Nonsense Upon Stilts

I don’t care if it means that I’m ancient, but I cannot get on board with that Ke$ha song “Tik-Tok.” I guess I should have been tipped off by the fact that every time I’ve seen it mentioned online, it isn’t accompanied by an mp3 or video. That’s a sign, right? Even the people whose jobs it is to talk about stuff like this don’t actually want to hear it.

Just to be clear, it’s not that I hate all new music indiscriminately.  I know what I like, but there’s always room in my heart, and on my mp3 player, for some new tunes. I like good pop, and I’m pretty much a lock when it comes to fun party songs. So, even if it didn’t replace “Just Dance” in my heart, it was entirely possible that I wasn’t going to hate “Tik-Tok.”

But the reality is far different (and worse) than what I’d imagined. The song is Autotuned to death, so much so that I have no idea whether Ke$ha can actually sing. I’m not rushing to listen to any of her other songs to find out, either. Plus the lyrics are lazy. As if that wasn’t bad enough, it also features the most insipid, Valley Girl-sounding talk/singing since Moon Unit Zappa (and that was parody; what’s Ke$ha’s excuse?).

I contrast the awful “Tik-Tok” with “How Do You Do,” by Natasha Bedingfield. Why? I’m not going to pretend that these songs have anything in common, but the former is awful and popular, while the latter is good and (at least according Amazon mp3 and iTunes, where it can’t even be purchased) not popular. I heard it the other day while I was at the mall, and was totally blown away by it. I was trying to converse with my friend and still listen to the song at the same time, so that I could memorize the lyrics and buy the song when I got home (that’s right: I’m so old, I BUY my music). I thought that I recognized Bedingfield’s voice, but I wasn’t positive. I googled her name and what I remembered of the lyrics, and came up with nada. I thought that maybe I’d been wrong, but then I remembered the “if you won’t say it, I will” line, and when I gooogled that, I hit the jackpot. It seems that this song was included on an import CD that failed to go far. I’ll have to buy the CD if I want the song, and I’m almost willing to do that.

Anyway, I’m sure that there are people who will prefer “Tik-Tok” to “How Do You Do?” and those who will not like either of them. But just to make it easy for you to form an opinion, I’m including both of the songs below. Neither of these videos are really videos; they’re just the songs.

Now get off my lawn.

1 Comment | In: Music, Seriously? | tags: Ke$ha, Music, Natasha Bedingfield. | #

Happy New Year, everybody! I hope your 2010 is off to a lovely start.

Satanski and I were watching videos online and I realized that I never posted this one. Jason Mraz + Sesame Street = Two great tastes that taste great together. My nephew was really confused as to why Jason Mraz was on Sesame Street, but thought it was cool to see Mraz singing with Elmo and Big Bird.

No Comments | In: Amusing, Awesome, Jason Mraz, Music, Satanski, Things I like | tags: Jason Mraz, Music, Sesame Street. | #

He’s no 3-year-old Korean kid, but Jason Mraz is pretty freaking cute himself.

No Comments | In: Amusing, Jason Mraz, Music | tags: Jason Mraz, MTV, Music, Musicians. | #

This video, which only the Amish and Osama Bin Laden haven’t seen, has only strengthened my desire to have an Asian child. The kid’s talent is undeniable, but for me, the real selling point is the faces that he makes throughout.

Also, as adorable as this is, I’ve seen it a lot in the last several days, so all of those who know of my obsession with Jason Mraz should feel free to cease sending it to me.

No Comments | In: Amusing, Awesome, Jason Mraz, Music, Things I like | tags: Adorable, I'm Yours, Jason Mraz, Music, Ukelele. | #

Between this and this, Orrin Hatch is SO the man!

No Comments | In: Awesome, Government/Law, Music, United States Congress | tags: Carols, Hanukkah, holidays, John Forte, Music, Orrin Hatch. | #

1) I am definitely not going to Rhinebeck. Sad face.

2) Somebody took the space on the bus that I gave up, so I will be getting a refund. Happy face.

3) Brandi Carlile having the Twins is almost as awesome as Jason Mraz having a Toca.

No Comments | In: Brandi Carlile, Concerts, Jason Mraz, Music, Things I like | tags: Brandi Carlile, Jason Mraz, Music. | #

I saw the Beautifiul Small Machines on Tuesday night. They were at Ella Lounge, in the venue’s tiny basement, which was filled with smoke (machine-made, not from cigarettes). We walked in on the tail end of the previous set, which featured a DJ on a MacBook Pro and some guy on a guitar. Pass. One couple was even playing with a light saber-ish thingie that looked cute in the smoke, but kind of made people freak when the beam landed on them. When it landed on me I waved, and the girl scowled. Who knows what that means?

BSM’s set was great. The band seemed to be having a great time, although Bree Sharp got really emotional and said that she thought it would be her last show with the band, which was also going to be getting some new members. What does this mean? She wasn’t clear, and the band’s web sites aren’t elaborating. Bummer!

On Wednesday, I saw Ingrid Michaelson. She was fabulous! I’ve gotten over my confusion from this past summer, and have decided that Jason Mraz is definitely my favorite singer; still, she’s a close second. In my mind, Ingrid Michaelson is actually the female Mraz. She’s a great singer with an amazing voice, she’s funny, she a little hippie-ish, and she talks incessantly between songs. I wasn’t in the mood to be expansive and open-minded and did not end up seeing the opening acts, but she performed for a really long time and I was more than pleased with the quality and amount of music I heard last night.

Also, funnily enough, after I said last week that I wouldn’t recognize former Project Runway contestants if I passed them in the street, who did I pass on the street but Nicholas! Granted, he’s part of the current crop of designers, so I see his mug every week, but it still cracks me up. Look at the power of my mind! Here’s another one: I wouldn’t recognize a million dollars if it landed in my bank account. Okay, universe, it’s your turn again.

1 Comment | In: Amusing, Awesome, Concerts, Ingrid Michaelson, Jason Mraz, Music, Project Runway | tags: Beautiful Small Machines, Bree Sharp, Concerts, Ingrid Michaelson, Jason Mraz, Music, Nicholas Putvinksi, Project Runway. | #

This weekend, Serena Williams and Kanye West both had really public, ugly, meltdowns. They behaved horribly, which both of them later acknowledged. Whether their apologies (Williams; West’s initial apology, and what’s on his web site now) move anybody remains to be seen. With Serena Williams, she hurt herself far more than she did anybody else. Her tirade against the lineswoman cost her match point, a $10,000 fine from the USTA, and put Kim Clijsters in the finals (Clijsters won, which is all kinds of awesome).

For Kanye West, who is no stranger to controversy, this particular episode ended up hurting not only him, but also both Taylor Swift and Beyonce (although Beyonce is a total class act and had Taylor Swift come onstage and redo her acceptance speech).

One (black) woman who I follow on Twitter (she usually writes about tech stuff) posted several comments about how Kanye’s behavior would reflect poorly on black people. I didn’t agree with her assertion then, and I don’t now. When I heard about what he did, I wasn’t worried that we’d all be tarred with the same brush as West; I was just thinking, “Not this stupidity again.” I mean, seriously, how many times can one person wander across stage at an awards show before he determines that it isn’t a good idea?

BUT…Rep Joe Wilson also did the same thing. His was probably even worse though, because he heckled the freaking president. Ummm…not smart. And I haven’t heard anybody say that they feel all white people would do this, just  because one white person did it. If there is an assumption that any person who is in some way other (which in this country usually means non-white and/or non-male) than the norm speaks for everybody in that same demographic, the smart thing to do isn’t to pander to it. That kind of thinking is central to stereotyping and racial profile, and people shouldn’t accept that kind of laziness. Is it naive of me to think that this kind of thinking isn’t common? Do people generally go around thinking “all black people are…?” I really hope not. I’m an individual, and anything I want to say, I can say for myself.

Kanye West does not speak for me.

Serena Williams does not speak for me.

I’m pretty sure that Joe Wilson would not speak to me, and he damn sure doesn’t speak for me.

Related:

Joe Wilson, Serena Williams, and Kanye West Kick Off National Outburst Week

No Comments | In: Barack Obama, Facepalm, Government/Law, Horrible horrible people, Music, Politics, Sports | tags: Joe Wilson, Kanye West, MTV Video Music Awards, Music, Serena Williams, Tennis, VMAs. | #

As I said earlier, I really enjoyed Jason Mraz’s concert on Friday at Mohegan Sun. He really seemed to enjoy himself, and performed for nearly two hours. He did sets on both a large main stage, and then a more intimate acoustic stage. I thought I’d died and gone to aural heaven. It was pretty awesome. I don’t have the set list yet, but I’ll update this post when it’s available. I’m guessing that at least one person in the packed arena taped the concert, so I’m providing a link to Mraz’s 2009 concerts download page. If you’re not familiar with his taping policy, Jason Mraz allows tapers to record and upload every show that he does (provided the venue doesn’t prohibit it), so there are hundreds of his shows available from archive.org.

Mraz 2009 shows // Mraz concerts by year

His energy was amazing. He sang his heart out, and he sounded great. I’ve definitely heard him sound a little worn out or hoarse, and that was not the case this concert. He did a great reggae-influenced version of “The Remedy,” and then did this energetic cover of Lionel Richie’s “All Night Long.” He also performed my new favorite song, “Never Too Late (The Only Life You Can Save).” This version was different from the one he did in England and Ireland, and honestly, I prefer the way I initially heard it. He left out my favorite line, “Be glad to be along for the ride.” I want to say “burn” every time I hear that, and think it would be a shame if it didn’t make the final cut. On the train on the way up, I listened to one of his concerts from 2001, and heard early versions of “The Dreamlife of Rand McNally” and “Better,” and definitely felt that I enjoyed what they became more than what they started out as.

I could not stop smiling and dancing during this concert, and am so glad that I decided to go to it. I’m sorry that I’ll be in California during the rest of his New York and New Jersey concerts, and that I can’t go to the Boston concert I expected to see, but this was such a great concert that I really can’t have too many regrets.

Also: you’ll notice that I finally broke down and made a Jason Mraz category. I figure that if I’m going to talk about him this often, I should just make it clear that ~80% of my music posts are going to somehow involve him.

No Comments | In: Jason Mraz, Music | tags: Concert, Jason Mraz, Live Music, Mohegan Sun, Music. | #

Yesterday’s concert at Mohegan Sun was awesome. Amazing, even. It was definitely in my top 5 Mraz concerts ever. Considering that I’ve been to six of his concerts in less than a year, that’s really saying something. Right now I’m exhausted, so I’m taking myself off to bed soon, but I’ll share a couple of pics.

I’ll go into more detail about the concert in general and Mohegan Sun in the near future.

No Comments | In: Awesome, Jason Mraz, Music | tags: Concerts, Jason Mraz, Music. | #