Meet Alex. Alex is quite big in America. I don't know what he's talking about, but Alex is very loud indeed:
Maybe you're thinking "Only in America." If so, you'd be wrong. In the UK, fans of weird outbursts of RANDOM SHOUTING can just turn to whatever the headline writers in the Express are having a self-induced brain aneurysm about today:
I guess that Ian Gillan actually had a sense of the ridiculous when he made his remark and intended it to be a funny comment about rock excess (such is the self-parodic nature of the genre that Spinal Tap could only ever have been an affectionate send-up). It's this self-awareness that seems to separate ridiculously loud rock bands from ridiculously loud opinionators like Alex Jones* and the Express headline writers.
I suspect that Alex and the tabloid shouty brigade would really struggle to get their heads round the idea that making everything louder than everything else is an inherently funny concept. I don't think they'd appreciate the element of paradox and logical impossibility. Or, for that matter, stop to think that if you shout everything at the top of your voice, eventually nothing seems especially loud or important.
I, for one, miss the playful self-awareness and sense of the ridiculous of Gillan's quip. For example, if only we'd held on to such a keen sense of the absurd, Michael Gove's malign career would have ended the moment he said, with a straight face, that all schools must be above average. Politics these days isn't just show business for ugly people; it's heavy metal for the thoughtless.
*Or maybe, as per Poe's Law, he's a very skilled parodist, in which case, fair cop, you got me, Alex.
Maybe you're thinking "Only in America." If so, you'd be wrong. In the UK, fans of weird outbursts of RANDOM SHOUTING can just turn to whatever the headline writers in the Express are having a self-induced brain aneurysm about today:
Left-wing activist STUMPED in fiery BBC clash when she FAILS to answer simple questionWhich reminds me of everybody's favourite heavy metal quote "..could we have everything louder than everything else?.." A few years ago, we were told that comedy was the new rock n' roll. These days, it looks as if frothing outrage is the new heavy metal.
'It's political suicide!' Lord claims Brexit WILL be reversed but is SHUT DOWN by BBC host
'MILITANT trade unions' responsible for rail misery, blasts Transport Sec in radio row
Davis and Hammond UNITE to warn EU against UNNECESSARY Brexit trade barriers
'It hasn't stopped!' Lorry drivers are ATTACKED by Calais migrants EVERY DAY, haulage boss
'EU will get hurt FAR MORE!' Farage warns Barnier's EU 'religion' could come CRASHING DOWN
Toby Young RESIGNS from universities regulator: 'Forced out by TWITTER MOB'
Now ban DRINKING STRAWS: Conservation group calls for crackdown on plastic
'We're eating through YOUR airtime!' Tory MP completely LOSES IT with Sky News host in row
French flu WARNING: Already battered by Aussie strain – now NHS faces new DEADLY virus
I guess that Ian Gillan actually had a sense of the ridiculous when he made his remark and intended it to be a funny comment about rock excess (such is the self-parodic nature of the genre that Spinal Tap could only ever have been an affectionate send-up). It's this self-awareness that seems to separate ridiculously loud rock bands from ridiculously loud opinionators like Alex Jones* and the Express headline writers.
I suspect that Alex and the tabloid shouty brigade would really struggle to get their heads round the idea that making everything louder than everything else is an inherently funny concept. I don't think they'd appreciate the element of paradox and logical impossibility. Or, for that matter, stop to think that if you shout everything at the top of your voice, eventually nothing seems especially loud or important.
I, for one, miss the playful self-awareness and sense of the ridiculous of Gillan's quip. For example, if only we'd held on to such a keen sense of the absurd, Michael Gove's malign career would have ended the moment he said, with a straight face, that all schools must be above average. Politics these days isn't just show business for ugly people; it's heavy metal for the thoughtless.
*Or maybe, as per Poe's Law, he's a very skilled parodist, in which case, fair cop, you got me, Alex.
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