Thursday, January 03, 2008

Previewing When Weather Changed History


Have you ever thought to yourself, “The Weather Channel and The History Channels are cool, but I wish there was a way to combine them”? If so, first, we should totally hang out, and second, I have a show for you: When Weather Changed History premiering Sunday, January 6 at 9PM EST on the Weather Channel.

The concept of the show is pretty self explanatory and the first episode deals with the Challenger explosion which, even though I remember it vividly when it happened, I guess I was too young to follow up to every find out what exactly when wrong and never realized that weather was a factor in what happened that day. The show interviews a couple of people who were there and were working for NASA at the time as well as archive footage from the disaster and subsequent inquiry into what happened.

I have made it a habit of collecting front page newspaper of big events and the Challenger explosion was the very first I ever save so it was very interesting to go back two decades later and learn more about the tragedy. Below you can find a clip of the premiere episode, a press release about the show and a list of upcoming episodes:




NEW HD SERIES UNCOVERS WHEN WEATHER CHANGED HISTORY
The Weather Channel® Series Features Weather’s Surprising Impact on Historic Events


Was the weather just too cold on the morning of the space shuttle Challenger’s launch to support a successful mission? Did a dust storm actually devastate a military operation and ultimately help shape a presidency? A new high-definition series on The Weather Channel (TWC) looks at the power of nature and its incredible impact on modern history.

When Weather Changed History, a series of one-hour suspenseful dramas, offers the often-surprising effects of weather on well known history events. TWC uncovers key moments with insider personal stories that disclose unexpected facts about history, revealing both mankind’s heroism and hubris. The dramatic documentary series starts Sunday, January 6, 2008, with an episode on the space shuttle Challenger. The series will air every Sunday night at 9 p.m. ET and 11 p.m. ET. History often repeats itself, so for the first time, the network will broadcast encore episodes of the premiere episode throughout launch week.

“While most people don’t realize it, weather has had such a dramatic impact on history,” said Janet Johnson, VP of long-form program planning and production at TWC. “This is a launch event like no other for The Weather Channel, and we wanted to give our loyal viewers, as well as those new to the channel, multiple opportunities to see this incredibly dramatic and surprising first episode.”

Each episode explores influential and exciting moments in history when the forces of weather intertwine with the forces of human nature to change the course of history. These weather-influenced experiences come from the fields of politics, exploration, the military, sports, entertainment and much more. The focus of the series is the epic struggle of man against the power of nature – and the dangers of underestimating that power.

“Each program engages viewers through strong drama, action video and stories of personal risk and heroism,” said Johnson. “This series delivers compelling content with all these qualities while including both the scientific facts and emotions involved with these events.”

When Weather Changed History joins existing programs on TWC, Epic Conditions and Weatherventures, as another program shot in native high definition that will be simulcast in HD and SD. When Weather Changed History episodes feature a daring South Pole rescue to secure medical treatment for the sole physician of an isolated research station, the Battle of the Bulge, the space shuttle Challenger, the race to Nome that inspired the modern-day Iditarod and the Mississippi flood of 1927. Other series focuses include the evacuation at Dunkirk during World War II, the capsized coal ship that sparked the creation of the U.S. Coast Guard, the Air Florida crash in the Potomac and the Delta 191 crash that changed commercial aviation and windshear detection, and Operation Eagle Claw in response to the Iran-Contra hostage crisis. Future planned episodes include the super tornado outbreak of 1974 and the Dust Bowl during the Great Depression.


---------------------------------------------------------------


EPISODE GUIDE: When Weather Changed History


An innovative new series from The Weather Channel spotlights the weather that has, quite literally, changed our world. Unexpected stories are told and highlight the ways in which the almighty power of nature has steered the march of history.

Challenger – Airing 1/6/2008
Jan. 28, 1986: The space shuttle Challenger and seven crewmembers prepare for its tenth flight into orbit. Despite colder than average temperatures, the mission is given the go ahead. Seventy-three seconds after take off, the shuttle suddenly explodes – to the shock of all those watching below – killing all seven crewmembers. NASA and an independent investigative commission determine that a combination of events, some triggered by the cold weather on launch day, caused the failure of the O rings on the shuttle. (Premiere episode: Sunday, Jan. 6, 9 p.m. ET)

Battle of the Bulge – Airing 1/13/2008
Dec. 1944 – Jan. 1945: In the largest, bloodiest land battle ever fought by American soldiers, more than 1.1 million American, British and German men take part and nearly 20,000 are killed. In mid-December, the American army is low on supplies when the well-equipped German army releases a surprise, brutal attack on the Americans. As desperate Nazi troops use the cover of severe winter weather to counterattack Allied forces, weather conditions also hinder American attacks. Then a fortuitous break in the weather finally enables them to defeat the Germans and destroy the Third Reich, impacting the outcome of World War II.

Air Florida Potomac Crash – Airing 1/20/2008
Jan. 13, 1982: Air Florida Flight 90, with 79 people onboard, takes off from Washington National Airport in a snowstorm. Seconds into the flight, the plane crashes into the icy Potomac River, killing 78 people, including four people on the ground. The crash of Flight 90 changes commercial aviation. In the wake of the tragedy, new communication protocols are developed and stricter de-icing guidelines are enacted, making air travel safer.

Operation Eagle Claw – Airing 1/27/2008
Nov. 4, 1979: Islamic extremists take 66 American hostages at the U.S. Embassy in Tehran, Iran. The following April, military pilots engage in a mission for recovery in the Iranian desert. At first the weather is perfect, but after crossing the Iranian border, the helicopter and airplane pilots find themselves in the middle of a suspended dust storm called a haboob. Weather conditions and insufficient forecasting help cause disastrous results for “Operation Eagle Claw.”

Rescue from the South Pole – Airing 2/10/2008
Feb. 1999: Dr. Jerri Nielsen, 46, is living her dream as the sole physician to 41 staff members at an isolated South Pole research station. Dr. Nielsen discovers a lump in one of her breasts, which by June, has grown to the size of a golf ball. Pilot Maj. George McAllister and members of the 109th Air National Guard fly one of the earliest recorded flights to the South Pole, making a daring rescue in intense Antarctic conditions and zero visibility.

Dunkirk Evacuation – Airing 2/17/2008
May 26, 1940: The course of World War II is at stake as the British army attempts to evacuate hundreds of thousands of Allied troops from the beaches of Dunkirk, France, despite severe weather. Estimates are that only about 10 percent of the troops can successfully evacuate because smaller boats are needed. Thousands of British citizens with small civilian boats volunteer to help in the effort, and in nine days, more than three hundred thousand French and British soldiers are rescued.

Coast Guard Rescue – Airing 2/24/2008
Feb. 11, 1983: Just off the Virginia coast, the Marine Electric ship journeys to Massachusetts with 27,000 tons of coal. As a blizzard sweeps offshore, gale-force winds capsize the coal ship, leaving only a few crewmembers alive. The Congressional inquiry into the tragedy helps establish The Coast Guard Rescue Swimmer program. The program’s success and the Marine Electric’s legacy are apparent in 2005 when Coast Guard helicopter teams rescue Hurricane Katrina survivors.

The Great Mississippi Flood of 1927 - Airing 3/2/2008
Spring 1927: Perhaps America’s greatest natural disaster deeply changes race relations, government and society in the Mississippi River Valley. A flood of more than 30 feet of water stands over land inhabited by nearly one million people. Almost 300,000 African-Americans are forced to live in refugee camps for months. The changes produced by the flood in the lower South ultimately foreshadow federal government intervention in the region's social and economic life. Today, many draw parallels between Hurricane Katrina and the 1927 flood.

Delta 191 Crash – Airing 3/9/2008
Aug. 2, 1985: With 163 people onboard, Delta Flight 191 prepares to land at the Dallas/Fort Worth airport. Instead, it crashes about 100 yards from the runway, killing 137. Investigators later prove that just before landing, the plane flew into a weather phenomenon known as a microburst, generating the most violent form of wind shear. This conclusion leads to widespread improvements in wind shear detection and severe weather training for pilots.

Race to Nome – Airing 3/16/2008
Jan. 1925: A diphtheria epidemic threatens the region near Nome, Alaska, and the only hope is lifesaving medicine hundreds of miles away. In the middle of winter, the 700-mile dog sled trip is the only option available. At a time when it normally takes a musher 15-20 days to make the trip over the old Iditarod Trail while dogs and drivers encounter blizzards and 50-below-zero cold, this trip brings the serum to Nome in a record five days and seven hours. The modern-day dog sled race, the Iditarod, commemorates those dog teams and drivers.

Wednesday, January 02, 2008

I, Scooter McGavin, Endorse…


Longtime readers to the 9th Green may not realize it, but the astute reader may notice the occasional political reference I try to drop into my otherwise pop culture reference heavy posts. Even though I rarely talk about it at lengths here, I am a big time political junky to the point that I would much rather hook up with Holly Bailey than Jessica Simpson, Jessica Alba or Jessica Tangy (if you don’t know who Holly Bailey is it is time to turn off E! and work in MSNBC every once in a while).

Of course the only problem with being a political junky these days is the politicians that get elected seem to get worse and worse with the last two presidential elections instead of voting who I thought would be the better leader, I was forced to instead vote for the dude I thought would mess up the country the least. This lead me in recent years to realize that all politicians cannot be trusted and the longer they stay in office the more corrupt they become (look at the two-term presidents since the institution of term limits, each had a major scandal: Scooter Libby, Monica Lewinski, Iran-Contra, Watergate, Tea Pot Dome).

And so I started my anti-incumbent stance when it came to election in that I would never vote for any candidate with that big (I) next to it. The only problem this time around is that there won’t be an incumbent to vote against in the presidential race. And the primaries, starting tomorrow, are extra important this year because there is an overabundance of horrible candidates this year which could lead to another Douche vs. a Turd Sandwich type showdown between Rudy Giuliani and Hilary Clinton.

So if you are an independent like me, is it very important this year, if your state has open primary elections (i.e. you do not have to be registered to either party, you just go in and say which ballot you want), that you make your voice heard so us in the middle, as in the vast majority of the country do not have to again choose between the person who we think will suck the least. Considering I won’t be able to vote until March, I’m not sure which primary I will be voting in, mostly likely the one that isn’t already predetermined at that point, but here are the two candidates, from both sides of the aisles that I am officially endorsing and hopefully you will be taking a look at more closely are your primaries near closer:

John McCain (Republican)

John McCainOne of the main reasons I became so disenfranchised with politics eight years ago was McCain would have made for a much better candidate than either George Bush or Al Gore and we would not have gotten in the mess had Karl Rove and his hoodlums hadn’t spread nasty rumors in South Carolina back in 2000. Now it is time to right that wrong by putting McCain in the White House. He is by far the most experienced candidate in the field and in a time a war, what a novel idea to have an actual military man, one who actually knows what torture is and is not unlike Mitt Romney, as commander in chief. And we can blame the recent Walter Reed scandal on having sixteen years of presidents who, not only did not serve their country in a time a war, but did everything they could to avoid fighting.

Another plus to McCain is that he, unlike virtually every other candidate is above pandering, as he is the only voice of reason in Iowa who doesn’t try to get votes by promising biofuel subsidies to the state when he knows that that grain being converted to fuel is better used to feed the world and that biofuels are not that much more efficient than oil based fuels. Speaking of fuel, he is also one of the few republicans that admit that global warming is a real thing, and since he isn’t in bed with oil complains he can make it easier to wean ourselves off the stuff and make the country more energy efficient.

Again on the pandering, unlike every presidential campaign that all the sudden is a lifelong hunter, John McCain, when asked if he was a gun owner, gave the best response in that he knows how to use a gun, have used them in the past, but no longer has a need for them. A much better stance than Mike Huckabee who’s solution to inner city gun problems is right to carry permits. That’s right, to lower the murder rate, more guns are needed. Gee, how about increasing the availability of cold medicine to curb the meth problem? And let’s not forget Huckabee’s ethics problems he faced as governor. (An Arkansas governor with questionable ethics, where have I heard that before?)


Joe Biden (Democrat)

(Scooter's Update: Um, yeah, just ignore this part)
Joe BidenWhenever I see the democrat poll I always wonder if I have entered some bizarro world because the second tier candidates like Biden, Chris Dodd, and Bill Richardson are much better candidates than the first tier of Barak Obama, Hilary Clinton, and John Edwards. Sure Clinton is right in that Obama, who would make a much better vice president than commander in chief, is too inexperienced but that is a little too much of a kettle/black situation as if her time as First Lady really qualified as experience. If so the English National Team would be calling Posh Spice on to play in the next World Cup.

When it comes to actual experience on the democratic side, Joe Biden tops the list. While Clinton and Obama knock each other foreign policy experience, Biden is currently the chairman of Foreign Relations Committee while spending thirty-two years total on it. And much like McCain, Biden isn’t beholden to big corporations and unlike the last two presidents who were, we won’t have to wonder how many criminals that will be pardoned because they or family members were big contributors (Norman Zhu anyone?).

Also like McCain, Biden is that candidate that candidate that can appeal the center. Seriously, isn’t twenty years of Bush-Clinton partisanship enough? You really don’t want to extend that to twenty-eight years, possibly thirty-six if Jeb eventually throws his hat in the ring in one of the next races. In fact a Biden-Obama ticket would be the best chance for the Democrats as long as they do not face a Repuiblican ticket headlined by McCain.

Most importantly Biden is foursquare (Scooter’s Note: For Christmas I received a Word of the Day calendar and that was today's, so if you see large words in the months ahead, that is most likely the reason why). And here is a fun fact for you The Office fans out there: Joe Biden, born in Scranton, Pennsylvania.


For those who still need more research on these and other candidates, check out the YouTube video below with question from both YouTube debates:



Sunday, December 30, 2007

100 Best Songs of 2007


This being the Most Mediocre Year Ever, there is no band that sums that up better than Paramore. The bad got a big push from MTV and their record label thanks to being one of the first bands to sign a 360 degree deal. Yet with all the marketing muscle behind their three singles this year, the band wasn’t good enough to show up on this list nor were bad enough to land of the Worst Songs of 2007 list. So congratulations Paramore, with all the mediocre music put out by bland artists such as OneRepublic, Lifehouse, and Sean Kingston, you managed to be the most mediocre of them all. Although the problem with the most mediocre of them all, even though this is the Most Mediocre Year Ever, you will most likely be forgotten by 2009. Sorry.

Onto the songs that did make the list, the reason this is the Most Mediocre Year Ever is the great songs were really thin at the top this year. Most of these songs wouldn’t have cracked the top ten in other years. With that said, even though there was a lacking of great songs, there was an overabundance of good songs this year to the point that there were ten to twenty songs this year that deserved to make the top one hundred when most years ninety through one hundred are an afterthought most years. But here are the ones that made the cut for this, the last post of 2007. Hopefully I will see you all back here in 2008.


1. Drivin' Me Wild - Common featuring Lily Allen

2. Dreaming With a Broken Heart - John Mayer

3. Can't Tell Me Nothing - Kanye West

4. Rehab - Amy Winehouse

5. Two - Ryan Adams

6. Stronger - Kanye West

7. Tennessee - The Wreckers

8. Oh My God - Mark Ronson featuring Lily Allen

9. Read My Mind - The Killers

10. No One - Alicia Keys

11. Radio Nowhere - Bruce Springsteen

12. Alfie - Lily Allen

13. Our Song - Taylor Swift

14. The Underdog - Spoon

15. The Game - Common

16. Brianstorm - Arctic Monkeys

17. Look After You - The Fray

18. LDN - Lily Allen

19. Love Song - Sara Bareilles

20. Dumb It Down - Lupe Fiasco featuring GemStones & Graham Burris

21. Everybody Knows - Ryan Adams

22. Rockstar - Nickelback

23. Trouble Sleeping - Corinne Bailey Rae

24. Like You'll Never See Me Again - Alicia Keys

25. 1234 - Feist

26. Fluorescent Adolescent - Arctic Monkeys

27. Extraordinary - Mandy Moore

28. Sober - Kelly Clarkson

29. You Know I'm No Good - Amy Winehouse

30. Young Folks - Peter Bjorn and John featuring Victoria Bergsman

31. Bleed It Out - Linkin Park

32. Bubbly - Colbie Caillat

33. Say - John Mayer

34. Shut Up and Drive - Rihanna

35. Open Your Eyes - Snow Patrol

36. Believe - The Bravery

37. Ah Mary - Grace Potter and the Nocturnals

38. Smiley Faces - Gnarls Barkley

39. Umbrella - Rihanna featuring Jay-Z

40. Big Casino - Jimmy Eat World

41. Tranquilize - The Killers featuring Lou Reed

42. Halloweenhead - Ryan Adams

43. Hang Me Up to Dry - Cold War Kids

44. Can You Believe - Robin Thicke

45. Hate That I Love You - Rihanna and NeYo

46. If You're Gonna Leave - Emerson Hart

47. Harder Than You Think - Public Enemy

48. Roc Boys - Jay-Z

49. Other Side of the World - KT Tunstall

50. Tears Dry On Their Own - Amy Winehouse

51. All Good Things (Come to an End) - Nelly Furtado

52. Makes Me Wonder - Maroon 5

53. Throw Some D’s (Remix) - Kanye West

54. Listen!!! - Talib Kweli

55. 100 Days, 100 Nights - Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings

56. The Pretender - Foo Fighters

57. Conquest - The White Stripes

58. What Goes Around.../...Comes Around Interlude - Justin Timberlake

59. Won't Go Home Without You - Maroon 5

60. Window In the Skies - U2

61. What I've Done - Linkin Park

62. Ever Ever After - Carrie Underwood

63. Nolita Fairytale - Vanessa Carlton

64. The People - Common

65. Never Again - Kelly Clarkson

66. Littlest Things - Lily Allen

67. Wasted - Carrie Underwood

68. Wake Up Call - Maroon 5

69. Icky Thump - The White Stripes

70. Her Eyes - Pat Monahan

71. Dance Tonight - Paul McCartney

72. Classic (Better Than I've Ever Been) - KRS-One, Kanye West, Nas & Rakim

73. Hot In Herre - Jenny Owen Youngs

74. Ain't Nothing Wrong With That - Robert Randolph and the Family Band

75. New Shoes - Paolo Nutini

76. Stop Me - Mark Ronson featuring Daniel Merriweather

77. Tarantula - Smashing Pumpkins

78. Shut Your Eyes - Snow Patrol

79. The Way I Am - Ingrid Michaelson

80. Teardrops On My Guitar - Taylor Swift

81. Hey There Delilah - Plain White T’s

82. B.U.D.D.Y. - Musiq Soulchild

83. Australia - The Shins

84. You're All I Have - Snow Patrol

85. Guitar - Prince

86. Gravity - John Mayer

87. Good Life - Kanye West featuring T-Pain

88. Say Ok - Vanessa Hudgens

89. Gotta Work - Amerie

90. Follow the Lights - Ryan Adams

91. You Give Me Something - James Morrison

92. Valerie - Mark Ronson featuring Amy Winehouse

93. Saving My Face - KT Tunstall

94. So Small - Carrie Underwood

95. Do It - Nelly Furtado

96. Candyman - Christina Aguilera

97. Thinking About You - Norah Jones

98. Undeniable - Mat Kearney

99. Tick Tick Boom - The Hives

100. This Ain't a Scene, It's an Arms Race - Fall Out Boy

To listen to snipits of most of the songs above or to buy them DRM-free, check out the widget below:


Saturday, December 29, 2007

30 Best Albums of 2007


In a story I broke last week, 2007 is the most mediocre year ever. Case in point, last year’s Best Albums of the Year list had fifty albums on it, this year it was hard to scrape thirty this year. Yeah there were a couple albums that could have gotten on this list but I never got around to listening to the whole thing and thus never reviewed (Linkin Park, Jay-Z), but for the most part I got hold of most everything I wanted to review, it was just not that much music this year and of those that I did review there really wasn’t anything great.

Two albums you definitely won’t be seeing on this list are Konvicted by Akon and T.I. vs. T.I.P. even though I got both for Christmas. Should I be offended that someone thought about me, “Now there is someone who would like listening to Akon”? But anyways. If you are interested in reading my original review of these albums, check out the link below the album and if you are interested in buying them on iTunes, click on the album link. If you want to buy the physical CD, head over to Scooter McGavin’s Amazon Store where you can order them there:


1. As I Am - Alicia Keys
It’s My Time, Said it’s My Time to Shine

2. Magic - Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band
I Just Want to Feel Some Rhythm

3. Alright, Still - Lily Allen
Sun Is in the Sky, oh Why, oh Why Would I Wanna Be Anywhere Else

4. Easy Tiger - Ryan Adams
I’m Open All Night and the Customers Come to Stay

5. Graduation - Kanye West
They Say I Talk with So Much Emphasis

6. Back to Black - Amy Winehouse
I Told Ya I Was Trouble

7. Favourite Worst Nightmare - Arctic Monkeys
Remember When He Used to be a Rascal

8. Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga - Spoon
I Wanna Forget How Convention Fits

9. Lupe Fiasco’s The Cool - Lupe Fiasco
But I Sphinx Like Leon

10. Little Voice - Sara Bareilles
There’ll Be Girls Across the Country that’ll Eat this Up

11. Chase This Light - Jimmy Eat World
Because Tonight the World Turned in Me

12. Luvanmusiq - Musiq Soulchild
I Ain’t No Hood, No Crook, No Robber

13. Finding Forever - Common
Can’t Leave Rap Alone the Streets Need Me

14. Wild Hope - Mandy Moore
I Was a Starling, Nobody’s Darling

15. Echo, Silence, Patience and Grace - Foo Fighters
I’m Finished Making Sense, Done Pleading Ignorance

16. Icky Thump - The White Stripes
The Hills Are Pretty and Rollin’

17. 100 Days, 100 Nights - Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings
He May Be Mellow, He May Be Kind

18. Coco - Colbie Caillat
You Make Me Smile Please Stay for a While

19. This Is Ryan Shaw - Ryan Shaw
If I Got You We Have More than Money

20. Lifeline - Ben Harper and the Innocent Criminals
Dance with Me to the Colors of the Dusk

21. The Reminder - Feist
Musings From the Back 9: Music Edition V

22. Freedom’s Road - John Mellencamp
I Like My Heroes to Be Honest and Strong

23. It Won’t Be Soon Before Long - Maroon 5
We Must Free Up These Tired Souls

24. Eardrum - Talib Kweli
It Ain’t Old School, New School, it’s True School Rap

25. Carnival Ride - Carrie Underwood
Here’s to You Hairbrush Singers and Dashboard Drummers

26. Not Too Late - Norah Jones
Love in the Time of War Is not Fair

27. Dramatic Fantastic - KT Tunstall
The World Will Turn if You’re Ready or Not

28. The Carnival II: Memoirs of an Immigrant - Wyclef Jean
Break Is Over Man, I’m Back with My Ink Pen

29. Combinations - Eisley
Listen to Me, You Pull Me Apart

30. Planet Earth - Prince
I Know U Hear Me Like a Whisper in Ur Ear

Friday, December 28, 2007

25 Best Mash-Ups of 2007


One of the coolest musical innovations in recent memory is the mash-up. For those that may not be familiar with the term, it can best be described when you take the vocals from one song and place them over the instrumental from a different song. The artform may have not gotten as much press this year as it has in past years but that doesn’t mean there aren’t some great new mash-ups floating around the internet. I tried to give credit to the creator of the mash-up, but due to some poor labeling, some have gotten lost and I even had to create a name for a few mash-ups that I discovered nameless. Also some of these songs may have been created earlier than 2007 but this is a list of songs I’ve found this year.

Please do not ask for me to send you any of these songs because for legal reasons I cannot confirm or deny that any of these songs actually exist (but I will point out there is a Google search box on the sidebar as well as other helpful links). You know, because I would not illegally download copyrighted material even though that material has been altered from any version that could be bought anywhere. If you want the unaltered album version of the songs, on the second line I will list the main songs that make up the mash-up (note some have more songs than I’ve listed):


1. Dip it Joe - Pheugoo
Christina Milian (Dip It Low) vs. Jimi Hendrix Experience (Hey Joe)

2. Escasy of Gold - DJ Erb
Nas (One Mic) vs. Ennio Morricone (The Ecstasy of Gold)

3. Lord Move Me on Up - locK3Down
DMX (Lord Give Me a Sign) vs. Primal Scream (Movin’ on Up)

4. Mashups in Heaven - Norwegian Recycling
Eric Clapton (Tears in Heaven) vs. Lionel Ritchie (Say You, Say Me)

5. Red Umbrella - DJ Topcat
Rihanna (Umbrella) vs. UB40 (Red, Red Wine)

6. Keep the Car Crazy - DJ Vic
Beyoncé (Crazy in Love) vs. Arcade Fire (Keep the Car Running)

7. Listen Twice - DJ BC
Talib Kweli (Listen!!!) vs. The Doobie Brothers (Listen to the Music)

8. Clock a Minute - Pheugoo
The Pussycat Dolls featuring Timbaland (Wait a Minute) vs. Coldplay (Clocks)

9. The World Changes on its Own - Cro
Amy Winehouse (Tears Dry on Their Own) vs. Eric Clapton (Change the World)

10. Mercy for the Scientist - Bobby Martini
Peter Gabriel (Mercy Street) vs. Coldplay (The Scientist)

11. Drop it Like it’s a Whole LottLed Snooppelin - Party Ben
Snoop Dogg featuring Pharrell Williams (Drop it Like it’s Hot) vs. Led Zeppelin (Whole Lotta Love)

12. Got My Crush Set on You - DJ BC
Lil’ Ceaz and Lil’ Kim (Crush on You) vs. George Harrison (Got My Mind Set on You)

13. (Are You Gonna Be My) Dirrrty Girl - Soundhog
Christina Aguilera featuring Redman (Dirrty) vs. Jet (Are You Gonna Be My Girl)

14. How Six Songs Collide - Norwegian Recycling
Jason Mraz (I’m Yours) vs. Howie Day (Collide)

15. You Don’t Know My Sweet Emotion - Aggro1
Alicia Keys (You Don’t Know My Name) vs. Aerosmith (Sweet Emotion)

16. Stir Up Problems - McSleazy
Jay-Z (99 Problems) vs. Charlatans (Song Unknown)

17. The Weather Episode - Go Home Productions
Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg (The Next Episode) vs. Crowded House (Weather with You)

18. Turn Off Bubba - Norwegian Recycling
Nelly Furtado (Turn Off the Light) vs. Bubba Sparxxx (Deliverance)

19. Gimmie the Nightclub - Dan Meth
50 Cent (In da Club) vs. George Benson (Give Me the Night)

20. My Favorite Name - Loo & Placido
Destiny’s Child (Say My Name) vs. The Cardigans (My Favourite Game)

21. More Falls Down - DJ Crook Air
Kanye West (All Falls Down) vs. Len (Steal My Sunshine)

22. Woohaa - DJ Nicky
Busta Rhymes (Woo Ha!! Got You All in Check) vs. AC/DC (Back in Black)

23. Killing Boombastic - DJ Zebra
Shaggy (Boombastic) vs. Rage Against the Machine (Killing in the Name)

24. Puppet Rock - CCC
Queen (We Will Rock You) vs. 5th Dimension (Puppet Man)

25. Penthouse Temperature - Essexboy
Sean Paul (Temperature) vs. Alan Braxe and Fred Fauke (Penthouse Serenade)

(Psst... Here is number 1, do not tell the RIAA)



Thursday, December 27, 2007

25 Best Music Videos of 2007


It is really hard to complain about MTV and VH1 no longer showing videos anymore because who these days wants to wade through videos that they hand pick when you have almost every video ever made at your disposal whenever you want on sites like YouTube? And here are the best of the best of from the past twelve months. I have embedded the first couple videos, the rest you can click the link to follow to YouTube and if you are interested in buying the videos, click the iTunes links. Now I should mention some of these videos are not safe for work but really nothing on YouTube is all the safe for work because I’m sure you boss wouldn’t be thrilled even if your watching a video of a cat playing with a ball of yarn. But anyways:


1. Can't Tell Me Nothing - Kanye West



2. Trapped in the Closet Chapter 1-12 Recap - R. Kelly



3. Rockstar - Nickelback Rockstar



4. Throw Some D's - Kanye West



5. Drivin’ Me Wild - Common featuring Lily Allen Drivin' Me Wild (Edited Version)




6. Windows in the Skies (Modernista Version) - U2 Window In the Skies (Nexus Version) - U2

7. Fluorescent Adolescent - Arctic Monkeys

8. Smiley Faces - Gnarls Barkley Smiley Faces

9. 1234 - Feist 1234 (Director's Version)

10. Halloweenhead - Ryan Adams Halloweenhead

11. Alfie - Lily Allen Alfie - Lily Allen

12. Conquest - The White Stripes Conquest

13. Read My Mind - The Killers Read My Mind

14. Hot in Herre - Jenny Owen Youngs Hot In Herre - Jenny Owen Youngs

15. Oh My God - Mark Ronson featuring Lily Allen Oh My God

16. Hang Me Up to Dry - Cold War Kids Hang Me Up to Dry

17. Young Folks - Peter Bjorn and John featuring Victoria Bergsman Young Folks

18. Stronger - Kanye West Stronger

19. Sinkin’ Soon - Norah Jones Norah Jones - Not Too Late - Sinkin' Soon

20. What I've Done - Linkin Park What I've Done

21. Ever Ever After - Carrie Underwood Carrie Underwood - Enchanted (Soundtrack from the Motion Picture) - Ever Ever After

22. Love Song - Sara Bareilles Love Song

23. LDN - Lily Allen

24. Sensual Seduction - Snoop Dogg Sensual Seduction

25. Long Road to Ruin - Foo Fighters Long Road to Ruin

Wednesday, December 26, 2007

The 9th Green’s Readers Favorite Songs of 2007


Before I get to your favorite songs of the year I first want to mention that just before Christmas I had ordered a gift for someone through Amazon and among the usual spam advertising slips that they stuff into their boxes there was an envelope where you can place old cell phones to send to the troops. So if you got a new cell phone for Christmas or are just like me and is a pack rat who keeps everything for no reason and had three just lying around collecting dust, please check out this website: Cell Phones for Soldiers to see where you can send any of your unused cell phones. They say the phone can be in any condition and don’t even need to still have a battery.

Last year was the first time I ever let you my readers influences the 9th Green (aside from the occasional pandering for comments) and this year I got four times more responses than last. Thanks to each and everyone who took time to compile your favorite songs of the year to make this list possible. With the more responses I think this ended up being a better list for the most part than last year. This year Rihanna was as close to consensus as it got this year being the only artist appearing on more than half of the lists I received. Keep in mind this list is solely your opinions and I in no way influenced it as I will be unveiling my favorite 100 songs of the year coming this Sunday. But here are your favorites:


1. Umbrella - Rihanna featuring Jay-Z

2. Stronger - Kanye West

3. Rehab - Amy Winehouse

4. Young Folks - Peter Bjorn and John

5. The Way I Are - Timbaland featuring Keri Hilson and D.O.E.

6. Radio Nowhere - Bruce Springsteen

7. 1234 - Feist

8. What Goes Around.../...Comes Around - Justin Timberlake

9. Again & Again - The Bird and the Bee

10. U + Ur Hand - P!nk

11. Love Song - Sarah Bareilles

12. Roc Boys (And The Winner Is)... - Jay-Z

13. Bonafied Lovin - Chromeo

14. It's Not Over - Daughtry

15. Hey There Delilah - Plain White T's

16. Lost - Michael Bublé

17. Must Be the Moon - !!!

18. Icky Thump - The White Stripes

19. Makes Me Wonder - Maroon 5

20. Girlfriend - Avril Lavigne

21. The Ain't a Scene, it's an Arms Race - Fall Out Boy

22. Where I Stood - Missy Higgins

23. Stranger - Hilary Duff

24. Apologize - OneRepublic and Timbaland

25. The Man - Pete Yorn