Wednesday, July 15, 2009

Uh, WE all knew he was still famous. Oh, Dave.

"Thousands of people packed the square late Tuesday night and into Wednesday morning, drawn by the ethereal promise of an appearance by the popular comedian. They stayed two hours despite a tiny sound system that made Chappelle nearly inaudible, creating one of the most remarkable spontaneous gatherings in Portland history.... instead of the 200 people Chappelle said he anticipated showing up at the square, thousands did. He had no entourage and, apparently, not one security guard.

Chappelle kept speaking to the crowd, at one point saying he was proud, "when people can stand this close together and not be angry."




He said he didn't realise he was still famous.

Bless. He's so dear! And talented! And brimming with integrity! Maybe this means he's planning a comeback...but, uh, without the planning aspect. Seemingly the show didn't work out so much.

Full story here

PS: Really?
The ethereal promise? I call foul, Oregonlive! In your haste to gush you've gotten imprecise with your language. Calm yourself.

PPS: If that doesn't make you ruminate on These Days of Internets, then I don't know what. I just. Don't. Know. (What.) (WHAT?!) (Yeah.)

Thursday, July 9, 2009

Beyoncé My Fiancée

Beyonce released a new video today. All I can come up with right now is "Girl, stop. You are killing them."

Naw, I've got more to say, but I'll leave it 'til I can find me an embeddable, high quality version of the video. Here's a taster of the video:



Naw...I've got to say more because, like, just, Maaaannnnnnn. Go find the video on youtube, I won't be mad.

See, I kind of hated this song when it was leaked way way back in times of yore. I was just not behind the idea of a synthetic casing for Beybey's voice, I wanted to let it breathe. I wasn't feeling this pulsing sort of vibe. I wanted a big warm beat. Two things have now won me over. One, the vibrato she throws all over the bridge. Aaaaah! And now, two, this video. WERK!

(Which reminds me: I'll have to post about Ciara's now-not-too-new video because my girlfriend number two Melina directed it and it Spits. Hot. Fire).

I wasn't feeling the song because I first fell for Beyonce, really and truly, like trying to convert other people truly, when I heard Suga Mama. And that's all wanted her to do for ever and ever. Gut bucket guitar. Saucy ass horns. Come sit on mama's lap.

Re-listen to this song and the first thing you should think is: "If this were someone's first single, we'd all be falling over ourselves in a post-Winehouse longing for retro to be restored. We'd hail this woman as a sexified, saleable Sharon Jones lite."

That won't be the first thing you think, though. The first think you think will be "THIGHS."

Tuesday, March 3, 2009

Breaking up like the signal on my digital cable.

So this is really just great. It's really simple, but you'll notice it has three generations of technologically dependant distortions, the type of little things (digital aliasing, projector flickering) that draw you out of the experience of watching. Which is right on theme, his heart breaky detachment from what's good and real and happy and junk. (His angst and this video are So. Post. Modern). But also so savvy and aware of how people watch videos now! And subtle. Almost too subtle, like you think it really is that distorted, like you're watching a bad copy. But you're not. That's just like HOW HE FEELS.

Brilliant.

Friday, February 6, 2009

I'll be in the...no pun. Just this is awesome.

Sometimes you hear a song and it's catchy. Other times you hear a song and you love it. Rarely do you hear a song and get excited about the artist. I am excited as hell about this artist.

And yes, he sounds like Andre.

A lot like Andre.

Don't care! Original in an established way is still original! And he is a baby.

I'm not enthused about the first little bit of the video, but you stick with it kids. It's worthwhile.

Oh and he produced this himself.




Yeah yeah yeah.

Yeah.

Tuesday, January 20, 2009

Yay reaching for analogues! And being offensive in the process!

This article is sort of offensive.

They are both products of an interracial marriage. Their fathers, black, hailed from Africa, one from Kenya, the other from Nigeria. Their mothers, white, hailed from the hinterland, one from Kansas in the American Midwest, the other from Edmonton in Canada's frozen north...."When you watch Obama and see the way he pulls people in; he sucks them in like tractor beams; and creates a buzz - that's the same way Jarome does it too," Conroy said. "Their messages are so positive. You can see emotion in the way they express themselves."...During his campaign, Obama spoke frequently about how his values were formed, largely as a result of his upbringing. Iginla says virtually the same things.

Imagine the story meeting:
"So, I want to compare Iginla to Obama."

"On what basis? They're totally different."

"No no! They're both HALF BLACK....and I guess they're leaders and junk. Yeah. SO SIMILAR!"

"Oh. Well plenty of people say 'their family helped shape them' and have friends who are willing to say nice things about them."

"They both have Dads from Africa, though. Spooky, eh?"

"Where in Africa? Like, the same town? It's a big place. Doesn't sound TOO too similar."

"No no no! Didn't you hear me? They're both half black. AND half white. THEY ARE SEPARATED AT BIRTH!"

"Fine, whatever, I'm on lunch."

...

Front page of the section!


I'm surprised they didn't point out both their names start with a vowel and end with an a. That is some trivial, ill conceived shit right there.