Party Pilgrim Style

Major Lazer "Keep It Goin' Louder" featuring Nina Sky and Ricky Blaze

Diplo and Switch keep the party going with this ditty.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Beam me up Kewpie

I remember sneaking off to a Bikini Kill concert when I was in high school.  I told my mom I was just hanging out with a friend because she was afraid of concerts (she's an immigrant and thought they always ended in a stampede).  Emily's Sassy Lime and F.Y.P opened the show.  I saw F.Y.P several times after that show because they have a great stage presence (lots of antics involving spit and swallowing microphones).  Here's the "You'll Hear My Voice" video from Todd C. of F.Y.P., Toys That Kill, and Bible Children.  It's set to a Tarako (cod roe) Pasta sauce by Kewpie commercial.  Charmed?  See more Tarako here.  Curious?  Learn more about Kewpie and Tarako here.  Fascinated?  Dress up Tarako here.

Quasi Modo

More music kids.  Quasi is a Portland based band made up of Sam Coomes and Janet Weiss.  I don't know which one is the heart and which one is the soul, but I know they have plenty to share with the world.  This clip is from the Burn to Shine- Portland edition, a project that involves burning down a condemned house after a group of curated local bands play in it.  It's a medley of "Peace and Love" "Beyond the Sky" from the album When the Going Gets Dark.

America the Beautiful

This is a great sketch from French and Saunders about America and it's dream.  Sad, but true.

13 going on 30

30 years later from the performance of the last post comes these two.  One is from Beyonce at the American Music Awards singing and dancing to the song "Single Ladies."  This act is basically the music video created live because I guess everyone loves the special dance moves created for the song.  The next video is from Britney Spears doing "Womanizer" on Good morning America.  I don't think either of these women are particularly talented or captivating.  But, because they are peers and are at the top of the pop music pyramid (dung heap), I think they will be good subjects to illustrate my point.  What's left when you don't have natural talent or a compelling persona?  That's right- hard work.  This great American value accounts for most of the success in this country.  Who cares if someone's work is of quality and brings good to people's lives as long as it make money for a handful of people.  Hard work is really a great virtue that evens the playing field- nonracial affirmative action at its best.  

As much as I think hard work is worthless without the foundation of talent and somewhat overrated, look at the difference between these two performances.  Beyonce is hitting it pretty hard and obviously worked worked her butt off to nail this routine.  I'd have to say the black and white Armani Prive coat and dance panties informing the black and white backup dancer's costumes informing the black and white dancers was pretty smart.  I also liked that the set was only composed of bright lights and a little dance ramp- pretty minimal.  On the other side of the spectrum, you have Britney.  Britney, you definitely have my crazy.  All of the pyrotechnics and circus freaks could not distract you from her lack of energy and apathy while performing her song.  I wonder why she didn't perform a ballad, or come up with a creative show that required little physical activity?  I guess hard work does go pretty far by pop standards.

Sexxxy Nun on the Run

Wow!  I guess Italy has a love affair with Grace Jones.   Here is a duet from Luciano Pavarotti's fundraising concert Pavarotti and Friends.  She looks amazing.  Now thats what I call great taste.

Chaises and tigers and fog! Oh, my!

This is a clip of Grace Jones singing, dancing, and seducing on an Italian television show called Stryx.  This show aired the same year I was born and it is a lot more daring and interesting than anything from a performer in the last two decades (Janet Jackson's nipple was not that intriguing and the performance with Beyonce and Sugarland at the VMAs might run a close second).  I love the set with the chaise lounges, fake fog, animal fur, and live tiger.  It's a really great combo.  Grace is awesome because she really knows how to go for it.

Dress for Less is More

Bravo Ross Dress for Less.  It's so rare in this day and age for companies to have their own jingles written for their commercials.  Its seems that every time you turn on the TV, you hear some indie-pop, rock-pop, or pop-pop song that you are sure to find on MTV.  I'm getting sick of all this cross promotion between the television and record industries.  It's like having the TV and radio on at the same time.  Nic Harcourt is probably behind it in some form or another (he's the music supervisor for 90210).  Between iPod + iTunes and every car commercial ever made in the past few years, we have heard enough catchy songs to fill a iPod 32GB.  

Let's give a round of applause to Ria Faust, advertising manager of Ross Stores, Inc. and Executive Producer Anne Marie Lasher for not being swayed by trends and sticking to their guns and doing it the old fashion way.  If you would like to find out more about the commercial or congratulate her on a job well done, you can contact Ms. Lasher at (310) 203-8400.

   

This revamped new duet version of the jingle is spectacular.

Let's not forget about the slightly older upbeat junior version.

1992

I didn't have cable growing up because my parents were too cheap to subscribe.  I'm not complaining though, because there were many gems on network TV.  For some reason, Americans were horny for flesh and the networks had no problem fulfilling their lustful desires.  I guess it helped that the FCC didn't walk in on them in the middle of their romance.  The Bikini Open had a primetime slot on the weekend and was also used as a filler show after a game until they could get back on schedule with regular programing. 


Bikini Open 2 - Semi Final Round - Laura Howard Winner - For more of the funniest videos, click here

The early 90's was also the heyday of affirmative action and I'm pretty sure in an effort to not look sexist, Bikini Open also featured men.

UNITED States of America

In honor of the last entry, I'd like to present to you Sugarland without all the fanfare.  Pure and unadulterated country.  I love the audience participation.  I really think Sugarland single-handedly paved the way for Obama's win.

I like American Music

In honor of tonight's 2008 edition of the American Music Awards, l'd like to commemorate last year's stunning Sugarland performance with this entry.