Black, white and blue: the racial antagonism of The Smiths’ record sleeves

Black, white and blue: the racial antagonism of The Smiths’ record sleeves

ANDREW WARNES

"Abstract
As Matthew Bannister has recently suggested in these pages (see Popular Music, 25/1), The
Smiths stand at the head of a 1980s Indie canon based on its rejection of a commodification
associated with contemporary black US musics. This article argues that this racial understanding
has also bled into the band’s critical reception, encouraging many to assume that Morrissey and
Marr drew on exclusively white influences. Specifically, I argue that the white camp icons from
the 1950s and 1960s who famously adorn the band’s record sleeves together form a kind of
smokescreen, or ‘beard’, which stokes interest in Morrissey’s sexual predilections and orients it
away from his and Marr’s Black Atlantic sources. The pre-immigrant Britain summoned up by
these icons, I argue, helps prevent fans and critics alike from grasping that Morrissey’s lyrical
attempts to find humour and succour by remembering pain is profoundly inspired by the
African-American form of the Blues."

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Oudp1pUZ9pAwRpkE0Ri81qWLf9gTBKrD/view?usp=sharing

Pop goes the rapper: a close reading of Eminem’s genderphobia

Pop goes the rapper: a close reading of Eminem’s genderphobia

VINCENT STEPHENS

Abstract

"This article argues that controversial hip-hopper Eminem is more properly termed a genderphobe
than a homophobe. Eminem consistently uses homophobic language to critique gender behaviour,
not sexual orientation. Focusing on genderphobic lyrics more accurately reveals hip-hop culture’s
emphasis on gender behaviour rather than the emphasis on sexual object-choice that homophobia
implies. The focus on genderphobia also highlights a discriminatory practice aimed toward
external behaviour that is related to homophobia but operates differently in certain cultural
realms. I ground my discussion by focusing on the centrality of authenticity in hip-hop and
gender propriety’s centrality in comprising hip-hop notions of authenticity. Additionally, I
emphasise how all pop stars rely on personae to convey convincing images to the public. I conclude
by analysing the Pet Shop Boys and Mariah Carey’s ‘answer songs’, which directly address
Eminem’s genderphobia and authenticity."

THE BOOTY AS THE BEAST: CONFRONTING THE BOOTY IN THE CONTEXTS OF HIP HOP CULTURE AND FEMINISM

THE BOOTY AS THE BEAST: CONFRONTING THE BOOTY IN THE CONTEXTS OF HIP HOP CULTURE AND FEMINISM

Hajdú Orsolya Judit

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1uEdTpdjwgXX5DOpGilQBZy7UO3RphB5r/view?usp=sharing

Pioneer Spirits: New media representations of women in electronic music history

Frances Morgan

"The Alternative Histories of Electronic Music conference in 2016 reflected a rise in research that explores new and alternative directions in electronic music historiography. Accordingly, attention has been focused on practitioners previously either ignored or thought to be marginal; a significant number of these figures are women. This fact has caught the attention of print and online media and the independent recording industry and, as a result, historical narratives of female electronic musicians have become part of the modern music media discourse. While this has many positive aspects, some media representations of the female electronic musician raise concerns for feminist scholars of electronic music history. Following the work of Tara Rodgers, Sally MacArthur and others, I consider some new media representations of electronic music’s female ‘pioneers’, situate them in relation to both feminist musicology and media studies, and propose readings from digital humanities that might be used to examine and critique them. This article expands on a talk given at AHEM and was first conceived as a presentation for the Fawcett Society event Sound Synthesis and the Female Musician, in 2014."

https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/organised-sound/article/pioneer-spirits-new-media-representations-of-women-in-electronic-music-history/2F9E569FEEA8EB30FBB7CD2C724A1FE9

The Don Banks Music Box to The Putney: The genesis and development of the VCS3 synthesiser

The Don Banks Music Box to The Putney: The genesis and development of the VCS3 synthesiser

JAMES GARDNER

"This article traces the development of the EMS VCS3 synthesiser from the inception of its precursor, the Don Banks Music Box, through its prototype to its commercial release. The nature of the design team and their technical and aesthetic choices are also discussed. The VCS3 is significant in that it was the first commercial European synthesiser and the team that created it – Tristram Cary, David Cockerell and Peter Zinovieff – were key figures in the development of British electronic music. This detailed study of the genesis of the VCS3 and some of the factors that influenced its design touches on many technical and historiographical strands that may be examined in more depth by future scholars."

https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/organised-sound/article/don-banks-music-box-to-the-putney-the-genesis-and-development-of-the-vcs3-synthesiser/38928808A05A6F2118B148CE302E3764

Creative Care: How to cope with being a musician

https://www.m-magazine.co.uk/features/creative-care-cope-musician/

"Dr Claire Renfrew is a music psychologist who has hands-on experience working with songwriters, composers, performers and musicians across the industry. Here, she reveals some of her key findings and offers vital coping mechanisms for creatives…

Looking back on 2017, it’s been a watershed year for our understanding and acceptance of mental health issues across the music industry. Artists including Frank Carter, Stormzy and Years & Years have spoken openly about the problems they’ve faced, helping push this subject further up the agenda."

Song Doctors

https://www.m-magazine.co.uk/publishers/song-doctors/

"Tina Hart sits down with some of UK publishing’s most revered A&R execs to find out how they’re steering the hand of pop in 2017.

Within the music industry ecosystem, publishing A&R is an ever-booming business – just ask the Music Publishers Association’s (MPA) Chief Executive Jane Dyball. Over recent months, she’s declared A&R investment by British music publishers at an all-time high, with the gap between publishing and record label expenditure creeping ever closer.

The publishing sector is home to some of Britain’s most revered senior A&R executives, from major to indie, executive publisher to writer publisher, relative newbie to practically legendary. They may offer different services and cultures, but one thing these executives can agree on is a full and varied workload. So what’s keeping them busy and how are they cultivating the writers in their charge?"