup winner...
There are very few players in the history of World football that can boast such an impressive list of clubs and honours, but Ronaldo Luís Nazário de Lima was no ordinary player...
It is a sad day for football when a player with such inspirational skill, poise, balance and power exits the game. For many of us, Ronaldo was the player that started our love affair with football; a player that reminded us why it is called the 'beautiful game'. A true football artist. His pioneering level of skill, quick thinking and even quicker feet combined with a determination, willingness to stay on his feet and an almost unparalleled ability to find the net regularly for both club and country will undoubtedly place this this Brazilian legend on a plinth reserved for the very greatest exponents of the game, or will it?
Is Ronaldo a "true great"?
After reading the reams and reams of praise emanating, from news sites, Twitter, Facebook; watching the almost endless supply of Youtube compilation videos and listening to news reports heaping praise on the former Brazilian number nine, it got me thinking about how players are viewed when they retire. Do we give them a fair ride or should we re-evaluate the God-like status we afford some players? Lest we forget, Ronaldo has had his fair share of controversy on and off the field...
Arguably Ronaldo's most infamous off-pitch scandal was in April 2008 when the Brazil star was exposed after inviting three prostitutes back to his after a nigh of partying only to find out they were transvestites. In a desperate attempt to keep the story covered up he offered them bribes but as we now know, these offers proved unsuccessful. On top of this, Ronaldo has certainly played the field, with four marriages, numerous girlfriends and four children from three different women.
Although by modern standards this is actually quite tame behaviour for a professional footballer, particularly one with such a high profile, surely these are not aspirational qualities that kids and young players should be looking up to. In modern society actions like this - although not illegal - are certainly immoral.
Which raises a very interesting question - to what do great players need to be role models off the pitch? When it comes to remembering players who's on-pitch ability was not only unquestionable but revolutionary is it necessary to make reference to their personal life? Should football players be judged by a different yard stick to the man on the street?
Now, to be clear, I am not throwing Ronaldo in the same pot as some of his fellow professionals who are guilty of far more disagreeable acts. Moreover, I am questioning whether integrity and honour in a player's personal life should play a larger role in the way in which their career's are judged?
Ronaldo has also encountered several problems on the field towards the end of his career. Intense criticism began to stir over the Brazilian's very visible weight problems after his second spell in Italy, causing fans and critics alike to question the player's commitment to his fitness and level of performance. Try as he might, Ronaldo has been unable to shake off this reputation as he entered the twilight of his playing days.
Ronaldo's final bow was also steeped in controversy. As Daniel Gallas from BBC Brazil points out in his blog (http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/9397354.stm) Ronaldo has endured a very troubled farewell. After his club Corinthians were eliminated from the Libertadores in such embarrassing fashion Ronaldo received probably the harshest backlash. Graffiti outside the club's training ground in Sao Paolo read "O Gordo" ("The Fat One") and a day later 300 fans gathered outside the training headquarters to throw stones at the team bus.
How bit a part should the end of Ronaldo's career play in the way in which he is remembered in the football halls of fame? Will this "bitter and violent row with fans and journalists" live long in the memory or become just a minor blip in a career defined by unrivalled success?
Ronaldo is not the only player that should be held to account...
There are some very interesting examples of players who have been at the centre of controversies that will never really leave them...
As glorious a player as Zinedine Zidane was, you would have to say his image has been somewhat tarnished by his unforgivable head butt on Marco Materazzi in his last ever game for France...
...such a minor skirmish should not be any more than a feint bruise on the career of one of the world's greats, should it? Arguably not, yet if a member of the public committed the same act and was arrested or punished then he would be face a greater deal of stigma. See what I mean about using a different yard-stick for footballers?
Sometimes fans can be fickle...
Is Diego Maradona remembered in Argentina for his problems with cocaine and prostitutes? Of course not.
Should Wayne Rooney be characterised by his dealings with prostitutes or his ability to score sublime goals and inspire his team on the pitch?
These intriguing examples lead us to ask another very important question...
What distinguishes a great from a "true great"?
There are very few players in the modern game who can claim to have a flawless and untarnished records but in my view this is a pivotal characteristic that a separates greats from "true greats".
Like it or not, football players are role models. They possess the opportunity and the power to become national heros and as such, they have a responsibility that transcends their commitments on the field.
What raises Pelé above and beyond the likes of Maradona in my eyes is not his skill, on-pitch influence or finishing, it is his role as an ambassador and a sportsman. Pelé is a true gentleman, a man that any parent would not hesitate to encourage their child to emulate whereas, as gifted as Maradona was, his lifestyle choices are abhorrent and inexcusable. Can we really be saying to youngsters in the game that Maradona is a "true great"? Such a tag is both unwise and unwarranted.
Football players have such a unique chance to influence the behaviour and attitude of kids through their conduct and through displays of sportsmanship. Regrettably there are too many players that have arrogantly wasted the privileged position they find themselves in which is why we should be careful to afford maximum praise to those who lead by example in an environment where excessive wealth and temptations conspire to corrupt the most innocent of hearts.
In Ronaldo's case..
He will certainly live forever in the memories of football fans for all the wonderful moments he gave us on the pitch but one must ask whether his unique ability is enough to earn him the title of "true great"?
What do you think? How far should a player's attitude off the pitch affect the way the we remember them once their career has ended? Is unquestionable skill enough, or should we impose stricter criteria when categorising great players?
*sigh* ... "Panorama: Three top FIFA men 'took bribes'" (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-11841783) is the headline that greeted me this evening as I undertook my standard hourly check of the BBC Sport homepage. I wish this story was unique but, sadly, it is merely the latest revelation in a string of stories that have tarnished FIFAs waning reputation.
With the ensuing Panorama investigation, the suspension of two FIFA officials back in October and the resignation of Lord Triesman after allegations in the Sunday Times, all of a sudden the privilege of hosting the 2018 World Cup seems to be based more about 'who you know' rather than on any solid credentials such as infrastructure and fan participation. Looks like the 'noble art' of politics is alive and well in football. *sigh*
With the cacophony of controversy surrounding FIFA and the 'back door dealings' of the voting process, the FA, and indeed English football, has to ask itself how much honour and pride it can take if the 2018 bid meets with success on Thursday? Indeed, are recent events detracting from the overall sense of achievement a country should feel in gaining the right to host football's greatest competition?
Is it all about money?
All this talk of bribery and corruption places huge question marks over the motivations of the bid teams themselves. It cannot be questioned that hosting a World Cup would bring a country together but an unfortunate side-effect of this is the tremendous level of commercial sponsorship and financial reward tournaments of this scale bring. For the men in suits who make the final decision and indeed bidding officials the dollar signs must be flickering in front of them. Football is not about the money; a sentiment that REAL fans will echo.
After England's exit from the 2010 World Cup, unofficial football pundits and podcasters David Baddiel and Frank Skinner mused over the workings of the English "Back the Bid" campaign and came to the conclusion that the FA seemed to care more about the 2018 campaign than the success of the national team down in South Africa.
"The whole bid process is utterly embarrassing isn't it? It's people begging FIFA to give them the World Cup". I mean, shipping in David Beckham for the ceremonial handing over of a big book to Sepp Blatter, the highly publicised meeting between David Cameron and the FIFA president, people crawling round behind the scenes to please the voting officials - it would appear that the entire process is just designed to massage the ego of the FIFA suits.
Skinner suggests that a 'Eurovision Song Contest-style' system whereby countries that win the World Cup automatically assume the right to host the next competition would be preferable. Such a procedure would, in theory, force countries to focus on the performance of their team on the pitch rather than political dealings off it.
I cannot doubt that the nature of the bidding system has tainted the prospect of "England 2018" due to the money-grabbing, grovelling and sucking up that it clearly takes to be successful.
Some hope...
...BUT (and it is a big but) I must stress that the football fan and the proud Englishman inside me is one hundred percent behind the England 2018 bid for one reason and one reason only... it's the World Cup! I think it would generate such a huge degree of excitement in a country where football is an obsession and would furthermore inspire and encourage England's current crop of youngsters to really get their heads down and work harder than ever for the honour of wearing the three lions on home soil. Patriotism is undoubtedly a huge aspect of the bid from a fans perspective and the bidding teams must recognise this.
Given the fact that hosting a World Cup would mean so much to so many people surely it is essential that the winning bid campaign is selected fairly via a voting process that is transparent and trustworthy? Sadly, the commercial nature of modern football will always encourage those in charge to chase profits over passion. The problems, unfortunately, rest with FIFA who have some serious issue to address, but will they bother? Only time will tell...
After the recent international break it would appear that the so-called 'new era' of English football is off to a flyer! So much so that I thought I'd just offer a few thoughts on a national team that we can't seem to live with, or without!
I think it was Thierry Henry that offered one of the most accurate and profound summaries of English football I've heard in recent times:
When asked by an interviewer a few years ago what the best thing about the England team was he replied, "their desire" and when the interviewer subsequently asked what the WORST thing was about the England team was, he replied, "their desire".
This is so true. I genuinely feel that one of the key problems affecting England can be summed up in one word... "Expectations". Not just from the fans, but the media, pundits and maybe even the players themselves which is why I would urge England fans to take a healthy dose of realism, especially in the wake of South Africa.
It must be said though, on the positive side, this new England team is beginning to display the balance, passion and youthful exuberance that I think we have been craving for many years and when watching this new look team play I am filled with optimism for the future. The starting XI now features players who appear to be genuinely excited about playing for England (an element that I feel was lacking from the previous stalwart who felt they could just walk into the team on account of their reputation, rather than current form). Fabio Capello is rewarding promising young players and forcing the likes of Lampard, Terry and Rio to stop taking their England shirts for granted.
I do think, however, that after all these years of supporting England, a sprinkling of pragmatism is recommended. If Fabio can start to mould a team (as he is currently doing) with the correct mix of youth and senior talent, all playing in their natural positions and with Steven Gerrard as captain then the team can begin to rebuild and really start reaching its potential, but this is not enough on its own. I have a secret ingredient that we need to add to this formula... TIME.
I think it is very unwise to start talking about England winning the Euros in 2012 because once again we are falling into the trap of heaping unnecessary pressure on young shoulders. England fans need to be able to respect the international pedigree of some of our main rivals and accept the role this plays in their success at major tournaments. We can't go talking about England winning tournaments and Wayne Rooney top-scoring before anyone has even kicked a ball!
That's why I think we should all adopt a mindset geared towards World Cup 2014 instead of the Euros. Let the likes of Joe Hart, Adam Johnson and Phil Jagielka gain as much exposure to the international game as possible over the next four years; let them get the feel-good factor back into playing for England. The fans must allow this very raw group of players to use Euro 2012 as a valuable learning curve (a quarter final appearance is both realistic and fair to expect, anything else will just be a bonus). That way, the pressure will be lessened and these players can play with the freedom that will ultimately enable them to flourish. If the fans and media adopt this conciliatory approach then by the time we reach World Cup 2014, we will have a core group of matured players in their mid-20s with invaluable tournament experience and a really good understanding of each others game; capable of doing something really special.
To sum up, I think that we need to rid ourselves of the curse of expectations and adopt an heir of patience (after all, we've waited forty four years already for England to deliver). I, for one, would happily hold on four more years to develop a team capable finally delivering what we all dream of, wouldn't you?
In my previous post I eluded to the quaint yet iconic intimacy of the BBC Introducing Stage at Reading Festival and its glory as a vehicle of great new music, but let me stress... this is not the only place at Reading where one can discover great new live acts. On the contrary, tucked away at the edge of the arena there is another venue that gives new, exciting and perhaps more established bands the chance to rock the crowds of Reading --> The Festival Republic Tent.
This small yet vibrant stage is the ideal forum from which to experience tomorrows big acts before the big crowds find out about them. Don't just take my word for it though, just look at the calibre of bands that have played daytime slots on this stage in the past five years: Friendly Fires, Kasabian, Foals, Frank Turner, The Maccabees, Klaxons, We Are Scientists, Arctic Monkeys, Kaiser Chiefs... the list goes on... Indeed, it would appear that event organisers seem to have an uncanny knack of booking bands that go on to grace bigger stages at later times at some of the world's greatest festivals. (Check out how many of this list played the festival this year for example... http://www.readingfestival.com/lineup/index.aspx) This Festival Republic Tent has become so synonymous with great live music that even alternative rock heavyweights Ash returned to Reading for the eighth time to headline this tent this year - a performance I was fortunate enough to be in the front row for!
My main point is that where the BBC Introducing Tent is at the forefront of cutting edge new music, the bands that play there are very raw. In the Festival Republic Tent the bands tend to be a little more polished whilst still maintaining a humble attitude and infectious awe at being on stage at Reading. Here is a little rundown of my own personal highlights from the Festival Republic Tent this year with a few hot tips for the next year...
Kasiuss - a fantastic live act: dynamic crescendos, energetic yet controlled vocals, powerful piano, raw guitar work and an aggressive edge fill the atmosphere of the tent, instantly gripping the crowd and commanding their complete attention - in a word, epic. The studio recordings on their website and myspace can't do enough justice to this band, the true atmospheric and dynamic qualities that they posses in abundance can only be realise live. Check their Myspace, Facebook and even Twitter to experience their uncompromising sound... http://www.myspace.com/kasiuss
Kassidy - four very hairy chaps, four guitars and four sets of lungs all blend seamlessly together to create some really rich and uncomplicated sounds. Considering they were first up on the final morning of the festival - a time when four consecutive nights sleeping in a field on a £2.50 foam mat begins to take its toll - they created a great atmosphere with their resonating and harmonious vocals. Listen to some of their tracks on myspace and see what i mean... http://www.myspace.com/kassidyuk
Villagers - one of the highlights of the weekend by some distance. An amazing new band who's awesome new album "Becoming A Jackal", I have since found out, has been shortlisted for the Mercury Music Prize. Every element of this band from the memorable and slightly haunting vocals, dark lyrics, enchanting ambience and humble tones had me mesmerised for the entire set. Solo artist Conor J O'Brien has taken the singer-songwriter style to a new and exciting level I can can't quite put my finger on.
In his own words, the music shouldn't be "too dressed up", instead it is written to sound, "like someone whispering in your ear, but also to get the epic-ness at times".
Myspace... http://www.myspace.com/villagers, or on Spotify... Villagers – I Saw The Dead
Freelance Whales - a really interesting and distinctive band. On stage: a wonderful mish-mash of harmonium, banjo, glockenspiel, synthesisers, guitars, bass, drums and a waterphone have you intrigued and excited before the show even starts. Once the music does start the "interlocking rhythmic patterns" and "lush textural layering" that make this band so unique, emerge for all to hear. Great 'innocent-sounding' tracks with an edgy and energetic element make Freelance Whales a band you will not forget in a hurry.
Ash - right, close your eyes for a second... (after reading this of course) and think of such classic tracks as "Girl From Mars", "Shining Light" and "Burn Baby Burn". Got that? Right, now imagine how good they would be to hear live; the energy, the sing-alongs, the chords, the guitar solos... Yeah, got that image? Ok, now TREBLE IT and you still wont be anywhere near knowing just how good this band are live, especially in such an intimate setting as the Festival Republic Tent! Ash (playing their eighth Reading Festival) remind us that the true musical geniuses only need a small stage, a simple light show and a few thousand ecstatic fans to put on a truly special show. I feel so privilaged to have been there... front row!
Spotify link... Daft Punk – Discovery
If you find the familiarity of Daft Punk too distracting, how about some new music? The Cinematic Orchestra combine fantastic fusion of jazz, classical and chillout music with some truly brilliant guest vocalists, none more memorable than Patrick Watson who sessions on 'To Build A Home' and 'Music Box'. On their own these albums are a formidable force to combat procrastination but how about downloading the FREE software on http://www.last.fm/, typing "The Cinematic Orchestra" into the radio function and discover a plethora of similar artists with some equally interesting sounds.
Link to homepage here - http://www.classicfm.co.uk/, also available on 100.9FM
Spotify Link... Bonobo – Black Sands
...and in at number ONE: Radiohead (all albums)
Kassidy - four very hairy chaps, four guitars and four sets of lungs all blend seamlessly together to create some really rich and uncomplicated sounds. Considering they were first up on the final morning of the festival - a time when four consecutive nights sleeping in a field on a £2.50 foam mat begins to take its toll - they created a great atmosphere with their resonating and harmonious vocals. Listen to some of their tracks on myspace and see what i mean... http://www.myspace.com/kassidyuk
Villagers - one of the highlights of the weekend by some distance. An amazing new band who's awesome new album "Becoming A Jackal", I have since found out, has been shortlisted for the Mercury Music Prize. Every element of this band from the memorable and slightly haunting vocals, dark lyrics, enchanting ambience and humble tones had me mesmerised for the entire set. Solo artist Conor J O'Brien has taken the singer-songwriter style to a new and exciting level I can can't quite put my finger on.
