Hello, and Happy Birthday, whenever it is. I've got more under-celebrated celebrities, one-hit wonders, and oddness. Actually, I'll start with the oddness, today...
Happy Birthday to Brian Ash, subversive animator. He cut his teeth on Internet animation before working on shows like "The Boondocks" and "Lewis Black's Root of All Evil." Here's one of his more notorious works, a promotional piece for the 2005 "House of Wax" remake, entitled "See Paris Die!" (Obviously, NSFW)
Slightly more family-friendly (but still kinda NSFW; it is promoting an R-rated film) was the award-winning prequels to "3000 Miles to Graceland." I heartily recommend checking out these clips; I wish I could have embedded them; they really feature Kevin Costner, Christian Slater, Kurt Russell, etc. from the film. If I'd seen these cartoons back then, I might have tried to see the film in theaters.
Oh, man; Kurt Nilsen is my hero. He's the guy who broke the Idol-making machine.
See, by 2004, the Pop Idol franchise had become a juggernaut, and almost every nation in the world was on its way to having their own Idol show. So, why not a World Idol? On Christmas Day, 2003, winners from eleven nations, including American Idol Kelly Clarkson, competed in a one-off globally broadcast special. In a monumental upset, Clarkson took second place to Norway's Kurt Nilsen, a victory so controversial that they never had a World Idol competition again.
Many reasons are bandied about (erratic voting, price gouging, not using Clay Aiken) but what's unspoken is the fact that the Powers That Be got a World Idol that they had no idea how to sell to the world. His songs have never been released in the United States.
Why? Because he doesn't look like a rock star. The nicest way to say it is, he paved the way for the Paul Potts and Susan Boyles of the world to start taking over. He looks very ordinary, but his voice is definitively not.
Had a hard time picking a video, because the produced music videos don't do him any favors (dressing him like Rascal Flatts,) and the concert videos have too much screaming (he is still a massive star in Norway.) But this clip of the Norwegian supergroup The New Guitar Baddies doing a live rendition of "Hallelujah" should do the trick. [Kurt's in the denim jacket, all the way to the left] Watch for him to sing the last verse, and you can see - and hear - what I'm talking about.
His last album, a team-up with Willie Nelson, had him back on top of every chart Norway has. The world just might be ready for Kurt soon, after all...
Here's another phenomenal voice that deserves better. Debelah Morgan was a vocal prodigy (as in, 5-octave vocal range) who became a one-hit wonder, thanks to the 2000 track, Dance With Me. In a decade-long recording career, she never found her footing, and disappeared from the business altogether by 2004. Seriously, if anybody knows what happened to her, let me know. I figured, she'd be on Broadway, or releasing a gospel album by this point...
The song suffers from sounding too much like a Marc Anthony tune, I know...
Finally, Happy Birthday to the Last Man Standing, Jerry Lee Lewis. A rock n' roll legend, Lewis is the last of "the Million Dollar Quartet:" the songs of Elvis Presley, Carl Perkins, Johnny Cash, and Lewis built Sun Studios, and rock n' roll itself. To this day, nobody tears up a piano like Jerry Lee Lewis at 74 years old, which says more about the sad state of the world we're in.
Now there's a piano man. Damn you, Billy Joel. Damn you, Elton John...
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
september 30
Happy Birthday to Robby Takac, bassist for the Goo Goo Dolls. He's a busy guy when he's not with the Goos; he runs the band's recording studio, oversees his own record label, and serves on the board of trustees of his hometown college. Also, he's a Pez aficionado; he was a featured interviewee in the 2006 documentary, "PEZheads."
2010 should see a new Goo Goo Dolls album, and a new Nightmare on Elm Street movie, coincidentally. That's a good enough reason to play the Goos' song for the "Freddy's Dead" soundtrack, "I'm Awake Now"
Okay, I have no idea who Renato Zero is. He's some Italian singer that's been around forever, apparently. And if I only had this 70's TV clip to go by, I'd have to wager that Italy is one of the moons of Jupiter.
Actually, he's one of Italy's most successful pop artists. He gave up the leotards shortly after the death of glam rock. These days, he looks like Julio Iglesias with a dab of Freddie Mercury.
Happy Birthday to Ryan Stout - the stand-up comedian, not the cagefighter.
I love me some stand-up comedy; on a cross-country drive, it's better at keeping me alert than a pot of coffee. Stout's style has a Jim Gaffigan/Larry Miller vibe, if that's any help to you. Or you can watch this clip:
It's my dad's birthday, so let me feature somebody he'd dig: 80's jazz-pop starlet Basia. This Polish chanteuse had a hatful of hits before hanging up that hat in 1998. Wouldn't you know it; she's back with a new album this year!
But I'll stick with something familiar: the title track of her breakthrough slbum, Time and Tide:
Happy Birthday, Dad. And Happy Birthday to you, whenever you are...
2010 should see a new Goo Goo Dolls album, and a new Nightmare on Elm Street movie, coincidentally. That's a good enough reason to play the Goos' song for the "Freddy's Dead" soundtrack, "I'm Awake Now"
Okay, I have no idea who Renato Zero is. He's some Italian singer that's been around forever, apparently. And if I only had this 70's TV clip to go by, I'd have to wager that Italy is one of the moons of Jupiter.
Actually, he's one of Italy's most successful pop artists. He gave up the leotards shortly after the death of glam rock. These days, he looks like Julio Iglesias with a dab of Freddie Mercury.
Happy Birthday to Ryan Stout - the stand-up comedian, not the cagefighter.
I love me some stand-up comedy; on a cross-country drive, it's better at keeping me alert than a pot of coffee. Stout's style has a Jim Gaffigan/Larry Miller vibe, if that's any help to you. Or you can watch this clip:
| Live at Gotham | ||||
| Ryan Stout - Labels | ||||
| ||||
It's my dad's birthday, so let me feature somebody he'd dig: 80's jazz-pop starlet Basia. This Polish chanteuse had a hatful of hits before hanging up that hat in 1998. Wouldn't you know it; she's back with a new album this year!
But I'll stick with something familiar: the title track of her breakthrough slbum, Time and Tide:
Happy Birthday, Dad. And Happy Birthday to you, whenever you are...
september 28
I almost wrote about a Jonas brother today.
I came so close to losing my way. I can't believe it. I mean, how long have they been on the planet anyway? Look, I know I'm writing about it now, but it's to make my point. I don't mean to bash on a nine-year-old kid who's just starting his life - if anybody needs a break from judgement, it's a kid. He didn't pick his family. He didn't really pick what he's doing with his life. But the only reason I would have written about him yesterday is that he's got a name that might have gotten some site hits. But it's not going to be what I want to write about.
So, Happy Birthday to Frankie Jonas (the one that doesn't sing yet), and thank you for making me realize why I'm doing this blog in the first place. You're the only one I'm going to write about for the forseeable future; I can't see myself writing about the others until the world's half-forgotten about them...
Happy Birthday to Jennifer Rush, the woman who introduced the world to "The Power of Love." The 80's ballad, co-written by Rush, is still her biggest hit and most recognizable song. She took that song to the top of the charts in 7 countries - not the U.S., it didn't even scratch the top 40. Laura Branagan got to do that two years later, rocking it just a little bit harder, turning it into a top 20 hit, and inadvertantly convincing a lot of Americans (like me) that she wrote it. Then Celine Dion, in her world-conquering phase, took the song to number 1 in North America. Meanwhile, Maurice Stein's baby girl can't get a break in the US, although she's a star to the rest of the world.
Why isn't her version the one you hear when you're shopping for canned peas? Couldn't say?
Today is the birthday of Quentin Kawananakoa, head of the only royal family in America. Quentin's family, the House of Kawanankoa, are the descendents of the royal Hawaiian family that ruled the islands before they were deposed in 1893. Even today, among some of the indigenous Hawaiian population, he is referred to as "Prince Quentin Kawananakoa." These days, however, Quentin is an organizer within the Hawaiian Republican Party. This royal heritage is, for the most part, just something to put on business cards and talk about at parties, except...
Did you know that 2009 observed the 50th anniversary of Hawaii's annexation of the state? There wasn't a lot of fanfare for the occasion, because of a more vocal nativist movement. Some want a semi-independet status, similar to Puerto Rico; others want outright secession and reinstatement of the Hawaiian royal line in a constitutional monarchy. Don't worry; Obama will still be an American...
Ginger Fish (an amalgam of classic film starlet Ginger Rogers and serial killer Albert Fish) plays the drums for Marilyn Manson, which would presumably be a dangerous job in the first place. But being Manson's drummer might be more hazardous for your health than playing for Spinal Tap. Given Manson's penchant for smashing his own guitar along with whatever else is on stage - such as Fish's drum kit, while Fish is still behind it - Fish has had his share of injuries at the hands of Manson: a mic stand to the head, a guitar to the hand, a broken collarbone, surgeries for his back and knees... Yet he was on this year's album and tour. Dude needs an intervention...
Here's one of Manson's driving numbers:
Marilyn Manson The Fight Song
Finally, Happy Birthday to Janeane Garofalo, just because she's funny. Unfortunately, all the video I find is her NSFW stand-up routines(and I'm trying to keep a PG-13 column here) or interviews for "Ratatouille" (which wouldn't be a great example of why she's great.) And I wasn't sure how a Comedy Central embed looks...
Kind of garish, isn't it? Hope you find the video in there...
Aw, well. Back to fighting the good fight...
I came so close to losing my way. I can't believe it. I mean, how long have they been on the planet anyway? Look, I know I'm writing about it now, but it's to make my point. I don't mean to bash on a nine-year-old kid who's just starting his life - if anybody needs a break from judgement, it's a kid. He didn't pick his family. He didn't really pick what he's doing with his life. But the only reason I would have written about him yesterday is that he's got a name that might have gotten some site hits. But it's not going to be what I want to write about.
So, Happy Birthday to Frankie Jonas (the one that doesn't sing yet), and thank you for making me realize why I'm doing this blog in the first place. You're the only one I'm going to write about for the forseeable future; I can't see myself writing about the others until the world's half-forgotten about them...
Happy Birthday to Jennifer Rush, the woman who introduced the world to "The Power of Love." The 80's ballad, co-written by Rush, is still her biggest hit and most recognizable song. She took that song to the top of the charts in 7 countries - not the U.S., it didn't even scratch the top 40. Laura Branagan got to do that two years later, rocking it just a little bit harder, turning it into a top 20 hit, and inadvertantly convincing a lot of Americans (like me) that she wrote it. Then Celine Dion, in her world-conquering phase, took the song to number 1 in North America. Meanwhile, Maurice Stein's baby girl can't get a break in the US, although she's a star to the rest of the world.
Why isn't her version the one you hear when you're shopping for canned peas? Couldn't say?
Today is the birthday of Quentin Kawananakoa, head of the only royal family in America. Quentin's family, the House of Kawanankoa, are the descendents of the royal Hawaiian family that ruled the islands before they were deposed in 1893. Even today, among some of the indigenous Hawaiian population, he is referred to as "Prince Quentin Kawananakoa." These days, however, Quentin is an organizer within the Hawaiian Republican Party. This royal heritage is, for the most part, just something to put on business cards and talk about at parties, except...Did you know that 2009 observed the 50th anniversary of Hawaii's annexation of the state? There wasn't a lot of fanfare for the occasion, because of a more vocal nativist movement. Some want a semi-independet status, similar to Puerto Rico; others want outright secession and reinstatement of the Hawaiian royal line in a constitutional monarchy. Don't worry; Obama will still be an American...
Ginger Fish (an amalgam of classic film starlet Ginger Rogers and serial killer Albert Fish) plays the drums for Marilyn Manson, which would presumably be a dangerous job in the first place. But being Manson's drummer might be more hazardous for your health than playing for Spinal Tap. Given Manson's penchant for smashing his own guitar along with whatever else is on stage - such as Fish's drum kit, while Fish is still behind it - Fish has had his share of injuries at the hands of Manson: a mic stand to the head, a guitar to the hand, a broken collarbone, surgeries for his back and knees... Yet he was on this year's album and tour. Dude needs an intervention...
Here's one of Manson's driving numbers:
Marilyn Manson The Fight Song
Finally, Happy Birthday to Janeane Garofalo, just because she's funny. Unfortunately, all the video I find is her NSFW stand-up routines(and I'm trying to keep a PG-13 column here) or interviews for "Ratatouille" (which wouldn't be a great example of why she's great.) And I wasn't sure how a Comedy Central embed looks...
| Shorties Watchin' Shorties | Check TV Schedule | |||
| Janeane Garofalo - Evil Cake | ||||
| ||||
Kind of garish, isn't it? Hope you find the video in there...
Aw, well. Back to fighting the good fight...
september 27
Debbie Barnhouse is a actress/director/legend in the Cape Girardeau, MO arts scene. 2009 marks a decade with the local River City Players, where her talents have shone brightest, on either side of the curtain. Last week finished the run of Sam Bobrick's "Getting Sara Married," her latest directorial effort.
Usually, I have a video clip for you readers, to illustrate a reason that our birthday subject deserves some attention. But I don't have one for Debbie, and I kind of feel responsible. In 2003, she was cast and served as costumer in a film based on one of my scripts, Dark Garden. She let our makeup team turn her beautiful face into a murder victim's, only to have all of herself off-camera except her legs (oh, those legs...) She got the same deal Kevin Costner did in "The Big Chill," but she helped plant a seed that's still growing in the Cape. So I owe her a better movie....
In a TV interview, Meat Loaf said that he never considered himself a good singer, but he learned how to act like one after being cast to play a rock star. Man, do I wish it was that simple. The man's voice has its highs (Bat Out of Hell) and lows (his American Idol appearance) but it's still one of the best in the buisness. He's got plenty of signature roles, too; his five minutes in "The Rocky Horror Picture Show" take the movie to a whole other level.
If you want to understand what the big deal is about Lil Wayne, start at Vibe Magazine's "The 77 Best Lil' Wayne Songs of 2007." That's 77 songs that he spit flow on before his juggernaut "Tha Carter III" album came out. Once III came out, then he was all over the place. Enjoy it now, because he may be jumping the shark next year; that's when his rock album comes out.
Avril Lavigne tried a different type of media saturation, with her last big single, "Girlfriend." You remember this song, right? Inescapable! Did you know its the 2nd most watched video on Youtube - of all time? OF ALL TIME?!? (Take that, Beyonce!) She re-recorded the song in seven different languages (even tried in Hindi,) and did a remix with a hip-hop artist. All that work, just so she can have a number 1 hit in the US...
And it's the only song anybody knows from the album (and she received too much flak about plaguarism...) News like this makes me wonder if she's running out of steam; she's working on her album for next year, and her publicity is proud to announce that's she using at least four songs she wrote before she was famous - songs that are almost ten years old. Hopefully, she's got enough going on in the here and now to write something besides the 'look at how rich I am' album...
Usually, I have a video clip for you readers, to illustrate a reason that our birthday subject deserves some attention. But I don't have one for Debbie, and I kind of feel responsible. In 2003, she was cast and served as costumer in a film based on one of my scripts, Dark Garden. She let our makeup team turn her beautiful face into a murder victim's, only to have all of herself off-camera except her legs (oh, those legs...) She got the same deal Kevin Costner did in "The Big Chill," but she helped plant a seed that's still growing in the Cape. So I owe her a better movie....
In a TV interview, Meat Loaf said that he never considered himself a good singer, but he learned how to act like one after being cast to play a rock star. Man, do I wish it was that simple. The man's voice has its highs (Bat Out of Hell) and lows (his American Idol appearance) but it's still one of the best in the buisness. He's got plenty of signature roles, too; his five minutes in "The Rocky Horror Picture Show" take the movie to a whole other level.
If you want to understand what the big deal is about Lil Wayne, start at Vibe Magazine's "The 77 Best Lil' Wayne Songs of 2007." That's 77 songs that he spit flow on before his juggernaut "Tha Carter III" album came out. Once III came out, then he was all over the place. Enjoy it now, because he may be jumping the shark next year; that's when his rock album comes out.
Avril Lavigne tried a different type of media saturation, with her last big single, "Girlfriend." You remember this song, right? Inescapable! Did you know its the 2nd most watched video on Youtube - of all time? OF ALL TIME?!? (Take that, Beyonce!) She re-recorded the song in seven different languages (even tried in Hindi,) and did a remix with a hip-hop artist. All that work, just so she can have a number 1 hit in the US...
And it's the only song anybody knows from the album (and she received too much flak about plaguarism...) News like this makes me wonder if she's running out of steam; she's working on her album for next year, and her publicity is proud to announce that's she using at least four songs she wrote before she was famous - songs that are almost ten years old. Hopefully, she's got enough going on in the here and now to write something besides the 'look at how rich I am' album...
september 26
So, Jack LaLanne is 95 today. And he can still kick my ass. The man that made bodybuilding an American obsession is still around today: lifting weights, towing boats with his teeth, and selling juicers that can kick my ass. For his birthday, he wants to swim twenty miles off the coast of California.
Me? I'm going to start with some face exercises...
Christina Milian has a birthday today, but I'm not even sure if she notices; she's too busy living the Dream. So far this month, she had a second wedding with Terius "the-Dream" Nash in Rome, announced her pregnancy, announced the second single and label change for her upcoming album (which also got its title changed to 'Elope,') saw the release of her latest starring role in the newest 'Bring It On' movie... The girl knows synergy.
This is why I don't usually peddle in gossip. I can't tell if Junior Beyonce here isn't using her personal life as a billboard for her latest projects. The word is, she's supposed to get married one more time, in the U.S. Who wants to bet it'll be within three weeks of the street date of her album or her duet with her new husband? Y'know, the hot musician/producer that's now running a record label?
Eh, what am I complaining about? She was cool on 'Smallville.' And I like this song:
Speaking of working couples, Sheri Moon Zombie just saw the release of a second movie with her husband this year. This one's a cartoon, which works out; apparently, she went to school to be a voice artist, before she followed the path that made her Mrs Rob Zombie.
Here's the trailer for "The Haunted World of El Superbeasto," the movie that proves that she's more than just a pretty, blood-spattered face:
Before today, the last I'd heard about Olivia Newton-John was that Dateline NBC episode where they tried to track down her ex-boyfriend that disappeared in the ocean a few years back to duck child support payments. But Olivia Newton-John's past all that now. She got re-married this year, twice: in an Incan spiritual ceremony in Peru, and then a (more?) traditional ceremony back in the US. Now she's touring again and selling herbal drinks with her new husband-
I think she just brought us full circle with everybody today. Cool...
Since the summer's behind us, here's a song from the Olivia Newton John that always comes to my mind:
Okay, time to say goodbye:
Me? I'm going to start with some face exercises...
Christina Milian has a birthday today, but I'm not even sure if she notices; she's too busy living the Dream. So far this month, she had a second wedding with Terius "the-Dream" Nash in Rome, announced her pregnancy, announced the second single and label change for her upcoming album (which also got its title changed to 'Elope,') saw the release of her latest starring role in the newest 'Bring It On' movie... The girl knows synergy.
This is why I don't usually peddle in gossip. I can't tell if Junior Beyonce here isn't using her personal life as a billboard for her latest projects. The word is, she's supposed to get married one more time, in the U.S. Who wants to bet it'll be within three weeks of the street date of her album or her duet with her new husband? Y'know, the hot musician/producer that's now running a record label?
Eh, what am I complaining about? She was cool on 'Smallville.' And I like this song:
Speaking of working couples, Sheri Moon Zombie just saw the release of a second movie with her husband this year. This one's a cartoon, which works out; apparently, she went to school to be a voice artist, before she followed the path that made her Mrs Rob Zombie.
Here's the trailer for "The Haunted World of El Superbeasto," the movie that proves that she's more than just a pretty, blood-spattered face:
Before today, the last I'd heard about Olivia Newton-John was that Dateline NBC episode where they tried to track down her ex-boyfriend that disappeared in the ocean a few years back to duck child support payments. But Olivia Newton-John's past all that now. She got re-married this year, twice: in an Incan spiritual ceremony in Peru, and then a (more?) traditional ceremony back in the US. Now she's touring again and selling herbal drinks with her new husband-
I think she just brought us full circle with everybody today. Cool...
Since the summer's behind us, here's a song from the Olivia Newton John that always comes to my mind:
Okay, time to say goodbye:
september 25
Since it's been suggested that I occasionally write about artists the average person may have heard of, I'm sending out a "Happy Birthday" to Clifford Harris, Jr, also known as T.I. Today, the Rubber Band Man's either celebrating his 29th birthday, or six months until his release from federal prison. I'd write more, but do I really know Clifford Harris? Does anyone?
Mary Doyle Kennedy will always be Natalie from the Commitments, one of my favorite fictional bands of all time. It's cool to know that in real life, she's one of the actors that made good: besides her own self-released albums (I wonder what her version of "Video Killed the Radio Star" sounds like,) she just completed her run as Catherine of Aragon on "The Tudors" (for those of you with cable television.) She recently recorded some songs with John Prine; no word on when those'll be released. And I wonder if she ever jams with the other Commitments?
Okay, we've had hip-hop and soul; it's time for some rock n' roll!
Kiyoshi Ijichi plays drums for Asian Kung-Fu Generation, a Japanese rock band that would sound great opening for Weezer. In fact, Ajikan (that's the quick way to say their name) aren't just playing better alt-rock than I'm hearing in America; they're keeping it alive with their own festival. This year's Nano-MugenFes was a two-day showcase of Japanese rockers alongside acts like Ben Folds and Nada Surf; if you're as interested as me, the live DVD comes out next month...
This song, "Loop & Loop," was on their 2004 album, 'Sol-fa.' It was one of my first discoveries when I started blog-trolling a few years ago, one of the reasons I started this blog. I can't vouch for the accuracy of the lyrics, or even what the song's about. The song transcends for me, but I'm open to explanations; comment me if you've got the song's about...
Finally, happy birthday to Santigold. She made it on a few 'best of 2008' lists, but I finally learned about her this week. I guess today's critics really miss 1982, because she sounds a lot like The Motels.
Yeah, I'm digging this. For real evidence of her sonic powers, check out the effects of her set at the 2009 Sasquatch Festival.
Seen this clip before? That's her track, "Unstoppable," that the short shorts pied piper's dancing to. Can't really tell if it inspired the Black Eyed Peas and Oprah, but I feel like dancing, too...
Mary Doyle Kennedy will always be Natalie from the Commitments, one of my favorite fictional bands of all time. It's cool to know that in real life, she's one of the actors that made good: besides her own self-released albums (I wonder what her version of "Video Killed the Radio Star" sounds like,) she just completed her run as Catherine of Aragon on "The Tudors" (for those of you with cable television.) She recently recorded some songs with John Prine; no word on when those'll be released. And I wonder if she ever jams with the other Commitments?
Okay, we've had hip-hop and soul; it's time for some rock n' roll!
Kiyoshi Ijichi plays drums for Asian Kung-Fu Generation, a Japanese rock band that would sound great opening for Weezer. In fact, Ajikan (that's the quick way to say their name) aren't just playing better alt-rock than I'm hearing in America; they're keeping it alive with their own festival. This year's Nano-MugenFes was a two-day showcase of Japanese rockers alongside acts like Ben Folds and Nada Surf; if you're as interested as me, the live DVD comes out next month...
This song, "Loop & Loop," was on their 2004 album, 'Sol-fa.' It was one of my first discoveries when I started blog-trolling a few years ago, one of the reasons I started this blog. I can't vouch for the accuracy of the lyrics, or even what the song's about. The song transcends for me, but I'm open to explanations; comment me if you've got the song's about...
Finally, happy birthday to Santigold. She made it on a few 'best of 2008' lists, but I finally learned about her this week. I guess today's critics really miss 1982, because she sounds a lot like The Motels.
Yeah, I'm digging this. For real evidence of her sonic powers, check out the effects of her set at the 2009 Sasquatch Festival.
Seen this clip before? That's her track, "Unstoppable," that the short shorts pied piper's dancing to. Can't really tell if it inspired the Black Eyed Peas and Oprah, but I feel like dancing, too...
september 24
The story of Donald Earl DeGrate, Jr, a.k.a. Devante Swing, is a mystery. Devante was the producer, primary songwriter, and defacto leader of Jodeci (he and his brother Dalvin were the “De” in “Jodeci,”) which were something of an R & B powerhouse starting in 1991. DeVante parlayed the band’s success into forming his own record label, signing and/or discovering such talent as Missy Elliott, Timberland, Ginuwine, Tweet, Flo Rida, and much more. But by 1997, the label was folded, the band was on “indefinite hiatus,” and DeVante was off the grid.
Ten years later, and I can’t believe how much trouble I’m having finding news about this guy. He’s got another brother who’s keeping himself – and his music – strictly on the side of the angels; Devante worked on a track of his 2004 album… I’m also reading some buzz about “Nodeci”, which is a Jodeci-sounding group definitely without a K-Ci or JoJo. But is it the DeGrate brothers? Or a bunch of Jodeci-worshipping wanna-bes? Will the real Donald DeGrate please stand up? For a man who contributed as much to the R & B architecture of the last 15-odd years, he’s startlingly quiet.
Here’s an example of Jodeci at the height of their powers: their performance on the 1993 “Uptown MTV Unplugged” special. Their rendition of Stevie Wonder’s “Lately” became their biggest pop hit. (By the way, Donald’s on the piano…)
His mama named him Michael Shawn Crahan on this day long ago, but most people today know him as “Clown” or “#6”. That’s right; Shawn’s one of the drummers of Slipknot. But he’s been ready to be much more; without the mask, he runs his own record label and plays with another band, Dirty Little Rabbits. As soon as the current world tour is over, he’ll host a few gallery showings of his photographs and paintings, and complete the book “The Apocalyptic Nightmare Journey,” chronicling his time in Slipknot.
While researching, I found out about To My Surprise, one of Crahan’s bands that got lost in the “Slipknot side project” shuffle. The band folded as soon as Slipknot was ready to resume, which is a shame. It wasn’t as big a deal as Stone Sour or the Murderdolls, but it should have been.
Happy Birthday, Janet Weiss, virtuoso drummer. She was the primary drummer of Sleater-Kinney, as well as anchoring Quasi, The Go-Betweens, Junior High, and drumming for Elliot Smith, Bright Eyes, Stephen Malkmus… The girl can’t keep still.
This week, she’s in Canada, playing with the Jinks, before Malkmus reunites with Pavement for a 2010 tour. It would seem to be a good time to take a break, but Janet probably won’t, dammit…
Here’s the album version of the song that got Janet the Sleater-Kinney gig: “Dig Me Out”.
Finally, it’s Jim Henson’s birthday. There’s so much that’s been said about his life’s work, and the joy we still feel from the love and laughter his stories gave to us. But I’m going to spotlight a subversive tribute – and by subversive, I’m referring to that simultaneous expression of sentiment and blasphemy. So I want to take a moment to talk to you about Sad Kermit.
Quoth the website: “Soon after the death of Jim Henson, Sad Kermit spiraled downward into a life full of addiction, romance and pain.” From there, Kermit discovers the acoustic guitar and Elliot Smith… and the rest is Internet history.
The saga of Sad Kermit started with the green doppelganger singing the Johnny Cash treatment of “Hurt”, along with a video of the most depressing scenes featuring a muppet ever. (Imagine Aranofsky's 'Requiem for a Muppet') But the songs themselves – Nine Inch Nails, Elliot Smith, and Leonard Cohen songs, performed with the heartbreaking vocals of Sad Kermit - can be really affecting, once you get past the joke.
Several covers are still available on the Sad Kermit website; I recommend the down-tuned version of “Rainbow Disconnection”.
Ten years later, and I can’t believe how much trouble I’m having finding news about this guy. He’s got another brother who’s keeping himself – and his music – strictly on the side of the angels; Devante worked on a track of his 2004 album… I’m also reading some buzz about “Nodeci”, which is a Jodeci-sounding group definitely without a K-Ci or JoJo. But is it the DeGrate brothers? Or a bunch of Jodeci-worshipping wanna-bes? Will the real Donald DeGrate please stand up? For a man who contributed as much to the R & B architecture of the last 15-odd years, he’s startlingly quiet.
Here’s an example of Jodeci at the height of their powers: their performance on the 1993 “Uptown MTV Unplugged” special. Their rendition of Stevie Wonder’s “Lately” became their biggest pop hit. (By the way, Donald’s on the piano…)
His mama named him Michael Shawn Crahan on this day long ago, but most people today know him as “Clown” or “#6”. That’s right; Shawn’s one of the drummers of Slipknot. But he’s been ready to be much more; without the mask, he runs his own record label and plays with another band, Dirty Little Rabbits. As soon as the current world tour is over, he’ll host a few gallery showings of his photographs and paintings, and complete the book “The Apocalyptic Nightmare Journey,” chronicling his time in Slipknot.
While researching, I found out about To My Surprise, one of Crahan’s bands that got lost in the “Slipknot side project” shuffle. The band folded as soon as Slipknot was ready to resume, which is a shame. It wasn’t as big a deal as Stone Sour or the Murderdolls, but it should have been.
Happy Birthday, Janet Weiss, virtuoso drummer. She was the primary drummer of Sleater-Kinney, as well as anchoring Quasi, The Go-Betweens, Junior High, and drumming for Elliot Smith, Bright Eyes, Stephen Malkmus… The girl can’t keep still.
This week, she’s in Canada, playing with the Jinks, before Malkmus reunites with Pavement for a 2010 tour. It would seem to be a good time to take a break, but Janet probably won’t, dammit…
Here’s the album version of the song that got Janet the Sleater-Kinney gig: “Dig Me Out”.
Finally, it’s Jim Henson’s birthday. There’s so much that’s been said about his life’s work, and the joy we still feel from the love and laughter his stories gave to us. But I’m going to spotlight a subversive tribute – and by subversive, I’m referring to that simultaneous expression of sentiment and blasphemy. So I want to take a moment to talk to you about Sad Kermit.
Quoth the website: “Soon after the death of Jim Henson, Sad Kermit spiraled downward into a life full of addiction, romance and pain.” From there, Kermit discovers the acoustic guitar and Elliot Smith… and the rest is Internet history.
The saga of Sad Kermit started with the green doppelganger singing the Johnny Cash treatment of “Hurt”, along with a video of the most depressing scenes featuring a muppet ever. (Imagine Aranofsky's 'Requiem for a Muppet') But the songs themselves – Nine Inch Nails, Elliot Smith, and Leonard Cohen songs, performed with the heartbreaking vocals of Sad Kermit - can be really affecting, once you get past the joke.
Several covers are still available on the Sad Kermit website; I recommend the down-tuned version of “Rainbow Disconnection”.
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