Here. CLICK ME I must say that there are no real surprises here, and that I don't agree with more than half of the winners, well actually I barely agree with any of the nominees, but hey who I am to judge, I only make and listen to music for a living.
And any Grammy list that has fuckin Duffy for a winner and not Sara Bareilles is just rubbish.
But Katy Perry performing in a fruit basket was cool I guess.
And finally, no, I didn't watch the show. I never watch the award shows, so you tell me, what were the best performances of the night so I can watch them.
- Earlier this week Steroyd Floyd linked me to the exclusive music video for the upcoming Speed Racer film by those dudes that made the Matrix. The song is a play off the memorable Speed Racer main title entitled "Go Speed Racer Go" performed by Ali Dee and the Deekompressors. The video is a trip in itself, but watch it and see what you think. And if you make it all the way to the end, then you have balls. And what's with the Japanese and Mexican verses? - So Scarlett Johansson has an album coming out soon entitled Anywhere I Lay My Head, featuring a bunch of Tom Waits covers. Her single is called "Falling Down," but the real question is, does anyone really care?
- The release of the highly anticipated Grand Theft Auto IV is only a couple of days away, and gamers everywhere are going BaLlZ to teh WaLLz over this shit. I've never been a huge GTA fan, probably because I never actually owned a PS2 until Guitar Hero (hey all I played was Smash and dota for like 6 years), and the thought of stealing a car and running people over with it wasn't exactly my idea of the coolest thing ever, but I must say that I am pretty excited for this game. The trailer itself makes me wanna jump in and play, and then the inclusion of online multiplayer elements is really intriguing. And yeah I'm getting it for 360 because I want it at release and I want achievements (+1 for Mira Mesa, bunch of 360 owners).
Music's biggest award show aired tonight (and is actually still running on the west coast) and even if this wasn't my personal favorite year for music, there's still quite a few things worth mentioning. The thing I like about The Grammys, and all award shows for that matter, is that it introduces the masses to something that people might have looked over otherwise. Because of the Grammys, some of our favorite artists like Norah Jones and Alicia Keys got the mass attention they needed to really put their careers into high gear, so even if it is just an award that stimulates money for big companies, it does in turn do the public a service by showing them these artists and the amazing work they do.
I know that most readers of this blog are tired of Amy Winehouse and her oh so played out song "Rehab" but man she is an amazing artist. Her work received a ton of acclaim tonight, leaving with Grammys for Best New Artist, Record of the Year, Best Pop Vocal Album, and more. I'd also like to point out that the producer of that album Mark Ronson also won for Best Producer of the Year, and if you haven't heard his work on Back to Black or his own album then you should really check it out. Credit also goes out to Kanye West for wins under Best Rap Song and Best Rap Album. My personal wish was that Justice win for Best Electronic album, but it's okay.
The full list of winners can be found here, now go out there and listen to music.
In an homage to Spinal Tap, the following 11 songs are my favorite tunes to get me goin in the morning. Some of these songs just make me feel like the day is gonna be good or that for some reason, the rest of the day will be better or bigger than the mundane routine that I'm used to. The rest of them are just fucking intense and wake me the up while I'm on my way to school so that I can sit through lecture for a couple hours.
11. Guns N' Roses - Welcome To the Jungle
This song is awesome, the kind of song that makes you wanna kill someone during a football game. The guitar riff that starts the intro is probably one of the most recognizable bits of music to the American ear. Unfortunately, because it's such a great sports song, it's also probably one of the most overplayed songs in stadiums across the country. This is especially annoying when Gilette Stadium is blasting it while the Patriots are running the ball down our throats. A good song nonetheless...
10. KRS One - Step Into a World
BUKU! BUKU!
This is probably KRS One's most recognizable song and what I have to say does little to pay proper tribute to one of hip-hop's finest emcees. But his forceful delivery on a sharp and percussive beat in this song does as good as Folgers in the morning.
9. The Killers - All These Things That I've Done
The Killers are a personal favorite of mine dating back to high school, and this is probably my favorite song of theirs. The solo bass line with the "I've got soul, but I'm not a soldier" mantra is one of my favorite white music moments. The whole song has that "anthem" quality that I look for in a lot of rock songs.
8. Eric B. & Rakim - I Know You Got Soul
This song has one of the most recognizable first lines in hip-hop that you've probably heard in about a million other songs. Rakim just kills it on this song and it's probably my favorite of all of Eric B.'s beats. A realistic sounding drum kit with real fills in a hip-hop song is always a bonus for me.
7. A Tribe Called Quest (w/ Leaders of the New School) - Scenario
"Raow! Raow! Like a dungeon dragon!"
The bass line is just 3 notes but it really makes this song. All the verses are dope but this is probably my favorite Busta Rhymes verse. And for some reason I just want to play basketball after hearing this song, that's how black it makes me feel.
6. Journey - Don't Stop Believing
One of the most recognizable keyboard intros in popular music, that beginning keyboard riff, the guitar solo, and lyrics are all awesome. This song has a way of making you feel like something epic is about to take place, even if you're just on your way to work, or about to eat dinner (Sopranos anyone?). I've decided to put the Zoo cover version up, just as an excuse to highlight Arnel Pineda and Filipino people again.
5. Nirvana - Smells Like Teen Spirit
Vh1's #1 song of the 90's, and probably deservedly so. The opening guitar riff is so awesome. My favorite aspect of this record is the contrast in intensity between the verses and the balls out chorus. The song doesn't just have an anthem quality, it's pretty much the anthem for disgruntled youth everywhere.
4. Jay-Z - Can I Live
"I'd rather die enormous than live dormant that's how we on it"
Jigga's verses are all tight, but the horns on the beat really make the song. Horns on the beat of a rap song always give it a larger than life quality (Roc Boys?) and this song definitely makes me feel like I'm a part of something bigger than myself.
3. Kanye West - Jesus Walks
"I wanna talk to God but we ain't spoke in so long"
If horns make a hip-hop song larger than life, then a choir and strings makes the song truly epic. If I didn't look so stupid, I would do Kanye's Jesus Walk all the way to campus with this song blastin on my iPod. This song pretty much sums up how every young Catholic or Christian feels with so much temptation in the world and conflict in our hearts.
2. The Who - Baba O Riley
"Teenage Wasteland..."
I would say about 75% of the time I always find old school synthesizers to be pretty cheesy in a song. I would also say most of the remaining 25% are songs by The Who. The keyboards on this song are so great and thematic and the synths work as a great drone against the rest of the song. The song was a great fit for the "Invincible" trailer and it's the kind of the song that gives you confidence before a big day.
1. Rick Ross f. Young Jeezy & Jay-Z - Hustlin'(remix)
One thing that all of these songs have in common is a great intro. I pretty much listen to this song just for the intro. The remix is dope because you have two rappers with some of the realest stories in the games rappin' about what they know best. Kat Williams nails his routine on this song, you could do anything whether its walking to school, chillin at the library or flippin burgers at McDonalds and you're gonna feel 10x better about yourself.
So...am I an idiot? Did I leave any of your favorites out? Give me props or shit on me in your comments.
These awards had little to do with the artistic credibility or quality of the choices I’ve made. Moreso, they reflect the things that I helplessly enjoyed throughout the year of 2007, even if I tried not to like them.
Best Poker Player: Me
Wow, what can I say…an unprecedented three wins in a row, not to mention four victories in five games. I was simply unstoppable this year. I really wish I kept that stats site going, but maybe that’s what lifted the jinx and allowed me to go on my streak. Ok sorry, I will now take my own dick out of my mouth.
Best New TV Show: Chuck
Chuck has cool (ok, maybe cheesy) action, sexy girls, comedy, and awesome nerd references. As good as Pushing Daises was, this was the new show I looked forward to most during the new season. It also presents one of the finest examples of the Slave Leia costume ever.
Best Video Game: Rock Band
Don't those guys look cool...
Rock Band singlehandedly changed the way I look at two of my favorite things in the world, music and video games. I’ve bonded with my roommates and my friends for hours upon hours over this game. Time simply gets lost with this shit on. If you’ve seen me rock out on drums during Metallica’s “And Justice For All…” or belt out Radiohead’s “Creep” or attempt to keep up with the crazy solos on The Outlaws’ “Green Grass and High Tides” then you can understand how much I love this game on such a raw level. It brings out a side of me rarely seen and I simply lose myself in the music when I play this game.
Best Song: Buy U a Drank
This song sure as hell isn’t the best song in terms sheer quality and musicianship, but it's the song that will always remind me of 2007. The popular choice right now would maybe be “Crank Dat” as 2007’s hip-hop jam, but I just think this song is so much better. Thanks to Adonis, I know all of the words to this song. And you know you motherfuckers agree that this was the jam when it came on the radio or at the club.
Best Movie: Transformers
Let my preface this by saying that I haven’t seen a lot of the award favorites (or just fan favorites in general) this season and am going only by the movies I saw, which wasn’t very many. But, not since maybe the first time I watched Star Wars (holy shit, I’m a nerd) have I had such a great basic reaction during a movie. I was on the edge of my seat when Bumblebee and Barricade were racing down the street. My heart was pounding when the cars would transform and prepare for battle. I felt the adrenaline rush when Bumblebee was getting towed down the street while he took out Decepticons. I had a boner when Megan Fox opened the hood of the Even Stevens guy’s car. It was a well-made popcorn flick, and overall, a great movie.
I know Nazer has made some pretty valid points about how this movie is seriously lacking in basic movie essentials like plot and character development. But for me, this movie was like that pretty class council girl that bats her eyelashes and the encounter somehow ends with me going “DURH…PRETTY GIRL…ME DUMB…ME BUY 20 FRUIT BARS.” If Transformers was a class council girl, I would have bought all her loaves of Dudley’s bread.
Best Album: Fall Out Boy – Infinity on High
I saved this award for last because I realize that this choice above all will most likely result in me losing any credibility I had in taste. I tried so fucking hard this year to like a CD made by a black person more than I liked this one. I just couldn’t resist its catchy pop rock goodness. God, what the fuck is wrong with me.
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