Brian's views on 'The Voice'

[QUOTE] [b]cmsdrums wrote:[/b]

He did comment a couple weeks before her performance was AIRED, but LONG after it had been filmed and he knew that she had been refused.  He was trying to pull the wool over people's eyes into thinking her result, and his opinions on the show, were unrelated![/QUOTE]

I agree that there was an element of manipulation. I'd even go so far as to wonder if her participation on The Voice wasn't a marketing ploy for the stuff they were doing together that thoroughly backfired. Given how close they were working together when she would have auditioned I find it impossible it's not something they would have discussed as at the very least her participation would have impacted her availability for other stuff. Given how much they've collectively embraced marketing by public involvement via vehicles like American Idol, X-Factor, Queen Extravaganza and the solicitation of public kisses for the Kissing Me video for example I would not rule it out. Which makes his savaging of it now more than a little dishonest.

[QUOTE] [b]brENsKi wrote:[/b]

Brian's biggest problem is a simple one - and it applies to almost every human being on the planet:

the more principled the individual becomes, the greater the risk of contradicting themselves and looking like a
humungous hypocrite to boot[/QUOTE]

He's principled, but he's principled in a very narrow and rigid way that sees him toss out a hell of a lot of other pretty good principles to steam roll over whatever the hell he likes in the world according to Brian May. Not everybody who cares to some degree about being principled conducts themselves that way.

lol..he calls the Voice a "vile programme" interesting.. turning your backs to someone performing is awful...so says BM. Well, it is called "The Voice" ..therefore, they are choosing who gets on based on their voice. It's pretty simple and in fact, the one here in the USA is ok. I have watched it and there's a lot of talent on that show. Idol pales in comparision...not to mention the judges on the voice are pretty current and entertaining.

I think you people have become desensitized as to what is rude and what is normal because of the proliferation of "entertainment" that relies on the frequent moments of embarrassment or total humiliation of people, as if this is how it has to be. If they (the creators of these shows) were not out to publicly humiliate people in order to entertain the audience, then the blind listening of voices or the open auditions with the judges rolling their eyes and giggling or saying horrible things (Simon Cowell) would be done off camera and all we would see is the final group - those who made it past the rejection phase. I think you didn't understand Brian's point, therefore you are making stuff up about his motivation. I don't think he objects to finding new talent, but just the unkind manner of these types of shows. He has been consistent with that opinion because it is his honest reaction.

Holy Stepford.

no one forces anyone to participate.
people are greedy by nature - and their 15 minutes of d-list fame is better than nothing
- if nothing else, it'll keep them in drinks in the pub when they tell other winos "i was on the x-factor you know"

the concept of the shows is not at fault, the delusional views of people and their so-called friends and families are what's at fault

think about it: you sing for friends/family - these people either have reality issues of what's shit/good or hearing issues, or they are
just incapable of telling a loved one "sorry this ain't for you|"

Sure, there are plenty willing to go on the shows. But these shows are designed to pull in the largest audience with an edited and tweaked version of "reality". If it were really real, people would probably perform and hear a "thank you", then those who were chosen would have their names posted. But that would not showcase all the human emotions and reactions (although there would be plenty of behind the scenes stuff that would be interesting). So, yes, I would say it is the format of the shows that is unkind, and that is my interpretation of Brian's comments on the subject over the years.

it may have been "unkind" the first season it went out. but beyond that EVERYONE knows the score. there is no excuse for abject stupidity - you know what the show's about - why go on it.
it's not like they keep it a secret - 9 million people see it every saturday in the UK...so you can't say "bloody hell i was shocked, they made me look pathetic"

if you go on those shows - EVERYTHING that happens to you afterward is your own doing

[QUOTE] [b]Donna13 wrote:[/b]

I don't think he objects to finding new talent, but just the unkind manner of these types of shows. He has been consistent with that opinion because it is his honest reaction. [/QUOTE]

Maybe it's just me but if I objected to a a particular television show, I wouldn't watch it, let alone perform on it to boost the ratings.

It painfully obvious that Brian has absolutely no problems with these shows as long as they are benefiting him in some way, but he's willing to change his "honest reaction" the minute the the shows AREN'T working in his favour.

He appeared as a mentor or performer towards the end of the shows, when all the finalists were talented, and they could have arrived at this stage of the competition without using the cruel tactics of the first few weeks of the show. So, he was not involved with the humiliation of the contestants, which is the part he objects to. Maybe he realizes his complaints will not make any difference in the format of these shows, but feels the need to express himself on the topic anyway. That is why he calls it a soapbox - to express his opinion. He is not running a campaign against the shows but just expressing what he doesn't like about their format. Similarly, those who criticize Brian do not announce that they will no longer listen to Queen.

sorry Donna, but you're either for or against a principle
Brian can't say "it's ok i like this concept now you've stopped taking the piss"
the show is ALL of it warts n all - his selective approval of the bits that benefit him is nothing short of hypocritical

If Donna's description of "the part he objects to" were factual and not a seeming Stepford fairy delusion I would agree with her wholeheartedly. The record on "the parts he objects to" however is well far from that. For years he savaged the shallow celebrity culture of these types of shows to the point of building an entire musical with his band's name around that concept. He explicitly and often insulted the shallow '15 minutes of fame' motives of the contestants in abstract and when he wanted to compliment the talent and integrity of some other artist he two or three times presented them as the anithesis of the X-factor contestant to make his point. They even wrote a song about it for the Cosmos rocks. He stated in an interview that the shows were not about artistic worth but about self promotion, most of all the self promotion of the Simon Fuller types. The *only* time he has spoken positively about the format is when he's been on it (for self-promotion) and the only times he's come to anything like a defense is when contestants have sung Queen songs. Imagine spending years rattling on about empty pseudo-culture and then not just defending, but complimenting and thanking the Jedward twins for singing his song.

The blind auditions on The Voice have *nothing* to do with cruelty. Nobody reaches that stage without fully deserving to be there and nobody is ever humiliated beyond what they may feel about not succeeding. The format of identifying, mentoring and personally investing in the talent of artists that inspire a judge is in fact directly comparable to what he's doing with Kerry Ellis. To explicitly insult the dignity of Tom Jones for participating on The Voice is a bit rich considering there is a reasonable chance that the UK is awash in Kerry Ellis because Brian May would most fondly like to be in her pants. I've avoided that to this point because I think it's insulting to the integrity of both artists and potentially terribly unfair but for a number of reasons I have developed doubts. Regardless, suggesting Brian objects to the 'rudeness' of these shows without appearing to notice how unconscionably rude *he is* much of the time doesn't get much more Stepford. I think the world of Brian on many fronts and in many ways, but I think love and respect should come with a realistic view of a person's flaws for it to be real and worth much. There are plenty of people who know exactly what time it is on this subject. Every fan is if course welcome to an opinion, but ideally not off the backs of people who have "misunderstood" Brian's points, as they most certainly have not.

"sorry Donna, but you're either for or against a principle
Brian can't say "it's ok i like this concept now you've stopped taking the piss"
the show is ALL of it warts n all - his selective approval of the bits that benefit him is nothing short of hypocritical"

I can understand your point but rather than saying he is being hypocritical I would characterize it as having mixed feelings. Going back as far as his 2005 comments regarding Rock Star INXS, he was rooting for the WWRY talent doing well in the competition, however he thought the show was degrading and embarrassing to the contestants and the band and thought the voting for the new lead singer was unnecessary because the band could just have held auditions in private. But I think he realizes that the potential (or opportunity) for exposure of a huge TV audience (with these types of shows) can be an advantage.

[QUOTE] [b]Donna13 wrote:[/b]

"Going back as far as his 2005 comments regarding Rock Star INXS, he was rooting for the WWRY talent doing well in the competition, however he thought the show was degrading and embarrassing to the contestants and the band and thought the voting for the new lead singer was unnecessary because the band could just have held auditions in private.[/QUOTE]

So... In principle he's against the show, but he likes it as long as it's a promotional tool for his musical.

And you don't call that hypocritical?

Well, I think the show was not a promotion for WWRY, but rather for INXS and the individual contestants. I guess a couple of the WWRY stars made the cut because they were talented enough to be in the running to be the new lead singer for INXS. And due to the similarities of INXS and Queen (both missing a lead singer), Brian was asked if Queen would also be doing that show. So that was why he was commenting on it. Also, since the contestants were his friends (people he had worked with in the WWRY shows) he was watching the show to see how they were doing.