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When circus MTV comes to town
People clap their hands. All the children are ecstatic. Something changes when the circus comes to town; the smell, the air, a certain feeling. And it’s all on purpose. Welcome to Circus MTV.
It hasn’t been much
more than a few weeks since MTV, packed their tent and moved on, after setting Copenhagen on it’s end on November 2nd with
the MTV Europe Music Awards. The Copenhagen City Hall was seized in the duty of musical promotion and the Bella Center had it’s enormous tummy engorged with celebrities and bodyguards. Copenhagen really was on it’s end. But for what?
13 statues were to be
awarded and 10 concert performances to be transmitted from tiny Denmark to a potential audience of 1,4 billion TV
viewers across the globe. The TV-transmission was undoubtedly the first
priority., If anyone did have any doubts, it was made clear, that the focus for
the evening was on a visually spectacular promotional show and beautiful
showbiz stars, rather than on European music or the non-celebrity spectators. MTV’s
focus was non-negotiable and steady as a rock. I marvel at this
single-mindedness, but one has to ask, “Did Copenhagen get what the City
Council paid millions of Kroner for? Did Danish music get just a fraction of
the international attention it was craving?” I don’t think so.
Copenhagen was vibrant
with activity and music in the week prior to the MTV award. “Copenhagen Music
Week”, arranged and orchestrated by the city’s tourist offices “Wonderful
Copenhagen,” was designed as a supermarket showroom for the excellent talent in
upcoming Danish music. It was the dedicated goal for “Copenhagen Music Week”,
the Cultural Minister and his financial support of 3 mio. DKK, to open the eyes
of the foreign journalists to the musical outpouring, that flows in the streets
of Copenhagen. Sadly, the press come from near and far for
the MTVE Music Awards not to seek new
rockstars, found among the gang of young Danish bands that played during the
“Copenhagen Music Week.” The paparazzi did not spend their precious time
searching for unknown Danish music just because they happened to be in
Copenhagen. Maybe that is why one heard stories of undiscovered success in the musical
corners around Copenhagen, now that everything is back to the way it was
before circus came to town. MTV did not attempt to help the host-city to
discover new talent. MTV’s focus was on something completely else; a TV-show
without equivalent. I congradulate MTV if they only knew how to best promote
and transmit themselves.
The full Danish music press was not invited to
either of the festivitals in the Bella Center or on the City Hall Plaza. The
Danish joined the number of handpicked foreign journalists were given access. A
few cameras had to flash during the show, but more importantly the right kind of young
people was crammed together in front of the stages. It was not possible to buy
a ticket for either of the events, but people were encouraged by MTV to
audition for a place in the audience. If you had the right attitude, and were
prepared to scream your lungs out every time a celebrity entered the stage, you
were most welcome! Yours Truly got his hands on a pair of tickets, fortunately
without having to resort to the black market or an audition. It was not one of
the prized admission tickets for the holy celeb-land in Bella Center, but a
humble spot out in the cold on the City Hall Plaza. Call me bitter, but where
are we at when a music event that supposedly was to benefit both Denmark and Danish music, apparently is closed
territory for the Danish music press? I’ll answer that myself. We are at the
circus with MTV, and we are being dragged around the centerstage.How can I
review a show, except by placing an enormous question mark on the sincerity
behind MTV’s so-called intentions of celebrating the music.
As mentioned, 13
statues were to be awarded and 10 concerts were to be aired. And they were. In
splendor. However, behind the cameras, in the cold reality of Copenhagen, the MTVE Music Awards provided an alternative
impression; 5-7000 people on the City Hall Plaza witnessed, not a TV-show of international
standards, but a live-show of zero standard . Incorrect on the wrong pictures,
screensavers, slow and dead frozen artists, and a lame effort to tell the
audience exactly how to look good on TV. The show was not meant for us, but for
the millions of people sitting at home watching a perfect transmission of a
spectacular show. MTV gave them just that no doubt. No doubt about that. So why
blow smoke up people’s … and say “This is the most accessible MTVE Music Awards
show ever”, when in reality it was the most deceiving and aggrandizing show
since last year?
But what the heck. It
was a reasonably entertaining way to spend a cold November night in Copenhagen,
when not much else was on. But it was no more than that. I am sure the upcoming
Danish musical scene will agree. Our world hasn’t changed now that Circus MTV
has moved on and taken to another location its fame, glory, lies and deceit.
Mads Just-Olesen,
MyMusic.dk
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