Without doubt, this has been a very bad week for 2009 Mercury Prize winner Speech Debelle. From the moment she very publicly dumped her record label, Big Dada, til the aftermath of the Take That Singstar launch show on Wednesday, the last few days has probably done more to kill her music career stone dead than anything else possibly could.Blaming her record company for not shifting units of her album comes across as rather lame and one wonders if you have been listening to the wrong advice recently - sadly, it would appear Debelle may be about to disappear into the Mercury Music Prize black hole; along with the likes of Ms Dynamite, Badly Drawn Boy, M People, Talvin Singh and Roni Size.
However, at this stage a myth must finally be lifted; there is no such thing as "the Mercury Curse" - that a large percentage of Mercury (Music) Prize winners either disappear instantly (or fade over a slightly longer period) probably has more to do with ego guiding poor decision making rather than any sort of prize-related bad luck and it is an ego that has reared its ugly head again.
Quite simply she believed the Mercury would deliver her tens-of-thousands of extra sales and it didn't happen; citing Elbow as an example of the Prize's success was simply moronic - at least the Manchester band have been around a long time and were fairly well known prior to winning the prize for Seldom Seen Kid in 2008.
Here's a clue for you Speech - your album picked up much criticism at its release and if your album isn't selling and if you're gigs are only sparsely attended and poorly received, then it's quite possible that your album has not penetrated the masses. Tough shit, but sadly it actually happens a lot. It is quite conceivable that the finger of blame should be pointed somewhere closer to home - now please fuck off.
Unfortunately, I cannot embed the video, but for those that have not seen the Take That/Speech Debelle travesty yet, look now.
Current listening:
Death in Vegas "Satan's Circus"
Leigh
However, at this stage a myth must finally be lifted; there is no such thing as "the Mercury Curse" - that a large percentage of Mercury (Music) Prize winners either disappear instantly (or fade over a slightly longer period) probably has more to do with ego guiding poor decision making rather than any sort of prize-related bad luck and it is an ego that has reared its ugly head again.
Quite simply she believed the Mercury would deliver her tens-of-thousands of extra sales and it didn't happen; citing Elbow as an example of the Prize's success was simply moronic - at least the Manchester band have been around a long time and were fairly well known prior to winning the prize for Seldom Seen Kid in 2008.
Here's a clue for you Speech - your album picked up much criticism at its release and if your album isn't selling and if you're gigs are only sparsely attended and poorly received, then it's quite possible that your album has not penetrated the masses. Tough shit, but sadly it actually happens a lot. It is quite conceivable that the finger of blame should be pointed somewhere closer to home - now please fuck off.
Unfortunately, I cannot embed the video, but for those that have not seen the Take That/Speech Debelle travesty yet, look now.
Current listening:
Death in Vegas "Satan's Circus"
Leigh
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