German coverage of 'Northern Soul Revival' happening in London

Wondered what people's thoughts on this might be...

30 minutes ago, Clee93 said:

Wondered what people's thoughts on this might be...

I think you know exactly what people's reactions on here will be , and to be frank I think the post is just a trolling exercise ... sorry !

The OP asked a question , I gave my answer/opinion , delete it if it offends you that much , it won't change my thoughts.

18 minutes ago, Woodbutcher said:

The OP asked a question , I gave my answer/opinion , delete it if it offends you that much , it won't change my thoughts.

... and I gave mine on your 'troll' post

back to the topic

A German msm view on 'Great Britain: Revival of "Northern Soul"

Any German speaking members like to fill us non-german speakers on the thrust of the commentary?

I think a little bit of interest is talked up continually way beyond its actual size. If they are happy, that's great but it often feels like hype in the way others report it.

Good for them! AFAIAC if people in their 20's discover this music anywhere it's a win win. People like Deptford Northern Soul Club haven't paid their dues to the scene and don't fit in with the old guard so be it, but these kids are pretty unlikely to stumble across some esoteric Northern Club so if it means the music lives on in some way it's fine. Better than all the social club top 500, disco, reggae nights which are patronised by the 60+ brigade.

What it is is that they seem to be pressed to be in the 'highlights' and not underground. Not bothered to play OVO or to worship the soulful artistry more than themselves (as a group at least). Nothing seems 'sacred'.

Making it another thing than what the 'codes' (no matter how evolutive) of the old and few in-betweens were / are since... Borrowing the 'Northern Soul' brand and its 'clichés' more than its 'sub-culture' and "values".

Good or bad I don't know. For sure not my thing. Never would have been. Although am an 'in-between' (54 years old only) and seen as a youngster on the scene once. Looking up and learned from those I looked up to.

It seems that they are mainly fans of the Okeh yar set 

Some of them appear to be dressed up for a magazine shoot copying to closely the clothing and dancing of the past and capturing that perfect photo for the internet.  

Maybe trying just a bit too hard instead of just going with it ?
 

I hope the scene continues and some of this crowd carry it on so good luck to those with the right intentions.

On 30/11/2024 at 07:25, Dylan said:

Some of them appear to be dressed up for a magazine shoot copying to closely the clothing and dancing of the past and capturing that perfect photo for the internet.  

Maybe trying just a bit too hard instead of just going with it ?
 

I hope the scene continues and some of this crowd carry it on so good luck to those with the right intentions.

 

Think some do get caught up in looking and dancing like they’re from a specific point in the history of the scene rather than just enjoying it for what it is.

40 minutes ago, Clee93 said:

Think some do get caught up in looking and dancing like they’re from a specific point in the history of the scene rather than just enjoying it for what it is.

The music to me has to be the main focus.  Looking smart or dressing a bit different to the regular pub crowd great but show some creativity don’t just copy.

36 minutes ago, Chalky said:

Let’s see where they all are in a few years time when work and family stress and strain kicks in. We saw it with the bunch who came when the film was about, mostly all disappeared now.

Lets be honest, Bristol, London and other large cities have large student populations and if you can’t fill a venue in these places then you are doing something wrong. 

From my experience the East Midlands has struggled attracting a younger crowd on to the soul scene.  London and Manchester usually do much better.  Bristol more recently but they have always had a strong musical identity with massive attack, trip hop, drum and bass etc so it’s no surprise it has worked there.
 

Nottingham has 2 universities I don’t see a rare soul night aimed at them.  And still only a handful of younger attendees at the nights I’ve been to which is a shame.

7 minutes ago, Dylan said:

From my experience the East Midlands has struggled attracting a younger crowd on to the soul scene.  London and Manchester usually do much better.  Bristol more recently but they have always had a strong musical identity with massive attack, trip hop, drum and bass etc so it’s no surprise it has worked there.
 

Nottingham has 2 universities I don’t see a rare soul night aimed at them.  And still only a handful of younger attendees at the nights I’ve been to which is a shame.

Probably because the nights in Nottingham are run by veterans and aimed and marketed at veterans.  No young Djs as such and no marketing like Bristol has. 

2 minutes ago, Chalky said:

Probably because the nights in Nottingham are run by veterans and aimed and marketed at veterans.  No young Djs as such and no marketing like Bristol has. 

Was there an influx of new young blood in the 80s who didn’t attend the well known 70s venues ?

ideally I think there should be one scene with a steady flow of people joining but that seems impossible now.

20 minutes ago, Dylan said:

Was there an influx of new young blood in the 80s who didn’t attend the well known 70s venues ?

ideally I think there should be one scene with a steady flow of people joining but that seems impossible now.

Little only. More punters than collectors or acrobatic dancers IMHE.

5 hours ago, Dylan said:

Was there an influx of new young blood in the 80s who didn’t attend the well known 70s venues ?

ideally I think there should be one scene with a steady flow of people joining but that seems impossible now.

5 hours ago, Tlscapital said:

Little only. More punters than collectors or acrobatic dancers IMHE.

There was a lot who came to the scene in the 80s and many still here, collectors & dancers as well.

Great to see young people enjoying them selves at soul events again. I go to lot and its 99% old folk like me. I wish I could understand what the commentator was saying though I guess he was just saying how good it is that the scene was enjoying a revival with young people in  London - which is great - its been going on a whilst I guess the German TV have only just heard about it so its news to them.

When we were young we hated that news stuff and commercialism but I think now it needs it as we are all getting on and we may not be here in another 10 - 20 years, So long may the scene last forever. Keep the faith.

On 01/12/2024 at 09:15, Dylan said:

From my experience the East Midlands has struggled attracting a younger crowd on to the soul scene.  London and Manchester usually do much better.  Bristol more recently but they have always had a strong musical identity with massive attack, trip hop, drum and bass etc so it’s no surprise it has worked there.
 

Nottingham has 2 universities I don’t see a rare soul night aimed at them.  And still only a handful of younger attendees at the nights I’ve been to which is a shame.

Absolutely my 23 year old son has just finished University in Nottingham this year, he's actually quite a soul fan (well black music in general fan) and wen't to a couple of soul do's in pubs and one at Rough Trade Records but he was never going to trek out to Basford, or Mapperley Plains or Bilsthorpe to a do in a social club full of people in their 50's or 60's.