tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8921382.post291891586682775103..comments2024-03-29T10:23:26.615-04:00Comments on PowerPop: The Damned Cry OutNYMaryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10863355110457910935noreply@blogger.comBlogger26125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8921382.post-23095670981702770362010-03-24T18:48:55.981-04:002010-03-24T18:48:55.981-04:00OK, for the first time ever I've been watching...OK, for the first time ever I've been watching AI every week this season, partly as a favor to my wife, who loves the show (and who is the only breadwinner in the family right now, so I feel I owe her), and partly to rack up karma chips on the off chance there is a next life. <br /><br />Two things I've noticed: one, the performances seem to have gotten worse over the course of the show, as they've gone from just a capella to guitar strum accompaniment to more professional arrangements and coaching by supposed seasoned professionals (like, last night, MILEY FUCKING CYRUS!?!); and two, the fine art of interpreting a song is a totally foreign concept to all of the contestants.<br /><br />That's true of this Urban guy to a T; I couldn't believe that none of the judges, while universally panning the performance, made no mention of how utterly <i>wrong</i> his interpretation was. He does this every week, yet he manages to avoid being cut, because he's cute and girls love him, or something.<br /><br />It's obvious they aren't trying to find any real artists, just cookie-cutter automatons to feed the commercial pop-rock machine that assholes like Simon Cowell are making a killing on. You can see this when they bring back previous winners or almost-winners to perform, and they play their own bland, uninteresting songs.<br /><br />And, despite what TJWood wrote above, Crystal Bowersox is one of the two contestants displaying any kind of originality (although she is starting to get her rough edges sanded down to fit the mold), the other being a hippie chick named Sihoban or something. And one of them might win it. But just about everyone else is awful, awful, awful, with Urban being the worst of the worst. Feh.commie atheistnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8921382.post-61611128876073152932010-03-23T14:05:42.495-04:002010-03-23T14:05:42.495-04:00Dave: I work nights and don't own a TV recordi...Dave: I work nights and don't own a TV recording device. I don't feel culturally deprived by not seeing AI or Dallas or a host of TV cultural signposts. Not snobby about it, I watch plenty of garbage TV. But TV is designed to be ephemeral, which is its true cultural significance.Edwardnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8921382.post-22166991105653267532010-03-23T12:15:42.579-04:002010-03-23T12:15:42.579-04:00Dave, I hear you, but this strikes me as more clue...Dave, I hear you, but this strikes me as more clueless than charming. My 7 year old singing "I Wanna Be Your Man" in Beatles Rock Band is charming, this strikes me as crass consumerism.<br /><br />And maybe that is the sticking point. That is the most American Idol I have seen too. But the show smells of consumerist schlock rather than artistic integrity. Now the world can have their entertainers, but I just really appreciate artists who also entertain.<br /><br />TreyTMinkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07221261635305430323noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8921382.post-1851449335739220842010-03-23T08:32:03.176-04:002010-03-23T08:32:03.176-04:00One of our fave local punk bands back in the day w...One of our fave local punk bands back in the day was a band called Hammer Damage who formed after several iterations of break-ups from the Dead Boys and The Rubber City Rebels.<br /><br />Anyway, they covered this song one time at a benefit for the Kent Gay Liberation Front which was comprised almost entirely of females.<br /><br />Needless to song, the ditty was not well received by the ladies in attendance. <br /><br />Damn funny, tho'.Cleveland Bobhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12514937281212775227noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8921382.post-20317801990830623602010-03-23T07:59:46.467-04:002010-03-23T07:59:46.467-04:00Sorry Dave, I don't find it charming at all. I...Sorry Dave, I don't find it charming at all. It's misguided and sad. <br /><br />What happened to A&R guys, and managers, and people who had some experience, and the George Martins of the world who taught and polished and made good musicians better?<br /><br />Yeah, AI is popular, but billions of people still eat at McDonalds, and I wouldn't feed that shit to a rat. Someone...anyone...should have told Tim Urban, "Uh..bad idea, Kid. Why don't you try something else?"Sal Nunziatohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09221629293545204260noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8921382.post-14650142539853912292010-03-23T01:07:06.585-04:002010-03-23T01:07:06.585-04:00I'm flummoxed by all the hate from folks who s...I'm flummoxed by all the hate from folks who say they've never watched the show. I guess you can be interested in music and not want to see AI, but I don't see you could be interested in popular culture and not be curious about checking out why the show inspires such love. It reminds me of folks who used to brag about not having any television, or only watching PBS.<br /><br />The very reason the "Under My Thumb" performance has gone viral is precisely because it's one of the worst performances on the show (or ever on this planet, for that matter). Even so, there's something charming about an innocent 21-year-old singing "Under My Thumb," maybe my favorite Stones song, and not having the slightest idea what he is singing about.Davehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03743825684303825072noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8921382.post-12292626648215217962010-03-22T21:23:47.708-04:002010-03-22T21:23:47.708-04:00Frank's live intro to "Something"--
...Frank's live intro to "Something"--<br /><br />"Dis is one of da only love songs dat nevah sez da woids I love you innit."<br /><br />I saw it. I was there.Sal Nunziatohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09221629293545204260noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8921382.post-69474948417127351632010-03-22T21:09:42.267-04:002010-03-22T21:09:42.267-04:00About the only worthwhile thing about American is ...About the only worthwhile thing about American is that the sooner it wraps up, the sooner So You Think You Can Dance starts.<br /><br />It has its own moments of broad reality TV silliness, but there's enough genuine artistry from the contestants to make it compelling.geor3gehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18382136451663610951noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8921382.post-82229054946014512962010-03-22T21:01:24.308-04:002010-03-22T21:01:24.308-04:00Actually, he adds the "Jack" in the next...Actually, he adds the "Jack" in the next line of the song--"You stick around, Jack, it might show, I don't know". Of course, Frank was also clueless as to which Beatle had written the song, introducing it as his tribute to Mr. Lennon and Mr. McCartney at a performance not long after Lennon's murder.TJWoodhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00312890704167853988noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8921382.post-3249138866945308792010-03-22T20:32:04.121-04:002010-03-22T20:32:04.121-04:00Did you ever hear Sinatra's version of the Bea...Did you ever hear Sinatra's version of the Beatles' "Something"?<br /><br />A song he genuinely loved, by the way.<br /><br />At one point he goes "You're asking me if my love grows..well, I don't know --JACK!"<br /><br />This shit is similarly clueless. Only without the charm or heart.steve simelshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13247393763004076992noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8921382.post-55413789833306056732010-03-22T20:18:08.784-04:002010-03-22T20:18:08.784-04:00Pretty gruesome--the worst reaction anyone could h...Pretty gruesome--the worst reaction anyone could have is the one I did--to check out the other Stones covers done that week. Check out Crystal Bowersox (!) doing "You Can't Always Get What You Want". AI limits performances to about 1:30-2:00 (thank heaven for small favors), so she was only able to do verses one and three. Verse one was semi-bearable for AI, but the third verse--words fail me.<br /><br />Here's the link for those who for whatever reason want to check it out. And if you don't, in the immortal words of the Yardbirds, you're a better man (or woman) than I.<br /><br /><br />http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SixoLZUbbrUTJWoodhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00312890704167853988noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8921382.post-44613885993512959322010-03-22T19:19:49.148-04:002010-03-22T19:19:49.148-04:00Wow. Gobsmacked. Good thing I've never seen th...Wow. Gobsmacked. Good thing I've never seen the show. Did he win?edwardnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8921382.post-89880892547906740372010-03-22T18:00:56.079-04:002010-03-22T18:00:56.079-04:00No good will ever come from kids taking singing/gu...No good will ever come from kids taking singing/guitar lessons.Michaelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14775477925658327141noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8921382.post-66097422100598532952010-03-22T17:02:28.286-04:002010-03-22T17:02:28.286-04:00As they famously said in the old Columbia Records ...As they famously said in the old Columbia Records ad for (I believe) an early Chicago album:<br /><br />The Man Can't Bust Our Music!!!<br />:-)steve simelshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13247393763004076992noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8921382.post-4734558152848802112010-03-22T16:43:45.622-04:002010-03-22T16:43:45.622-04:00In the past, every time music has been co-opped by...In the past, every time music has been co-opped by Big Brother, rock has always come back roaring it's anger, energy and passion ('55, '64, '77, '94). This time I fear rock & roll will rollover and not play but will be dead. The Dream might be over!!!<br /><br />ROTP(lumber)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8921382.post-40929212266496005962010-03-22T15:19:01.915-04:002010-03-22T15:19:01.915-04:00Jagger at his gayest would eat this kid like a cri...Jagger at his gayest would eat this kid like a crisp.<br /><br />I know we're not supposed to give this kind of dreck any more credence by noticing it (and I've never watched AI either) but the whole evil erzatz of the performance and its concept is a symptom of the growing encroachment of corporations on our lives - in every sphere, not just culturally. It's just that we can see the cultural. We can't ignore it. We have to fight it.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16965815258050677130noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8921382.post-22794298873183433162010-03-22T12:48:55.262-04:002010-03-22T12:48:55.262-04:00John Mayer meets Sting in a steel-cage death match...John Mayer meets Sting in a steel-cage death match. As Leonard Pinth-Garnell used to say, "Stunningly bad!"Kid Charlemagnehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12109953353900729258noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8921382.post-88181997882816807692010-03-22T11:11:10.842-04:002010-03-22T11:11:10.842-04:00This is just one of the hundreds and hundreds of v...This is just one of the hundreds and hundreds of very bad performances on AI. People love to watch other people make fools of themselves. I've never watched an episode of this show either, wouldn't waste my precious time.<br /><br />But this guy, someone should have stood up and riddled him full of bullets like they did to Howard Beale in the film Network. That would be entertaining.FD13NYChttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14964671671960423199noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8921382.post-66537709632648335532010-03-22T10:49:55.330-04:002010-03-22T10:49:55.330-04:00I keep watching hoping that someone comes out and ...I keep watching hoping that someone comes out and beats him up at the end.Sal Nunziatohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09221629293545204260noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8921382.post-41580547399268776402010-03-22T10:45:28.712-04:002010-03-22T10:45:28.712-04:00wow. just wow. i never knew such things existed in...wow. just wow. i never knew such things existed in the world. the weirdest thing to me is that the audience cheers at the end, and there is no audible laughing. wow. that's was like bill murray's saturday night lounge singer done totally straight. wow.big bad wolfnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8921382.post-60670307278194195332010-03-22T10:12:58.282-04:002010-03-22T10:12:58.282-04:00Heh. I sent this clip to Billy B.
He may never f...Heh. I sent this clip to Billy B.<br /><br />He may never forgive me.Gummonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8921382.post-3500824005453513222010-03-22T09:58:36.190-04:002010-03-22T09:58:36.190-04:00Ouch! Would I be yelled at if I noted that was cl...Ouch! Would I be yelled at if I noted that was closer to "real gay" than reggae? <br /><br />Oops! Too late.stevesnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8921382.post-31134109278231429642010-03-22T09:44:25.210-04:002010-03-22T09:44:25.210-04:00Sal -- I know the feeling.Sal -- I know the feeling.steve simelshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13247393763004076992noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8921382.post-21791760601986732432010-03-22T09:41:57.132-04:002010-03-22T09:41:57.132-04:00I can't stop watching!I can't stop watching!Sal Nunziatohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09221629293545204260noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8921382.post-76217296971157896722010-03-22T09:13:39.170-04:002010-03-22T09:13:39.170-04:00The forced vibrato when he sings "girl" ...The forced vibrato when he sings "girl" lets you straight off the only thing he's ever had under his thumb is his dick.<br />Here's a good example of natural vibrato:<br />http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gWz9sI1IiaE&feature=player_embeddedAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com