Right This Blog! 2012

Last updated 09:14 20/04/2012

Way back in 2010 I started this thing called Right This Blog! The idea beingBe My Guest that it was your chance to have a say about the sorts of things - relating to music - that you wanted to see on this blog. You could say what you wanted to say - above and beyond the comment allocation.

We've had a few rounds of Right This Blog! now. Each time - twice a year - I pick a handful of candidates and I have a week off.

It's not really a week off as I'm still posting the blogs - sourcing photos, adding links, editing the work so that it is readable. Some of the guest-bloggers have done a fantastic job, skilled writers, engaging - and can spell! Some of them have struggled a wee bit, but this is not about setting anyone up. This is about allowing you the shot to Right This Blog! You get to write it - and you get to right it, which is to say you get to put your spin on things. You get to correct me for what I have (and haven't) done.

So I have never written about Devo. Maybe you want to be the person to initiate that conversation.

Perhaps, in your mind, I should have been a lot kinder to that band, Six60. Well - have at it. Fix the mistake. Step up and give it a go.Help Wanted

The thing I like about the Right This Blog! "week off" is that it brings in new voices and a new audience. People always tell at least one of the guest-bloggers that they should takeover full time. Great stuff. Why not.

I'd love to think that a new blog was started as a result of someone's guest turn here; maybe someone will get the taste and start their own blog. Good-o.

I write this blog every day, so it's good to have a break a couple of times a year. People who step up to the plate for a day once or twice a year have fresh eyes and ears - and they're hopefully approaching the wider subject in a way that I wouldn't; this is what it's about.

We've had people attempt to answer-back blog-posts that I've written. And we've had people discuss similar topics but put their opinion across - that's the point of a blog, after all. So the same old topics can be revisited because someone else is doing the writing, asking the questions. Or answering the questions that I asked - in more detail than a comments thread can offer.

I delayed Right This Blog! this year because I asked you all to come up with the headlines/topics for me to write. That was fun by the way, we may well do that again later in the year too.

So this blog is always negative? You can fix that! So I am a terrible writer? You can be better. You might even be the best. This is my challenge to you. But it's also just my opinion. And what would I know, right? (Opinions are like art's holes).Guest Blogger

Well you might know a lot more. And now you get to show that. And if that's not the case - or it's not your motivation - you might just wish to talk about a subject that I haven't covered.

Remember when that guy went all Pitchfork-heavy on The Bloodhound Gang. Yeah. Well, I wouldn't have done that. So that was a good guest-blog. And then there was that time where some guy pondered my very blogging existence. I could argue that I do that - and wonder that - myself. But I could never have done it the way that he did it.

So you can review my terrible music - you know, where I can't even keep in tune playing percussion. Or you can defend someone else's terrible music - like the Lulu album. You can sing the praises of Hollie Smith or talk up the new Black Seeds album if you like. Or you can write about your own musical project.

But be positive. Nobody likes someone who is always negative. We hate that!

You can take the chance to rave about the things that you think I do not cover. Or you can trace around the same ground - but do it far better, because that's just what you do.

I'm offering up Blog on the Tracks for one week to you. Well, to five of you. One post each day. That's how it works. That's how it's always worked.

So - why should I pick you?

Leave a comment below stating what you want to write about. I might pick you. Or I might pick anyone else.

If you've contributed before you might like to have another go. If you're a long-time reader (hi Mum!) but you never comment maybe today's the day that you add a comment, make a suggestion for a blog-post that you would like to contribute.

If you would like to collaborate with me, or interview me or include me in your post well that's fine - try me. I might be up for that. I have been before. If you waKeep Calm And Write Somethingnt to bury me with your prose then go for that option - sure. But your best bet is to write about something that I haven't (and wouldn't/won't) cover. Or to at least make your pitch interesting. That's a good plan.

I'm giving this blog over to you - the readers. For one week. And one week only. Until the next time I give you the chance to Right This Blog! later in the year.

So have at it. What will you write about? And why should I pick you?

And happy Record Store Day for tomorrow. Have a great weekend. Comment below to tell me why you should be the one to Right This Blog!

Postscript: I'll pick the winners next week and you'll have a week to prepare your guest-post. The week of guest-posts will run in May.

Keep up with Blog on the Tracks on Facebook and follow on Twitter.

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Off the Tracks to read 'The Vinyl Countdown' - an album-by-album review of my record collection.

You can
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64 comments
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Danny   #1   09:32 am Apr 20 2012

I have been trying to get picked for this for ages! I have a few topics: 1. OK Go - More than just great one shot videos! 2. Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame - What's The Point? 3. Davey Jones and The Monkees - An undeserved bad rap? 4. Little River Band - Too easily dismissed? Check out their hidden gems. 5. Harry Nilsson - How can someone with such great songs, voice, and humour be so under appreciated? 5. Jellyfish - 2 great albums and then nothing! 6. Why do people get so upset over blogs? What goes on in someones mind when they read/write/respond to blog topics!

Crummy   #2   09:46 am Apr 20 2012

Simon, Simon, Simon... It really disappoints me that you don't cover enough new and interesting New Zealand music. True, your blog is for Stuff which is pretty much the Six60 of media organisations.... I like your approach that’s why i visit Blog on the Tracks, but it's sad to only read about the bands that manage to garner mainstream media attention in New Zealand

So, my proposal is to write about 5 up and coming bands from New Zealand (not necessarily bands I like) and get people thinking and talking about something other than the spoon-fed standard.

Misha   #3   09:50 am Apr 20 2012

Hi Simon

I'd love to do a piece on David Bowie - called Loving The Alien..

Johnny Andrews   #4   09:52 am Apr 20 2012

I think I proposed this as one of your Friday blog posts a couple of weeks ago, but it's something I feel so strongly about, I'll try again:

'From Aerosmith to ZZ Top' - how a late-career revival can have a detrimental effect on a rich back catalogue of gems and the overall public perception of the band - both from musos and normal people.

Bea   #5   10:14 am Apr 20 2012

Please pick Danny #1 - I'd be interested in no. 3 or no. 2 (personally, for no. 2 I think it's the recognition of a life time of dedication).

Angus   #6   10:30 am Apr 20 2012

I'm not putting my hand up for "Right this Blog", just making sure Simon that you do a post on Levon Helm, who has just gone to join the great gig in the sky. Cheers.

V   #7   10:31 am Apr 20 2012

Personally, I think the idea of a week's worth of entirely unpaid content for a commercial organisation is a wee bit uncool really.

Simon Sweetman   #8   10:57 am Apr 20 2012

@Angus - sure thing. That'll be up early next week. An easy promise to make and keep.

honkytonkpopcorn   #9   11:08 am Apr 20 2012

I don't wanna write it but someone needs to come up with a formula or some mathematical procedure that will settle once and for all the age-old question of who the best southpaw drummer is/was.

(pssst - it's Joey Waronker...)

Darryl   #10   11:39 am Apr 20 2012

Here are some topics that interest me.

1. Big Star - Deeply influential, but a commercial disaster area. Radio City in particular blew my mind when I heard it. I still can't work out why it wasn't a smash. I think it stacks up against anything released at the time.

2. The Producers - George Martin, Phil Spector, Nile Rodgers, Steve Albini. They have added so many fresh dimensions the raw melodies and rhythms of the artists they have worked with.

3. If you gave me a Friday spot I'd do the list style blog - Top Ten worst sub-genres. And you thought BBQ reggae sucked.


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