If you pay attention to typical celebrity birthday lists today, you’ll hear that Tyler Perry is 40 today. He’s a big deal to Hollywood; he’s got the best ROI of any performer out there today, which is how he’s got his own film studio. I wonder if he’s found so much success because he’s reaching an underserved audience (African-Americans who don’t want to grow up to be rap stars) or because he’s reaching an underserved audience (people who think situation comedies are funny.) I don’t consider myself either, but I’m not going to hold my breath for any movies that fit my demographic (heterosexual Filipino accordion players.)
My blog’s about discovering new things, so I’m taking the Madea taste test. This is a scene from Madea’s Family Reunion:
That wasn’t so bad. Tyler Perry fans, was that a quality sample? White people, was that funny to you?
Let’s compare that with a very different kind of comedy sketch featuring birthday boy Robert Ben Garant, just one year younger, who is an established comedic writer-performer with his own slate of successes: not just those quirky, subversive comedies that allows stoners to feel snobbish (this sample is from the 90s MTV sketch comedy show ‘The State’,) but the kind of middle-class comedies that make Critics weep for the Death of Cinema (Balls of Fury, Night at the Museum, The Pacifier)
Let’s employ a control sample, featuring something that fails to be funny. To be fair, it’s an Everclear music video, which is supposed to be about rolling and rocking, not rolling in the aisles.
Why this video? Besides the fact that it tries too hard? Well, today’s the birthday of Everclear bassist Craig Montoya (and by “Everclear bassist”, I mean, “the bassist that played on any Everclear song you ever heard of”; Craig left the band years ago, and Art Alexakis has rebuilt Everclear around himself more times that Axl’s trimmed his Roses…)
Also, for you TV fans, that’s veteran game show host Wink Martindale as the game show host; what a trouper. And the lucky red-headed game show contestant? That’s Christina Hendricks, who plays Joan Holloway on “Mad Men.”
Monday, September 14, 2009
Sunday, September 13, 2009
September 13
Today’s Bollywood film star Mahima Chaudhry’s birthday. Apropos of nothing, I just wanted to show some Bollywood, so here’s Mahima! From what little I’ve read, she’s the Halle Berry of Mumbai: a box office draw who’s won India’ equivalent of the Oscar, but that’s not the assets everyone’s raving about…
We featured an Indian; why not a cowboy? Randy Jones is best known for originating the Cowboy persona in the Village People, a role he filled until 1991. I guess being known as “The Cowboy” is better than ‘the guy that stands all the way to the left”
He kept the hat, when his solo career needs a goosing. Yes, he’s still performing, and he even had a cameo in this season’s “Flight of the Conchords.”
Ever seen the Mark Wahlberg movie, “Rock Star”? Well, it’s about 30 percent true. Judas Priest did, in fact, recruit second singer Tim “Ripper” Owens based on footage of him singing with a Judas Priest cover band. The story became a magazine article, which became the nuggest of a script that became “Rock Star”. But the real story is happier, if less dramatic.
Ripper stayed in Priest for seven years and recorded two studio albums with them. The same year Halford returned to Priest, Ripper became the replacement singer for another iconic metal band, Iced Earth. That gig lasted until their original singer returned as well, but this year, he’s singing for Yngvie Malmstein’s Rising Force, which has never had a signature vocalist to try to get their job back. And just in case, Ripper’s got a solo album out too.
I like my metal with uplift and spaceships, so here’s Ripper during his tenure at Iced Earth:
There’s a lot to admire about Don Fagerson, known to the world as Don Was. Don’s been an album producer for everyone from Bonnie Raitt and the B-52’s to Iggy Pop and the Rolling Stones.; he produced the best album Hootie and the Blowfish ever made.
But he also started Was Not Was, a producer project featuring moderately successful Detroit peers and hometown legends. And I originally picked him as an excuse to play the 80’s earworm, “Walk the Dinosaur”…
…but then, I had to throw in the title track from the album of whence it came. I mean, who’d be brave enough to follow “Walk the Dinosaur,” with this?
If all of this is just too much before your time, realize that his son is the drummer of Eve 6. Now, shell out the money for that fruit bouquet…
We featured an Indian; why not a cowboy? Randy Jones is best known for originating the Cowboy persona in the Village People, a role he filled until 1991. I guess being known as “The Cowboy” is better than ‘the guy that stands all the way to the left”
He kept the hat, when his solo career needs a goosing. Yes, he’s still performing, and he even had a cameo in this season’s “Flight of the Conchords.”
Ever seen the Mark Wahlberg movie, “Rock Star”? Well, it’s about 30 percent true. Judas Priest did, in fact, recruit second singer Tim “Ripper” Owens based on footage of him singing with a Judas Priest cover band. The story became a magazine article, which became the nuggest of a script that became “Rock Star”. But the real story is happier, if less dramatic.
Ripper stayed in Priest for seven years and recorded two studio albums with them. The same year Halford returned to Priest, Ripper became the replacement singer for another iconic metal band, Iced Earth. That gig lasted until their original singer returned as well, but this year, he’s singing for Yngvie Malmstein’s Rising Force, which has never had a signature vocalist to try to get their job back. And just in case, Ripper’s got a solo album out too.
I like my metal with uplift and spaceships, so here’s Ripper during his tenure at Iced Earth:
There’s a lot to admire about Don Fagerson, known to the world as Don Was. Don’s been an album producer for everyone from Bonnie Raitt and the B-52’s to Iggy Pop and the Rolling Stones.; he produced the best album Hootie and the Blowfish ever made.
But he also started Was Not Was, a producer project featuring moderately successful Detroit peers and hometown legends. And I originally picked him as an excuse to play the 80’s earworm, “Walk the Dinosaur”…
…but then, I had to throw in the title track from the album of whence it came. I mean, who’d be brave enough to follow “Walk the Dinosaur,” with this?
If all of this is just too much before your time, realize that his son is the drummer of Eve 6. Now, shell out the money for that fruit bouquet…
Friday, September 11, 2009
September 12
Turns out my fellow lab rats check out the blog, so let me send some recommendations their way.
Brian, today’s birthday girl for you is Petra Marklund, or as she’s known on dance floors around the world, September. I say, ‘around the world’, as opposed to ‘in the U.S.’ But she’s perfect for you; she looks like Jamie Pressley, sounds like Lady Gaga, and she’s from the Land Where Disco Never Died, Sweden.
We’re past due for another Swedish pop infusion…
Martee, you’re the Man. And I’m not just saying that because the last guy that upset you enough, you had words and he was never seen again… Nah, it’s because you’ve expanded my musical horizons.
So, let’s see if we can get some attention for Jennifer Nettles of Sugarland. If you’re into country music these days, there’s no need for introductions. They’ve been on the country charts for the last four and a half years But here’s a chance to set things straight about “Stay,” the band’s first platinum single.
She didn’t write it about herself. Her story is, she was inspired by a Reba McEntire song, another song from the perspective of the cheated-on wife, and wondered what the point of view of ‘the other woman’ was...
CJ, it’s my turn to school you about a rapper, and I’ll try to avoid embarrassing myself by mangling urban grammer. Bizzy Bone’s 33 today, and back in the Bone Thugz fold, trying to get their reunion album, The worlds enemy, released. For now, they're touring, playing clubs and restaurant openings...
Did you know he was on America’s Most Wanted? As a child, he and his sisters were abducted by an ex-stepfather, and went missing for two years. In 1983, a TV-movie about the abduction of Adam Walsh was broadcast, followed by pictures of children abducted, including young Bizzy. A neighbor called the police, and Bizzy was reunited with his mother.
This month, Bizzy Bone and friends have released a mixtape (or two) You can get it at his website, BizzyBone.Us.
Val, your mixtapes prove how musically adventurous you are (not to mention, you actually read this blog; kudos!) Let me tune you in to Larry LaLonde, who is not just celebrating his birthday, but 20 years as the guitarist for Primus, which are still together – just taking things reeeeeelly easy. Having acknowledged your voluminous musical tastes, it’s not easy to pick a tune for your perusal. I mean, from modern country to Rasputina to the Gorillaz…
Wait! That’s it!
Finally, Heather, you’ve been open minded to everyone’s musical temperaments. But at heart, I know you’re a sentimentalist, and you’re celebrating your wedding anniversary this weekend, so let me offer to you one of the most romantic songs that birthday boy Ben Folds ever put to tape.
Makes you want to get married all over again, doesn’t it?
That’s my shout-out to my co-workers at the lab. Tomorrow: the age old battle between Disco and Metal continues...
Brian, today’s birthday girl for you is Petra Marklund, or as she’s known on dance floors around the world, September. I say, ‘around the world’, as opposed to ‘in the U.S.’ But she’s perfect for you; she looks like Jamie Pressley, sounds like Lady Gaga, and she’s from the Land Where Disco Never Died, Sweden.
We’re past due for another Swedish pop infusion…
Martee, you’re the Man. And I’m not just saying that because the last guy that upset you enough, you had words and he was never seen again… Nah, it’s because you’ve expanded my musical horizons.
So, let’s see if we can get some attention for Jennifer Nettles of Sugarland. If you’re into country music these days, there’s no need for introductions. They’ve been on the country charts for the last four and a half years But here’s a chance to set things straight about “Stay,” the band’s first platinum single.
She didn’t write it about herself. Her story is, she was inspired by a Reba McEntire song, another song from the perspective of the cheated-on wife, and wondered what the point of view of ‘the other woman’ was...
CJ, it’s my turn to school you about a rapper, and I’ll try to avoid embarrassing myself by mangling urban grammer. Bizzy Bone’s 33 today, and back in the Bone Thugz fold, trying to get their reunion album, The worlds enemy, released. For now, they're touring, playing clubs and restaurant openings...
Did you know he was on America’s Most Wanted? As a child, he and his sisters were abducted by an ex-stepfather, and went missing for two years. In 1983, a TV-movie about the abduction of Adam Walsh was broadcast, followed by pictures of children abducted, including young Bizzy. A neighbor called the police, and Bizzy was reunited with his mother.
This month, Bizzy Bone and friends have released a mixtape (or two) You can get it at his website, BizzyBone.Us.
Val, your mixtapes prove how musically adventurous you are (not to mention, you actually read this blog; kudos!) Let me tune you in to Larry LaLonde, who is not just celebrating his birthday, but 20 years as the guitarist for Primus, which are still together – just taking things reeeeeelly easy. Having acknowledged your voluminous musical tastes, it’s not easy to pick a tune for your perusal. I mean, from modern country to Rasputina to the Gorillaz…
Wait! That’s it!
Finally, Heather, you’ve been open minded to everyone’s musical temperaments. But at heart, I know you’re a sentimentalist, and you’re celebrating your wedding anniversary this weekend, so let me offer to you one of the most romantic songs that birthday boy Ben Folds ever put to tape.
Makes you want to get married all over again, doesn’t it?
That’s my shout-out to my co-workers at the lab. Tomorrow: the age old battle between Disco and Metal continues...
September 11
Having September 11 for your birthday is like having anti-Christmas Day for your birthday. Don’t worry; all those kids born on December 7th got the day back eventually, too. And if you’re having trouble getting people in a party mood today, take comfort that there are other birthday kids today…
But I have to admit, my mind’s wandered to 9/11. That day, I alternated between watching the news like everyone else and retreating into myself, listening over and over to “Don’t Panic,” the first track of Coldplay’s “Parachutes.”
Well, the world’s gotten better, and Coldplay is, of course, much bigger. Bassist Johnny Buckland’s celebrating his birthday today, and it looks like the band’s taking the day off, before they resume their England dates with Jay-Z, which still blows my mind. .
Jay-Z opening for Coldplay; that’s just…
Ludacris is sitting pretty on his birthday, too. I mean, he's got three oriental restaurants in Atlanta, so you know he's getting a free cake with his birthday dinner, at least. The dude just gave away twenty cars to strangers; what do you get the man for his birthday? I mean, besides better movie scripts:
I mean, seriously, man; stay away from any movie involving video games. I know, you don’t want to play Skinny Black too many times, but… Do some cop procedural show; we’re due another CSI any season now….
Or, better yet, stick to comedy.
Let’s finish this with a birthday shoutout to Richard Ashcroft of the Verve. He wrote “Bittersweet Sympony” – unless you ask the Rolling Stones’ lawyers, who say that a sampled riff of an orchestral cover of “The Last Time” constitutes composition of the song. The rest of “Urban Hymns” was a great listen, but the Verve was always eclipsed by that song – and Richard Ashcroft’s ambitions. This August, the Verve broke up for the third time again, supposedly because of Ashcroft’s wish for a solo career.
At any rate, “Bittersweet Symphony” still hits the spot when I need to scrape myself off the pavement and keep trudging through the day. A song like that is a great gift to the world, so thanks for that , Mr Ashcroft….
But I have to admit, my mind’s wandered to 9/11. That day, I alternated between watching the news like everyone else and retreating into myself, listening over and over to “Don’t Panic,” the first track of Coldplay’s “Parachutes.”
Well, the world’s gotten better, and Coldplay is, of course, much bigger. Bassist Johnny Buckland’s celebrating his birthday today, and it looks like the band’s taking the day off, before they resume their England dates with Jay-Z, which still blows my mind. .
Jay-Z opening for Coldplay; that’s just…
Ludacris is sitting pretty on his birthday, too. I mean, he's got three oriental restaurants in Atlanta, so you know he's getting a free cake with his birthday dinner, at least. The dude just gave away twenty cars to strangers; what do you get the man for his birthday? I mean, besides better movie scripts:
I mean, seriously, man; stay away from any movie involving video games. I know, you don’t want to play Skinny Black too many times, but… Do some cop procedural show; we’re due another CSI any season now….
Or, better yet, stick to comedy.
Let’s finish this with a birthday shoutout to Richard Ashcroft of the Verve. He wrote “Bittersweet Sympony” – unless you ask the Rolling Stones’ lawyers, who say that a sampled riff of an orchestral cover of “The Last Time” constitutes composition of the song. The rest of “Urban Hymns” was a great listen, but the Verve was always eclipsed by that song – and Richard Ashcroft’s ambitions. This August, the Verve broke up for the third time again, supposedly because of Ashcroft’s wish for a solo career.
At any rate, “Bittersweet Symphony” still hits the spot when I need to scrape myself off the pavement and keep trudging through the day. A song like that is a great gift to the world, so thanks for that , Mr Ashcroft….
Thursday, September 10, 2009
September 10
David Lowery and Johnny Hickman, bandmates in Cracker, know how to throw a birthday party. This weekend, the 5th annual Pioneertown Campout offers a two-day concert in the woods; Cracker plays Saturday night, while Lowery’s other band, Camper Van Beethoven, closes Friday night’s stage.
Cracker had to make an appearance on this blog, for their Kerosene Hat single, “Happy Birthday to Me.” Couldn’t find the original video, but I found this fanvid, featuring a collection of Hubble photos; good enough for me!
Siobhan Fahey is another music artist who’s done double duty on the charts. In the 80’s, she was part of the pop trio Bananarama. In the 90’s, she started the duo Shakespeare’s Sister. These days, she’s working on solo material, and I’m hoping she doesn’t disappear altogether.
Bananarama was good for what it was, but I still remember the video for “Stay,” and that spooky, goth’d out Fahey.
Here’s somebody I discovered today: Don Powell, drummer for Slade. One of the UK’s most successful acts of the 70’s, they remain inspirations for today’s rockers’ inspirations. I didn’t realize how many of their songs I knew, until I did the research. That, and I mixed them up with the Sweet.
Don Powell’s story is kind of heartbreaking. In 1973, Don was in a car crash that took the life of his girlfriend. He woke six days later, without his sense of smell or taste, and with his short-term memory severely damaged (yes, Memento-style.) He rehabilitated his body so he could play drums again, saw the band through another flock of hits in the 70's and 80's, and still plays with Slade today...
Tomorrow: more British rock…
Cracker had to make an appearance on this blog, for their Kerosene Hat single, “Happy Birthday to Me.” Couldn’t find the original video, but I found this fanvid, featuring a collection of Hubble photos; good enough for me!
Siobhan Fahey is another music artist who’s done double duty on the charts. In the 80’s, she was part of the pop trio Bananarama. In the 90’s, she started the duo Shakespeare’s Sister. These days, she’s working on solo material, and I’m hoping she doesn’t disappear altogether.
Bananarama was good for what it was, but I still remember the video for “Stay,” and that spooky, goth’d out Fahey.
Here’s somebody I discovered today: Don Powell, drummer for Slade. One of the UK’s most successful acts of the 70’s, they remain inspirations for today’s rockers’ inspirations. I didn’t realize how many of their songs I knew, until I did the research. That, and I mixed them up with the Sweet.
Don Powell’s story is kind of heartbreaking. In 1973, Don was in a car crash that took the life of his girlfriend. He woke six days later, without his sense of smell or taste, and with his short-term memory severely damaged (yes, Memento-style.) He rehabilitated his body so he could play drums again, saw the band through another flock of hits in the 70's and 80's, and still plays with Slade today...
Tomorrow: more British rock…
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
September 9
First, happy birthday to Doug Ingle, vocalist for Iron Butterfly and chief composer of the seminal classic “In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida”. This seventeen minute psychedelic epic is in the DNA of every heavy metal song, so that deserves a raising of the horns. Story goes, Ingle was partying hard when he told the song’s original title, “In the Garden of Eden,” through slurred lips. The mis-spoken name stuck, but the original name hasn’t been forgotten:
In the “Big in Japan” department, Ai Otsuka is the Miley Cyrus of Japan. Here's a video for her single "Smiley"; you should probably turn down the brightness on your monitor before you watch this:
Hugh Grant: women love him, men would love to get away with half of what he does. His disdain for acting suggest that he knows how inane his films are, but he finds a way for himself – and us – to enjoy the ride.
One of my guilty pleasures is the film “Music and Lyrics”, a movie that was supposed to be his last acting job. He must have enjoyed the experience; his next film with the same director comes out later this year.
In “Music and Lyrics,” Grant plays a washed-up ex-“boy band”-er, and we get to see that band in action during the opening credits…
And now, a commercial message:
Finally, before everybody thinks I’ve gone soft, light some candles for John Kricfalusi, creator of Ren and Stimpy, and inspiration for every TV-MA animator working today. Matt Groening may have made it okay to make jokes for more than kids, but “Ren and Stimpy” was like the drunk uncle at Thanksgiving that totally ignored the fact that he was telling blowjob jokes to the fold-out table.
Can’t think of a happier ending for today’s column than that…
In the “Big in Japan” department, Ai Otsuka is the Miley Cyrus of Japan. Here's a video for her single "Smiley"; you should probably turn down the brightness on your monitor before you watch this:
Hugh Grant: women love him, men would love to get away with half of what he does. His disdain for acting suggest that he knows how inane his films are, but he finds a way for himself – and us – to enjoy the ride.
One of my guilty pleasures is the film “Music and Lyrics”, a movie that was supposed to be his last acting job. He must have enjoyed the experience; his next film with the same director comes out later this year.
In “Music and Lyrics,” Grant plays a washed-up ex-“boy band”-er, and we get to see that band in action during the opening credits…
And now, a commercial message:
Finally, before everybody thinks I’ve gone soft, light some candles for John Kricfalusi, creator of Ren and Stimpy, and inspiration for every TV-MA animator working today. Matt Groening may have made it okay to make jokes for more than kids, but “Ren and Stimpy” was like the drunk uncle at Thanksgiving that totally ignored the fact that he was telling blowjob jokes to the fold-out table.
Can’t think of a happier ending for today’s column than that…
September 8
This is not a rebel blog. But today seems to be full of rebellious sorts. If it’s your birthday, make sure you’re not part of the machine! Follow the examples of your brethren – I mean, DON’T follow- that is… You know what I mean, right?
Pink’s got plenty to celebrate besides her birthday today: her blockbuster world tour hits stateside next week. Also, she may be reconciling with her muse/ sort-of-ex-husband, after all. Also, I just discovered that she goes by “P!nk”, which makes her easier to google, so thanks for that, Alecia…
I’ve had a bear of a time trying to find Pink’s latest video to share, what with her being a Universal Music artist. Since I started this column, I’ve been sampling all the YouTubes-to-come (Hulu, Joost, Dailymotion, Fliiby, etc.) in search of videos to share. It seems like the bigger the act, the harder a lockdown from the record label. If they were trying to sell the music video, I’d understand, but why block a four-minute commercial for your own product?
Anyway, this is yet another videosite I discovered, just to share P!nk’s latest. It was either this one, or I learn Russian, so enjoy…
Brendan Kelly is the bassist for the Lawrence Arms, a band that’s more punk than you. In fact, they’re the only band I’ve ever heard of that’s permanently banned from the Warped Tour, for saying that Warped was siphoning bands from the underground venue system to fuel their shopping-mall concerts. True or not, outing Warped on a Warped stage is like calling the bride’s gown ugly when she’s standing at the altar. These days, neither Warped nor the Lawrence Arms have anything to do with the other, and everyone’s fine with that.
Fad Gadget (born Frank Tovey) was the Bering Strait between New Wave and industrial, straddling the line between the aggressive performance art music of the 70’s and the 80’s synthpop to come. He became most renowned for his on-stage prescence (tarring and feathering himself and stage diving into an audience, playing electric razors and power tools as musical instruments,) but when you set aside the antics, the sound keeps up with contemporaries Gary Numan and Depeche Mode.
“Ricky’s Hand” is my favorite, but this German TV performance of “Collapsing New People” is just bizarre enough to stick in your retinas…
Finally, today’s Slim Thug day in Houston. This compatriot of Mike Jones got the same affinity for that Robitussin rap-style coming out of Texas. He doesn’t just sling the words; he started his own label (Boss Hogg Outlawz) once he realized how successful his mixtapes could be. He can say, with all authority, “I’m the Boss….”
Come to think of it, I like The Lonely Island’s version better…
Pink’s got plenty to celebrate besides her birthday today: her blockbuster world tour hits stateside next week. Also, she may be reconciling with her muse/ sort-of-ex-husband, after all. Also, I just discovered that she goes by “P!nk”, which makes her easier to google, so thanks for that, Alecia…
I’ve had a bear of a time trying to find Pink’s latest video to share, what with her being a Universal Music artist. Since I started this column, I’ve been sampling all the YouTubes-to-come (Hulu, Joost, Dailymotion, Fliiby, etc.) in search of videos to share. It seems like the bigger the act, the harder a lockdown from the record label. If they were trying to sell the music video, I’d understand, but why block a four-minute commercial for your own product?
Anyway, this is yet another videosite I discovered, just to share P!nk’s latest. It was either this one, or I learn Russian, so enjoy…
Brendan Kelly is the bassist for the Lawrence Arms, a band that’s more punk than you. In fact, they’re the only band I’ve ever heard of that’s permanently banned from the Warped Tour, for saying that Warped was siphoning bands from the underground venue system to fuel their shopping-mall concerts. True or not, outing Warped on a Warped stage is like calling the bride’s gown ugly when she’s standing at the altar. These days, neither Warped nor the Lawrence Arms have anything to do with the other, and everyone’s fine with that.
Fad Gadget (born Frank Tovey) was the Bering Strait between New Wave and industrial, straddling the line between the aggressive performance art music of the 70’s and the 80’s synthpop to come. He became most renowned for his on-stage prescence (tarring and feathering himself and stage diving into an audience, playing electric razors and power tools as musical instruments,) but when you set aside the antics, the sound keeps up with contemporaries Gary Numan and Depeche Mode.
“Ricky’s Hand” is my favorite, but this German TV performance of “Collapsing New People” is just bizarre enough to stick in your retinas…
Finally, today’s Slim Thug day in Houston. This compatriot of Mike Jones got the same affinity for that Robitussin rap-style coming out of Texas. He doesn’t just sling the words; he started his own label (Boss Hogg Outlawz) once he realized how successful his mixtapes could be. He can say, with all authority, “I’m the Boss….”
Come to think of it, I like The Lonely Island’s version better…
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