Gävle Julbocken up in smoke
The Julbocken in Gävle was burned today. That was fast…The Julbocken (Christmas goat) is a giant straw goat that is put on display in Gävle every December. Then the bets are on - when will it be burned down? Naturally, it’s not really supposed to go up in flames but it should stand firm until Christmas. Apparently, this has actually happened a few times but not while I have been here (just a co-incidence!).
As usual, I’m slightly confused. If the tradition is not to burn it down but the pyromaniacs always get to it anyway, why not stop with the thing altogether? No straw goat, no bonfire.
But then again, I’m not Swedish. I don’t get the straw goat to start with. Oh and I also hate Christmas.
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I just got a book called “Is it just me, or is everything shit?”. Sometimes I get a feeling that everything, really, is shit. Take radio for example. I listen to Rix FM in the car. The signal fades away often but that’s ok with me, I like the silence. The occasional good song makes it worth keeping it on. I just can’t believe how much crap I have to suffer to get to the good part.
- Bon Jovi - “Welcome to Wherever You Are”: You used to be tough, 80’s style. Now you sound like Robbie Williams.
- Robbie Williams - “Tripping”: Robbie seems to be under the illusion that blending three songs into one is genius. The opinion seems to be shared by his fans. Newsflash - three bad don’t make one good. If anything positive has to be said, the hook is catchy (ergo, I turn off the radio - and then forget to turn it on again until the next day).
- Robbie Williams - “Advertising Space”: So bad that it doesn’t even have a hook. If anything good has to be said, it’s that I don’t have to turn off the radio.
- Backstreet Boys comeback: It was enough the first time around.
- September - “Satellites”: Miss September probably thinks the lyrics are clever. They are not. I can forgive simple lyrics but pure nonsense wrapped in a Euro-disco beat is a criminal offense. This is a worst case example of non-native English speaker trying to make use of three syllable words.
- Mauro Scocco - “Kall stjärna”: Kent just called. They want their sound back.
- Daniel Powter - “Bad Day”: Apparently, Mr Powter had trouble getting a record contract. I regret to hear that some company finally did sign him.
- Nickelback - “Photograph”: Sorry, I thought you were a serious band.
- Westend Girls - “Domino Dancing”: Pet Shop Boys should sue you. Failing that, everyone not completely tone deaf should do it.
- James Blunt - “You’re Beautiful”: Can you say “one hit wonder”?
And what could possibly be worth all the shite? Well, maybe something like “Hung Up” by Madonna. I have never been a real Madonna fan, but now I am forever grateful that she went through all the trouble to get the permission to sample Abba. The greatest pop icon of our time sampling the all-time greatest pop band is an historical event of a magnitude never imagined before. It’s almost worth listening through a Robbie Williams song.
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