Voting closes at MIDNIGHT tonight - Fri 30 May 2008 -
any votes cast after this deadline WILL NOT BE COUNTED!
Over the last thirty years, the 24 Hour Party People of Madchester have produced bands which have shaped the city's identity and that of British music, making Manchester a cultural capital across the world.
“When thinking of the Most Musical City surely you look north? That lot down the road may have had a popular little beat combo in the 60's, but surely the accolade should go to Manchester - Definitely, not even Maybe.
Firstly, there's the bit your familiar with - in the early 80's The Smiths took alternative music to the masses. New Order, building on the brilliance of Joy Division, produced the world's biggest selling 12” record in Blue Monday, and with the help of Tony Wilson became part of the legend that is Factory Records, The Hacienda, the Happy Mondays and the Second Summer of Love. The Stone Roses proved they were what the world was waiting for and imploded just in time for Oasis to come along signaling the dawn of Britpop and Cool Britannia, as well as playing to a quarter of a million people in two days at Knebworth. Not forgetting the Inspiral Carpets (who should be remembered for more than just their roadie Noel Gallagher), The Charlatans and Doves.
But there's much more to the music of Manchester than just guitars, cool haircuts and great front men. The City's pop history is second to none thanks to Take That and Simply Red and the Bee Gees route to being the kings of disco started on the streets of Manchester. We even win X-Factor (Shayne Ward is from Clayton).
Delving deeper into Manchester's past and George Formby and Gracie Fields were the most famous names in British music before there were even charts, although The Hollies and 10cc both made sure the city was top of the pops in the 60's and 70's.
Back in the 50s, the city was known as the home of the so-called 'Manchester School' of classical composers, comprising Harrison Birtwistle, Peter Maxwell Davies and David Ellis. Today Manchester is still a hub of classical music - home to two symphony orchestras, the BBC Philamonic Orchestra and a centre for specialist music education with the Royal Northern College of Music and Chetham's School of Music.
Add into the mix a thriving folk, blues, jazz and Irish music scene in the city, Northern Soul, The Fall, James, Georgie Fame, The Chemical Brothers, a touch of Morrissey, plus an endless list of other artists and I'm confident we have found the Most Musical City!”
Do you agree? Have your say below...
Eugene
May 29, 2008
Bee Gees and Manchester - definitively the BEST! Not forgetting the beautiful choruses of the Old Trafford crowd (and for this I will even add the Maine Road crowd) - then no other city comes close, absolutely
Chopper
May 29, 2008
"I feel close to the rebelliousness and vigour of the youth here. Perhaps time will separate us, but nobody can deny that here, behind the windows of Manchester, there is an insane love of football, of celebration and of music." - Eric Cantona
I think that says it all really... no not the football bit (albeit after last week why not throw that in there) But I have to say that Manchester is without a doubt the centre of all great music. Simply take a look across the Globe at the way it has influenced so many bands then you cannot deny the pure and simple fact.
Especially when during the late 1980s rolled into the 1990s the entire clubbing scene took off in Manchester, we all started to neglect the fact we?d just gone through one of the city?s best ever times with that Madchester era. So why the hell would we blank the one great thing that we were right there with day in ? night out.
God bless Manchester...
Okay ? okay ? for those of you that have read the book, Ar' Back Yard, you will be moaning that I said that Madchester, was for all the tourists. But truth be told ? that was a great era.
And look what happened through the likes of Happy Mondays and Primal Scream who totally got what that was going on with that style of music. They are still here today and still as strong as they were back then. Well, no offence Mr. Ryder ? But I am talking more Bobby here than yourself. That is only down to the simple fact that everything I try to transgress here, hit you worse in the same way it hit all of us ? in fact... so many of us... You probably more so than us with everything that surrounded you eh???
And to top that ? look what then came along. That Britpop era. Fuck Britpop ? That was the Rock and Roll we needed to bring us to our senses once again. I mean ? Jeez ? It had got to a stage where people were actually asking you what kind of dance music you liked?
Like, was it Techno ? or Drum & Bass ? Handbag ? or.... Or whatever!!!
Nonsense I tell you. It just totally lost the plot. In fact someone who will back me up here on this is an Old Skool DJ, Steve Williams ? quality lad ? and he was there back in the day and saw for himself how the times were changing. You can check out Steve at this awesome site that he regularly uses oldskoolathemz.com ? he got in touch after the Terry Christian interview. He?s proper sound and even though, I know he doesn?t remember meeting me (Legendary all-nighter pal ? I won?t say who I was with... or which brother you was with for that matter) and he knows what was what back then and how it all started to change.
Steve saw what was coming ? didn?t you pal???
However ? another thing I really have to throw in is the fact that through this period ? we cannot forget what took place. And as much as a lot of people who slate Oasis (despite the fact they are the greatest rock and roll band in the world) the one thing I love about this band ? is the simple fact they came along and they broke that monotony of what the cycle everybody had fallen into with the clubbing scene ? and that was simply dance music.
I mean Noel (who should be, rightfully the king of England) took us all by storm with nothing that was even that new. They reminded us all what attitude was ? they reminded us of what it was to hear real instruments being played once again ? but the best thing they did was the kept it so that no matter what you was into ? you remained into it ? yet at the same time ? became all that more aware of the music we had out there.
I take my hat off to the likes of Noel and Liam. I seen these lads for the first time at Maine Road ? and I have to say that you lads gave me the push I needed to try and do something with the book. I mean I couldn?t write lyrics or produce the kind of thing you lads did ? and that is not what I am getting at to be honest.
What you did was instil the belief that any old Manc with the heart and desire could make a go of it. And for that ? I will always be thankful.
I mean I have just starting listening to one of the greatest radio shows out there week nights ? And I recommend any of you out there who love the music from back there and then and the music seeping through now ? tune in (even if you?re Darn Sarf, as my Geordie pal, Paul puts it ? or all the way out in New York, Sandy ? or even bloody China lads... Daniel and Pengfei!!!)
Tune in online to XFM Manchester week nights to Clint Boon (of the legendary Inspiral Carpets from back then in the Madchester era) 7-10pm ? he rocks with the type of music he is playing and the added fact this guy plays so many unsigned bands it?s untrue.
Also ? as I have mentioned before in a previous Blog, ? 10pm-1am on those same nights ? check out John Kennedy on the same show (London or Manchester) this guy plays some of the best music you?ll hear. No ? you definitely won?t like all of it ? however what you will like ? you will like immensely and the lad is an utter genius when it comes to up and coming new music.
However ? I also need to seriously throw a shout in here to the DJ I am listening to right now, as I do every Wednesday night 10-12 and that is Rachel Middleton on The Revolution, another quality station from Manchester ? once again just tune in online if you?re not from the area. Now this is a Rock Show that plays everything from The Beastie Boys to AC-DC ? to new lads who are rocking my world at the moment, Cage the Elephant... so you can?t go wrong. Also email her ? she will play you what you want... No honestly ? she will....
Quality!!!
This is taken from part of a music Blog that you can check out at www.arbackyard.com that I wrote recently stating what I thought of the music scene past and and present in Manchester...
Check it out and read more about that and the book that goes with it...
I think that says it all really... no not the football bit (albeit after last week why not throw that in there) But I have to say that Manchester is without a doubt the centre of all great music. Simply take a look across the Globe at the way it has influenced so many bands then you cannot deny the pure and simple fact.
Especially when during the late 1980s rolled into the 1990s the entire clubbing scene took off in Manchester, we all started to neglect the fact we?d just gone through one of the city?s best ever times with that Madchester era. So why the hell would we blank the one great thing that we were right there with day in ? night out.
God bless Manchester...
Okay ? okay ? for those of you that have read the book, Ar' Back Yard, you will be moaning that I said that Madchester, was for all the tourists. But truth be told ? that was a great era.
And look what happened through the likes of Happy Mondays and Primal Scream who totally got what that was going on with that style of music. They are still here today and still as strong as they were back then. Well, no offence Mr. Ryder ? But I am talking more Bobby here than yourself. That is only down to the simple fact that everything I try to transgress here, hit you worse in the same way it hit all of us ? in fact... so many of us... You probably more so than us with everything that surrounded you eh???
And to top that ? look what then came along. That Britpop era. Fuck Britpop ? That was the Rock and Roll we needed to bring us to our senses once again. I mean ? Jeez ? It had got to a stage where people were actually asking you what kind of dance music you liked?
Like, was it Techno ? or Drum & Bass ? Handbag ? or.... Or whatever!!!
Nonsense I tell you. It just totally lost the plot. In fact someone who will back me up here on this is an Old Skool DJ, Steve Williams ? quality lad ? and he was there back in the day and saw for himself how the times were changing. You can check out Steve at this awesome site that he regularly uses oldskoolathemz.com ? he got in touch after the Terry Christian interview. He?s proper sound and even though, I know he doesn?t remember meeting me (Legendary all-nighter pal ? I won?t say who I was with... or which brother you was with for that matter) and he knows what was what back then and how it all started to change.
Steve saw what was coming ? didn?t you pal???
However ? another thing I really have to throw in is the fact that through this period ? we cannot forget what took place. And as much as a lot of people who slate Oasis (despite the fact they are the greatest rock and roll band in the world) the one thing I love about this band ? is the simple fact they came along and they broke that monotony of what the cycle everybody had fallen into with the clubbing scene ? and that was simply dance music.
I mean Noel (who should be, rightfully the king of England) took us all by storm with nothing that was even that new. They reminded us all what attitude was ? they reminded us of what it was to hear real instruments being played once again ? but the best thing they did was the kept it so that no matter what you was into ? you remained into it ? yet at the same time ? became all that more aware of the music we had out there.
I take my hat off to the likes of Noel and Liam. I seen these lads for the first time at Maine Road ? and I have to say that you lads gave me the push I needed to try and do something with the book. I mean I couldn?t write lyrics or produce the kind of thing you lads did ? and that is not what I am getting at to be honest.
What you did was instil the belief that any old Manc with the heart and desire could make a go of it. And for that ? I will always be thankful.
I mean I have just starting listening to one of the greatest radio shows out there week nights ? And I recommend any of you out there who love the music from back there and then and the music seeping through now ? tune in (even if you?re Darn Sarf, as my Geordie pal, Paul puts it ? or all the way out in New York, Sandy ? or even bloody China lads... Daniel and Pengfei!!!)
Tune in online to XFM Manchester week nights to Clint Boon (of the legendary Inspiral Carpets from back then in the Madchester era) 7-10pm ? he rocks with the type of music he is playing and the added fact this guy plays so many unsigned bands it?s untrue.
Also ? as I have mentioned before in a previous Blog, ? 10pm-1am on those same nights ? check out John Kennedy on the same show (London or Manchester) this guy plays some of the best music you?ll hear. No ? you definitely won?t like all of it ? however what you will like ? you will like immensely and the lad is an utter genius when it comes to up and coming new music.
However ? I also need to seriously throw a shout in here to the DJ I am listening to right now, as I do every Wednesday night 10-12 and that is Rachel Middleton on The Revolution, another quality station from Manchester ? once again just tune in online if you?re not from the area. Now this is a Rock Show that plays everything from The Beastie Boys to AC-DC ? to new lads who are rocking my world at the moment, Cage the Elephant... so you can?t go wrong. Also email her ? she will play you what you want... No honestly ? she will....
Quality!!!
This is taken from part of a music Blog that you can check out at www.arbackyard.com that I wrote recently stating what I thought of the music scene past and and present in Manchester...
Check it out and read more about that and the book that goes with it...
emma knowles
May 28, 2008
manchester... eclectic and progressive in every musical sense!!!!
ryan jarvis
May 28, 2008
Manchester has consistantly knocked out the coolist and most influential bands over a 30 odd year period.
Roisin
May 28, 2008
the musical talent manchester has produced couldnt get any better, simply AMAZING!!!!!! The smiths, stone roses, elbow, the courteeners i fink already enough said!!
Kellie
May 27, 2008
I get goosebumps when I think of the music that this city has produced, there are way too many artists to mention but Manchester is without doubt, the heart and soul of British music.
M
May 27, 2008
Absolutely without doubt msnchester.The smiths rule.
AM
May 27, 2008
Manchester is the best, just the way it is :o)
Bee Gees <3
MARK LEVY
May 26, 2008
The Manchester music scene went pretty much quiet until recently. In the past couple of years more great bands have emerged onto the scene. They include Cherry Ghost, The Courteeners and incredible Ting Tings. Manchester is bouncing back!!!
Rita Murphy
May 26, 2008
Manchester IS music!
Jordan
May 26, 2008
The list of great bands from Manchester is far, far bigger than any other city. Why are we even having this debate? The Smiths, Oasis, The Buzzcocks, The Hollies, The Stone Roses, Badly Drawn Boy, Doves, Happy Mondays, Joy Division, New Order, David Gray, Ting Tings, The Courtneers, The Charlatons, The Beegees, Hermans Hermitts, Simply Red, Take That, Elbow etc, etc.
Rachel
May 26, 2008
While I agree that possibly some of those names above should not really be mentioned in a poll for Manchester, we have still produced - and are still producing - masses of talent within the city to win this hands down. Liverpool has produced some gems true enough, and Sheffield is worth a mention, but Manchester is the rightful winner in my eyes :)
James
May 26, 2008
Bee Gees Rule!!! Of Course Manchester Is The Best Musical City
Imran Masood
May 23, 2008
I think the problem with Manchester is that firstly it has to look outside it's city borders to the Greater area to fill it's musical profile and secondly the bands, artists and musical forms that hail from Manchester were and are only big within these British Isle's and 90's music was'nt exactly great for the UK in international terms was it? In my job im quite well travelled and the bands that are known worldwide seem to come from either London or Birmingham, with the exception of a few from other cities such as Sting (Newcastle) or The Beatles (Liverpool). Not to say Manchester does'nt have some worldwide artists but unfortunaltly not enough.
Colin Jones
May 23, 2008
Every region on the competition map has just one city entered: except the "North West" which has two. Why is that? I suppose Liverpool would probably win in a competition for music heritage between the two - and some of these musicians are from towns miles outside Greater Manchester that have nothing to do with Manchester. Is it on the list because the Arts Council has based its regional office in Manchester? Surely not!
jill loughran
May 21, 2008
You are desperate if you have to cast your net over GREATER Manchester and even The NORTH WEST!!!
Liverpool by a million miles. No-one comes near to our records
Liverpool by a million miles. No-one comes near to our records
Bill Dodd
May 07, 2008
If Chicago doesn't qualify, Manchester wins!
Linda Freeman
May 03, 2008
Manchester? The BEST!
Jim
May 02, 2008
It all happened between roughly 79 and 95 really though, didn't it? Not much happening now, and not much in the 60s or 70s (apart from the Bee Gees - who are Mancunian via Australia and New York - and the Buzzcocks, who haven't been mentioned). I have to grudglingly admit though (as a Sheffielder), Manchester wins it because of the Smiths, the Fall and the Happy Mondays.
Martin
May 02, 2008
Why is it that in Manchester we have to look outside of the city to find supposedly 'Manchester' talent? Look at some of the comments here. Are Take That from Manchester? No! The Charlatans? No! The Verve? No! George Formby? No! Who else within a 50 mile radius are we going to claim? The Arctic Monkeys maybe? Or the Beatles? Let's be honest, we had a period when we contributed a lot to the music scene. But as for being a hot-bed for musical talent, Manchester is clearly no better than any other UK city.
D. Collins
May 01, 2008
Manchester has produced some great bands but the best era for the city seems to have been around the mid 80's to mid 90's, since then I think other UK cities have caught up. The media hyped up Madchester out of lazy reporting of something that was happening on a UK wide note, not taking anything away from the city of course. Re: the Charlatans... they were formed in the West Midlands, Tim Burgess later joined and he is from Northwich, majority of the band members were/are from West Mids apart from Mark who is Mancunian.
chris jameson
April 30, 2008
FROM THE HOLLIES TO THE FALL, FROM 10CC TO JOY DIVISION, IT HAS GOT TO BE MANCHESTER.
James Crawford
April 30, 2008
Mark E Smith of The Fall will win this award on his own.
Mel
April 30, 2008
I may get slated for saying it but Tony Wilson was right about Manchester being a hotbed for musical talent... The Stone Roses, Doves, Oasis, Charlatans (well from Northwich), Verve (from Wigan)... Manchester music defined my youth. I think our radio stations should be supporting this campaign. I am really sick of cheesy chart dance!!!
Andrew Wishart
April 28, 2008
The Fall, Stone Roses, Happy Mondays, New Order, Joy Division etc, only one winner. Manchester
Nick Byng
April 22, 2008
The Beegees, Oasis and Take That though :(
Jason Waterman
April 22, 2008
Joy Divison, The Smiths, The Stone Roses, Happy Mondays, Oasis, The Charlatans and The Chemical Brothers!! Come on, it's no contest!!!! It has to be Manchester.
dave glynn
April 22, 2008
manchester!!! without a doubt...but george formby and gracie fields???no mancs there
Devin Mynett
April 22, 2008
As an expat from Manchester I find it extraordinary that they have to ask the question in the first place! Of course it is Manchester!
Dai Texas
April 22, 2008
New Order. Enough said.
