#3: Threading The Needle
One more to sign up for.
Let’s be very real; it’s a sorry state of affairs where I’m rooting for Mark Zuckerberg. I didn’t even do that while watching one of my favourite films, The Social Network. Eduardo Saverin hive Scrolling through Threads is a little bleak right now; I have no desire to see the majority of the content on there. I am enjoying seeing
using the platform effectively.However, there is something tiresome about having another social media app to interact with. I recognise that no one gives a shit if I’m on it or not, it will not make an iota of difference to anything. I say that knowing that ultimately I’d like to be able to write and create for a living, and with that comes a level of needing to be in all of these places in some regard. It is tiring. I just wish Twitter wasn’t swirlying itself at every possible opportunity. I will note, that I didn’t feel that way about joining
, it feels different here than in other places.Follow me on Threads, I guess?
PODCAST
Las Culturistas with Kelly Clarkson
The reason that I find myself emotionally invested in something or someone is the fact that they try to live an authentic and passionate life. You’d probably be right in saying that I have far too many parasocial relationships because of that fact.
One of the many podcasts that I love is Las Culturistas with Bowen Yang and Matt Rogers, top-tier sketch comedians and actors. I know that I’ll be talking about them both in more depth in the future. As a straight man, I have always found myself bumping against the constraints of what masculinity means for liking things. I always found myself dampening myself in public in terms of my obsessions, not even consciously most of the time when I look back. I was always the first to say that I liked Justin Bieber in the early days. One Less Lonely Girl is a banger. Actually, I found myself gravitating toward high-quality pop music as a staple of my listening, in a deeper way than I let on. There’s safety within the walls; that’s why people live within them. I see now that it is the age-old thing of being called gay, I guess. A laughable conceit of an insult these days.
I heard Bowen and Matt as guests on Blank Check for the episode about Ang Lee’s Brokeback Mountain and loved the dynamic of the pair, so I subscribed to their pod off the back of that. It is now a real weekly fixture in my rotation. I love to hear them both talk about culture in a way that I feel very akin to. They love what they love wholeheartedly and unashamedly, which is only going to be a positive thing in my eyes.
This passion is exactly why I’ve picked this episode of the podcast to highlight. It is well-documented that Matt is obsessed with Kelly Clarkson. Quite right, so. He uses her semi-frequently as a reference point, always quick to praise her, at a moment’s notice. It was only a matter of time before there would be a meeting of the minds.
With the release of Kelly’s latest album, the press tour brought her to the feet of Matt and Bowen for this delightful interview. It was great to listen to, but I think the video version captures the joy and glee of the whole experience. There are plenty of people who would completely fold under the pressure of spending time with an idol of theirs and be too in their own heads. Every second of this was the opposite; it was no different from other episodes. Living honestly is the truth of happiness, and this was happiness in video form.
GAMING
There was a time when news of a new EA game wouldn’t even register as a thing for me. Those days are currently over; with the advent of games like Jedi: Fallen Order, it is time to believe in the studio again.
Currently, there are only a handful of places in the gaming space that craft experiences as top-tier with proven IP, as Electronic Arts is able to do. Fallen Order is a masterpiece, and I will not hear words to the contrary. If EA would like to send me a code for all the games they have, that would be great, especially Jedi Survivor.
This news of a Black Panther game coming from Cliffhanger Studios is exciting. The fighting style and possible move sets available as T’Challa(?) are suited to a third-person action-adventure game, I think. It could be similar to Spider-Man PS4 or the Batman Arkham series. I love the rich world of Wakanda and the Panthers. A new story amongst all of that will always be welcome in my book. Bring it on!
MUSIC
Little Simz has been doing her thing for a long time now, coming up on a decade of albums. Building on the previous work, it feels like Gorilla is something that takes her to the next level. Looking at the video as a separate entity, the stills I saw before watching it immediately reminded me of Kendrick Lamar. I know that they both approach their music from a similar place of being catchy, and interesting, with a message throughout every bar. Something about the images connected the two for me. I started watching, and boom, Dave Meyers’ name came right up. That’s why. The director of a lot of Kendrick’s work.
It is a cohesive vision that entwines the music and visuals perfectly. I never feel that they contradict each other, both engage me as the audience on a moment-to-moment basis.
I will not forget this video for a long while. Little Simz continues to own.
YOUTUBE
Ciarán Carlin is one of the most effortlessly funny people on YouTube in 2023. However, effortlessness on video takes a lot of real-world effort. Being a self-employed content creator comes with so many other bits and pieces that need to be done.
This is one of those rare day-in-the-life style videos that actually feel true to life and real. Well, as real as any constructed narrative can be, I guess.
I think Ciarán is easy to relate to in a lot of ways because you know that he has a lot of references to creators or art that can help make someone an interesting artist. For example, this video has a little of the Casey Neistat flavour in it, added to it are actual humour, funny lines, and gags.
All art is theft - Pablo Picasso
I’ve always liked that Picasso quote, but the word theft has always struck me as such a harsh way of describing it. I like to think of it like hip-hop and the way that the genre is steeped in the history of sampling. Using something else in a new way to create something fresh and interesting.
I’ve followed Ciarán for years, and where most drop off in terms of video-making talent and more importantly, integrity and regularity. In 2023, it seems like he is only just getting started. I am excited to see where he goes from here.
SPORT
We’ve been truly blessed in the world of sport for the 2023–24 season. Peter Drury has replaced Martin Tyler as the main commentator on Sky Sports football. A true blessing.
Drury is the best commentator currently working in English language football coverage. To be quite honest, it’s a genuine surprise that this hasn’t happened sooner. I can’t say that I can afford the ridiculous prices for the Sky Sports packages these days, but my lord, the clips online are going to be a dream.
I’m also excited to see that Simon Thomas is going to be chairing the new iteration of Gillette Soccer Saturday now that Jeff Stelling has left to go and be the new TalkSport Breakfast host. I’ve always loved Simon’s style of anchoring sports coverage and look forward to seeing what 'Unbelievable Jeff-style classics he will be a part of in the future.
This off-season feels like a true passing of the torch onto the new generation of sports media personalities. Out with the old and in with the new, I say! A few people that I’d love to see more of in the mainstream; I’d love to see Andy Brassell do more. The same with James Lawrence Allcott, I think he would be brilliant on Sky or whoever wants to take that chance on the best football content creator on the planet, in my opinion. I’d love to see even more of a push toward parity amongst all types of people in the football media. I’ve always liked hearing women like Alex Scott, Emma Hayes, Jules Breach, and Kate Mason talk about football, so getting more exposure to different perspectives and insights will be a much-needed thing to grow the game and its coverage. Bring it on.
As a last point, I’ll miss Soccer AM. A truly formative show that helped me to fall in love with the sport at the beginning of the century. I can’t wait to see what they do instead of it in the coming years.
SOMETHING ELSE
Or act. #WGAStrong #SAGAFTRA
Let me know what you think. I’ll see you next time out.