Fun fact of the day: Bob Dylan’s lyrics have been quoted in 26 judicial opinions, including a recent Supreme Court decision by John Roberts, who quoted him incorrectly. (Other most quoted singers include Paul Simon and Bruce Springsteen…at least our justices have good taste.) Man, now I really do wanna be Bob Dylan.
[Posted by Mallory]
My Australian friend Kate, whom I studied abroad with in Italy, recently wrote on my Facebook wall (when I am too old to not drop things like “Oh, she wrote that on my wall” in everyday conversation?) that I should keep myself entertained “with some good old kiwi (New Zealand) humour.” (She also says fun things like “bub” and “mad blog,” which I love.) Of course, she was talking about Flight of the Conchords, the musical comedy band that most of you have probably heard of. According to Wikipedia, they bill themselves as “formerly New Zealand’s fourth most popular guitar-based digi-bongo acapella-rap-funk-comedy folk duo.”
As Christian Landers points out, because I am a white person, I like musical comedy: “This style of humor involves a person or group singing a song but rather than singing about something serious, it has funny lyrics. It’s not any more complicated than that, but white people can’t get enough of it.” Landers cites Flight of the Conchords as a perfect example of musical comedy that white people like. And to anyone hoping to make friends with a white person, he offers the following sage advice:
If you find yourself at a corporate retreat where you have to put on a skit for the other employees in your office, it’s always a good idea to suggest doing a funny song. The rest of your group will get very excited and start work immediately on some clever lyrics. Do not worry about the music part, if you have more than two white males on your team, it is certain that one of them can play the guitar.
Wise man, that Christian Landers.
Anyway, on Kate’s recommendation, I started playing on YouTube watching various Flight of the Conchords videos, and naturally, in the process, I formed crushes on the two singers. (A bearded man and a nerdy guy with glasses? Who both can sing and play the guitar? Sign me up.) All of the videos are entertaining, although sometimes I feel like I’m just not getting the joke (wrong hemisphere, maybe?). The wannabe-peace-loving-hippie-with-a-sense-of-humor in me quite liked this one:
When I become president, this is going to be the foundation of my national security strategy: “If every soldier in the world put down his weapon, picked up a woman, what a peaceful world this world would be.”
I also love this one, “The Most Beautiful Girl in the Room”:
I’d like to think that I’m in the top three most beautiful girls on the street. Depending on the street.
[Posted by Mallory]
So this is a video of Joe Cocker singing his famous version of the Beatles’ “With a Little Help From My Friends”. He is INCREDIBLY high and has to be translated…which is when it gets funny. Please note his “dancing” and air guitar skills. Seriously some of the translations had me laughing out loud.
Can you imagine being one of the backup singers…
“Sounding good, Joe!” “Love the new lyrics!” “Great dance moves!” “Please don’t OD during the middle of this song…”
[Posted by Kathleen]
Filed under celebrities, music, YouTube
Here is Coldplay singer Chris Martin (looking a little too dirrrrrty for my liking but that is easily overlooked…rawr!) during the Today Show yesterday.
I need my bra back, Chris.
[Posted by Kathleen]
Filed under celebrities, crushes, music, six word memoirs
So Saturdays are super slow at the place where I’m receptionist-ing this week, and so they let us watch TV. As a throwback to my middle school days, when I religiously watched every VH1 Top Ten Countdown, I decided to watch some sort of VH1 countdown this morning. And it reminded me of something I’ve been needing to get off my chest: Natasha Bedingfield drives me nuts. Now, I know that everyone is obsessed with “Unwritten” and “Pocketful of Sunshine,” but I think they are crappy, irritating songs, and I’m sick of hearing them on the radio. (It’s like with my friend Anne, who hates the Beatles…if you sort of don’t like something, and then everyone else LOVES it, you’re bound to hate it even more.) Natasha Bedingfield’s songs are made for all-girl a cappella groups and middle schooler’s away messages (today is where your book begins, the rest is still unwritten…OMG LUV my GiRLaS…can’t wait 4 Jason’s party 2nite!), and that’s all. If they stuck to those forums, I would be safe.
And um, since when do the New Kids on the Block have a new song? It was just number one on the countdown, and I had no idea that they were back. I thought one of them was Ricky Martin.
[Posted by Mallory]
Filed under music
Today I heard the song “Meet Virginia” on the radio and was reminded of how much I love it. It’s one of the few songs that I have absolutely loved since it came out; it’s never gotten old. It must have come out when I was still in middle school (like ten years ago…eek), so I think it’s pretty impressive that I’m still digging it. Wikipedia tells me that “Drop of Jupiter” was technically Train’s bigger hit, and I find that surprising, because even though I love that song as well, I think “Meet Virginia” takes the cake. So, boys and girls, let’s take a listen:
I didn’t know that Train looked like that until about five minutes ago. Also, the lyric “her brother is a fine mediator for the President” has always bugged me. Today I had the revelation that the lyrics might be “fine media aide for the President,” which would make more sense to me. I mean I understand what it might mean to be a mediator for the President, but is that even a real job? And if it is, it sounds pretty important, so why can’t the brother loan Virginia some money so she doesn’t have to work in a diner getting hit on by creepy guys? Just saying.
[Editor’s note: It’s in the offical video for this song that Virginia is working in the diner, but of course that video is “no longer available” even though it was JUST AVAILABLE FOR ME. Ahem. Technology, you slay me.]
[Posted by Mallory]
I love Bob Dylan. I can’t say I love him that much more than the average person, because, you know, everyone loves Bob Dylan. I had the chance to see him in concert last summer at Red Rocks with my friend Walsh, and it was the experience of a lifetime. Sure, his singing was so unintelligible that we didn’t know which song he was singing until about halfway through each, but I’m still glad I got to see him perform while he can still form something approaching real words.
But as much as I love good ol’ Bobby D., I just might love his son more. I’ve always thought that the Wallflowers were a little underrated, or at least underappreciated. They won two Grammys for “One Headlight,” and they certainly had a good run, but they didn’t last as long as I would have liked. I’m thrilled to see that Jakob (yep, we’re on a first name basis) has come out with an impressive first solo album. I’m kind of obsessed with “Something Good This Way Comes.” That voice…I think I’m in love. And Wikipedia just told me that Jakob has been married to the same woman for over 15 years, and they have four children whose privacy he works really hard to protect (he works so hard at this that Wikipedia doesn’t even list the names of two of his children. And if Wikipedia doesn’t have it, I don’t think even the Census Bureau does).
I’d been trying to put off writing about Jakob until some sort of official video for “Something Good” was released, but I couldn’t take it anymore, so we’ll have to settle for a bootleg clip from Bonnaroo:
While we’re at it, let’s watch a little old school Wallflowers to complete our fix:
Is there anything better than a Dylan with an acoustic guitar? Anyone want to give me their ticket to Rothbury?
[Posted by Mallory]
Katy Perry kissed a girl, and she liked it! That song is as catchy as “Umbrella” and as tacky as, well, “Umbrella”. I was going to post about how it may be the song of the summer, but upon reading Gawker, I found out some interesting gossip on Katy Perry…or should I say Katy Hudson? GASP! Way more interesting than what I originally had in mind!
Katy Hudson, Katy Perry’s former self, was a Christian rock singer. That’s right, CHRISTIAN rock. Oh sweet irony, you publicity whore! Here is my favorite aspect about the whole thing- she was interviewed by Seventeen Magazine (the magazine for all those under the age of 17 and who wish they were 17. When you are 17, you read Cosmo, duh.) and said some amazing about everyone’s favorite topic–sex.
Katy has a steady boyfriend, but she doesn’t believe in sex before marriage. “I know what it does to people,” she says. “One night my boyfriend and I went a little too far and I felt like I’d fallen so far away from God. I doubted myself and my strength. I was so weak at the time in my relationship with Christ.”
Jesus, Mary and Joseph, that sounds almost as bad as my Catholic guilt! Katy’s steady boyfriend now, by the way, is the lead singer from Gym Class Heroes. I wonder if he feels the same way? He did just give her a promise ring. Please note that a promise ring is not the same as a purity ring, which the Jonas Brothers all wear. Ha, oh Katy! If you repent now, you still could be saved!
Being the good little journalist that I am, I decided to not rely solely on Gawker’s reporting, but do some internet stalking/research of my own. My adventures led me into the world of Christian chat forums (eeeeek!) and even took me to the Web site of the 700 Club (ugggh, I feel dirty and repulsed). Here is what I found though. The Christians are pissed. Sweet, innocent Katy Hudson is now a slootbag! They are disappointed and praying for her. This pastor’s daughter (just like Jessica Simpson! But I bet Katy’s dad doesn’t stare at her boobs) has lost her way. Now, she’s drinking, kissing girls and hanging out with the gays! AHHH!
I feel so torn. My rebellious side wants to applaud her for having a personality and breaking free of the ridiculousness, and the other self-righteous part wants to shun her for being so fake. Dammit, Katy, why do you have to leave us all in purgatory?
Here is Katy before (bland):
Here is Katy now (rawr!):
I Kissed a Girl
Ur So Gay
[Posted by Kathleen]
Filed under celebrities, definitely not politics, music, sex, Uncategorized
Filed under adventures, blogging, dance, music
Courtesty of my friend Madeline, a little reminder of why we are all so obsessed with The Boss:
six words to change the world. 