hello!

Exciting little email today, in case somme of you haven't heard. =)

 

The chat will take place at 11 am EST. I’m not telling you to skip school, but you should probably fake a stomach ache and be near a computer!

Make sure you get online early & register on the site so you’ll be able to get into the chat in time! See ya there

XO – thegirlbehindthecurtain

Good thing its a Jewish holiday tomorrow! =)

Meet Amanda:

Through poorly worded criticism, hollow arguments and disrespectful slander of specific band members (though I will note that she does give ATL the courtesy of insulting the entire band in their underwear), Amanda lets the interweb know just how much she passionately hates the bands that "we" all love. I got tired of all the "you hate them well, I hate you and you don't know what you're talking about you fat ugly bitch!" responses on YouTube and decided to ask myself, why do we love them? I mean really.

Notice I say "we." I'm not writing this because I don't like pop music. I do. Pop music saved my life, after all. All I really listen to myself by choice is Pop, though I do venture into other genres, I'm definitely gonna pick a We the Kings over an Iron Maiden.  I'm the first to raise my hand and profess my love for Metro Station, We The Kings, All Time Low, Paramore, FTSK, Danger Radio, The Academy Is... etc. etc. etc. But I also have a belief that when you strip it all down, it's really just the same music made by different people.

I'm totally okay with that.

Before you shut me down, allow me to explain how it's all the same to me:

• The words may be different, but the subject matter is the same. Relationships, emotions, parties, occasional random songs about random stuff, bitches and ho's bitches and ho's (lulz)
  
• Fundamentally, music is predictable. Especially in the pop/rock genre, (thank you John, Paul, George and Ringo!) same chord progressions, same instruments, same song structures.
  
• Same genre = same sound. There's a reason why genres exist. It's a good chance if you like one pop/rock band, you'll like others. Because being in the same genre means they sound same/similar. Humans enjoy classifying things. Labels, categories, stereotypes, you name it. In the negative connotation, call it pigeon-holing. But really, we're just lazy sons of bitches and like making things easy to find. 
• The chemistry of a band is formulaic. Goes all the way back to the boy band phenomena circa late 90's (Remember 2Ge+her?). Only this time you need instruments and attitude instead of sweet dance moves (though sweet dance moves are greatly appreciated). ie. relatively good looking lead member, crazy/goofy member, quiet/shy/elusive member, etc. etc.
  

So I'm thinking that the music is somewhat secondary when we decide which bands to love above the rest. I mean really, I like songs by Coldplay, but that doesn't make me put on a Coldplay t-shirt in the morning and save my babysitting money to buy a ticket to their concert. There must be something else causing us to buy their merch, listen to their songs, and generally, give a crap about them and what they do.

So what is it? Here's what I think. And I'll let my response to Amanda's lovely video do the talking:

kissth3cheek (22 hours ago)
kudos on being opinionated. but i really wish your reason for hating wasnt 99% based on their looks and the fact that everyone loves them. so the music isn't your taste but consider that a huge part of why they are widely loved is because these bands take time to let their fans get to know them. blogs, videos, etc. and 95% of a love for these bands has to do with their live shows and meet and greets. there's nothing like it, especially when you get up close and personal in the small venues.

It's persona.

persona (n.) - a person's perceived or evident personality, as that of a well-known official, actor, or celebrity; personal image; public role (- dictionary.com)

The personality that these bands present through youtube videos, blogging, performing on stage, meeting them and having real conversation with them, and even a twitter or a buzznet profile are all reasons why our love for these bands grow. It may not be the case, but they present themselves as accessible humans that we honestly all just wanna be best friends with, and through these avenues (and their music) we sometimes feel like we are. It seems like the only thing really separating us from them is that they're the ones on the stage and we're the ones watching.


My number one example of this idea of accessibility is Pete Wentz from Fall Out Boy. (For the record, I have a tremendous respect for him. That is slowly growing to a like/admiration.) The internet is his weapon and he can access tons of fans with the click of a mouse or a send of a text message. As a result many people have taken interest in what the dude has to say. They buy his clothes, listen to his music, listen to the music he promotes, they show up at his bar, hell they show up wherever the hell he tells them to, and even are influenced by his political views. But nonetheless, he's just a dude. A dude in a band. The internet is what helped him turn it in to more.

...Oh, that and the infamous p33n shot. (Pfsh, no link there! Just google it you sickos!)



Persona, Pop music, Pete's p33n? Y/N? Thoughts?

hey donut holes!

If you live in the Los Angeles area the final “big delivery” will be taking place at the cross street of la brea and santa monica (technically around 7100 santa monica blvd) between 7 and 9pm tuesday september 23rd. (We’re all fired for that mistake!). Now! be there or be square.


who can go?
who wants to tell me what happens?!

First of all, their dish at the Denny's late night menu is amazing on french toast (literally. on french toast).

ANYWAYS. I can barely type straight I'm so ecstatic.
Gives You Hell makes me really happy. Yay for bouncy beats and catchy hooks. I imagine it as a good soundtrack to the opening credits of my day (although the opening credits of my life is definitely No Rain by Blind Melon). On top of Mona Lisa and I Wanna Touch You, I'm loving the potential of this album. Which now has a name! When The World Comes Down releases 11.18.08 and is going to be a wonderful addition to my iTunes library. I have nothing further to say. Let the track speak for itself.




I actually think I'm more excited for the fact that new album = new tour.
*bursts*

♥

Today, my cousin asked me (they usually look to me for pop culture updates) about a rumor that Johnny Depp was to replace Heath Ledger as The Joker in the next installment of Christopher Nolan's Batman saga. The thought of this was blasphemous in my opinion, so I did some outraged googling. Rest assured, we have nothing to worry about.

It turns out that movie execs are begging Johnny Depp to replace Heath in a movie, but not for Batman. It's Heath's unfinished project, titled The Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus, and apparently old Cap'n Jack isn't the only one. Jude Law and Colin Farrell are slated to make appearances in Heath's title role. Read the article here.

---

My google adventure didn't end there however, I did learn something else. Here's a hint. (Click for articles)

From Danger Radio's MySpace Blog:

FOREVER THE SICKEST HEADLINER TOUR
Current mood: blessed

Hey guys!
So Im in the van right now and really bored so I decided to write a blog! We just played the first date of our headliner (FIRST HEADLINER EVER!!!) which was in Denver, Co! And honestly it was one of the most amazing experience. I have to admit that we really went into this tour not really knowing whether or not kids were going to come out or not to see us and I just wanted to thank you all so much. We seriously have some amazing fans and I cant wait to see the rest of you! You guys make playing music and touring worthwhile.

ANYWAY! I just wanted to say Thank you and please make sure to check out the rest of the dates and if its not too much to ask PLEASE let all your friends know we are coming to your area. I know there are probably a million things you could be doing the day we come through but please come out and hang out with us! Tell your friends! Maybe post bulletins for us and put something up on your myspace telling kids you're coming to see us? haha

Well thank you so much for everything! SEE YOU SOON! And maybe if you come out we'll play some extra songs for you outside with our sweet acoustic guitars? I busted out some Jonas Brothers covers tonight ha

SEE YOU SOON!

<3 Andrew DR

So when he said that he busted out the Jonas Brothers covers, naturally I flipped because...well Buzznet, I have a confession to make...



...I love the Jonas Brothers. (I mentioned affection for the kiddy pop trio in my We the Kings/Radio Disney blog. But you guys have no idea what the scope of it is.) I have tons of photos and videos of JB concerts (if you haven't seen my youtube), and I have been deliberating whether or not to upload them to Buzznet because, quite frankly it's a little bit embarrassing. I've tried to keep it a secret simply because Buzznet seems a bit more serious to me than the product of Disney marketing and packaging. But as soon as I heard about this I had to blog it. And along with it comes my secret JB fangirlishness. Oh man. You should see my wall.

There. I feel liberated now. I think I should upload all my JB shit. Yessssss.

So anyways, I wanted to see these covers (because I love Andrew's "acoustic curb" sets) and I went YouTube sleuthing. Found these:
Andrew DT - Love Bug (JB Cover)

Andrew DT - Burnin' Up (JB Cover)

Love love love. I daresay he totally makes the songs sound better.

Alright, I got it out.
What about you?

Any secret confessions/guilty pleasures you've been dying to divulge? Spill here.

Hahaha. Just kidding. Truthfully, I do care about it. Why else would I sign on to FOBR simply because I got my text message alert?

I'm not going to pretend to dislike it just because it's so hyped, but I'm not going to shit myself over it either. It's not that good but personally, I enjoy it and it makes the new release sound promising. I think it's a little bit of a throwback to that classic Fall Out Boy sound. Definitely falls at a very good happy medium between the hip hop influenced FOB and the old stuff.

Obviously it's going to be well received by all. I stumbled upon something of interest.
As I was listening to the new single, the FOBR blog got a nasty little love note from one 'overcastkid23' :

hey, here's a thought to ponder for all you fearless diehards:

dear fall out boy,
OH. MY. GOD.
FUCK YOU!!!!!!!!!!

god, i never thought there would be a point in my life when i thought i would actually want to listen to infinity on high, but ladies and gentlemen, we have reached that point. you know, as if completely selling out and collaborating with rappers and marrying fucking ashlee simpson and turning into a complete wanna-be boy band corporate sell out and pretending to give a fuck about the election just because everyone else thinks obama is the shit when all you ever cared about was that girl that broke your heart; as if all that wasn't bad enough, now you've gotta drag the academy is and the hush sound and all the good bands that still had a backbone down with you??? FUCK THAT. i swear, i used to like you. and for the record, i still love your old stuff. back when doing what you loved was still ok. back when money or fame didn't matter. back when you weren't scared to make people angry. back when you still wrote about stuff that meant something. back when rap was still crap. back when that girl that broke your heart actually mattered. i swear to god, what ever happened to "we only do it for the scars and stories, not the fame," or "take this to your grave, don't ever change"?? remember that? i guess you just forgot.

and you know, it gets better. i just found out you dropped fbr. way to go guys, this keeps getting better. oh yeah, and just one more thing. i hope you know what you're giving up. i hope you know that you're losing ever fan that ever loved you, every person that ever loved you for who you really were. and i hope you know that all you're getting in return are the masses of mainstream who will go to your shows and only sing along to the five songs they've heard on the radio, and then spit you out once you don't make the charts anymore. i hope you're happy. i truly do.

you know, the academy is wrote a song about you. it's called black mamba and it goes like this:

too afraid to do anything that may not come as easy,
too afraid to do anything they may not have seen before...
too afraid to do anything that may not come as easy
too afraid to do anything they may not...

pick it up, pick it up, it's what you wanted
pick it up, pick it up, and you needed it too
pick it up, pick it up, it's what you wanted
pick it up, pick it up


so, when they hear the debut, what if the critics hate you? oh wait, sorry, i guess that would never happen.

Ouch...I'll give it ten or so seconds before the first response from a FOB groupie/diehard appears with an "OMG you are so meeeean blahblahblah"

I'll admit that using the TAI song lyrics may have been taking it a bit far and silly, and that such a long winded message seems like a waste of energy, but I say muchos props to that person for speaking their mind, I appreciate an opinion like that. If you're out there and reading this, send me a message. I'd love to chat with you.

[*record scratch* ...WAIT. I just reread that more carefully. FOB just dropped FBR?!?! Please tell me that's just a rumor. And if they did drop them, it better be to start their own completely independent record company in order to give the music back to the fans or something like that. Or if FBR is now overrun by corporate Island/Def Jam yuppies, I'll accept that as a reason to drop the label as well. I hope there's a really good reason for that if it's true.]

I'm excited to watch all this drama unfold. This is going to be a controversial album, I'm sure. Not because it's politically charged, but because it's going to be a war between the critics and the diehards. *boxing bell rings* Llleeeettt's get ready to rrrrrumblee!

To be honest, I'm rooting for Fall Out Boy to earn back the cred that they've lost. I want this album to be an album for the ages. It probably won't be, but I want it to be.

Well, I like the single. But have a listen for yourself, tell me if you like it.
Plus what do you think of the little love letter from overcastkid23?