politics and music – Eastminster: a global politics & policy blog

Molly Smitten-Downes, Eurovision and the launch of pop-stars: Ordinary people versus media people

March 9, 2014August 11, 2014 by Editor

Editor

Michael Skey is currently involved in a research project examining the Eurovision Song Contest, a music competition that attracts a global audience of around 170 million. As well as having an interest in how European and national identities are performed and discussed in relation to this media event, the research…

Bowie at the Brits

February 20, 2014August 11, 2014 by Editor

Editor

Professor John Street explains the significance of David Bowie's intervention in the Scottish independence debate at the Brit Awards. David Bowie’s award of the prize for ‘Best British Male’ at the Brits has garnered a lot of attention. Not just because he is the oldest winner, but because, through his…

Morrissey, politics and Britishness: a review of Morrissey’s autobiography

February 10, 2014August 11, 2014 by Editor

Editor

Paul Stott reviews Morrissey – Autobiography (London: Penguin Classics, £8.99) and finds a 'genuine slice of thoughtful popular culture, and an insight into Britain and Britishness'. In autobiographical terms, 2013 belonged to Manchester. Barely had Sir Alex Ferguson passed a burning torch to David Moyes, than his second (!) autobiography…

Mandela and ‘that song’

December 10, 2013February 11, 2015 by Editor

Editor

Professor John Street considers the importance of music to the anti-apartheid struggle. The day after Nelson Mandela died, Channel 4 News ended their evening broadcast with a song. Not any song, of course, but that song: 'Free Nelson Mandela'. And not the 1984 recording by The Special AKA, but an instrumental…