For Your Listening Pleasure
Lauryn Hill – The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill
One of those CDs I listened to over and over again when it came out… and then completely forgot about. If you haven’t given it a listen, definitely do. Unfortunately, she’ll probably never put out anything as hot as this again.
News to You
Oh, that crazy Cam’ron. Have you heard this? Apparently, rap artist Cam’ron is angry at the NBA, who didn’t want him to perform at the recent All-Star Game halftime show. The NBA, however, didn’t think it was appropriate to (a) have him perform “Boy (I Need You)” with Mariah Carey during a halftime commemoration of Michael Jordan’s career, or (b) have a rapper with an outstanding gun charge represent the league. ‘Cause, ya know, guns are bad, right?
This gets better. Cam’ron says (to MTV.com): “There is nothing that will be bigger than a Michael Jordan tribute. I feel robbed. Sitting up in a skybox, watching the All-Star Game, seeing the half-time show, I felt like I was supposed to be out there.”
Yeah, he was robbed. I’d feel the same way if I was stuck up in a skybox. The only thing Cam’ron was robbed of was the “e” missing from his name. Damn.
In other “this man should not be your kids’ role model” news, Phyl sent this tid-bit in, about a recently released album:
I find it amusing that the name of R. Kelly’s newest album is “Chocolate Factory”. Has no one yet picked up the implications of this title? The Chocolate Factory, the place every kid dreams of going? It’s bad enough the guy has sex with children, but does he have to advertise it on his cds?
Ouch!
“Celebrity Pundits”
In his latest column, my brother Chris talked about how pissed off so-called “celebrity pundits” make him. Then, early this week, things got awkward between Jimmy Kimmel, co-host Janeane Garofalo and their guests on Jimmy Kimmel Live whenever the discussion turned to the war and recent anti-war protests. Add to that the fact that an online petition has recently been set up for those opposed to “Hollywood Celebrities abusing their status to speak for us” (here), and I’ve got myself a little issue to talk about here.
I agree with my brother to some extent. Unless I’m going to a benefit concert, something specifically designed to support a cause, the only reason I attend a rock concert is to hear a band perform, not to listen to them preach. I plan to watch the GRAMMYs next week to escape from ‘reality’, stargaze, hear some music, make fun of the winners (and what they’re wearing), and enjoy myself, not to think about world issues…
Taking this a step further, though, there is something to be said about the theory that you ought to speak out if you truly believe in something. And those of us who are lucky enough to have access to a microphone shouldn’t be afraid to use it. Then again, Spider-Man’s uncle once said that “with great power comes great responsibility” — and there’s an appropriate time and place for activism — yet many celebrities continuously blur the line to the point where they very well may be taking advantage of their status.
So how should a celebrity balance one side with the other?
Bono’s recent work to raise awareness of the AIDS epidemic in Africa is one great example of using your status the right way. Last year, he traveled to Africa with then-US Treasury secretary Paul O’Neill to discuss this and other issues; even more recently, he toured 80 major truck stops in the western US to spread the information he learned from his Africa visit.
It’s a tough call, and there’s a fine line to tread, with the key factor probably being each celebrity’s intentions. Are the Beastie Boys, Rage Against the Machine or Pete Seeger full of themselves, spewing politics just to SEEM like they’re cause-conscious? Or do they really believe what they preach, and are just following a moral obligation?
I prefer that if you’re performing and people are paying to see you rock, then you should stick to being a rock star. But, when off-duty, I can’t get mad at celebrities that use their fame to fight for causes they believe in.
Festival Update
I talked a bit about Lollapalooza last week, so as updates are made to the line-ups of this year’s big festivals, I now feel that I have the duty to report them to you.
According to Billboard.com:
The eighth Ozzfest, which begins in June, will include Korn, Marilyn Manson, and Disturbed among its mainstage acts…
The second annual Bonnaroo Festival, running from June 13-15 in Manchester, TN, has signed the Dead, Widespread Panic, Sonic Youth, James Brown, Ben Harper & the Innocent Criminals, Tortoise, the Roots, Warren Haynes, Bela Fleck & the Flecktones, moe., Medeski, Martin & Wood, Jack Johnson, Galactic, G. Love & Special Sauce, O.A.R., Antibalas Afrobeat Orchestra, Nickel Creek, and Keller Williams…
The 34th annual New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, running from April 24 through May 4, has confirmed hundreds of artists including Bob Dylan, LL Cool J, Crosby, Stills & Nash, Gladys Knight, India.Arie, Musiq, the Neville Brothers, Lil’ Romeo, Widespread Panic, Lucinda Williams, Michael Franks, Youssou N’Dour, North Mississippi Allstars, John Mayer, Angelique Kidjo, Ben Harper, Keb’ Mo’, and Los Lobos…
The Coachella Music & Arts Festival, running April 26-27 in Indio, CA, will include the Red Hot Chili Peppers, the Beastie Boys, White Stripes, Tortoise, Johnny Marr, Ben Harper, N.E.R.D., the Donnas, Jack Johnson, the Soundtrack Of Our Lives, Joseph Arthur, Black Eyed Peas, Cafe Tacuba, Kinky, Cat Power, the Polyphonic Spree, Ben Kweller, Hot Hot Heat, Stereo Total, and the Blue Man Group….
Wow. Stay tuned to Till My Head Falls Off for updates, as often as I feel like giving them.
Fun With Spellchecker
Let’s run the trusty Spellchecker, and see what it spits out this week:
(Hitting F7)
What I typed: Ozzfest.
Spellchecker’s suggested replacement: Ooziest, adj., “exuding moisture.” Yah.
See you all next week!
peace. love. moe.
– Matt
Till My Head Falls Off can be found weekly on 411 Music (old columns are archived in the pull-down menu below). Already hit everything on 411? You can find more from Matthew Michaels at moodspins and 1-42.
