Manics on X Factor NZ - thoughts?

[tzb]

Well, I have to admit I was kind of appalled at the idea at first. It brought back memories of the utter nadir of the barrel-scrape that was the PFAYM campaign, this.

But I've just watched it, and they did Tolerate (watch it here), and actually I think that's kind of amazing. A straight-faced, sincere performance of a song called If You Tolerate This Your Children Will Be Next on one of the biggest prime-time franchises in the history of television. I'm reminded of comments around the time they got it to the top of the charts, how there's something beautiful and meaningful in even getting a song with a title like that right squarely in the public eye.

So yeah, I was dead against it really as it seemed like another shameless grab at sales... but it was actually kind of great, in the way I used to think a lot of what the band did was great. Good for them.

So what do you think?

Disclaimer: the band are, of course, entitled to do whatever they want to do, for whatever reason - just as we're entitled to hold an opinion on that, whatever our reasons.

[mar]

I don't like X factor, but like the idea of the band being on national tv on any country.

[Tom]

Cool/ bit weird. Also apparently I still fancy that one out of All Saints

[Bathtub]

I don't have a huge problem with it, I don't particularly like it, but it's obviously a sales push. At least unlike strictly they didn't try to explain it away with some nonsense about it being a "situationist spectacle" or however Wire tried put it.

I don't know that them playing Tolerate really had any significance. I doubt many people in the audience cared about/understood the meaning of the lyrics, and to be honest there's no reason why they really should.

Personally I'm not really down with bands playing sporting events/talent shows/doing adverts etc, but I'm old fashioned like that.

[wireobsessed]

As far as I can see it was a great, beautifully sung performance of Tolerate on arguably one of the biggest tv show at the moment. We all know the issue with xfactor (relentless, over-commercial, exploitative drivel that puts money in the wrong peoples pockets, etc, etc) BUT it actually showed the contestants what real singing is all about, Tolerate has it's own message that isn't lost on FD and other Manic fans and they played on a huge show which is I was a fan in NZ would have made my day.

The Manics have always gone out to subvert well here we go again.

I thought it was actually quite beautiful.

[Europa Gluten Free]

The only opinion I have is that if X Factor NZ have decided to have the Manics on and have them do a song that was a No.1 in 1998 then it must have pretty shit standards and no real audience (sorry Manics!). Melanie Blatt on the panel? Jesus.

Sean does look cool drumming in his blazer though.

Pure embarrassed for Jimbo the champion shagger with the number of "a-has" at the end there from the backing track. He wanted out of there!

[MSPKYE]

It's all in the name of promo and selling more tickets, probably record company ordered as a proviso to funding the tour. It was fine, like to think there was a cheeky smile when they chose Tolerate.

[Bambi]

Nowt wrong with it. Perfect mime job with a nice live vocal from James, and still a great song; certainly enough to get one or two NZ kids to tilt their heads at the TV and think 'wow... what is that about?'

Originally Posted by Tom

Also apparently I still fancy that one out of All Saints

Shame on you!










(Ok, me too. A bit.)

[Futurologist]

I said cool, but, we're all friends, it was a sales push. I hope they got some more sales and James sounded good. Really wished they'd put less makeup on him, I couldn't tell where his neck finished and his face began. As you know, I'm a big fan of James' face. And his neck. ( no fat James jokes please!)

[sofarsideways]

A statement (intentional or not, it is one) and a sales push in one, and I have no beef with either. Some of the flak they're getting is really quite depressing - we know how this band works, and we know they need to survive. Especially in this context - halfway across the world somewhere they've never played before, probably funded out of their own pockets - I think they have every right to raise their profile and get some quids in.

[The Gutless Wonder]

I thought it was an excellent performance of the song and it was amusing that kids were tweeting 'Who are the Manic Street Preachers???' Like when Tolerate was released back in '98 to bewildered teens!

[allisvanity]

It's quite cool to see a song about the Spanish Civil War being played on The X Factor I think isn't it?

Also still fancy Mel fro All Saints.

[Manicben]

It's exactly what this band are about. They have something to say and they're broadcasting it to as many as they can. Go them!

[mar]

Originally Posted by allisvanity

It's quite cool to see a song about the Spanish Civil War being played on The X Factor I think isn't it?

It is!

[raven]

There is no point in having something worth saying but refusing any platform bar the tiniest most exclusive one with a converted audience of 1 and his dog

Very good idea. Next up, I hope, X Factor over ere