… what gave it away? …

~ being in the same band for over 30 years?
~ 19 Grammy nominations?
~ induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame?
~ Billboard Century Award for lifetime achievements?

“… you seem very passionate about music …”

~ Jian Ghomeshi to Tom Petty

10 Comments

  • Anonymous says:

    I am just imagining Tom Petty coming to be interviewed after acting in a movie and freaking out because the presenter mentions his singing career in the intro…

    I hate to continue indulging you, Allan, but I can’t resist. I read David Eng’s argument. His mind may be rational, but at a certain point you are going to have reconcile yourself to the idea that this is a point of view that is rejected by most people on this blog as well as by those at large. The majority is not always right but often it is. At some point, you may want to show some humility and concede that you might be misreading something here. I don’t want to insult you, but this blog isn’t simply about some sort of stream of consciousness from those who administer it. You obviously have the right to write anything you want, but I assume you expect people to read it, and you have to have sensitivity to their reactions. Let me point out to you that your view on this issue (as well as that of Fake Ouimet’s) has become a red rag for many of those who like coming here. The more you do it, the redder it gets. I can’t make you stop and I don’t disagree with you on everything (for example, I think you are right about the agreement CTV made with Stephane Dion during the election). Without any intended reference to the incident in question, I really believe the time has come for you to stop baiting YOUR audience.

  • Allan's Mom says:

    This is what a real musician looks like, Allan. FYI.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WyyEc-GNDfQ

  • Allan's Mom says:

    This is what a real musician looks like, Allan. FYI.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WyyEc-GNDfQ

  • Allan's Mom says:

    This is what a real musician looks like, Allan. FYI.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WyyEc-GNDfQ

  • Anonymous says:

    YAAAAAAAAWWWNNN.

  • Allan says:

    OK Dwight. Now try reading this great excerpt from the rational mind of David Eng, and then try us again on that who started what …

    Thornton however has a music background starting from age 9, lived in Nashville for a time and has recorded 8 albums. He likely felt that there was plenty to talk about without needing to mention his film work.

    Instead, here’™s what he heard about himself right off the top:

    ’œThe Boxmaster’™s principal songwriter, singer and drummer is a man by the name of Billy Bob Thornton, whose day job – some of the time – is Oscar-winning screenwriter, actor and director. While Billy Bob Thornton’™s name is most often linked to his cinematic endeavors, The Boxmasters is anything but a diversion from the silver screen. He’™s always intended to make music, he just got sidetracked. These days, music is a major priority in his life and something he’™s obviously embracing.’

    Not only did this introduction mention his film work, it emphasized it, calling it his ’œday job.’ When the bio gets around to the subject of music, it ignores his musical past and creates the impression that it’™s just a recent thing he picked up ’œthese days.’

    I don’™t think it’™s hard to see why he would be upset by this, especially if there was an agreement that his film work was to go unmentioned. If they had an agreement, I believe it should be honoured and I have little respect for journalists who intentionally renege on promises, as when CTV broadcasted the outtakes of an interview with Stephane Dion (and only Dion) after agreeing not to. In this case it was innocent, but for Thornton it came as a slap in the face. Not only was it mentioned, but it focused on the film work at the expense of his music career. And it made it seem that he was a newcomer to the field. So he felt both deceived and insulted.

    As a result, he was annoyed and chose to be uncooperative. He was not ’œconfused’ as some have claimed. Childish? Maybe. But most people I know get testy when they feel a promise has been broken. Besides, I’™ve seen interviews with athletes and coaches that are far worse. Compared to them and to the aforementioned blow-ups Christian Bale and company, Thornton’™s reaction is actually quite tame.

    Ghomeshi, however, soldiers on very professionally. When the source of Thornton’™s displeasure finally emerges though, Ghomeshi perhaps could have apologized. After all, we Canadians are famous for apologizing – even when we’™re not at fault. As for Thornton’™s question about Tom Petty, I believe that’™s valid (JG: ’¦ you seem to be so passionate about music, I was wondering about your’“ BB: Would you say that to Tom Petty? ’¦ Would you explain why it’™s not a hobby?). He’™s not claiming to be Petty; he’™s just asking if it’™s normal to ask a serious musician to justify their interest in music rather than taking it as a given. Again, the question assumes he’™s a newbie, an interloper, and must have seemed condescending.

    What do you think of David’s views, Dwight?

  • Anonymous says:

    Ruff! Ruff! Ruff! Grrrrrr. Here doggie, good doggie…put down your bone BAD DOGGIE.

    Yawwwwwwwwwwwwwn.

  • Anonymous says:

    yaaaaawwwwnnnn.

  • Dwight Williams says:

    He still lost the argument just by starting it.

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