Another song to Singapore
The Mole welcomes back BBC F1 pit-lane reporter Lee McKenzie to the blog with news of an initiative to inject some extra showbiz into F1.
Thanks to Beyonce, Black Eyed Peas, NERD, ZZ Top and Simple Minds, F1 really will rock in Singapore this year.
Bernie Ecclestone launched a new initiative on Tuesday to combine the thrills of F1 with those of rock music.
After the F1 night race has finished on 27 September, the Asian city state's stunning skyline will become the backdrop to a rock concert, with some of the world's leading artists picking up where the some of its top sportsmen left off.
The idea is to bring new audiences into F1 and create an all encompassing entertainment package, alongside a TV programme that will be broadcast throughout the world. On stage on Tuesday morning, Ecclestone appeared delighted with the announcement, although he did hold back on revealing his favourite artists, saying he was up with "all the modern music, Frank Sinatra, etc"!
F1 Rocks - the name for the new venture - will make its debut in Singapore this year but the plan is for there to be events after seven or eight grands prix next season. There was a trial show in Melbourne at the start of this season, featuring The Who, although sadly I missed it. We were still on air and I could hardly sneak off and watch some live music!
There was a time a few years ago when if you asked F1 drivers who their favourite bands were, every one of them would say either Phil Collins or Dire Straits. Times have moved on, though, and you can't imagine Lewis Hamilton coming out with that!
With Hamilton into his R&B and Toyota's Timo Glock loving heavy rock, it will be fun to see who is dancing to what when the chequered flag falls in Singapore and the party really starts!
~RS~q~RS~~RS~z~RS~21~RS~)
Comments
How can you say Beyonce, Black Eyed Peas and NERD could be part of a rock concert, ZZ Top are definitly rock and the simple minds are possible. But Beyonce, Black Eyed Peas and NERD lip sync pop concerts.
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ha, how dare you 'laugh'
N.E.R.D are more rock than pop! (more alternative than anything actually) and are a brilliant band. Take it back please!
Ha, in all seriousness it as a good idea. Combines things that people like and enables a feel good atmoshphere afterwards and that the first real trial stage is in the skyline should be magical
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You mention that it will be put together as a tv programme, will this be shown on the BBC after the race then?
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Lee, Lewis Hamilton better say 'The Pussycat Dolls' if asked or he'll be in big trouble with his girlfriend!!
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N*E*R*D Are one of the best live acts I've seen. Their Band are phenomenal and the 3 of them put on an awesome show.
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I dunno I just have a gut feeling this is a gimmick doomed to failure.... Although the idea of combining the Donnington GP next with with the Download festival does hold a certain appeal to this Metal and Petrol head!
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Good line-up that, Simple Minds, ZZ Top hope some is shown on red button.
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Glock is going to be disappointed with that line-up.
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Great blog Lee, although I can't see it catching on.
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Should have asked Fleetwood Mac so they could have played the Chain - I guess all these guys will be trying to get the bass and guitar riffs up to par?
Who is headlining? ZZ Top I hope
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Rock concert? That line up is about as "rock" as lettuce... Who came up with that line-up? Are these the only 5 bands available that day or something? An irritating warbler, 2 very average pop acts and 2 bands that were all the rage in 1984... If this was a proper rock concert there would at least be Motorhead on the bill!!!
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Is this an admission that F1 is no longer an attractive enough proposition by itself?
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#12 :
Good point. It's a shame.
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Could it be that Mr Ecclestone is finally realising that taking F1 away from Europe and venturing far away has its downside, i.e. no-one actually attending the races??!! So bribing locals with Beyonce may attract a larger audience but is this the right way foward for our sport? When Bernie has a track built in Outer Mongolia or some other place that I can't actually pinpoint on a map, I can't see this entertainment malarky catching on, can you?
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#14 - The grand prix in Singapore was sold out within hours last year, its also sold out this year. u should check ur facts before saying that grand prixs don't sell out outside europe.
should call it F1 Pop would be more accurate
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Will anyone in their right mind stay tuned to watch these 'B list' acts performing?
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15 - I wasn't commenting on Singapore specifically, the point I was trying to make is wider than one race.
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I totally agree with this idea, I was at the Melbourne grand prix this year, I didnt see The Who, but I actually went to Trackside. This was an enclosed area that basically was a dance festival at turn 4, we had a viewing area (where I saw the car go flying into the wall, about 10m away) which was not that crowded, own bars, toilets etc... Guess what the entry fee was? $10 extra to the admission fee, bloody awesome!!!!
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99% of the 'rock' line up are pop/RnB acts
and pretty crappy aswell...
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It would be great if we get to see some footage from this.
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bleurgh.
F1 doesn't need this.
that's all I have to say.
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Consider how many F1 fans that respond to any of these forum are less than 35..40. we remember old races, old accidents, old drivers so if that is parallelled with a global audience then surely this is about lowering the average age of the F1 attendee and viewer, and securing future audiences by first the concert and then the race. Pure marketing for a great cause.
F1 Rocks is about bringing a new audience to F! that is much younger and has wider interests than us petrol heads.
Good idea Bernie...
OH, and before people start quoting their age in response there are always exceptions...
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I think its a great idea, bernie. is it gonna be shown on the red button like the F1 forum is?. cant wait till next weekend for the practice sessions and then the qualifying and race in valencia.
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lee you are doing a fantastic job. you are always where the action is and report it to us loyal or just the usual F1 viewers. what do you think the maclaren team ie lewis can do next weekend? do you think that he will do the same as he did at the hungaroring?. Im loking forward to the remaining races of the season.
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what do you think about the driving ban that Ross Brawn will get when he returns back to attend court. if he dont get a ban then that's just wrong cause if it was just a normal person caught speeding then they get a 6 month driving ban and a fine of about 200 pound and a bunch of points!!!!. do you think that michaels neck will last for the full race cause he has been saying that it has ben causing him some problems when driving the 2007 car aswell as when he been driving in the karting races.
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If they really wanted to broaden F1's appeal, how about getting rid of all these boring F1 drivers and stick Beyonce etc in the cars...
Or how about getting all the F1 drivers to appear in "F1's got Talent", where extra championship points are awarded for the drivers who demonstrate a talent other than driving racing cars (Kimi for stand up comedy, anyone?)...
If "F1 Rocks" fails to deliver the expected benefits, may I suggest Bernie takes a look at these ideas??
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"ZZ Top are definitly rock and the simple minds are possible. But Beyonce, Black Eyed Peas and NERD lip sync pop concerts."
When has Beyonce ever lip-synced? She is far and away the best singer out of anyone on the bill. In terms of technical ability - something yo
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"When has Beyonce ever lip-synced?"
Some examples:
http://www.google.com/search?q=beyonce+lip+syncs
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