Peace
It’s a brave new world in 2011. And I still have soccer on the brain…
After a recent and most riveting game of football between FC Barcelona and Real Madrid watched live by hundreds of millions across the globe, I heard a friend make a poignant, though slightly inaccurate exclamation; “This is why Soccer is the World’s Greatest Passion!” Inaccurate in that Music is actually the World’s Greatest Passion and poignant in that the similarities are quite uncanny.
In comparing the two, soccer and music, I found myself seeing very clearly where my mandate lay as a Hip Hop artist in South Africa for the year 2011. Allow me to share a little bit of both; first the similarities (obvious to most, I’d suppose) and second my mandate.
Honestly speaking, an entire multi-volume series can be written about these but I have truncated substantially (allowing for expansion ideas to swirl around in your head) to contextualize the metaphor.
The Player/The Artist
Talent is only the beginning. Fundamental to the degree of success in the long run, talent may by the foundation but it is only the beginning. Nurtured, managed and with honed skill, The Player/The Artist can reach incredible heights.
The Team/The Team
From peers, to backroom staff and extended to family; a great team is a prerequisite. The clichéd true strength lying the weakest link is applicable here. Never underestimate the “12th man”, as they say in football, The Fan.
The Fan/The Fan
To state the obvious, it’s all pointless without the scores of screaming fans. This, not only because they are the paying consumers in the end, but also because from them stem the future of the entire art form in its new beginnings. As an abstraction of Special Relativity, I describe them as that point in the circle of time and space where it all simultaneously starts and ends.
FIFA/ The Industry
Finally, the realm within which all is allowed to exist…governed by certain rules of course. It doesn’t really work unless it happens within a special environment. At its core, this environment should be driven less by capitalistic bottom lines and more by milestones in passion and love.
Now, in keeping with the metaphor, on to my goal posts for the year! (Non-soccer speakers look away now…)
As a seasoned Player with many caps under my belt, I continue to hone my skills on the ball by learning new moves. I can’t wait to showcase some of these in future fixtures. Though I am extremely comfortable with my Team and do not wish to put in any transfer requests this January, I do however relish the prospects to play abroad and have made these games top priority; even if it means sitting on the bench for most home matches. The FIFA rule book is undergoing some very serious changes and I’m hoping SAFA’s structures are robust enough to cope because this year I’d like to play to the FIFA rule book.
Although I have acknowledged the Fans in every game I’ve played, I feel like thus far I have not made a concerted effort to involve them in any meaningful way in my game-play. This year, all that changes! In 2011 The Fan will be the first to know about my games, injuries, fixtures and full player stats even before SkySports, Tommy Smith, Walter Mokoena, Robert Marawa and Terry Payne! Add to this, My Fans are ALL going to be able to watch my games LIVE with zero delay. I look forward to what will easily be my best season yet!
As a nation that hosted a successful World Cup in 2010, I expect most readers will follow the metaphor and see clearly what this year has in store from me. The others, short of a detailed blow-by-blow, will just have to wait and see…
For more context check these links out. I found them to be a fascinating read;
http://music3point0.blogspot.com/2010/12/music-industry-trends-for-2011.html
http://www.digitalmusictrends.com/
http://www.thebiz.com.au/trends-in-music-industry.htm
http://www.synovate.com/news/article/2010/01/global-survey-reveals-music-trends-rocking-fans-across-the-world.html
Shakira’s Waka Waka – This time For Africa
Live. Now.
It’s a brave new world in 2011. And I still have soccer on the brain…
After a recent and most riveting game of football between FC Barcelona and Real Madrid watched live by hundreds of millions across the globe, I heard a friend make a poignant, though slightly inaccurate exclamation; “This is why Soccer is the World’s Greatest Passion!” Inaccurate in that Music is actually the World’s Greatest Passion and poignant in that the similarities are quite uncanny.
In comparing the two, soccer and music, I found myself seeing very clearly where my mandate lay as a Hip Hop artist in South Africa for the year 2011. Allow me to share a little bit of both; first the similarities (obvious to most, I’d suppose) and second my mandate.
Honestly speaking, an entire multi-volume series can be written about these but I have truncated substantially (allowing for expansion ideas to swirl around in your head) to contextualize the metaphor.
The Player/The Artist
Talent is only the beginning. Fundamental to the degree of success in the long run, talent may by the foundation but it is only the beginning. Nurtured, managed and with honed skill, The Player/The Artist can reach incredible heights.
The Team/The Team
From peers, to backroom staff and extended to family; a great team is a prerequisite. The clichéd true strength lying the weakest link is applicable here. Never underestimate the “12th man”, as they say in football, The Fan.
The Fan/The Fan
To state the obvious, it’s all pointless without the scores of screaming fans. This, not only because they are the paying consumers in the end, but also because from them stem the future of the entire art form in its new beginnings. As an abstraction of Special Relativity, I describe them as that point in the circle of time and space where it all simultaneously starts and ends.
FIFA/ The Industry
Finally, the realm within which all is allowed to exist…governed by certain rules of course. It doesn’t really work unless it happens within a special environment. At its core, this environment should be driven less by capitalistic bottom lines and more by milestones in passion and love.
Now, in keeping with the metaphor, on to my goal posts for the year! (Non-soccer speakers look away now…)
As a seasoned Player with many caps under my belt, I continue to hone my skills on the ball by learning new moves. I can’t wait to showcase some of these in future fixtures. Though I am extremely comfortable with my Team and do not wish to put in any transfer requests this January, I do however relish the prospects to play abroad and have made these games top priority; even if it means sitting on the bench for most home matches. The FIFA rule book is undergoing some very serious changes and I’m hoping SAFA’s structures are robust enough to cope because this year I’d like to play to the FIFA rule book.
Although I have acknowledged the Fans in every game I’ve played, I feel like thus far I have not made a concerted effort to involve them in any meaningful way in my game-play. This year, all that changes! In 2011 The Fan will be the first to know about my games, injuries, fixtures and full player stats even before SkySports, Tommy Smith, Walter Mokoena, Robert Marawa and Terry Payne! Add to this, My Fans are ALL going to be able to watch my games LIVE with zero delay. I look forward to what will easily be my best season yet!
As a nation that hosted a successful World Cup in 2010, I expect most readers will follow the metaphor and see clearly what this year has in store from me. The others, short of a detailed blow-by-blow, will just have to wait and see…
For more context check these links out. I found them to be a fascinating read;
http://music3point0.blogspot.com/2010/12/music-industry-trends-for-2011.html
http://www.digitalmusictrends.com/
http://www.thebiz.com.au/trends-in-music-industry.htm
http://www.synovate.com/news/article/2010/01/global-survey-reveals-music-trends-rocking-fans-across-the-world.html
Shakira’s Waka Waka – This time For Africa
Live. Now.
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