Kardinal Offishall has been getting a savage amount of airplay around these parts. At first I wondered how a new artist could have so many music videos out already. A quick Wiki revealed that Offishall has been around for a while and that I really don’t know anything about music. Well, that’s never stopped me before - so keep reading as I give you the straight dope on his new joint Numba 1 (Tide Is High).
The Track: The Kardinal hails from Canada but loves that dancehall sound. I got real burned out on dancehall back in 2003 when Beanie and Elephant Man were doing it real big. I’m more of a gentrified reggae person and Kardinal’s version is easy to digest. That said, I think he may be trying a little too hard. Even as the scion of Jamaican immigrants - Ontario is hardly the Caribbean Islands. You’re steez is less beleivable than Yatismahu’s.
Interestingly, there are at least three versions of this song, each with a different IT girl doing the hook: Keri Hilson, Rihanna (probably the best), and Nicole Scherzinger. The video features Hilson who honestly needs the exposure.
I’m about 50% on Kardinal covering Tide Is High. Blondie did a great job with it back in the 80s, but this is a little different. It will probably grow on me - but I feel a little betrayed to see my favorite 80s hooks used this way. What’s next, Walking on Sunshine?
The Video: Remember Sean Paul’s Get Busy and Like Glue music videos? Kardinal is basically an even more accessible version of Sean Paul. I don’t see much differentiation here. I’d even posit that Sean Paul and Beanie Man had better dancers. But, it didn’t bore me.
Of note: There is a bonus snippet of Nina at the end. Despite my thing about double videos, I enjoyed its briefness and double entendre. Look out for the new Dr. Dre headphones in this video too. They are being placed in almost new video right now. Lastly, I really really really hate Keri Hilson’s haircut and the bleached bang tips. I can not handle that.
The Bottom Line: Not mindblowing, but a solid non-sucky performance.
Quick - What’s better than 5 music video reviews in under 5 minutes? Nothing! Without further adieu, I present another installment of FNMTV quickies. MTV sets ‘em up and I knock ‘em down.
Rihanna - Take a Bow (Live)
I can handle the song and the lackluster performance, but the haircut is maddening. She looks like Halle Berry from the early 90s - and that’s not meant as a compliment.
T.I. - No Matter What
This whole thing seems really out of place. T.I. is at the top of his game right now - so why is he doing with a track that belongs on a comeback CD? T.I. needs to be doing more Big Things Poppin and less stuff like this. The track and video are boring and about 10 years too early.
No Age - Eraser
The first 2/3rds of the song is an extended intro instrumental without any depth. The remaining 1/3rd is incomprehensible and visually obscured by a fog machine, lights, and transitions. A huge whooshing waste of production dollars.
Day 26 - Since You’ve Been Gone
Jagged Edge and Blackstreet weren’t what I would call originals in the realm of R&B, but they had their own sound. This song smells way too much like them though. Diddy, you need to get right and figure out what you want to do with BadBoy. Also, graphic T’s are so over - is HipHop really just waking up to them?
Maroon 5 - If I Never See Your Face Again (Live)
The best thing that Adam Levine ever did was theI Ran SNL video with Andy Samberg, while Rihanna’s last decent video was Shut Up And Drive. I really miss the razor sharp bob she had going before. This performance is 8 types of crap. And Levine should chop ‘em off already - it’d be a lot easier than the falsetto.
Sorry folks, Nick and Justique are off this week. Podcast 18 will air next week. In their absence, I decided to try something new. I rounded up two of my favorite ladies, triathlete-in-training Rohini and Kirsten of Yumbrosia, for an oldschool AIM chat. Read on as we discuss The Lovemakers, Umbrella by Rihanna, The Decemberists, Rogue’s Gallery, Aimee Mann in the sack, the definition of cute, Chuck, Lost, Katherine Heigl, The Spirit of the Marathon, Biggest Loser, The Cutting Edge 3, and so so so much more!
Special Thanks to Kirsten for her excellent editing, Ro for her patience with AIM, and the continued Writer’s Strike for all the extra free time.
You have just entered room “AudioShocker!” Ro has entered the room. Kirsten has entered the room. Neal: Ok. Well then. AudioShocker AIMcast 01 Kirsten:Cool Ro:Woot Neal: Nick couldn’t be here tonight because he’s on a cruise with his mom or something. Ro:Will people read this? Neal: I certainly hope so. Continue reading ‘AIMCast 01 - Threeway To Heaven’
In college I took a history class called “The Roots of Rock and Roll” taught by Scott Sandage. One of the major lessons was to stop using words like ‘authentic’ in the context of music. Does authenticity really have any meaning or intrinsic value when it comes to music? Is Nirvana’s cover of In the Pines any less authentic or valuable than Leadbelly’s? Artists have been covering and adding their own flair to songs for centuries. This is how music grows and evolves.
I think it would be fair to say that Umbrella by Rihanna has a pretty wide appeal. It features a guest spot by Jay-Z, a fun beat, and well… Rihanna covered in silver paint. Critics may harp on the jarring chorus - but people also still dig the Macarena. The point is, the song is great for the treadmill, twerkin at the club, and generally rocking out.
The problem? Mandy Moore decided that she had to cover it over at Yahoo Music. Have you watched this shit? Is she seriously using a house band? A guitar? Does she really have her eyes closed as she tries to emote so passionately into the mic? Why does she have the video on in the background? The whole thing looks like some crap taped in 1998 when RealPlayer was still a big deal and you could get 60 million in venture capital without a viable product.
Pay attention to the intro, Mandy doesn’t even seem that into the song. It’s her favorite song ‘of the moment’, and she’s ‘not a big Top 40 sort of listener’. Oh Mandy you forgetful lass, your first single Candy was top 40 music! You owe all your initial success to the pop charts. Way to turn one of my favorite summer jams into a pile of steaming crap Mandy.
My open appeal to Ms. Moore: Stick to funny TV cameos with your boyfriend of the minute and romantic comedies. The way your wrinkle your face when you say “You can’t deny how melodic this song is,” is too good for this silly attempt at a music career. Please Mandy, step away from the mic and back on screen.
Quantum of Solace, All I Want, "One More Drink" by Ludacris, Uncanny X-Men #165 thru #175, Chris Claremont, and Paul Smith.
On The Next Podcast...
Neal watched David Hasselhoff in the Nick Fury movie just for Podcast Episode 057 on Tuesday, November 25, 2008. See the pain we endure for you to talk about media every week?
And Then...
On Tuesday, December 2, 2008, we've got an interview with comic creator Ross Campbell about his new Wet Moon 4: Drowned in Evil graphic novel from Oni Press in Podcast Episode 058!
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