XL REPUBBLICA - how Mika keeps himself busy ;-) - part 2

[dcdeb]

Thanks, Clara -- I don't want to step on anyone's toes if they're already translating, but I'll try to do it if I have some time this afternoon.

[dcdeb]

Eight years ago in London, by chance, I bought the first issue of a magazine called "Jack." There was on the cover an image of vintage soft porn, a bit pulp (Deb's explanation: like soft core porn, sort of romantic, and maybe a bit titillating), with brilliant colors. It appealed to me and I wanted it without even having peeled it open. It was what I consider one of the most beautiful magazines ever published. For the first time, I read a man's magazine that I liked. It did not have a half-naked woman on the cover with fake tits nor a man with pumped muscles, an enormous penis and white underpants. It was not openly hetero and not too gay (like magazines for men often are). It was ironic, imaginative, diverse, entertaining and above all inviting. I felt at home. That magazine did not last. It closed soon, but not before an embarrassing rethinking of its contents that killed its spirit and that pushed it toward vulgarity. Today at my house I have framed the first issue of Jack and the March 2007 issue of XL. Two of my favorite magazines that share, or shared, the same merits.

 

This magazine you're reading is one of the last XL that will be published. It's not selling in economic terms; the crises have hit advertising and alternative culture does not attract advertisers. You all do not attract advertisers! They don't like you! Italy is losing the most diverse and one of the best magazines of alternative culture. And no one gives a ****! ****! XL? Why don't you put a naked woman on the cover? Why don't you make a racket? There must be a solution! Come on, you're breaking my balls! What makes me feel bad is that for so many this seems almost normal and "inevitable." "Ah, OK, you know, it wasn't that great." "The printed word is a luxury, so much goes online like all the rest of the oddities." Bull****! Publications must coexist with the Web versions. A story should be printed and then put online, enriched by the video and by the integration with social media. Why underestimate the importance of the printed word?

 

XL was one of the first magazines in the world to dedicate a cover to me and to write about me.

 

It was a double cover, on the other side there was Amy Winehouse. Then we were considered two weirdos (odd fruits) of pop and in effect we did not exactly embody it. And this made us both very XL. It was risky to talk about us, but only XL could do it. XL is worth it because it is anti-snob, varied, contemporary, and a champion of nonconformity. Unlike too many other top magazines, for example Melody Maker in UK, it represents something different. It isn't tied to money or to certain lifestyles and unfortunately their principles are being killed. It is an ugly period for certain classes, the danger is that only the extremes will survive, that which is in the middle is destined to disappear: porn and trash on one side and that group that deals with high lifestyles, on the other.

 

When I was a boy, my father told me how incredible Playboy was. Then I bought it. It was not what I was expecting, and obviously today it is still there. Perhaps all the nonconformists in the world, Elio and me included, should consider the possibility of selling their own body to sustain the publications that they love. XL is an independent magazine. No one knows if it will remain online, while it deserves to be kept either on the Web or on paper. I will feel the loss of it greatly. And to use the words of one of those stranger types (Joni Mitchell): "You don't know what you've got till it's gone!"

Edited November 1, 2013 by dcdeb
refining translation a bit

[Sabine64]

Thank you so much Deb

[tiibet]

Thank you, Deb!!!! I didn't know XL was one of the first publications to write a cover story of him. No wonder he has a good relationship with the magazine, it must be a warm memory. This is an interesting column, imo, I totally understand his opinion. Also extremely sad new for us in many ways... No more Mika columns. Sigh. I love reading them.

[Sabine64]

Thank you, Deb!!!! I didn't know XL was one of the first publications to write a cover story of him. No wonder he has a good relationship with the magazine, it must be a warm memory. This is an interesting column, imo, I totally understand his opinion. Also extremely sad new for us in many ways... No more Mika columns. Sigh. I love reading them.

 

I love them too

[Christine]

That's a little bit of irony quoting Joni Mitchell since it was against removing trees to put them in a tree museum. Kind of like chopping them down to print magazines.

 

I wish Mika would get this worked up about how commercialism is damaging music.

 

The only media that seems to be thriving in the last decade is television. Quite a few TV shows are better than movies now.

[mamiam]

Eight years ago in London, by chance, I bought the first issue of a magazine called "Jack." There was on the cover an image of vintage soft porn, a bit pulp (Deb's explanation: like soft core porn, sort of romantic, and maybe a bit titillating), with brilliant colors. It appealed to me and I wanted it without even having peeled it open. It was what I consider one of the most beautiful magazines ever published. For the first time, I read a man's magazine that I liked. It did not have a half-naked woman on the cover with fake tits nor a man with pumped muscles, an enormous penis and white underpants. It was not openly hetero and not too gay (like magazines for men often are). It was ironic, imaginative, diverse, entertaining and above all inviting. I felt at home. That magazine did not last. It closed soon, but not before an embarrassing rethinking of its contents that killed its spirit and that pushed it toward vulgarity. Today at my house I have framed the first issue of Jack and the March 2007 issue of XL. Two of my favorite magazines that share, or shared, the same merits.

 

This magazine you're reading is one of the last XL that will be published. It's not selling in economic terms; the crises have hit advertising and alternative culture does not attract advertisers. You all do not attract advertisers! They don't like you! Italy is losing the most diverse and one of the best magazines of alternative culture. And no one gives a ****! ****! XL? Because you don't put a naked woman on the cover? Because you don't make a racket? There must be a solution! Come on, break your balls! What makes me feel bad is that for so many this seems almost normal and "inevitable." "Ah, OK, you know, it wasn't that great." "The printed word is a luxury, so much goes online like all the rest of the oddities." Bull****! Publications must coexist with the Web versions. A story must be printed and then put online, enriched by the video and by the integration with social media. Why underestimate the importance of the printed word?

 

XL was one of the first magazines in the world to dedicate a cover to me and to write about me.

 

It was a double cover, on the other side there was Amy Winehouse. Then we were considered two weirdos (odd fruits) of pop and in effect we did not exactly embody it. And this made us both very XL. It was risky to talk about us, but only XL could do it. XL is worth it because it is anti-snob, varied, contemporary, and a champion of anticonformity. Unlike too many other top magazines, for example Melody Maker in UK, it represents something different. It isn't tied to money or to certain lifestyles and unfortunately their principles are being killed. It is an ugly period for certain classes, the danger is that only the extremes will survive, that which is in the middle is destined to disappear: porn and trash on one side and that group that deals with high lifestyles, on the other.

 

When I was a boy, my father told me how incredible Playboy was. Then I bought it. It was not what I was expecting, and obviously today it is still there. Perhaps all the anticonformists in the world, Elio and me included, should consider the possibility of selling their own body to sustain the publications that they love. XL is an independent magazine. No one knows if it will remain online, while it deserves to being kept either on the Web or on paper. I will feel the loss of it greatly. And to use the words of one of stranger types (Joni Mitchell): "You don't know what you've got till it's gone!"

 

Thanks a lot Deb - for quick and great translation!!

Again an interesting column from MIKA - I agree with what he says here, and understand he's sad about the loss of mags he likes so much I will miss his monthly writing in XL badly It has been a highlight, to get so many of his thoughts and opinions about diff. things, in these columns

I hope he will be invited to write in another magazine ...

 

Love,love

me

[nanuk]

Gianni Santoro ‏@GianniSantor0 24min

Grazie grazie a @mikasounds per la nuova rubrica su XL: una lettera d'amore. In redazione, non scherzo, c'è chi l'ha letta singhiozzando.

[Alireine]

Thank you for the translation Deb!

I never read XL (exept Mika's column of course) but it's always sad when an interesting (and it seems to be) magazine has to stop his publication because of economic problems.

And it's too bad that it may also be the end of Mika's column soon

[krysady]

Thanks,Deb!

[dcdeb]

That's a little bit of irony quoting Joni Mitchell since it was against removing trees to put them in a tree museum. Kind of like chopping them down to print magazines.

 

Yes, I thought that as I was typing it.

 

I wish Mika would get this worked up about how commercialism is damaging music.

 

The only media that seems to be thriving in the last decade is television. Quite a few TV shows are better than movies now.

 

That's really true. And that probably comes down to money as well -- it's probably easier to sell more ads for a TV series over a year than it is to raise the huge amounts of cash a major motion picture requires.

 

As a writer, this column hit home with me, although I'm looking at it from a slightly different angle than Mika is. Most of the magazines and newspapers that I wrote for when I first started out are gone now. They've all been gobbled up by larger publications, or just dried up because the ad revenue wasn't there. More and more print publications are going online to survive -- it's cheaper, and, on the environmental side, it doesn't kill trees. But it does make it harder to make your living as a writer. To be honest, most of the work I do these days is online -- I haven't written for a print publication for more than a year.

 

I'm not sure if I agree with Mika that only the extremes are going to be represented in print. I mean, yes, I think porn and trashy publications like the tabloids will always be around. There's a public demand for that, and so there are plenty of advertisers to support those publications. But I think it's much more likely that most "specialty" magazines -- entertainment, sports, alternative lifestyles, etc. -- will go away, and only very, very mainstream, very general publications will survive. Everything else will either be online or a nice memory.

 

I do agree with Mika, though, that it's sad that it all has to come down to money, or a lack of it, but I think many magazines have always had this struggle. I used to work for one community magazine whose advertisers thought the only reason the editorial staff existed was to write articles to fill in the space around the ads, not the other way around!

 

Personally, I'd love to see more magazines on all sorts of subjects, and I continue to subscribe to quite a few, even though I know I'm killing trees. I just feel like I have to support them, since they are sort of my "roots." I know that makes me a dinosaur.

 

[RAK1]

Eight years ago in London, by chance, I bought the first issue of a magazine called "Jack." There was on the cover an image of vintage soft porn, a bit pulp (Deb's explanation: like soft core porn, sort of romantic, and maybe a bit titillating), with brilliant colors. It appealed to me and I wanted it without even having peeled it open. It was what I consider one of the most beautiful magazines ever published. For the first time, I read a man's magazine that I liked. It did not have a half-naked woman on the cover with fake tits nor a man with pumped muscles, an enormous penis and white underpants. It was not openly hetero and not too gay (like magazines for men often are). It was ironic, imaginative, diverse, entertaining and above all inviting. I felt at home. That magazine did not last. It closed soon, but not before an embarrassing rethinking of its contents that killed its spirit and that pushed it toward vulgarity. Today at my house I have framed the first issue of Jack and the March 2007 issue of XL. Two of my favorite magazines that share, or shared, the same merits.

 

This magazine you're reading is one of the last XL that will be published. It's not selling in economic terms; the crises have hit advertising and alternative culture does not attract advertisers. You all do not attract advertisers! They don't like you! Italy is losing the most diverse and one of the best magazines of alternative culture. And no one gives a ****! ****! XL? Because you don't put a naked woman on the cover? Because you don't make a racket? There must be a solution! Come on, break your balls! What makes me feel bad is that for so many this seems almost normal and "inevitable." "Ah, OK, you know, it wasn't that great." "The printed word is a luxury, so much goes online like all the rest of the oddities." Bull****! Publications must coexist with the Web versions. A story must be printed and then put online, enriched by the video and by the integration with social media. Why underestimate the importance of the printed word?

 

XL was one of the first magazines in the world to dedicate a cover to me and to write about me.

 

It was a double cover, on the other side there was Amy Winehouse. Then we were considered two weirdos (odd fruits) of pop and in effect we did not exactly embody it. And this made us both very XL. It was risky to talk about us, but only XL could do it. XL is worth it because it is anti-snob, varied, contemporary, and a champion of anticonformity. Unlike too many other top magazines, for example Melody Maker in UK, it represents something different. It isn't tied to money or to certain lifestyles and unfortunately their principles are being killed. It is an ugly period for certain classes, the danger is that only the extremes will survive, that which is in the middle is destined to disappear: porn and trash on one side and that group that deals with high lifestyles, on the other.

 

When I was a boy, my father told me how incredible Playboy was. Then I bought it. It was not what I was expecting, and obviously today it is still there. Perhaps all the anticonformists in the world, Elio and me included, should consider the possibility of selling their own body to sustain the publications that they love. XL is an independent magazine. No one knows if it will remain online, while it deserves to being kept either on the Web or on paper. I will feel the loss of it greatly. And to use the words of one of stranger types (Joni Mitchell): "You don't know what you've got till it's gone!"

 

Thanks for the translation Deb:thumb_yello:

Normally I wait for the English transcript, but I had just finished a job, and was flicking around online and this caught my eye.

It's very sad that unique and creative publications are falling by the wayside, but I guess that's how the evolution of the printed medium is going, if you don't go online you will most likely go under, which is a shame, because it used to be fun holding onto past issues and going back to read them a while later.

Edited October 31, 2013 by RAK1

[clara85]

Thanks, Clara -- I don't want to step on anyone's toes if they're already translating, but I'll try to do it if I have some time this afternoon.

 

Prego Deb

[Tulun♥23]

Eight years ago in London, by chance, I bought the first issue of a magazine called "Jack." There was on the cover an image of vintage soft porn, a bit pulp (Deb's explanation: like soft core porn, sort of romantic, and maybe a bit titillating), with brilliant colors. It appealed to me and I wanted it without even having peeled it open. It was what I consider one of the most beautiful magazines ever published. For the first time, I read a man's magazine that I liked. It did not have a half-naked woman on the cover with fake tits nor a man with pumped muscles, an enormous penis and white underpants. It was not openly hetero and not too gay (like magazines for men often are). It was ironic, imaginative, diverse, entertaining and above all inviting. I felt at home. That magazine did not last. It closed soon, but not before an embarrassing rethinking of its contents that killed its spirit and that pushed it toward vulgarity. Today at my house I have framed the first issue of Jack and the March 2007 issue of XL. Two of my favorite magazines that share, or shared, the same merits.

 

This magazine you're reading is one of the last XL that will be published. It's not selling in economic terms; the crises have hit advertising and alternative culture does not attract advertisers. You all do not attract advertisers! They don't like you! Italy is losing the most diverse and one of the best magazines of alternative culture. And no one gives a ****! ****! XL? Because you don't put a naked woman on the cover? Because you don't make a racket? There must be a solution! Come on, break your balls! What makes me feel bad is that for so many this seems almost normal and "inevitable." "Ah, OK, you know, it wasn't that great." "The printed word is a luxury, so much goes online like all the rest of the oddities." Bull****! Publications must coexist with the Web versions. A story must be printed and then put online, enriched by the video and by the integration with social media. Why underestimate the importance of the printed word?

 

XL was one of the first magazines in the world to dedicate a cover to me and to write about me.

 

It was a double cover, on the other side there was Amy Winehouse. Then we were considered two weirdos (odd fruits) of pop and in effect we did not exactly embody it. And this made us both very XL. It was risky to talk about us, but only XL could do it. XL is worth it because it is anti-snob, varied, contemporary, and a champion of anticonformity. Unlike too many other top magazines, for example Melody Maker in UK, it represents something different. It isn't tied to money or to certain lifestyles and unfortunately their principles are being killed. It is an ugly period for certain classes, the danger is that only the extremes will survive, that which is in the middle is destined to disappear: porn and trash on one side and that group that deals with high lifestyles, on the other.

 

When I was a boy, my father told me how incredible Playboy was. Then I bought it. It was not what I was expecting, and obviously today it is still there. Perhaps all the anticonformists in the world, Elio and me included, should consider the possibility of selling their own body to sustain the publications that they love. XL is an independent magazine. No one knows if it will remain online, while it deserves to being kept either on the Web or on paper. I will feel the loss of it greatly. And to use the words of one of stranger types (Joni Mitchell): "You don't know what you've got till it's gone!"

Thank you sooo much! ♥

 

WOW! I think it's one of - if not the most - interesting column of all!

He really expressed his opinion, loud and clear, and strongly defended his thoughts... I may not have agreed with everything he said but it's so important for everyone not to stay indifferent when they see something wrong in this world... and that's exactly what he did, I'm so proud of him.

Mika is very talnted at writing, isn't he? We only see that in his columns... He has the abilty to attract you to the words, and you cannot stop. That's the same thing he does with his music!

[Julia Welcomes]

Call me oldfashioned, for I am. Apart from total disappearance of XL or Jack - the ones for anticomformity, Mika talks about value \ importance of physical things that shouldn`t be replaced with their e-versions. Magazines, artworks, paintings, books - they represent material world inseparable from its cultural component.

 

I prefer to possess real books instead of e-books, so I can take them, feel their smell, shake dust from their covers, etc. (It doesn`t mean I deny online reading, e-books, etc... They are intended for our comfort, undoubtedly).

 

But disappearance of physical versions, like XL, might impoverish our life and its diversity. Sometimes you just need to feel joy of having something in your hands

Edited November 1, 2013 by Julia Welcomes

[mamiam]

Call me oldfashioned, for I am. Apart from total disappearance of XL or Jack - the ones for anticomformity, Mika talks about value \ importance of physical things that shouldn`t be replaced with their e-versions. Magazines, artworks, paintings, books - they represent material world inseparable from its cultural component.

 

I prefer to possess real books instead of e-books, so I can take them, feel their smell, shake dust from their covers, etc. (It doesn`t mean I deny online reading, e-books, etc... They are intended for our comfort, undoubtedly).

 

But disappearance of physical versions, like XL, might impoverish our life and its diversity. Sometimes you just need to feel joy of having something in your hands

 

Thank you - you express it perfectly !! Couldn't agree more ...

 

Love,love

me

[Julia Welcomes]

Thank you - you express it perfectly !! Couldn't agree more ...

 

Love,love

me

 

[MaIrKtA]

Thanks a lot Deb - for quick and great translation!!

Again an interesting column from MIKA - I agree with what he says here, and understand he's sad about the loss of mags he likes so much I will miss his monthly writing in XL badly It has been a highlight, to get so many of his thoughts and opinions about diff. things, in these columns

I hope he will be invited to write in another magazine ...

 

Love,love

me

 

Is it the lastest Mika column?

[mamiam]

Is it the lastest Mika column?

 

Yes, this is the latest column - and MIKA himself writes: "This magazine you're reading is one of the last XL that will be published"

 

Love,love

me

[Marilyn Mastin]

Eight years ago in London, by chance, I bought the first issue of a magazine called "Jack." There was on the cover an image of vintage soft porn, a bit pulp (Deb's explanation: like soft core porn, sort of romantic, and maybe a bit titillating), with brilliant colors. It appealed to me and I wanted it without even having peeled it open. It was what I consider one of the most beautiful magazines ever published. For the first time, I read a man's magazine that I liked. It did not have a half-naked woman on the cover with fake tits nor a man with pumped muscles, an enormous penis and white underpants. It was not openly hetero and not too gay (like magazines for men often are). It was ironic, imaginative, diverse, entertaining and above all inviting. I felt at home. That magazine did not last. It closed soon, but not before an embarrassing rethinking of its contents that killed its spirit and that pushed it toward vulgarity. Today at my house I have framed the first issue of Jack and the March 2007 issue of XL. Two of my favorite magazines that share, or shared, the same merits.

 

This magazine you're reading is one of the last XL that will be published. It's not selling in economic terms; the crises have hit advertising and alternative culture does not attract advertisers. You all do not attract advertisers! They don't like you! Italy is losing the most diverse and one of the best magazines of alternative culture. And no one gives a ****! ****! XL? Why don't you put a naked woman on the cover? Why don't you make a racket? There must be a solution! Come on, you're breaking my balls! What makes me feel bad is that for so many this seems almost normal and "inevitable." "Ah, OK, you know, it wasn't that great." "The printed word is a luxury, so much goes online like all the rest of the oddities." Bull****! Publications must coexist with the Web versions. A story should be printed and then put online, enriched by the video and by the integration with social media. Why underestimate the importance of the printed word?

 

XL was one of the first magazines in the world to dedicate a cover to me and to write about me.

 

It was a double cover, on the other side there was Amy Winehouse. Then we were considered two weirdos (odd fruits) of pop and in effect we did not exactly embody it. And this made us both very XL. It was risky to talk about us, but only XL could do it. XL is worth it because it is anti-snob, varied, contemporary, and a champion of nonconformity. Unlike too many other top magazines, for example Melody Maker in UK, it represents something different. It isn't tied to money or to certain lifestyles and unfortunately their principles are being killed. It is an ugly period for certain classes, the danger is that only the extremes will survive, that which is in the middle is destined to disappear: porn and trash on one side and that group that deals with high lifestyles, on the other.

 

When I was a boy, my father told me how incredible Playboy was. Then I bought it. It was not what I was expecting, and obviously today it is still there. Perhaps all the nonconformists in the world, Elio and me included, should consider the possibility of selling their own body to sustain the publications that they love. XL is an independent magazine. No one knows if it will remain online, while it deserves to be kept either on the Web or on paper. I will feel the loss of it greatly. And to use the words of one of those stranger types (Joni Mitchell): "You don't know what you've got till it's gone!"

He's certainly going out with a bang. I like it a lot. He doesn't sugar-coat his disgust about the fact that a magazine as diverse as XL, that doesn't exploit men and women, in the sexual sense, is going under.

I think it's a mark of our sad society, that often, sex is what sells mags, and I admire Mika for speaking out.

Thanks for the translation

Edited November 1, 2013 by Marilyn Mastin

[Lucrezia]

Oh thank you so much Deb!!

[krysady]

From what I understand,it is possible that the magazine still exist in the future,but only in digital version?

[Alireine]

From what I understand,it is possible that the magazine still exist in the future,but only in digital version?

 

That's also what I understand

[Sephira]

From what I understand,it is possible that the magazine still exist in the future,but only in digital version?

 

It could survive in digital version.

In France, the public TV refused to continue paying and playing the show Taratata ,we saved it with sponsors and fans on My Major Compagny the music TV show, this show is now only on the web.

[krysady]

It could survive in digital version.

In France, the public TV refused to continue paying and playing the show Taratata ,we saved it with sponsors and fans on My Major Compagny the music TV show, this show is now only on the web.

 

I thought Taratata it's still on TV,that's a shame

If XL will still be released in digital version,there's also hopes to get Mika's columns every month,we read it online anyway.