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Pete Atkin >> Words >> Clive in The Word
(Message started by: Tiny_Montgomery on Today at 11:25)

Title: Clive in The Word
Post by Tiny_Montgomery on Today at 11:25
Clive James is quoted extensively in a piece headlined "How To Write A Song" in latest issue of UK rock magazine The Word. The two-page article is illustrated with a picture of Clive and Pete, plus an inset shot of the Midnight Voices album. Strangely, Clive has to share space - and his replies -  with Amanda Ghost, co-writer for James Blunt, among others. Clive admits he came to admire Leonard Cohen following his song, Everybody Knows, after previously "deriding" the Canadian bard. Although Clive is not quoted on the James-Atkin songwriting relationship, he is asked to name "the most perfect song ever written." His reply? "Ian Dury singing his wonderful Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick." Note at end of article mentions Midnight Voices is released by Hillside Records on March 17.

The Word can be found at www.wordmagazine.co.uk, but I don't believe the Clive piece is online.

Title: Re: Clive in The Word
Post by S J Birkill on Today at 11:47
For the benefit of those reading this thread in isolation, it should be noted that the story of the The Word interview is covered in some depth in the thread Not Famous Enough (http://www.peteatkin.com/cgi-bin/mv/YaBB.cgi?board=Music;action=display;num=1204659273) in the Music (http://www.peteatkin.com/cgi-bin/mv/YaBB.cgi?board=Music) board of this forum.

Pete's own replies, edited out of the printed version in favour of Ms Ghost's airy wisdom, may be accessed Here (http://www.peteatkin.com/theword.htm).

For a publication which styles itself "Music Magazine of the Year!" and tries to project an image of a team still caring about their subject rather than the commercial bottom line, I think this editorial decision stinks.

SJB

Title: Re: Clive in The Word
Post by Rob Spence on Today at 12:31

on 03/16/08 at 11:47:12, S J Birkill wrote :
I think this editorial decision stinks.

SJB

Me too. They substitute Amanda Ghost for PA on the basis that she "perfectly outlined the appeal of a Joni Mitchell lyric" (Mark Ellen's editorial) when all she says is some vacuous nonsense about being overwhelmed. Her main claim to fame is writing the lyric to the execrable James Blunt song "You're Beautiful" (or Yew're Bewdiful" to give it its correct title). Turn the page to a feature on "The 20 worst number one singles" and the first thing you read is, yes, "You're Beautiful" which is described as a "simpering creepfest". Special attention is drawn to the lyrics, which are described as "a stalker's anthem."
Lazy editing and poor judgement. I can't imagine any of The Word's target demographic (or whatever they call it) would give a toss about James Blunt, so why give him and la Ghost space? Well, she's photogenic, and that obviously counts in a magazine which also devotes nine pages to a feature called "Heroes and Hotties" in which their staff choose people they "worship and fancy".  By an amazing coincidence, this gives them the opportunity to print lots of pictures of women displaying their bosoms.
Frankly, I think a half-decent sixth form could do better. If the interview gets more sales for the album, great. But if this is "Music Magazine of the Year" God knows how bad the rest are.



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