Video : Robyn Covers Björk Hipsterdom Somehow Survives

In Music, News on 31 August 2010 tagged Björk’s, Hyperballad, Live, Polar Music Prize awards, Robyn, Stockholm, Video, Youtube with View Comments

Icelandic musical genius Björk was a recipient of the Polar Music Prize in Stockholm Sweden where Swedish pop star and Blog darling Robyn paid tribute with a performance of Björk’s brilliant signature single Hyperballad.

Though Robyn seemed to be lacking assurance and stage presence in the opening section of the performance, she eventually picked up steam and brings life to song despite being unable to hit all of Björk’s notes. It is in the second half of the performance that Robyn proves she is one of only a handful of artists who can truly cover a Björk while still bringing some of their own energy to the performance:

Download MP3 here.

Jay-Z and Kanye West Are ‘Hotter Than a Middle Eastern Climate’ on Monster

In Hip Hop, History, Internet, Music, News on 27 August 2010 tagged Barbie, Bon Iver, Kanye West, Monster, Nicki Minaj, Rick Ross, Watch the Throne with View Comments

Everybody know I‘m a MOTHERFUCKIN‘ MONSTER

BNW favorites Jay-Z and Kanye West will release a five track joint project aptly entitled Watch the Throne. For the project’s first single, Monster, the Kings of Hip Hop have enlisted the rightfully resurgent Rick Ross, current Hip Hop darling Nicki Minaj, and fellow BNW favorite Bon Iver.

In the words of the pink wigged Bride of Chucky herself, the single is “Hotter than a Middle Eastern climate.”

Download MP3 here.

Inception’s Millions a Sign of Our Postmodern Times?

In Art, Film, History, News, Opinion, TV, cartoon, fame on 26 August 2010 tagged Christopher Nolan, Inception, Iron Man 2, postmodern, postmodernism, Shrek, Shrek Forever After, The Twilight Saga: Eclipse, Toy Story 3 with View Comments

“the real is not only what can be reproduced, but that which is always already reproduced”

-Jean Baudrillard

Forbes.com describes Christopher Nolan‘s Inception – the fifth highest grossing film of the Summer 2010 movie season – as:

The $160 million movie was a big gamble for Time Warner studio Warner Bros. It‘s not based on a book, a TV show or an older movie

Forbes.com: Summer 2010‘s Box Office Winners [Yahoo! Movies]

Adding an original, if not entirely original, subtext to a film that depict several realities literally crashing, flowing, and building into one another. Ironic, coincidence, zeitgeist, or yet another example of web bombast?

Perhaps we should consult Monsieur Baudrillard as to why a film based upon an original screenplay questioning the reality of the worlds around us is considered such a novelty in a time when four of the top five grossing summer movies are sequels, two have been books (comic or otherwise), and one has also experienced at least one television iteration?

When Did America Become So UN-American

In Crime, History, News, Opinion, Politics, Racism, citizenship, religion on 23 August 2010 tagged 14th Amendment, American exceptionalism, Barack Hussein Obama, Cordoba House, Ground Zero, Jan Brewer, Louie Gohmert, Mosque, Park51, Reconstruction Amendments, tea party, Tea Party Express, Terror Babies, Texas with View Comments

On July 29, 2009, Arizona’s controversial SB1070 went into effect. Though, key language regarding the authority of law officials to check the immigration status of people in Arizona was blocked by United States District Judge Susan Bolton, the fact is that many Americans remain in support of a law that is in direct contrast to the presumption of innocence that is said to be a corner stone of American democracy and exceptionalism.

A proposed mosque near the site of Ground Zero has earned the ire of one-time Tea Party leaders and lead to the resurgence of suspicions about U.S. President Barack Hussein Obama’s faith. Both in direct opposition to the opening statement of the First Amendment to the United States Constitution “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.”

Amid fear of a monkey worshipping President and an impending South of the Border Clash, politicians are calling for the repeal of the 142 year old 14th Amendment of the United States Constitution. The proposed repeal backed by Politicians like Texas’ Louie Gohmert minces few words and wastes even less times by hacking the the very first sentence of the first section of one of the Reconstruction Amendments: “All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and : “subject to the jurisdiction thereof, : “are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside.”

Also, someone may want to read the second sentence of the first section of the Amendment stating that “No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws” to Jan Brewer.

To be clear, American politicians, pundits, and commentators are working overtime to ostracize and alienate ever increasing groups of the American people in an election year. In this [death] race to further limit what (or who) an American can be, these concerned citizens are slowly chipping away at the very things that made “Us” stand out from “Them” only 9 short years ago…

Video : King of Pop Lives on Thru A Fine Frenzy and The White Stripes

In Art, History, MJ, Music, News, R&B, fame on 23 August 2010 tagged A Fine Frenzy, Live, Michael Jackson, MJ, MJJ, Seven Nation Army, The Way You Make Me Feel, The White Stripes, Video, Youtube with View Comments

“An artist that was pretty impactful in pretty much every young musician‘s life. He was an incredible, incredible performer and his songs were amazing“