Big News of the Week: Rock and Roll Hall of Fame 2012 Inductees Announced: And joining the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame next year will be Beastie Boys, Guns N' Roses, Red Hot Chili Peppers, The (Small) Faces, Donovan and Laura Nyro. Well that should make for an interesting jam session. Just the GnR induction should make for an interesting performance. I wonder if voters selected them just to see who shows up an actually plays together. Hopefully it does not turn into another Van Halen situation. And since the event will be held in Cleveland this year, I am availavle to cover it if anyone wants to hook me up with tickets.
Deal of the Week: 100 Holiday Albums for $5: For those in need of so holiday cheer, Amazon has a buch of Christmas albums for only $5.00 including ones from Frank Sinatra, Twisted Sister, New Edition and Sarah McLaughlin.
New Album Release of the Week: Red (Vinyl) - Dia Frampton
Next Week Pick of the Week: Big Cat Week, all week on Nat Geo Wild: Feline lovers clear your schedule this week because Nat Geo Wildwill be running its second annual Big Cat Week starting tomorrow at 8:00 with Stalking the Mountain Lion followed by American Cougar at 9:00 with Cat Wars: Lion vs. Cheetah closing out the night at 10:00, and run ever night until concluding Friday. And who better to introduce Big Cat Week than living legend Betty White (see the above Video of the Week).
Big News of the Week: Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Nominees Announced: The governing body (or whoever does the nominating) of the Rock Hall released the names of fifteen acts of which five will be inducted next year. Most notable include repeat nominees Beastie Boys, Red Hot Chili Peppers, newbies Eric B. & Rakim and Guns N' Roses. With both the Beasties and Peppers releasing albums this year, I bet both will make it this year (though I contend the Peppers should not get in until the 25th anniversary of Blood Sugar Sex Magic). I have GnR as a lock if only because everyone wants to see who will actually show up. And though a first ballot Hip Hop Hall of Fame inducted, Eric B. and Rakim will doubtfully get in especially with other rappers Beasties likely to be enshrined. If I were a betting man I would put Joan Jett & The Blackhearts and The Spinners grabbing the other two spots. If I am not mistaken, inductees will be announced in December with the ceremony taking place in March here in Cleveland (and I am available to cover the festivities if anyone wants to hook me up with a ticket). Stayed tuned next year when Debbie Gibson finally becomes eligible.
Free Download of the Week: Pilot - Pan Am, Season 1 (iTunes): For those that have missed what I decreed as the best pilot of the new season that I have seen so far, you can catch up before the second episode by downloading the episode on iTunes.
New DVD Release of the Week: Friday Night Lights: The Complete Series We are 85 shopping days until Christmas and for those wondering what you can get me, this will do just fine.
Video of the Week: After a slew of some pretty poor chick flicks, Kristen Bell is returning to television this January for House of Lies. I did not know until this teaser that the show is actually a comedy. And hopefully the pantsuit is not a sign of Bell’s wardrobe on the show, but I am always down for watching her dance more.
Next Week Pick of the Week: Pop Up Video, Weekdays at noon on VH1: I have no idea why they ever canceled Pop Up Video returns after a ten year hiatus Monday for sixty new episodes. Personally I cannot wait until the first weekend marathon where I can veg out and enjoy the new episodes for a whole day.
On a side note, "Weird Al" Yankovic Live! - The Alpocalypse Tour hits shelves Tuesday but for those that cannot wait until then or just rather watch it for free, tune in tomorrow to watch Weird Al perform songs from his new album like TMZ, classics like Smells Live Nirvana and of course some polka, most in his traditional costumes. And since the special was filmed in Toronto, Al naturally breaks out Canadian Idiot.
Quote of the Week: Well Nick, throughout this competition, we all really have grown from Boyz II Men, we have shown the nation we’re not just Pussycats anymore, um, I’m just really proud we haven’t Ben Folding under the pressure and I just wish the judges would give us One More Night (Una Noche). (Josh, The Sing-Off)
Big News of the Week: Rock and Roll Hall of Fame 2011 Inductees Announced: Well this should make for an interesting end of concert jam session. Going into the Hall next year will be crooner Neil Diamond, shock rocker Alice Cooper, gravel voiced Tom Waits, jazzman Dr. John, and R&B sidekick Darlene Love. The only way it could have been more eclectic is if they would have finally inducted the Beastie Boys who got snubbed again this year.
The Sing-Off: There was a clear pecking order with the judges from the first episode: Jerry Lawson and the Talk of the Town and Committed at the top with Streetcorner Symphony and the Backbeats just behind. It was clear On the Rocks would get the boot first and I was interested on who the judges would actually kick off after there. And not so surprisingly they decided to send them all to the final. But did they have to tell Jerry last, it look like he was heartbroken, then about to have a heart attack. It is understandable no one went home because I do not have a problem with any of these acts winning. You can stream recent episodes on Hulu. You can also download songs from the show on iTunes. Here was my favorite performance of the past week:
How I Met Your Mother: Maybe cause I watched Inception and it dream within a dream, within a dream, within a dream just two days earlier, but the shows flashback within a flashback, within a flashback was more annoying that it usually when the show goes to it. You can stream recent episodes over at cbs.com. You can also download How I Met Your Mother on iTunes.
Glory Daze: What an anticlimactic ending. It is not surpising that the Jew couldn’t make it to the finish line, but when the brothers were content with it, I thought maybe they had one more prank up their sleeve, and then nothing. You can stream recent episodes over at TBS.com.
Survivor: Nicaragua: Really, these are the dumbest Survivors ever. First you have Chase with the worst poker face ever in the history of the world of bluff who tries to tell Jane that it is Dan going before breaking down and telling it is her. Then even everyone including the channeling of Jeff Probst’s mom think well why not have Jane join up with Fabio and Dan, those two doofuses were like, no, we have no problem being in the minority. Which is especially surprising for Dan who has absolutely no show at winning immunity, or he has been trying to get voted off since before the tribes got mixed. It’s as if no one wants to win this season. I feel bad for the people who actually tried to win this season like Marty, Alina, Jill, Kelly B, for having to watch these quitters and idiots get further in the game than them. You can stream recent episodes over at cbs.com.
The Big Bang Theory: I was ready to call this the best episode of the season until Raj uttered the line, “Scooter sucks, he’s the Aquaman of the muppet babies.” That hurts man. You can stream recent episodes over at cbs.com.
New Album Release of the Week: All You Need Is Love – Duran Duran (iTunes only release; physical disk being released 2/11)
Free Download of the Week: You’ll Never Find My Christmas – Bishop Allen (Target): If you have watched television in the past month you have undoubtedly seen the Target commercial with the absurdly catchy You’ll Never Find My Christmas tune. Well the store is giving away free downloads of that and thirteen other Christmas songs.
Deal of the Week: The Big Blu Ray Sale (The Dark Knight, Lord of the Rings, Life)
Video of the Week: Despite the old adage, I have long belived that you can judge a book by its cover. If the words inside are so good, how could someone not come up with a worthy cover? If there is a movie corollary, can a movie named after an Eddie Money song possibly be good? Well it is set in the eighties, so that will get me to check it out when it hit the Blu-Ray. Until then, here is the trailer for Take Me Home Tonight.
Next Week Pick of the Week: The Sing-Off, Monday at 8:00: Ben Folds and the dude from Boyz II Men have done all they could and now it is up to us to crown the new Sing-Off champs. But before that is announced the groups get to perform with Neil Diamond, Sheryl Crow, Boyz II Men, and Sara Bareilles. After the finale, NBC will be giving a sneak peak of Perfect Couples, and as much as I enjoy having even more Olivia Munn on my television screen, I can’t imagine this being very good by the look of the promos.
Big News of the Week: Class of 2009 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Inductees Announced: Run-DMC, Metallica, Bobby Womack, Jeff Beck (who gets in for the second time, the first as a member of the Yardbirds seventeen years ago), and Little Anthony and the Imperials all get in this year. This year’s ceremony should be extra special for Womack because for the first time in twelve years, the induction will actually be held in his hometown of Cleveland where the Hall is located. Of course I am within driving distance to the ceremony so if anyone has an extra ticket or press pass, shout me a holla. I have the date cleared on my calendar.
Also going in this year are Rockabilly queen Wanda Jackson who is being inducted as an early influence as well as three sidemen: Elvis Presley’s bassist Bill Black and his drummer D.J. Fontana, as well as Dewey Lyndon “Spooner” Oldham, who has played piano with everyone from Neil Young to Aretha Franklin to the Drive-By Truckers.
Coalition Links of the Week: From the Gossip Girl spinoff to Chuck's dad to the rise of Adrianna on 90210, Buzz scooped up some news at the TCA press tour. (BuzzSugar)
Sandie watched for the first time and fell in love with The Biggest Loser. (Daemon's TV)
Despite some flaws and some overly Diablo Cody-speak, Vance really enjoyed Toni Collette's new show The United States of Tara and can attest that the episodes get better from there. (Tapeworthy)
This week, Jace posted an advance review of Season Three of Skins and interviewed series co-creator Jamie Brittain. (Televisionary)
Marisa had long since given up on The Real World, too, but the show's new setting of Brooklyn lured her back. This week she compares the MTV BK with the real thing. (TiFaux)
Heather got to sit on a darkened screening room and watch the first two episodes of the fifth season of Lost and mighty fine she says they were, too... (TV Spy)
Confessions of a Teen Idol: Sadly Time Warner still hasn’t dumped VH1 so I was stuck watching the second episode (but that wasn’t the worst, check the next item for that). I am just glad that the guy whose name I can’t remember called out the stylist for wearing that hideous green shirt. And how does having Marilyn Manson and P!nk on your résumé make you a credible stylist? You can also download Confessions of a Teen Idol on iTunes.
Tool Academy: Just when you think no one could limbo under the bar Ryan Seacrest set with Momma’s Boys, somehow VH1 slithers under that bar for the lowest reality show of the year. With that said, I enjoyed every minute of it. And they couldn’t have done better job casting the Tools. The fashion show where the Tools thought they were competing for Mr. Awesome was the highest of high comedy. The only drawback, much like the Charm School series, is the show is completely rigged where the more interesting people get to stay even if they are much bigger Tools. There is no reason the chair throwing Tool should not have gotten booted for that. As for a prediction, I may have to go with Matsuflex because he seems to be only one that is self aware that he is a humongous Tool. And his girlfriend is definitely the hottest out of all of them. You can also download Tool Academy on iTunes.
The Big Bang Theory: Yeah, that was enough Walowitz-centric episode for, like ever. You can stream current episodes over at Innertube. You can also download The Big Bang Theory on iTunes.
How I Met Your Mother: Is it really that hard to think of stuffing the magazine in your pocket like I always do? Of course the only problem I run into is a bathroom in the break room and I tend to come out to a dull house that all wonder what I was doing for half an hour. But when you have yet to read about Obama getting elected, you have to get some extra reading in sometime. You can stream current episodes over at Innertube. You can also download The Big Bang Theory on iTunes.
Leverage: Is it every episode where someone says, “This isn’t a typical job we do.” It is only six episodes in, they don’t have a typical job yet, let alone one ever week. Still an enjoyable episode. And they lucked out with next week’s ripped from the headlines story even though the episode was filmed months ago as the gang gets on a plane that may have to make an emergency landing complete with Sheldon’s last girlfriend, Sara Rue, as someone who isn’t very good a flying. You can also download Leverage on iTunes.
Gary Unmarried: There was really nothing more predictable that the art teacher to actually turn out to be hot because she really had a Rachel Lee Cooke in She’s All That quality to her where you’d still hook up with the ugly version. You can stream current episodes over at Innertube.
Free Download of the Week: The Fear - Lily Allen (iHeartMusic.com): It is a little cumbersome to get: you have to give them your e-mail to which they will send a link to for you to download; but it is a great song and in MP3 format so it is worth the extra minute out of your day to get.
Deal of the Week: Buy Two ABC Family DVDs and Save $10 Buy any two of these ABC Family DVD’s: Greek Chapter Two, Kyle XY Season Two, or The Secret Life of the American Teenager, and save $10 on your total purchase.
Video (Game) of the Week: Instead of the usual video this week, here is a game you can play. Based on last night's episode of The Office, The Duel, where you can choose to play as either Dwight or Andy, choose various weapons of attack and defense, and see what the outcome is! There are tons of scenarios so be sure to try them all!
Next Week Pick of the Week: Lost, Wednesday at 9:00 on ABC: I always find the fandom around Lost puzzling, its like people latch onto things they don’t understand in the hopes to not look dumb or out of the loop. I personally resigned myself not to be hugely let down by the inevitable end that I stopped really caring somewhere during third season and just went along for the mind numbing plots: mental time travel, sure, moveable islands, why not, frozen donkey wheels, why not. I’m not sure what is in store from the penultimate season (see what you learn by watching Gary Unmarried), but I’m sure it will result with a bunch of fanfare by people that have no clue what is going on but want people to think they do. And if you cannot get enough Lost, tune in at 8:00 that night for a recap hour where they will most likely forget Shannon, Boone, Nikki, Paulo and the Tailies ever existed.
- Yesterday after writing about the Hall and Oates Christmas album, I thought I’d hunt down the Jingle Bell Rock video to see if it was cheesy as I remember (it was, click the link to see for yourself) but on the sidebar I noticed another video that caught my eye: Do They Know its Christmas - Band Aid 20. How did this get released in 2004 and I’m just finding it now? And the video is disturbing on so many levels. There is the cringeworth guitar solo from the dude from The Darkness, who has already fallen into obscurity. The weird Thom York sighting. I think I could name more people in the orginal than this one. And most importantly, how could Bono ruin the most iconic line ever, one that he created? But this begs the question, where’s an updated version of USA for Africa? Can we start on that right away so we can have something ready for the twenty-fifth anniversary in 2010?
- The Mitchell Report came out today (click on it view it in its entirety in a PDF file) and conspicuously ran against the Democratic Iowa debate which was announced much earlier than the report. Someone apparently didn’t want the new coverage to be as big with the news channels carrying the debate instead. The report itself was pretty anticlimactic because the names came from two people and previous court cases and nothing will come out of it because Mitchell himself said none of the players should be punished. They should be punished in that none should be allowed in the Baseball Hall of Fame and sports writer who votes for any of them should be fired by their newspaper or magazine. And what is really odd, and somewhat telling, was that Miguel Tejada, who was on the list, goy traded just yesterday as well as Eric Gangé got $10 Million from the Brewers a couple days ago which goes to show how much owners and general managers cared about the report knowing there was going to be a good chance both would be on it.
- Also announced today were next year’s induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and disturbingly Madonna got in on her first try and no Beastie Boys. Also making the list are John Mellencamp, Leonard Cohen, The Ventures, and the Dave Clark Five. I’ll have more on them when the ceremony goes down I think in March.
- With no end in sight to the writer’s strike, there will be very little scripted shows at the start of next year, but one of them will be Kyle XY and I have a press release for its return. Also I may be getting my hands on another Kyle XY prize package, though the contest most likely will not start until sometime in the New Year. But that is something to look out for in 2008. Here’s the press release:
THE TRUTH IS REVEALED!
THE MYSTERY CONTINUES ON ABC FAMILY’S HIT ORIGINAL SERIES ‘KYLE XY’ WITH TEN ALL NEW EPISODES BEGINNING JANUARY 14TH
Kyle looks towards the future while the Tragers finally learn his secrets in the first of ten all new episodes of ABC Family’s original hit series KYLE XY set to premiere on Monday, January 14 (8:00 – 9:00 PM ET/PT). Matt Dallas (“Wannabe”), Marguerite MacIntyre (“The Days”), Bruce Thomas (“Legally Blonde”), April Matson (“Quintuplets”), Jean-Luc Bilodeau (“Ill Fated”), Chris Olivero (“24”), Kirsten Prout (“Elektra”) and new comer Jaimie Alexander (“Rest Stop”) all star in the hit drama.
After his journey with Jessi ends, Kyle returns home and is ready to tell the Trager family the whole truth. With every sordid detail out on the table he wonders if they will be so willing to take him back. Once they hear everything the Tragers only support him more and rally around Kyle to take on Madacorp. With a plan in hand, the family heads to the company picnic to help Kyle take down the corporation’s secret machine.
Meanwhile, torn between her instructions from Madacorp and growing affection for Kyle, Jessi was last seen leaping from a cliff into a raging river…but was it a fatal leap? And if she lived, will she help Kyle, or is she more dangerous than ever?
- Another interesting e-mail I got recently was from an anonymous source about a scene from the upcoming Judd Apatow flick Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story that was recently leaked to the internet, but not in its entirety. Well here is that full scene. Check it out while you can before the powers that be remove it (and if it doesn’t get removed I guess we know who “leaked” it in the first place)
- Just in time for Christmas, the price for Veronica Mars 3.x dropped below $30 and I’m sure you can find someone who would enjoy finding that underneath their Christmas tree in two weeks (i.e. me) and the first two seasons are still dirt cheap (see below for ads):
Well I certainly hope no one took my March Madness advice because I had the worst first round ever. It was so bad that I’m currently sitting in the 11% of all Yahoo brakets. On the bright side I only had one Elite 8 teams and one other Sweet 16 teams bounced so far (Notre Dame, Old Dominion). I actually had a year once where I only lost one game on the first day, but that one lost was a Final Four team which just ruined any chance of winning despite having the best first round score (darn you Stanford). But I’ll pretty much have to run the table to take home any money this year. Maybe this year may be the best time to start up a second chance bracket. But anyways. If your braket is as cooked as mine, you could always participate in Band Madness, with a whopping 512 bands taking on each other. And at least it is St. Patrick’s Day so I have a socially acceptable way to drown my sorrows, time to cue up the Traditional Irish Folk Song.
In other news, Congratulations to Dara for winner her second consecutive Lyrics Quiz putter her in a tie for most wins ever at three. I’m sure being subscribe to this blog is something that has helped her to victory by being one of the first to learn when each post is uploaded helps. So to keep up with her, be sure to click on the orange button on the top of the sidebar and subscribe to your favorite feed reader. And if you don’t have a favorite, I highly recommend Bloglines.
She of course won the Rock and Roll Edition of the Lyrics Quiz. The Hall recently released their list of 200 must have albums. I haven’t talked about them up to know because every time I looked at the list, I’d see something that really irked me (Celine Dion in the top 100, more Dixie Chicks than Johnny Cash, No Paul's Boutique, etc.). But I have since calmed down and here is that list in its entirety with the must own albums that I actually own in bold (42 by my count):
1. BEATLES – SGT. PEPPER’S LONELY HEARTS CLUB BAND 2. PINK FLOYD – DARK SIDE OF THE MOON 3. MICHAEL JACKSON – THRILLER 4. LED ZEPPELIN – LED ZEPPELIN IV 5. U2 – JOSHUA TREE 6. ROLLING STONES – EXILE ON MAIN STREET 7. CAROLE KING – TAPESTRY 8. BOB DYLAN – HIGHWAY ‘61 REVISITED 9. BEACH BOYS – PET SOUNDS 10. NIRVANA – NEVERMIND 11. PEARL JAM – TEN 12. BEATLES – ABBEY ROAD 13. SANTANA – SUPERNATURAL 14. METALLICA – METALLICA 15. BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN – BORN TO RUN 16. PRINCE – PURPLE RAIN 17. AC/DC – BACK IN BLACK 18. ROLLING STONES – LET IT BLEED 19. DOORS – DOORS 20. GRATEFUL DEAD – AMERICAN BEAUTY 21. SHANIA TWAIN – COME ON OVER 22. WHO – WHO’S NEXT 23. STEVIE WONDER – SONGS IN THE KEY OF LIFE 24. FLEETWOOD MAC – RUMOURS 25. PINK FLOYD – THE WALL 26. ALANIS MORISSETTE – JAGGED LITTLE PILL 27. NORAH JONES – COME AWAY WITH ME 28. EMINEM – MARSHALL MATHERS LP 29. OUTKAST – SPEAKERBOXX-LOVE BELOW 30. DR. DRE – CHRONIC 31. BEASTIE BOYS – LICENSED TO ILL 32. GUNS ‘N ROSES –APPETITE FOR DESTRUCTION 33. DIXIE CHICKS – WIDE OPEN SPACES 34. MILES DAVIS – KIND OF BLUE 35. EAGLES – HOTEL CALIFORNIA 36. DEF LEPPARD – HYSTERIA 37. SOUNDTRACK – GREASE 38. MARVIN GAYE – WHAT’S GOING ON 39. BEATLES – WHITE ALBUM 40. SOUNDTRACK – SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER 41. JIMI HENDRIX – ARE YOU EXPERIENCED? 42. BEATLES – REVOLVER 43. BOSTON – BOSTON 44. BON JOVI – SLIPPERY WHEN WET 45. U2 – ACHTUNG BABY 46. WHITNEY HOUSTON – WHITNEY HOUSTON 47. LED ZEPPELIN – LED ZEPPELIN II 48. DAVE MATTHEWS BAND – CRASH 49. ROLLING STONES – STICKY FINGERS 50. GREEN DAY – DOOKIE 51. LED ZEPPELIN – HOUSES OF THE HOLY 52. JONI MITCHELL – BLUE 53. ELVIS PRESLEY – ELVIS AT SUN 54. AEROSMITH – TOYS IN THE ATTIC 55. LAURYN HILL – MISEDUCATION OF LAURYN HILL 56. BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN – BORN IN THE U.S.A. 57. 50 CENT – GET RICH OR DIE TRYIN’ 58. AC/DC – HIGHWAY TO HELL 59. NOTORIOUS B.I.G. – LIFE AFTER DEATH 60. VAN HALEN – VAN HALEN 61. GREEN DAY – AMERICAN IDIOT 62. BLACK SABBATH – PARANOID 63. EMINEM – EMINEM SHOW 64. JEWEL – PIECES OF YOU 65. COLDPLAY – RUSH OF BLOOD TO THE HEAD 66. MEATLOAF – BAT OUT OF HELL 67. USHER – CONFESSIONS 68. KID ROCK – DEVIL WITHOUT A CAUSE 69. GEORGE HARRISON – ALL THINGS MUST PASS 70. BILLY JOEL – STRANGER 71. EAGLES – HELL FREEZES OVER 72. VAN MORRISON – MOONDANCE 73. REM – AUTOMATIC FOR THE PEOPLE 74. PHIL COLLINS – NO JACKET REQUIRED 75. METALLICA – MASTER OF PUPPETS 76. FAITH HILL – BREATHE 77. JOHNNY CASH – AT FOLSOM PRISON 78. JOHN COLTRANE – LOVE SUPREME 79. PINK FLOYD – WISH YOU WERE HERE 80. MICHAEL JACKSON – OFF THE WALL 81. MARVIN GAYE – LET’S GET IT ON 82. BOB SEGER – NIGHT MOVES 83. PAUL SIMON – GRACELAND 84. LINKIN PARK – HYBRID THEORY 85. PRINCE – 1999 86. DEF LEPPARD – PYROMANIA 87. JANET JACKSON – CONTROL 88. RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS – BLOOD SUGAR SEX MAGIK 89. DIRE STRAITS – BROTHERS IN ARMS 90. TUPAC – ALL EYEZ ON ME 91. MATCHBOX TWENTY – YOURSELF OR SOMEONE LIKE YOU 92. RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS – CALIFORNICATION 93. LED ZEPPELIN – PHYSICAL GRAFFITI 94. NELLY – COUNTRY GRAMMAR 95. CREED – HUMAN CLAY 96. CLASH – LONDON CALLING 97. CELINE DION – FALLING INTO YOU 98. NEIL YOUNG – HARVEST 99. SOUNDTRACK – DIRTY DANCING 100. DIXIE CHICKS – HOME 101. TOM PETTY – FULL MOON FEVER 102. VAN HALEN – 1984 103. SOUNDTRACK – TITANIC 104. CROSBY STILLS & NASH – DÉJÀ VU 105. TLC – CRAZYSEXYCOOL 106. BECK – ODELAY 107. KENNY G – BREATHLESS 108. NWA. – STRAIGHT OUTTA COMPTON 109. SEX PISTOLS – NEVER MIND THE BOLLOCKS 110. BEATLES – RUBBER SOUL 111. RADIOHEAD – O.K. COMPUTER 112. SIMON & GARFUNKEL – BRIDGE OVER TROUBLED WATER 113. DIXIE CHICKS – FLY 114. METALLICA – AND JUSTICE FOR ALL 115. MICHAEL JACKSON – DANGEROUS 116. MARIAH CAREY – DAYDREAM 117. SOUNDTRACK – TOP GUN 118. ELTON JOHN – GOODBYE YELLOW BRICK ROAD 119. POLICE – SYNCHRONICITY 120. NO DOUBT – TRAGIC KINGDOM 121. ROLLING STONES – BEGGAR’S BANQUET 122. R KELLY – R 123. TOOL – LATERALUS 124. OASIS – WHAT’S THE STORY MORNING GLORY 125. BOB MARLEY – EXODUS 126. JOURNEY – ESCAPE 127. CHRISTINA AGUILERA – CHRISTINA AGUILERA 128. JAY-Z – BLUEPRINT 129. ALICIA KEYS – DIARY OF ALICIA KEYS 130. SOUNDTRACK – O BROTHER WHERE ART THOU? 131. CARS – CARS 132. ENYA – DAY WITHOUT RAIN 133. NATALIE COLE – UNFORGETTABLE WITH LOVE NATALIE COLE 134. SOUNDTRACK – FOOTLOOSE 135. LIONEL RICHIE – CAN’T SLOW DOWN 136. SARAH MCLACHLAN – SURFACING 137. BONNIE RAITT – NICK OF TIME 138. METALLICA – RIDE THE LIGHTNING 139. SHERYL CROW – TUESDAY NIGHT MUSIC CLUB 140. FRANK SINATRA – IN THE WEE SMALL HOURS 141. EARTH WIND FIRE – GRATITUDE 142. ZZ TOP – ELIMINATOR 143. WILLIE NELSON – RED HEADED STRANGER 144. JOHN LENNON – IMAGINE 145. TONI BRAXTON – TONI BRAXTON 146. ETTA JAMES – AT LAST 147. ELVIS PRESLEY – ELVIS PRESLEY 148. CAT STEVENS – TEA FOR THE TILLERMAN 149. SMASHING PUMPKINS – MELLON COLLIE & THE INFINITE SADNESS 150. DAVE BRUBECK – TIME OUT 151. JANET JACKSON – JANET 152. QUEEN – A NIGHT AT THE OPERA 153. OZZY OSBOURNE – BLIZZARD OF OZZ 154. WILL SMITH – BIG WILLIE STYLE 155. PRINCE – SIGN OF THE TIMES 156. PUBLIC ENEMY – IT TAKES A NATION OF MILLIONS TO HOLD US BACK 157. BOB DYLAN – BLOOD ON THE TRACKS 158. GEORGE MICHAEL – FAITH 159. BOYZ II MEN – COOLEYHIGHHARMONY 160. DESTINY’S CHILD – WRITING’S ON THE WALL 161. JAY-Z – BLACK ALBUM 162. AVRIL LAVIGNE – LET GO 163. FUGEES – SCORE 164. MADONNA – LIKE A VIRGIN 165. LED ZEPPELIN – LED ZEPPELIN 166. STEVIE RAY VAUGHN – TEXAS FLOOD 167. STONE TEMPLE PILOTS – CORE 168. ORIGINAL CAST – PHANTOM OF THE OPERA HIGHLIGHTS 169. JETHRO TULL – AQUALUNG 170. TUPAC – ME AGAINST THE WORLD 171. DAVID BOWIE – RISE AND FALL OF ZIGGY STARDUST 172. SHAKIRA – LAUNDRY SERVICE 173. SOUNDTRACK – FORREST GUMP 174. AL GREEN – CALL ME 175. CURTIS MAYFIELD – SUPERFLY 176. LIVE – THROWING COPPER 177. GEORGE BENSON – BREEZIN’ 178. WHITE STRIPES – WHITE BLOOD CELLS 179. LYNYRD SKYNYRD – PRONOUNCED LEH-NERD SKIN-ERD 180. SADE – DIAMOND LIFE 181. FLEETWOOD MAC – FLEETWOOD MAC 182. PAUL MCCARTNEY & WINGS – BAND ON THE RUN 183. BEYONCE – DANGEROUSLY IN LOVE 184. ANITA BAKER – RAPTURE 185. NAS – IIIMATIC 186. BARBRA STREISAND – A STAR IS BORN 187. EARTH WIND FIRE – THAT’S THE WAY OF THE WORLD 188. ANITA BAKER – RHYTHM OF LOVE 189. JAY-Z – IN MY LIFETIME VOL 1 190. LL COOL J – MAMA SAID KNOCK YOU OUT 191. STEELY DAN – AJA 192. WILLIE NELSON – STARDUST 193. ARETHA FRANKLIN – SPARKLE 194. ANDREA BOCELLI – ANDREA 195. BOB DYLAN – BRINGING IT ALL BACK HOME 196. LUTHER VANDROSS – NEVER TOO MUCH 197. U2 – ALL THAT YOU CAN’T LEAVE BEHIND 198. RUSH – 2112 199. OUTKAST – AQUEMINI 200. GRAND FUNK RAILROAD – WE’RE AN AMERICAN BAND
This past Monday, five new artists were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and so with this month’s Lyrics Quiz I thought I would look back at the past inductees. I have taken my favorite Hall of Famer from each induction class and taken a lyric from my favorite song of theirs in order of their induction. Since there have only been twenty-two ceremonies, I back loaded the most recent inductees. As always leave your guesses in the comment section, both song title and artist. If you are correct, I will un-bold the lyric and give you credit. The person with the most correct lyrics will be added to the Winner’s list on my sidebar. Now on to the lyrics:
1. Oh let our love survive or dry the tears from your eyes. Let’s don’t let a good thing die when honey, you know I’ve never lied to you. (Suspicious Minds - Elvis Presley; guessed by Rosemarie) 2. Ah things ain't what they used to be, no, no. Oil wasted on the ocean and upon our seas, fish full of mercury. (Mercy, Mercy Me (The Ecology) - Marvin Gaye; guessed by Rosemarie) 3. I may not always love you but long as there are stars above you, you never need to doubt it. I’ll make you so sure about it. (God Only Knows - The Beach Boys - guessed by Kristi) 4. Thirteen month old baby. Broke the lookin’ glass. Seven years of bad luck, the good things in your past. (Superstition - Stevie Wonder; guessed by Rosemarie) 5. Laughing on the bus. Playing games with the faces. She said, “The man in the gabardine suit was a spy.” I said, “Be careful his bowtie is really a camera.” (America - Simon and Garfunkel; guessed by Kristi) 6. There ain’t no room for the hopeless sinner who would hurt all mankind just to save his own. Believe me now. Have pity on those whose chance has grown thinner ‘cause there is no hiding place against the kingdom’s throne. (People Get Ready - The Immpressions; guessed by Tony) 7. The judge said, “Son, what is your alibi? If you were somewhere else then you won’t have to die.” I spoke not a world though it meant my life. I’d been in the arms of my best friend’s wife. (Long Black Veil - Johnny Cash; guessed by Tony) 8. I hear hurricanes a blowing. I know the end is coming soon. I fear rivers overflowing. I hear the voice of rage and ruin. (Bad Moon Rising - Creedence Clearwater Revival; guessed by Rosemarie) 9. Old pirates, yes, they rob I; Sold I to the merchant ships. (Redemption Song - Bob Marley; guessed by Kristi) 10. Heard you told him, yes baby, that you'd love him till the end of time. Well you know, that's the same thing that you told me, well, it seems like just the other day. ((Ain't it) Funny How Time Slips Away - Al Green; guessed by Tony) 11. Did you exchange a walk-on part in the war for a lead role in a cage? (Wish You Were Here - Pink Floyd; guessed by Dara) 12. I have been around the world, lookin’ for that woman/girl who knows love can endure. And you know it will. (Southern Cross - Crosby, Stills, and Nash; guessed by Kristi) 13. There she stood in the doorway, heard the mission bell. I was thinking to myself, “This could be Heaven or this could be Hell.” (Hotel California - The Eagles; guessed by Slaygal1981) 14. Sometimes it’s like somebody took a knife, baby, edgy ands dull, and put a six inch valley in the middle of my skull. (I'm on Fire - Bruce Springsteen; guessed by Dara) 15. If you wanna hang out you've got to take her out… If you wanna get down, down on the ground. (Cocaine - Eric Clapton; guessed by Kristi) 16. Left alone with big fat Fanny, she was such a naughty nanny. Heap big woman you made a bad boy out of me. (Fat Bottomed Girls - Queen; guessed by Slaygirl1981) 17. Who’s the black private dick that’s a sex machine to all the chicks? (Theme from Shaft - Isaac Hayes; guessed by Monique) 18. Do I have to tell the story of a thousand rainy days since we first met? It’s a big enough umbrella but it’s always me that ends up getting wet. (Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic - The Police; guessed by Dara) 19. I asked if she wanted 2 dance and she said all she wanted was a good man and wanted 2 know if I thought I was qualified, yeah. And I said, baby don't waste your time, I know what's on your mind. I may be qualified 4 a one night stand. (I Could Never Take the Place of Your Man - Prince; guessed by Dara) 20. You say you want diamonds on a ring of gold. You say you want your story to remain untold. But all the promises we make from the cradle to the grave. (All I Want Is You - U2; guessed by Dara) 21. Now Watergate doesn’t bother me, does your conscience bother you? Tell the truth. (Sweet Home Alabama - Lynyrd Skynyrd; guessed by Dara) 22. My brother's doin’ fast, on my mother's TV. Says she watches too much, it's just not healthy, All My Children in the daytime, "Dallas" at night, can’t even see the game or the Sugar Ray fight. (The Message - Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five) 23. Yeah we’re runnin’ a little bit hot tonight. I can barely see the road from the heat coming off of it. Reach down in between my legs, ease the seat back. (Panama - Van Halen; guessed by Dara) 24. Try and understand, desire is hunger is the fire I breathe. Love is a banquet on which we feed. (Because the Night - Patti Smith; guessed by Dara) 25. September's coming soon. I'm pining for the moon. And what if there were two side by side in orbit around the fairest sun? (Nightswimming - R.E.M.; guessed by Dara)
On a side note, I’d be remised to mention that this is my 700th post here at the 9th Green. Hooray for me. Although though it looks, for the second straight year blogiversary came and went with myself forgetting once again. Of course I am a guy so I tend to forget things like that.
Yesterday when I was talking about all the great events that happen in the middle of March I left out one very important even, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony. You may not agree with some of the inductees, but undeniably you will get some unforgettable, sometimes surreal, performances and this year was no exception. Well the biggest exception is that for the first time ever you could watch the ceremony live on either VH1 Classic, which re-airs the whole thing in its entirety this Friday at 8:00 or stream over at AOL.com where you can currently stream the event on demand. For those that don’t have the time to devote the four hours to the show can watch the usual VH1 butchered show this Saturday at 9:00, because who doesn’t want to spend St. Patrick’s Day in front of the television. Now onto my thoughts:
- Of course the show is emanating from New York City instead of the actual Hall, here in Northeast Ohio. Not that I’m bitter or anything.
- The show starts off with Jann Winner of Rolling Stone talking about one of the co-founders of the Hall who passed and get a proper tribute of the guy from two time inductee Stephen Stills as well as a performance by Aretha Franklin for some reason. We also get your token In Memoriam package which obviously goes beyond just those inducted as they included the dude from Molly Hatchet. But why was a roadie for the Grateful Dead included?
- The first inductees were The Ronettes. A little before my time as I mainly associate them for contributing a song to the Dirty Dancing Soundtrack and one of them did a song with Eddie Money, who got a shout out. One person that didn’t get a shout out was their producer Phil Spector who they went out of their way to not mention. Making that even odder was after they performed Paul Shaffer read a note from Spector, who is rumored to be the reason the group hadn’t been inducted yet, congratulating them. Only at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Well maybe until Big Head Barry gets inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame.
- One thing we don’t get to see is on the edited telecasts is the intermissions in between induction. The first is a montage of memorable moments from past induction, the best part are the estranged moments of band members that probably haven’t spoke to each other since they broke up. Other intermissions are filled with individual performances which one being one of my personal favorite from 2004 with the all-star jam for While My Guitar Gently Weeps featuring a rancorous solo by Prince who ended it with throwing his guitar behind him then just walks off stage. Can we induct Prince every year? C’mon, you can at least put him in with The Revolution and The New Power Generation.
- Holy Zach del la Rocha sighting! Dude been in an Axl Rose type hibernation since breaking up Rage Against the Machine. And it looks like during the interim he has been growing one silly afro. He’s there to induct Patti Smith, another artist I never really got into. The only Smith story I have was I once gave a presentation on racism in popular culture and played her song Rock and Roll (Expletive Deleted) during it. And wouldn’t you know she played that very song saying it was her mom’s favorite song to vacuum to. If only there were a camera on the Rev. Al Sharpton when the chorus kicked in as I would have liked to see his reaction.
- Speaking of Sharpton he was there to once again to eulogized inaugural Hall of Fame inductee, James Brown. Luckily a Christina Aguilera tribute didn’t follow. I would have liked an actual musician to have done thins instead of Sharpton milking his friendship of Brown yet again. But anyways.
- The moment that everyone has been waiting for of course failed to live up to the hype. I’m speaking of the Van Halen induction that didn’t actually feature either of the band’s namesakes and more surprisingly absent was David Lee Roth who is never one to turn down a public appearance. According to Scott Weiland, whose Velvet Revolver inducted the band as well as handled the performance, invited Roth to sing one of their earlier songs, but balked when the band wouldn’t agree to perform Jump because of that whole, they don’t have a keyboard player thing. Almost as surprising is they actually let Sammy Hagar perform backed by booted bassist Michael Anthony, who actually gave a shout out to Gary Cherone during his acceptance speech, and Paul Shaffer and the CBS Hall of Fame Orchestra. Nice to have the two members currently not in the band are the only ones to actually show up.
- Jay-Z is up next to induct Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five. Oddly for a guy who is highly touted for never writing down his lyrics, Jay never looked up while reading his speech, from his Blackberry. I like how Mele Mel called out the younger generation during his speech, although it will undoubtedly fall on deaf ears as the new generation can’t hear anything with their massive diamond earrings in their ears. Great performance too adding some theater to the program but I wish they would have spent longer on each song instead of jumping around.
- Last in this year are R.E.M. who get the induction treatment from Eddie Vedder who correctly calls out Mike Mills for hid Elvis type suits in the mid-nineties. I’m sure many of the longtime readers may wonder what my favorite song of all-time in, and you are likely to get a different answer at different times you ask, but one song that comes up quite frequently is the band’s Nightswimming. R.E.M. is also one of the few bands that I’ve created a personal Best of CD for my collection, which I will certainly share the track with everyone one of these days. I was a little disappointed with the band’s song selection as I would have like them to focus on their nineties work aside from Vedder joining them for Man on the Moon.
- The show ends with a couple of collaborations with Smith joining R.E.M. for I Wanna Be Your Dog, a jab at the Hall for not letting The Stooges in yet. That was followed by most of the inductees and inductor (Grandmaster Flash and the Furious 5 were conspicuously absent although one of the guys who was in their performance was bouncing around) closing the show with Smith’s People Have the Power.
Next Monday the latest crop of inductees are getting a spot reserved at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and in honor of that, AOL has a list of twenty-five potential future inductees from the late eighties and nineties for people to vote on. Oddly when I voted, each and every artist had a no vote. Here is the last of three posts, ten each post. I’ll have two different ways of deciding. First whether they will actually get in and if I had a vote, would I vote that artist in. Like I said, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction is next Monday and for the very first time (at least that I’m aware of) VH1 Classic will be covering it live starting at 8:30. You can also catch VH1’s usually butcher cut down version the following Saturday at 9:00. Now onto the list:
Joan Jett (already eligible) Will Get In: Yes Would I Vote: No
Every once in a while the Hall likes to induct artist solely on the strength of one song, most recently with Percy Sledge. Joan Jett could definitely fall into this with I Love Rock and Roll. The thing with Jett is that if you look at her whole career, with the Runaways and the Blackhearts, she may be Hall worthy, but either individual band or she by herself is not and unfortunately, the Hall doesn’t induct people for their involvement with other groups.
Nine Inch Nails (eligible 2019) Will Get In: No Would I Vote: No
I never got on the NIN bandwagon, much too electronic for my taste. As for the Hall, the group really only had two hit albums, not really screaming Hall worth. Although Trent Resnor may be able to sneak in because he was pretty innovative at the time being the first electronic hard rock outfit.
I guess she was included because she has the highest selling debut album ever. But if you look at who she took the title from, Hootie and the Blowfish and Boston, you have a band that won’t likely get in (although I’d vote for Hootie) and a band that has been eligible for a while without even being making it to the nomination phase. Plus she was a one trick pony as a token angry chick that has fallen into obscurity after getting over her anger issues.
Oasis (eligible 2019) Will Get In: No Would I Vote: No
A lock for the UK Hall of Fame but unless the band has a late career resurgence but just doesn’t have the resume to get in stateside. They only had two relevant albums here, both of which had some missteps. Everything since has been for the most part rightfully ignored although you can find some gems in their later catalogues like the sorely overlooked Stop Crying Your Heart Out.
Destiny’s Child (eligible 2023) Will Get In: No Would I Vote: No
Plenty of great songs by the group but their first three albums were spotty after the single and their last album was absolutely horrible. And that may be their last album with Beyoncé focusing on her solo and acting career. Well until they both wane and the girls get back for the inevitable reunion tour. But as is, the group is far from being Hall worthy.
So those were the twenty-five artist that were mentioned in the AOL list. Next are five artists that didn’t make that list but are worth discussing. The first two were purposed by Russ while the last three are groups that I wanted to bring up.
Soundgarden (eligible 2013) Will Get In: No Would I Vote: No
The Hall, much as time has been, will not be kind to the Grunge era. Nirvana is in, Pearl Jam barely gets in, but I doubt another Grunge era band gets inducted wether it is deserved or not. Yeah, Soundgarden was one of the few bands from the era that successfully transitioned in the post-grunge, alternative phase and I much perfered Superunknown and Down on the Upside opposed to the rest of their catalogued but if I were to vote for a third band from the Grunge era, I would give it to Alice in Chains.
Smashing Pumpkins (eligible 2018) Will Get In: Yes Would I Vote: Yes
Speaking of that the post-grunge alternative years, arguable there wasn’t a bigger band during that time that the Smashing Pumpkins. That should be enough to get the Pumpkins into the Hall and possible a fist ballot vote despite, like most double albums, Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness would have been better as a single disk and they turned into a rock and roll cliché when a touring band member overdosed while in the company of the drummer.
The biggest touring band of our era, two classic albums (Under the Table and Dreaming, Before These Crowded Streets) and even their worst album (Everyday) is still listenable. The Hall doesn’t seem to like the jam bands aside from The Greatful Dead, which doesn’t look good for the chances for Phish, but Dave and the boys should get in.
Sarah McLachlan (eligible 2014) Will Get In: Yes Would I Vote: Yes
McLaughlin will most like get in solely because of Lilith Fair but the music part of her is definitely there too. Sometime she is an afterthought because she does take a while between albums but is versatile going from an angelic song like, well, Angel yet can be very haunting like on Possession.
Public Enemy (eligible 2012) Will Get In: Yes Would I Vote: Yes
Forget a second about Flavor Flav’s recent reality television exploits, because PE were one of the most influential rap groups of the late eighties with two album that any hip-hop fan should be ashamed not to have (It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back, Fear of a Black Planet). I’ve said this many times before talking about potential inductees, but we cannot easily predicted rappers odds on getting in until we see hoe they treat the first wave, but it would be egregious not to have PE in. Plus who doesn’t want to see a Flavor Flav on the wrong side of fifty on stage one more time?
: For those in need of so holiday cheer, Amazon has a buch of Christmas albums for only $5.00 including ones from Frank Sinatra, Twisted Sister, New Edition and Sarah McLaughlin.
- Dia Frampton
- Feist
We are 85 shopping days until Christmas and for those wondering what you can get me, this will do just fine.
