Dubious Achievements 2018
The Harley-Davidson Award for Late-life Craziness by a Silly Old Duffer goes to Neil Finn.
We thought Finn had done pretty well for himself, what with the international hits generating a generous income, the two great bands — Split Enz and Crowded House — he’s been part of, the rich and evolving musical partnerships he’s had with brother Tim and other family members, the side projects he put together with stars from around the world, and the cool little Auckland studio through which he’s been able to share the love with other musicians. But all that wasn’t enough for the Neilster, apparently. Oh no. When he should be winding back and resting on his laurels, he’s only gone and joined frigging Fleetwood Mac, one of the biggest bands in the world, attempting to help replace stone-cold genius Lindsey Buckingham. What next, Tim getting drafted in to replace Peter Gabriel in Genesis? Actually, that we’d pay to see. Rock impresarios — your move.
The Alliance Française Beret for French-inflected Fashion Wankery goes to World.
Ooh-la-la! Le couturier “World” got dans le merde grande when it was sprung attachement le label “Fabrique en Nouvelle Zelande” to vêtements actualmente fabrique en bloody somewhere else (That’s enough “French” — Ed). Hilariously, label co-founder Dame Denise L'Estrange-Corbet, who had been critical of other New Zealand designers for not manufacturing their clothing here, tried to argue that the “tags that say Made in NZ are Made in NZ, so there is nothing misleading about this”. More sensibly, and after the Commerce Commission got involved, the brand accepted its conduct was likely to breach the Fair Trading Act and agreed to refund customers who returned garments they thought had been made in New Zealand. That “thump”?: the rare sound of World being brought down to earth.
The Tim Shadbolt Bullshit Award for Saying Bum to Mummy goes to Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson.
Davidson won some rare headlines for attempting to “reclaim” the c-word from those who had used it indown the “reclaim-the-c-word” lobby, but we’re pretty sure they both voted Green anyway.
