As for the credibility jibe. If the Northern Soul scene doesnt have credibilty, what does it have?
'Surely our scene attracts a certain type of individual. We seek out something thats a little differnt to the norm. We enjoy the fact that our scene and music is different to anything the majority of people we meet could ever understand. Being different, is seen by many as being better. Like the old mod ethic of moving onward and upward. this is what the Northern Soul scene does, without the oxygen of a fancy dress segement on a TV show.
If Northern Soul was just a dance thing, we could go to our local gym and join a get fit club, or we could go to the local club and hop about to the radio 1 top twenty. But its more than that. Its important to many people that the exclusivity, and underground aspect of Northern Soul is kept strong. '
Absolutely. And if you claim to have a deep passion for the music, why undermine it's significance by becoming involved in this kind of farce. It's disappointing in the extreme. You have to question what the records actually do mean to these people? I shouldn't be having to say that as someone of 28 to people who have been involved in it for more years than i've been alive. Perhaps wanting to keep something as special as the soul scene to yourself and maintaining its reputation as an important underground culture dedicated to worshipping the best music ever made is insular, and wrong? Think i'd rather be wrong than propping up a class-c lightweight entertainment tool on teatime tv. In a wig no less.
Having said all this we should maybe think about the fact that some of those involved may have been unaware of exactly the kind of representation they were going to get when agreeing to the show? Best way to avoid similar situations in the future: STAY CLEAR OF THE MEDIA, THEY ARE NOT YOUR FRIENDS.