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02-23-2010 Welcome back to an appropriately-themed musical addition of Do You Feel Like We Do? I love music. I tend to be very opinionated on what I think is good music and what I consider to be not so good. A good song can course through me and I can lose myself in it. On the other hand, you don't want to be anywhere near me when bad music is playing. I'll pout; I'll make fun of the song; I'll do about anything short of breaking the radio, CD player, or iPod to get it to stop. I guess a lot of people are like that. However, one difference is that I actually have taste in music. Others only think they do. So, I'm going to take a moment to discuss some musical topics that have been on my mind lately. Again, you get one that makes me happy, one sad, and one angry! Happy: Led Zeppelin makes me happy. Their hammers are indeed a gift from the gods. And since I was still in diapers when Bonzo died, the closest I can come to experiencing one of their live performances is to check out the way-talented tribute band, Zoso. I strongly encourage any other Zep fans to see them if their tour comes to your town. This isn't just some garage band; they are an all-out experience. They look like the real members of Led Zeppelin. More importantly, they sound like the real Zeppelin. I'm talking the drummer plays with his hands during Moby Dick, and lead guitar has a double-necked axe for TSRTS and plays with a bow during Dazed and Confused. The singer contorts himself uncomfortably like many 70s front men did. And the bass player, well, as my friends would say, he plays competently. Anyway, go see them. Listen to me now; thank me later. Angry: American Idol makes me angry. Fortunately, its ratings will drop next year without Simon, and will fall catastrophically if Howard Stern joins the cast. And poor Randy, what will he do - magically grow an opinion of his own? I'll believe it when I see it, dawg. Randy's watches have way more personality than their owner does. Of all the reasons to be angry at Idol, maybe you think it's because they have one of the weakest classes of 24 since their inception. Especially the guys. This "best year ever" will have its winner disappear faster than Taylor Hicks. Maybe you think I'm angry because Idol is one of the biggest time-wasters on TV. Just last week, they had a 2-hour episode that mostly featured the judges sifting through poloroids of the hopefuls while there was a montage of mumbling where you couldn't even understand what comments went with each contestant. Not to mention the remainder of the show consisting of contestants navigating approximately 100 stairs to hear their fate, then 100 stairs back to the fakest reactions ever - where rivals cheered if they found out someone had made it to the Top 24 (thus lessening their own chances) or consoling them if the person didn't make it (thus bettering their own odds). However, if you guessed I was angered by this lack of understanding of odds and probabilities, then 1) you are very strange and 2) you are very close. Because the reason I'm angry at American Idol is the judges' lack of mathematical skills. That's right. I pay the closest attention to the audition episodes, and it's statistical improbability that you will make it through an episode without a judge giving a contestant a "one thousand percent yes," or any percentage higher than 100, which is not possible (in this instance, at least). This bothers me a lot. Where is all this extra "yes" coming from? Are they stealing it from other judges? Is it being imported from China and raising our trade deficit? Are they pumping it from Ruben Studdard's stomach? I don't understand it. I just understand that it makes me mad. Sad: I've been sad lately watching Eric Clapton on TV trying to sell me a cell phone from T-Mobile. A quick check of Slowhand's website, currently reveals this as the top story. Dude, c'mon. This has me bordering on angry. Say what you will about The Who's performance at the Super Bowl; they weren't selling anything but The Who. Jimi Hendrix and Janis Joplin had the right idea and checked out early. At least they're not doing ads for Budweiser and Pepsi. I really like some of Clapton's work. The original Layla (Derek and the Dominos) and his version of Crossroads (Cream) are excellent tunes. But I can't stand how he's sold out over time. The sappiness of Tears in Heaven drives me insane. Then I read this article (of questionable authenticity) about how Clapton freaked about having this kid anyway and barely knew him. However, after having someone co-write this supposedly heartfelt song about the loss of his son, Clapton raked in the awards and the sympathy of the music world. Gross. Despite the fact that Clapton had at least a few marriages, several affairs, children out of wedlock, a heroin addiction, was an alcoholic and racist, I think his worst offense is destroying Layla with that despicable unplugged version. The fact that the unplugged version gets equal or more radio play today than the original makes me sad. Stay happy! -T |
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