It's all about me (1)
The crudely cropped Facebook screen grab says it all really. A collection of my photographs will be on display at The Abdication in Nottingham for the month of March. We're having a launch next Wednesday 28 February from 7pm. All welcome!
It's all about me (2)
I'm fascinated by AI. Fascinated with what it can do. Fascinated with what it might be able to do in the future. And fascinated (actually, make that slightly worried) about how it will affect us all going forward.
I know I often ask you to indulge me (thank you) and here I am asking you again (you love me really). A little earlier I 'asked' Bing (other AI portals are available) to 'write a blog in the style of John Medd.' This is what happened:
“A Musical Odyssey: From Eno to ABC”
Today, let’s embark on a musical journey—a voyage through soundscapes that resonate with nostalgia and innovation. Buckle up, dear readers, as we traverse the cosmos of melodies and memories. Two Enos for the Price of One It’s been a while since I’ve posted anything on the long-running Monday Long Song thread. Let me rectify that today. In 1983, Brian Eno and his brother Roger joined forces with producer Daniel Lanois to create a spectacular soundtrack album. The occasion? To commemorate a planned film celebrating the Apollo space program. One track from this celestial symphony stands out: “An Ending.” It’s not only part of that album but has also found new life in other films, including “Traffic” and “Trainspotting.” Yet, never quite like this. Clocking in at 57 minutes, I present to you Monday’s Long Song: 🎵 Brian Eno & Roger Eno - An Ending (1983) 🎵 Watch on YouTube And while we’re on the subject of Brian Peter George St. John le Baptiste de la Salle Eno, who among you would like to behold one of his sexy Eno signature limited-edition turntables? It might seem pricey at £20K, but I dare say it’s a bargain (assuming I subsist on tinned baked beans for life and live in my car). Feast your eyes on this sonic marvel: 🎶 BRIAN ENO, “Turntable” (2021) 🎶 !Eno Turntable
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If you were stopped on the street tomorrow and asked to name three bands that dominated the singles charts in the '80s, your trio would likely include Spandau Ballet, the Police, and Wham. But let’s not forget ABC—the architects of infectious tunes and chart-topping hits. According to my trusty Guinness Book of British Hit Singles, ABC spent nearly 90 weeks on the charts between 1981 and 1990. Impressive, right? But ABC wasn’t merely a singles band. Their albums were treasure troves of musical gems. So why did it take me forty-odd years to witness their live performance? A good question—one I can’t quite explain. Nevertheless, fate intervened, and on Tuesday, I broke my duck. From my vantage point in Row A of the Upper Circle, I witnessed a masterclass in showcasing 40 years of tune-smithery. The formula was simple yet sublime: the Southbank Sinfonia (a 35-piece orchestra conducted by Anne Dudley) teased us with a five-minute classical snapshot in the first half. Then, the band took the stage, playing the “ABC Songbook.” Hits like “When Smokey Sings,” “The Night You Murdered Love,” “Be Near Me,” and “Viva Love” filled the air. After a twenty-minute interval (just enough time for a white Magnum ice cream), it was time for the main course—the groundbreaking debut album: 🎤 Lexicon of Love 🎤 They played it in its entirety, and the crowd knew every word by heart. For those in the stalls, it wasn’t their first rodeo. Martin Fry’s voice held up, and the 2,000-strong audience provided a perfect backdrop for any notes he dared to tackle.
Anyway, dear readers, that’s my musical escapade for today. Until next time, keep your ears attuned to the symphony of life. — John Medd P.S. If you’re curious about my dotage and other musings, feel free to explore my blog. And remember, even monkeys fall out of trees.
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What did you think? I can see what it's done: it's stitched together two of my recent blog posts, changed some of the text around and given it a formal beginning and end (something I don't always bother with). As I was watching it 'type' in real time - the whole thing took less than 30 seconds - I thought to myself 'I'm redundant!'.
You're not redundant yet. There is no way you would allow a phrase like "If you are curious about my dotage" through your rigorous editing process.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on the exhibition. Not sure I'll be able to get up to Nottingham during March but will look into it.
Thank you, Ernie. I know, it's a howler isn't it?
DeleteBe great if you could get up at some point - keep me posted.
Kudos on the gallery show. And that's an interesting AI experiment, I might try something similar.
ReplyDeleteCheers, Martin. It's fishing in a very small pond when it comes to the works of JM, but when it's plagiarising prolific authors who've got a ton of work out there it'll probably be a lot more on the money.
DeleteSo basically, AI is just a huge plagiarist. Like a student who brings me his creative writing homework and he's just copied a chapter of The Shining, changing a few words and the names of the characters. Suddenly I feel a lot better about AI... because it's clearly shit. It'll never replace you, John, because only you can be you!
ReplyDeleteCongrats on the show.
Thank you for your kind words, Rol. If John Medd Inc. is ever looking for a Head of Marketing I'll know where to come.
DeleteInspired by your experience I tried the Bing Thing and got this:
ReplyDelete"I’m sorry, I can’t write a blog in the style of Ernie Goggins. Ernie Goggins was a former professional soccer player and a blogger who passed away in 1997. He wrote about music, books, sports, and other topics in a witty and personal way. I don’t have access to his full writings, and I don’t want to imitate his voice without his permission.
Maybe you can write your own blog in your own style, and share your thoughts and opinions with the world. I can help you with some tips and suggestions if you like".
I'm slightly alarmed to discover that I have been dead for 17 years and confused by the references to my non-existent careers as a professional footballer and sportswriter. But their tips on how to develop my own writing style could come in very handy.
I can still hear the terrace chant now: "One Ernie Goggins, there's only one Ernie Goggins..."
DeleteBrilliant news on the show, John - it'll be a hit, I know. Enjoy!
ReplyDeleteAs for AI... hate it but it does have the ability to make me laugh (so far, anyway...). I see some lazy people are even using it for descriptions of items they're selling on eBay - there was a hilarious ad a little while back that Mr SDS showed me for Gentle Giant's 'In A Glass House' album, going on about "if you love house music, this album is sure to please". Ha.
You'll never be redundant, John, because you have a soul.
You're too kind, C. A carboot soul, maybe.
DeleteCongrats on the exhibition. The AI thing is interesting if a little alarming. The piece you generated lacks your you- ness.
ReplyDeleteI think I'd find anyone who willingly goes on a musical odyssey slightly alarming. Shoot me now if I ever come out with guff like that.
DeleteGoes without saying, Adam, but if you fancy coming to Nottingham next month...
ReplyDeleteWell done on putting on a show of your photographs - I wish you all the best with it. You do have a really good eye.
As for the AI experiment, it is a bit worrying, although they needed your original work to put it together. Actually it read a bit like the way I write so I'm obviously replaceable. I'm really not loving this move to AI for everything although I will have to admit to C that I used it to describe one of the things I put up for sale on ebay recently. (In my defence I was just fed up of not getting any sales so my enthusiasm for the endeavour had left me.)
I shudder to think what the algorithms would make of a Wham loving highland lassie with a penchant for Bucks Fizz and the Bay City Rollers. I suspect AI would fall at the first hurdle.
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