The year that was: 2009

2009 saw many strange and interesting occurrences. A mixed race person took control of the most powerful country in the world, and everyone chanted 'Yes We Can' for months on end. UK politicians were exposed to be abusing their expenses and taxpayers money… like we didn’t already know. The recession (aka the ‘credit crunch’) took hold and being poor became fashionable for about four seconds. It snowed heavily twice, bringing the UK to a standstill twice. Swine Flu was the new Bird Flu. Madonna went shopping and brought back a black baby, actually speaking of babies, in the UK everyone was outraged at the prospect that a thirteen year old could be a dad (it wasn’t his kid in the end, the fifteen year old girl had slept with two other boys around the same time… I know what you’re thinking, but I’m not going to say it…). There were racial controversies all over the place, and it highlighted how some people’s thinking was still stuck in the fifties and sixties. Usain Bolt ran. Fast. Everyone tweeted their business. Beyonce was everywhere, copied other artists and made more money from it then they did, and did that dance about four million times. Lady Gaga was also everywhere, doing her best to prove that she should be sectioned. A spinster became a star. Chris Brown flopped his own career by hitting Rihanna, however her career went from strength to strength. She celebrated this by wearing less clothes and pretending to be dark and mysterious. Kanye West did a Kanye West and stole Taylor Swift’s moment at the MTV awards. Lauren Conrad left The Hills, only to be replaced by someone inferior. Grime was watered down and became mainstream. R&B died, and has been since repackaged as ‘Urban’ music. BNP leader Nick Griffin was allowed on Question Time. Everyone watched. Somebody won Big Brother 10. Somebody won the Mercury music prize. Tiger Woods was revealed to be a part time slut. Rock beat pop to the UK Christmas number one. This made Simon Cowell mad, but his face showed no emotion. And a lot of celebrities dropped dead like flies, proving no-one, no matter how rich, talented or beautiful is immune from Death’s jaws.

I think I’ve spent most of this year being confused. A-levels completely flummoxed me. People completely bewildered me. Funny that, because last year I wrote about how I’d learnt so much. That’s the problem with seventeen year olds, they think they know everything.

So that was 2009.

What are you calling next year? Twenty-ten or two thousand and ten?

Overheard Articulation...

About the snow:

"Oh well there goes a lot of no claims bonuses...sad times"

Still Up and Still Running...

Urban [ur-buh n]
-adjective

Characteristic of or accustomed to cities; citified: He is an urban type.


Articulation [ahr-tik-yuh-ley-shuh n]
-noun

Expressing in coherent verbal form; "the articulation of my feelings"; "I gave voice to my feelings"


Hello and Welcome.

I am a seventeen year-old male living in London, and this is my blog about growing up in this vibrant, messy, noisy city that I call home. I write about what I see, read and hear; things that inspire me.

I am not the stereotypical "rudeboy" knife-carrying, territorial, feral creature. It has become all too easy hating on teenagers, and I find it funny that this has been allowed to happen. It's bizzare, a lot of people say teenagers don't have any respect for anyone, but how can you cultivate respect for people when they are disrespectful to you?

Anyway, so this is my blog. Read it, comment, suggest things, criticise (nicely)...Whatever.

Peace.

That was me… then. This little old blog of mine is a year old today. I’d never expected things to take off so quickly, I’d barely expected anything to result from this. But things have, and for that I’d like to say thank you.

I’m still Urban Articulations.

A Music Moment...

Normally, when a classic song gets covered or reworked it is butchered by the artists (e.g. Tinchy ‘no talent’ Stryder defecating all over Olive’s nineties classic ‘You’re Not Alone’, choosing to chat nonsense all over the track, and replacing the original vocals with much weaker ones). However, Leona Lewis bucked the trend when she covered Snow Patrol’s ‘Run’, and Florence + the Machine also have done a brilliant cover of Candi Station’s ‘You’ve Got the Love’.

And then South London’s finest underground band, The XX, took Florence’s cover and injected some oldschool Garage vibes into it, creating this masterpiece that makes me crave for nineties music.

If you don’t know who The XX are, they are a three piece (two boys, one girl) South London band who, according to their Myspace (remember that?), make ‘New Wave/ Pop/ Soul’ music. However, I’d describe it as R&B (remember that?) mashed together with Indie music, which makes for an odd, yet amazing debut album. Although none of the songs on their album are particularly up-tempo, they have carefully crafted it so it doesn’t bore after a while. Check out two of their own songs below.

‘You’ve Got the Love’ remix is available to download from the 15th of November, Florence + the Machine’s version is out now, and The XX’s debut album ‘XX’ is out now in the UK. Phew.

One of The XX’s influences. Clickkkkkkk…

Overheard Articulation...

From @Almienova:

"Haha my lil sis just said she will punch me so hard the black side of me will drip out of my ear."

I've been a bit quiet

There has been a lack of posts recently, sorry; this is due to a hectic life away from the blog.

However, there is no need to fear, as there are new posts coming soon…

Overheard Articulation...

Spotted on Facebook:

Me: How has school been so far?

Girl next door: It’s been good, except some girl at school called me ‘Chocolate Face’

Me: Oh no what did you do?

Girl next door: I said at least I'm not a 'Pasty Stacey'

Film Review: Fish Tank

Mia (Katie Jarvis) lives on an estate in Essex. Having just been kicked out of school, she spends her days lounging around and wandering the streets. Mia’s passion for street dance goes unnoticed by her mother (Kierston Wareing), as she is generally unconcerned about what Mia gets up to, because she spends her days in a drunken slumber. Mia’s little sister, Tyler (Rebecca Griffiths) is also an ASBO waiting to develop, but she has the best one-liners. Mia’s household is one incapable of expressing love; Mia’s mother constantly berates Mia, and Tyler probably doesn’t even know what the word is, lost amongst the tide of expletives she spits out daily.

One day Mia’s mother brings home a new man, Connor (Michael Fassbender). Connor is just what Mia has been missing. He pays attention to her, ‘you dance like a black – I meant that as a compliment’ (hahahaha). He fills the father role that Mia so obviously needs. However, this ‘father figure’ is a new experience for Mia, and her confusion is evident as the relationship her and Connor have takes a sinister turn…

Katie Jarvis had never acted before Fish Tank; she got this role through a chance meeting with the casting director who saw her having an argument with her boyfriend in Essex. Jarvis is naturally talented; she manages to pull off a convincing performance as Mia, able to show Mia’s vulnerability beneath her foul language.

Fish Tank is a slow-burner, minutes pass by without any dialogue. However, instead of this being a weakness, it is a strength, as this is done is such a way that the film does not become boring. There are pretty shots of Essex also, which is remarkable as that area is… well it’s no utopia. Director Andrea Arnold manages to show factors that affect young people who come from low earning families without being patronising or being over the top. It’s a fine line, but she walks all over it.

Overheard Articulation...

"Yo mama so hairy she wears a Nike tag on her weave so now everybody calls her Hair Jordan."

Film Review: 500 Days of Summer

500 Days of Summer stars Joseph Gordon-Levitt as Tom, who works in an office where he writes greeting cards. Although he has been working there for four years, he finds his job dull, and yearns to be an architect. One day during a meeting he is introduced to Summer (Zooey Deschanel), his boss’s new assistant. He is taken aback by her beauty and immediately starts trying to find a way to get to know her. However, she isn’t interested in romance, and she doesn’t believe in love…

WARNING: This is not a love story; it’s a story about love.

500 Days doesn’t run in a chronological order. Instead, we zip from one day to the next in a rather haphazard fashion, whilst all the time explaining Tom and Summer’s relationship. After ten minutes I had no idea what day we were on (I’m no good with numbers), but I was immersed into a love story that is, by far, light-years better than most rom-coms. Nerdy Tom and super-slick Summer seem like characters that only appear in films, but as the characters unravel, I found myself thinking of people who are similar to them. In fact, on some level, I can identify with both characters (I’m not sure what this says about me, but anyway...).

I could go on and on about how creative the film is, and how the soundtrack is perfect, and how Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Zooey Deschanel play their parts brilliantly… I could go on and on about everything. But I won’t, because it may spoil it for you. So go and see it.

Is it too early to start talking about Oscar nominations?

Overheard Articulation...

Person One: "That is far too expensive."

Person Two: "No, no my dear. It’s obviously clear to see, you are just broke."

A Music Moment...

Even though this song was released in August, it has only just caught the attention of the masses, due to its use in the promotion of a film and certain TV programmes. ‘Sweet Disposition’ is by Australian band The Temper Trap and it channels memories of my summer (click here, and don’t ask questions), which is nice as the temperature plummets and I dig out my winter coat.

‘Sweet Disposition’ is out now.

P.S: I miss music like this...

I thought I’d never miss school…

The other day I was on the bus around three o’clock. And on my journey I noticed the mix of uniforms decorating the streets. The school term has started again.

And to be honest, I felt left out.

I left secondary school two years ago. I went to a boys school in East London, and while my school certainly wasn’t the best, we made the most of a bad situation. Though we had no facilities, some of the most inept teachers ever (I remember a supply teacher asking me how to control the class… I was fifteen…), and toward the end we all loathed the dump, I’d still pick the five years I spent there over the two years I spent at college (and probably the three years I’ll spend at university).

I remember during my days at secondary school (high school if you’re from across the pond), hanging around on street corners after school or during lunchtime, and anytime anyone else walked past in a different uniform, we would give them a nasty look. Just because they were from a different school. I used to argue with friends of mine whose school was more ‘ghetto’ or ‘gangster’ or simply whose school was the worse. I’d always win (I knew it wasn’t anything to brag over, but I certainly wasn’t going to win the ‘whose school is better’ argument).

I remember on school trips clambering onto public transport and throwing newspapers at each other, being loud and laughing at unfortunate commuters who unwittingly sat on the same carriage as us.

I remember we would only be well behaved if any decent-looking girls were nearby, walking past the local girls school meant putting on the pretence that we were hard, we were interested in them, but at the same time we weren’t bothered.

I remember sitting in classes, constantly being told off for ‘talking while the teacher is talking’… but still carrying on with my conversation. I relied a lot on my natural ability in lessons, and never worked too hard. Once a teacher said to another pupil I was talking to: ‘He can talk in lessons because he’ll pass, but you can’t!’

I remember, I remember… but memories are all I have.

How things change.

Overheard Articulation...

“You’re the only person I know with tight jogging bottoms”

Film Review: District 9

‘District 9’ starts off twenty-eight years in the past, when an UFO breaks down over Johannesburg. The aliens that are on board the UFO settle in the city, specifically in District 9, a slum on the outskirts. Over the twenty-eight year period, the aliens are treated as lesser citizens, dubbed ‘prawns’ due to their physical appearance.

Wikus van de Merwe (Sharlto Copley) heads up the operation to clear the aliens from the slum in District 9 to a new facility called District 10, which isn’t more than a concentration camp. However, when Wikus spills an alien substance on himself, things start happening…

The parallels with the apartheid regime are clear, with the aliens not given the same rights as the humans. However, the film veers off this and instead focuses on Wikus, which is a bit of a shame. But this film is extremely enjoyable, so I would advise you to go and see it.

A Music Moment…

If you have raved/partied this summer, and they have played Funky House, you would have come across at least one of these tunes. This has been the soundtrack to my summer.

Kyla - Daydreaming

Meleka - Go

Egypt - In The Morning

Perempay & Dee ft. Katie Pearl - In The Air

P.S: And this was my tune from a couple of summers back

Film Review: Dance Flick

Dance Flick stars a bunch of unknowns and nearly everyone that has starred in a black comedy in the last fifteen years. If you grew up watching Trouble TV, you’ll recognise some of the faces.

The comedy film parodies a lot of other films, including Save the Last Dance, You Got Served, Hairspray, Fame, Step Up and High School Musical (among a million others). The plot is thin, and, in my opinion, the laughs are sparse. I was laughing more at the large black man sitting a couple of rows behind us who was practically snorting.

Don’t make time for this film, only watch if you have nothing better to do.

Overheard Articulation...

About the (overly complicated) student finance form:

Me: What did you put for ‘which country are you a national of?’

K: I have a British passport, so I tell these people that I’m British… so they give me more rights.

Ghastly negativity

All the above clippings are from the Metro newspaper during the last three days. In the week where thousands of teenagers will get their A-levels, the media has decided to crank up the dial on the negativity scale.

Every year the cycle is exactly the same. Before A-level results come out, everyone (I mean ‘professionals’ of some sort) discusses whether they have been ‘dumbed down’. Then the results come out, and some people do well, but their achievement is instantly rubbished because the exams are deemed ‘too easy’.

But the headline that ‘even monkeys can get A-levels’ suggests that if you don’t do well, and come out adorned with a string of As, you must be an absolute retard. Not even as intelligent as a monkey. Bubbles looks down at you and laughs, while intelligently spending Michael Jackson’s money.

What I find most offensive is that some of these people who claim that the exams are too easy have never actually sat one. They don’t know what it’s like, having to start college and have an exam looming in under four months. How about the constant fiddling with the grade boundaries? You thought you got a C? Oh no you didn’t, they moved the grade boundaries yet again and now you are stuck with a D. And as for the mark scheme, did you know that your answer could be technically right, but it’s not on the (I won’t swear) mark scheme, therefore, unfortunately it’s wrong.

If A-levels are so easy, why not just get rid of them? You can’t call them easy and not come up with another alternative, it isn’t fair to the thousands of teens who worked hard and done well (and also to those who didn’t). I’m sick to death of news reports that constantly kick the youth in the guts.

I’ve seen politicians talking about this, why are they allowed to have a say anyway? Most of them can’t even do basic maths (one word: expenses), some can’t articulate a coherent sentence, and they spend all day arguing like small children and get paid for it… now that’s what I call easy.

If you have nothing positive to say, then say nothing at all. Silence is golden in this case. It’s two a.m. (GMT), I’m off to bed, I’m tired of fretting. It doesn’t matter anyway, as I probably will not get into university this year…

P.S: Vinspired’s Voicebox aims to shed some positive light on the youth. Check out their website here, and fill out their surveys and comment on their blog posts, to give a REAL picture of the youth today.

Overheard Articulation...

About Beyonce’s ‘Sweet Dreams’ video:

“Classic recession video. The thing looks like an entry by a GCSE Media student.”

Film Review: Moon

‘Moon’ stars Sam Rockwell as Sam Bell, an astronaut who works on the Sarang lunar base for Lunar Industries, a company that provides renewable energy for Earth. He has no one to talk to apart from a robot called GERTY (voiced by Kevin Spacey). Due to what seems like communication problems, he can only receive occasional messages from his wife on Earth. Bell is coming to the end of his three year contract when he starts hallucinating, briefly seeing a teenage girl on the base. Then he has an accident…

‘Moon’ is hands down the weirdest film I’ve ever seen. Never has my brow been so furrowed. However, this isn't necessarily a bad thing as I enjoyed the film. Kaya Scodelario (of Skins fame) makes an appearance, sporting a pretty bad American accent (sorry, but it’s true). A must see, even if you aren’t into Sci-Fi.

A Music Moment...

All I know about this girl is that she’s white and American. However, it’s the beat of this song that reminds me of parties pre Funky House, when R&B and Hip-Hop were played and people who can really dance showed their prowess.

‘Outta Here’ is out now in the UK

P.S: It’s a hot day today in London, can you feel The Heat?

Overheard Articulation...

Person One: Why do you think that God allows people to suffer?

Person Two: Maybe he’s in a pub somewhere drinking, I don’t know?

A Music Moment...

‘Kiss of Life’ is by Mercury nominated British band Friendly Fires. The video is awash with colour, unlike London at the moment with its grey skies. This slice of friendly pop will get you moving along with it, although perhaps not like Ed Macfarlane’s awkward moves as displayed in the video. However I do give him A+ for effort. ‘Kiss of Life’ is released August 31st in the UK.

P.S: This will definitely get you moving.

Overheard Articulation...

About girls:

T: Yeah man always "SO WHEN YOU COMING TO SEE ME?"

Me: Why can’t they make some effort?

T: They should make effort and bring their own money

Me: LOOOOL…this conversation is proving that both of us aren’t ready for having a chick

T: I’m ready… but is the chick ready THAT’S THE QUESTION

Me: LOOL

My box is a Voicebox

If you solely relied on the media to paint a portrait of the British youth, you probably wouldn’t leave your house. And I wouldn’t blame you.

Whether we are reportedly stabbing each other to death, robbing old grannies, drawing on private property, or just simply being an unemployed nuisance, the newspapers are overflowing with negative stories about the youth. This, in turn, has led to older people fearing the younger generation.

Voicebox, by Vinspired, wants to change all of that. Voicebox aims to show what the ‘kids of today’ are actually like, based on questionnaires filled out by the kids themselves. But in order to create a detailed picture of young people today, they need as many people to take part as possible. So you, sitting there reading this, you need to take part. Even if you are just young at heart.

Another positive about this project is that it encourages people to use their data, instead of just locking it away in a filing cabinet, only for people in suits to see. Good stuff.

Voicebox. Get involved.

Image from the site.

Overheard Articulation...

My mum (about the Moon landing):

What route did they take to the Moon? Through the Sahara? I don't understand, is it not like [a] plane?

Plan B

With 30,000 students not getting a university place this year, I thought it was about time I had a plan B, just in case I am one of the unfortunate.

If it was up to me, I’d stay at home and get paid quite a lot to do very little. (I actually know someone who was fortunate to land a job like this, but I won’t name names here.)

However, with the current economic situation, it’s getting harder and harder to find even a part-time job, let alone a full time one. And employers want years and years of experience to even consider hiring a potential employee.

So basically, if I don’t get into university, I may be screwed.

Who's hiring?

A Music Moment...

With the sun high in the sky, and temperatures reaching their peak, it’s time for a chilled out summer anthem. One EskimO are an animated band from the UK. Headed by Kristian Leontiou on lead vocals, the calming sounds of ‘Kandi’ is the perfect end to a summer’s day.

Kandi is out now.

P.S: Two underrated tracks from Bat for Lashes. ‘Daniel’ and ‘Pearl’s Dream’.

Overheard Articulation...

"She’s got teeth like a tin-can opener"

Michael Jackson…

If I went back in time and told Michael Jackson how his life would turn out, he probably wouldn’t believe me.

I wouldn’t blame him. His life reads like a bizarre soap.

A Music Moment...

I’m not Beyonce’s biggest fan; I think she has turned from being a talented teen into a woman who tries too hard, and sings the same song with pretty much the same beat. However, this song entitled ‘Broken Hearted Girl’ sees Beyonce back to her best and not singing about Halos or copying Ciara.

But, please. No more black and white videos.

It’s a 2 for 1 bonus today, I know this came out a while ago but this has grown on me immensely. It’s Lady GaGa’s ‘Paparazzi’ below.

P.S: They played this in Selfridges today. Such a summer tune.

The Jesus Creepers are back…

Jesus Creepers: Sandals that look like Jesus himself would have worn when he walked the earth.

Summer is back, and so are the horrid feet trapped in battered sandals. Please, please make sure your feet are in tip-top condition if you are going to be brave enough to expose your toes. I was on the Tube the other day, and one man’s feet looked like tree bark. I’m being serious. They looked like real tree bark. His toes were worse. And he sat next to me. I shuffled into the corner of my seat, terrified of his feet making contact with mine and infecting my feet, even though I was in shoes. (I’m not talking about the man in the picture.)

If you know your feet are not a pretty sight, please refrain from showing the rest of us. Wear a pair of plimsolls instead. They are lightweight, and they keep the whole foot covered.

Overheard Articulation...

All the ladies like the bad boys, so you go and get a bad boy. And he treats you bad. And you act surprised, why are you mad? You got what you asked for.

Film Review: Transformers 2

Transformers 2: Revenge of the Fallen, sees the return of Shia LeBeouf, Megan Fox and, of course, Optimus Prime, Megatron (yes, Megatron) and the autobots. I’m not going to run through the plot, because you can find out that information somewhere else, however, what I will tell you is that this is a must see.

The standard was set high for the first film, and the second one did not disappoint. Full of high-octane action and enough CGI to paint the town red, Transformers 2 ups the anti by including more robots, more fight scenes, more drama, and more bits of Megan Fox to drool over admire. The comedy also has stepped up a gear; at one point I was laughing out loud with tears in my eyes. Watch out for the twin autobots, as their comedic value is too much.

Here’s a tip: Don’t sit near the front. Most of the action just turns into a blur of colour. And go to the toilet beforehand, because the film is nearly three hours long.

The Days Drag On

This revision lark is absolutely doing my small (but perfectly formed) head in. I’ve just remembered that in six months I won’t need most of the stuff I need to learn for my exams. And in a year’s time I won’t even remember anything.

But, I suppose that is not the point. I’ve started them and these A-level exams are a hurdle I must fling myself over.

Anyone wanna help? I’ll find upcoming Edexcel Psychology, Biology and English Literature questions especially helpful…

Overheard Articulation...

Brendon: You think everyone should pay tax for your existence dude.

Me: Don’t put ideas into my head.

Overheard Articulation...

"I wanna be a thousandaire ‘cos it’s a recession!"

THANKS BRENDON!

How's that for props?

Thanks for the Memories…

The first day.

The legendary Biology Field Trip.

The last day.

Two years ago, I was eager (to the point of being impatient) for something new, a new adventure with new people in a new environment.

However, things didn’t go my way and I didn’t get into the college I wanted to. So I hastily applied to a sixth form some of my friends were talking excitedly about. I felt like I was walking blind joining the sixth form, I knew nothing about the school, the first time I saw it was on results day.

Walking in on the first day, I felt disorientated and nervous, cautious of what I said and how I portrayed myself, eager to please and to fit in. I was pretty clueless as to what the next two years had in store for me.

Full of ups and downs, the last two years have tested me as a person, forced me to wise up. I learnt not to judge a book by its cover, I remember instantly disliking someone on the first day for some reason, but he turned out to be a good friend. I said ‘yes’ instead of saying ‘no’ and suffered because of it. I watched people follow other people while trying to be something they’re not. I laughed and vowed never to be a sheep.

I also met some cool people; however we led polar-opposite lives. The jaw-dropping antics of some of the other students made me realise that is not what I wanted for myself (they are nice people, but the stories I could tell…). I laughed a lot. I mean a lot. To the point of nearly choking to death. Twice. I done some crazy things, sang a lot of songs randomly, done the Cameo Candy dance about a million times, ate hundreds of cookies, something like three tonnes of bread, and spent the GDP of a small country in the sixth form canteen. I even grew a bit.

The experiences I’ve had have made me the eighteen year old you ‘see’ before you. However in leaving, I’ve found myself asking ‘What’s next?’ For the first time in my life, I don’t know for definite what I am doing come September. It’s something that I find daunting. But as one door closes, another will always open.

I just have to find that door.

Good memories are never forgotten...

Overheard Articulation...

"You need to take out Seabiscuit, Black Beauty and all that other horsehair out of your head."

Film Review: Wolverine

I had been waiting for this film since X-Men 2 came out (that’s when the rumours started about this film), so you can imagine my excitement when it finally came out.

Well… it wasn’t overly terrible but it certainly does not deserve any accolades. Hugh Jackman spends a lot of the film screaming (must have been a strech on the vocal cords), reminding me of that awful film Push. There are also some terrible clichéd moments that had me thinking “Really?” For example (I’m not going to delve too deep into the story), there’s one bit where a helicopter explodes behind Wolverine and he walks, in slow-mo, away from the flames.

And halfway through the film you realise, “What was the point of all these other characters?” They feel like extras, in the film for the sake of it. I guess the film’s saving grace is Hugh himself, I think he’s believable as Wolverine. I read while training for the film he was benching around 140kg, I’m just off half of that, he’s inspired me go drag myself into the gym so I can look a bit like a brute. Just a bit.

Image accquired from here.

Cough, sneeze, cough cough…

So Swine Flu (or H1N1 as all the geeks are calling it) has hit the headlines, and yet again everyone is worrying about the possibility of some sort of apocalypse. People have taken wearing surgical masks, even pimping them out:

But do you remember all the other diseases that had the media whipped up into a frenzy?

There was Swine Flu’s predecessor, Bird Flu (H5N1), which I wasn’t too bothered about as I didn’t know what the heck was going on. In 2002, a SARS outbreak happened, and anyone on the Tube who coughed was given the side eye, especially if they were Chinese (where the outbreak happened). The Foot and Mouth outbreak of 2001 had half the population turning vegetarian and the other half worrying we’d run out of meat (guess which side I was on). And during the mid-nineties, Mad Cow Disease caused my mother to ban beef from our diet for the next ten years.

And yet even after all of that, here we are, still living and breathing.

I’m just saying that there’s probably a good chance you’ll make it out of this alive. And if I’m wrong, so what, I never claimed to be a health expert anyway.


Image copied from here.

Overheard Articulation...

"Listen to you, you get one girl's number now you think you're Flavor Flav"

My friends are jokes.

Read this...

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2009/apr/10/black-in-london

I personally think that he is just a bit bitter due to his own experience of living in London. I agree with certain aspects of his article, the bit about white people being promoted quicker than black people, however, at the end of the day, many black people have lived in London all their lives and have done just fine.

He says that “we need black universities just like they have in America.” I personally wouldn’t go to one, the idea of living in a multi-cultural area but going to an all black school seems a bit bizarre to me.

He also insists that “some of these hideously white companies should be forced to hire and promote black people.” Erm… I wouldn’t want to work where I wasn’t wanted, would you?

What do you think about Peter Akinti’s article? Comment.

Overheard Articulation...

On the subject of materialism:

“Some people have the mentality of owning a Ferrari when their paycheck only permits them to own a wheelbarrow.”

Get Your Champagne ft. Goldrush…

I’m not really feeling this tune; however, the featured three black boys wearing black and yellow scarves are the dance troupe known as ‘Goldrush’. Hailing from East London, I’ve watched these three guys come from doing end of term school shows (and practicing in our school sports hall and drama studio, good times...) to now appearing in music videos. Mixing urban and contemporary dance, Goldrush places an emphasis on creating routines that complement a song perfectly.

Check out their Myspace and Facebook group for more information, and contact details.

Oh, and guys, any business you get through promotion on this blog will mean that I get 50% of all earnings. You know I’m not joking.

A Music Moment...

Before I talk about this track, I actually can’t believe I managed to find the official video on YouTube, what with all their legal battles and what not. They need to sort it out, or I may not be able to keep doing this feature…

Anyway, back to the record. I’ve been hearing Jazmine Sullivan’s name floating around for a while now, but it is this track that has made me sit up and pay some attention. ‘Dream Big’ is taken from her debut album ‘Fearless’, which (I think) is out now. This song is an uplifting, catchy R&B song that can inspire even the idlest person to get up and do something productive.

Expect this song to be quoted in various Live Messenger screen names/ Facebook status’s/ Twitter updates. I already have.

Oh and listen to ‘Bust Your Windows’ on her MySpace. Tune.

P.S: One of Jazmine's inspirations. This song is TEN YEARS OLD. Can you believe it? Click.

Still on the radio…

Why do DJs love to talk over the record being played?

I find it so irritating. I’m there, listening to a tune (and it always seems to happen when my favourite tune is on), and it’s nearing the end when the DJ opens their mouth to sprout rubbish ALL OVER THE END OF THE TUNE. The end of the tune is obliterated by the DJ’s nonsense, usually either a random stupid epiphany, or to tell me that they are ‘LOVING THIS TUNE’. Ok, so why talk over it?

DJs on pirate radio stations are the worst when it comes to this (now before comments are left about how I shouldn’t be listening to pirate radio stations as they are illegal blah, blah… I know. But refer to my other post about radio stations. Where else will DJs play oldschool garage, or nineties R&B?). Pirate DJs, for some reason, cannot resist talking ALL OVER the track. Or even singing along to it. And then they reload the track a million times. No. Just stop it.

You may love the sound of your own voice, but I don’t. Just let the song play.

Overheard Articulation...

While watching ‘Daddy’s Girls’ on MTV One:

“His name is Schwe? That sounds like a sound effect like Schweeeee…”

I watch too much rubbish on TV.

On the radio...

I listen to music every single day. If it’s not through the radio or music channels, it’s through my iPod or even that song that is playing in my head. I love music.

However, recently I’ve noticed one fatal flaw with music played on the radio and on TV. It’s all the same.

Not a day goes by where Alesha Dixon’s breathe slow plays (the song makes me physically sick), or the latest repetitive offering from Akon (a blight on the music industry – he must be eradicated), or the latest skinny jean indie band (in a long, long line of them). But why is it that I never hear a Jill Scott song played through the radio? Why do I never see an Erykah Badu video played on MTV One?

Radio stations and music channels seem to promote very few artists, which is a shame, because there are so many out there. Artists with songs that will make your head explode. Some people would say that this repetition is due to the fact that this is what people want to hear, these are the records that people buy. Well how are people supposed to know about any other artists if they are never played on the radio or on TV?

Goapele, Terri Walker, Dwele, Jill Scott, Common, Eyrkah Badu, Angie Stone, Janelle Monae, N.E.R.D (I could go on, but I won’t), all amazing artists but rarely seen in the mainstream. Some would say that this because they are not ‘pop’. Well ‘pop’ is the abbreviation of ‘popular’ and the only way to become ‘popular’ is to be exposed to the masses.

All I’m asking for is a little variety. If I hear Akon holla ‘NA, NA, NA’ one more time, I think I may actually kill myself.

Overheard Articulation…

About a boy and girl who may be conducting a ‘secret’ relationship:

“...well they don’t get along unless they’re touching each other...”

‘The ultimate boardroom battle is back…’

Yes, Sir Alan is back with the fifth series of the UK version of The Apprentice. This is one of the very few respectable programs I watch, and I do watch this religiously. The new set of candidates are an interesting bunch, with one of them (Ben Clarke) proclaiming that ‘making money is better than sex.’ He’s probably not doing it right (not that I would know). He’ll be one of the first four out, you wait. Or he’ll be the snake that gets away with everything. Another candidate (Kate Walsh) says: "My CV speaks for itself. I've always excelled academically and I have really achieved within a corporate environment across sales, marketing and a number of different aspects of business." She could have just said ‘BLAH’ and it would have had the same effect.

One of the candidates even looks like Debra Messing (of Will & Grace fame). I actually think it is Debra Messing. She ain’t had a decent acting role since that show ended. Here she is masquerading as ‘Paula Jones’:

Try and tell me she doesn’t look like her.

UPDATE: Watch this, hilarious...

The Apprentice (UK) starts on March 25th on BBC One at 9pm.

Images taken from here. Thank you.

A Sunny Disposition

There was a change in atmosphere on London’s streets today. As the cloud broke and finally gave way to some decent sunshine, people suddenly seemed a bit merrier as they went about their daily business (however, it was not warm enough for shorts, and certainly not warm enough to be walking around with no top). I, for one, forgot how the sun felt against one’s skin. I took a couple of (bad) pictures, just because, it makes a big change from all the greyness we have had all winter. It got me thinking about the coming months ahead with great anticipation.

Summer 2009. Let the good times roll.

Film Review: Push

Don’t bother. I’m being serious.

‘Push’ stars Chris Evans and Dakota Fanning (and a whole bunch of other people, but you probably wouldn’t know their names, maybe apart from Ming Na who was in ER). It’s basically about these people who have powers, but X-Men it ain’t.

I couldn’t even tell you what the storyline of the film is. Stuff happens, there’s something about a drug, but I don’t know what it does, or who it affects, things explode, people die. There was a bit of unintentional humour, with some Chinese men screaming every now and then because that was their ‘power’. I really want to know what their faces looked like when they saw their script basically consisted of: Scream. Pose. Scream again.

The film is dire, everyone apart from Chris Evans looks like some sort of freak, and there weren’t even any good looking girls to pass the time. Dakota Fanning is made to look like a prostitute, she’s playing a thirteen year old and she is wearing the shortest skirt and sitting with her legs open. What the hell?

An epic failure.

I jumped on the bandwagon

Indeed I did. You ‘lucky’ people can now follow me (and everyone else) on the new Facebook… Twitter. Here’s the link:

http://twitter.com/UrbanArticulate

Yes, I know ‘Urban Articulate’ sounds a bit dumb, but the people at Twitter deemed UrbanArticulations too long to use as a username. So I was lumbered with that. Oh well.

Anyway, follow or whatever and view my mundane rambles between blog posts in 160 characters or less (the unique ‘selling’ point of Twitter). You’ll probably see me type such enlightening points as: ‘I’m eating,’ or ‘I’m hungry,’ or ‘I’m at sixth form. Bored.’

But that’s the point, isn’t it?

Overheard Articulation...

During biology:

“This lesson is so dry it needs E45.”

Ha ha.

My new favourite tee…

Ok, I know this was blogged about yonks ago by my good friend Whathehelle on Ruby’s ChatChat blog, but I have only just purchased my very own Terratag tee.

Believe me, I have wanted to buy one for ages but because I usually have to justify my purchases to someone, I thought I’d wait until I had a decent exuse to spend money again.

My excuse came in the form of a neon-themed party that was being held by another good friend of mine. Since the only colours I wear seem to be navy blue, black, brown, white and grey, I thought it was time I invested in a brightly coloured tee. The Terratag brand immediately sprang to mind.

Still relatively unknown by most (but slowly emerging out of the shadows), Terratag offers hoodies and t-shirts that are different from the mainstream using bright colours, funky designs, robots, lightening bolts and stars (if anything has stars on it, I will buy it). This enables the wearer to attract attention to themselves (a plus if you’re an attention seeker) for all the right reasons.

Don’t be too surprised when you get asked a million times: “Where did you get that from?”

The tee in action:


I was a bit sweaty as you can see (the shiny forehead gives it away). I was dancing for ages with no break. The thing around my neck is one of them things that flash when you switch it on.

But, anyway, go and set a trend in your area. Go buy Terratag.

Top image taken from here. Dur.

I’m eighteen today…

1991

2009

And I’m not excited. Not one bit.

If you had asked me last week if I was a bit excited, I perhaps may have given a slight nod. But now…I just don’t care. Growing up just leads to more problems, more things that have to be sorted out, and more decisions to make. I don’t want to have or do any of those things.

Sure, I can drink and rave until the cows come home, but that just means less money and less sleep. Less sleep is not a good thing for me; I become extremely ratty when I haven’t had a decent night’s rest.

It’s weird… I don’t feel eighteen, but then again how are you supposed to feel? As a young child, I remember lying awake at night, trying to imagine what it would be like to be fifteen or sixteen. I struggled to think about how I would act be etc. because I found it simply to hard to fathom, I think a part of me thought I just would never reach that age.

But here I am, eighteen years of age. Complicated (though character building) times ahead. Woo.

A MUSIC MOMENT...

I used to have this long, rambling rant about this song and Janelle Monae. But I realised that it doesn't need it. Click play on the video and also check out a live performance of Sincerely, Jane.

Welcome to the resurrection of music.

Genius.

P.S: Something a bit calming…

“Babies with babies…”

NO. NO WAY.

I didn’t believe it. ‘Impossible!’ I said. I was on my way home from Oxford Street after sixth form (I bought a pair of braces from H&M, but I forgot to stop off in Mash, silly me). And I’m on the train now, minding my own business, when the London Lite confronts me with the head line ‘DAD AT 13’. Huh?

It wasn’t until I got home until I got the lowdown on the story. The news was exclusive to The Sun newspaper (surprise, surprise), so read the whole article and check out the video here.

The mind really does boggle. He conceived the child at twelve. How, how on earth can you be doing that sort of stuff at such a young age? And as for the girl, she’s fifteen. What self respecting fifteen year old goes out with a twelve year old? She must be in year ten, and he must be in year eight. That breaks the rules! You can’t go out with someone two school years younger than yourself! This wouldn’t have been allowed in my secondary school. In fact, a boy in my last school went out with a girl that was two school years younger than him and he was ridiculed for the duration of the ‘relationship.’ It didn’t last long, mainly because he realised that she was YOUNG.

At the time of writing (Saturday), I was having doubts about whether the child was actually his. He’s thirteen, four foot (that’s tiny, even I was bigger than that), voice hasn’t even broken… I don’t think he’s even begun puberty.

And lo and behold, just now I’ve discovered this article, which is basically saying that the twelve year old may not be the father. Surprise, surprise (again). You look at that girl and you tell me she’s only done it once (did anyone else notice she looks really old, like thirty old?). Other boys, a bit older (thank goodness), have come forward saying they done the deed with her around the same time.

This whole story proves that teens should not be indulging in such behaviour. They should be visiting youth centres, museums and the cinema. Not family planning clinics and Mothercare.

Oh, and I have another suggestion. They should all go and get tested. At least one of them must be crawling with something.

Deplorable.

A Music Moment...

Leona Lewis, with her epic vocals, releases ‘I Will Be’ from her quadrillion selling (a slight hyperbole) debut album ‘Spirit’. This isn’t the best Leona tune ever (if any of Leona’s representatives are reading, I’m You, Here I Am…big tunes, release them), but it’s still decent and miles ahead of other R&B songs. It features GossipGirl’s Chace Crawford (for about three seconds), and the first time I saw this video I laughed at her accent, it sounds so…British against Chace’s American articulation. And her acting is hilarious too: “I can’t come with you... I’ll meet you, I promise…” HA HA!

It was written and recorded by Avril Lavigne first, if you want to damage your ears and listen to her version, click here.

Oh and by the way, Mr. Missing, I Youtubed Jaydiohead. Clever, I like it, though I know practically no Radiohead songs (and not that many Jay-Z songs neither). Check out Minty Fresh’s YouTube channel here to see what Missing In Action is on about.

P.S.: More epic vocals here.

Please, think before you speak

If you haven’t heard about the whole Carol Thatcher incident, read about it here.

Many people think that this is ‘political correctness gone mad.’ Here are some comments I lifted off The Guardian’s website:

Here we have yet more instances of ridiculously oversensitive individuals overreacting to things... Carol Thatcher's remark is apparently heard by a dozen people off-air in the supposed privacy of the green room and she is dropped like a hot potato. Jonathan Ross's much more inappropriate remarks are made on air, heard by rather more than 12 people, and he retains his job. It would seem that Carol Thatcher does not bring the same financial advantages that Jonathan Ross does.
James Wilkie
Torpoint, Cornwall

As chief executive of Tameside in the 70s and 80s, I had dealings with a major employer, Robertsons Jam of Droylsden. Their famous golliwog had been removed from jam jars, except for exports to Africa. Africans, they told me, liked it.
David Spiers
Glossop, Derbyshire

The last comment makes me angry. Just because a couple of Africans told him they like it, it makes Carol’s comments ok? These comments are idiotic as well as mindless. The first comment claims that Jonathan Ross’s comments on Andrew Sach’s granddaughter were ‘much more inappropriate.’ Erm…no, no they weren’t. Even though more people heard Jonathan Ross’s comments, really at the end of the day they don’t have the capacity to re-ignite racial tensions and divide a nation.

At the end of the day, Carol Thatcher shouldn’t have said what she said. And the fact she may have said even more offensive comments, as well as the fact she won’t apologise (even describing the whole situation as “total bol****s”) shows she lacks understanding. The fact of the matter is, when you’re in the public eye, you have a responsibility. Whether it was in private or public, she should have not said this word, as there is always a chance that it would be leaked out. If I was famous, you’d never catch me saying the ‘n word' in public or private, and I’m black.

Both Carol and the above comments show that they do not fully understand the full ramifications of this word. If I was in that green room with her, and she said that, she would have had to pick her face up off the floor.

All you famous people should think before you speak.

Read Some Like It Essex’s and Mike Phillips’s views. Also read about how different newspapers have different perspectives, and the toy, which can still be bought today.

Thanks to The Guardian’s website.

Flashmob!

I’ve just literally just come back from the flashmob that was being held in Liverpool Street Station. If you were living under a rock and have no idea what I’m talking about, read on. Basically, a flashmob happens when a group of people meet up in an area at the same time. And I’m not talking about ten or twenty people; I’m talking a couple hundred. Or thousand (like in this case). The one today took place at Liverpool Street Station, and most people found out through the genius that is Facebook. It was supposed to be a fifteen minute silent dance, where everyone turned up and danced to whatever was on their own ipod.

I’m telling you it was one of the most mental experiences of my life.

I got there about nine minutes late, but it was already in full swing. I was instantly overwhelmed with the amount of people present. And as for the ‘silent dance’ bit, scrap that, it was more like a loud rave. People screaming and jumping around (my friend said he saw a man strip – I didn’t, thank goodness) and dancing to, well, nothing.

The police were there also, and I think they were amazed to see how many people turned up. Commuters who didn’t know about this momentous event also were shocked to find Liverpool Street Station literally overflowing with people. It was so bad that they shut the Central Line part of the station, which rendered me stranded.

I exited at around thirty five past seven, leaving the police the impossible task of breaking up the mob (they yelled at everyone to leave over the public system – to no avail) and quickly called my sister to find out an alternative route home (she knows about these things). En route to Moorgate station, I took some more pics:


After arriving at Moorgate, I topped up my Oyster (it cost me ONE POUND THIRTY FIVE to get to Liverpool Street, criminal!) and got on a train and changed at Bank to get back onto the Central Line. On the final part of my journey, the train didn’t even stop at Liverpool Street as it was still closed. There were some Chinese people on the train who were eating something I can only describe as Rice Krispies that were glued together in a shape of a cylinder (I thought this was intriguing, I would have taken a pic but it would have been rude). A couple of stops before mine, two girls got on the train wearing school shirts and very, very short skirts (they pretended they weren’t cold, they were lying to themselves). They flirted with the men around them (which clearly made the guys night – funny!) and got off at my stop. Then, I nearly slipped and dropped on sand that was put on the road (I don’t care what anyone says, the ‘Waffle grip’ on Vans is not actual grip), and I thought: ‘Is it going to snow again?’ I looked up, and lo and behold, it was.

Madness. Only in London, eh?

A Music Moment...

Now that we know his name, Daniel Merriweather has decided to make an album. Mark Ronson’s protégé (Daniel’s vocals were heard on Mark Ronson’s rendition of ‘Stop Me’, released in 2007) has decided to release this as his debut single. While ‘Change’ isn’t the best song ever, it is pleasant on the ear due to Merriweather’s soulful vocals, and Wale provides a decent set of rhyming. ‘Change’ is out now in the UK, and his debut album, ‘Love and War’ will be out soon.

P.S: I picked this song, back when her hair was pink and before she went rock chick on our R&B asses.

"Walking in a Winter Wonderland..."

‘Snow Day’ (as it has been dubbed by everyone under twenty-two), aka Monday 2nd February, saw London covered in the heaviest snowfall in eighteen years. This was particularly great for teachers and the youth, as school was cancelled for thousands of school children (including myself). I used yesterday to take some pictures around my area. While walking around, even though it was freezing, I noticed there was more of a relaxed, careless atmosphere in the air (even though there were no buses, and the Tube was virtually non-existent). I guess it’s because it’s an unusual situation. But a nice change, nonetheless.

Well done to everyone who made a snowman.

P.S: Now we have had a really cold winter, can we have a really hot summer, please?