Ups and Downs of: Obama On Jimmy Fallon

Quick Update: Lovin’ my GSA Club right now, as we completed some badass sock puppets. Not lovin’ journalism. My co-editor is our only senior, and with graduation only five weeks away has completely checked out. Which is bad, because there’s a couple kids who model after him. Gah.

Song Stuck In My Head: “Where’d You Go?” by Fort Minor. Really pretty song, and I almost forgot about it.

So, this Tuesday night, the President of the friggin’ United States took the time to appear on Late Night With Jimmy Fallon. Not that this is way out of the ordinary - Mitt Romney, even Ron Paul, have made appearances on Jay Leno and co., and first lady Michelle Obama had recently visited Jimmy Fallon and got in a sack race with him.

Of course, President Obama appearing after that huge Secret Service oops and in the midst of the Republican debates, where Romney is already preparing his hate ads, is a pretty big deal.

The interesting thing about this is that politics is going more pop culture. Appealing to the “young people” who don’t vote by invading their territory. Smart move? Not-so-smart? Let’s do this pros and cons style…the UPS AND DOWNS OF OBAMA ON JIMMY FALLON!

Up…Obama kept his cool, talking smoothly as always, making subtle jokes, talking about everything to his college experiences to how he feels about Romney, and calmly explaining himself - doing exactly what a Republican candidate wouldn’t do. (Fun fact: my history class JUST discussed how image and charisma affect a president’s likeability. Like with John F. Kennedy and Richard Nixon).

Down…Fallon basically fangirls his way through the five-part interview, frantic and excited that the President is in his interview chair. But hey, Jimmy’s like that with a lot of his major guests, that’s why I love them.

Up…Mr. President took time to explain a couple of the bills going through congress right now, what they were all about, what exactly they were trying to pass, their deadline, etc. Mostly he discussed student loans, and how if they didn’t act now tuitions would increase in fall. Again. Speaking as a future college-goer…ouch.

Down…this will probably be the only time anyone knows what the heck is going on behind congress’s doors, because no one watches or understands that 24/7 coverage of their meetings. Why can’t we have someone rationally and informally explain politics to us every week? Wouldn’t that make us more informed citizens

Up…in very Jimmy-esque fashion (or Brian Williams fashion, because he does this whenever he’s on the show), Jimmy & the Roots house band sing a slow jam while Obama talks about the student loan bill. Mostly it’s Jimmy saying “Ah yeah”, but it counts.

Down…pleeeease don’t tell me this means Mitt Romney will start (trying to) sing again too. It’s politics. Not Presidential Idol.

Up…as one of the fan’s questions sent in by a tweet, a Tweeter named “Bobo” to be exact, Jimmy Fallon asks Obama if he’s going to legalize pot or what.

Down…Bobo? Really? Because we were clearly going to take that seriously.

Up…a lot of the comments, on Youtube at least, are of citizens who talk about how much they respect (or re-respect) our president, how his ideas are still good, how this proves he can withstand the upcoming campaign. Even citizens who aren’t his biggest fan took advantage of the comments section to intelligently tell Americans to not give up on Ron Paul just yet, that this can still be a great presidential race.

Down…those beautifully written comments usually get drowned out by the less intelligent ones. Very unintelligent ones.

Okay. All for today. Got some blogs to catch up on, so…

Later!

Television Celebrates Television

Quick Update: So for the first time in my life, A in every class - except one. Of course, that “one” is a D. Curse you, Chemistry….But, neverthless, time to catch up with blogs. "T" for "TV"!

Song Stuck In My Head: Beginning of the End by Nine Inch Nails. Having a small NIN renaissance.

So…Fox’s 25th Anniversary Special aired last Sunday. Yep. I watched on it.



Based on how it was advertised, it was a little unclear what to expect. The event was preluded by the nostalgia-heavy first episodes of Married…With Children and the Simpsons, before going into two hours of clips, montages, interviews, and Ryan Seacrest (who’s apparently our only go-to host nowadays).

All considering, the special wasn’t too shabby. It traveled to 1987 and back, brushing over some, spotlighting some. Every type of show was featured, comedies and sports to teen soaps and dating shows. Being part of Generation Syndication, as in the generation that relies on the CW or Netflix to see classic TV shows, I was almost shocked on how many shows originated on everyone’s favorite self-deprecating network. The show was both an educational and entertaining experience for me.

The special had one clear from the start - honoring Fox as the underdog; the weird and risky network with ten failures for every hit; the obnoxious and outrageous little kid in TV who was still fun and heartfelt when it counted.

This was shown at the end of the Simpson's pilot. :)

And believe it not, the angle was well-executed. Hugh Laurie talked about how the unconventional character of Dr. House lasted eight seasons on Fox, but would have only lasted eight weeks elsewhere, or at least been asked to shave or change his profession to cop or something. Or Married’s cast talking about how they prided on being different from every other family sitcom until then, how people connected with the flaws and not the fake perfection.

Fox also showcased its redeeming qualities. For instance, how much of an impact In Living Color had on black comedy, but comedy in general, helping along the careers of the Wayans Brothers and Jim Carrey and so on. Or how cartoons had been kids-only territory, certainly not a night of “Animation Domination” or its own universe on Cartoon Network’s “Adult Swim”. Even how American Idol’s losers were winners, remembering Chris Daughtry’s elimination, Jennifer Hudson’s final song, and Adam Lambert hugging the winner, Kris Allen.

And the best part of the show, by far? You know those montages at the Oscars that highlight moments that tell you what the movie is all about, then take a moment and focus on a single scene, that stand-out scene, etc? Well, take that, now times it by about hundred or so.

 

 Between scenes, they'd go to the "banquet tables" where the Simpson's, Bob's Burgers, American Dad, 

Family Guy, and Cleveland Show cast all hang out and discuss the show so far. 

Zoeey Deschanel even guested as a cartoon character.

Even someone who didn’t grow up with the shows could bask in the awesomeness. The Family Guy FCC episode. Jack Bauer’s trial. That 70’s show pot smoking friends in the basement. Joe Millionare’s big reveal. Kurt Hummel coming out on on Glee. NASCAR’s many, many crashes. Skully and Mulder finally admitting their feelings for each other amid all the alien hunting. Malcolm in the Middle’s Dewey caught smoking, or just older brother Reese discovering a new color when he mixed blue and yellow: Blellow!

It was a very neat two hours. Here is a link to watch it if you haven't yet or are interested. You might need Flash Player or something, but don't ask me, I'm on a public computer. http://www.fox.com/25th-anniversary/full-episodes/14930310/fox-s-25th-anniversary-special

Okay, to survive the rest of Wednesday....

Let's Discuss Sock Puppets

Quick Update: “S” for Sock Puppets. Duh.

Song Stuck In My Head:  "U Got It Bad", American Idol contestant Phillip Phillip's cover of an...Usher song? That's right.

So, my school’s GSA (Gay-Straight Alliance) Club is currently working on an amazing anti-bullying program designed for elementary school kids. And guess what: it’s going to be a puppet show! Woot! We bought the socks, some of the supplies, and made the characters. Now we just need to make those puppets.
And what have I realized? I’ve never made or played with a sock puppet before. Cruel, right? So I can do "research" and blog, why not have a fun anti-blog day again to make up for Saturday's "S" post? Release the sock puppet pictures!

Have a good week everybody! Maybe see you later...or tomorrow... :)

Rock on American Idol?

Quick Update: Today’s Letter R post is brought to you by the words “Rant” and “Rock”. Oh by the way, no Q post because I officially hate that letter. Maybe I'll try it later.

Song Stuck In My Head: “Jar of Hearts” by Christina Perri now.

So it’s finally happened. As of last night, American idol has cut ones of its “rock” contestants. Colton, who sang Paramore and Lady Gaga in a very pop/rock fashion and gained a colossal female fan base, was eliminated during his first time even at risk of elimination. Was Colton really “rock”? Or was he mainstream/pop like a few other winners of the show before him? Because with or without him, AI has been having its most “rock” season so far.

Not that American Idol could ever really pull off rock. The original version of the show IS called “Pop Idol”. The whole point is to produce mainstream, pop singers. However, if they can be pop/(insert-other-genre-here) then even better. Mostly it’s pop/country, like Carrie Underwood or last year’s crooner Scotty McCreery. Or pop/soul, like Fantasia and Reuben Studdard. Or just pop/indie rock, like Kris Allen or David Cook.

However, sometimes AI, and other talent reality shows, play a mean trick: they have a Token Rock Kid. A rough-voiced singer, or two singers at most, who can rock the house, get a lot of fans, but never really…win. Last year we had James Durbin, who since placing in the top five has enjoyed a comfortable niche as a hard rock/post-punk singer. On the first season of the X Factor, there was Josh Kratchik, the lovable rock teddy bear, who came in second. 

The point of the Token Rock Kid is bring a diversity and illusion of actual rock music to the show. Which would be okay, if one of them actually won. Not a cutesy indie rock singer, but a legit rock singer.

Now that we’re in the Top 6 on Idol though, we do have a few rock singers still in the mix. The clear best: Phillip Phillips, the guitar-carrying blues kinda a guy who gets so into his songs that he gets crazy, rock star eyes. And the judges (and audience) know it. Most would think Phillip Phillips wouldn’t belong on a show like AI. After all, the Voice has more his crowd. But then you see him preform, and see how important image and stage presence is to his act. So being on AI has helped him in its own way.

Phillip isn’t alone though. Hanging on the bottom rung of the AI ladder right now is Elise, a singing veteran who went to college for vocal performance and has been in bands and opened for a few well-known figures. She sings with a rough, throaty wildness, and has been compared to Janis Joplin a few times. While Elise is easy to like and clearly talented, it’s her clear insecurity and nerve issues that have yet to give her the fan base she deserves. But she is still a clear rock singer. She almost reminds me of last year’s third place Idol - soul/jazz singer Haley Reinhart.

The other remaining contestants seem to be verging on rock. Young, diva singer Jessica Sanchez adds growls and screams to her performances. Skylar’s spunky and mean country singing has led to her being the country’s next “country/rock” singer. Soul singer, or Mantasia, Joshua has started to add a stage show to his beautiful singing.

In a way, American Idol is trying to get less pop, and more genre-heavy. Hey, if that means more guitar solos, fine by me.

So have you been watching AI? Who’s your favorite on the show right now?

Later.

Rec of the WeeK: The Pretty Reckless "Hit Me Like a Man" EP

Quick Update: On my "P" for "Pretty Reckless" post, which is the only semiprofessional record reviw I've written so far. Getting there, I guess. Oh, and hello new followers E. Regina and Martin A!

Song Stuck In My Head: "Don't Trust Me" by 3oh!3. Remember 3oh!3?

Their fans may be Tumbling teenage girls, but that’s no longer an excuse. THE PRETTY RECKLESS have racked up enough qualifications to make it onto everyone’s playlist. Their pop-tinted grunge debut “Light Me Up” is over with. They’ve toured with Evanescence, Guns N’ Roses, and 30 Seconds to Mars. Cigarette-toting front woman Taylor Momsen is finally legal. And now their second EP, HIT ME LIKE A MAN, is out. TPR are upgrading from a novelty to a force one fan at a time.

From a distance, TPR don’t look their name. Most of the group consists of tough, dark-haired brooders. Then they’re fronted by a young, platinum blonde C lister - model/actress Momsen of Gossip Girl fame. With her smoky eyes, lingerie-esque wardrobe, and occasional tabloid controversy, she’s basically America’s 18-year old crazy sister who ran off with a rock band and who we don’t talk about.

Those who dare to look past the not-so-enticing surface of TPR discover their true merit. Sure, they’re not all fun rave songs, comeback rock heroes, or loveably Indie. Gosh, they don’t even try to hide the bubblegum appeal of their singer, or the clear grunge/70’s influence on them. Why should they?

Nope, TPR are just your average group of misfits who grew up to songs where the singer was a dark yet beloved angel, the lyrics told stories, and the guitar sang the entire song - not just a solo. Misfits who see nothing wrong with the continuing Yesterday’s brand of music. It’s an awkward transition - Vevo’s Ask: Reply video interview with Momsen is enough evidence of that.

But once you hear TPR, it’s a lot easier to look at them. While “Hit Me Like a Man” has only three new tracks, but it’s more than enough.

First the title mix. While “Hit Me Like a Man” the song might not be the most stand-out of TPR’s musical archive, it does have a riff full of enough thrash roots, bass stomping, and pumped up badassery to carry it along. I particularly enjoyed hearing the growth injected into Momsen’s voice, after the two years spent promoting “Light Me Up”.

Don’t go into Hit Me Like a Man expecting controversial lyrics though - despite the title that inspired the EP’s name, it’s about the balance of testosterone and estrogen in a relationship not a statement about abuse. “Hit me like a man…but love me like a woman.” It still does so with spicy, smoldering ‘tude. (However, if you are a fan of the controversial, might I suggest TPR’s “Goin’ Down”, the tale of a girl who kills her cheating beau then confesses and seduces a priest?)

We end with “Cold Blooded”, which tastes like two scoops of bluesy, coffee-house rock with extra throaty vocal syrup. Not quite a ballad, Cold Blooded echoes everything you loved about the twentieth century rock scene in the form of duet between Momsen and guitarist/co-founder Ben Phillips (whose rock n’ roll pipes can only be described as WowzaTheManCanSing).

Not that this is a romantic duet in any way. In fact, I imagine a fuming couple who have no way to actually express their discontent. Instead, they sit on opposite sides of a door, strumming guitars, singing their hurt away. But the splotchy rhythm section of bassist Mark Damon and drummer Jamie Perkins deserve an ovation too - they are, after all, who keep the Blues heavy in this tune.

That said, Cold Blooded could get a tad repetitive after a few listens. And the ending - Momsen and Phillips saying “can’t trust a cold-blooded woman/man” at the same time so their words blend - borders on corny. But in the long run, you’ll remember the atmosphere of this song, not the gimmicks.

In-between the live recordings of previous songs (Light Me Up’s gloomy “Make Me Wanna Die” and hyperactive “Since You’re Gone”) we get “Under the Water”. I knew this was going to be my favorite after I spent about twenty minutes simply replaying the beginning. It’s not just quiet to loud: It’s dead to alive. Young and bruised to matured and recovering.

You don’t even need to read the lyrics. Vocally, the dynamics tell the story with every light-hearted or emotionless syllable. There’s definitely the vibe of a teen girl’s angst-ridden diary throughout this dark, guttural tune. No only does it work, but the youthfulness, the naivety or fall from grace so to speak, keeps it afloat. When Momsen’s warnings of “don’t let the water drag you down” turn to a scream, it’s hard not to care.

Admittedly the guitar and base don’t do great strides, acting more as mellow backdrops than stand-outs. I am however in love with explosive, arena-worthy drumming. Kudos to whoever’s idea it was to throw that in. Minor details, worthy results.

How much will TPR’s next full release be like this? Who knows. With the band about to start a tour with Marilyn Manson, they could take a whole new direction. For now, it’s time for the modern rock genre to give the kids a second glance…don’t let appearances fool you.