And sometimes, if you are completely honest with yourself, you have to step back and simply ask — “Why?”
Why did the suits allow the 90s to get off to such a horrible start with the release of Right Said Fred’sI’m Too Sexy?
Why (or rather how) was this song so popular that it made its way to No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100?
Why, even when it wasn’t at No. 1, was it still tolerated to the point of spending six weeks at No. 2 behind a respectable artist like Bryan Adams?
Why was Right Said Fred allowed the distinction of being the first UK artist since The Beatles to have a song reach No. 1 in the United States with a debut single?
And why is a horrible act like Right Said Fred able to run free with ruining the core foundation of a song like “Third Stone from the Sun” while disrespecting a legend like Jimi Hendrix?
In fairness to the idea of spending valuable time focusing on quality music, there is not much more that can be said — while keeping a straight face — about this week’s pick for Bad Music Monday.
Whether we want to admit it or not, we have all sang along with what is arguably Def Leppard’s most popular song. And at some point, we have all sang the wrong words.
The truth is, Pour Some Sugar On Me is one of the catchiest rock songs to escape the late 80s, and it still frequents flashback playlists and dive bar jukeboxes everywhere.
But it wasn’t just the song that had everyone on a sugar high. Remember that classic video? Ripped jeans and all, The Round Table invites you to “step inside, walk this way” and sing along with this week’s pick for Flashback Friday.
It’s Monday again. And for most of you with regular 9-5s, you’ve probably been dreading all weekend the idea of listening to the ringing of your alarm clock, signifying the beginning of another week full of annoying co-workers and brain-draining bosses.
How about taking your frustration and aggression out on some music? At the risk of offending some of his most loyal fans, I can’t help but throw Fred Durst under the bus on this Bad Music Monday.
Limp Bizkit obviously had fans, and let’s be honest — some of the tunes were pretty catchy. Sorry, Fred. I can’t forgive you for Break Stuff. That said, it was one of the band’s catchiest songs, and even won some awards for best video. I didn’t get to vote.
The word on the street is that the song was written in five minutes on a paper napkin at a bar. Whether it’s true or not, it would hardly be surprising. It’s not the most philosophical song ever written. Really, it’s probably taking me longer to write this post than it did for Durst to write the song.
For this purpose, it’s simplicity is perfect for a Monday-morning wake-up call. Max the volume, down some coffee (or RedBull), and get ready to break stuff.
I have no idea what the child of Edgar Allen Poe and Dr. Frank N. Furter would look like, but I’m guessing it wouldn’t be as pretty as April Smith and the Great Picture Show sound. Luckily, Tim Curry and Poe are only two of the arrows in the April Smith’s quiver. Other influences include Wes Anderson, PJ Harvey, Tom Waits and Electric Light Orchestra.
As you might imagine, April Smith and the Great Picture Show are a bit hard to place. Sultry horns, dancing pianos and the sense that she wouldn’t be out of place in a 1940’s dance hall are just a few of the things that come to mind. Or they do for me – what do you think?
Luckily, we don’t have to rely on my questionable ability to name genres. April Smith was kind enough to give us her own thoughts on genre, sinking ships and The Fantastic Mr. Fox. Read our interview with April after the jump.
Music industry’s latest marketing push hits stores March 2 with the release of Blake Shelton’s Hillbilly Bone
In a recent announcement, Warner Music Nashville answered the question on the minds of many fans as to how the industry would attempt to combat the issues of lost revenue and leaks resulting from the tireless wait for artists to release their latest tunes.
The answer, in the industry’s mind, is releasing a new format of music called a “six-pak.”
Really, the idea isn’t new, and has been used for years under the moniker EP. But in a new push to get consumers to buy the slowly-dying compact disc, it might be worth a shot.
Full disclosure. I LOVE Sara Bareilles. Why? Well, she’s a smart, singer-songwriter who writes incredibly witty/catch songs and manages to entertain without fire, blood, ridiculous outfits or stage antics. (What’s up now, Gaga?)
Yeah, you know Sara Bareilles for her massive hit “Love Song,” but what you don’t know is this girl could moonlight as a stand-up comedian. Trust me, her stage banter is so good that she’s guaranteed to have you in stitches.
Want proof? Just check out this video of Ms. Bareilles taking on everyone’s favorite guilty pleasure of the moment, MTV’s Jersey Shore, a reality show based on Italian 20-somethings who self-identify as “guidos.”
Set to the tune of Rihanna’s “Umbrella,” she delivers punchlines like “I have perfect abs/ They’re right above my crabs” among loads of F-bombs in a pretty awful, but accurate Jersey accent. Still have doubts? Watch her flow into The Eagles “Hotel California.” Amaze.
Johnny Rotten, the always outspoken former frontman of The Sex Pistols, is at it again. This time, he’s taking aim at two of the U.K.’s biggest selling bands in Coldplay and Radiohead.
In a recent interview on BBC Radio, Rotten blasted the bands for being “soulless” and not caring about their fans. He added that the two bands are “pointless” and “lack heart and soul.” Sort of an interesting take for Rotten to say that Radiohead doesn’t “care” about their fans, when their most recent release, In Rainbows, was offered up on a pay-as-you-like basis for fans. While that doesn’t really defend Radiohead’s heart and soul – at the very least- you have to applaud them for giving fans a little something.
Miley Cyrus’ cover of Poison’s Every Rose Has Its Thorn a preview of career
The idea was recently tossed around that Miley Cyrus is ready to break out. She’s ready to shed her young-girl, Disney image in favor of a much more mature identity.
That’s hardly surprising as most recently music fans witnessed the transformation of pop princesses Brittany Spears and Christina Aguilera into (presumed) music queens.
Spears and Aguilera are far from music queens, but the point is, moving away from the junior high, pre-teen image is natural. The criticism from most is in the way it is done.
Aguilera had a brief period in which she became slightly edgier, but quickly resorted to a more conservative look. Spears, on the other hand, chose to go the Lindsey Lohan route. Not the conservative path most mothers might take, but it was probably the most economical. And that is the perceived direction Cyrus is hinting she might go.
I’m still basking in the glow of my beloved Yankees winning their 27th Championship last night. Thankfully, I thought ahead enough to wrangle a willing fill-in.
Without further ado, I bring you The Round Table’s most loyal reader, F-to-the-T, to share his thoughts on Weezerand zombies… um… just go with it… ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
“They’re after the place. They don’t know why, they just remember. Remember that they want to be in here.” – Dawn of the Dead
I don’t know why I still get excited for new Weezer songs. Like the zombies in Dawn of the Dead, wandering the mall, chasing after the phantom of satisfaction from some unremembered pleasure; I keep coming back for more.
There is something instantly familiar about Weezer. Rivers Cuomo isn’t a particularly gifted singer, but you know a Weezer song when you hear it. That voice, plus power chords … I’m ready to fall in love all over again.
Whispers had been mounting all week that the “Fame Kills” tour featuring two of my personal favorite “artists” (insert sarcasm here), Kanye West and Lady Gaga was on thin ice. Well, the rumors have finally been confirmed to EW that the “Fame Kills” tour is officially dead. What a pity!
Attention whore everywhere, dry your eyes, it’s our sneaky suspicion that there never was going to be an actual tour, rather, it was a nice publicity play from two of the biggest media whores to grace this earth. So whose to blame? According to MediaTakeOut.com, Lady Gaga pulled out (insert Gaga has a penis joke here).
Reps for neither artist commented on the tour cancellation, so we’ll have to see what details emerge in the upcoming days. Even if this tour was legit, I can’t imagine two ego-maniacs sharing the limelight on a tour without some fireworks.
We started as a three friends having conversations about music during lunches together at the office. Since then we have expanded to seven members, including a Chi-town native, and the conversations have gotten bigger and better. The Round Table has grown into a casual setting where music aficionados can gather to discuss all things music. Topics include (but not limited to) artists and bands, new music releases, concerts, recording industry news and concerns, and the occasional nugget of entertainment gossip. We have tastes that cover the entire music spectrum and love to share them (and our opinions) with each other. We are The Round Table! Come join the conversation!
Sometimes, this is way too easy. 
The idea was recently tossed around that Miley Cyrus is ready to break out. She’s ready to shed her young-girl, Disney image in favor of a much more mature identity.
