It is not even conceivable to our mere mortal minds the sheer impact one band can have on decades of music and the building of an entire century-defining music scene. From four unassumingly goofy looking Boston hailing college kids came the most important albums of the early alternative music scenes, essentially forever laying the bedrock foundations for future musician and fans to geekedly obsess over and almost constant attempts to replicate their greatness.
This week marks the beginning of Seachtain na Gaeilge. Although literally translated it means "Irish Week," Seachtain na Gaeilge is a period of 17 days where the people of Ireland celebrate their native language. From schools, and universities to the government, Seachtain na Gaeilge allows its citizens to fully embrace their language. Despite concerns over the decreasing levels of Irish, there are many things to be proud of including Irish becoming an official working language of the European Union. In this article, we examine the Irish language, and why weeks like Seachtain na Gaeilge are important in preserving our native tongue
Bricolage is the art of creation from scraps, junk, or diverse materials of what is available. This style of composition was core to the musical android duo, Daft Punk. Their musical use of drum machines, synths, samples of 70s and 80s funk and disco bangers helped define their own unique sound.
Warning: some readers may find the subject of this article distressing
‘It’s A Sin’ landed on screens on the 22nd of January and wrapped up on the 19th February on Channel 4. The series follows a group of teenagers in London, throughout the 1980s into the early 1990s. These young people come from different backgrounds, with very different families and have very different aspirations for their futures.
A short walk around the Dublin city center might make you observe the growing rate of diversity in the Republic of Ireland, so much so that a subconscious act of eavesdropping on people's conversation is steadily becoming futile due to various language differences.
I want you to imagine something. You are at the latter end of a long-distinguished career as a world famous iconic musician, you have written and sold multitudes of seminal albums and performed in front of millions of fans over the years. The Covid-19 pandemic hits and ruins any hope of touring on a new album or once off concerts. Through all that what should one do? Cash in obviously, and cash in big!
As we reflect on 2020, it was the 100 year anniversary of Bloody Sunday when Croke Park hosted the Dublin and Tipperary football teams for a great challenge match. Spectators filled the grounds, completely unaware that the RIC were mobilising, intent on carrying out an act of deadly retribution for the earlier assassinations of British intelligence agents by Michael Collins’ “Squad”, which then helped nationalism grow within the GAA, and may have alienated the unionist community from its games.
The untimely death of Chadwick Boseman left many Black Panther fans unsure about the continuation of the Black Panther sequel.
I wrote an article a couple of weeks back when the story broke that ZeniMax Media (Read Here) and all its associated companies namely Bethesda Game Studios had been bought up by Microsoft and close to the end of that article. I mentioned Microsoft’s continued commitment to making the gaming market and medium as a whole more accessible to everyone but in particular those from low economic backgrounds and those with physical disabilities. The push to making gaming more accessible seems to many like the best way of expanding an already growing medium. Just last year gaming on mobile devices, consoles and personal computers was ranked as the most lucrative entertainment industry in the world raking in $145.7 billion last year alone compared to the box office at second place which “only” brought in $42.5 billion. At the time, CEO of Microsoft Satya Nadella was quoted saying “gaming is the most expansive category in the entertainment industry, as people everywhere turn to gaming to connect, socialize and play with their friends.” With the soon approaching release of both the Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5 along with the lower social interactions which are most likely set to continue in most parts of the world for at least the continuation of 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic the gaming market will surely only begin to attract more customers.
Earlier this year, the Chief content officer of Netflix, Ted Sarandos, and a team of executives traveled across the African continent. They met with local creatives to expand Netflix into areas with remarkable talent that has not been fully exploited. Through this journey, Netflix was able to bring to its audience two great South African series; Blood&Water and Queen Sono.
Italia 90' is one of the best remembered and reminisced world cups not least for its setting in Italy amid a football home nation, culturally significant to Europe and the BBC theme song by Luciano Pavarotti "Nessun Dorma". It would romanticise the tournament like no other, from Gazza's tears, Cameroon's stunning performance, Jacks Army marching to the quarterfinals only to be seen out by Schillaci, a summer wonder, the scrappy semi-final and finals between Germany & The Netherlands then Germany & Argentina. Cruel defeats would mark the romantic memory of this world cup.
