The 25 Best Live Performances of 2012

I have embedded the first couple, after that, the link will take you to YouTube, usually for some crappy rip that will be taken down at some point (one of these days content suppliers will realize they should put everything on the internet, montinize it, because people are just going to upload it anyway).



1. Losing My Religion – Michael Stipe and Chris Martin (12-12-12 Concert for Hurricane Sandy Relief)



2. Ronan – Taylor Swift (Stand Up 2 Cancer)



3. Cut Me Some Slack – Paul McCartney, Dave Grohl, Krist Novoselic, and Pat Smear (12-12-12 Concert for Hurricane Sandy Relief)



4. Hallelujah – The Cast of the Voice



5. Gold on the Ceiling / Lonely Boy – The Black Keys with Johnny Depp (2012 MTV Movie Awards)

6. We Found Love / Princess of China / Paradise – Coldplay and Rihanna (2012 Grammy Awards)

7. Beastie Boys Tribute – The Roots, Kid Rock, and Travie McCoy (2012 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony)

8. Call Me Maybe – The Roots, Jimmy Fallon, and Carley Rae Jepsen (Late Night with Jimmy Fallon)

9. Higher Ground – Red Hot Chili Peppers, Ron Wood, Slash, Billy Joe Armstrong, and George Clinton (2012 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony)

10. Rolling in the Deep – Adele (2012 Grammy Awards)

11. Dream On – Amanda Brown (The Voice)

12. Let Yourself Go – Green Day (2012 MTV Video Music Awards)

13. Surfer Girl / Wouldn’t it Be Nice / Good Vibrations – The Beach Boys, Maroon 5, and Foster the People (2012 Grammy Awards)

14. Criminal – Melanie Martinez and Nicholas David (The Voice)

15. Miami 2017 (Seen the Lights Go Out on Broadway) – Billy Joel (12-12-12 Concert for Hurricane Sandy Relief)

16. Crazy – Daryl Hall and Cee-Lo Green (Live From Daryl’s House)

17. Crossroads – Eric Clapton (12-12-12 Concert for Hurricane Sandy Relief)

18. Say Aah – Lindsey Pavao (The Voice)

19. We Are Young – Fun. (2012 MTV Movie Awards)

20. Thinkin’ Bbout You – Frank Ocean (2012 MTV Video Music Awards)

21. Not Even the King – Alicia Keys (Stand Up 2 Cancer)

22. Born to Run – Bruce Springsteen and Jon Bon Jovi (12-12-12 Concert for Hurricane Sandy Relief)

23. I’m Yours – Daryl Hall and Jason Mraz (Live From Daryl’s House)

24. Over You – Cassadee Pope (The Voice)

25. Comfortably Numb – Roger Waters and Eddie Vedder (12-12-12 Concert for Hurricane Sandy Relief)

Let the Games Begins: London 2012

I love the Olympics. I do not care what sport. Yesterday I watched woman’s ping pong, women’s fencing, woman’s soccer, tennis, rowing, swilling, woman’s beach volleyball (where the females were not even wearing bikinis; actually the Australians for some reason wore bikinis over t-shirts), and woman’s handball. Woman’s handball that even featured two foreign teams. And of course I watched every minute of the Opening Ceremonies, all four and a half hours. Here are a couple thoughts on the first two days of the games which is my first in HD (I bought mine just prior to the Winter Olympics two years ago).

- Let’s start off with a negative. Why the frack is Ryan Seacrest on the television? The guy has already ruined music and pop culture, why is he ruining sport. And why if he bringing up foreigner Justin Bieber when talking to Americans? Very few things can get me to tune out the Olympics; he is going to be one.

- As everyone pointed out already, the Queen / James Bond skit was the highlight of the Opening Ceremony. The not so highlight: Paul McCartney bumbling the one billionth performance of Hey Jude.

- You do not equate Olympics with funny, but the Mr. Bean bit managed to be cheesy and extremely funny.

- Call me old, but I did not really get the internet love story despite the great music. Even if when I think nineties British music, The Prodigy probably would not make the top ten. Really, were there any other breakout British bands from that time other than Oasis? And while I am on the internet segment, how dare the British suggest Al Gore did not invent the internet?

- And the winner for best Olympics theme promo for a new NBC show goes to Go On.

- In other ad news, I am already dick of all the political ads.

- I am ready to declare Alex Morgan’s ponytail the second greatest ponytail ever in the history of the world (second only to Lyla Garrity). She is also in the early lead for breakout star of this Olympics. Now if only NBC gives them channel. Yesterday they were stuck on something called NBC Sports (which used to be Vs.) which is not even on my basic cable package.



- If there is one sport I could not bring myself to watch was archery. They just have way too much crap on their bow. It is like those annoying golfers that have club heads the size of their own head. Use just a simple bow and a string, and I will be impressed that you hit a bulls eye.

- The American volleyball team has a member named Destinee Hooker. Seriously. I am too lazy to fact check, but I am pretty sure someone on a season of Rock of Love with Brett Michaels had the same name.

- It is surprising that Bob Costas opening the first prime time night by saying that everything you will be watching will be taped. It is weird they were so upfront about this (although the first couple minutes are the least watch). Sure anyone with half a brain can figure out prime time on the east coast is about 1:00 AM London time.

- John McEnroe did a special interest piece. It is becoming more and clearer the Mayans were right.

I Want My Music Television - 4/18/12

There have been a couple of videos that have caught my eye lately so I thought I’d give them some love since the death of Musical Television left a void for a forum on the art form. If you are interested in buying the video through iTunes, click the title link (where available). If you are interested in buying the song, look for a link in the analysis.

Payphone – Maroon 5 featuring Wiz Khalifa



Lyric Videos are all the rage these days (and we have Adam’s buddy Cee-Lo for that) but Maroon 5 put a new twist on the concept but creating a comic strip with the lyrics as the thought bubbles which is pretty cool. Though I’m am not sure if that is supposed to be Adam Levine or some random dude at the local Abercrombie and Fitch.


My Valentine - Paul McCartney



For his last album, Paul McCartney got Natalie Portman to appear in his video and she is back for another go around for his new album. It is good to be a Beatle. Strangely there are three different versions of the video, one with only Natalie, one with only Johnny Depp but I went with this one that had both because I am an equal opportunity ogler. You’re welcome.


Leave the Lights On – Meiko



I am always a fan of one shot music video and it is interesting how that put a spotlight on Meiko whenever her boyfriend is not touching her (though when I first watched it I was a bit confused because I did not realize the name of the song) but I am not sure I like the disco direction take of the song. Hopefully there are some folksier songs on her upcoming new album.


Disconnected (Acoustic) - Keane



Not really the song I would expect from Keane, they really came close to perfecting the easy listening in the new millennium sound and this is more ethereal than their past work, and I certainly did not expect them to make a horror music video either.

Ma Ma Se, Ma Ma Sa, Ma Ma Ma Coo Sa

Last week Amazon did one of the absurdly cheap daily sales for Thriller and I came to the realization that I never upgraded my cassette tape version to CD so I jumped on the deal (please not as of this writing it is back up to $9.99, which is probably cheaper than what you paid for it on cassette). Thirty years later, yep the Michael Jackson album hits the big 3-0 later this year, it is easy to forget how big the album was but when a great song Baby Be Mine is the least recognizable track on the album, you are doing something right. Seriously, Thriller, which is this month’s induction into the Scooter Hall of Fame, is pack with more hits than most artists’ Greatest Hits albums.

Thriller starts off what remains today one of the great party starters Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’ which will have everyone within ears shot shouting along the ending tribal chanting. And who else but Michael Jackson can make calling you a vegetable sound fun? Jackson was also one of the few people who could recruit a Beatle to sing one of his songs on his album and even battled for a girl’s affection with Paul McCartney on The Girl Is Mine.

And that just the start of the album, then you get to the heart of the album and Thriller, Beat It, and Billie Jean is the musical version of the Murder’s Row. Each song is vastly important in its own way. Billie Jean and it lighting effects because the first music video by a black artist t hit heavy rotation on MTV. Then MTV helped catapult Jackson into legendary status with the fourteen minute movie for Thriller turning the new medium into must see television. And as much as Rihanna and the pop stars tried, Thriller remains the darkest pop song of all time. And of course what better compliant than when Beat It got the “Weird Al” Yankovic treatment? And forget the aging Beatle, Jackson recruited an in his prime Eddie Van Halen to play guitar on the song.

The sneaky great song on the album is Human Nature. The smooth delivery and sythy backing music is almost Yacht Rock and maybe is Michael’s most sampled song in his catalogue. Thriller is really a great rediscovery for those that have yet to upgrade it to your digital library. Hopefully Bad gets the deeply discounted treatment soon because I need to upgrade that also to the digital age in the near future.

We on Award Tour: 2012 Grammy Awards

It seems like the Grammys always get a major chunk of their awards wrong, but in 2011 there was no denying Adele and even with the Grammys track record, it is still no surprised that she hauled in the most awards this year. Here are some other thoughts on the night:

- I am a little shocked that Bruce Springsteen went with the new song that most people won’t even remember by next year instead of a song that highlighted a Clarence Clemmons sax solo.

- Can’t say I was ever a Whitney Houston fan (a grand total of two songs made it on my iPod), but it is also sad to see someone go that quickly and unexpectedly. But once again it shows, just like Whitney said it was: crack is wack. Another example as to never start using the stuff and if you do, it is time to get yourself help.

- Why even bring in LL Cool J as host if his entire monologue consists of a prayer and then shouting out people in the front row?

- It is never a good sign when they mentioned Bruno Mars is up for Album of the Year and I completely forgot he was. Granted the category was always Adele and the four other people since they announced the nominees.

- I can’t believe they actually brought Chris Brown back to the Grammys considering the last time the two were in the same sentence he had to cancel an appearance after brutally beating Rihanna. What’s worse (aside from not even bother to sing) was that he totally ripped off Rihanna’s We Found Love for the song he lip-synced.

- It is nice to see after sporting bad mom hair for the last couple months, Kelly Clarkson decided to actually do something with her hair tonight. Unfortunately she passed on her bad hair to Taylor Swift.

- Couldn’t they just give an entire half an hour block to The Beach Boys? That just did not seem long enough.

- Paul McCartney, Diana Krall and… Joe Walsh?

- It was enough that they were snubbed for Best New Artist, which they should have won, but only sixty seconds for The Civil Wars?

- It is ironic that Taylor Swift performed Mean on the Grammys considering the song was inspired by the critics who had some mean things to say following her performance with Stevie Nicks on the show a couple years ago.

- Katy Perry fooled me; I thought she pulled an Ashlee Simpson, although maybe she should have lip synced because it was pretty poor performance.

- After a year of hearing everyone butchering the song, it is weird hearing a great performance of Rolling in the Deep.

- Bon Iver, your Best New Artist of 2009.

- Roy Orbison’s widow gets mentions in the In Memoriam package but not Jani Lane?

- You really have to be high to enjoy electronic music.

- Can we please end the Nicki Minaj era please? Seriously, did she really work Oh Come All Ye Faithful into her abomination of a performance?

Don't Download These Videos vol. XX

There have been a couple of videos that have caught my eye lately so I though I’d give them some love since the death of Musical Television left a void for a forum on the art form so here they are courtesy of YouTube. I advise you to watch them before you read my reviews if you don’t want me to spoil things. If you are interested in buying the video through iTunes, click the title link (where available, if not the link goes to YouTube where you can watch the video in full screen). If you are interested in buying the song, look for a link in the analysis.


The Game - Common



Common has always been considered one of the most credible rappers around, well, that was until he started showing up in Gap ads and Joss Stone videos. Nice to see all his cozying up to Madison Avenue and the pop crowd hasn’t corrupted his art as The Game stands up with his best with some help from DJ Premier. And you gotta love the black and white ungrounded performance piece for the video.


Do You Know? (The Ping-Pong Song) - Enrique Iglesias



You can chart the relevance of Enrique Iglesias by the co-stars in his videos. He went from Shannon Elizabeth to Jennifer Love Hewitt to Anna Kornakova to Micha Barton. And now he is just resigned to groping just random video hofessionals. But I have to admit I like the whole ping pong gimmick, but they should have made that more pronounced throughout the whole song.


Spies Like Us - Paul McCartney



During my review of the latest album from Paul McCartney (see: Searching for the Time That Went By so Fast), I mentioned that he hasn’t had a legitimate hit during since leaving Wings. Well Monique apparently took offence to that bringing up the theme to the Dan Aykroyd/Chevy Chase film Spies Like Us. I remember the movie to b a classic, but the song, not so much. So I was off to YouTube to see if there was video to listen to the song to give the song a listen and of course it was there (God bless the internets). And after listening to the song I completely stand by my no legitimate hits statement. After hearing this song, feel free to chime in on this debate and keep in mind, this was McCartney’s second highest charting song since leaving Wings.


(Explitive Deleted)hole - Denis Leary
(Despite labeled the “Censored Version” still not very safe for work)



Another old school video, this time to remind you the only summer series worth watching, no not the Flavor of Love rip-off Rock of Love staring the dude from Poison, but Rescue Me starts tonight at 10:00 on FX. And for those that are taping, be warned, much like last season, this episode is set to go long, going until 11:08. As for the song, is it wrong I still laugh when Denis Leary sings, “Sometimes I park in handicapped spaces while handicapped people make handicapped faces” almost fifteen years after I first heard the song?

Searching for the Time That Went By so Fast

Time has not been kind to Paul McCartney. Once the Beatles, for which Paul was the cute one (or so my mom would have me believe) were referred to as that band McCartney was in before Wings. Not only was he above John Lennon in the pecking order of the band, Lennon was actually third in the post-Beatles work. That was until he was shot to death and all that changed. People began to remember the Beatles again and are to this day widely regarded as the greatest band ever and Lennon is now considered the musical mastermind behind the group. And in the almost thirty since Lennon’s death, McCartney hasn’t had a legitimate hit aside when dueting with other artist such as Stevie Wonder and Michael Jackson. What’s worse is now he is mostly known these days as the future ex-husband to a one-legged reality star.

But the lack of hits weren’t because of a lack of trying as he has released eleven albums since leaving Wings. The twelfth being the newly released Memory Almost Full, the first on the new Starbucks Hear Music label after leaving his longtime label EMI. The album comes two years after the critically acclaimed, and publicly ignored, Chaos and Creation in the Backyard. But the man behind that album, Nigel Godrich, best know for producing Radiohead, didn’t return for this go around.

Memory Almost Full starts off with the very spry ditty Dance Tonight that relies heavy on a mandolin and yet still will give you the urge to follow the song’s direction, even if you are listening to it during the day. The rest of the album, despite being listenable, comes off as derivatives of his former self. It’s hard to listen to the dark and haunting Mr. Bellamy and not think of Eleanor Rigby. McCartney is much better when he tries to create something new much with Dance Tonight. Only Mother Knows is a driving rocker that gets the job done (but doesn’t nearly rock as much as Live and Let Die).

Song to Download - Dance Tonight

Memory Almost Full gets a on my Terror Alert Scale.

Don't Download These Videos vol. XVIII

There have been a couple of videos that have caught my eye lately so I though I’d give them some love since the death of Musical Television left a void for a forum on the art form so here they are courtesy of YouTube. I advise you to watch them before you read my reviews if you don’t want me to spoil things. If you are interested in buying the video through iTunes, click the title link (where available, if not the link goes to YouTube where you can watch the video in full screen). If you are interested in buying the song, look for a link in the analysis.


Can’t Tell Me Nothing - Kanye West



As you would expect from a Hype Williams directed video, the visuals are striking. I not sold on the song yet. Not only has Kanye West released two of the best rap albums this decade, you can make an argument he has made two albums that stand up with the best over any genre this decade. But of his new songs he has released this song, also including Classic, are just good, not great. Well the Throw Some D’s Remix was great but in a “Weird Al” kind of way. But we will have to wait until November until we can hear Graduation in full. If you really like the video click the link above the video where you can download Can’t Tell Me Nothing on iTunes for the low, low price of Free.


Dance Tonight - Paul McCartney



Speaking of directors who always have striking visuals, Michel Gondry, best known for his Lego’s inspired clip for The White Stripes, has another great video, this time for Paul McCartney. And maybe taking a cue from Bob Dyan, who put Scarlett Johansson in his latest video, Sir Paul has countered with Natalie Portman. Unfortunately she plays a ghost. Oh well.


Icky Thump - The White Stripes



Speaking of The White Stripes, Jack is back with his, umm, wherever he’s calling Meg these days. And the time apart seemed to do some good because after relying on a full time bass guitar, Jack seems rejuvenated for his main band. Though I’m not sure I really want a thinly veiled political statement from the duo.


Throw it On Me - Timbaland and The Hives



Speaking of, okay, I really can’t tie in Timbaland here (though he does name from Kanye’s Golddigger). But really you can’t go wrong when combining The Hives (remember them, they had the uber-catchy Hate to Say I Told You So a couple years back), comic book cells, and hot WWF chick. But I guess it has been a while since I have watch wresting because I don’t recognized many of these girl, nor did I know it is no longer the WWF. But what is with the “To be continued…” Are we actually going to see more of this? I’m a little skeptical because I am still waiting for the conclusion of that .38 Special video, which sadly has yet to show up on YouTube yet.

We on Award Tour - 2006 Grammy Awards

There is nothing more disturbing than seeing that American Karaoke actually had more viewers. Seriously, people would rather watch amateurs who, if they had any talent at all wouldn’t need a reality show to get a record contract, than see U2 perform? Even the former best karaoker in the land, Kelly Clarkson, performed the first hour. Yeah, America has gone to hell in a hand basket in the past decade, but this has to be one of the saddest indicators yet. But anyways. Here’s my review of the best awards show in recent years, the Grammy's:

- The show starts up with the much hyped duet between Gorillaz and Madonna. Apparently duets these days mean the band plays a song, Madonna shows up at the end, and then quickly goes into her own song sans the cartoons. What a rip off. Plus I really didn’t care to see a 3-D version of the Gorillaz. And weren’t they missing a member? Isn't there an Asian chick in the band? And as much as I railed on the tools that watched American Karaoke, I can understand why anyone would switch the channel after see Madonna in a leotard. Luckily I taped it so I could fast forward.

- Alicia Keys, who won my hottest chick of the night award, came out with Stevie Wonder to give a way too long introduction, but they started to sing Stevie’s song was cool.

- Nicole Kidman was shown in the crowd next to Keith Urban. Interesting post-break up Nicole ends up dating another midget and Tom dates another giant.

- What was with Chris Martin from Coldplay throwing up the Spock hands during Talk?

- The Grammy’s love to do weird back to back performances and tonights was John Legend leading into Sugarland. Legend did a nice jazzier version of Ordinary People with a full band unlike the record where it’s just him and the piano. I was about to fast forward past Sugarland until I heard someone back stage talking through the speakers. Possibly the funniest part of the night. I wonder how fast that guy got fired.

- Seriously, people would rather watch American Karaoke than U2? Someone really needs to explain this to me. Way too much smoke during Vertigo though. It was funny when Mary J. Blige tried to hold Bono’s hand while he was trying to play guitar. The ending with “Coexist” on the screen was great with the Crescent Moon replacing the “C,” Star of David replacing the “X,” and the cross replacing the “T.”

- Worst dressed of the night had to go to Kanye West with the white gloves, shirt open to the navel and the Kool Moe Dee glasses.

- Wait, maybe that should go to Ben Rothertdjmtykjytberger with his jacket of Bettis’ Notre Dame jersey and a hat backwards. Why did they even let him the building looking like that?

- Was that the little girl from the video playing piano during Kelly Clarkson’s performance? It was great after the song and the camera scanned the crowd and she receive a one person standing ovation from the dude from Maroon 5.

- For years, presenters have pulled the “this next performer needs no introduction,” then proceeds to introduce them anyways. Finally Ellen actually says the line and brilliantly walks off stage. And of course Paul McCartney needs no introduction. Plus he even dusts off Helter Skelter during his performance.

- Wow, this must have been the most clothes I’ve seen on Mariah Carey since the pre-Honey days. But what was with the dude talking from the audience?

- They brought out some dude named Michael Bublé who promptly mispronounces “Extraordinary.” Way to waste you only time on primetime TV Michael.

- Kelly Clarkson beats Paul McCartney for best pop album. Using the good old Transitive Property from high school, does this mean Kelly Clarkson is bigger than Jesus?

- More country music up next. Where in the past while watching live, this made for a good bathroom break, but thanks to taping it, I could just fast forward.

- Okay, the next segment was a little hazy, and not sure if this really happened, it was so surreal, but here is the best recollection of what I think I saw. And even though I watched this a couple times to make sure, I can not validate that any of this actually First Dave Chappelle comes out to introduce a tribute possible the only person that makes him look sane these days, Sly and the Family Stone. It’s starts off harmless enough with John Legend, Joss Stone and some dude named Van Hunt who were backed by members of the Family Stone (no Rachel McAdams though), Niles Rodgers of Chic and… Randy Jackson? Then came a duet between Fantasia (how did she win a singing contest) and Devin Lima who I swear was the dude in LFO that didn’t nail Jennifer Love Hewitt (remember Summergirls? Oh never mind). This is the point where I think I was getting a contact high from the TV because Sly’s stash is that potent. Next up was Ciara singing with Maroon 5. Um, okay. Then out comes Will.I.Am doing a rap followed the introduction of Steven Tyler and Joe Perry who really don’t do anything. Then out of nowhere Tyler says, “Sly, let’s show them how we do it back in the day.” Then inexplicatively Sly himself, who is making only his second public appearance in my lifetime, come out with a five foot blonde Mohawk. Please read that last second one more time. Sly then plays a couple notes on his keyboard sings “dance to the music” about five times and just leave before the song ends. I doubt there is a better anti-drug campaign better than this segment.

- Next up is yet another Jay-Z/Linkin Park mash-up. This was really cool at first but now it’s just getting tired. Well that was until Paul McCartney came out to sing Yesterday. And if there was anything that came close to Sly’s oddness it would be Jay-Z telling Sir Paul to “Take ‘em up top.” I think I may still have been high. Oh and Jay-Z just happened to be wear a John Lennon shirt. Too bad Jay-Z didn't come out during Helter Skelter and did a couple bars of 99 Problems like from the mashed-up The Grey Album. Yesterday not the best song here.

- Interesting after announcing that Sometimes You Can’t Make it on Your Own won Song of the Year they played We Belong Together instead.

- He may have been the worst dressed, but Kanye wins performance of the year with his college battle between KW State and JFU at the Grammy Halftime Show. This should have been the Superbowl halftime show because it was much more entertaining. But I really hope this is the last time we see Jamie Foxx milks Ray Charles memory. Sadly I doubt that will ever happen. It was nice to see the resurrection of Broke Phi Broke too. And how to cap such a great performance, apparently the Gammy’s though a gratuitous shot of James Taylor would do it. Yeah.

- Green Day wins Record of the Year. Yawn. They were so last year.

- How did Christina Aguilera go from the hottest chick on the planet to the trashiest to now looking like drag queen? This is a crime against humanity.

- Even Kanye couldn’t get too made at U2 winning Album of the Year for the second time, the other being The Joshua Tree. Which begs the question, what did Achtung Baby lose to? (Update: Achtung Baby lost to Eric Clapton's Unplugged in 1993. Also up for the award that year - the Beauty and the Beast Soundtrack. I wish I made that last part up. Annie Lennox's Diva and KD Lang's Ingénue rounded out the catergory.)

- For some reason they saved the obligatory old white dude speech for the end. But at least he didn’t whine about music downloads like Michael Green always did.

- I know people won’t like this comment, but I think everyone stopped reading along time ago especially after the Jesus mention, but I’ll say it anyways, Hurricane Katrina was the best thing to happen to Dr. John. Without it he’d be currently hanging around obscurity but with everyone’s guilt, they feel obligated to drag him out to every major event since then.

- The show ends with a great Wilson Pickett tribute, even if Sam Cooke messed up the second verse.

Car Mix - August '05

Here are some song to listen to that will fit on a single CD that you can play in your car, at the beach, a barbeque, or anywhere that need some summer music to dance to.

1. Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band (Live 8) – Paul McCartney & U2 (I started off this CD with two of my performances from the Live 8 concerts.)
2. Bittersweet Symphony (Live 8) – Coldplay & Richard Ashcroft
3. Fix You – Coldplay (One of the few songs on their latest album that stands up to their earlier work.)
4. City of Blinding Light – U2
5. All These Things I’ve Done – The Killers (This song features one of my favorite lyrics in recent memory, “I got soul, but I’m not a soldier.”)
6. Somebody Rock Me – The Clash vs. The Killers (This is a killer mash-up, lame pun intended.)
7. Son’s Gonna Rise – Citizen Cope & Santana (A cool song that you may recognize from a recent car commercial. This guy should be getting a lot more publicity than he’s getting.)
8. The Harder They Come – Willie Nelson (A country artist doing a reggae song? Only Willie, and a whole lot of pot, can pull that off.)
9. Portions for Foxes – Rilo Kiley (Depressingly sad lyrics dressed up with bouncing music makes this song pop gold.)
10. Me Plus One – Annie (iTunes Single of the Week has been offering up some bland music recently, but my ears pop up when I first heard this. It is quite possibly the best pop song since the 80’s. The song would fit very well in a Tom Tom Club album.)
11. These Word – Natasha Bedingfield (When I first heard this song, I wasn’t very impressed, but by the end I was sing, “I love you, I love you, I love you,” right with the song.)
12. She Said – Brie Larson (Not as good as the previous three in the pop department, but a lot better than the overproduced music clogging the radio these days.)
13. Love Love Love – Tristan Prettyman (Check of my review of her album – I Wish You Couldn’t Take Your Eyes Off of Me.)
14. Spending One of These Nights with Kelly – The Eagles vs. Kelly Clarkson (This is one of the most disturbingly entertaining songs ever created.)
15. Pon De Replay – Rihanna (Introducing this summer’s ubiquitous club anthem. Although if you played it back to back with last year’s ubiquitous club anthem, Move Ya Body, I’m not sure if I could tell them apart.)
16. Go – Common, John Mayer & Kanye West (Hip-hop good boy gets help getting dirty with Mr. You Body is a Wonderland and the Workout Plan King.)
17. Diamonds Are Forever (Remix) – Kanye West & Jay-Z (I mentioned this song a couple weeks ago in regards to its blood diamonds topic, check it out here – Throw Up Your Diamonds Like You’re Bulimic.)
18. Mind on the Road – Reverend Run (Sampling Joan Jett’s I Love Rock n Roll, this song rivals anything he did with Run-DMC. Just skip the cheesy video, but if you must, click here.)

Money, It's a Crime

Share it fairly but don’t take a slice of my pie.

After every major awards show, it is inevitable that most of the performers and winners see substantial sales spike in their albums and it seems that Live 8 was no different as every artist in London saw an increase of the album. Bring up the rear with only a 3% increase was Coldplay, but then again their latest album had been number one on the charts for the last couple weeks. Leading the pack was the reunited Pink Floyd who saw their greatest hits package, Echoes, go up a whopping 1343% on Sunday compared with last week. Not to be influenced by their own lyrics (see title) Pink Floyd are, yet again, doing the right thing when they noticed the sales increase and donate all their profits from the sales to Live 8. Guitarist Dave Gilmore said:

Though the main objective has been to raise consciousness and put pressure on the G8 leaders, I will not profit from the concert. If other artists feel like donating their extra royalties to charity, perhaps then the record companies could be persuaded to make a similar gesture and that would be a bonus. This is money that should be used to save lives.

I am not aware of artists asides from Paul McCartney, doing so yet, but hopefully some more will start falling in line with Pink Floyd.

Speaking of donating to Live 8, if you want a copy of U2 and Paul McCartney performing Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band at the opening of Live 8, follow the link to iTunes and pick up a copy for yourself with the proceeds going to Live 8 charity. Also if you missed a certain performance you wanted to see but MTV/VH1 cut it off or just didn't show it at all, AOLMusic is streaming all (I think) of the individual acts so you don't have to sit and hope you catch it on the live feed.

Back to Pink Floyd, their reunion got me thinking whether or not this will be a one time affair or maybe we will see Gilmore and Roger Waters back together again. Keep in mind that it’s been about thirty years since the two had talked. They even had to go through an intermediary to finalize the previously mentioned Echoes greatest hits album. Waters even boycotted Floyd’s induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1996 to avoid being in the same room as Gilmore. Gilmore instead had to duet with Billy Corgan on the appropriate Wish You Were Here. They continued their grudge even as other 70’s acts such as The Eagles, Fleetwood Mac, and Kiss cashed in big time with reunion tours in the late 90’s. But watching their Live 8 performance, one might think that the fence might finally been mended as both Gilmore and Rodgers look happy and playful sharing the same stage, albeit as they stayed far away from each other while performing as well as the Hey Jude finale. I am interested if there were any hugs or handshakes at the end of their performance but unfortunately MTV/VH1 cut to performance before that happened. So if anyone saw the live feed, please leave a comment to let me know if there was any kind of effort by either to show a sign of solidarity.

I have a feeling that we will not be seeing any new Pink Floyd album that features Waters in any capacity. Nor do I think that there will be any full-fledged “Back for More Cash” reunion tour á la The Eagles. But I wouldn’t be surprised if they take a page out of Cream’s recent playbook and have a run of show in London (most likely Wembley Stadium) and donate the gate to charity. But this will lead to a sticky situation with a playlist as songs like post-Waters songs such as Learning to Fly and High Hopes have become Floyd classics. Would Rodgers agree to perform these songs? Would he instead have a stand-in play those songs? Would he insist that none of those songs be played? Hopefully we will find out the answers to these questions sometime soon.

We On Award Tour

Grammy Awards are tomorrow so here are my predictions and more importantly who should win:

Album of the Year
Ray Charles & Various Artists - Genius Loves Company
Green Day - American Idiot
Alicia Keys - The Diary Of Alicia Keys
Usher - Confessions
Kanye West - The College Dropout

Who will win: Genius Loves Company
Who should win: The College Dropout
Should have been nominated: Heavier Thing

Record Of The Year
Let's Get It Started - The Black Eyed Peas
Here We Go Again - Ray Charles & Norah Jones
American Idiot - Green Day
Heaven - Los Lonely Boys
Yeah!! - Usher Featuring Lil Jon & Ludacris

Who will win: "Yeah!"
Who should win: "Yeah!"
Should have been nominated: "All Falls Down"

Song of the Year
John Mayer - "Daughters”
Alicia Keys - "If I Ain't Got You”
Kanye West - "Jesus Walks
Tim McGraw - "Live Like You Were Dying”
Hoobastank - "The Reason”

Who will win: "If I Ain't Got You"
Who should win: "Jesus Walks"
Should have been nominated: "American Idiot"

Best New Artist
Los Lonely Boys
Maroon 5 Joss Stone
Kanye West
Gretchen Wilson

Who will win: Kanye West
Who should win: Kanye West
Should have been nominated: Jet

Best Female Pop Vocal Performance
Björk - "Oceania"
Sheryl Crow - "The First Cut Is The Deepest"
Norah Jones - "Sunrise"
Gwen Stefani - "What You Waiting For?"
Joss Stone - "You Had Me"

Who will win: "The First Cut Is The Deepest"
Who should win: "You Had Me"
Should have been nominated: "If I Ain't Got You"

Best Male Pop Vocal Performance
Elvis Costello - "Let's Misbehave"
Josh Groban - "You Raise Me Up"
John Mayer - "Daughters"
Prince - "Cinnamon Girl"
Seal - "Love's Divine"

Who will win: "Daughters"
Who should win: "Daughters"
Should have been nominated: "Clarity"

Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group With Vocal
Evanescence - "My Immortal"
Hoobastank - "The Reason"
Los Lonely Boys - "Heaven"
Maroon 5 - "She Will Be Loved"
No Doubt - "It's My Life"

Who will win: "My Immortal"
Who should win: "She Will Be Loved"
Should have been nominated: "Sunday Morning"

Best Pop Collaboration With Vocals
Johnny Cash & Joe Strummer - "Redemption Song"
Ray Charles & Elton John - "Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word"
Ray Charles & Norah Jones - "Here We Go Again"
Paul McCartney & Eric Clapton - "Something"
Stevie Wonder & Take 6 - "Moon River"

Who will win: "Here We Go Again"
Who should win: "Redemption Song"
Should have been nominated: "Diary"

Best Pop Vocal Album
Ray Charles & Various Artists - Genius Loves Company
Norah Jones - Feels Like Home
Sarah McLachlan - Afterglow
Joss Stone - Mind, Body & Soul
Brian Wilson - Brian Wilson Presents Smile

Who will win: Genius Loves Company
Who should win: Genius Loves Company

Best Solo Rock Vocal Performance
Ryan Adams - "Wonderwall"
Steve Earle - "The Revolution Starts Now"
Melissa Ethridge - "Breathe"
Bruce Springsteen - "Code Of Silence"
Tom Waits - "Metropolitan Glide"

Who will win: "Code Of Silence"
Who should win: "Wonderwall"
Should have been nominated: "If I Had Possession Over Judgment Day"

Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group With Vocal
Elvis Costello & The Imposters - "Monkey To Man"
Franz Ferdinand - "Take Me Out"
Green Day - "American Idiot"
The Killers - "Somebody Told Me"
U2 - "Vertigo"

Who will win: "Vertigo"
Who should win: "Vertigo"
Should have been nominated: "Are You Gonna Be My Girl"

Best Hard Rock Performance
Incubus - "Megalomaniac"
Metallica - "Some Kind Of Monster"
Nickelback - "Feelin' Way Too Damn Good"
Slipknot - "Duality"
Velvet Revolver - "Slither"

Who will win: "Some Kind Of Monster"
Who should win: "Megalomaniac"
Should have been nominated: "Pain"

Best Rock Song
Green Day - "American Idiot"
Velvet Revolver - "Fall To Pieces"
Modest Mouse - "Float On"
The Killers - "Somebody Told Me"
U2 - "Vertigo"

Who will win: "American Idiot"
Who should win: "American Idiot"
Should have been nominated: "Pain"

Best Female R&B Vocal Performance
Janet Jackson - "I Want You"
Alicia Keys - "If I Ain't Got You"
Teena Marie - "I'm Still In Love"
Jill Scott - "Whatever"
Angie Stone - "U-Haul"

Who will win: "If I Ain't Got You"
Who should win: "If I Ain't Got You"
Should have been nominated: "Me, Myself and I"

Best Male R&B Vocal Performance
Anthony Hamilton - "Charlene"
R. Kelly - "Happy People"
Brian McKnight - "What We Do Here"
Prince - "Call My Name"
Usher - "Burn"

Who will win: "Burn"
Who should win: "Call My Name"
Should have been nominated: "Musicology"

Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group With Vocals
Destiny's Child - "Lose Your Breath"
Earth, Wind & Fire Featuring Raphael Saadiq - "Show Me The Way"
Floetry - "Say Yes"
Alicia Keys Featuring Tony! Toni! Toné! - "Diary"
Usher & Alicia Keys - "My Boo"

Who will win: "My Boo"
Who should win: "Diary"
Should have been nominated: "Maybe"

Best Urban/Alternative Performance
Mos Def - "Sex, Love & Money"
Musiq - "Are You Experienced?"
N.E.R.D. - "She Wants To Move"
The Roots - "Star"
Jill Scott - "Cross My Mind"

Who will win: "Cross My Mind"
Who should win: "Star"
Should have been nominated: "Don't Say Nuthin'"

Best R&B Song
Usher - "Burn”
Prince - "Call My Name” Prince
Usher & Alicia Keys - "My Boo"
Usher Featuring Lil Jon & Ludacris - "Yeah!"
Alicia Keys - "You Don't Know My Name”

Who will win: "Call My Name"
Who should win: "You Don't Know My Name"
Should have been nominated: "Diary"

Best R&B Album
Anita Baker - My Everything
Al Green - I Can't Stop
Alicia Keys - The Diary Of Alicia Keys
Prince - Musicology
Jill Scott - Beautifully Human: Words & Sounds Vol. 2

Who will win: The Diary Of Alicia Keys
Who should win: The Diary Of Alicia Keys


Best Rap Solo Performance
Lloyd Banks - "On Fire"
Eminem - "Just Lose It"
Jay-Z - "99 Problems"
Twista - "Overnight Celebrity"
Kanye West - "Through The Wire"

Who will win: "Just Lose It"
Who should win: "99 Problems"
Should have been nominated: "Jesus Walks"

Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group
Beastie Boys - "Ch-Check It Out"
The Black Eyed - "Let's Get It Started"
The Roots - "Don't Say Nuthin'"
Snoop Dogg & Pharrell - "Drop It Like It's Hot"
Terror Squad - "Lean Back"

Who will win: "Let's Get It Started"
Who should win: "Drop It Like It's Hot"
Should have been nominated: "Got It Twisted"

Best Rap/Sung Collaboration
Jadakiss Featuring Anthony Hamilton - "Why"
Christina Milian Featuring Fabolous - "Dip It Low"
Twista Featuring Kanye West & Jamie Foxx - "Slow Jamz"
Usher Featuring Lil Jon & Ludacris - "Yeah!"
Kanye West & Syleena Johnson - "All Falls Down"

Who will win: "Yeah!"
Who should win: "All Falls Down"
Should have been nominated: "Bridging the Gap"

Best Rap Song
Snoop Dogg & Pharrell - "Drop It Like It's Hot"
The Black Eyed Peas - "Hey Mama"
Kanye West - "Jesus Walks"
The Black Eyed Peas - "Let's Get It Started"
Jay-Z - "99 Problems"

Who will win: "Jesus Walks"
Who should win: "Jesus Walks"
Should have been nominated: "Through the Wire"

Best Rap Album
Beastie Boys - To The 5 Boroughs
Jay-Z - The Black Album
LL Cool J - The Definition
Nelly - Suit
Kanye West - The College Dropout

Who will win: The College Dropout
Who should win: The College Dropout
Should have been nominated: The Tipping Point

Best Short Form Music Video
Franz Ferdinand - "Take Me Out"
Green Day - "American Idiot"
George Michael - "Flawless"
Stereogram - "Walkie Talkie Man"
U2 - "Vertigo"

Who will win: "American Idiot"
Who should win: "Vertigo"
Should have been nominated: "All Falls Down"