Tuesday, February 20, 2007

FAILING MISERABLY AT THE VH1 "WORLD SERIES OF POPULAR CULTURE"

Our team (Big Fun) didn't make it past the first round (the written test) at the Orlando try-outs for the VH1 "World Series of Pop Culture."

I personally did not know Shakira's name was Arabic for "graceful" something or other.

We did get to spend the rest of our evening galivanting through Unviversal Studios' many genre-specific and ethnic-based nightclubs: the Latino club, the reggae club, the Irish pub. I half-expected to stumble on a tavern playing all Greek music and, next, a Japanese massage parlor. Where were the bagpipes? Scottish people party. I'm not going to be sated until every nationality is represented at Universal.

Monday, February 19, 2007

TWO-THIRDS OF THE JAM?

According to this article on Billboard.com,

http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003547305



two-thirds of the legendary late 1970s/early '80s British pop group The Jam (bassist Bruce Foxton and drummer Rick Buckler) are reuniting. The one-third not particpating is lead singer and guitarist Paul Weller - the Jam's principle songwriter.

That's idiotic. Like serving a cafe latte without the coffee.

Any Jam fans out there? Would you pay to see a line-up sans Paul Weller?

LET'S NOT EXHAUST THE BALD THING,

but here is the link to a funny website about bald male celebrities who wear wigs, toupees, hair pieces, and bad comeovers.

http://www.moviestar.nu/articles/baldmoviestarsenglish.html

In short, these famous men -- including Ben Affleck and Ed Norton -- have lost (or are losing) their hair and trying deperately to fool you.

OTHER FAMOUS BALD PEOPLE

The brouhaha over Britney's baldness reminds me of several other chrome-domed celebs, including:

* KOJAK
* SINEAD O' CONNOR
* UNCLE FESTER of "THE ADDAMS FAMILY"
* NATALIE PORTMAN (for her "V FOR VENDATTA" role)
* ex-spouses DEMI MOORE (in "G.I. JANE") and BRUCE WILLIS (all the time)

Sunday, February 18, 2007

ON BRITNEY SPEARS' BALDNESS:

If I hear another newscaster use the kooky pun "Britney Shears" one more time, I'm gonna lose it.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, YOKO ONO

The intrepid Yoko Ono celebrates her 74th birthday today.

Monday, February 12, 2007

QUOTE

"The equation of truth-telling with betrayal is one of the more powerful ways to promote silence."
-bell hooks

Thursday, February 8, 2007

"JAZZONIA" by Langston Hughes (1923)

Oh, silver tree!
Oh, shining rivers of the soul.

In a Harlem cabaret
six long-headed jazzers play.
A dancing girl whose eyes are bold
Lifts high a dress of silken gold.

Oh, singing tree!
Oh, shining rivers of the soul!

Were Eve's eyes
In the first garden
Just a bit too bold?
Was Cleopatra gorgeous
In a gown of gold?

Oh, shining tree!
Oh, silver rivers of the soul!

In a whirling cabaret
six long-headed jazzers play.

ANNA NICOLE SMITH

Reality TV star and former model Anna Nicole Smith was found dead today in a Florida hotel room and I'm more upset than I thought would be about it.

Anna was way too young - just 39 - to die. But it's more than that. Anna was like the super id of celebrities - reckless, daft, inappropriate. She was from trash and yet she brought herself up to "greatness" (Playboy, Guess, "The Anna Nicole Show"). Anna wasn't white-washed and fancy. She wasn't bred to be a star. She was just a hick who struck it rich and wanted to keep the party going forever.

As much as we were all bemused by Anna's antics - marrying the octegenarian, appearing drunk or drugged on television, the little girl voice, the paternity confusion surrounding her newborn baby girl - we were all rooting for her. Weren't you saddened by the death last summer of her son? I was.

And now I'm sad that Anna's gone.
Because even though I was laughing at her, I got a kick out of her.
Secretly, all along - -

I guess I liked her.

Monday, February 5, 2007

PLEASE SUGGEST A CAPTION-

for this utterly bizarre picture:

http://www.hard-wood.org/pix/siegroy.jpg

MORE MUSIC ON "BUFFY"

"Buffy the Vampire Slayer" made music an integral part of the show from the very first season. Throughout each episode, music is used to express characters' emotions, foreshadow events or just add texture to the tone of an episode.

Many unknown bands were featured on the shows' soundtracks, but from Seasons One to Four, I heard the following:

THE BRIAN JONESTOWN MASSACRE
ASH
ECHOBELLY
SARAH MACLACHLAN
LUSCIOUS JACKSON
THE CURE
MOBY
FASTBALL
NERF HERDER (who also composed and performed the "Buffy" theme song)
LISA LOEB
BLINK 182
a song called "Jodie Foster" by THE PINEHURST KIDS
LOTION
LOU REED
CHER
VERBANA
PATSY CLINE
SUPERGRASS
CRACKER
CREAM
DAVID BOWIE
FATBOY SLIM
BARRY WHITE
CRACKER
THE MUFFS
THE SUNDAYS
SID VICIOUS'S "My Way"

Sunday, February 4, 2007

"BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER" musical notes

I haven't posted in days because I've been sucked into the hellmouth of Sunnydale.

Yes, 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer."

I never watched the show when it was a big hit (or even when it wasn't), but, I recently watched the first three seasons and I'm settling into season four.

Hey, were there a bunch of famous indie rock bands on that show, or what? I've already seen episodes with Cibo Matto, Bif Naked and K's Choice all playing at the The Bronze, Sunnydale's teen hangout. I'm looking forward to the much lauded episodes featuring Aimee Mann and the Breeders (who play the "Buffy" theme song).

(1) Does anyone know the names of some other bands that played the Bronze?

(2) For mega bonus points, what musician did Alyson Hannigan (Willow) date in real life before marrying Alexis Denisof (the fella who played Wesley Wyndam-Pryce, Buffy's "other" watcher)?