The last episode of Total Request Live, which became TRL, which labeled its last show as Total Finale Live, ended with the number 1 video of all time on TRL.
Of course, this was Britney Spears' "Baby One More Time."
The thing was, I kept waiting for TRL to cut the video. As parts of the song slowed down, I was ready to hear some fans screaming for Britney as the video ended. However, they played the whole thing, and this surprised me.
And that is why it was no surprise that the show ended after a 10-year run.
Monday, November 17, 2008
Summary of Most of November
I am very happy about the election of Barack Obama.
Election Day was nerve racking.
We had a great Election Day party.
We went to see Rockapella 2 days later.
That was pretty cool, especially since they sang the Folgers' theme song and "Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego?"
I had a real hankering to watch "Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego?"
And then the last weeks before Thanksgiving break happened, so I was swamped in school work, which meant that I couldn't fully blog about all this.
And did I mention that I was really happy about Election Day?
Election Day was nerve racking.
We had a great Election Day party.
We went to see Rockapella 2 days later.
That was pretty cool, especially since they sang the Folgers' theme song and "Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego?"
I had a real hankering to watch "Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego?"
And then the last weeks before Thanksgiving break happened, so I was swamped in school work, which meant that I couldn't fully blog about all this.
And did I mention that I was really happy about Election Day?
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
10/28 Branford Marsalis
I can't imagine what the Marsalis household must have been like back when the kids were younger in their New Orleans home. Branford is a world-renowned saxophonist, and the family is full of distinguished musicians including his brother Wynton Marsalis, his other brothers Delfeayo and Jason, and their father, Ellis. It must have been pretty loud - entertaining, but probably loud.
Branford performed with his group, "Marsalis Brasilianos," featuring members of the Philarmonia Brasileira, at the Jorgensen Center for Performing Arts Tuesday night on campus. The show featured a variety of both instrumentation and styles of music, and it was an experience in itself. The musicians were incredibly talented, and they were able to showcase that.
Branford was the main soloist, and most likely the main reason why most of the audience attended the show, but while he had some incredible solos, he didn't outshine the rest of the musicians, which was nice. The first piece was played by only a small orchestra, and Branford came out afterward with a few other musicians for the next one. The charts went from exciting and invigorating to calming to jazzy. At any given point, it could have felt like being at a classical concert, riding on the train in the city, traveling through New Orlean's jazz district, taking a trip to the Carribbean, or relaxing at the end of the day.
Branford performed "Scaramouche for Saxophone (alto) and Piano Op. 165 c," composed by Darius Mihaud, and this, especially, showed his talent. He effortlessly nailed several sixteenth-note runs and varied it with both rhythmic beats and even speedier runs. The piece had three very different-feeling movements, and Branford's talent just shined through in every one of them -- actually, it did in the entire show.
Branford performed with his group, "Marsalis Brasilianos," featuring members of the Philarmonia Brasileira, at the Jorgensen Center for Performing Arts Tuesday night on campus. The show featured a variety of both instrumentation and styles of music, and it was an experience in itself. The musicians were incredibly talented, and they were able to showcase that.
Branford was the main soloist, and most likely the main reason why most of the audience attended the show, but while he had some incredible solos, he didn't outshine the rest of the musicians, which was nice. The first piece was played by only a small orchestra, and Branford came out afterward with a few other musicians for the next one. The charts went from exciting and invigorating to calming to jazzy. At any given point, it could have felt like being at a classical concert, riding on the train in the city, traveling through New Orlean's jazz district, taking a trip to the Carribbean, or relaxing at the end of the day.
Branford performed "Scaramouche for Saxophone (alto) and Piano Op. 165 c," composed by Darius Mihaud, and this, especially, showed his talent. He effortlessly nailed several sixteenth-note runs and varied it with both rhythmic beats and even speedier runs. The piece had three very different-feeling movements, and Branford's talent just shined through in every one of them -- actually, it did in the entire show.
Thursday, October 23, 2008
10/22 My 6th Hanson Show
To come clean and fully showcase any biases I may have, Hanson is my all-time favorite band. I've now seen them six times in concert, and this past one was just as good as any other time, which means that it was amazing.
The only bad part was that it was at the Webster Theater in Hartford. I used to like the place in high school, but since then, it's just been an awful venue. There's not enough close parking. The staff has no idea how to communicate with each other. Once I got into the main venue, I saw some friends on the other side of the little connector between the main theater and the Webster Underground. Once I went over to talk to them, the Webster staff closed the garage door, thus leaving me unable to get back to the main theater. For about a half hour, I went back and forth between two staff members - one saying the door was open and I could go through, and one saying that I could go outside and back around to the other entrance to the theater. Both of them said that if I did it the other way, I wouldn't be let in. I had to get an extra wristband to handle all this, and it was just ridiculous.
Just like every other Hanson show I've been to at the Webster, I was frustrated before the show started - last year, it had to do with being stacked like sardines in the Underground area because we were supposed to be let in first because we did "The Walk" around Hartford with Hanson, but that's a long story - but I felt much better by the time Hanson started playing. Basically, they play all of my favorite songs from the time I was 10 and listening to "Middle of Nowhere" on loop. They always play "Where's the Love," and everyone always does the little arm-twirling movement above their heads. They always play "Mmmbop," but they never sound quite as happy playing that. My favorite favorite song from "Middle of Nowhere" is "Minute Without You," and I've only seen them play this song like three times in concert, so that was the highlight of my night.
While the old stuff is what Hanson is mostly known for, that's not all they do. They've had a few new albums, including the latest, "The Walk," and the music has a much more mature, rock feel to it. They played a lot from "The Walk," and at the end, after the obligatory encore, which included "Hey," the entire audience joined in singing "Happy Birthday" to Zac, who turned 23. Basically, the show was a good time, and as it usually feels like a big reunion nostalgia party, this one really was a party for Zac's birthday. He and Taylor just threw cake at each other at the end, it was wacky, and lovable, and just Hanson.
The only bad part was that it was at the Webster Theater in Hartford. I used to like the place in high school, but since then, it's just been an awful venue. There's not enough close parking. The staff has no idea how to communicate with each other. Once I got into the main venue, I saw some friends on the other side of the little connector between the main theater and the Webster Underground. Once I went over to talk to them, the Webster staff closed the garage door, thus leaving me unable to get back to the main theater. For about a half hour, I went back and forth between two staff members - one saying the door was open and I could go through, and one saying that I could go outside and back around to the other entrance to the theater. Both of them said that if I did it the other way, I wouldn't be let in. I had to get an extra wristband to handle all this, and it was just ridiculous.
Just like every other Hanson show I've been to at the Webster, I was frustrated before the show started - last year, it had to do with being stacked like sardines in the Underground area because we were supposed to be let in first because we did "The Walk" around Hartford with Hanson, but that's a long story - but I felt much better by the time Hanson started playing. Basically, they play all of my favorite songs from the time I was 10 and listening to "Middle of Nowhere" on loop. They always play "Where's the Love," and everyone always does the little arm-twirling movement above their heads. They always play "Mmmbop," but they never sound quite as happy playing that. My favorite favorite song from "Middle of Nowhere" is "Minute Without You," and I've only seen them play this song like three times in concert, so that was the highlight of my night.
While the old stuff is what Hanson is mostly known for, that's not all they do. They've had a few new albums, including the latest, "The Walk," and the music has a much more mature, rock feel to it. They played a lot from "The Walk," and at the end, after the obligatory encore, which included "Hey," the entire audience joined in singing "Happy Birthday" to Zac, who turned 23. Basically, the show was a good time, and as it usually feels like a big reunion nostalgia party, this one really was a party for Zac's birthday. He and Taylor just threw cake at each other at the end, it was wacky, and lovable, and just Hanson.
Monday, October 20, 2008
10/17 The Guerilla Girls
I have been fascinated by the Guerilla Girls' movement since I learned about them in a women's studies class freshman year. Who were these women in gorilla masks? How were they so funny?
I've noticed their posters around New York City a few times, and I love what they have to say. Basically, they're feminists who want more equality in the art world. They wear gorilla masks and take the names of dead female artists to remain anonymous and focus the attention on their cause, not themselves. Their posters and advertisements highlight that most of the artists in major museums are white men. They also note that film awards often go to white men. They pretty much shout these statistics out in their posters, and by doing so, they call for social change.
The Guerilla Girls event, or demonstration, at the Jorgensen Center for Performing Arts at UConn included a video introduction of various Guerilla Girls in protests and just doing wacky things around cities with their posters and how much their work has raised awareness. Then they talked about their books and laid out some more statistics, always using humor. They asked the audience members to raise their hands if they would call themselves a feminist, and they got an overwhelmingly majority of hands and cheers - though, most of the people who would see them, especially when you had to buy tickets, would already be fans. The fact is, few people want to call themselves feminists because the word has such a negative connotation. A lot of people think that the word "feminist" applies to radical feminists or man-haters, but really, a feminist supports women and issues like the right to choose an abortion, equal pay for equal work and equal representation in career fields.
My favorite line of the night came when they showed a color-coded threat-level chart, much like the one that is used for the state of our national security. In this case, they offered levels of women's rights security. One of the highest threats included the government believing that abstinence was the best form of contraception and only teaching this in schools. In response to reading this one out loud, one of the Guerilla Girls said, "and let's not elect a vice president who believes this." On the Palin issue, while they didn't seem happy with Palin calling herself a "feminist," one of them did note that Palin has never apologized for being both a politician and a mother, which is a good thing.
The event was just a fun time, filled with laughs about stereotypical dolls and expectations of women, and I left feeling pretty good about being a feminist.
I've noticed their posters around New York City a few times, and I love what they have to say. Basically, they're feminists who want more equality in the art world. They wear gorilla masks and take the names of dead female artists to remain anonymous and focus the attention on their cause, not themselves. Their posters and advertisements highlight that most of the artists in major museums are white men. They also note that film awards often go to white men. They pretty much shout these statistics out in their posters, and by doing so, they call for social change.
The Guerilla Girls event, or demonstration, at the Jorgensen Center for Performing Arts at UConn included a video introduction of various Guerilla Girls in protests and just doing wacky things around cities with their posters and how much their work has raised awareness. Then they talked about their books and laid out some more statistics, always using humor. They asked the audience members to raise their hands if they would call themselves a feminist, and they got an overwhelmingly majority of hands and cheers - though, most of the people who would see them, especially when you had to buy tickets, would already be fans. The fact is, few people want to call themselves feminists because the word has such a negative connotation. A lot of people think that the word "feminist" applies to radical feminists or man-haters, but really, a feminist supports women and issues like the right to choose an abortion, equal pay for equal work and equal representation in career fields.
My favorite line of the night came when they showed a color-coded threat-level chart, much like the one that is used for the state of our national security. In this case, they offered levels of women's rights security. One of the highest threats included the government believing that abstinence was the best form of contraception and only teaching this in schools. In response to reading this one out loud, one of the Guerilla Girls said, "and let's not elect a vice president who believes this." On the Palin issue, while they didn't seem happy with Palin calling herself a "feminist," one of them did note that Palin has never apologized for being both a politician and a mother, which is a good thing.
The event was just a fun time, filled with laughs about stereotypical dolls and expectations of women, and I left feeling pretty good about being a feminist.
Sunday, September 28, 2008
9/27 -- Ben Folds
Ben Folds took a huge risk by playing nothing but new songs in the first set, then coming back for the encore to play old stuff. Still, his UConn fans seemed to buy it there in Jorgensen Center for Performing Arts.
The first half of the show was kind of a shock to everyone because it was all new, and what made it even more confusing was the fact that Ben Folds made two albums, a real one and a fake one, with songs of the same name. It was hard to tell which songs were real and fake, since he usually adds humor into his music. Some of the "fake" songs, about breaking up and wanting to kill yourself or bringing a crazy liberal "Jane fucking Fonda, Jr." to a Republican law firm Christmas party, were better than the "real" versions.
The crowd seemed pretty relieved when Folds came back for an encore and played old, familiar songs. It really kept them interested, and I realized that my favorite shows were ones where the band switched between new and old songs at appropriate times, bringing the crowd back in for each one.
I've always felt that you really need to go to a concert before you can actually get into a band. Seeing them live brings the music appreciation to a whole new level - it's when you can truly decide how good they are. Folds had to be pretty confident in himself to play an entire set of new songs to a lot of fans who were still in a state of limbo in deciding whether or not to be a big fan.
The first half of the show was kind of a shock to everyone because it was all new, and what made it even more confusing was the fact that Ben Folds made two albums, a real one and a fake one, with songs of the same name. It was hard to tell which songs were real and fake, since he usually adds humor into his music. Some of the "fake" songs, about breaking up and wanting to kill yourself or bringing a crazy liberal "Jane fucking Fonda, Jr." to a Republican law firm Christmas party, were better than the "real" versions.
The crowd seemed pretty relieved when Folds came back for an encore and played old, familiar songs. It really kept them interested, and I realized that my favorite shows were ones where the band switched between new and old songs at appropriate times, bringing the crowd back in for each one.
I've always felt that you really need to go to a concert before you can actually get into a band. Seeing them live brings the music appreciation to a whole new level - it's when you can truly decide how good they are. Folds had to be pretty confident in himself to play an entire set of new songs to a lot of fans who were still in a state of limbo in deciding whether or not to be a big fan.
9/26 -- Girl Talk
You couldn't beat this deal: Admission was free for students and $5 for guests. But what most people didn't know was that non-students had to be guests of Trinity students, who could only bring up to 5 guests. Getting in was pretty chaotic. Non-students, like me, had to find some nice Trinity students to sign us in. Many were more than happy to, but others were afraid that they would be responsible for us, so that proved to be a bit difficult. This was the start of my general observation of the night: School security just seemed really overwhelmed from start to finish, which took away from the fun atmosphere of the concert.
Because doors opened later than expected and Girl Talk didn't even go on until around midnight, there were a lot of people tailgating outside and dropping tons of solo cups on the ground. Also, bags weren't checked at first, so people were able to drink and light up smokes inside. After about an hour of that, security started checking bags on our way in and out - and we had to go outside to use the bathroom. There were only port-a-potties outside the field house. That was kind of weird.
And then it got weird again: When Girl Talk did take the stage, I could hear people in the crowd wondering out loud if he was even up there. As per tradition of a Girl Talk show, people rushed onto the stage to dance, and with that huge group on stage, I, too, wondered if they were just trying to fake an appearance by playing his music and filling the stage. Also, the staff kept turning the lights on and stopping the music as if they wanted us to leave and as if Girl Talk wasn't there. People did leave. This was also a time when people started leaving for cigarettes and coming back to tighter security checking bags. It was pretty late, but the show kept going on, and after a lot of spins and sampling of hip-hop, pop rock, oldies, classics, etc., I was convinced Girl Talk was there, and he had people dancing the entire time, both on stage and off, when they got kicked off, of course.
Despite the weirdness of the night, I didn't see anyone standing still during Girl Talk's set, and I met a lot of cool people. There was a DJ playing while people were getting in, and The Dig opened up for Girl Talk, but they were just OK because they were kind of a generic alternative punk band.
Because doors opened later than expected and Girl Talk didn't even go on until around midnight, there were a lot of people tailgating outside and dropping tons of solo cups on the ground. Also, bags weren't checked at first, so people were able to drink and light up smokes inside. After about an hour of that, security started checking bags on our way in and out - and we had to go outside to use the bathroom. There were only port-a-potties outside the field house. That was kind of weird.
And then it got weird again: When Girl Talk did take the stage, I could hear people in the crowd wondering out loud if he was even up there. As per tradition of a Girl Talk show, people rushed onto the stage to dance, and with that huge group on stage, I, too, wondered if they were just trying to fake an appearance by playing his music and filling the stage. Also, the staff kept turning the lights on and stopping the music as if they wanted us to leave and as if Girl Talk wasn't there. People did leave. This was also a time when people started leaving for cigarettes and coming back to tighter security checking bags. It was pretty late, but the show kept going on, and after a lot of spins and sampling of hip-hop, pop rock, oldies, classics, etc., I was convinced Girl Talk was there, and he had people dancing the entire time, both on stage and off, when they got kicked off, of course.
Despite the weirdness of the night, I didn't see anyone standing still during Girl Talk's set, and I met a lot of cool people. There was a DJ playing while people were getting in, and The Dig opened up for Girl Talk, but they were just OK because they were kind of a generic alternative punk band.
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