Catching up...

First of all, I managed to pick up (or download, I guess I should say) some new music this week.

On September 29th Ben Folds released his newest album, Lonely Avenue, a collaboration he did with British author Nick Hornby. Hornby is the author of High Fidelity, 31 Songs, as well as a number of other novels, collections of short stories and non-fiction books. He is also a huge music geek and Ben Folds fan.

One of my favorite artists and one of my favorite authors working together? Yeah. I can definitely dig that.

I was going to tell you all about how this project came to be and all that jazz, but then I found this: Click it! It's a video of Mr. Folds and Mr. Hornby discussing how the project and their friendship came to be.

As a whole (with all biased aside, I swear), the album is good. I can't say that I'll be able to add it to my list of albums I can listen to from beginning to end, but like I mentioned in that blog, not every album by your favorite artist is going to be spectacular from beginning to end.

Lyrically, Hornby writes primarily about love; lost love, current love, the love you have, the love you want, the love you can't have but want, etc. It seems there are lyrics to which everyone can relate to somewhere on the album. Musically? To be completely, brutally honest with you, it's nothing Folds hasn't done before, though the string section is a lovely addition. I'm not saying it isn't good musically, I just mean that it totally sounds like Ben Folds - and I'm OK with that.

My favorite track? From Above, the single - which, I hate to admit, is hard to admit....If you know what I'm saying. I could go on to describe what the lyrics are saying and what they really mean, blah, blah, blah. I'm not going to do that. What I am going to do is tell you to check out the music video and listen to the lyrics yourself. Lyric interpretation is a personal thing - what they mean to me could be completely different than what they mean to you.

Click it! Ben Folds and Nick Hornby, From Above

Speaking of interpretation....
Have you seen the literal music videos? No? Before I go on, please, please watch this.

Click it! Literal Music Video presets Total Eclipse of the Heart


Moving right along then...

This just wouldn't be SayWAM without a little Gaga, am I right?

It was announced last week that Lady Gaga and Giorgio Armani have signed a multi-million dollar deal. Apparently Armani is going to be designing Gaga's costumes for her upcoming tour which will begin in December of this year. A quote from Vogue.com :

It wouldn't be possible to give Gaga a look from the collection because she wears pieces of art. It's theatrical.

- Roberta Armani, Giorgio Armani's niece and head of VIP relations

Theatrical is right, Roberta. I think it'll be interesting to see what interesting looks this new deal will bring to the stage.


That's it for now, kids. Until next time, keep on rocking in the free world,
- SayWAM

Sunday Picture Spam!

Mr. Jason Mraz in the studio

What came first: The Gaga or the Aguilera?

Kitty be making some mad beats...

Do you suppose A Little Help From My Friends would be his campaign theme?

...I don't have anything clever for this...I just thought it was cute.

Speaking of vinyl, I may have picked up three more records yesterday...

I found this a long time ago. This graphic designer made a series of ads of modern-day things, like an iPod, if they'd been created in the 70s. Psychedelic, huh?

That's the best of the photo cache for now, folks! Four things before I head out to get some less-desirable things done.

One: I'll be back tomorrow with some new music. 

Two: Please don't forget the comments section below. You don't have to be a member of anything (Blogger or Google) to leave comments, and I'd love your feedback. :)

Three: In regards to the SayWAM social media sites. I can't get into my Twitter account right now...So I'm working that out. Until then, feel free to follow my personal Twitter account because I update with new blogs there too. 

Three Point Five: Formspring. If you're not familiar with Formspring, it's pretty much just a site where you can go (you don't have to be a member) type in a question and I'll answer it. I'd prefer it if the questions were somehow music/music industry-related, but if you're just dying to know my favorite Disney Classic? You can ask...Once I get a few questions I'll post the questions and the answers on here.

Four: SayWAM is going to head out to its own domain. Possibly within the next couple of days. So watch out for that too.

Happy Sunday, Readers!

Keep on rocking in the free world,

Jenna

I'll bet you guys thought I forgot about you...

I didn't.

So let's just jump in, shall we?

First off, it wouldn't be SayWAM if I didn't talk about Lady Gaga every other post. This is that post.

Turns out, I'm not completely crazy and Lady Gaga is the new creative director for Polaroid.

The "newly-crowned queen of Polaroid", as the article stated, is coming out with her first very special Gaga-inspired product next year.

The still unnamed camera will have the traditional Polaroid 300 style, instant camera. Rather than producing the beloved 4x4 prints, an ink-made 3x4 photo with the noteworthy white border. And shockingly enough, the camera is said to have a "pretty whacky" design.

I, for one, am pretty excited. Will I have one? Probably not. But I can't say I'm not curious to see what happens with Lady Gaga behind the Polaroid wheel.

Also, today is the two year anniversary of the lovely Lady's first album The Fame, which was actually first released in Canada on August 19th in 2008.

And finally, just because...Well, just because I think it's funny...

Moving right along...
I'm really, really, REALLY into this band right now.



I feel like they're an awesome combination of Panic At the Disco, Mika, and a footnote of Queen.

Aren't they...fun?.........OK, that was easy and cheap and kind of lame, but they are! Also, they're on tour. You should seriously consider picking up a couple tickets, grabbing a friend, and heading out to a show. I know I'm going to because they're going to be at the Varsity Theatre in Dinkytown (Minneapolis) on October 12th. To hear more of their music, get more info, and check out tour dates, check out the link below.

Click it: Fun.

Speaking of fun, this is fantastic.



Welcome to the wonderful world of Bacchantae, Columbia University's cover of Ben Fold's famous cover of Dr. Dre's "Bitches Ain't Shit". The girl in the lavenderish dress-thing? Hilarious. She looks so uncomfortable the whole time.

You may or may not remember many, many blogs ago I discussed Rock Band 3 - due out this coming holiday season. You know...the one that's going to have a keyboard and everything?

Well...The setlist for the whole game might have been leaked...Maybe. At least that's what Time.com's Techland is saying. Here's a few of the track that will be included:

• Amy Winehouse -- Rehab
• Blondie -- Heart of Glass
• Blood, Sweat, & Tears -- Spinning Wheel
• INXS -- Need You Tonight
• HIM -- Killing Loneliness
• James Brown -- I Got You (I Feel Good)
• Huey Lewis and the News -- The Power of Love
• Pheonix -- Lasso
• Phish -- Llama
• John Lennon -- Imagine
• Night Ranger -- Sister Christian
• Rilo Kiley -- Portions of Foxes
• Queen - Bohemian Rhapsody
• The White Stripes -- The Hardest Button to Button

There are many, many, many more. And I swear I picked these out of the list completely at random...Except I intentionally left out the B-52s. I just really, really, really hate, loath, and otherwise despise the B-52s.

Last but not least...
I picked this little gem up at my neighborhood Cheapo a couple weeks ago.

I'll let you know if it is, in fact, full of "lotsa larfs & sex" - as the back advertises directly above Rocky's little gold speedo.

That's all I've got for tonight. But you bet I'll be back.

On Sunday, actually.

Because I haven't forgotten about Picture Spam Sundays either.

Tune in.

....

Post-Script::

For those of you that are not currently in the Twin Cities area: Please, for the betterment of yourself and the world as a whole, DO tune into Minnesota Public Radio's The Current. Listen in online here:

Click it: The Current

Full of goodies

Hello, readers -
I realize that I've been neglecting my blog again and I am sorry. I've missed you all but real life kind of got in the way there for awhile.

Hopefully I'm back now. :)

Anyway, I have al sorts of stuff for you today!

First of all.
Rock Band 3, which is due out this holiday season for PS3, Xbox 360 and Wii, has new and improved existing features as well as something completely new.

Ready?

They totally added keys.
I'm not even joking.

Since the first Guitar Hero came out, I've heard numerous guitarists complain that the timing was all wrong when you played the guitar controller, but I didn't really know the difference. Being a musician, but not a guitarist, I could hear that the timing was a little weird (by timing I mean the rhythmic differences between what I was seeing on the screen and what I was hearing compared further with when to "strum" the guitar). I feel like that was just always something that would annoy a guitarist.

I haven't played Rock Band yet, any of them. Not like I don't want to, the opportunity just hasn't presented itself to me. But I wonder, should I get my hands on one of these keyboard controllers, if I'll have the same complaints that guitarists have had? I grew up playing piano, so it'll be interesting to see how that goes.

If you go here: click it you can check out a video on USA Today's website. They go into more detail about all the new features Rock Band 3 will have.

Moving right along then...
Check out this sweet video of a dude playing Lady Gaga's Telephone. (Yes, I'm aware that Beyonce had something to do with the song as well...I just choose not to acknowledge it...)

If you check out this cat's YouTube page, you'll find some of the other covers he's done.

Switching gears again..

So who here watches 'Glee'? Cause I sure do and I like it a lot. Though I found an article today that
stirred up a lot of thoughts that I just hadn't really thought about before.

Copyright and 'Glee' - What is the show teaching people about intellectual property? 

I have some quality educational experience in copyright laws, but I have to admit, it's been a
little while since I took the class. I promise I'll be referencing those class notes and
presentations later, now that I've read this article.

Check out here: Gleek it.

I want to know your thoughts on this article, especially if you also watch 'Glee'.
Because I certainly have a lot of mixed thoughts about it. Leave any comments
or questions in the comments box below *points down*, and remember you
don't have to be a member of anything to leave a message.

And last but not least, this little Family Circus cartoon made me smile.

I've got more things to share with you, readers, but for right now, I have to rock on out of here.

But as always, keep on rocking in the free world, and have a fantastic weekend!

Jenna

This is fun!

Hold the phone, Lady Gaga! You can totally personalize your Google page.

...Maybe you already knew that. I did not. And was pleasantly surprised to find some fairly fly music/musician themed Google skins. : )

I really like this one...It's kinda McNally-ish, huh?

Click it to check them out!

Stay tuned, dear readers, I've got a few awesome things that are going up on SayWAM today. :)

Tuesday......Afternoon.....

It's actually Tuesday morning, I know...But when I'm trying to come up with blog titles song lyrics pop into my head first. And who doesn't love the Moody Blues, right? Right.

And I know that I blog about Lady Gaga all the time but this is too awesome not to share with you.

I came upon this awesome video bright and early this morning. This kid is in 6th grade. SIXTH grade. You should really pay attention to the the girls' faces in the background. Hilarious.

Click it to check out little Greyson's YouTube channel. He has some other videos up of him performing some original material too!

.....Seriously - did you see the girls' faces??

What I'm listening to now: Better Than Love, by Griffin House

Ooooookay....

I can't decide if this is cute, disturbing or just wrong...

What are YOUR thoughts?

I couldn't hear you over THAT HAIR

I love The Who. Seriously.

But I was not impressed with the Superbowl Halftime Show! Ick!

The screaming vocals and the pitch issues and the pinwheeling-guitar playing and the off-tempo harmonica solo and WHAT WAS GOING ON WITH THE DRUMMER'S HAIR??!?! What was that?!

I will say that the clear drum set was pretty cool, the stage looked awesome and the lights/fireworks rocked pretty hard. Visually the halftime show was pretty awesome (except for the DRUMMER'S AWFUL HAIR).

Unfortunately, I missed hearing Carrie Underwood sing The National Anthem and I missed Queen Latifa sing America the Beautiful. I haven't heard much as far as responses to those performances are concerned as of yet. I'm sure Carrie did a pretty great job and I would think Queen Latifa could pull of a national standard like that...I don't know. I guess I'll just have to be patient and wait the couple of hours post-game for (unauthorized) videos to pop up on YouTube.

To distract myself from the ridiculous (DRUMMER'S HAIR) halftime show, I hopped on Tumblr and found this delicious little photo (Click Me!).

I know, I know....I mention, talk about, reference, gush over, etc., Lady Gaga all the time. But she's just so interesting and she's kind of talked about all the time!

Anyway, enjoy the rest of the Superbowl, dear readers. I have to see how this one ends.

....SERIOUSLY! WHAT IS THAT?!

Keep on keepin' on,

Jenna

What I'm listening to now: Misguided Ghosts by Paramore

(RAH)² (AH)³ + [ROMA (1+MA)] + (GA)² + (OOH)(LA)²

In the last post I briefly went on a tangent about Lady Gaga.

I'll be the first to admit that not every song on every album is totally amazing. She does, however, have some pretty good (extremely catchy) tunes. She started writing her own songs around the age of 11 and continues to do so now 12 years later. I'm impressed. Very respectable these days in the world of pop music.

I should also mention that she's been nominated for three Grammy Awards this year...Which, by the way, is taking place in 6 days.

....Just sayin'.

Enjoy the video below, dear readers.

She's nothing if not memorable.

Keep on rockin' in the free world,

Jenna