The Power Of Nostalgia (The Big Reunion, Stone Roses, Ant And Dec Feature)
Friday, 12 April 2013
Written by Josh Adams
Two pretty phenomenal events have occurred in pop culture over the past few weeks. The first is something your average rock or indie fan was probably blissfully ignoring, albeit aware of: a group of 6 previous big-names in late 90s early 00s music have produced a spectacle that a) managed to garner ratings that rivalled many of it’s parent network’s biggest drawers, and b) been able to receive such demand for their one off show in London - that subsequently it’s presence is now demanded in 12 arena dates up and down the country.
Such parade over these acts (Atomic Kitten, Liberty X, 5ive, 911, The Honeyz and B*witched) is something so unprecedented even ITV2 brushed it off as another spring-season filler before another round of summer network headliners began in earnest later in the year.
Can we really blame them? In all fairness, I can’t imagine anyone who genuinely expected this one-off to make any significant impact. After all, this particular period of pop music to which these groups belong is seen (mostly) as a phase of musical debauchery - senseless commercialism, hand-made acts and little to no creative endeavour - something that was to become something of a theme as the decade went on (Popstars, Pop Idol and X Factor to name the few…)
Another thing happened too. Ant and Dec (or their lesser known pseudonym PJ and Duncan) went from a playful show on their eponymous show ‘Saturday Night Takeaway’ (performing alongside said reformed groups) to a place atop the UK Top 40. In 2 glorious weeks. ‘Let’s Get Ready to Rhumble’ a seminal record of pioneering hip-hop talent (only joking) was released in the mid nineties, just before most of the cast members from ‘The Big Reunion’ had managed to crawl out of bed and make a cup of superstar coffee. But unlike most, I personally would put down Ant and Dec’s new found pop credentials to something other than being the nations favourite faces of telly. Perhaps, just maybe, some people miss those ‘PJ and Duncan’ days, and the collection of other faces and times that make up those days.
Impossible surely. That somewhere out there, there’s a group of people aching for that post-Britpop/pre-Adele period of pop from the late nineties to mid noughties. And if there was such an audience, couldn’t they wait? The Nineties, let’s face it, seem only a day or two away for a lot of people - even those (like myself) who were born in the decade seem to forget just how consistent the passage of time is. Looking past the notches of years into the bands you love and adore (regardless of how old you were when were formed) often throws into triviality the facts of what the decade spawned, or what 'movement' they helped progress. These ‘rebirths’ including those from rock groups like The Stone Roses (small pic) and Suede, remind us just how long it has been since their heydays, and how long it was since many of their fans worshipped them through their Walkman or Handheld CD Player - before the days of iPods and MP3 Players.
It’s possible now to imagine myself in 20 years time, although what bands I’ll be queuing up to see after a reunion on ITV2 I simply cannot tell. These recent revivals are testament to the continuing and uncompromising power of nostalgia and remembrance, and how despite the widespread bemuse and attacks of artistic redundancy on these pop acts; no matter how ‘good’ music is - your youth will always remember it better.
Pre-order your tickets for Lady Gaga in 2030, coming soon to a community centre near you!
Due to demand for tickets for The Big Reunion tour in May, the show is set to return in December for The Big Reunion Christmas Party tour.
Fri May 3rd 2013 - Motorpoint Arena Sheffield, Sheffield
Sat May 4th 2013 - Manchester Arena, Manchester
Sun May 5th 2013 - Metro Radio Arena, Newcastle upon Tyne
Mon May 6th 2013 - AECC, Aberdeen
Tue May 7th 2013 - SECC, Glasgow
Wed May 8th 2013 - Liverpool Echo Arena, Liverpool
Thu May 9th 2013 - Capital FM Arena Nottingham, Nottingham
Fri May 10th 2013 - Bournemouth International Centre, Bournemouth
Sat May 11th 2013 - Motorpoint Arena Cardiff, Cardiff
Sun May 12th 2013 - LG Arena Birmingham, Birmingham
Mon May 13th 2013 - The Brighton Centre, Brighton
Tue May 14th 2013 - The O2, London
Thu May 16th 2013 - The O2 Dublin, Dublin
Fri May 17th 2013 - Odyssey Arena, Belfast
Thu December 12th 2013 - LG Arena Birmingham, Birmingham
Fri December 13th 2013 - Motorpoint Arena Sheffield, Sheffield
Sat December 14th 2013 - The O2, London
Sun December 15th 2013 - Manchester Arena, Manchester
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Impossible surely. That somewhere out there, there’s a group of people aching for that post-Britpop/pre-Adele period of pop from the late nineties to mid noughties. And if there was such an audience, couldn’t they wait? The Nineties, let’s face it, seem only a day or two away for a lot of people - even those (like myself) who were born in the decade seem to forget just how consistent the passage of time is. Looking past the notches of years into the bands you love and adore (regardless of how old you were when were formed) often throws into triviality the facts of what the decade spawned, or what 'movement' they helped progress. These ‘rebirths’ including those from rock groups like The Stone Roses (small pic) and Suede, remind us just how long it has been since their heydays, and how long it was since many of their fans worshipped them through their Walkman or Handheld CD Player - before the days of iPods and MP3 Players.
