In a piece of news that was seemingly off the radar of possibility for over two decades, U2’s 1987 masterpiece album, The Joshua Tree, ranked no. 47 this week on the Billboard Top 200 album charts.
This consumer appreciation movement was likely inspired by some post Super Bowl commercial curiosity and general goodwill toward U2’s new single, “Invisible.” Whatever it was, people are buying The Joshua Tree again and it feels so good.
In a decision that seemed to shock no one and barely popped in the the weekend television news cycle, the United States version of The X Factor will not be returning for a fourth season. Such a cancellation would have been on the cover of Variety or Entertainment Weekly just a few years ago, but the American X Factor struggled off the gate with overhype, strange host and mentor performances, and, until this fall, winning acts who were not going to translate into viable recording artists1. Here are ten takeaways from my three seasons of devoted DVR season pass viewing:
1) Steve Jones is not Ryan Seacrest2 and maybe I was “a bit naive” to ever think so. Let’s just say that composure was not his forté.
2) Rachel Crow was a really special talent from season 1. She is now doing some acting work in Hollywood, so good for her to parlay her obvious talent into a little career.
3) In three seasons, there were nine different judges (if you include the hot second Cheryl Cole was around) and three different hosts. At least Simon and his producer cohort were trying to make the show work better!
4) It was a treat to watch Simon mold and mentor his artists, especially Fifth Harmony during season 2 and Alex and Sierra during season 3. There is a reason why Simon has been so successful in the music business beyond the entertainment value of his snarky remarks as a judge. He is a master identifier and cultivator of talent (as we heard too many times in reference to One Direction) and Fifth Harmony and Alex and Sierra show why. I am still amazed that he managed to see something in Emblem3.
5) Carly Rose Sonenclar should have won season 2. This girl is really special and it is unfortunate that her forum for this kind of broad audience exposure was not an early Idol season where she could have more easily broken out.
6) The US X Factor was my introduction to Demi Lovato, who, on her best days, was a pleasure to watch judge her contestants. Her rapport with Simon over the past two seasons was one the reasons to still watch.
7) Britney Spears thought everything was “amazing” while mentoring contestants during season 2. The producers thought that the nonsensical murmurings of Paulina Rubio would be a better direction to take for season 3.
8) Living up to Simon’s initial ratings predictions gave The X Factor an unrealistic charge. Had it come out of the gate as an upcoming act rather than the self-declared one to beat, it might have had an easier time catching on. Also, the MLB Baseball Playoffs were always the enemy to X Factor momentum. Competition reality shows cannot just take weeks off and expect to continue to build an audience.
9) My final judge/mentor rankings in order of best to worst: Simon Cowell (season 3), Demi Lovato (season 2), Simon Cowell (season 1), Kelly Rowland (season 3), Simon Cowell (season 2), LA Reid (season 1), LA Reid (season 2), Demi Lovato (season 3), Paula Abdul (season 1), Nicole Scherzinger (season 1), Paulina Rubio (season 3), Britney Spears (season 2). Not enough information: Cheryl Cole (season 1)
10) Alex and Sierra, to quote Britney, were “amazing.”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B0nUwBBrJn8
This is sheer perfection…
From time to time, I need to get a few things off my chest…this is the second installment of 2014.
• Last night’s Super Bowl, a 43-8 Seattle defensive annihilation of Denver’s historically good offense, was a bit of a surprise for all. It wasn’t as much about what they did, but more so how they did it. From the opening offensive play safety, to the Peyton Manning cold weather lob interceptions, to the second half opening kickoff return by Percy Harvin who managed to complete a game without injury for the first time this season, there was just a whole lot of weird (Russell Wilson’s consummate game management aside) going on. Even “talk of the nation” and notable Stanford grad Richard Sherman was carted off the field in the early fourth quarter before he could have a fair shot at an Erin Andrews post-game interview reprise. On the non-football end of things, the national anthem was delivered by an opera singer not exactly aligned with the pulse of the football viewing audience (Renée Fleming was stunning. It just speaks to how different one of the world’s best classically trained singers is compared to your average pop star. On the converse, it speaks to how good Whitney Houston is compared to other pop stars.). The halftime show, featuring an admittedly exhilarating performance by Bruno Mars, managed to fit in a brief Red Hot Chili Peppers cameo that made no sense next to the retro Motown stylings of Mars. The New Jersey winter weather, promoted as a major Super Bowl headline, was a non-factor during the game. Again, there was just a whole lot of weird going on. In many ways, I am glad that the New England Patriots sat this one out.
• One Super Bowl moment lost in the shuffle of strange was a commercial for the new U2 song “Invisible.” Released yesterday during the day as a free download for 24 hours, Bank of America, an at times challenging pillar of American big business, will donate $1 to (RED), Bono’s incredible organization attempting to put an end to the AIDS crisis in Africa, for every download. “Invisible” is announced to be a track on U2’s long awaited (five years next month since their last studio album release, No Line on the Horizon) 2014 album (When? Who knows. June, maybe?). The song itself, although not cutting down any Joshua Tree’s as “The Fly” once did, is my favorite “first song from a U2 album” release since All That You Can’t Behind’s “Beautiful Day1” (sorry “Vertigo” and “Get on Your Boots”). We can all hope that this will be a harbinger for the album to com
• I finally got around to see Frozen this weekend. I usually try to be on the precipice of a pop culture phenomenon as the Disney animated feature and the “Let it Go” movement have become, but on this one I missed the reindeer ride. Over two months after its original theatrical release, it was so well worth the wait. A little late for its own post, here are a quick five things you need to know about Frozen:
1. The direction by Chris Buck and Jennifer Lee is outstanding and some of the best I have ever seen in an animated feature.
2. The songs by the Robert Lopez and Kristen Anderson-Lopez are classic and indelible melodies that will quickly find their way into your humming, whistling, and shower singing selves.
3. Kristen Bell has a gorgeous voice and plays Anna most beautifully. Idina Menzel continues to be a vocal force. In a career of musical hits, could “Let It Go” be her most beloved?
4. Olaf the snowman, performed brilliantly by Josh Gad, is the best comedic sidekick in a Disney animated feature since the Timon and Pumbaa tandem from The Lion King.
5. Frozen is a movie, that along with Tangled, would fit perfectly in the Disney animated feature renaissance row ofThe Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, The Lion King, and the underrated Pochahontas. It’s physical form will someday reside on my DVD shelf.
• Saturday Night Live said goodbye to Seth Meyers this week as he prepares for his new gig at Late Night, beginning later in the month. As is SNL tradition, some old family members came by to honor his departure. Amy Poehler, as she often does, said it best when she described him as “the heart of this program for the past twelve years.” He will be missed.
• Mostly a teaser for what is to come, the exes arrived on Real World: Ex-Plosion this week in the last segment of the episode. I will share some of my thoughts after the next episode.
• And finally, I am deeply saddened by the tragic death of Philip Seymour Hoffman. One of my first posts on this site was a “Five Things You Need to Know” on The Master. I described him as “America’s (qualifying the nationality of Daniel Day-Lewis) best living film actor.” I stand by what I wrote at the time. There was no one better. My heart goes out to his family and friends, especially to his three young children. What a momentous loss.
David J. Bloom can be reached on twitter @davidbloom7 and writes about MTV’s “The Challenge,” pop culture, and the NBA for Bishop and Company.
From time to time, I need to get a few of things off of my chest…this is the first installment…
• In a span of just a few days last week, Britney Spears announced that she will not be returning to the X Factor (not a surprise, she was a disaster), that her engagement to Jason Trawick was off, and that she may be signing on to headline her own Las Vegas show. All of this is troubling news for a person who seemed to be mounting a promising career comeback. I wish her the best.
• For all you Celtics doubters out there, Avery Bradley’s return has finally allowed the Danny Ainge offseason roster blueprint for success to take flight. Rotations are crisp, players seem to understand their roles from night to night, the bench has been reinvigorated (especially Jeff Green, Sully, and Courtney Lee and Jason Terry at least in the M.L. Carr role off the court, his on court play has left something to be desired), and the defense seems to finally be coming around (even without KG on the court). Speaking of defense, please watch Avery Bradley play on ball defense. I was at the Rockets game the other night and his work on James Harden was simply incredible (James Harden by the way is even more of an offensive stud in person).
• I hope Rajon Rondo “adapts” because he is just too special of a player to be missing games every few months because of his uncontrolled emotional tomfoolery (although his arm grab of Kris Humphries in KG’s defense remains a season highlight – Humphries has been pretty much MIA in Brooklyn ever since).
• Brian Billick may be the worst football color analyst I have ever heard. His comments this weekend in Atlanta was either comically inaccurate or painfully obvious. Why is it that the NBA seems to find incredible on-air talent (Barkley, Jeff Van Gundy), but the NFL coach or player transition yields so few breakout stars? Thank goodness Ray Lewis will be joining the media ranks next year (and hopefully immediately after Sunday’s game).
• This year’s Golden Globes ceremony were quite enjoyable. Tina and Amy could not have been more wonderful as hosts (although why they couldn’t have been more active in the latter half of the show is an awards show conundrum – no offense, but is anyone pining for a Jeremy Irons intro?) and the program had its share of memorable moments. I was struck by the elegance of Daniel Day-Lewis, the grace of both Ben Affleck and his beautiful wife Jennifer Garner, how Bill Clinton was the biggest star in the room, and how uncomfortable Quentin Tarantino makes me feel. Jodie Foster’s speech was something special, but to say I fully understood it would be a house of lies (congrats Don Cheadle on your unexpected win!). Also, what was going on with that Mel Gibson stuffed animal hamster moment besides creepiness? Here is my highlight of the night:
• The Oscar nominations had their share of omissions (Ben Affleck and Kathryn Bigelow for Best Director) and pleasant surprises (Beast of the Southern Wild had a nice go of it), but one point of true disappoint are the zero nominations for The Dark Knight Rises. It may be an imperfect motion picture that to many (of which I am not one) did not live up to The Dark Knight, but Christopher Nolan’s epic trilogy conclusion deserves some sort of recognition.
• Speaking of Christopher Nolan, excitement for Interstellar has officially begun.
• Wednesday nights (and my week for that matter) are just not the same without The Challenge. I would love the suits at MTV to finally create a seasonal structure for this unofficial fifth professional sport (a fall and spring season perhaps). Why hasn’t this happened yet?
• Girls is back (season 2 premiered on Sunday night while simultaneously winning some Golden Globes) and if you haven’t joined the party yet, it is time.
• The NBA Countdown pre-game show on ESPN featuring Michael Wilbon, Jalen Rose, Magic Johnson, and Bill Simmons has wrestled the “best pre-game show” crown from Inside the NBA (still struggling when Shaq expresses himself verbally).
• FInally, here is an assignment if you have cable: do a search for Fuse network or Funny or Die’s Billy on the Street and sign up for a season pass. You will not laugh harder over a thirty minute period than watching Billy’s incredible on the street games and conversations. For now, here is a “Quizzed in the Face” from a recent episode:
David J. Bloom can be reached on twitter @davidbloom7 and writes about pop culture and the NBA for Bishop and Company. He writes weekly TV columns on Afterbuzztv.com (next up, Fox’s “The Following”) and his weekly THE CHALLENGE: BATTLE OF THE SEASONS Power Rankings can be read on Derek Kosinski’s ultimatechallengeradio.com.
Most of you (if you road tripped across Ireland in Note in the summer of 2009, you are the exception) have never heard what may be one of the greatest modern Christmas songs of all time. The story begins in 2006 when the Killers began releasing a yearly Christmas song on iTunes whose proceeds would go toward the Project RED campaign and AIDS in Africa. To date, they have released seven such songs over the years (all can be purchased on this ep), but one such song stretches the possibilities of musical greatness and sets a new high standard for the potential of what a Christmas song can be. In 2008, the Killers partnered with Elton John and Neal Tennant of the Pet Shop Boys to create Joseph, Better You Than Me. Here are the 25 reason why this is the best Christmas song you have never heard.
25 Reasons Why JOSEPH, BETTER YOU THAN ME is the Best Christmas Song You Have Never Heard
1) If you buy the song, all proceeds go to Project RED. JBYTM is a Christmas song that is actually about giving.
2) 0:00 – 0:33 – Brandon Flowers, beautiful yet haunting opening vocal set against some simple piano chords. His falsetto mix is effortless and effervescent.
3) The randomness of the musical mix of The Killers, Elton John, and Neil Tennant of the Pet Shop Boys. This unorthodox combination is a stroke of musical brilliance.
4) 0:33 – 0:36 – The drum kick entry coupled with Elton John’s first vocal on the second verse. Drum kick entries are always key moments of great songs, but to unexpectedly add the familiar regality of Sir Elton John’s voice to this moment is genius.
5) The music video features footage from the classic The Living Christ Series from 1951. Anytime you can combine a great rock song with stock footage from this “captured in time” miniseries, you have struck artistic gold.
6) Christmas songs rarely begin with such to the point questions: “Are you bad at dealing with the fame, Joseph? Do you see both sides? Do they shove you around?” This is immediately not your average “Hark, Santa Claus is coming to jingle bell rock” Christmas tune.
7) 0:49 – 1:05 – The lines “When the holy night is upon you/Will you do what’s right?/The position is yours.” These big idea questions have universal application. The position is yours.
8) Elton John’s consonant pronunciation of the “s” in the name “Joseph.” He sings it with the hard “z” in “Zephyr” as opposed to Jo-Seph. I love this.
9) 1:08 – 1:14 – The music video’s visual interpretation of “From the temple walls to the New York nights.” The Living Christ Series footage is particularly literal.
10) The essential truth in the questions sung by Elton John: “Will your faith stand still or run away, or run away?”
11) 1:46 – 2:00 – A guitar solo musical break. It is appropriate, accessible, contemplative without losing any of the momentum, and a perfect lead-in for the song’s burgeoning climax that is about to come.
12) 2:08 – 2:15 – The under layered harmony and rhythmic movement on the line “Do you wish you were back there at the carpenter shop?” This is Elton John doing Elton John things as well as he ever has.
13) JBYTM peaked at no. 43 on the Canadian Hot 100 Chart and at no. 64 on the Austrian Singles Top 75 Chart. Such consensus between the Canadians and the Austrians is hard to come by.
14) 2:16 – 2:30 – Neil Tennant’s vocal line. I admit that my experience with the music of the Pet Shop Boys is close to nonexistent, but the alluring and Bob Dylan-esque sound of Mr. Tennant here warrants further exploration.
15) “You’re a maker, a creator, not just somebody’s dad.” Yes! Joseph does matter.
16) The harmony vocal amp up on the second pre-chorus. It is pristine and Elton John’s melody grounds it all. His vocal reverberation is as warm and heartfelt as ever.
17) How many Christmas songs have ever been about Joseph? If there are any, how many have ever been this good? Joseph is an under appreciated figure in the Christmas story and this song is much deserved.
18) Yes, the desert is a “hell of a place” to find heaven, Sir Elton. This truthful admission is in stark contrast to some of the sugarcoated joy of other Christmas tunes.
19) The lyric “All the years since you left/you have time to sit back and reflect” and the Killers tower of harmony vocals that accompanies it. The climax lead-in (because we are almost there) pushes the listener of this song up that mountain top.
20) 3:40 – The beginning of the “Better You Than Me” song climax. The back and forth between Elton and Brandon is simply gorgeous music.
21) The echoes of “Joseph” that begin at 4:20. Elton and Brandon are both working it in the studio on this one. You can feel their electric commitment and vocal talents coming through the sound waves.
22) Joseph, Better You Than Me is a song that grows on you with each listen. There is so much going on both lyrically and musically that it calls for many returns to fully grasp its greatness.
23) 4:36-4:38 – Elton leaves it all out there on his final “Better you than me.” For a man who has given so much to us musically, his amazing effort and drive on this song is so impressive. This is not just another job for Elton. Joseph, Better You Than Me is a special moment in an amazing career.
24) At 4:53, Joseph, Better You Than Me is an epic rock song length. Often Christmas songs are easy in and easy out, but JBYTM takes more time because it has something important to say.
25) The calm after the storm return to the opening line “Well your eyes just haven’t been the same, Joseph” to end the song. Brandon’s delicate summation and denouement is a beautiful ending to a beautiful song.
Happy holidays to you all and if haven’t already made the purchase, do so. This will be the best $1.29 you will ever spend…
Culture Challenged 