Worst Music Video Ever of the Week: FRSHPRNCFBLR

I usually like MSTRKRFT remixes, particular the version of Wolfmother’s Woman. This? Not so much. And yes, it’s an amateur video, and it has its qualities, but the underlying suckness of the whole thing tarnishes the legacy of one of television’s finest comedy series, and the work of some gifted musicians.

P.S.: What am I, drunk? I made all that stuff up, except for the title.

Worst Music Video Ever of the Week: Obsession

I like this song, not that I can tell you why. It just has some kind of sweet beat, a poppy pulsation that has always appealed to me. There’s a rocky bit of guitar hiding in there, and the odd hint of good bassery. Despite the problems with the vocals, I thought this was a good pop song. And then I saw the video.

I wonder what those two singers think when they watch this now. Or were they even singers? They look like they don’t even understand what they’re lip-synching, and now that I think of it, Animotion later replaced its lead singers with two other people, one of whom was Pregnant Penny from Dirty Dancing, who was married to Richard Marx, and why I know this, I can’t say. Animotion was never famous for the vocals, and let’s leave it at that.

All of this is irrelevant. However good the song is, this video kills it. Roman centurions at the swimming pool? Court jester boots? Mullets? And let’s not forget the obligatory 80s closeup of stiff fingers jabbing at a Casio.

Did I mention I have the 12″ remix of this song? And Animotion is touring again, with its original lead singers? And I found a pair of neon green suspenders in my closet, right beside a can of mousse?

Songs for Jenny

Regular visitors to the Weather Stations know about Tony Pucci. He’s a friend down Minnesota way, a writer, poet, musician, podcaster and cold-cuts engineer. I always get a kick out of Tony’s output. His newest release, though, is what I want to talk about today.

Songs for Jenny came out last week. It’s a compilation CD of songs written by Pucci and others (Ricky Maymi, Stefan Horlitz, Shane Pex, Mark Moldre and Tim Powles of The Church), with a whole lot of talented guest vocalists. There’s no doubt it’s a good album. But what’s important is why it was made.

Tony put it together as a fundraiser for ALS research in his home state, Minnesota. It’s personal for him. His sister Jenny had ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, and lost her battle with it last year.

We live in a stupid world. America is spending billions on two wasted wars, while children are living with illnesses that threaten to cut their lives short. Public funds for disease research are tough to come by, and the agencies that work to help people fighting these deadly diseases are worked to the bone. This is why I like seeing individuals taking it upon themselves to reach out with a helping hand, doing it in a new way.

Good on ya, Tony.

Order it here.

You Can’t Un-Watch It

I’m wavering on this one. Brilliant? Yes. Horrible? Also yes. Stupid? No. I think it’s actually pretty smart. In fact, it’s advertising. It’s the latest piece of viral marketing, which has long passed the accidental weirdness stage into intentionally weird. Battle for Milkquarius is a rock opera created to sell milk by the California Milk Processor Board, and was created and produced by a professional marketing team with a specific intent: sell milk as weirdly as possible.

Anyway, onto the music:

There’s way too much more of these people here. The sad thing is musicians used to dress like this and consider it cool. If you don’t believe me, look at this.

Also, please do not consider this an endorsement of milk. I am lactose intolerant and report on this only as a journalist and as a person with terrible taste in music.

We Get By With A Little Help From Yo-Yo Ma

Our leader, Prime Minister Stephen Harper, turned up at the National Arts Centre in Ottawa Saturday night. It was a surprise to the audience at the gala event; Harper is not known to be a fan of the arts, and his presence at this sort of event is unexpected. You know what else is unexpected? This:

Politics aside, and musical taste aside, I just think it’s cool that he did this. Harper is known for maintaining strict control over his public image and message, and he does not like to look like anything other than a stately leader. When this happens, he is quick to make sure we Canadians get a different message.

The famous photo of him in a black leather cowboy vest and hat was the last time anyone saw him dressed like a member of the Village People. The shot of him sternly shaking his son’s hand on the first day of school made people question his approach to parenting, and led to a long list of photos of him being really dadly. And that shot someone snapped a couple of years back of Steve’s big belly led to not only a Harper weight-loss effort, but an encouragement to his caucus to cut the fat from their waistlines.

So I was surprised and happy to see him up there on stage, singing badly, unashamed and smiling, just a guy having some fun. It was a good reminder that he isn’t a robot after all. Just because he’s been accused of being against funding and supporting the arts doesn’t mean he has to get up on stage and prove he’s a rockin’ guy. Not at all.

Kind of cool that he had Yo-Yo Ma on stage with him, though.

Worst Music Video Ever Of The Week: Get In My Car

David Hasselhoff: “I need some ideas for my next music video.”

Director: “Why would you make a music video?”

David Hasselhoff: “Uh, because I’m a major famous rock star in a lot of places where the plug-ins look funny.”

Director: “Sure, okay. Any ideas?”

David Hasselhoff: “I would like to appear in a music video that makes me look like a creepy stalker, or maybe a guy who likes to pick up hookers.”

Director: “I’d better hear the song first.”

David Hasselhoff: “No problem, duderino!”

Director: “I quit.”

David Hasselhoff: “You can’t quit. We have a contract.”

Director: “I don’t care about some contract. I have bigger worries … I might have to pour bleach into my ears.”

David Hasselhoff: “If you want something done right, do it yourself. And if you can’t, you hire a couple of teenagers to make it, and then go find some hookers.”

• Update: This guy watches too many David Hasselhoff videos.