MK Awards 2014 – I was wrong, but so were you

The MK Awards this year stood out for a few reasons, least of all how wrong I was with most of my predictions or the fact that I wore a tie.
The biggest reason surely being the fat finger they flipped everyone who said that MK won’t make it to see another awards ceremony since going off-air and on-line.

Another outstanding aspect was a delightfully hilarious egg (Anne Hirsch) enhancing the lol-factor brought to the stage by Bouwer Bosch and Jean Jordaan. (Well done on the Parlotones joke. Made my night).
I also loved the new song by Fokofpolisiekar (although I can for the life of me not remember it’s name. Might have been Paranoia or Afrika or something like that)

Lastly, before we get to the actual awards, I must mention something that made me glad: It was as if the online culture seeped through to the style of the ceremony.
Sure, you might see it as being shorter, with less awards and less performances than previous years. You might even have attended another one of these and noted that this year they had less going on pre- and post-event.
You would, of course, be wrong.
I prefer to see it as MK embracing the nature of an on-line identity. Short, to the point, here you go now fuck off. That, ladies and gentleman, is the internet for you in a nutsack. If MK were to splash out on an MTV size event, it would almost have gone against what they are slowly but surely busy accomplishing: Creating a fully digital platform where they can excel.
Also, we partied our tits off afterwards, so stop bitching.

While on the topic of how wrong you might have been, let’s go to the awards.
And yes… YOU, dear voter, did get it wrong a few times. Because I said so.
(Feel free to tell me I’m wrong in the comments below)

Video:
Winner: Shortstraw – Waterworks
I said: Van Coke Kartel ft. Jack Parow – Chaos
Why you were wrong: Shortstraw’s video is cool… but Van Coke’s vid just compliments the song better. It is also a better song.

Live Act:
Winner: Jeremy Loops
I said: Bittereinder
Why you were wrong: Yes, I did admit that Jeremy Loops is AMAZING live… but take a look at the size and quantity of awesome shows Bittereinder played in the last year.

Album:
Winner: Shortstraw – Good Morning Sunshine
I said: Bittereinder
Why you were wrong: You weren’t, you could have been more right though.

Budget Video:
Winner: Al Bairre – We move on
I said: The Plastics
Why you were wrong: Here you really picked probably the worst nomination. And I really am sorry to say it, coz I love Al Bairre and it is a GREAT tune… It’s just that the video is absolutely unoriginal and really boring. After 40 seconds an epileptic seizure set on by the flashy images starts looking like a more pleasant experience…

Newcomer:
Winner: Al Bairre
I said: Matthew Mole
Why I was wrong: Yes, you read right. I was wrong. In retrospect I have to give it to Al Bairre… And no, I am not trying to make up for my comment regarding their video. I really do believe that they deserved to win this.

Afrikaans:
Van Coke Kartel
No argument here.

Festival:
Oppikoppi
The masses spoke, and you settled the little argument I had with myself…

To crown it all, 2 new (and rather unexpected) awards were handed out. I, for one, am absolutely stoked about them…

Legend:
Haddad Viljoen
I spoke to the man afterwards, and let me assure you , he deserves this award and 10 more.

Basically, this award goes to someone who MK would like to honour for his/her contribution to the SA music industry. To festivals, to media, to.. well, everything. For being THERE.
I foresee this award being bestowed on many more. I should think that the next one could very well go to Carel Hoffmann, the main man behind Oppikoppi.

Venue:
Arcade Empire & Assembly (shared)
Yes, Arcade won… and having never had the opportunity to party in Assembly (I know, sad hey?) I can only assume that they must be ridiculously awesome to even be named in the same breath as Arcade.

Well done guys, let’s see which venues step up to the plate for next year’s awards.

Well, that was that. And yes, my opinions are just that, my OPINIONS.
So just coz I say some other bad deserved an award, doesn’t mean the other options were shit. I love most of the nominated bands,and would really like to see all of them rise to deservedly win tons of awards.

Drop YOUR opinion here below. Or don’t.
Whatever.

All pics by Henno Kruger. See more here.

Nominees announced for the 2014 MK Awards

Ever since MK went off the TV and took residence on our computer screens, fears have been mounting that -in spite of what they unequivocally claim- they might be dead and/or dying. Facebook pages and other online campaigns have been launched to manipulate the powers that be into bringing MK back to the dying medium of the century.
Yes, I do believe that TV itself is dying, much in the way a caterpillar “dies” before it’s reborn, in TV’s case as a beautiful online butterfly.

I have said it before and I’ll say it again: MK is ahead of it’s time [in moving online], and if they play their cards right, they will still be able to remain one of the most powerful protagonists of South African music.

As if to prove my point, they have just released the nominees for the 2014 MK Awards.
I foresee a much more relevant and less mass-pleasing affair this year. People who support MK in its new cyber-incarnation, are much more dedicated to not only the channel, but to the music it plays and culture it represents. Voting, therefore, should reflect the opinion of the true fan and not just the fad fan.

Without further ado, here’s the list (and some of my thoughts regarding it):

Best Music Video:

Van Coke Kartel ft. Jack Parow – Chaos
Bicycle Thief – Goodbye Ian Curtis
Haezer – Troublemaker ft. Tumi
The Plastics – Best Pretenders
PH Fat – House of Clashes
Wrestlerish – Battleground
Shortstraw – Waterworks
Bittereinder – Kwaad Naas

I do believe that Van Coke ft Parow will take it. Of all these great videos, this one stands out to me because it’s not only an awesome video, but fits perfectly with the awesome song.

 

Best Live Act:

Bittereinder
Van Coke Kartel
Zebra & Giraffe
Desmond & The Tutus
Jeremy Loops
PH Fat

The fierce battle for the prize, in what I believe to be the most important category of any music awards program, is going to be a nailbiter. Although both Jeremy Loops and Desmond and the Tutus have put up some of my personal favourite shows of the year, nothing seems to beat the consistantly brilliant performances by Van Coke Kartel and Bittereinder. After a BLAZING Oppikoppi performance, I think that Bittereinder could very well edge past the Belville band in this one.

 

Album of the Year:

Gangs of Ballet – Yes/No/Grey
Shortstraw – Good Morning, Sunshine
Bittereinder – Die Dinkdansmasjien
The Plastics – Pyramid
Taxi Violence – Soul Shake

In certain respects, 2013 was a slightly quieter year when it came to good new album releases. The good ones that did come out though, were great. Due to the sheer volume of thumping hits and great party tracks on one album, I’ll give this one to Bittereinder as well.

 

Best Music Video under R15k:

Al Bairre – We Move On
Bye Beneco – On The Line
Moving House – Tongue in Cheek
The Plastics – Occasional Lies
Desmond & The Tutus – The Future

I am absolutely stoked with the inclusion of this category. For an upcoming band to be able to compete with the more established (or better sponsored) ones, is an almost insurmountable task. So kudo’s to MK.
This also proves that a good video does not necessarily require a budget capable of buying a Gupta.
For this one I nominate  The Plastics. Al Bairre’s song is cool, but seriously guys, that video has been done a million times…

 

Best Newcomer:

Al Bairre
Matthew Mole
Michael Lowman
Die Skynmaagde
Bye Beneco
Monark

All of the nominees have worked their asses off. Making a decision here is only made a bit easier by Matthew Mole’s insane growth spurt as a musical entity in the last year. It’s like this man can do no wrong…

 

Best Festival:

Up The Creek
Ramfest
Oppikoppi
Rocking The Daisies
Synergy

Oppikoppi will take this. Numbers talk in an audience driven voting system.
However, with 2014’s RAMFest line-up, next year’s awards could very well be a different ballgame.
I will say this however, I had my most memorable musical moment at RAMFest this year whith Rise Against.
Or was it Mango Groove, Fokofpolisiekar and The Narrow at Oppikoppi?
Hell, I don’t know. Help?

 

Best Afrikaans Group:

Van Coke Kartel
Jack Parow
Die Skynmaagde
Spoegwolf
Dans Dans Lisa
Die Heuwels Fantasties

Van Coke Kartel.
Next?

 

All that remains to be seen now, is who will host the awards ceremony. Jaco from Bittereinder and Desmond and the Tutus’ Shane set the bar pretty high last year… Maybe MK should ask me, coz you know, awesome moustache and all 😉

 

I look forward to see how my predictions correlate with the eventual results.
What do you think? Am I an insightful music-award-predicting guru, or should I cut down on the crazy pills?
I know opinions differ, for instance my mate Henno Kruger will probably try to convince me that he’s right :p Read his opinion here.

Go make your mark on the official MK Awards Voting site, and remember: Vote for the best, even though it might not always be your favourite.

MK Awards 2013: Nominees Announced

Earlier this week, a few sparks flew on twitter regarding the MK Awards 2013.
Did MK prematurely post the nominees for their 7th annual award ceremony on their website? I doubt it.
Did some band’s fan’s friend get it wrong and start a whole unnecessary halluballoo? Quite probably.
Do I care? No.
Why?
Easy, ‘coz the real award nominations are out now, and they look awesome.

You get to vote, so it’s up to you who goes to the State Theatre in Pretoria to collect their award(s) on 24 March 2013.

MK has changed things up a bit for this year’s awards by introducing the “Best SA Music Festival” and “Best Solo” categories. Phase one of the MK Awards 2013 took place between 10 and 25 January, where people had the opportunity to nominate who they felt best deserved to be in the “Best Live” and “Best SA Music Fest” categories. The artists and festival who came out with the most nominations by 25 January were included as official nominees.

Starting today, you have until 12:00, 8 March 2013 to vote on MK’s website and Facebook page.

• mktv.co.za
• www.facebook.com/mktv.co.za

For exclusive updates on the MK Awards 2013,  follow MK on:

Twitter:

• @mktv_
• #MKAwards

Now when you vote, I just want to ask you one thing:

DON’T BE STUPID.

I know that you would like to vote for your personal favourite band, but be honest with yourself (and the whole world): Vote for the band that actually deserves to win the category.

The nominees for 2013 are:

Best Video

• Die Heuwels Fantasties – Verraadplaas
• Tailor – Wolf
• The Frown – The National
• The Parlotones – Honey Spiders
• Van Coke Kartel – Tot Die Son Uitkom
• Zebra & Giraffe – I’ll Blame you

Best Newcomer

• Gangs of Ballet – Hello Sweet World
• Goodnight Wembley – Time Machine
• Spoegwolf – Lenie Blou
• Tailor – Wolf
• Toya DeLazy – Pump It On
• Woodstock Mafia – Electric Light

Best Group

• Die Antwoord – Baby Is On Fire
• ISO – Destiny
• The Plastics – Stereo Kids
• Van Coke Kartel – Dis ‘n Land
• Zebra & Giraffe – I’ll Blame You

Best Rock

• Jack Parow ft. Francois van Coke – Hard Partytjie Hou
• Taxi Violence – Unholy
• Van Coke Kartel – Dis ‘n Land
• Woodstock Mafia – Electric Light
• Zebra & Giraffe – I’ll Blame you

Best SFX/Animation

• Absinthe – Love Will Tear US Apart
• Haezer ft. Lark – Brave
• Mr Sakitumi – Jungle Jimmy
• The Frown – The National
• The Parlotones – Honey Spiders

Best Indie

• Ashtray Electric – Bittersweet Manipulator
• Black Handed Kites – Up
• Mug-Shot – Bare Bones
• Shortstraw – One Long Day
• The Plastics – Stereo Kids

Best Dance

• Die Antwoord – Baby Is On Fire
• Double Adapter – Eat You Alive
• Goodluck – Harlem
• Johnny Neon – Hearts
• Pascal & Pearce – Disco Sun

Best Solo

• Bouwer Bosch ft. Jaco van der Merwe – (K)anker
• ChianoSky – Sick Sick Sick
• Jeremy Loops – Howling
• Shotgun Tori – Sweet Weather
• Toya DeLazy – Love Is In The Air

Best Live Act

• Bittereinder
• Fokofpolisiekar
• Gangs of Ballet
• Jeremy Loops
• The Black Cat Bones
• Van Coke Kartel

Best SA Music Festival

• Oppikoppi 2012
• RAMfest 2012
• Rocking The Daisies 2012
• Synergy 2012
• Up The Creek 2012

 

Care to share your opinions or maybe venture a guess as to who might win what?
I love the fact that there is quite some diversity in this lot. I have deliberately not just put up videos of who I think should/will win (some of them, yes, others I just like)

Can’t wait for the awards!