I am surprised that he has won this competition, as in previous years it has been awarded to more commercial acts - I don't see Michael playing arenas or main stages at festivals because his sound doesn't suit it - but I am glad that pure talent and skill have won over mass appeal. It would be hypocritical of me to suddenly promote him just because I saw him before he went huge, particularly as it's not really the kind of music I would usually listen to (all in moderation), but I enjoyed that free concert and feel that he deserves the acclaim and success he is now set up to receive this year. Good on him.
Friday, 6 January 2012
Tell me a tale
THIS MORNING Michael Kiwanuka was announced as the winner of the BBC Sound of 2012, as voted by music industry experts and 'tastemakers'. In October my lab, completely by accident, went to one of his concerts at the Yardbird in Birmingham, expecting instead an Open Mic night. The concert was free and stripped back, most of the acts being one-man-and-his-guitar affairs. Michael performed with only himself and a bass player, mesmerising the audience into revered silence with his soulful and blues-tinged melodies. His bass player seemed to be having a blast too.
I am surprised that he has won this competition, as in previous years it has been awarded to more commercial acts - I don't see Michael playing arenas or main stages at festivals because his sound doesn't suit it - but I am glad that pure talent and skill have won over mass appeal. It would be hypocritical of me to suddenly promote him just because I saw him before he went huge, particularly as it's not really the kind of music I would usually listen to (all in moderation), but I enjoyed that free concert and feel that he deserves the acclaim and success he is now set up to receive this year. Good on him.
I am surprised that he has won this competition, as in previous years it has been awarded to more commercial acts - I don't see Michael playing arenas or main stages at festivals because his sound doesn't suit it - but I am glad that pure talent and skill have won over mass appeal. It would be hypocritical of me to suddenly promote him just because I saw him before he went huge, particularly as it's not really the kind of music I would usually listen to (all in moderation), but I enjoyed that free concert and feel that he deserves the acclaim and success he is now set up to receive this year. Good on him.
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1 comments:
I think he might be huge, as often winning this is part of a big PR push, but am interested to see if this year my cynicism will be challenged.
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