It's very easy to get into binary conversations.
One of which is that to like Kate Tempest is to like performance poetry and to dislike her is to dislike performance poetry.
The second statement is of course a false dichotomy.
I like both page and performance.
On the subject of Kate Tempest I do not see her as a poet. I just don't think she sounds poetic in performance and that is confirmed for me in the read. The words feel very ordinary. As far from the perfect words in the perfect order as I could imagine.
But who cares? I mean ultimately...each to their own. We all have our own favourites and that is how it should be. We are free to like and dislike whatever we like - no scared cows.
I hold Andrew Motion, Paul Farley and Simon Armitage in high regard. I hold local performance poets in high regard...some people will dislike these poets, again that's not only right, it is probably how it should be.
The more variety and options we have the better. Also to be fair to Kate Tempest - anything that puts poetry on the map is, arguably only a good thing. The day there is no publicity, let alone hype, that is the day all poets should mourn.
P.S
Note: I think Kate Tempest is decent when it comes to a UK variant of Def Jam poetry and a decent musician. Clearly a very good performer. Definitions...I would hazard a guess that our definition of what a poet is or isn't in such cases would revolve around whether you/we class def Jam poetry as being poetry. I think some of it is interesting and enjoyable even. But I don't see it as poetry.
Have a look and see for yourself...
www.youtube.com/results?q=def%20jam%20poetry&sm=3
Comment is about Kate Tempest, Manchester, 2014 (article)
Original item by Greg Freeman
Sorry that wasn't so short was it?
Comment is about Harry O`N eill (poet profile)
Original item by Harry O`N eill
Hello Harry, just a short thank you for bothering to comment on Faith.
I always hesitate to reply to comments, after all we in effect ask for them by posting our work here on WOL.
I'm also often intrigued by the fact that readers always seem to assume some biographical significance in others' work or belief systems. Similarly to delve into those is an even more intriguing issue.
Suffice to say that let every man have his own level of faith. Mine is rooted closer to home in the skin and bones of my family and friends.
It's always good to receive a comment from yourself Harry. I truly respect your comments around the WOL estate.
very best regards,
Graham
Comment is about Harry O`N eill (poet profile)
Original item by Harry O`N eill
<Deleted User> (6895)
Mon 20th Oct 2014 15:17
as a Granddad,I can relate to this lovely poem.It probably describes all Granddads that are worth their salt/s.
Stef (and Grandmother Patricia of course!)xx
Comment is about AN ODE TO MY GRANDDAD... (blog)
Original item by Manasa Krishnan
Having read both the article and the comments and knowing absolutely nothing about the young lady in question, I thought I'd take a look at her website for a broader view of her work.
Now I am no fan of performance poetry and even less a fan of rapping.
However, one thing is for certain, she is a born performer and uses words well albeit to my poor old ears, sometimes unintelligibly.
Having sampled all of the video clips available I am left with the overall viewpoint that I consider her to be more of a musician than a poet.
I don't know whether she has some quieter, more reflective (dare I say it) more grown up stuff (why should she, she only looks young anyway) to listen to, but I would like the chance.
In summary, a very clever, hard-working young woman.
And Philip, I don't think luck has anything to do with it.
These days, to get it you have to earn it! (National Lottery excluded).
Graham
Comment is about Kate Tempest, Manchester, 2014 (article)
Original item by Greg Freeman
<Deleted User> (9882)
Mon 20th Oct 2014 12:31
thank God,for pure and HONEST poetry!x
Comment is about Poem: Called To Worship (blog)
Original item by Joseph J. Breunig 3rd
I really enjoyed reading this. I was lit with the rhythm and pace! xxx
Comment is about BEASTS (blog)
Original item by Ian Gant
This piece is wholly appropriate to what Write Out Loud is about: helping narrow the gap between the oft-divided worlds of 'page poetry', on the one hand, and the grassroots open-mic/performance versions on t'other. Or of the perceptions of such a divide.
That's the whole point of Judy's comments: is she a poet, or a rapper, or a “performer”. Kate Tempest can do, does, and has done them all; she is part of - I would argue - a new poetry that speaks to and from the people, bearing in mind the late Adrian Mitchell's comment about most people ignoring most poetry because most poetry ignores most people.
Thank you Judy. Excellent, and very much appreciated.
Comment is about Kate Tempest, Manchester, 2014 (article)
Original item by Greg Freeman
really enjoyed the poetry on the healthywatertrust site guys. proud to have some poems on there
Comment is about Stockport WoL (group profile)
Original item by Stockport WoL
wow. excellent stuff. felt like i was really looking into your life then.
excellent snapshot poem
Comment is about Mania (blog)
Original item by Charlotte
clever, clever stuff. made me smile. slight but very funny too x
Comment is about Crap Poem (blog)
Thanks for checking out Kate Tempest for us, Judy. Like many others, I've wanted to know more about her for some time. Good to hear that she has a refreshing attitude to all the hype surrounding her, even though it sounds as if most of it is justified! However, as a fellow journalist,I am scandalised at your suggestion that reviewers ever mull over a possible intro before they have actually seen the performance!
Comment is about Kate Tempest, Manchester, 2014 (article)
Original item by Greg Freeman
An eternity of debt. Ouch. Somewhere between the crunch of the earth under heavy boots and the soaked frame: the familiar lot, the right elements I think. I almost made that: an eternity of doubt. Best wishes,Dom.
Comment is about Lyra Greene (poet profile)
Original item by Lyra Greene
HI Dominic glad you liked the poem. An 'adit' is the opposite of an 'exit'. So it's just a hole in the ground which I am seeing as a way in and not a way out.
Comment is about Dominic James (poet profile)
Original item by Dominic James
This is great stuff David. Uh. One speed bump: what is a adit?
Dom.
Comment is about Cities (blog)
Original item by David Cooke
dont get me started jeff...worse than bloody subway....i just like to order a big one with everything
Comment is about THE COSTA COFFEE (blog)
Original item by dazzer
Thank you very much Andy, glad you enjoyed it.
Comment is about Emerge (blog)
Original item by Cecilia Kovacs
Hi,
This is in Hungarian, in memoriam of my father who passed away exactly 2 weeks ago. He was Hungarian just as I am, so the poem had to be in Hungarian, I wrote it on Thursday night. I wanted to include in here, so all my poetry is in one place. My fiancee requested a translation, which I will attempt, but that IS hard thing to do, so bear with me please. It is otherwise a very personal poem, so I am a little bit glad that not many people can understand it.
Comment is about KS (Emlékére) (blog)
Original item by Cecilia Kovacs
Do not go gentle into that Dylathlon.
Comment is about Celebrating Dylan Thomas: 36 hours of readings by celebrities in Swansea Dylathlon (article)
Original item by Greg Freeman
lovely.. really struck a chord with me here.
Comment is about Emerge (blog)
Original item by Cecilia Kovacs
Great WOL debut, and my sentiments entirely lol Jeff
Comment is about If Cameron came to my house. (blog)
Original item by dazzer
top stuff mate, can well identify with this! cheers Jeff
Comment is about THE COSTA COFFEE (blog)
Original item by dazzer
Excellent Daz, very poignant & great images, cheers Jeff
Comment is about Deansgate Bridge (blog)
Original item by dazzer
Hiya mate, great to have you back on the site!!
Keep on writing mate, and hope to see u soon, Jeffarama!!
Comment is about dazzer (poet profile)
Original item by dazzer
like this one julien....she may be turning still..
Comment is about We have become a dead grandmother (blog)
Original item by Julian Jordon
Thanks for your comments on run boys run Daniel glad you enjoyed it. I see you been trying some performing. Go for it. I have tried a bit myself.I have found it difficult at first but will keep plugging away.
Comment is about Daniel Dwyran (poet profile)
Original item by Daniel Dwyran
This is a great one Ian. very clever
Comment is about Weird Sisters (blog)
Original item by Ian Whiteley
You are right Jeff, we can't slow down time mate... although Cher seems to have tried! ;)
Solar if I still have that cheeky glint in those eyes when I am his age I would be delighted! (He's at the North Pole getting sorted at the moment). Cheers all.
Comment is about ANOTHER GREY DAY (blog)
Original item by Daniel Dwyran
Dazzer. Good to see you back.
Loved the Costa Coffee the first time around. Very clever. Deansgate Bridge is very poignant and moving. Keep them coming. DD
Comment is about dazzer (poet profile)
Original item by dazzer
Cate. Thank you very much for your kind words on Another Grey Day. Pleased you liked it ;)Appreciated.
Comment is about Cate (poet profile)
Original item by Cate
Martin.. this is another cracker. Great twist and brilliant ending. Thanks also for your comments on Another Grey Day. Much appreciated.
Comment is about Run boys run (blog)
Original item by Martin Elder
That's really beautiful
Comment is about LOST (up close part 2) (photo)
Original item by Pity-Poetry
Glad you and Is had such a good time, Cate! Never mind the rugby top ... your performance just before the break with added clog dancing brought the house down! Greg
Comment is about Brass bands, clogs, the rail ale trail and all that jazz at Write Out Loud's poetry jam (article)
Original item by Greg Freeman
Kenneth Eaton-Dykes
Fri 17th Oct 2014 17:24
Hi Cate.
.
Many thanks for your Kind comment.
Much appreciated. Ken
Comment is about Cate (poet profile)
Original item by Cate
Regarding this.
Last night on T.v`s `This Week` I (at last!)
heard someone say what is the basic reason
for immigration.
Michael Portillo reminded us that the British
`replacement birh rate` was less than two per
woman. (1.85 actually) Whereas In America
(for example) It is 2.5. Therefore America is
producing sufficient taxable replacements to
fund its future pension costs and we are not.
Last year a quarter of all the babies born in the U.K. were born to mothers born themselves in
another country. (should all future pensioners -
of whatever ilk – rejoice?).
Portillo was worried in case the furore about
immigration diverted attention away from (in
his opinion) the more serious problems about
sovereignty...problems of nationalism which
the enthusiasts of the so-called `United States
Europe` will have to solve.
Comment is about (blog)
Original item by Harry O`N eill
Made me smile :)
Love it.
Comment is about Crap Poem (blog)
Im not sure why but I really like this. Its almost like an artists oil painting in words, short and vivid.
Cate xx
Comment is about Coin 38 (blog)
Original item by A.M. Clarke
Amusing and cleverly constructed.
Cate xx
Comment is about ANOTHER GREY DAY (blog)
Original item by Daniel Dwyran
Amusing! I like your rhyming patterns too. I enjoyed reading this!
Cate xx
Comment is about THE COSTA COFFEE (blog)
Original item by dazzer
Ha ha... this amused me! Cate xx
Comment is about Crap Poem (blog)
Great write up Greg! Sis and I thoroughly enjoyed our weekend. I managed to take in 5 different bands, camp out at The Carriage House in my bongo on Saddleworth moors, party and overdose on vino and finish off on the Sunday Write Out Loud poetry session!
A smidgeon fly in the ointment was the antics of Mr Flower on the rugby field (which I didnt know about at the time I was sporting a Wigan Rugby shirt and singing about "Rugbys my game and Warriors my name" The lovely peeps there though, didnt hold it against me..... apart from a few sniggers and a Sunday paper waved under my nose showing my teams "no nonsense" approach to dealing with stress on the pitch!!!!
I love the Marsden Festival. Roll on next year!
Cate xx
Comment is about Brass bands, clogs, the rail ale trail and all that jazz at Write Out Loud's poetry jam (article)
Original item by Greg Freeman
Travis Brow
Fri 17th Oct 2014 07:55
Morning Dan, if I may, I keep coming across your stuff as i browse around the web and every time i do it leaves little hooks in me, a sort of feeling that stays with me for a while. Quality.
Comment is about My Deerboy (poet profile)
Original item by My Deerboy
Travis Brow
Fri 17th Oct 2014 07:46
'black v's in tye-dye skies,' splendid line.
Also, if i've understood the penultimate verse correctly, I'd be tempted to place the word 'separate' where the word 'pull' appears in the same line. That said, they are excellent lines.
Comment is about Fibonacci on the last school run (blog)
Original item by CathyLCrabb
Wow, I really liked this. I feel we are a lot alike. The life that was given to us by the Norns is already decided. Some broken and lost, and some that conquer and thrive. One thing lies in it though, the courage to move on that will make your life favorable in the eyes of the Gods.
Comment is about Becoming Alice (blog)
Original item by Lyra Greene
Wow, the imagery was great in this, I was picturing the woods the whole time. I feel the same way, I actually just posted a poem with the same rhythm as this.
Comment is about Lost (blog)
Original item by Lyra Greene
Great poem! It exposes a side to Cinderella, or anyone who struggles in their situation, really beautiful!
Comment is about Cinderella (blog)
Original item by Megan Stephens
Gus Jonsson
Mon 20th Oct 2014 18:15
Hello Charlotte
Loved the drama and story telling,wonderfully chosen words. A very a very lovely insight ...a delicate and sensual piece of writing.
Juicy, lips, peach orange segments, sucking ginger, mouth I enjoyed very much reading this piece over again...slowly.
Wonderful.
Loved it!!
Regards
Gus
Comment is about Orange County. (blog)
Original item by Charlotte