The Theme of 2010

The first year of a new decade is met with some optimism. Maybe this is the year we'll finally get out of the banking crisis, the year we turn climate change around, get married, get a promotion, get children. But considering what actually happened this year (locally), I cannot come to any other conclusion that we've had a year of missed chances.

• Lost World Cup Final. Didn't win World Cup hosting rights. Kramer missing his lane switch.
• A government that promised change, really didn't change anything. Even almost turned the clock back to 2002, by almost imploding.
• The economic upturn got a bit sidetracked by a myriad of concerns... like entire countries that actually can't pay for shit anymore.

So I don't think it's strange to take a look around the world how other folks are doing. I'm off!

A Serious Request

I fully support the cause that Serious Request supports. Strangely enough I don't really care which cause that is. This year it's about AIDS-stricken orphans, last years they supported water-deprived people, malaria victims, war refugees, land mine clean-ups... Now I trust 3FM to choose a cause that garners at least some sympathy, but by rotating the cause there's an underlying feeling that the event is more about the event itself, rather than the cause, i.e. I give money regardless which is the good cause du jour.

The money raised is also a contentious point. We need to measure how successful a money-raising event is, and usually the amount of euros is the most clear one to take. It's just so powerful that it can actually influence what people bring in afterward. It makes it important to carefully orchestrate when money is counted to the overall total. It's like voting and polls, if the result is already clear from the outset, subsequent people won't bother showing up.

And what if the goal is to raise as much money, if not more, without the government's support? It just makes the government say, "good, the people give themselves anyway", rather than the government itself deciding on handing a lump sum of tax money without the constituency choosing to do so.

I like what 3FM is putting together each year. It's becoming a tradition that we all look forward to come December. But at this point, is it wrong to feel more sympathy for the guys (and girls) in the house itself and the personal stories of people giving than the actual theme of the event?

This sums up the year for me

... and it happened one year ago.

As it stands, no matter if you are the best athlete in the history of everything ever, the goose with the golden eggs, or a billionaire heiress, Corporate America has no problem kicking your ass to the curb. Don't get caught sleeping around!

(Actually, the actual news item I think sums up the year are the Chilean miners rescue.)

The Movies of 2010

This year's batch of movies has been largely below radar. There were some noteworthy releases, such as Iron Man 2, Tron Legacy, A-Team, the inevitable Potter movies (which they just had to stretch out into two parts) and The Expendables, but the best releases were the indie titles or the titles that gained traction through social media.

In fact one of those movies was about the pre-eminent ambassador of social media (The Social Network). The list of best movies includes Kick-Ass, Scott Pilgrim, and Inception, which actually provided something new to the mainstream: either a full-on introduction to comic influences in Hollywood storytelling, or a strong plot that surprises, inspires thought, and truly turns your head upside down.

Strangely enough few of those "Best" movies appear on my favorite movies list for the year. Date Night surprised me with a non-annoying Steve Carrell. I liked Kick-Ass more than I thought I would. Of the big blockbusters The Expendables was the most formulaic, and yet the safest bet. I thought Iron Man 2 was a matter of cramming too much into one movie, and was inferior to its predecessor, despite the brilliance of Downey jr. I even liked A-Team over IM2, although A-Team was really far over the top. Plus, except for two cameos and loosely tied characterizations, the movie had nothing to do with the original TV series.

So all in all, very little of which we anticipated greatness, actually was. If it was any good, we didn't hear about it until far later on Facebook (in fact, it probably was the movie about Facebook).

Unless you happen to be a teenage girl with a thing for vampires. Then 2010 went on like gangbusters.

The Games of 2010

Video gaming in 2010 has revolved around just a few things: motion control, 3D and digital distribution. I do have to say only the last one is truly game changing. Motion control is a fad that the Wii started way back when, and only now have Microsoft and Sony caught up a little. 3D is also somewhat of a fad, especially since we haven't really found a good form of entertainment after Avatar that made somewhat good use of 3D.

Digital distribution has taken off now, and for the first time becomes a real threat to traditional brick-and-mortar retail. Only big games and special editions justify going to the stores for your video game content, and even that is getting less and less.

It means that the days of HMV, Free Record Shop are numbered.

Apps and games are now the major digital heavy-hitters. iPods and iPads are truly getting a whole new audience into (casual) gaming. For very little money as well (a buck, maybe two gets you hours of fun). Strangely enough a title like Angry Birds is more well-known than a premium title as God of War III.

It means the days of proper big name games are also numbered.

Gaming-wise we're back to sports games for the season, but other than having a good-looking and solid presentation, I'm still pissed player clipping is not resolved after all these years.

Top 10 Games in 2010

1. Madden NFL 11
2. NBA 2K11
3. StarCraft 2
4. MLB 10 The Show
5. God of War III
6. NHL 11
7. Red Dead Redemption
8. Final Fantasy XIII
9. FIFA 11
10. Gran Turismo 5 (just to spite it for making us wait 5 years for what amounts to Gran Turismo 4 HD)

The Music of 2010

This year social media is truly taking over music. Vidzone, Spotify, Soundhound, Shazam, iTunes, Pandora, Last.FM are transforming the way we discover and listen to music. FM is no longer cool, streaming music over WIFI and through your cellphone is where it's at.

Now this year I'm listening to a varied bunch of tracks. I'm clubbing to urban music (Rihanna, Usher, Flo Rida), rediscovering rock from early to mid last decade (Saliva, Enter Shikari, Bullet For My Valentine), moving to contemporary dance (Ricky L, Yolanda B Cool, Fake Blood). And I have developed an appreciation for world music (Kassav', Malu, Mehad Hamed).

And you really can't get around Katy Perry this year. In some shape or form she's always on the radio this year. Same can be said about Lady Gaga, and Kesha (although the latter in negative connotations). Then there's this rotation of smooth black artists, from Usher, to B.O.B., Jason Derulo, and Flo Rida, who take up the rest of the air time.

I also greatly enjoyed several albums, which as convention I get from iTunes. I don't miss having a physical CD and box, and it saves me a lot of storage space. Now I just have to keep my iPods somewhere. Do You Want The Truth Or Something Beautiful (Paloma Faith), and Deleted Scenes From The Cutting Room Floor (Caro Emerald) are absolutely fantastic, and in a pinch I enjoy Bells (Laura Jansen) and Balloon Over Paris (Elske DeWall) quite a bit as well.

The top 10 tracks this year are extremely hard to qualify. Especially since I've been rediscovering songs from all over and across all decades, not just 2010. I have to limit them somehow, so only songs with regular popular airplay in the past 12 months (give or take) are eligible.

1. The Heavy - How You Like Me Now
2. Band Of Skulls - I Know What I Am
3. Eminem - Not Afraid
4. Robbie Williams & Gary Barlow - Shame
5. John Legend, The Roots, Common & Melanie Fiona - Wake Up Everybody
6. Eliza Doolittle - Pack up
7. Eminem ft Rihanna - I Love The Way You Lie
8. Aloe Blacc - I Need A Dollar
9. B.O.B. ft Hayley Williams - Airplanes
10. Hurts - Wonderful Life

Funny how the top two tracks are prominently featured on MLB 10: The Show.

Honorable mentions: Jurk! - Zou Zo Graag (twee armen vinden, die me lang en lief omhelzen zouden), Undisclosed Desires, I Made It, Little Boots and Lady Antebellum. Also the Black Eyed Peas, but for all the wrong reasons.

Album Du Jour: already the early favorite to album of the year for 2011, 21 from Adele.