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Well ladies and gentlemen it’s that time of the musical year once more: The Battle of the Bands 2006.
Eight bands have entered into the semi-finals to take place on August 11 and 18 — six Filipino bands, one New Zealand band and one local Bahraini band.
You may or may not have read the last two columns I wrote, but let’s just say it had its criticisms. Don’t get me wrong, I understand and appreciate the concept behind it, and I do not blame organisation. But where has the love gone?
Where is that passion to create music, rather than simply regurgitate it?
The local entertainment scene in Bahrain had certainly had its ups and downs, with bands coming and going every three to six months, and DJs taking the spotlight.
This year’s battle has boasted a number of changes, the most talked about being the Crowd’s Choice award. Why is this a good thing?
Well let’s face it, none of us ever agree with the judges’ decisions, but at the end of the day, we all have opinions. So this is the easiest and fairest way to shut everyone up. They have given you a voice audience, don’t bugger it up.
As you may have read in Bahrain’s dailies, I have pulled up a chair on the judging panel.
Why? I wonder. I don’t know how to sing, dance or play an instrument (unless you count a really bad Bass rendition of Smells like Teen Spirit). So no, I do not have the experience to judge musicians on their talent. Where do I come in?
They have put me down as entertainment. Basically, I know what I like, love and hate with a passion. I am an everyday Joan, with a love for music. I have been interviewing bands in the Middle East for the past three years. There have been the good ones, the great ones and the really bad ones.
I have sat up till 6am doing Tequila shots and moshed away to Metallica with the boys. I love live music. I miss the UK for all of the gigs I used to go and see in London.
I once took an eight-hour coach journey to Leeds in order to see Iron Maiden sing at Leeds festival. I made sure I was up at 7am in order to get to the front of the pit at the first-ever Download music festival in order to see Audioslave and Muse play live where I was also able to listen to the release of Metallica’s new album when they performed a surprise gig under a pseudonym.
I love music for all its flaws.
But it’s different in the Middle East. Cover band after cover band. And that may become a boring and repetitive entertainment scene, but it is still about the music, cover band or not.
What makes a band great is how they present themselves through the music.
A great drummer in Dubai recently told me that it’s not about playing the song exactly how it’s performed originally; it’s about how you make the song your own. It’s like giving Hotel California a sublime makeover.
Battle of the Bands has always drawn the conclusion of being a fixed event. Well, we shall see. I don’t follow the crowd, and I’m not afraid to speak my mind.
For me this competition is about the musician and how he/she connects to the music. It’s not about who likes whichever band better.
I am lucky enough to be judging alongside some great people, and I can only hope to learn from this whole experience. But I want to remind you all, don’t get on the bandwagon. March to your own beat for a change.
· Olivia Middleton
