Originally on www.mog.com/watchbatteries
I’m very late on this, by a year or so, but it came up last night on Subterranean. Out of nowhere, Lily Allen was on and it was song that I don’t believe I had heard before. Allen doesn’t strike me as someone I havetoknow, but rather someone that they’re hyping for no reason. “LDN” came on, and she made me like it, damn it, because of the way she said “I believe that’s called al fresco”.
Damn you Lily Allen.
originally on www.mog.com/watchbatteries
Want to get great ratings for your shows in the summer? One route to take is to make low-production programming that’s easy to pick up on-thus the glut of reality game shows. The other? Copy it.
NBC has been running promos for a show entitled “The Singing Bee” which has a fairly simple premise. Take some contestants-they’re always screened, the crazier the better!-who like to sing and ask them to just recite the lyrics along with music until BOOM a capella and you have to finish it. It’s hosted by everyone’s favorite member of *NSYNC (outside of Chris Kirkpatrick, obviously), Joey Fatone. Alright, then, starts July 10th, looks interesting enough. Then, there’s the FOX network.
FOX is known for many things in its network TV programming, mainly fictional characters with superhuman powers who aren’t superheroes, cookie-cutter dysfunctional families in the vein of the Bundys and Simpsons, and a long, drawn out “talent” competition that I could care less about. Also, they copied WifeSwap and Supernanny. ABC , as much as FOX might love them-imitation and flattery and what not, has lost out this summer. FOX has a show that sounds EERILY SIMILAR to The Singing Bee, called “Don’t forget the lyrics”. The idea? Well, FOX has apparently dumbed down their titles (perhaps taking a cue from FOX ’News’Channel’s inability to write “with”) by telling you what’s going to happen before you tune in, like “Are You Smarter than a 5th Grader?”, by asking people to NOT FORGET THE LYRICS . Hosting will be the man who loves to choke a bitch, Wayne Brady. The show premieres on the 11th, and one wonders what show will be better. So far, The Singing Bee has a more realistic promo featuring contestants singing Vanilla Ice, Smash Mouth, and Aretha Franklin. While Aretha’s a nice touch, the others aren’t exactly Clipse and Pixies, it looks fine. Don’t Forget the Lyrics’ website has Journey as a hint of things to come. I think the shows will be based out of access to song libraries, but what do I know?
I know that I’m tired of Journey, and it’s time to Stop Believin(g).
For those of you who really like this (ok, it’s Mat and zero other people), I’m going to be adding some music stuff from my other blog,watchbatteries. JBAC is an all-purpose blog, so it can have anything and everything. As such, I’m going to mark them so you know. Go to both!Also, FB users, go to justboughtacar.wordpress.com to read the comment process.
At one point in time, I owned a Linkin Park album. Was it a smart move? I don’t know, because you don’t ask a twelve-year-old for what a “smart move” is, unless they happen to have Heelys. I think. When you’re 12, you can identify with a song that says “I’m one step closer to the edge! And I’m about to break!” YEAH! Being a kid in middle school with depression, that shit spoke to me. Then they waited, released an album, added a piano, I didn’t care as much. You would think that after Mike Shinoda goes and does Fort Minor (complete with the everyfuckingwhere “Where’d Ya Go?” and part arena jam, part math lesson “Remember the Name”), Mr Hahn does videos, Chester does whatever the hell he does, and they all work with THE GREATEST RAPPER ALIVE, that they would grow.
I guess I’ll never learn. What do they do? They revert to their old ways, with paint-by-numbers alternative rock that makes 30 Seconds to Mars sound genius (which is really really really really hard to do). Their first single, “What I’ve Done” is a drone fest (not a good one) that is accompanied by an over-saturated video chock full of hit ‘em right in the sensory fest visuals. Mmmm, easy way out! The worst part about this is the decision to use it as the first single. Where’s the rapper? You guys have a rapper, right? Like, he had his own project? Could you get Jay-Z on the hook, at least? A sample? No, no, no you’re out of luck. Instead, they just let a guy named Chester (fucking lame) scream for three mintues and the kids EAT IT UP YUMMY GOOD. For their second single, however, they get a little smarter and let Mike talk. He likes talking because he makes sense and gets to shout “anti-emo” (I guess) raps about putting this noose somewhere else. Possibly on top of a roof! While the intro is simple, the chorus is less complicated than breathing. Using what I can only describe as “anti-emo” stylizing, Chester (Cheesy!) tells us that he’s gonna “bleed it out, just to throw it away”. I have no idea what he’s bleeding out, or why he has to throw it away. He needs a therapist, or better yet, to stop making records. The sound is bland, the lyrics make fourth grade poetry sound awesome (wait, I wrote a really great acrostic then, and I used a dictionary), and people still buy it. Here’s hoping Jack and Meg have people wanting to rawk.
It is raining outside. The East Coast is home to me, right here in the middle. Nowhere to be seen as the South, a label best applied to those who fall prey to antiquated ideas and are afraid of change. Nor is it the North, a label best applied to those who live with an air of superiority and lack of common sense (and I do not mean the explanation from William James). What this proves is that I am not a child of privilege nor was the spoon in my mouth made of plastic. It is simple flatware, representative of the great majority of the United States. The great majority that does not belong to a political party, has a slice of every faith, and is everything. It is who I have to be.
I will not travel to Europe in the near future. I would like to, but the means to do so are non-existent and only apply to those with access. I have access to what I can produce. What I can produce is from myself, it is possible to like it or not, that is your decision. I will not be in New York, New Hampshire, or Amsterdam anytime soon, but I will take what I have.
So, I’m trying to create, refine, and try a comedy act. I figure this is a good way to do something, because I can employ myself find out my strengths and weaknesses and promote the health of baby seals or whatever hot trend there is. The problem is that no one here has an open mic night. What the hell is there to do?
Atlanta’s crunk sound, which is ubiquitous in the South, annoys the hell out of me. Leave it to a group from the A to make the sound at least bearable. It’s done by adding guitars and a catchy-as-hell hook that is nothing more than wrong. I’m talking about the Shop Boyz, of course. They preach the same “I don’t want to talk about my upbringing” story as every other commercial rapper, yet have one helluva crossover attempt. Shop Boyz won’t have much more than their single, “Party like a Rockstar” in their career. Verses from “Rockstar” are forgettable, with the beat overtaking the vocals on most occasions. Given the state of mainstream rap, it’s all filler anyway. The hook and the guitar are the only noticeable parts of the song, and just lead to questions. Such as: why the hell are ShopBoyz using played out surfer slang for their song? Only the lamest of frat boys would say “T-t-t-totally dude” and who really wants to party like a rock star after what Nickelback did? It’s still a decent little song, but it’s nothing but novelty.
I might be able to live blog this, if I figure it out. Anyhow, it’s the 2007 NFL Draft. What is the NFL Draft, those of you hopping around on Facebook ask? It’s a 2-day period every spring where ESPN devotes about 12 hours of programming to speculation about which names the NFL Commissioner is going to pronounce next. In that context, it sounds about as exciting as the Scripps-Howard National Spelling Bee. Except the Spelling Bee is actually exciting. It’s 11:38 a.m. right now, so I’m just going to write a few obvious things until 12. Well, other than Chris Mortensen needs a new mic, he has the I-should-be-in-a-Peanuts-cartoon voice.
First things: The Raiders-who have the first pick-seem headed towards JaMarcus Russell, out of LSU. It seems like he’s been in the Bayou forever, and I don’t see his appeal as a QB. But hey, he could work out. Calvin Johnson-I don’t want to talk about the Orange Effect game-is seen by a lot of people as the Best Player Available. He’s been very good in college, so if he gets someone to THROW HIM THE BALL, he could be the next NFL great. That’s about it. Back in 15.
Obvious comparisons to make always seem rooted in recent history. Today I have heard both the Columbine tragedy of 1999 and the events of September 11th mentioned on news, local and national. To say that today’s events are tragic is an understatement. It seems like everyone is speechless, and giving their condolences to everyone involved. Away messages are not just simple notices, they are now a place to post your thoughts and let people know you’re OK. You don’t know what it’s like until it hits you.
==================
I had a test today. So last night I set my alarm for 9 am or so, an hour earlier than usual. I heard the sounds of Q and Not U, and decided to hit snooze. Three separate times, finally waking up to Yo La Tengo. As per usual, I turned on my computer while I looked for today’s clothes. Before I went into the shower, I noticed an away message and then went and checked my campus e-mail. I see one, Shooting in West AJ. Ok, all right. Stay safe. I go take a shower. After coming out of the shower, I was right in front of my room, and I see my friend Tommy. He immediately informs me that I have no class, I thought I still did. So, I check the e-mail. Again. No class, because of a shooter on campus. Shortly thereafter, what we saw on television and got from firsthand accounts helped us frame a picture. We were calling everyone, looking for them. One friend in one hall, another in Squires. All accounted for and such. Then, something happened.
Kevin wasn’t accounted for. This guy is one the best people you’ll ever meet, means so much for our station. We need that guy. Reports come in, and we hear that Kevin is in the hospital. While we would rather him be home, at least he is safe and alive. It looks like he will make it.
I used to write this at the end of personal messages:
Peace-Love-harmony
His line speaks for itself: CG, 1 H, 2 BB, 6 K. A national television game, primed for the opposing pitcher. Daisuke-mania, for all the fans in Boston. The ticket is sold out in Fenway, they want to see the match-up between their (new) guy and the other (old) guy. New guy shined last week, even if it was against a lowly team, but it was a major league team nonetheless. Old guy has the major league record for hits in a season, and prompted the emergence of Japan’s biggest stars to American shores. Yeah, that was gonna be the thing that would bring upon the most excitement.
No, it was Raul Ibanez and JD Drew. Ibanez made all the right catches at the right times to preserve the game. He had something in him, knowing where to go as soon as the bat made contact with the ball. Then came the 8th inning and Drew. Oft-injured, no one quite counted him in. You would think David Ortiz would be the hero-then again, he hasn’t been “heroic” since, eh, 2004. Yet the could not live up to the one who stood out. A no-hitter through 8, which is amazing considering the recent pitching drought-no 20-game winners in 2006, almost 2 years between Randy Johnson’s perfect game and Anibal Sanchez’s no-hitter. The young kid, all of 21 and having to deal with pitching on what could be considered too much rest, did well. They’re calling him the king.
But maybe Felix Hernandez should be a prince first.
