I don’t know much about The Kills, but I know one thing — I really like their music video. It was directed by Samantha Morton, the actress from Sweet and Lowdown, and she clearly saw something very special in Allison Mosshart and Jamie Hince. The video is a piece of art. Watch it below, followed by their performance on Letterman. Might I add that Letterman’s music team is killing it lately (no pun intended)?
Category: General
Adele’s Grammy Speech — Addresses her “Rubbish Relationship”
I’m late in posting this, but better late than never. Adele’s Grammy acceptance speech for album of the year further proved why she’s deserving of her success. Aside from the insane quality of her album, she’s humble and appreciative, and she has a sense of humor about herself. In the video below, she says her record is inspired by her “rubbish relationship”, which is just “something really normal” that everyone has been through. Her comment got me thinking. While it’s true that every musician in history has likely written about heartbreak during the course of their career, this album had an unprecedented, unique impact. She has an unmatched, raw authenticity that differentiates her from other musicians that sing about their “rubbish relationships.” And if you don’t believe me, click here for further proof.
Melissa Rivers Fights With Boyfriend on ‘Joan & Melissa: Joan Knows Best?’
I remember once seeing Melissa Rivers at a Los Angeles club with a very unattractive man on her arm and I thought: “Wow, if I had even a modicum of her fame, I would use it to land a very attractive man — because, after all, looks are most important, right? But judging by the clip below, looks aren’t her ex-boyfriend’s only problem — he’s also a jerk. In the midst of an argument, he brought up her father’s suicide. I’m unclear why she didn’t immediately kick him out, but at least she chucked him at a later date after discovering his addiction to porn. This show sure made me feel better about my taste in men.
Gotye Performs “Somebody That I Used to Know” for VH1’s “You Oughta Know” Live Series
Quote of the Day — Who Inspired Adele’s ‘Someone Like You’?
“I got a text from one of our mutual friends saying, ‘He’s found someone else and they’re engaged.’ I was over him, but I was like, ‘Oh! Am I that easy to replace?’ He never wanted to f***ing be with me. He was like, ‘Even if we’re together forever, I’m never getting married.’ I thought the world had ended and I was going to sit in my dark flat forever and my dog was going to eat me.” Adele, on the inspiration for her smash hit, “Someone Like You”
American Idol Debacle — Contestants Pass-Out, Faint Constantly
Either American Idol is depriving their contestants of oxygen, or the producers have a knack for choosing very dramatic people. Can someone please explain why every contestant seems mentally unstable? If you can’t hold it together during this phase of the competition, how exactly do you plan to be a star? One contestant actually left the rehearsal to call his mother from a hotel, and the conversation included at least fifty “I love yous.” Perhaps the contestants aren’t eating? Maybe the room is excessively hot? But if that’s true, then why do the judges look perfectly healthy? And did I mention that Jennifer Lopez, Steven Tyler, and Randy Jackson have the worst taste in the history of the show? These singers are horrific.
Chris Brown’s Grammy Performance — Outrage Continues
If we have to pay for our sins for the rest of our lives, then we’re all screwed. When Chris Brown performed at the Grammys everyone was outraged, including country star Miranda Lambert who tweeted, “Chris Brown twice? I don’t get it. He beat on a girl … Not cool that we act like that didn’t happen.” Though I have my doubts about his contrition, there’s one thing I know for sure — eternal punishment will halt reform. His physical abuse of Rihanna is certainly deplorable. And he unequivocally deserves to be punished. But when does it end? When is enough, enough? When is the man allowed to move on with his life and continue working? What if he laid brick for a living? Should we call his boss demand he be fired? This is his job. This is how he makes his living. If he’s contrite, and if he’s done the personal work to ensure he doesn’t make the same mistake twice, then he deserves to be forgiven.
Vintage Quote of the Day — Who is Paul Simon’s “Silver Girl”?
“The last verse, it was about Peggy [Simon’s girlfriend, later to become his wife], whom I was living with at the time: ‘Sail on, silver girl/Sail on by/Your time has come to shine’ was half a joke, because she was upset one day when she had found two or three gray hairs on her head.” Paul Simon, on the meaning behind his lyric to “Bridge Over Troubled Water.”
Monsters Calling Home at The Mint — Incredible!
This band blew me away. I was rudely mid-conversation when they took the stage, and their music shut me up immediately. “Who are these guys?” I said to my friend. “Why aren’t they hugely famous? Why aren’t they selling out venues?” The group is called Monsters Calling Home, and it has six members, including Alex Hwang (lead vocals, guitar), Daniel Chae (Guitar, Violin, Bass, Keys), John Chong (Drums), Jennifer Rim (Violin), Sally Kang (Keys, Guitar), and Joe Chun (Bass, Guitar ). After doing some research, I found that they are “inspired by stories of immigrant families and the wildly appropriate 90s children TV show Aahh!!! Real Monsters.” The members met at their church and began playing local venues before performing together at the Kollaboration entertainment competition at the Nokia Theater, a competition that promotes Asian Pacific American talent. Considering their incredible stage presence, I was shocked to discover that they have only been together for six months. I’m told by their frontman Alex Hwang that before they release their first EP, they want to “get comfortable on stage, play the songs that we have to their best potential, create as much content for people to look for online and be good to our fans.” When he said that I scratched my head for a moment and thought, “you’re out of your mind if you think your stage presence needs to be more developed. You guys are ready. Get on it.” But his attitude is likely the reason they will be successful. Self-criticism can be very valuable. Watch their video for “Growing Up” below.
Monsters Calling Home – Growing Up from dchae on Vimeo.
Happy Valentines Day from The Dishmaster!
In honor of Valentines Day, I’m posting a video of country music sweethearts, Faith Hill and Tim McGraw, singing “I Need You.” If you’re in a relationship today, turn to your significant other and tell them how much they mean to you. And if you’re single, look up at the stars tonight and thank them, because relationships are horrible. Too bitter? Watch below.