Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: Barack Obama, Britney Spears, Chicago Tribune, George Bush, LA Times, MTV, New York Times, person of the week, Russell Brand, Sarah Palin, The Jonas Brothers, VMAs
Borrowed from dailymail.co.uk
Oh Russell, what a stir you have caused you naughty, naughty Brit!
Russell Brand, host of MTV’s 2008 VMAs, British comedian and former drug/sex addict, was relatively unknown in the US, until his scandalous performance last night.
At the 25th Annual VMAs, Brand made a few less than friendly jokes about Bush, Palin’s daughter and The Jonas Brothers. While some appreciated Brand audacious jabs, others were mortified to say the least.
But ya gotta admit he’s got pizazz!
He first made fun of his own lack of fame in the US and quickly moved on to a plea for Americans to elect Barack Obama “on behalf of the world” claiming that America is progressive enough to elect a black president because “otherwise why would you let that retaded cowboy fella be president for eight years? We thought it was nice of you to let him have a go, because in England he wouldn’t be trusted with a pair of scissors.”
He then moved on to make fun of that “poor teenage father boy” who will “never have sex again.” He was reffering to little Palin’s lover, concluding that his misfortune? makes pledging to remain chaste til marriage sound like the “greatest idea ever.” Enter The Jonas Brothers.
“The 2008 VMAs were poised to mark the return of Britney Spears. Instead, they will go down in history as the night when that English guy from “Forgetting Sarah Marshall” almost made the Jonas Brothers cry,” according to the LA Times.
While The Chicago Tribune was a tad more ambiguous and The New York Times was far more appreciative of Brand’s humor, I want to know how the Jonas Brothers feel about all this? Did they laugh it off or are they as pisses as Jordin Sparks who used her stage time to defend the ever popular purity rings?
One of the highlights of the night was when Brand called Britney “the female Christ” and talked about happiness and philosophy with some hot little number as the credits rolled.
And what do I think? Well, if you haven’t guessed it by now, I love Russell and while I admit his humor was, shall we say, severe, it’s all apart of the act and everyone needs to calm down. And with Britney’s comeback being less than dazzling (sure she snagged 3 awards, but all she did was act like an empty little robot) something needed to grab our attention.
Verdict: I hope Russell doesn’t get black listed :/.
Filed under: music | Tags: music, Rolling Stone Magazine, The Jonas Brothers
When the Jonas Brothers first appeared on the cover of Rolling Stone Magazine I was, shall we say, a tad outraged. I wondered why oh why would this frickin’ tweenie bopping sensation be here? Did someone else miss a photo shoot?
Well, after beating around the bush I finally got around to reading the article and realized they’re not half bad… and they’re pretty cute, too. If it weren’t illegal I’d love little Nick, but it is, so I’ve decided to focus my attention on Joe, who’s only a little bit younger than me.
So what is it about the Jo Bros that makes them so lovable, besides those boyish good looks?
Well, first of all, they’re not you’re average Mickey Mouse band. Nick Jonas had a short run as a Broadway starlet and worked on a solo act. But then there were three and the trio worked hard to get to where they are today playing in small clubs for “interesting” audiences.
They also are their own managers and handle all their own business including designing sets, approving wardrobe, and financing. There’s no denying that young musicians who call the shots are sexy.
Did I mention they do their own promos?
And they’re funny! What’s not to love?
Then there’s Nick’s struggle with diabetes, a plight that inspired his heartbreaking ballad “A Little Bit Longer.” This little number brings tears to Nick’s (and older brother Joe’s) eyes whenever they play it live, but regardless he explains with unrelenting determination that nothing can slow him down and dedicates the song to “everyone here tonight who has gone through a hard time.” In light of Nick’s illness, the brothers created their own charity, Change for the Children Foundation.
It’s that sincerity that makes them so appealing to their ever-expanding fan base. They don’t try to be these super cool rock gods. Instead, they post videos on YouTube of themselves acting like total goofballs and their fans absolutely adore it. Their transparency makes them real; couple that with the charisma with which they take the stage and it’s no wonder all those crazy girls want to marry them.
Which brings me to the rings. While I’ve always been a fan of the whole sex, drugs and rock and roll idea, it’s very charming to have these wholesome boys become the icon for today’s youth. I must admit they’re becoming a very good influence on me, too. Especially since it’s not some sort of religious Disney generated facade. They each decided at some point to abstain from sex, alcohol and drugs for personal reasons and I really respect that.
Although they apparently hate talking about them, Nick told Rolling Stone: “Well, to us, the rings are a constant reminder to live a life of values. It’s about being a gentleman, treating people with respect and being the best guys we can be.”
As for their music… the beats are catchy, the lyrics are cute ( and sometimes deep), and it’s as good if not better than a lot of the stuff currently out there. Why? Because they’re real musicians and their influences are legit! (Joe looks up to Freddie Mercury and Mick Jagger; Nick’s favorite artists are Elvis Costello and Johnny Cash.)
Verdict: Nick, Joe and Kevin have a lot of potential and, in time, I’m sure they’ll move out of the 12-16 year old girl audience and reach a broader fan base. With their looks, talent and charm, there’s no stoping The Jonas Brothers.
