Radio One seems typical
of today's
rush for lowest common denominator broadcasting, which apparently feeds
on a downward spiral of ever lower standards. Of
course
there
is nothing whatsoever of any import contained within these 'shows' (?)
Personally I just don't care which gig DJ Jo's been to, or is going to,
or which daft gun-toting gangster rapper she met at some staggeringly
important studio
yesterday, or what pair of shoes she
couldn't decide to wear last night. Oh no! Whilst on the subject, and without
wishing to appear
unreasonable, uncharitable, intolerant, why
on earth does the BBC (the
supposed standard-bearer of quality
broadcasting! ) allow the
gratuitously big headed Chris Moyles, and his vacuous
rabble, to preach yob culture
to the nation on BBC
Radio One every day to school kids who should be presented with a
more wholesome example? So if you
happen to be looking for something approaching
intelligent or mentally stimulating to listen to - then look
elsewhere.
Some listeners' considered critiques:
It will become apparent very quickly that I do not like Chris Moyles.
What is more I cannot understand why anyone would wish to adopt the
obnoxious persona which Moyles has, why the BBC think it clever to have
a presenter whose style appears to be the antithesis of a good
broadcaster and how people can actually listen to him for more than a
few minutes without it spoiling a good day.
Moyles style is that of a controversial in-your-face DJ but doesn’t
appear to have any particular cause on which to attach his controversy.
His outrage therefore seems to feed from anyone with the temerity to be
on his show. The successful outrage DJ is usually reactionary which
while opposed by a moderate majority does have value from being
democratic and legitimate. To have the level of apparent anger and
distaste which Moyles has without any focus for that anger just makes
him an irritating case for rage counselling.
There is however a worrying aspect to this. Anyone listening to Moyles
show may think it is an acceptable method of behaviour to be
perpetually rude and sour. That somehow it is clever and cool to be so
disparaging of everyone. Moyles is little more than a bully with a
microphone. Moyles is that annoying kid at scholl who pushed everyone
around but has now grown fully physically but not mentally. I have to
say the fewer people with Moyles attitude in this world the better.
The presenters role on Radio 1 has been built up and diminished at
various times. This usually runs as a counter to the relative
importance attached to the music. Radio 1 has had its fun phase when
the DJs were intimately part of the entertainment through to the
extremes of the Matthew Bannister era when it was all about the music
(man) and new emerging music at that. In this latter phase presenters
were developed whose voices and personas managed miraculously to match
the genre of music they were interested in. I say this because I
believe Moyles persona is manufactured, what I do not understand is why.
The problem for Moyles will be when the radio public tire of his
endless whining, find his humiliation of harmless members of the public
distasteful and go elsewhere. With his personality developed as it has
been he has nowhere to go. His TV appearances have only served to
underline the paucity of his talent and it has to be said he is not
particularly pleasing to the eye either. On the recent Question of Pop
Christmas special he showed a good knowledge of pop trivia but only
succeeded in leaving a negative impression by baiting the opposing team
in particular Gail Porter. In years to come he may look back on this as
a seminal moment. As Gail Porter and similar people go from strength to
strength in broadcasting built on a platform of professionalism and
personality Moyles will still be there insulting some hapless caller on
the graveyard slot at Has-been FM.
POLLY
It was a while ago, well over a year, since I wrote my original opinion
on Chris Moyles. Now that his radio show has moved to the breakfast
slot, it seemed like a good time to re-assess things.
He is still my least favourite DJ. No question about it.
This is prime listening-to-radio-in-the-car time for me, probably like
most people – and it’s not always down to me what’s getting played.
Why do I try to avoid the Chris Moyles show? Well, just about
everything about Moyles’ presentation annoys me intensely. See my
original views, below.
But, apart from that – there’s too much chat, far too much chat – I
want a bit of music on my radio shows. Well, OK he does
play “a bit” of music. Nowhere near enough. And the music never seems
to be that important to anyone on the show.
The Sun newspaper thinks the Chris Moyles show is wonderful. Need I say
more??
Original opinion below :
I hate the Chris Moyles show. Sadly I do sometimes end up listening to
it, not by choice, and it gets on my nerves more than any other show
(on any station). It seems to consist entirely of interminable macho
chat, opinionated and sexist, and usually very dull, due to too much
emphasis on sport, cars and suchlike subjects, all with probably 5
minutes to wait [and the rest] for a song to relieve the tedium. Even
then, the music
he plays is usually pretty mindless and inane – if he choses the music
himself, he has appalling taste. A lot of it seems to be drivelly dance
and indie – it’s hopeless.
Something else Moyles is always doing – winging like a spoilt brat. Or
maybe that should be a prat. Not sure which. I know it’s supposed to be
what’s called ‘humour’. Hah! Hah!
Sorry, don’t like his show – don’t like him. Please, please, don’t let
him ever get a mainstream TV show (I know one does exist, on UK Play?)
– I’d hate to have to see that face more than I have to!
I avoid it whenever I can.
Too much chat, not enough good music.
CHRIS
I would have thought that somewhere within the radio DJ's job
description would be the words "the ability to hold down a
conversation". Someone obviously forgot to inform Radio 1. It's not
just Mr Moyles' increasing reliance on playground insults to anyone
within earshot in order hold the audience's attention that riles, it is
the constant, annoying, inability to keep any conversation flowing or
have any new ideas for a show. "But that's what makes him so great!",
people cry, "..he's like a mate down the pub." He is
unprofessional and he know's it! If Moyles spent less time down
the pub and a bit
more time thinking he would perhaps not be making a mockery of real DJs
and listeners with any ounce of intelligence. Audiences take a look at
yourself: this boy is laughing at you.
GAVIN
Obviously many many people listen to this particular radio offering
but,
just as when a record gets to number one in the charts, it still no
proof that it actually holds any true or real musical value. It
is just that a lot of
people have been persuaded by heavy promotion or advertising or a
general
movement of ill advised peer pressure to buy into a product - whatever
that product
may be. It is, however, probably quite a sad reflection on
today's society that its current tendency is to allow,
née, positively promote those lacking in any real talent
to
positions of fame / notoriety. Fame for fame's sake. (Big Brother) Not
deserved fame because an individual has a real gift. Whether
Messrs Moyles and co. are a part of the cause or a part of the effect
(or a little of both) the genre is sadly symptomatic of an increasingly
rude, belligerent and un-civil society.
How are the embattled schools, school teachers and decent parents to
eradicate the malaise of bullying, yobbish and aniti-social behaviour
sweeping the country when the main 'yoof' station holds up the yobbish
bully as its paragon? What a perilous example for the BBC to hold
up to the young and the impressionable.
No one could reasonably ask that
people should stop listening. However the audience of this, and
every other 'lowest common denominator' programme on radio and
television that offers
itself up as the latest in "cutting edge" entertainment or
"alternative" comedy, should simply think about what is being offered
up: Is it really clever? Really? Is it really
entertaining? Really? Who is it offending, and is that
offensiveness really humour? And then ask themselves the question:
"Could these resources be better and more effectively spent, and more
immediately, surely there is something more stimulating to tune into
elsewhere. Isn't there?" Mr Moyles' certainly does not give the
impression of even trying to be artful, and one has to wonder how many
people really do
think that his is actually the current acme of radiophonic
indulgence. So - Listen with a critical and
discriminating ear, and watch with a critical and selective eye.
If you remain absolutely and truly happy and content with your
listening and viewing choices - then no one can or should complain or
criticise.
A.N.
We must also be gratious and congratulate Mr Moyles for exploiting his
particular niche and making such as success of it.
Happy listening and viewing.