The Day The Music Died
by Damon Martin
I was in my car today, listening to my iPod while driving to the movies, and put on a play list I made that put all my favorite Seattle bands together. A little known Nirvana track that became popular a few years ago called “You Know You’re Right” popped on and it got me thinking back to April, 1994.
For my fellow grunge-age followers, we grew up on Pearl Jam, Alice in Chains, Soundgarden, and of course Nirvana. We rocked our flannel shirts, and all wanted to move to Seattle. It seemed like everything changed on that spring day in 1994.
I remember I was sitting in my bedroom after school, and I think I was drawing at the time, but I had MTV on in the background. You know, back when MTV used to have music videos on? Anyways, a special report hit the air and Kurt Loder proceeds to tell us all that Kurt Cobain was found dead in Seattle, a victim of an apparent suicide from a gunshot to the head.
When I first started to put together an idea for this post, I put up on my Twitter account asking if people remember where they were when they heard that Kurt Cobain died. I was blown away that within minutes I had a ton of responses from people saying they remember sitting in their 7th grade classroom, to others being in college classrooms, and others driving down the street in their car when the news was announced on the radio.
It was a moment that everyone that loved music back then remembers.
I know at that point in my life I had lost a grandparent, and I’m sure there were other notable celebrities that passed away before that, but this is the first time I remember actually being in mourning for someone that I had never met, never talked to, or ever had any personal interaction with. What Kurt Cobain was able to do was create music that moved us all back then. He created a sound that was unique, even though self-admittedly he’d never call himself a great musician.
I think everyone has those moments in their life that they remember someone monumental in the music industry dying, that personally touched their lives through their songs. For another generation it was February 3, 1959 when Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and the Big Bopper died in a tragic plane crash.
Another generation felt the sting of death on December 8, 1980 when Mark David Chapman unloaded four gunshots into the back and shoulder of former Beatles’ leader John Lennon.
For my generation it was Kurt Cobain.
It was a sad day in my life, and even at 16-years of age I knew that something terribly tragic had just happened. I remember watching in the days that followed the outpouring of fans in Seattle leaving flowers, records, pictures, notes, and anything else they could think of to honor Cobain. This was of course before the internet age so all of our information back then was by television, newspaper or magazines.
Truth be told, at that time and still to this day for all the Seattle bands of that era, Pearl Jam had always been my favorite “grunge” group, but we all had a connection with Nirvana, we all remember Kurt, and Dave, and Krist, and all learned to mosh by listening to “Smells Like Teen Spirit.”
After listening to that song today, I came home and listened to the classic Nirvana “Unplugged” album, and remembered all over again what made Kurt Cobain great. His raspy voice combined with great lyrics (even if they all meant something different to everyone), and an ability to connect with anyone listening to them.
As I write this, I wonder what the music world would have been like if Kurt Cobain wouldn’t have died? I know this for sure. The music would will forever be influenced because Kurt Cobain lived, and that’s something we can all hold onto, especially on days like this when he’s missed.
Amazon.com Widgets
Flashback Friday: Nirvana Unplugged Released on DVD
Nirvana Unplugged was released on DVD for the first time this week. I always feel a little self-conscious around the apartment listening to Nirvana in front of my boyfriend or with the windows down in my car for others to hear. I'm afraid that people can read my thoughts when I'm listening to Nirvana albums because I go back in time in my mind and want to stay there. So, I was I excited that Nirvana/Courtney Love's Estate finally released Unplugged. I had an excuse yesterday to plop down on the couch and watch hours of never-before-seen-footage of Cobain and friends.
Sixteen years ago my parents went out of town for Thanksgiving and I was alone. I used my freedom to drive their Oldsmobile (without my license - badass!) and wait for "Smells Like Teen Spirit" to come on the radio. I remember being fully aware of the fact that I was a dorky, suburban kid listening to my little anthem. Eerily enough, almost two decades later another Bush is President and another war in Iraq rages on. I still have acne and am scrounging up $15 to buy some Nirvana product. At least for today I'm not going to let that embarrass me.
On to the review, I apologize for the mind-numbing nostalgia. (At least I didnt go on my rant about how Kurt Cobain was one of the only huge rock stars in my lifetime that constantly tackled women's issues in public and challenged homophobia and what it is to be "a man.")
Seriously, I'm going to tell you all about Nirvana Unplugged. If I'm going to buy something like an Unplugged on DVD I'm hoping to see some previously un-televised between-song-banter and fiddling around. Nirvana Unplugged delivers on this with a full unedited version and even some rehearsal footage. It's great for the new Nirvana fan but extra satisfying for the former child of the '90s. With my new and improved adult understanding of psychodrama, I get to watch the dynamics of a band falling apart and a self-destructive front man.
Watching Nirvana Unplugged is like watching a really slow, intense poker match full of slight moves and telling glances. Dave Grohl people-pleases from behind the drums, cracking jokes and playing silly beats when things get tense because Kurt is cranky. Krist Novoselic is semi-checked out and seems to be having a hilarious conversation with someone else in his head. Kurt lights up when he goofs around with Pat Smear who hasnt been around the band long enough to start calling Kurt on his bullshit - just a guess.
I forgot how classically handsome Cobain was. He's like Brad Pitt with dirty hair and a Benson and Hedges Ultra Light 100 in his mouth. There are some great little conversations that were cut from the original MTV airing. Kurt laughs when he tells Krist that he was always scared of the TV show Davey and Goliath. Kurt muses that the show was evil and "not Christian at all." Sadly, you can see his heroin jaw in action, something I didnt know to notice back in the good old days. The angry, overgrown baby inside of Cobain is evident as he starts the show with a furrowed brow and the declaration, "This song is off our first record. Most people dont own it."
The in-studio audience might not have known about Bleach. I dont know where they pulled these people in from; which brings me to my least favorite part of the disc; MTV NEWS: BARE WITNESS in the Extras section. The DVD box promises "Interviews from the band and the lucky ones who were there." There are no band interviews anywhere on this disc. There are interviews from the audience members who are confessing pre-show that they hope the surprise guest will be Eddie Vedder. There are annoying packaged interviews with various low-level network people who are talking about how nervous they were that Kurt wasnt playing a lot of hits and bringing the likes of the Meat Puppets to the MTV audience.
Even though I think this disc is a little shoddy -- come on, they had 16 years to make it good -- overall it's a good buy if you get it on sale. It's kind of fun to watch it in hindsight. Kurt really does seem like he's orchestrated his perfect funeral and a few times his eyes seem to reveal, "I'm so outta here." Dave Grohl looks like he's about to jump out from behind the drum set and christen the Foo Fighters right then and there. It's an interesting snapshot in time of a band that appears to be trying to break new ground as well as just get the whole thing over with.
MySpace Events: MTV invites you to: Presidential Candidate Dialogue with John Edwards!
Remember how taboo and controversial MTV used to be? Back in the day groups like the Moral Majority used the sex, drugs and rock and roll regularly appearing on Music Television to demonize youth culture and scare the bejeezus out of easily excitable parents. Hell, Madonnas "Like a Prayer" video caused a complete and total nationwide hissy fit, with its burning crosses, heaving bosoms and black Jesuses. Man, Madonna was hot back then. Mmmmm
Oops, sorry
I digress. The death knell of MTVs rebellious reputation really rang in 1992. Candidates in the Democratic primary, still several years away from the proliferation of 24-hour news channels and desperate for any sort of national attention they could get, looked to MTV as a way to reach out to young voters .
Of course, no one used MTV to greater effect than Bill Clinton, who would later be derisively called the MTV President by conservative pundits and saxophone fans alike. After coming out of nowhere to win the Democratic nomination, Clinton was the first candidate from any party to go on MTV and field questions from viewers in an hour-long town hall style format. Fielding questions ranging from the hard-hitting (what are your opinions on abortion rights?) to the not-so-hard-hitting (Boxers or briefs?), it was a format that Clinton was born to take part in. After his eventual victory, many political scientists pointed to Clintons MTV appearances as a major factor in his electoral success.
For example, during the 1992 election, then-candidate Bill Clinton used both MTV to reach young Americans and the Arsenio Hall talk show to reach African-Americans in south-central Los Angeles and other areas. This was very effective, Professor Jenkins said.
"He had a chance to reach a percentage of the voters he couldn't reach during the evening news," he said. "After Clinton's appearance on MTV, America had the highest voter turnout for 18-to-24-year-olds since 18-year-olds could vote."
Thus, the formula to reach young voters ever since has been to visit MTV early and often. This holds true especially for Democrats, who dont have to worry as much about turning off stodgy old coots (who arent going to vote for them anyway) by appearing in such a skin and sin-friendly environment. Some Republicans, on the other hand, see it as beneath them. Frankly, who can blame them? This is the same network that brought us My Super Sweet 16. For that alone Id have reservations about appearing on the network and Im a liberal Democrat from San Francisco. And don't even get me started on subjecting us to Bam Margera. Assholes. Anyway, MTV ceased to become relevant 10 years ago, so theres no reason politicians need to keep bowing down at the Moonman altar, right?
Tell that to John Edwards. And Hillary Clinton. And Rudy Giuliani. And John McCain. And Chris Dodd. And Barack Obama. And Duncan Hunter (who actually is a presidential candidate too. Really, I looked him up!) They are among a total of 11 presidential candidates from both sides of the aisle who have signed up to participate in Presidential Candidate Dialogues with MTV. This being the internet age, MTV is co-sponsoring these Dialogues with that other twin tower of youth culture erosion: Myspace.com. Be afraid, people. Be very afraid.
MySpace, the countrys most trafficked website, and MTV, the leading global youth brand, today announced details of their first Presidential Candidate Dialogue featuring former Senator John Edwards (http://www.myspace.com/johnedwards). The inaugural event will take place on Thursday, September 27, at 12:00 pm ET on the University of New Hampshire campus an affiliate in mtvUs network of more than 750 colleges and universities and will be moderated by MTV News Correspondents SuChin Pak and Gideon Yago as well as WashingtonPost.com political reporter, Chris Cillizza. Industry-leading pollsters John McLaughlin and Geoffrey Garin will oversee the real-time polling data and audience questions being submitted via MySpaceIM and MTV.com. The kick-off event also marks the first Flektor application integration since its acquisition by Fox Interactive Media in May 2007.
Were providing Americas youth with unprecedented access to the top presidential candidates by empowering them to ask live questions and respond with real time polling tools, said co-founder and CEO of MySpace, Chris DeWolfe. The integration of Flektor will add a new dimension of rapid response and at-home engagement we cant wait to see it all happen live and unfiltered.
For the past 15 years, MTV and Choose or Lose has been the place where young people have gone to ask questions of the candidates and let their voices be heard, said Christina Norman, President of MTV. Through this exciting partnership with MySpace, we are taking the concept of engagement to a new level, allowing every single young person to participate in the Dialogues.
Yep, thats right. Tomorrow at noon EST, MySpace users will be able to see former Senator John Edwards grapple with questions they themselves submitted both prior to the event and live via instant messaging. I personally cannot wait to find out who Edwards plans on putting in his Top 8 should he get elected (I say Bill and Hillary yes, John Kerry no) and whether he would have sex with the candidate above him. Of course, there are also the pressing matters of how many illegal immigrants hell have on his friends list and whether hed like to see my grindcore/emo band, Tears Rusting My Skate Trucks, at Bubbas Crab House in Ypsilanti next Tuesday. Im stoked, dude, heres our flyer.
The candidates, however, may not be so stoked about the, uh
interesting interactive voting system these Dialogues will employ.
For the first time, users at home or anywhere online are empowered to immediately respond to candidate discourse with a new online polling widget powered by Flektor. Online viewers on MySpace.com or MTV.com will be able to access a simple ratings meter to indicate their approval or disapproval of a candidates responses as they watch the Dialogue live with instant results displayed on the screen. A popular vote function will allow viewers to compare their opinions against those of the entire viewing community. Poll results will be available online live during each event and archived for future viewing.
Options for approval ratings include:
I agree
Well argued
Sincere/ authentic
All of the above
Options for disapproval ratings include:
I disagree
Full of bull
Scripted/ canned
All of the above
Should be an adventure. Id like to add the Full of bull rating as a friend!
Subrosa feels old.
Ja Rule a Hater (Of Gays)
Just in case you blew past the headline, here's the the gist.
Rapper Ja Rule recently made a plea to MTV to stop promoting homosexuality in a recent issue of Complex magazine:
That's an understandable point of view. Hey, we are in the mid 1970s here and that kind of -- Whah??? What's that you say? New millenium? Hmmm...
Really, that's what MTV's promoting? Homosexuality? Not shitty music, dysfunctional music-biz families and entitled rich celebs acting like a-holes?
As stunning as that statement is, putting aside his atrociously fucked up worldview... How is he unaware of what making a statement like that will do?
Like, okay, you hate gays, but, honestly, you feel making a statement like that is gonna work out well for you? You haven't seen or perhaps heard about similar scenarios in the news... at all... No? Maybe he hates his career... Maybe he's sick of constantly not being ostracized
As big of an idiot as you'd have to be to make that first statement, in a vacuum, saying it in the year 2007 to a reporter... Yep, it's doubly idiotic. Maybe even twice as much...
We need to go step to Paramount, and ****ing MGM, and all of these other mother****ers thats making all of these movies.
It's like someone approached him and told him "Ja, do you best impression of an uninformed, 85-year old recluse... but with swearing."
We need to go step to MTV and Viacom, and lets talk about all these ****ing shows that they have on MTV that is promoting homosexuality, that my kids cant watch this ****.
Yes, cause if anything is swaying kids to "turn gay," it's the one-dimensional, prancing stereotypes shown on film and in television. Definitely. How about news reports involving gays? Constantly mocked, pummeled, laughed at, chased, thrown from buildings, forced to dress loud... Quite an effective subliminal campaign they're running there...
It's like, if instead of using swords to fight CGI dragons, and showing dudes piloting battleships, the military put out a commercial showing guys getting hazed, waking up at 4 am, eating slop and getting shot at. That's the equivalent of this gay "promotion" going on... Um, no one is enlisting. You're gay or you're not. That's really it. This is not something you should be worrying about.
Dating shows thats showing two guys or two girls in mid-afternoon. Lets talk about **** like that! If thats not ****ing up America, I dont know what is.
I do.
Despite the above, TheCoolerKing is still anti gay comedians and performers who do nothing but talk about being gay.
The VMAskdfjtglneyitkpiwetk/xcv.
Sorry about the title -- I think my head crashed into my computer while thinking back to the show.
So, here's the thing -- I'm old.
And here's why:
I recognized roughly point eight percent of the "musicians" and "actors" appearing on the VMA's last night. And for those of you who had better things to do -- like say, mop your kitchen floors or wax your scrotum -- you missed the following:
1. A big-bellied, dead-eyed, Chriss Angel-coached Britney stumble around on-stage like a zombie.
2. Alicia Keys sing OFF-key in a skin-tight cat-suit which showcased herlet's be frankSHOCKINGLY beefy thighs. Her pear-shape was only to be outdone by Nelly Furtado who closed the show by singing roughly 4 bars of a totally forgettable song.
3. Rihanna remind America that no one knows or cares who she is.
4. Chris Brown rip off Michael Jackson in an electrifyingly awesome way.
5. Seth Rogan and Bill Hader only slightly try to disguise their total disdain for everything and everyone involved in the entire evening.
6. Kid Rock and Tommy Lee get into a full-on fist fight which was the only interesting thing that happened all evening, but sadly wasn't included in the show. See some random camera capture the disappointing brawl here.
7. Dr. Dre reveal that he has the largest trapezius muscles of any man alive.
8. How NOT to produce a televised award show.
This tossed-together, two-hours-I'll-never-get-back snooze-fest made me long for the days of bearded Jim Carreys and angry Fiona Apples and threeway lesbian Madonnas.
Who knew I could be nostalgic for such mediocrity?
Ps: Because I will champion Britney Spears until the day she literally starts letting her three and one-year-old sons smoke cigarettes and wield knives, my personal theory is that her shaky performance was due to her mad-high, unstable boots. Typically, she's done her nude suit-wearing, python-molesting, pigtail-strutting while sporting ever-stable tennis shoes.
Thoughts?
Surprise! Reality TV is Fake.
You might want to sit down for this one. Various sources have been breaking the story in bits and pieces, and it is almost too much for me to process all at once. MTV's reality TV show The Hills, famed for its gritty and real portrayal of the human condition stripped down to its very core, has been unmasked as a phony, fake-ass fraud.
First we have this disturbing item on Page Six, wherein a disgruntled New York diner describes how the show's cast and crew ruined his nice expensive dinner at Da Silvano with their pageant of food-ordering fakery:
It was clear that this show is not a reality show. They took five takes of Lauren ordering dinner. The film crew took over the outside eating area by setting up lights and cameras everywhere. They should go back to California.
OMG NO! Each time Lauren has ordered food on TV in the past, I thought I was watching, in immediate real time, a human female embroiled in the throes of that ever-burning question: the chicken or the steak? The wrong choice could cost her everything. But now that I know that crucial moment of choice is not even shown in the final cut, the show has lost all of its value to me. Perhaps they even scripted the choice in the first place based on focus groups and market analysis. Up yours, existentialism.
Then we have the revelation that Heidi Montag and Spencer Pratt's ring and engagement may both be fake! First, the ring. [Insert "now she's got something to go with her fake tits" joke here]. It was purchased with a borrowed (from Brody Jenner) credit card from the Ice Accessory store, which is apparently only a small step up from sparkly headband wonderland Claire's. It appeared to be quite the formidable rock, until TMZ's "sources" spoiled the fun by saying that
the pink diamond is really a lavender, lemon amethyst! The ring is surrounded by diamonds and the ring retails for $2,890!
Only $2,890? And you had to borrow a credit card to buy it? I guess being a D-list reality TV star isn't as lucrative as I thought. Be warned, bra: Heidi Montag don't want no scrubs. Go start a fistfight with Paris Hilton or something. I guarantee your stock will rise.
Then we have the report from Radar that the two fucked up in an EW interview and said this:
We can't wait to see how they edit that.... We would get engaged, we just wouldn't do it on Lauren's show.
Then they started going on the radio and claiming they were engaged, and that they might even do a spin-off reality show about their wedding. Head explody!
Seriously, folks. This shit is so hyper-meta-fake that it makes me question the concept of reality itself. Is anything real? Am I secretly a robot? What if it's all a dream, man? I appreciate apocalyptic LA postmodernism as much as the next English major asshole, but enough is enough. I propose a return to those openly fake shows of the past, in which "actors" were shown "playing characters" other than themselves, with the occasional awkward cameo from a celebrity famous for actual things he or she had done. I know some of you are too young to remember, but those shows were actually pretty good. And they didn't frighten me nearly so much.
Democrats Gaining Ground
Among the youth, that is. Or so they say, anyway.
Young Americans are more likely than the general public to favor a government-run universal health care insurance system, an open-door policy on immigration and the legalization of gay marriage, according to a New York Times/CBS News/MTV poll. The poll also found that they are more likely to say the war in Iraq is heading to a successful conclusion.
The poll offers a snapshot of a group whose energy and idealism have always been as alluring to politicians as its scattered focus and shifting interests have been frustrating. It found that substantially more Americans ages 17 to 29 than four years ago are paying attention to the presidential race. But they appeared to be really familiar with only two of the candidates, Senators Barack Obama and Hillary Rodham Clinton, both Democrats.
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They have continued a long-term drift away from the Republican Party.
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More than half of Americans ages 17 to 29 54 percent say they intend to vote for a Democrat for president in 2008. They share with the public at large a negative view of President Bush, who has a 28 percent approval rating with this group, and of the Republican Party. They hold a markedly more positive view of Democrats than they do of Republicans.
Energy and idealism are wonderful things, arent they? Its important to note however that this was a poll conducted in part by MTV. So respondents could have thought they were asking about Dances From The Hood, not whether Democrats were good. Im sure it happens all the time.
Still, I know that you crazy kids in the 18-29 range are going to say. Youre gonna be all like Yo! Da Young Onez alwayez be reppin the Demz since back in the day. Recognize. Well, thats true, uh
homeslices. The young have tended to favor Democrats over the past 50 years. But to pre-empt any of you from posting that idiotic Churchill quote, the preference for Democrats among the youth hasnt always been so strong.
Among this age group, Mr. Bushs job approval rating after the attacks of Sept. 11 was more than 80 percent. Over the course of the next three years, it drifted downward leading into the presidential election of 2004, when 4 of 10 young Americans said they approved how Mr. Bush was handling his job.
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Over the last half century, the youth vote has more often than not gone with the Democratic candidate for president, though with some notable exceptions. In 1984, Ronald Reagan won his second term as president by capturing 59 percent of the youth vote, according to exit polls, and the first President George Bush won in 1988 with 52 percent of that vote. This age group, however, has supported Democratic presidential candidates in every election since.
The percentage of young voters who identified themselves as Republican grew steadily during the Reagan administration, and reached a high of 37 percent in 1989. That number has declined ever since, and is now at 25 percent.
While this sort of issue polling must be encouraging for Democrats, its real utility in a non-election year is sure to be limited. On the other hand, Im sure theyre causing the already-jittery folks on the right side of the aisle some pause, if for no other reason than it seems like the youth voters may be learning from their past mistakes.
[T]he survey also found that this generation of Americans is not cynical: 77 percent said they thought the votes of their generation would have a great bearing on who became the next president.
By any measure, the poll suggests that young Americans are anything but apathetic about the presidential election. Fifty-eight percent said they were paying attention to the campaign. By contrast, at this point in the 2004 presidential campaign, 35 percent of 18-to-29-year-olds said they were paying a lot or some attention to the campaign.
In reading the source article, the above was the statistic that jumped out at me the most. I can only assume that the evolving presence of the internet and the near ubiquity of political commentary (even on titty websites!) that takes place on it* has at least some part to play in such a seismic shift in the numbers of young folks paying attention. Or it could just be people really really looking forward to getting W out of office. Regardless, increased participation amongst youth voters (and lets be frank, it cant get much worse) can only be a good thing for democracy, even if its a bad thing for Republicans.
*In other words, Subrosa is totally taking credit for this. All of it.
YouTube: Now with .01 Percent Less Entertainment!
Remember when Google bought YouTube, media analysts called the move risky because of YouTubes shaky relationship with copyright laws? Everybody was worried for, like, a minute and then watched a bunch of Wonder Showzen clips on YouTube and forgot the whole thing ever happened.
Well, while we were laughing, apparently a lot of shit went down behind the scenes.
On Friday, massive media conglomerate Viacom demanded that YouTube remove all Viacom-related content from the site. Its more or less the endgame in a protracted legal battle between Viacom and YouTubes parent company, Google.
Since Viacom owns MTV, MTV2 and Comedy Central, that means a lot of extremely YouTube-friendly content The Daily Show, The Colbert Report, Wonder Showzen, Jackass, South Park and more needs to be off the site. Of course, because YouTubes content is user-driven, the clips can be reposted. The chaotic nature of user-submitted content seems to ensure somethings going to slip by.
As a result, YouTubes lawyers have evidently declared a gangland war against purported Viacom theft. Theres already been random shrapnel in this intellectual property drive-by; a Massachusetts man was threatened with legal action for posting a video on YouTube called Sunday nite dinner at Redbones in Somerville, Mass. According to the letter he received, the video, concerning a group of friends having dinner, infringed on Viacom international.
Viacom isnt the first group to reclaim their intellectual property from YouTube Time Warner, Universal Music and others have threatened to sue YouTube, and News Corp recently subpoenaed YouTube for names of people who uploaded Simpsons and 24 clips Viacom has been the most consistent pain in YouTubes ass.
Last November, under orders from Viacom, YouTube pulled its Comedy Central clips. A week later, with little explanation, the clips returned. That same month, the CBS network announced that YouTube clips of David Letterman had drawn more viewers to the show.
Its weird that an institution as unhip as the Tiffany network, the home of Walker, Texas Ranger, would be as cool about YouTube and Viacom, which owns youth-tastic entertainment outlets Comedy Central and MTV (Incidentally, Viacom and CBS used to be the same company until splitting in 2005). Weirder still is how Viacom shows, notably The Colbert Report, embraces web-driven audience interactivity. Also weird is how Viacom owns iFilm.com, which was the biggest viral video game in town until YouTube.
Viacom must have some larger strategy at work. Theyre at risk of alienating their core audiences of twitchy internet nerds. Also, they must realize how statistically insignificant their YouTube contributions are. News reports say YouTube needs to take down 100,000 clips because of Viacoms orders. YouTube has over 70 million videos. Colberts cool and all, but theres a lot of other shit out there.
Rolling Stone Gathers No Moss, and No Audience
When it comes to magazines, Rolling Stone used to conjure romanticized notions of rock and roll journalism at its finest. For decades after its inception in 1967, the San Francisco based magazine was the definitive publication for rousing commentary on music and politics. Today, however, mentioning the name usually results in rolled eyes and a few quips bemoaning the current saccharine-pop-culture direction the mags content has taken. Indeed, it seems the best years of Rolling Stone are behind it. Case in point: MTVs upcoming reality series, Im With Rolling Stone.
The series, which debuts on the network January 7, chronicles a group of wide-eyed contestants all vying to land an internship at the publication under iconic founder and editor, Jann Wenner. Too bad many of the contestants don't know (or don't care) who Wenner is.
Upon recalling how she heard about getting on the show, 26-year-old Tika Milan says, "Jann Wenner calls, and I didn't know who he was. My friend was like, 'Some guy named Han just called you.' So I had no idea who this guy was. And he goes, 'Yo, congratulations. We picked you! Can't wait to meet you!'"
[Another contestant] 26-year-old Russell Morse confesses, somewhat incoherently, to being underwhelmed by the Rolling Stone offices: "I guess I had this romantic idea in my head of people under their desks shooting heroin in their eyeballs, like, 'Whoa they must be on a deadline.' Which is not very realistic 'cause they actually manage to put out a magazine every two weeks. I got in there, like, 'Man, it's looking like Enron in here.' But it's a newsroom like any other newsroom." He's crystal clear on one thing: "I guess at a certain point, what would make me a good Rolling Stone employee would not make me a good subject of a television show."
Another Almost Famous this is not.
Tragic Baby Birth for Run-DMC's Rev and His Wife
Run-DMC's Reverend Run (aka Joseph Simmons) and his wife are mourning the loss of their baby girl, who was pronounced dead shortly after her birth.
Simmons... was at Valley Hospital in Ridgewood New Jersey Tuesday for the birth of his child. Doctors delivered the baby via C-section, revealing a cruel twist of fate -- the baby girl was born with organs outside the body. The newborn died a short time later.
MTV camera crews were reportedly at the hospital to capture the birth for the Revs reality show Runs House. Heres hoping that they werent in the delivery room and, if they were, that the footage stays the hell off of TV.
Deepest condolences to the Run family.
The Rev and his wife, Justine
MTV Buys Harmonix. Is Guitar Hero Ruined?
When Activision bought Guitar Hero publisher Red Octane earlier this year, Guitar Hero geeks rejoiced; the purchase meant more money and development power for Red Octane, and that meant more frequent releases and updates for us.
The announcement today that MTV has purchased Harmonix -- the other half of the Guitar Hero team -- is not eliciting the same throwing of goats and rocking out of star power.
Harmonix deserves the money, no one will dispute that, but the acquisition is certainly worrying. Part of the reason Harmonix has been able to get away with dumping obscure, yet appreciated and known, songs and artists into their Guitar Hero games comes from their independence from the mainstream, but aligning themselves with MTV is essentially the polar opposite.
On one hand, MTV's resources could allow Harmonix to truly blossom as a studio. The darker, more cynical hand, however, believes Harmonix will be forced into promoting MTV's band-of-the-minute. Now That's What I Call Punk Pop: Guitar Hero Edition, featuring Fall Out Boy, The Audition and Panic! At The Disco --- coming soon? Tears are rolling already.
MTV hasn't done anything good for music or popular culture in over a decade, so there is legitimate cause for concern, but Harmonix is just one half of the creative team, so there's a very good chance that the cash infusion and legitimacy (within the mainstream, and with the damn kids today) that MTV brings to the game will help future releases, while the involvement of Red Octane, Activision, and -- oh yeah, the creative people at Harmonix who love this game as much as the players do -- will prevent the same people who ruined MTV from ruining Guitar Hero.
Highs and Lows at the VMA's
We get it: Sexy's back. But apparently so is Velvet Goldmine-meets-Flock of Seagulls hair, rocked by warbly Best Video winners Panic! at the Disco and their best friends, Viewers' Choice toppers Fall Out Boy.
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The 2006 VMA's began with a tired, half-hearted opening by host Jack Black. But the evening really got started with the pop-and-lock, falsetto stylings of Justin Timberlake and his single SexyBack. This gave way to more sexed-up performances by audience favorite Beyonce and high class belly dancer Shakira. Opting for a more reserved style, Christina Aguilera emoted through a sleek performance of her new ballad Hurt.
But for all the pomp and circumstance, the night did not come off without a glitch. The show was full of poor camera work and clumsy wireless mic handoffs, and the complicated runway stage proved confusing for a number of performers and winners alike. The awkward backstage cutaways pulled back the proverbial curtain to reveal little more than chaos and confusion. Jack Black was utterly useless as host, frolicking with buddy Kyle Gass and stealing lines from Lil' Kim before she had the chance to use them. When a random crasher stole a mic from winners Panic! at the Disco, he used his choice platform to give a shout-out to rapper Remy Ma and announce, "MTV never gave me my own show!" Outside the venue, rapper Mos Def was arrested for disorderly conduct when he attempted to perform on a flatbed truck on Sixth Ave.
The real highlights of the evening - at least for us cool kids - had to be the intro/outro use of Jack White and his Raconteurs and Lou Reed flying the flag for real rock music.
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In a night that featured everything from the nard-punching cast of Jackass (kept in long shot to for decency's sake) to a typically wooden Al Gore reminding us why more people werent wooed by his stage presence back in 2000, the series of underdog winners ultimately pulled through to prove that a video no longer needs airtime to win a moon man. For a full list of winners, go here.
Video Music Awards Airing Live Tonight
Tonight's the night, at least for those of us who remember a simpler time, when music videos actually appeared on Music Television. Starting at 8pm (live on the East Coast, tape delayed for the rest of us unlucky bastards), you can watch more video clips than you'll see on MTV for the next 365 or so days, along with live performances by Sarah Silverman, Justin Timberlake, Shakira and the Killers, among others. And since the network is celebrating its 25th anniversary, this year's show - hosted by Jack Black - promises to be especially cliptastic!
Video of the Year:
Christina Aguilera "Ain't No Other Man"
Red Hot Chili Peppers "Dani California"
Madonna "Hung Up"
Shakira featuring Wyclef Jean "Hips Don't Lie"
Panic! At The Disco "I Write Sins Not Tragedies"
Best Male Video:
Busta Rhymes featuring Mary J. Blige, Rah Digga, Missy Elliott, Lloyd
Banks, Papoose & DMX "Touch It (Remix)"
Nick Lachey "What's Left Of Me"
James Blunt "You're Beautiful"
T.I. "What You Know"
Kanye West featuring Jamie Foxx "Gold Digger"
Best Female Video:
Christina Aguilera "Ain't No Other Man"
Nelly Furtado featuring Timbaland "Promiscuous"
Kelly Clarkson "Because of You"
Shakira featuring Wyclef Jean "Hips Don't Lie"
Madonna "Hung Up"
Best Group Video:
All-American Rejects "Move Along"
Panic! At The Disco "I Write Sins Not Tragedies"
Fall Out Boy "Dance, Dance"
Red Hot Chili Peppers "Dani California"
Gnarls Barkley "Crazy"
Best Rap Video:
50 Cent "Window Shopper"
T.I. "What You Know"
Busta Rhymes featuring Mary J. Blige, Rah Digga, Missy Elliott, Lloyd Banks, Papoose & DMX "Touch It (Remix)"
Yung Joc featuring Nitty "It's Goin' Down"
Chamillionaire featuring Krayzie Bone "Ridin'"
Best R&B Video:
Beyonce featuring Slim Thug & Bun B "Check On It (Pink Panther)"
Mariah Carey "Shake It Off"
Chris Brown "Yo (Excuse Me Miss)"
Mary J. Blige "Be Without You"
Jamie Foxx featuring Ludacris "Unpredictable"
Best Hip Hop Video:
Black Eyed Peas "My Humps"
Kanye West featuring Jamie Foxx "Gold Digger"
Common "Testify"
Three 6 Mafia "Stay Fly"
Daddy Yankee "Rompe"
Best Dance Video:
Madonna "Hung Up"
Sean Paul "Temperature"
Nelly Furtado featuring Timbaland "Promiscuous"
Shakira featuring Wyclef Jean "Hips Don't Lie"
Pussycat Dolls featuring Snoop Dogg "Buttons"
Best Rock Video:
30 Seconds To Mars "The Kill"
Panic! At The Disco "I Write Sins Not Tragedies"
A.F.I. "Miss Murder"
Red Hot Chili Peppers "Dani California"
Green Day "Wake Me Up When September Ends"
Best Pop Video:
Christina Aguilera "Ain't No Other Man"
Pink "Stupid Girls"
Madonna "Hung Up"
Shakira featuring Wyclef Jean "Hips Don't Lie"
Nelly Furtado featuring Timbaland "Promiscuous"
Best New Artist in a Video:
Angels And Airwaves "The Adventure"
James Blunt "You're Beautiful"
Avenged Sevenfold "Bat Country"
Panic! At The Disco "I Write Sins Not Tragedies"
Chris Brown featuring Juelz Santana "Run It"
Rihanna "S.O.S."
Viewer's Choice:
Chris Brown featuring Juelz Santana "Run It"
Rihanna "S.O.S."
Fall Out Boy "Dance, Dance"
Shakira featuring Wyclef Jean "Hips Don't Lie"
Kelly Clarkson "Because of You"
Outkast Officially Still Not Broken Up, Still Not on Oprah
Andre 3000 guarantees that Outkast is still together. Trying to finally put the noisome rumors to rest, Dre told MTV that though Big Boi and Andre's schedules are completely incompatible, the band is still together. And despite the fact that Big Boi calls him occasionally to ask him about internet headlines of a breakup, there's no truth to the rumors. 3000:
"Yesterday I got a phone call from Big Boi and he said that on some hip-hop Web sites that the headlines were reading something to the effect of, 'It's Official: Outkast Is Broken Up,' or something like that," Andre said. "And man, we're looking at it like, where is this shit coming from? I was on 'TRL' today to release a new video, and I meant to say something [about the situation] on the air. But the way they had the questions set up, I didn't have a chance to do it."
Apparently, word on the street is much the same as online:
"Niggas hit me in the street like, 'Yeah man, I heard the bad news. Sorry to hear about that,' " Andre continued. "I'm like 'Man, what are you talking about?' Everything is still tight, most definitely."
... you know, as long as they're not in the same room together...
Despite the fact that the two do not perform together, and with dual solo videos scheduled to promote the Idlewild soundtrack, in addition to a cancelled appearance on Oprah, Andre says its all just scheduling conflicts. I say if you don't go on Oprah something is up. You can make time for Oprah.
There are no plans for the two to perform together again, either. Andre again:
"But that's not even new news," he said of his lack of interest in performing live. All that has been going on for years. ... Big Boi knows I'm in no position to be thinking about hitting the stage. ... I'm just more focused on producing and writing like I been doing and staying in the studio."
If, however, the next single from the Idlewild soundtrack were to be "Hollywood Divorce" which features Snoop and Lil' Wayne, then you'll see Outkast reunited for the video.
As for music for the sake of music, so to speak, Dre says there is still potential for an official studio album from the duo:
"We're holding it under wraps," is all he would say. "We want to keep it on the low so expectations won't be a certain way. But we're still doing music."
No word on whether the writing is a collaborative effort or separate à la Speakerboxx/The Love Below.
I'm not forgetting that the two are in fact together quite a bit in a little movie called Idlewild, coming soon to theaters everywhere:
August 25th.
MTV Turns 25: Remembering When Video Killed the Radio Star
This week, MTV is celebrating its quarter-century birthday, bringing back fond memories for many of us. Like when the channel actually played videos.
In recognition of its history, MTV is doing... nothing. Perhaps trying not to highlight how far the channel has strayed from its "music television" roots, MTV is downplaying the milestone. Or it doesnt want its 12- to 18-year-old viewers to realize MTV is, you know, old.
However, other media outlets are taking a stroll down memory lane, with at least a couple newspapers putting together "greatest hits" lists. Some MTV milestones:
Aug. 1, 1981 - The birth of MTV
The day that started it all.
Dec. 2, 1983 - Thriller
Michael Jackson unveils his 14-minute music video with a movie-style budget and effects. Who can forget that hands-up swivel dance of the undead or Michael turning into a werewolf? Still not as scary as what he later turned into.
Sept. 14, 1984 - Like a virgin
Madonna writhes onstage in a wedding dress at MTV's inaugural Video Music Awards. A moment that still holds up and ushered in Madonnas reign as the queen of the medium.
Spring 1985 Spring break
MTV kicks off its spring break coverage, allowing most of us to enjoy the sun-baked, bikini-clad hijinks from the comfort of our sofas.
Aug. 6, 1988 - Kick out the jams
Yo! MTV Raps debuts, introducing the hip-hop movement to suburban white boys. A landmark program, it also shares the blame for giving us wannabe gangsta poseurs like Vanilla Ice, Kevin Federline, et al.
Sept. 5, 1991 - Pee-wees return to MTV
After being busted for masturbating in an adult theater, Paul Reubens makes his first public appearance as Pee-wee Herman at the Video Music Awards. Opening line: Heard any good jokes lately? It was his last outing as Pee-wee.
May 21, 1992 - The Real World
The Real World debuts. Through high points (Pedro) and low (pretty much the past six seasons), the show launched a new format that would later be copied by network TV.
April 20, 1993 - Clinton gets personal
President Bill Clinton answers the age-old "boxers or briefs" question. The answer: briefs. At the time, we thought that was the most we'd ever know about a sitting president's proclivities. Little did we know.
Nov. 18, 1993 - Nirvana stripped
Nirvana goes acoustic on MTV Unplugged. A spare, beautiful performance that was taped less than a year before Kurt Cobains suicide.
March 24, 199 - Heh, heh
Beavis and Butthead take to the airwaves and, for a couple years, take over the world.
Sept. 9, 1999 - Diana and Lil' Kim get frisky
Lil Kim shows up at the VMAs with a boob exposed and Diana Ross cops a feel.
Oct. 1, 2000 - Don't try this at home
Jackass port-a-potty episode holds a special place in people's hearts.
July 19, 2001 - Mariah goes nutty
Mariah comes onto TRL pushing an ice cream cart and has a meltdown. She's later hospitalized for "exhaustion."
March 5, 2002 - Wow, Ozzy's fried
The Osbournes f#$%@g debuts.
Aug. 19, 2003 - Happily ever after
Musical B-listers Nick and Jessica let viewers into their Newlywed lives and extend their fame WAY past their fated 15 minutes.
Aug. 28, 2003 - Madonna kissing Britney
Madonna swaps spit with Britney Spears at the VMAs. What was once viewed as a girl-on-girl passing of the torch has been a kiss of death for Britney. Madonna must be thinking, "I should've kissed Christina instead."
Other moments that rate a mention include: Nipplegate, the Backstreet Boys in Times Square and Eric Clapton unplugged.
Original VJs: Alan Hunter, J.J. Jackson, Martha Quinn, Nina Blackwood, Mark Goodman
Beck Gets Quasi
With Jay-Z's intentions to put the rap game back in a choke hold, it's nice to know that his bid for the crown of reigning rap MC won't go uncontested. Who's got the game to ante up? Beck.
While I wouldn't expect the two to square off on any upcoming episodes of MTV's Yo Mamma, although that would be amazing, Beck has announced that his forthcoming long player brings the hip hop flav'. Well, quasi hip hop flav'.
At this year's Bonnaroo Beck spoke with MTV about his new CD. Still untitled Beck assures a fall release. It was written over the past 30 months, which is surprising considering Guero was released last year. The work is completely mixed and mastered, all that's left is figuring out on which tracks Beck really spits the fire:
"It's all mastered and the artwork's pretty much done," he said. "Nigel and I did about 40 tracks, and we've worked on it for about two and a half years, getting it down to about 20. Now we're trying to squeeze them down even further.
So far "Soldier Jane," "Nausea" and "1,000 BPM" seem to have made the cut. Maybe we'll see some serious B-side action with this one.
Quasi? Yep, apparently producer Nigel Godrich was getting violent on the MPC but Beck still wanted to get intimate with himself. So, that's where things get a little quasi.
Before we started, Nigel said he wanted to do a hip-hop record. And in a way it is, and in a way it isn't. It has hip-hop songs, and my previous work with him was Mutations and Seachange, these sort of introspective records, and so this new one is sort of bringing those two worlds together.
Before you start cleaning out your iPod to make room, you should know that iTunes is not the place to get the next edition. Dust off the CD player, because Beck has decided to get badass with the artwork. This time you'll be able to build your own CD cover, here's the scoop:
"It's a pretty cool concept. It's supposed to be a secret, but I'll let the cat out the bag it's all stickers," he explained. "It's really pretty amazing. The artwork is laid out in stickers, it's modular, the cover is blank and you get a sheet of stickers and you make your own cover."
In more Beck news, Mr. Hanson plans to release a 10th anniversary edition of Odelay!. The double disc set is going to include a bunch of extra B-sides and remixes:
"There's quite a lot of remixes floating around from that era," he observed. "Aphex Twin did one, Mario C. did some, the Dust Brothers did a bunch of them. So I they're going to be on there. 'Deadweight' [from the soundtrack to 1997's 'A Life Less Ordinary'] will be on there.
For those Beck fans who noticed that the anniversary has already passed, Beck's sorry.
I think I blew it.
That's ok.