X rated music videos and the Children

While reading Q magazine this month (issue 340) I came across an article by Eamonn Forde discussing the soon to be introduced age rating on music videos.

His argument that went along the lines that this is the first measure of a slippery slope of the government saying “you can’t sing those lyrics” which of course is a road no artist wants to go down however I think the ‘powers that be’ have a bit of a point.

I have a 3 year old daughter and I attempt to show her music videos on TV and so often a massive number of channels are skipped through because the content of the video just isn’t suitable for a child to watch. Now I’m not expecting mtv to be cbeebies in the day but bar some highly censored videos you can see things that would make BBC 2 blush during the day.

And this is an issue, so often the most suitable channels are kerrang, scuzz and mtv2 because so often those genres of music are more concerned with how the instruments are played not getting some hot guys or girls in that make up for a lack of content or to follow the mantra of the song.

So what to do?
It’s alright moaning but what should be done? Well why don’t we have the same rules for soaps and television applied to music videos then after 9pm you can show Robin being a creepy man.

Essentially if Emmerdale wouldn’t put it on at 7:30pm then mtv can’t put it on at 8 am.

(I’ve published this on my phone as laptop is out of action for the moment so if it looks crap…that might be why)

If I was in Q magazine…

A sad little fantasy of mine has been to appear in the pages of Q magazine. I have a subscription and read mostly the whole magazine each month, I’m a little behind at the moment currently reading last month’s issue. In this issue Graham Coxon was interviewed talking about his musical influences, so I had an idea, I’ll ask my self the same questions!

Hello how’s your day been?
Quite good, I’ve got a lot done and really had an enjoyable day. I put my daughter to bed tonight which I don’t normally do too often so that was nice.

What was the first album you ever bought?
That would have probably been a Michael Jackson tape… Dangerous or Bad I think… I’m really unsure of his personal life but musically he is just brilliant and even at a young age I knew that.

What was the first gig you saw?
My parents from a young age used to take me to pubs in Castleford and we would watch bands on a Friday and Saturday night. One band (deep blue maybe…) had a talented drummer who would play most gigs with his eyes shut, at the time I thought this was stunning, I now know this is easy to pull off. The first big gig was again Jacko at Sheffield Don Valley (might had been obsessed…slightly)

What album made you want to write music?
Peter lent me OK Computer, enough said really. The album blew my mind apart, so many levels, so atmospheric and still is to this day. I knew I needed to make music with other people, if only to cover Radiohead!

Have you ever bought a record on the strength of the album cover?
Yes only once, Massive Attack’s 100th windows. I found it in FOPP in Manchester and picked it up for £3, £3! It was a stunning gatefold vinyl and thought I can’t go wrong with Massive Attack. I was right it is pretty good.

What do you listen to in the car?
It changes often, also I can plug the iPod into my car so that opens most of my music collection up for use. Somehow Take That also seem to be present but also some decent electronica or instrumental music isn’t far away.

Is there a classic album that does nothing for you?
Bon Jovi – it’s just nothing to me (sorry Gemma if you are reading!) its just non-impactful to me, I just think ‘stick some ACDC on and everything will be better’.

What album do you never tire of hearing?
Oh anything by my musical hero’s 65daysofstatic – ever album is a work of beautifulness. Even EP’s of tracks that didn’t make albums would be any other bands peak of output but this is 65 cutting room! Every album is just brilliant and never tires.

What was the last record to inspire you?
I think possibly the last Beastie Boys record – So good, some of the rhythms used are hard, raw and uncompromising. When I listen I think ‘I’d like to play this live’.

What do you want played at your funeral?
The song that comes to mind is Jimmy Eat World’s May Angeles Lead You In but also Sufran Stevens Predatory Wasp, it wouldn’t be totally true to my life but it’s one of the most beautiful songs ever written.