Latest news with #SilenceIsGolden
The Spinoff
25-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Spinoff
The emergency mobile alert sound, reviewed
Another test, another shocking reminder of the emergency alert noise. We asked some experts to describe that indescribable sound. First published in 2023 shortly after yet another emergency alert. Over the past few days, weeks, months, years, people across the country have had their lives periodically punctuated by a loud warning screech emitting from their phone. Some of these have been warning of unusually heavy rain, others of a nationwide lockdown, most recently of Cyclone Gabrielle. It's a dreaded sound that many will be increasingly (and unfortunately) familiar with – but how exactly would you describe it? The start of the dial-up tone? The traffic lights at the start of Crash Team Racing? Or like the gates of hell opening up for us once more? We asked some of our finest writers, musicians and thinkers to weigh in. Sharon Lam, Writer It 100% sounds like a robot Pingu going NOOT NOOT, right? With glowing red eyes? Surely everyone will also say this? Joanna Cho, Author I'm with my nieces in Auckland and I said 'the alarm sounds like Pingu' and they said 'what's that' and I put on Pingu on YouTube and now they're lying around my work computer watching Pingu so I can't work, fine by me. The Beths, Band The notes that make the tone wouldn't be out of place in a song like Silence Is Golden, but if we did that, we'd have a count in! No count in is just wrong. It's also twisted how it calls and answers to itself when you're in a group of people. It's a bit of a musical cheat code – it is 'harmony', but most harmony suggests a place it wants to go, or at least a place it came from – that's what brainy musicians call 'function'. The emergency tone screams for attention, but doesn't really suggest any movement. Ironically, this makes it musically 'non-functional'. Haz Beats, Producer A Tsunami siren. The big panic apocalypse end of the world type lol. Definitely a siren. Jess Molina, Writer Sounds like I'm about to panic over not panic-buying toilet paper Toby Morris, Illustrator I remember reading about the concept of 'the brown noise' in WWII, where they researched finding a perfect note that'd loosen any bowels. I feel like the emergency noise has gotten close to that, combined with the visual equivalent – when they researched the most unpleasant possible colour which they used for non-labelled cigarette packaging. It's giving uncomfortable meets unnatural meets poo, basically. Aaron Yap, Psychic Glands DJ It sounds like a chintzy 1950s sci-fi movie robot vaporising you with its laser beam. Alan Holt, International Manager at New Zealand Music Commission Off the top of my head it reminds me of a quite a few things – side two of Lou Reed's Metal Machine Music around the 10 minute mark, a less musical interpretation of 'Don't Take' from Sachiko M's Sine Wave Solo album and a less funky take on 'Sonata Number 5 (the 'Detroit Sonata')' from Bruce Russell's album Circuits of Omission : Sonaten für synthetisierten Klang (Opus 60). Nick Ascroft, Poet This sounds like a mouse ambulance reversing. As it should. Jane Yee, Treasure Island Star It sounds like all my nightmares coming true in one ear piercing screech. I physically left the couch vertically skywards when yesterday's one arrived. Usually have my phone on silent but I had been playing League of Legends Wild Rift on my phone which requires sound on and forgot to switch it back. I will never be the same again. Britt Mann, PR Maven The sound is getting familiar to me now. On Sunday it emanated separately and all at once from various corners of the house. The flatmate, the cat and I met each other's gaze in an instant. 'Was that…?' 'Yeah.' Severe, significant event. Red Alert Level Gabrielle. 'Top up?' She cracked the magnum of red we'd opened to mark the Beginning of the End of Days. Janaye Henry, Comedian If I was to Shazam that sound I reckon it would say Skrillex, Bangarang. Reuben Jelleyman, Acoustician The sound itself is basically the same as a phone dial tone but the emergency mobile alert is higher and richer in resonant sideband frequencies which makes the sound harsher. You also have the two beeps, which gets your attention. One beep would be easy to ignore. From my perspective the sound is strong enough to get your attention, but it's not meant to be harsh, it's to provoke fear. I would say it's easy to associate feelings with sound, that's normal. When we hear the alarm, it reminds us of the last time we were anticipating a tsunami or a storm and that puts us on edge. Sanjay Patel, Comedian It sounds like the government is alerting you to the fact that they have now finally discovered the most sordid thing you have searched for on the internet. Imogen Taylor, Painter If the alert was a painting it would probably be a whole exhibition of paintings and that exhibition would be in some art museum in some country quite far away that you'd been really excited about travelling to but when you got there you realised you got the museum dates mixed up and instead of there being a Georgia O'Keeffe retrospective on there was a fucking Banksy retrospective on and then to top it off you paid for the tickets which were horrendously expensive and went inside to look at the bullshit paintings but then realised whatever you had for lunch from that place on the corner outside the museum before you went in wasn't sitting right in your gut and you immediately need to find the bathroom somewhere. Rose Hoare, Writer It sounds antique to me. Like if they had emergency mobile alerts on Bridgerton, that's what they'd sound like. It sounds like a boomer ringtone to me. The kind that would be mildly irritating in an office environment. You learn to block it over time, but it will always give you an inner eye roll and feeling of superiority. It doesn't exactly evoke authority. Or urgency for that matter.
Glasgow Times
11-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Glasgow Times
Sensational 60s Experience concert to take place in Glasgow
The Sensational 60s Experience will be coming to the Royal Concert Hall on September 28. The concert will begin at 3pm, and tickets can be purchased from the box office on 0141 353 8000 or online at (Image: Supplied) The show is the only 1960s package show currently touring, and features an ensemble of original artists and band members. The show is said to be a "festival of nostalgia" that will transport the audience back to the magical decade of music and memories. Vanity Fare (Image: Supplied) The concert will feature performances by The Trems (featuring Jeff Brown, former member of The Tremeloes), The Fortunes, Mike d'Abo (former lead singer with Manfred Mann), Spencer James (lead singer with The Searchers), and Vanity Fare. The show will be packed with classics such as Silence Is Golden, Mighty Quinn, Needles and Pins, Storm in a Teacup, Hitchin' a Ride, and many more.
Edinburgh Live
09-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Edinburgh Live
Gogglebox stars say 'oh my god' as fans slam Dermot O'Leary segment minutes into episode
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info Gogglebox viewers were united in their dismay over a Dermot O'Leary segment on Friday (May 9), which left the Channel 4 stars visibly uncomfortable. The latest episode of the popular reality show saw the sofa critics watch Dermot's new gameshow, Silence is Golden, where a whopping £250,000 prize pot is at stake for an audience that must remain completely silent to win. However, silence comes at a price as contestants are tempted into speech by a troupe of comedians determined to elicit laughter. Throughout the series, Dermot is joined by three returning comedy captains, Katherine Ryan, Seann Walsh and Fatiha El-Ghorri. While watching the show on Friday, the Gogglebox cast were stunned when an elderly woman appeared on screen completely naked, in an effort to make the audience speak, reports Wales Online. Amani Rota couldn't hold back her shock, exclaiming "Oh my god!" while her sister Amira watched on in horror. Shirley Griffiths was bewildered, asking "What is that?" only for her husband, Dave, to clarify: "It's a naked woman, isn't it?" "Oh no!" said Umar Siddiqui, while Amira shared: "I'd be shouting!" Audience members at home echoed the sentiment, flocking to X (formerly Twitter) to express their revulsion. One viewer expressed their outrage, posting: "Oh my gosh! She's naked. That is filth! Why, just why would you do it and why would it be shown on TV on any show. Ugh!" while another disgruntled fan commented: "This #SilenceIsGolden is absolutely stupid." A third viewer couldn't help but express their amusement, remarking: "How are they keeping silent with that naked granny in their face!" Meanwhile, another fan said: "That show looks hilarious. Gotta watch it after this." Silence is Golden premiered on U and U&Dave on Monday (May 5) to mixed reviews from critics. While The Guardian praised the show as having "good, clean, harmless fun," The i Paper was less impressed, labelling it "embarrassingly unfunny". Ahead of its launch, Dermot voiced his enthusiasm in a statement, saying: "I'm so looking forward to Silence is Golden. When a show like this falls into your lap, you can't quite believe your luck. "Looking forward to having lots of fun with the audience, our comedians and assorted cast of regulars, all trying to make the audience laugh, gasp and giggle." Gogglebox airs on Channel 4 and Silence is Golden airs on U and U&Dave
Wales Online
09-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Wales Online
Gogglebox fans issue complaint about Dermot O'Leary segment as Channel 4 stars left squirming
Gogglebox fans issue complaint about Dermot O'Leary segment as Channel 4 stars left squirming Gogglebox viewers were left speechless as the Channel 4 stars tuned into Dermot O'Leary's new gameshow on Friday night Gogglebox fans issue complaint about Dermot O'Leary segment as Channel 4 stars left squirming Gogglebox fans issued the same complaint about a Dermot O'Leary segment on Friday (May 9) as the Channel 4 stars were left squirming. During the latest instalment of the hit reality series, the armchair critics tuned into Dermot's new gameshow, Silence is Golden. The series sees £250,000 up for grabs for a studio audience to share between themselves - but they have to ensure they remain silent. While watching the show, the Gogglebox cast were stunned when an elderly woman appeared on screen completely naked, in an effort to make the audience speak. "Oh my god!" the stars screamed, while legions of viewers quickly took to X (formerly Twitter) to share their disgust. Article continues below "Oh my gosh! She's naked. That is filth! Why, just why would you do it and why would it be shown on TV on any show. Ugh!" one person wrote, with another adding: "This #SilenceIsGolden is absolutely stupid." This is a breaking showbiz story and is being constantly updated. Please refresh the page regularly to get the latest news, pictures and videos. You can also get email updates on the day's biggest stories straight to your inbox by signing up for our newsletters
Yahoo
05-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Dermot O'Leary reveals real reason he'll never do reality TV
Dermot O'Leary has "never" had any interest in reality TV. The 'This Morning' presenter - who previously hosted the likes of 'The X Factor' and 'Big Brother' - has insisted he has no desire to actually compete on a series like that himself. He told the Daily Star newspaper: "I've never really been interested in doing a reality show because I've got a job. "I've always been blessed enough and hard-working enough to be busy. "Unless I was doing a show for a particular reason, what am I doing it for?" Despite receives some offers over the years, he's not been tempted - and he shrugged off the idea of needing to do reality shows to let people see the "real" him. He added: "I've been offered a couple of things, but it's never been something I've wanted to do. "It's not that I don't want to show people the real me. I do live radio and when you do that, people get a sense of who you are. "But it's just not something I want to do." Dermot - who has four-year-old son Kasper with his wife Dee Koppang - also pointed to how both his own tastes and the projects he gets offered have changed as he's grown older. The 51-year-old presenter explained: "My career has shifted over the years. I don't get offered the same shows now as I did in my 20s and 30s. "I'm at a stage where I want to do things that interest me and things that fit around my life. You only get one life. "There are a couple of jobs I've turned down because I don't want to be away from home for a long time." However, Dermot was delighted to jump on board new U+Dave gameshow 'Silence Is Golden', where the studio audience has the chance to win up to £250,000 if they can stay quiet during challenges, with variety acts from knife throwers to strippers trying to catch them out. Dermot said: "When I was told about the show, I felt like it was something different to anything else on TV. It's a new, fun idea. That's why I wanted to do it."
