Max Boyce.

[UNDERHILL1927]

Re: Max Boyce.

I finished watching BBC Wales' Slammed, a three part documentary on Welsh rugby between the late nineties and the beginning of the Warren Gatland era, yesterday and, initially, was puzzled as to why I enjoyed the last two episodes more than the first one. The penny dropped when I realised that the first episode had a voiceover by Max Boyce, while the other two were just straightforward talking heads to camera.

it seemed odd to me that you would use Boyce for one episode and not the other two (not that his melodramatic and reverential contribution added anything at all to the programme), but a possible explanation is that the first episode was a lot about contrasting how good Wales were in the seventies with how bad they were twenty years later, so I suppose someone who seems to be stuck in that era was used to emphasise that contrast.

It's not too strong a word to say that I despise Max Boyce now, yet, even with my self image as a cool young man whose musical tastes owed much, too much, to what was being said in the NME, Sounds and Melody Maker at any given time, I'd still play my old man's vinyl copy of Live at Treorchy now and again in the late seventies, because I found it funny and, in lots of ways, accurate when it came to the Wales of nearly fifty years ago.

Yet, Boyce's act seems sentimental, hackneyed and way, way past its sell by date now. Is that because, Wales has moved on and is a more confident and vibrant country now or is it just that I have changed into an old curmudgeon who has lost his sense of humour?

Don’t worry, he’s never been funny.

[the other bob wilson]

Re: Max Boyce.

I watched Slammed and enjoyed it too.
I thought Gareth Thomas (Alfie) didn't come out of it that well. Seemed to me like he thought of himself as some sort of saviour of Welsh rugby.
His spat with Eddie Butler was mildly amusing though.

I agree about Gareth Thomas. That argument with Eddie Butler was worse than I remembered it at the time, - the tension in the air really came over in those bits they showed from just before the programme started.

[light up the darkness]

Re: Max Boyce.

This brought back memories of Ponty and Pop in the Football Echo.

Ah yes. Do you recall there was a small dog hidden in each of the cartoons

[the other bob wilson]

Re: Max Boyce.

Ah yes. Do you recall there was a small dog hidden in each of the cartoons

Bleddyn.

[insider]

Re: Max Boyce.

I've just had a flashback.
My sister bought the Me and Billy Williams album and in the bottom corner of the front sleeve in a Gren cartoon it said Swans for the cup which I scratched off with a knife.

[The Bloop]

Re: Max Boyce.

I agree about Gareth Thomas. That argument with Eddie Butler was worse than I remembered it at the time, - the tension in the air really came over in those bits they showed from just before the programme started.

Eddie Butler is an articulate, Cambridge graduate, journalist and writer. Gareth Thomas was captain of the side because of his loud positive attitude the dressing room.
I'd give Gareth Thomas more chance of winning the lottery than of winning any debate with Eddie Butler.

[splott parker]

Re: Max Boyce.

Anyone else open this thread thinking he was dead (at Treorchy)?

[Elwood Blues]

Re: Max Boyce.

I finished watching BBC Wales' Slammed, a three part documentary on Welsh rugby between the late nineties and the beginning of the Warren Gatland era, yesterday and, initially, was puzzled as to why I enjoyed the last two episodes more than the first one. The penny dropped when I realised that the first episode had a voiceover by Max Boyce, while the other two were just straightforward talking heads to camera.

it seemed odd to me that you would use Boyce for one episode and not the other two (not that his melodramatic and reverential contribution added anything at all to the programme), but a possible explanation is that the first episode was a lot about contrasting how good Wales were in the seventies with how bad they were twenty years later, so I suppose someone who seems to be stuck in that era was used to emphasise that contrast.

It's not too strong a word to say that I despise Max Boyce now, yet, even with my self image as a cool young man whose musical tastes owed much, too much, to what was being said in the NME, Sounds and Melody Maker at any given time, I'd still play my old man's vinyl copy of Live at Treorchy now and again in the late seventies, because I found it funny and, in lots of ways, accurate when it came to the Wales of nearly fifty years ago.

Yet, Boyce's act seems sentimental, hackneyed and way, way past its sell by date now. Is that because, Wales has moved on and is a more confident and vibrant country now or is it just that I have changed into an old curmudgeon who has lost his sense of humour?

Despise seems a strong word to use for a comedian who you now don't find funny. Dislike ,yes, but despise means comtempt which is more what you'd use for Boris Johnston and what he has done (perfectly understandable!) rather than a comedian you now don't find funny because he was perhaps of his time and tastes have moved on.

There are many comedians I dislike, not sure if I actually despise any of them

In answer to your last question - both! ( go on admit it you were Victor weren't you )

BY the way I have an admission to make. I watched a video of Max Boyce Live in Treorchy Again on Youtube last night (from 2011 I think) and still found some of it very funny

[delmbox]

Re: Max Boyce.

I would never have thought that Max Boyce would inspire such passionate dislike not my cup of tea but to me he's a harmless entertainer from a different era

[the other bob wilson]

Re: Max Boyce.

Despise seems a strong word to use for a comedian who you now don't find funny. Dislike ,yes, but despise means comtempt which is more what you'd use for Boris Johnston and what he has done (perfectly understandable!) rather than a comedian you now don't find funny because he was perhaps of his time and tastes have moved on.

There are many comedians I dislike, not sure if I actually despise any of them

In answer to your last question - both! ( go on admit it you were Victor weren't you )

BY the way I have an admission to make. I watched a video of Max Boyce Live in Treorchy Again on Youtube last night (from 2011 I think) and still found some of it very funny

I despised the style of narration in the first episode of the programme I talked about for the few seconds before I realised who it was and, as I mentioned before, I really don’t think Max Boyce’s work has aged well at all. Maybe if there’s a word just down from despise, then that would have been more appropriate, but I can’t think of one, so it will have to do for now.

As for Victor, it’s probably fifteen years, possibly longer, since we were honoured by his presence on here and as he often used to refer to himself as “poor old Victor”, it may be that he has left the land of the living and is looking down on us from above, or, more likely, looking up at us from below. However, I’d go for him still being around and, possibly, still posting on this or one of the other City related boards - the best wind up merchant I’ve come across on here.

[splott parker]

Re: Max Boyce.

I despised the style of narration in the first episode of the programme I talked about for the few seconds before I realised who it was and, as I mentioned before, I really don’t think Max Boyce’s work has aged well at all. Maybe if there’s a word just down from despise, then that would have been more appropriate, but I can’t think of one, so it will have to do for now.

As for Victor, it’s probably fifteen years, possibly longer, since we were honoured by his presence on here and as he often used to refer to himself as “poor old Victor”, it may be that he has left the land of the living and is looking down on us from above, or, more likely, looking up at us from below. However, I’d go for him still being around and, possibly, still posting on this or one of the other City related boards - the best wind up merchant I’ve come across on here.

I’m with you, I despise him but, on the other hand from the same era, Picketywitch

[Bobby Dandruff]

Re: Max Boyce.

Eddie Butler is an articulate, Cambridge graduate, journalist and writer. Gareth Thomas was captain of the side because of his loud positive attitude the dressing room.
I'd give Gareth Thomas more chance of winning the lottery than of winning any debate with Eddie Butler.

Eddie Butler just LOVES the sound of his own voice.

Utterly nauseating

Thanks goodness that none of this rubbish gets any airtime in England.

[Dorcus]

Re: Max Boyce.

I despised the style of narration in the first episode of the programme I talked about for the few seconds before I realised who it was and, as I mentioned before, I really don’t think Max Boyce’s work has aged well at all. Maybe if there’s a word just down from despise, then that would have been more appropriate, but I can’t think of one, so it will have to do for now.

As for Victor, it’s probably fifteen years, possibly longer, since we were honoured by his presence on here and as he often used to refer to himself as “poor old Victor”, it may be that he has left the land of the living and is looking down on us from above, or, more likely, looking up at us from below. However, I’d go for him still being around and, possibly, still posting on this or one of the other City related boards - the best wind up merchant I’ve come across on here.

Scorn

[life on mars]

Re: Max Boyce.

I'm no fan but despise is a bit heavy it was of the time and it brought humour and good feelings to a nation in dire need of an uplift , gosh where is todays Max to lift us out of these dour times .

[valleys caveman]

Re: Max Boyce.

Anyone else open this thread thinking he was dead (at Treorchy)?

I thought he'd snuffed it a few months back when I saw a thread on here entitled ''Boycie RIP.''