Be Back Soon!

Hello all, I’m in New York City for the National College Media Convention, so I am taking a short break from blogging while here. I will be back sooner than you think. Maybe I’ll see a show or two while I’m here and maybe you’ll see a post or two about said shows!

Cheers,
Aaron

Blah, blah, blah, blah, bleh.

More music video updates, folks. Ke$ha. Blah, Blah, Blah. With a title like that, there’s not much room for success. And though she looks pretty cool while flying in the air and pretending to bowl in this video, the song, the product and the overall concept behind it is, well, Bleh, Bleh, Bleh.

It’s a blitzkrieg to the ear and needs some serious toning down for it to be a track I’ll actually stop to listen to on the radio. If anything, it’s hilarious to watch Ke$ha flop and flounce all over the screen, tormenting viewers with her boozy behavior. I swear this girl got famous accidentally, but for some reason I don’t think she’ll stop as a one-hit wonder. People seem to like this stuff. I sort of see where they are coming from. It’s rewarding and, dare I say, fun to let loose and act like you haven’t got a thought or care about you.

…..Nope. Sorry. I tried. There is no justification for this “artist.”

You Say You A Rude Boy…

Rihanna’s new video for “Rude Boy” is quite refreshing. It took me back to the ’90s, MIA’s epileptic-friendly Web site and Ri Ri’s Barbados roots. I hadn’t heard the track yet, so it was definitely a surprise when I saw that she released a video for it. Then again, she’s released a video for what, 4 songs off the “Rated R” album now? Not much of the video is comprised of actual scenic shots (except one that she shares with a zebra wearing a balloon headdress—say what?), which means someone just sat at a computer and hacked away at green screen shots. No crime there.

The song itself is pretty simple with a sprinkling of vulgarity, “Come here rude boy boy, can you get it up?/Come here rude boy boy, is you big enough?” but it’s catchy, makes sense and highlights Rihanna’s vocal strength. Check it below. I have it on repeat.

We Are the World

To raise money for Haiti, a stunning compilation of musical artists got together to reprise Michael Jackson’s “We Are the World.” It’s definitely an accurate representation of music’s evolution—Auto Tune included, of course. And I can’t deny that it’s remarkable to see all these wonderful singers and performers gather. Check out the video below to see and hear the awesomeness.

$%#*!, a.k.a. Vampire Weekend’s ‘English’

Ever since Ivy Leaguers Vampire Weekend released their new album, “Contra,” I’ve been sorely abusing each track in my playlist. Not in a bad way, though. For what I thought would be a much weaker sophomore effort by the group, I must say, I was pleasantly surprised.

And, of course, I’m still trying to decipher the lyrics of “California English” without Songlyrics.com…I think I’m doing well. Give their live performance a listen, if you have yet to. I must warn you, though, Auto tune is involved. A lot of it. But oh, how it is such a guilty pleasure of mine. If anything, the excessive use of the voice-altering music tech adds a giddy, upbeat sense to what would, otherwise, be a short, forgettable track. It made me laugh the first time I heard it and then I couldn’t stop listening!

I think the song sounds much better in this live video. I dare you to keep up.

CoCo’s Last Stand

NBC talk show host Conan O’Brien gave his final monologue and last show last night at 10:00pm 12:50am (whenever) and closed his epic run as one of the funniest men on late-night television just the way I would expect: with no hurt feelings and dashingly good hair. With a settlement as hefty as his and a legacy even more impressive, I won’t be surprised if we see Conan back on the air with some other network (ahem, Fox) in the future.

Reports show, however, that even though the last show was hyped up and anticipated/dreaded by many O’Brien fans, it didn’t top Jay Leno’s “last show” when he was the host of Late Night. I feel like I may have contributed as well because, like most hypocritical Conan fans, I didn’t even tune in.

So what’s in the future for King CoCo? Well, O’Brien is pretty sure it involves nudity. Here’s his final opening monologue.

Idina…Is Coming!

Lea Michele’s tweet says it all. It’s official! “Wicked” star Idina Menzel is currently filming and will be on an episode of the hit Fox series, “Glee.”

I’m still trying to wrap my head around what she could possibly play on the show. Biological mother to Rachel? Rival Glee Club coach? Herself? ELPHABA? Maybe she’ll give Kurt some lessons on how to really hit that high note at the end of “Defying Gravity.” Even though, technically, he blew the note purposefully. Regardless, the possibilities are endless and nobody…in all of Oz…no wizard—wait. Sorry. That went in the wrong direction.

January 22, 2010 | UPDATE: Idina is playing the head coach of the rival Glee Club “Vocal Adrenaline” and is signed off for most of the episodes in the second season.

Wyclef Jean’s ‘Mistakes’

“Have I made mistakes? Yes. Did I use Yéle money for personal gains? Absolutely not. The books are open. We have a clean bill of health from an auditor.”

Haitian-born multi-platinum singer Wyclef Jean faced accusations last weekend that part of the money received from his now-famous “YELE” texting Haiti relief fund went to the singer himself. His response and audit investigation cleared his name and the star continues to push for evacuation and rescue in his native land. His intentions seem pure, his actions just and Jean’s attitude toward his efforts in the country strike with a fervor that is hard to come by nowadays. However, the accusations, nonetheless, make the charitable, NOW-generation-friendly program seem  a bit sketchy.

Though I normally see relief efforts as disorganized, non-stop clap-fests from the big wigs above, sitting comfortably in their plush velvet seats while they applaud announcement after announcement that “100% of funds of … will go to xyz,” it’s hard to not notice the particular dissidence in celebrities taking their own stands aside from national organizations, giving donors and supporters a more “at ease” feeling when they click through on their Web sites to send much-needed aid…but who’s to say which is more “reputable?” The American Red Cross or a George Clooney Telethon?

With estimates of rebuilding taking 10 years in Haiti, prospects just remind me and my peers that we need to give something to help…Lest we forget we have citizens on our own shores STILL begging for help.

Christmas and Me

My sister keeps getting things, mainly hairbrushes from her never-ending assortment of dolls, stuck in her hair and she cries rivers to let us know that she needs help to yank them out. My cousin won’t stop badgering me about playing video games on my computer and his sister, forever his cohort, can’t help but be precious and adorable—though she attempts to be just as equally persistent as her big bro (don’t ever take her Barbie away from her). My mom made breakfast and when I finished, Lady Gaga’s “Christmas Tree” was the first video I went to watch on YouTube. Snow this year was replaced with rain and our two African Grey parrots understand the importance of yelling above the sound of pounding rain outside.

Two hours later, “Marley and Me” helped remind me what it means to love things—like all the aforementioned—in spite of their flaws. Well, it wasn’t the first time I learned that lesson, but everyone needs an HBO pick-me-up every once in a while. My Christmas so far, though it has been an everlasting tip-of-the-hat to my obsession with pop music and cheesy movies, has been decent. Ring in the cheer and stuff. I plan to be in bed by 9. I’m still on break. Happy Holidays!

The Not-So-Fantastic Ms. Fox

Am I the only person who does not think that Megan Fox is attractive? I know several beer-guzzling, polo/aviator-wearing bros will hunt me down tomorrow for this one, but I’m sorry. I just think she is a whole lot of sleaze and empty sex appeal.

Maybe I’m being too harsh. Yes, she is a “talented” and…*ahem* gifted young woman, but I can’t honestly look at her in Transformers and say: well that’s a wholesome woman that I’d like to take home (though I’d never say that about…any woman. Cue this crappy sound effect I found)

But I guess I am just sorely mistaken as Megan’s “body of work” was just (of course) ranked as the “Hottest Moment of 2009” by Maxim and E! Check out the video below.

Next Page →