Ok, peeps.  I was hoping that I could post the new Beastie Boys video for their new single “Make Some Noise” but MTV isn’t allowing anyone to copy the embedding code so to see the new kick ass video go here, to MTV Canada. The video is amazing with cameos  from basically anyone who is anyone.

My favorite thing about the video though is how great the actors nail the mannerisms of the Beastie Boys.  Seth Rogan as Mike D, Danny Mcbride as MCA, and especially Elijah Wood as Ad-Rock.  Its actually quite impressive.

So since I can’t post the new vid, here is the video for Fight for Your Right, for which the new vid is an homage.  Can you believe it has been 25 years since this video came out?  Amazingness.

PS.  I know Ad-Rock is like old and everything now but I still totally love him.  He is on my Lifetime Freebie Five list.

Tanya: LOVE this video. I nominate it for video of the year.

RIP Nate Dogg (1969-2011)

“She’s literally made normal artists and music boring, which bothers me,” Jessie J told OK!.
“It annoys me when people say Leona Lewis is boring. No, she’s not. She’s got a sick voice and being normal is cool,”

So what’s your take on this? Does Lady Gags set the entertainment bar so high that “normal” artists are being left behind?

I can see why normal artists might feel that way. Going on stage before or after someone with a huge stage show, 4,000 costume changes and a larger than life persona could be a little intimidating. But as a music lover and a concert goer myself I’ve gotta say that I like the more authentic artists. Seeing Beyonce, Mariah Carey, Madonna or Lady Gags with a huge stage show and all that jazz would be pretty cool, but seeing them in an intimate acoustic setting would be just as cool. When I get to see any of the artists I love at an intimate venue without thousands of other people is actually my favourite thing. Because I like the music, not the hype.

This whole story kinda reminds me of Rihanna. When she first hit the scene she was a cute little Baha babe that had a bit of a reggae flavour and was super laid back. Then I don’t know if it had to do with discovering herself as an artist, as a person, or just trying to distance herself from the whole Chris Brown/being the victim scenario but she started to get really edgy with her look and it just never seemed genuine and she never seemed to be happy. Now that she’s returning to her roots a bit she just seems to be in a better place. I know this is a totally superficial assessment of Rihanna’s emotional well-being paired with her public persona, but that’s what we do around here.

So, what’s your take? Does Lady Gags make it harder for normal artists because in comparison they are boring, or do you think that’s just in the head of artists and the industry?

Stacey: I would say there is an argument to support that.  I mean, Gags maybe talented but it is completely overshadowed by the theatrics of everything she does.  And in a society when we are completely bombarded by stimulus, it takes so much more for people to take notice than just having a good voice.  There are literally thousands of artists out there with great voices; how do you make yourself stand out?  By being like Lady Gags. 

The other issue seems to be that people seem to equate outrageousness with talent.  So, while Gags is out there being a mediocre singer and dancer, her theatrics are what really draw people to what she is doing.  Honestly.  I hear her stuff on the radio.  The only reason I ever took notice to her music was because of the image she put out there; when she was on the radio, I turned it up because I wanted to hear the person who matched the over the top, outrageous outfits.   Her music is nothing special and was never what grabbed my attention in the first place.

It’s not about the talent anymore, its only about the show.  And soon enough, we will get board of Gags and the next over the top, mildly talented artist will take her spot.  All while thousands of other infitely more talented artists will striggle to try and make it, all because they don’t have that gimic that makes someone famous for their 15 minutes. 

(pic: Socialite Life)

For the record, that is how everyone at Radiohead concerts dance.

So this is the new Lady Gaga song Born This Way.  It’s pretty good right.  The tune gets stuck in your head.

So if you want it right now, make him show you how, Express what he’s got, oh baby ready or not, Express yourself!

What?

Those aren’t the lyrics to this song?  What song am I singing?

Oh right!  Silly me.  I was singing Express Yourself by Madonna.  That must be because this new song is basically a big, fat, giant rip off of Express Yourself.  Seriously.  Listen to it.  It’s like Vouge and Express Yourself wrapped into one song and remodelled for 2011.

For someone who consider herself to be “one of the greatest song writers of the industry” you’d think she would be able to come up with something a little more original.  It’s easy to dole out hits when she is basically copying one of the greatest hit writers and innovators in her industry (Madonna).

Sorry Lady Gaga, but I think you are nothing more than Madonna 2.0.  Except infinitely more annoying and pretentious.  And that is saying something.  I feel sad for the people that look up to you and think you are selling them something that is original.  Because it isn’t.  Hell, it’s not even as good.

I know immitation is supposed to be the sincerest form of flattery but how flattering but jeeper creepers…get your own bit, Lady.

Tanya:Meh. I can’t say I find the song that great. It does sound like Express Yourself, but Madonna knocked that one out the box which makes this one sound super watered down in comparison.

I did hear Lady Gaga’s ‘Telephone’ in a store I was in yesterday and it made me want to break into some kind of choreographed dance routine in the store.

Stacey: Oh, I was being extremely facetious.  I think the song sucks.  Especially in comparison to Express Yourself.

Tanya, I know that we promised that we would never post about the Kardashians again as we are trying to stop the cycle of them constantly being in the media but I really couldn’t resist with this one.

So Kim Kardashian is at a Prince concert and Prince pulls her up on stage and tries to get her to dance with him.  And what does Kim do?  She stands there like she is too cool for school.

Well, I have news for her…she isn’t!

If Prince, PRINCE, pulls you up on stage, I don’t care who the hell you are or who afraid you are or how embarrassed you are, you dance like you have never danced before.  It’s Prince for gawd sake.  PRINCE!  If Prince wants you to dance, you dance!

I’m not going to lie…I’m judging her.

Tanya: Yes. There are few people who you should just blindly follow orders from, but Prince is one of them. And when Prince says dance, you dance! Even if you look like an idiot, you’ll look more like an idiot for not doing it (as evidenced here).

Or should I say, he is trying to be a rapper. Tom Hanks’ son “Chet Haze” (Chester Hanks) with Rita Wilson remade Wiz Khalifa’s “Black and Yellow” called it “White and Purple” which are the colours of his college.

Sometimes it helps to be the kid of a celebrity (I wouldn’t be posting this song if he wasn’t Tom Hanks’ kid) but it can also be a detriment. It’s hard enough to get some cred when you’re a white kid trying to be a rapper, but when you’re Tom Hanks’ white kid trying to be a rapper it’s going to be tougher. Especially when you rap about college. Maybe I’m just old school (or old) and am used to black rappers from the projects, but this kid seems like a wanker. Good luck with the rap thing Chet Haze.

Stacey: I have nothing to say except…who names their kid Chester?

Tanya: I could see Julia Roberts naming her kid Chester. In fact, she was probably pissed when Tom Hanks beat her to it.

(Pic: BeastieBoys.com)

I just happened to stumble across the new Beastie Boys website today.  Its awesome.  Just random things that they love or things they see and feel like sharing with you.  And I felt like I needed to share it with you.

Why?  Well, for obvious reasons.  If you are already a Beastie Boys fan, you know.  And you will get it.  And you will love it. If you aren’t, well, you should be.  Again, for obvious reasons.

Especially this gem of a post by Adam Horovitz, aka Ad-Rock; a list of things that we should buy him for his birthday.  My favorite?  What he wants to use to get to and from the studio.  Of course, right? 

Anyways.  Beastie Boys forever.  Again, for obvious reasons.

Ok.  Maybe not everyone hates Nickelback, I just really wanted to type that because it should be true.

What is true is that some country singer named Miranda Lambert threw a drink in Chad Kroeger’s face because he was being an ass:

A battle broke out at Miranda Lambert’s 27th birthday party at Winners Bar & Grill in Nashville November 10, when the singer refused to do shots with Nickelback frontman Chad Kroeger, 36. “Chad kept persisting, and Miranda said no,” says the witness. “He responded she ‘didn’t have to be a bitch about it.’ Then she grabbed the shot and threw it in his face!” Soon after, Lambert’s fiancée, fellow country star Blake Shelton, 34, jumped in to attack Kroeger. “But people kept Blake away,” says the insider.

I don’t condone violence, but do you know how much money I would pay to watch someone kick that douche bag’s ass?  Tens and tens of dollars, which is a significant amount because not only would I never spend a cent on anything Nickleback has ever put out, I think that Chad Kroeger should have to pay me for having to put up with his crappy band’s music.

I don’t know who Miranda Lambert is but by this single act alone she has become one of my favorite people ever.

Tanya: This story is so awesome because I can totally see it going down. At Cowboys. Probably because I have seen it go down at Cowboys. Guys, if a girl says “no” when you offer her a drink, back off. It might have nothing to do with you and she might just be respecting her limits. Or (as I imagine in this case) it has everything to do with you so you should just leave before you show the whole bar what a douche you are. Guess not enough Alberta girls threw drinks in Chad Kroegar’s face for him to learn that. We should get on that.