Miranda Sawyer & Ns

[Guest Andy BB]

She appears to have a bit of a thing about Northern.

She signs off this article ( https://observer.guardian.co.uk/omm/story/0,,1733300,00.html )

as follows

"Good formats don't die, despite manufacturers' best intentions. We might all be surfing the net, but some of us are looking for rare northern soul singles."

In this article she writes of Stuart Maccaroni

"I don't know if he dances any more. He likes walking in the Lake District, so maybe he drops a few yomp-friendly northern soul moves atop Scafell Pike."

( https://media.guardian.co.uk/site/story/0,,2062686,00.html )

Bored as I am I've also identified the potential cause of her change of heart. She's a journo, she'll Google herself it's a dead cert.

She will have found this line on a Northern Soul forum

"he's always on those shit 'ultra short term nostalgia' TV shows, talking about the '70s, spacehoppers, lava lamps etc etc ad nauseum. Him and that Miranda Sawyer. Who the f*ck are these people, anyway?"

( https://northernsoul.proboards37.com/index....9414&page=4 )

So there you have it. She likes to namedrop Northern, someone slagged her off. She hates Northern.

For God's sake don't let her come to a do.

[Simsy]

I said not wholly inaccurate. It's hardly a full-blown scathing attack on the integrity of the Rare Soul scene is it?

It's a single paragraph taken out of context in an article about something completely different.

Who's to say that she hasn't attended a London-based night playing Rare Soul where she witnessed such sights?

SMERSH for instance (venue for George Jackson & A New Chapter plus a couple of others whose name I can't recall) actually had a policy that banned dancing for licensing reasons.

Yes, there are probably sweeping generalisations in that brief eighty or so words, but I think people are over-reacting a tad.

And I've been called far worse things than a blithering idiot.

It's not a full-blown scathing attack, no. It could be looked upon by many as piece from a well known journalist in a quality Sunday paper. Therefore the unsuspecting could lend more credibility to the piece than it actually deserves.

What bugs me is she clearly doesn't know the score and to write such utter inaccurate ill-informed garbage for all to see is a liberty of the highest order imo. Also comments like "They wouldn't dream of dancing" and "blithering idiots" are comments I find offensive when referring to a music scene I care about. Guess it comes down to that at the end of the day, how much you care.

Lastly you can't dance in (what used to be called the) SMERSH Bar, because you can't dance. I mean there's no room. No room to swing a cat even.

[Guest Richard Bergman]

It's not a full-blown scathing attack, no. It could be looked upon by many as piece from a well known journalist in a quality Sunday paper. Therefore the unsuspecting could lend more credibility to the piece than it actually deserves.

What bugs me is she clearly doesn't know the score and to write such utter inaccurate ill-informed garbage for all to see is a liberty of the highest order imo. Also comments like "They wouldn't dream of dancing" and "blithering idiots" are comments I find offensive when referring to a music scene I care about. Guess it comes down to that at the end of the day, how much you care.

Lastly you can't dance in (what used to be called the) SMERSH Bar, because you can't dance. I mean there's no room. No room to swing a cat even.

Guess it comes down to that at the end of the day, how much you care.

For gods sake.....dont get on the old "I care more than you" trip.....

"Shock horror , throwaway opinion leads to bitch fight on soul source"

[Simsy]

For gods sake.....dont get on the old "I care more than you" trip.....

"Shock horror , throwaway opinion leads to bitch fight on soul source"

Throwaway comment may have meant dick if she'd said it in a pub. If you'd overheard her, you could be a bit irked. Maybe you'd find it necessary to have a word. This wasn't a throwaway comment in a pub, it was a written article in a national newspaper. And I think that explains some of the understandable feeling on this here thread.

Edited May 23, 2007 by Simsy

[Guest in town Mikey]

Well I do object to blitering. Its taken years of hard work to perfect my idiocy.

obviously my spelling is still in need of further work.

Edited May 23, 2007 by in town Mikey

[Sweeney]

It's not a full-blown scathing attack, no. It could be looked upon by many as piece from a well known journalist in a quality Sunday paper. Therefore the unsuspecting could lend more credibility to the piece than it actually deserves.

What bugs me is she clearly doesn't know the score and to write such utter inaccurate ill-informed garbage for all to see is a liberty of the highest order imo. Also comments like "They wouldn't dream of dancing" and "blithering idiots" are comments I find offensive when referring to a music scene I care about. Guess it comes down to that at the end of the day, how much you care.

Lastly you can't dance in (what used to be called the) SMERSH Bar, because you can't dance. I mean there's no room. No room to swing a cat even.

1. Northern Soul in the mass media = never been done properly, never will be, never should be IMHO.

Most of us on here can't agree what it is amongst ourselves, so how can we expect those who have at most a nodding acquaintance to do so. And why do we get so worked up about it? I personally think it's amusing. Next time I'm sitting with my cronies at a London Northern Do we can take time out from crying into our beer to discuss it in a rational fashion. But only after we've admired each others suede loafers.

2. How do you know I don't care? As far as I know we've never met. Maybe I care too much. Is there some sort of " I care about the Soul Scene" exam I can take to find out once and for all? If trying to put a little perspective into the discussion means that I don't care about the Rare Soul Scene then fine, I obviously don't care.

3. I was a co-promoter of George Jackson! at SMERSH and was told by the management at the time that their licence didn't permit dancing even if physically possible. This may now have changed, but at that point their licence meant strictly no dancing.

On a couple of occasions I had to relate this to brave punters who were trying to subvert the laws of time and space. They thought I was a lunatic for telling them that they couldn't dance to err... dance music.

4. Paper never refused ink.

Edited May 23, 2007 by sweeney

[Simsy]

1. Northern Soul in the mass media = never been done properly, never will be, never should be IMHO.

Most of us on here can't agree what it is amongst ourselves, so how can we expect those who have at most a nodding acquaintance to do so. And why do we get so worked up about it? I personally think it's amusing. Next time I'm sitting with my cronies at a London Northern Do we can take time out from crying into our beer to discuss it in a rational fashion. But only after we've admired each others suede loafers.

2. How do you know I don't care? As far as I know we've never met. Maybe I care too much. Is there some sort of " I care about the Soul Scene" exam I can take to find out once and for all? If trying to put a little perspective into the discussion means that I don't care about the Rare Soul Scene then fine, I obviously don't care.

Well I didn't mean you personally sweeney. Though it seems I may have touched a nerve?

3. I was a co-promoter of George Jackson! at SMERSH and was told by the management at the time that their licence didn't permit dancing even if physically possible. This may now have changed, but at that point their licence meant strictly no dancing.

Shimmying?

On a couple of occasions I had to relate this to brave punters who were trying to subvert the laws of time and space. They thought I was a lunatic for telling them that they couldn't dance to err... dance music.

Toughie.

4. Paper never refused ink.

Quite ..

[Guest marco]

Is it just me or has anyone else noticed how much miranda sawyer looks like a blow up doll?

[Guest SteveSnow]

Is it just me or has anyone else noticed how much miranda sawyer looks like a blow up doll?

She doesn't look like my blow-up doll.......

[Guest Black Gold of the Sun]

Isn't it heartening to know that the large salaries paid to journalists, ensures well researched, accurate and unbiased reporting?

Lorraine

The Observer

From the Observer Music Monthly - Sunday 20th May 2007

No. 45 Page 5, Second to last paragraph

Article Title: Sounding Off

By Miranda Sawyer

https://observer.guardian.co.uk/omm/story/0,,2080673,00.html

"Have you ever been to a northern soul night? Not the proper Wigan sweatathons, but the smaller, muso ones held above London pubs, or in small church halls. There you find grown men, sitting round the edge of the room, nursing their pints and weeping, gently, on to their suede loafers. They wouldn't dream of dancing. It would ruin their appreciation of the music and could crease a shirt.

But let's ignore such blithering idiots and throw ourselves, whole-heartedly and arhythmically, into the Return of Rave."

Serves you right Lorraine for reading the bloody Observer !

[lds]

Serves you right Lorraine for reading the bloody Observer !

Cheeky Bugger Gary, PS I will get that photo to you asap. Got a new scanner on Monday so no excuse now.

Lorraine

[wendy]

I'm sure I'm not the only one that remembers Candy Flip & De La Soul (Reg?). So she's insulting rave as WELL as northern. Rave 2 The Grave

Edited June 1, 2007 by wendy

[Guest WPaulVanDyk]

It's bad but what about if someone actually wrote a good article in the paper about Northern soul then we could say well written

[lisahurley]

I wrote a letter to the Observer Music monthly regarding her comments. She seems to be obsessed with her age and keeping up with trends. What she said was plainly wrong - the div.

[jocko]

I wrote a letter to the Observer Music monthly regarding her comments. She seems to be obsessed with her age and keeping up with trends. What she said was plainly wrong - the div.

I think thats a good point, I do think she was a good observor of youth culture in her day, but like most of us she is getting older and maybe needs to let go.

Still say it emphasises just why almost all media culture is bad. Very few people will ever get it right, would suggest Ms Constantine is probably our best hope of potraying our culture correctly, so fingers crossed that gets done.

[Sutty]

well, if you make the effort it sometimes pays off, they printed an edited version of my letter today. didn't get a prize though

https://observer.guardian.co.uk/omm/story/0,,2101852,00.html

Edited June 17, 2007 by Sutty

[Guest Karen Heath]

Excellent work!

I was just about to open my newspaper package...you've saved me some time as I can now do my usual speed-read of the sketchy OMM. I did notice that on the front cover there are some 'trendsetters' on Brighton beach front with a scooter....how original!

[Guest Baz]

Do people actually take notice of whats written in that paper?

good reply sutty

[Guest Karen Heath]

Do people actually take notice of whats written in that paper?

good reply sutty

What paper do you think we should take notice of Baz? I'm really looking forward to this answer.

[Chalky]

What paper do you think we should take notice of Baz? I'm really looking forward to this answer.

The Beano

[Corbett80]

'I was sent a new(ish) magazine the other day. Called Super Super, it's on issue six, and it is a hyper-dayglo-snazz-tastic mangle of dangly pendants, stone-wash trews, luminous hoodies and smiley faces. It is shiny, bright, hilarious, a mess. And it is rave. More rave than Candy Flip, De La Soul and Mr C in a vat full of ecstasy at the Hacienda's Hot night. Can you feel it?'

You can imagine her smirking to herself as she penned these incredibly witty lines in some Shoreditch gastropub over a milky latte and a rocket and mozzarella focaccia.

[Corbett80]

yes i was bored

[Reg]

well, if you make the effort it sometimes pays off, they printed an edited version of my letter today. didn't get a prize though

https://observer.guardian.co.uk/omm/story/0,,2101852,00.html

Well done! As Lisa said earlier...she really is a div!

[Guest andrew bin]

she's obviously well liked person link

[Reg]

Ha ha didn't I say just that a few posts ago...

in march 2007 Miranda finished her [open unniversity] language degree she is now fluent in the ancient journalist language "talking and writing bollucks"

[spot]

Agree with all the comments about this pathetic woman & with Lorraine was gunna e-mail her & tear her a new r sole but on reflection I think it's not wise, we could end up with a re-run of 70's when every "Jurno" & every trend concious youth in Britain thought it "Cool" to go to Wigan Casino & remember they soon disappeared & it almost finished the scene (for me anyway). We're a happy family, most of the time, so let her carry on in her ignorance & we'll carry on enjoying.

By the way I alway thought that Northern soul beget the Rave culture ? So she should be grateful for the legacy & be kissing our collective arses not ridiculing or kicking them.

Just a thought, Take care & be safe,

Spot.

[Gene-R]

Miranda Sawyer's journalism has about as much charm, wit and finesse as a dog shitting on the pavement.

[Guest Russ Smith]

Miranda Sawyer's journalism has about as much charm, wit and finesse as a dog shitting on the pavement.

"Return of Rave"

Hilarious; thought it had never gone away...

Another desperate attempt by a Music journo to hype some imaginary revival whilst knocking a successful and deeply established scene.