AMA's: The good, bad and the ugly

Last night, musicians flocked to the Nokia Theater in Los Angeles for the American Music Awards. It was a night that could easily be forgotten like all AMA's.

Best Performance

Hands down Katy Perry. Any time she performs without back tracking is a highlight of an award show. Perry performed an acoustic version of her new single "The One That Got Away" with her pink guitar that matched her pink dress and pink Bruno Mars-styled hairdo. She sang and played a song. That's rare. She even won a special award for the first female to have five number one songs on a record.

See what happens when you sing and play an instrument? Good karma follows you.

Worse Performance

Nicki Minaj.

Hon, we can all get up on a stage and sing over ourselves. The only thing that separates you from us is that you can't paid millions of dollars to do it. The award show kicked off with Minaj in Gaga-esque attire--instead of a sparkling bra, she had sparkling butt cheeks. Very original. Very Gaga. The infamous backtrack made its first apperances last night just three seconds into the show where Minaj failed to sing. Instead, she sang over her own track and chose to sing only half of her songs.

Because it's extremely hard to sing a chorus. So hard that you need a backtrack as you stand up there dancing to it.


Longest time for someone to accept an award

Nick Minaj.

The lip syncer took a good minute to walk from backstage to the center of the stage to accept her award for Rap/Hip Hop artist. She slowly scuttled her way in a emerald green dress, extremely high heels and an escort attached to her arm. If that show delayed the networks next scheduled program, it was because of Nicki Minaj.

The awkward moment when...

Adam Levine and Christina Aguilera are forced to sing together.

The two singers don't like each other, to say the least, from working on "The Voice" together. They mustered up the courage to sing their song "Moves Like Jagger" with each not sending awkward tension into the air so strong, viewers at home could feel it.

People too good for the award show

Country band The Band Perry and Kelly Clarkson.

Clarkson basically flipped the bird when she hired The Newsies to announce all the "scandal" the press has given her (if she's gay or straight, if her album is pop or country). She sang her new single "Mr. Know It All" in 40s-styled attire and set.  And then The Band Perry sang their smash hit "If I Die Young," receiving a standing ovation from the crowd. This could either be the result of two things 1) They were just plain amazing. 2) They came after Justin Beiber's snoozefest performance of "Mistletoe."

The other awkward moment when...

LMFAO closed the show by singing "Party Rock Anthem/ I'm Sexy and I know It," ripping off their pants to reveal their smiley faced underwear. It was decent and fun, but then everything was ruined when Bieber made another apperances by running on stage and dancing. If that was awkward, well, leave it to David Hasselhoff to take off his pants.

Only in Germany can you pull that off Hoff.

Night's Biggest Winners

Good, bad or ugly, Taylor Swift, Adele and everyone's favorite drunken lip syncer Nicki Minaj won big. Continuing her winning streak, Swift won Country Female Artist, Country Album and the night's highest honor, Artist of the Year. Unfortunately, Adele wasn't able to accept her awards for Pop/Rock Artist, Adult Contemporary Artist and Pop/Rock album on an account that she's recovery from throat surgery. And Minaj, barely sober during the whole show, won Rap/Hip Hop Artist and Rap/Hip Hop Album.  

Thank you Katy Perry for your music videos

The art of a music video is to bring your lyrics and melodies to life in the same way a movie brings a screenplay/novel to life.

Sounds simple, right? Then why are there so many music videos out there that don't follow this simple concept?

We have gotten over the horrendous '80s phase with musicians dancing around in front of a plain white screen. That might sound boring, but don't forget their Flock of Seagulls hairdos, overuse of Aquanet, and their hideous  '80s attire to the video. Not story structure. Just people singing their song in horrible fashion.

Michael Jackson started the whole thing when he made a five hour, I mean, 14 minute long music video, to his hit song "Thriller." It was everything a music video should be. It made the song a story, a move--a music video.

 As much as I love Lady GaGa and thought her music video to "Telephone" was pure genius (minus the ad placements), her videos have gotten so far off track that it scares me. The video doesn't tell a story, it's not a mini movie to her songs, so what's the point? Still to this day, the absolutely worse music video is Fall Out Boy's "Sugar, We're Going Down," a song about jealousy. So they have a guy with antlers who likes a girl. This all happens when the band flies around all over place, playing guitar.

If one artist does music videos right today, surprisingly, it's Katy Perry...with the exception of "California Gurls." Today, she just released her music video to her new single "The One That Got Away," and shocker, it tells a story. An older Perry remembers the one that got away, flashing back to when she was younger and dating a boy. Not only does it tell a story, the cinematography resembles an indie film, which is always a plus.

"The One That Got Away" isn't the only well done music video Perry's made. Videos like "Thinking of You," "Teenage Dream," "Firework," and even the weird "E.T." all have to do with the lyrics in the song. "Thinking of You" references a couple scenes from the movie "The Notebook," but tells a story about Perry missing her boyfriend who is in the army around WW II. "Teenage Dream"  jas Perry and her music video boyfriend riding in a car, hanging out with a couple teenagers. "Firework" shows Perry singing about troubles, alternating back from her and kids having a hard time with their home lives...plus her bra that shoots out fireworks.

And then there's "E.T." (extra terrestrial), which has Perry as an alien. Not the best story structure, but at least her song wasn't about an alien and then in the video, she walks around with antlers.

No product placement, no bizarre scenes symbolizing rebirth like in GaGa's "Born This Way." Just a simple video that bring the songs to life visually. That's all people want. No antlers. Just a story.

Long story short, thank you Katy Perry and to your music video directors. You do music videos right. Keep it up.

Nickelback to ruin Detroit's Thanksgiving

Nothing says “Happy Thanksgiving” like a table filled with America’s favorite feasting foods, reuniting with your favorite dysfunctional family members and hearing the sweet sounds of Nickelback, serenading you as you munch away on a plateful of turkey.

That’s how Detroit might celebrate Thanksgiving, at least. Just when you thought sitting with your family and/or your in-laws was bad, the Motor City found a different way to torture you on the holidays.

The band known for their overplayed music and horrendous voices, that make Rebecca Black and Miley Cyrus sound like Celine Dion and Whitney Houston, are not occupying Wall Street, but plan on occupying Detroit’sThanksgiving game half time show.

Come on, Detroit. You’re already known for being the worst team in football history (once upon a time), your 0-16 record engraved on the Pro Football Hall of Fame for the rest of eternity. You really need to punish your 6-2 team and your excited fans with Nickelback? Really? Do you have ears? Go out and celebrate that awesome record with.

Fans are so upset, they are signing an online petition to have the Lions boot the band back to Canada.

Can’t you please your city with Eminem, Kid Rock, Bob Seger, Alice Cooper or show a little respect with Aretha Franklin?

This is America. Nickelback doesn’t even celebrate Thanksgiving! Reason 23135 why they should come.

Maybe Baby Jesus will bless the city with an early Christmas miracle. Let’s celebrate America with football, food and good music—with a band that actually celebrates Thanksgiving and that doesn't sound like an elephant slowly dying.

The Maury Show: The Justin Bieber and Taylor Swift edition

Just in a couple days of each other, celebrity good girl and good boy have rumors circling around them.

Maury asked Justin if he was the father of a four month old baby, claimed by a 20 year old fan, Mariah Yeater. Of course, he said no--or tweeted it.

It is the 21st century after all.

What happens in the Staple Center, stays in the Staple Center...sometimes. Yeater claims she and Justin had a thing after one of his shows last year and now claims he his the father of her baby.

She is taking legal action against him, demanding that he take a paternity test.


Yeater pulled a January Jones. Not only did she leave the father's name blank on the birth certificate, she's claiming a successful celebrity (who just so happens to have release his Christmas CD yesterday) is the father of her baby--like how the press thinks Ashton Kutcher (who just so happens to be Charlie Sheen's replacement on "Two and a Half Men") is the father of Jones' baby.

Because Bliebers, the way to Justin's heart is to announce to the world he is the father of your baby. Yeah, he'll get right on that.

Justin tweeted, "So I'm going to ignore the rumors...and focus on what is real. an opportunity to help by doing what i love. Judge me on the music! Love yall!"

Don't worry, Justin. Your fans belieb you.

Wonder how his girlfriend Selena Gomez feels. He did, after all, rent out the Staples Center so the two could watch Rose letting go of Jack. Guess the Staples Center is his wingman.

And then there is Taylor Swift who may or may not have pulled a Vanessa Hutchins. Over the weekend, Celebrity Jihad posted a nude photo of the country singer. The site is known for being a little bizarre. It says its a satirical website, given a disclaimer on the page.  Despite Swift threatening to take legal action against the site, Celebrity Jihad still has the photo up, but will only take it down under one condition.

If Swift converts to Islam, and if she sacrifices a goat and "devour its entrails."

It's like The Onion gone wrong.

Swift is currently on tour, wearing kitten shirts and singing songs with no profanity in them. Her monologue song for her first ever hosting gig on SNL was about how she loves things that smell like winter and glitter. Singing songs about Joe Jonas and John Mayer are the most scandalous things she has done.

Guess you're not considered a celebrity until someone starts a rumor about you. Welcome to Hollywood.

10 Worst Christmas Songs

It's Nov. 1, and to you it either means
A. All Saint's Day
B. the first day of November
C. the start of Christmas season!

The majority of people hate other people who start listening to Christmas music right after Halloween, when pumpkin seeds are still fresh from the oven, when costumes are still lying on the floor, and when pumpkins are still sitting on the porch. Instead of tossing you into the joys of the best season of the year, how about we take the time to recognize Christmas' worst music.

Believe it or not, there's a lot of it. So for all you Scrooges out there, let's celebrate the worst of Christmas as we clean up our house's from Halloween.

10. "Santa Claus is Coming to Town" by anyone who sings it.

A song about an old, gray, bearded man who loves children and knows they are sleeping, he knows when they're awake, and he knows when they've been bad or good. Chris Hansen should be all over this song because this dude is apparently coming to town, so you better hide your kids...

9. "Christmas Shoes" by NewSong

Ah. Nothing says a season of joy like "Christmas Shoes," a song about a boy who wants to buy a pair of shoes for his dying mother on Christmas Eve. If that doesn't put you in the Christmas spirit, then I don't know what does. Not only is the song completely ruined by a group of children singing, it will kill any kind of Christmasy buzz you might have. Daddy says there's not much time, you see, Mommy's been sick for quite a while and I know these shoes will make her smile because the boy wants her to look beautiful before she meets Jesus tonight.

Merry Christmas from NewSong!

8. "Frosty the Snowman" by anyone who sings it.

I think it's creepy that the snowman in my backyard came to life one day. Now I know how that kid from the depressing Christmas movie "Jack Frost" felt when his Frosty the Snowman came to life with Michael Keaton's voice. How come that song wasn't the theme for the movie? Who knows. Just when you thanked baby Jesus for warm weather and that creepy snowman following you, just remember, he'll back again some day.

7. "Santa Baby" by anyone who sings the song.

There is an unwritten rule that if you sing "Santa Baby" you have to sing it in your whiniest, obnoxious voice possible. If you're a guy, sing it raspy. If you're a girl, sing it slutty. What makes the song even worse is if a guy sings it like the band Everclear. It's already horrible when I woman sings it because all you can think about is how much she wants some lovin' and it makes you feel dirty. Christmas is about giving and the birth of Jesus. Not how much you want Santa.

6. "Linus and Lucy"

This song doesn't have any words and it's one of the most obnoxious Christmas songs. No jingle bells or ho ho hos, just a fast piano part that has nothing to do with Christmas, except the fact it was in a Charlie Brown Christmas movie.

5. "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus" by anyone who sings it

...and hide your wives...

Hopefully Daddy signed a prenup because Santa is getting with Mommy. What's up with all these moms wanting Santa? See parents, this is why your kids won't go to sleep on Christmas Eve. They know weird stuff is happening under that mistletoe.

4. "Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer" by anyone who sings it.

...and hide your grandmas...

Santa is seriously out of control. And who in their right mind would make poor Grandma walk home in the freezing cold when she's obviously drunk off eggnog? This song is the peppy version of the "Christmas Shoes."

3. "Feliz Navidad" by anyone who sings it.

I'm sure the republicans hate this song too, "this is America! Learn English." It's not because the half the song is in Spanish, it's because this song is just that annoying. Why? Simple. When they aren't speaking Spanish, all they're singing is "I want to wish you a merry Christmas from the bottom of my heart." Thanks, but no thanks. If you want to wish me a merry Christmas, freaking sing a better song. This song just makes me want to go out and by the new Justin Bieber Christmas album because I'm sure that's even better than this song.

2. "I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas" by that obnoxious kid

My ears. The kid clearly isn't in his church's choir. The song doesn't need any explanation why it's horrible. Just listen to it. I bet you won't finish it. Parents, just when you think and iPad was bad...

1. "Hula Hoop" by The Chipmunks

It's the song that defaces all Christmas music, a song that makes Jesus roll in his grave, and a song that the radio feels to play every other song. Because if you can't stand a minute of just watching the Chipmunks on TV, they have a song that will make you want to guzzling down Grandma's eggnog (just don't walk home or Santa will run over you). The noise, the voices, and what the hell are they saying and why hasn't anyone put a cork in their mouths? That's what I want for Christmas. Screw the Christmas shoes and the hippo, give me three corks!

Maybe without these songs, people would enjoy Christmas music more.

Jack is Back

No, not Jack Dawson. Jack's Mannequinn.

It's been four years since the piano-rock band released an album, but the band is back with the same great music.

The third album is called "People and Things" and if you like the two previous albums, you will definitely like the third album. It doesn't top their first album "Everything in Transit," but lead singer Andrew McMahon never fails to impress. The albums first single "My Racing Thoughts" hit the internet over the summer when McMahon performed it on the band's summer tour. The song is just like all other Jack's Mannequin songs, piano rock, upbeat with beautiful lyrics only McMahon can think of.

But McMahon spiced up the album with a couple different songs you wouldn't suspect Jack's Mannequin to make. "No Man is an Island" is a slower piano ballad with a gospel beat, crooning about relationships.

Like all the songs in the album, the songs dives into deeper meanings than the previous two. Back in 2005, McMahon was diagnosed with leukemia right when their first album was supposed to come out. In their second album, "The Glass Passenger," many songs referenced doctors and hospital visits. "People and Things" talks about life and death (especially the song "Hey Hey Hey (We're All Gonna Die), a surprisingly upbeat song about death). It's deals with more profound topics than teenage angst like in "Everything in Transit."

One of best songs on the album is a song that sounds like something Mumford and Sons would sing. "Restless Dream" that songs a bit like Bob Dylan acoustic guitar playing. Jack's Mannequin is known for their piano melodies, but "Restless Dream" is one of the only Jack's Mannequin songs that has no piano in it, not even a chord. Strictly acoustic guitar while McMahon talks about an nostalgic letter he writes.

Piano or guitar, "People and Things" delivers. It's worth the wait for Jack's Mannequin fans, and again, McMahon is a songwriting God. He never fails.

Let's talk...the disaster also known as the VMA's

The VMA's are known to be a little "out there." Maybe Kayne didn't interrupt anyone (but Katy Perry sure put him in his place), but the 2011 Video Music Awards were, um, trippy and just plain bad.

Seriously, was there anyone there who wasn't on drugs? The special effects experienced an acid trip. What did Kevin Hart say in the opening? Lady GaGa was a dude, people voted for Britney Spears over Adele, the same people voted for the Foo Fighters over Foster the People, The Black Keys and Mumford & Sons. GaGa gave Britney a special award and said SHE looked up to HER. Nicki Minaj tried so hard (and failed) to be GaGa (who was MIA 'cause she was a dude) and Justin Bieber thought he looked good in those glasses.

And Katy Perry wore a cheddar cheese cube on her head...because, well, we all have that moment in life where we wear are favorite cheese flavors on our head.

Hey Katy, Wisconsin called. They want their cheese back.

Award That Resembled the Whole Esperanza Spalding Grammy Incident

Best New Artist:
Wiz Khalifa
Foster the People
Some dude with Chris Brown
Random Crazy Chick
And some creator

The winner is...Wiz Khalifa. Foster the People. The creator dude...oh, TYLER, the Creator. Ok, who the hell are you? What have you sung? And why are you wearing a tie-dye T-shirt with a cat on it?

Best Performance

Adele.

Why? Simple. You could understand what she was saying. When Kayne and Jay-Z came out, I think they needed to invest in some closed captions because everything they were rapping sounded like a mumbled mess. Chris Brown didn't even sing, as usual, and Jessie J was confined to the chair the whole night.

Adele has a voice of an angel. Compare it to Kayne's performance, then Adele, Kayne. Adele. You'll hear the difference.

Best Example of Why Choice Awards Are Not Always Pleasurable to Watch

Britney Spears beat out Adele and Bruno Mars.

How many times do we have to say that Britney Spears has absolutely no talent? She doesn't write her songs, she doesn't sing, she doesn't play any instruments, and I'm almost positive she doesn't even know what a treble clef is. We are giving awards to a woman who lip syncs, uses auto-tune, has the voice of a chipmunk, who attempts to dance (and fails like Nicki Minaj in her...whatever she was wearing). It's like awarding bad behavior. Would a mother give her kid a cookie after they finger painted the walls? No? Ok, stop giving her Moonmen.


Best "I Secretly Hate You But the Cameras Are On Me So I Have To Pretend Like I Don't" Moment


Katy Perry and Kayne accepting Best Collaboration.

Let's take a trip down memory lane.

It's September 2009, and Kayne West just interrupted Taylor Swift's speech. "Yo, Taylor..." (with that creepy, awkward hairdo that screams douche bag (hence, toast to the douche bags song))...and the rest is history.

Katy Perry (along with the rest of America) takes to her Twitter account (because that's the modern way of showing how much you hate someone (like this blog)) and tweets, "F... u, Kayne. It's like you stepped on a kitten."

Flash-forward to last night, and Perry says, "Now, this is the time when you want to interrupt me, Kayne. Oh my goodness, it's nothing like your first Moonman, right?"

Kayne cowered in the corner, gave a sly smile and thanked God, Katy Perry and Chris Brown.

Own it, Mrs. Russell Brand America's Dairyland.

Best Moment So Awkward, It Makes Britney Seem Normal

Lady GaGa dressed as a dude with a major under bite.

When you make Britney, Queen of Scandalous Things at the VMA's (snakes around head, making out with Madonna, failed attempt at her comeback) THEN you know you should tone down the creepiness. So GaGa, nice try trying to hit on Britney. She's not having it. As Chris Crocker would say, "Leave Britney alone!" (for only this one time).

Best GaGa Wannabee

Nicki Minaj.

When you look like this >>> it's a sign that you are trying way too hard, Nicki. Keep the face mask on, lose everything else.

"Oh crap, I lost my stuffed animal. Have you seen it?"
"Yeah, Nicki Minaj is wearing it."

Best Biggest Hyped Performance That Lacked

Lil Wayne.

It started off great, until his second song when he bounced around the ground like a bunny, took off his shirt to reveal his droopy pants that needed to be hiked up (hey bud, you're not in jail anymore), and then gave us all the impression he was going to show off his awesome guitar skills. But instead, because this is the 2011 VMA's (where we recognized the problems with today's music), he tossed the guitar over his shoulder, air guitared it, then smashed it into shambles to symbolize the downfall of today's music.

So did you miss the 2011 VMA's? Well, there's everything you need to know about. Crossing fingers that the American Music Awards are better.

Taylor Swift sets future concert standards

Taylor Swift, how do you expect your fans to speak now when after every concert you leave them speechless?

If you were impressed with her first headlining world tour "Fearless," then you would be speechless after witnessing her second world tour "Speak Now." Taylor Swift out beat all her other concerts with more sets, costumes, dancer, instruments and even special effects. If you are iffy on Swift to begin with, the "Speak Now" tour will convert you.

Not only did she sound amazing, the show itself was unbelievable. Swift opened up with "Sparks Fly," got a little feisty for "Better than Revenge," and got a little sentimental on the piano in "Back to December," laced with "Apologize" by One Republic and her second album song "You're Not Sorry." The melancholic sounds actually made you sympathize with her. Her musicianship was so strong at the concert, you couldn't help but say, "Aw Tay Swift, we feel bad for you breaking Taylor Lautner's poor fragile heart."

Each song had it's own digital backdrop it help transform her song into a Broadway-esque show. Swift brought "Speak Now" to life with a wedding ceremony, which she crashed in order to "speak now." "Back to December" brought December to July with snow fluttering on screen and on stage.

Her voice was strong (stronger than what people at home hear when she sings on TV) and broaden her musical skills to multiple instruments such as guitar, piano, banjo and she even broke out the good ole ukulele for "Fearless" mixed with "Hey, Soul Sister" by Train. Those stuck on the opposite side of the stage got a great surprise when Swift walked through the floor from the main stage to the end stage decked out with a fiber-optic tree where she sang "Fearless," "Last Kiss" and "You Belong With Me." Fans stormed the floor, in hopes to catch a better view of the country singer. Then, just like what she does best, Swift hopped off the stage and hugged her fans on the other side of the floor, made her journey towards the main stage, and finished off "You Belong With Me."

Sparks flew when she sang "Dear John" (literally) as fireworks lit up the Quicken Loans arena to highlight her rage towards a certain singer named John. Then the stage settled down for a piano ballad and a chorus of strings for an intro to "Enchanted."

She dedicated "Long Live" to her fans before she came out for her encore. She went old school with "Fifteen," showing pictures of her band when they were fifteen and pictures of them now on the screen.

And if that wasn't enough to make the night the best night of the summer, Swift hopped on a little platform and hovered over her fans, making sure everyone got close to her even in the worse seats.

With great sets, props, intros into beloved songs, instruments and Taylor Swift herself, the "Speak Now" tour is definitely puts a new meaning to her lyrics "this night is flawless don't you let it go."

We were wonderstruck blushing all the way home.

When life gives you lemons, listen to music

Sometimes you wake up, and you already know the day is gonna suck. Sometimes people are just mean to you for no apparent reason. Sometimes you feel like your dreams and ambitions will stay dreams and ambitions instead of turning into your new life. Sometimes things just don't go your way.

So, you had a bad day....(and that's all I will ever quote from Daniel Powter's obnoxious song)...we've all been there. So instead moping and turning emo--because no one wants to be the emo kid in the group--reach for your headphones....or just remember, "Harry Potter" comes out this Friday, so life can't suck that bad, right?

Need a pick-me-up song? There are a billion out there. But I will suggest the 10 best ones--or the 10 that I listen to. 10 songs for 10 pick-me-up reasons. Heartbroken? Life sucks? Dreams shattered? Insecure? Don't want to grow up? There's a song for that.

10. "Mean" by Taylor Swift

Karma's a bitch, especially when you piss of Tay Swift.

9. "Unaware" by My Favorite Highway

For those who don't feel good enough.

8.  "Always Love" by Nada Surf

For those angry people who need to simmer down. Don't be a hater...make love not war.

7. "You're Making It Come Alive" by My Favorite Highway

Life is awesome...if you give it a chance.

6. "World Spins Madly On" by The Weepies

The title is pretty self explanatory.

5. "Wishing Well" by Airborne Toxic Event

Wanting more out of life?

4. "Lose Yourself" Eminem

Not really a pick-me-up so to speak, but more of a badass inspirational, go-out-and-get-what-you-want kind of song.

3. "Change" by Taylor Swift

If someone tells you you can't do something, listen to this song, get inspired, and prove them wrong. And if you want some extra pick-me-up power, do the Tay Swift hair flip.

2. "Fix You" by Coldplay

Chris Martin will try to fix you....for any kind of mood.

1. "Swim" by Jack's Mannequin

Just the perfect pick-me-up song for any kind of mood. And the musical god Andrew McMahon sings it so it gets extra points.

Just keep your head above, swim.

Andrew McMahon is a Musical God

How do you know you are a musical god? Simple.

1. You can pack in a couple hundred people in a 92 degree theater and not have anyone leave because it's too hot.

2. You play your Baldwin piano the majority of the concert, but you somehow are more entertaining than pop artists with pretentious sets. And you like to jump off your Baldwin occasionally to spice things up.

3. You use two microphones while sitting playing the piano. You're that amazing, one microphone isn't enough to capture all your talent.

4. You're the lead singer of Jack's Mannequin.

Andrew had people cheering for him while Lady Danville and Steel Train opened up for the band. Hundreds of people dripped sweat in the Omni Theater in Toledo to see one band, one piano and one mastermind behind the piano rock music. Tickets only cost $20, but the show could have fooled you into thinking it was worth more. And they didn't even need dancers, backgrounds or costume changes to do that.

Jack's Mannequin opened with "Annie Use Your Telescope," and played all of their well-loved songs that made the high leveled testosterone guys plow their way in the middle at their failed attempts to start a mosh pit. "Bruised," "The Mixed Tape," "Swim," and the one that seems like the crowd surfing induced, "Bloodshot," which even makes Andrew climb on top of his piano, dance around and then jump back on stage.

The band quickly felt the effects of the radiating heat. Drenched in sweat just like his audience, McMahon said that Toledo was the hottest show they ever had.

"It's hotter than the devil's armpit," McMahon told the crowd. "But we're going to fight through the heat."

And they did.

They surprised the audience with a couple new songs before mentioning that their third album will come out sometime in the fall after the three year wait since their second album "The Glass Passenger" came out in the fall of 2008.

The band ended the performance with "Made For Each Other/You Can Breathe." The crowd chanted, "one more song," and within two minutes, the band took their spots and played three more songs for an encore, including the ballad "Hammers and Strings," "Dark Blue" and "La La Lie" where McMahon ended the night playing his harmonica.

Tell me it doesn't take a supreme being to make a jammed pack, non air conditioned theater filled with hundreds of people forget about their stench, dehydration and profuse sweating and cause them to huddle even closer to the stage, jump to the beat of music, and walk out of the show saying, "God, that was amazing."

Only Jack's Mannequin.

The soundtrack to your summer

Happy summer solstice (yesterday)!

A new summer is born, which comes with about 40 new songs that you'll constantly hear on the radio. How will you spend the summer of 2011? Will you still pretend that airplanes in the night sky are like shooting stars?(Please don't.) Will you become a California Gurl? Is my love your drug? Do you wanna be a billionaire so freakin' bad? But the real question of the summer will be will you kick it in the front seat or the back? (Ok, I'm sorry I referenced Rebecca Black).

Hard life questions.

It's time to start making those summer playlists right now...if you haven't already. If you're not a radio fan and/or are getting really sick of hearing "The Lazy Song" on every single radio station this summer, hopefully my summer song selections will help you. Because I don't know about you, but I'm getting pretty tired of hearing about Bruno Mars throwing his hands in his pants and chillin' in his Snuggie. Too much information if you ask me.

So I have complied a list of summer songs (because I have nothing better to do with my time), all summer related because who doesn't love a song about the best season, warm weather, and endless nights? Five songs for your sentimental summer nights by the bonfire. (Or with this weather, five songs for those rainy summer days.) Five songs for your hot summer day. Hopefully a couple these songs will spark your interest. If not, well, I tried and you can go back to Bruno Mars and maybe he'll teach you how to dougie.

For those clear, star gazing summer nights. 

1. Thunder by Boys Like Girls



Your voice was the soundtrack of my summer. Do you know you're unlike any other? You'll always be my thunder


2. Summer Again by The Afters




As she falls I try to catch her for one last touch of warmth from summer. As one thing leaves to becomes another again. I remember when oh to be with summer again


3. Dusk and Summer by Dashboard Confessional



She looked deep into you as you lay together quiet in the grasp of dusk and summer.


4. Tim McGraw by Taylor Swift



Just a boy in a Chevy truck that had a tendency of gettin' stuck on backroads at night. And I was right there beside him all summer long. And then the time we woke up to find that summer'd gone.


5. "Riding the Brakes" by Awake and Dreaming

Her name’s California and we have got chemistry, fusing our hearts, with sunsets ‘til 10, and streets where we’d hang out ‘til quarter to 4 in the AM. Then pass out with our clothes on beneath the piers and boardwalks and wake up to the waves.


For those warm summer days to blast through your rolled down windows.

1. 21 and Invincible by Something Corporate



And it's been autumn since the day that I met you. If I hit bottom must I crawl out alone? And I don't wish to know the secrets of summer at all.

2. All Summer Long by Kid Rock




It was 1989, my thoughts were short my hair was long, caught somewhere between a boy and man. She was seventeen and she was far from in-between. It was summertime in Northern Michigan.

3. American Honey by Lady Antebellum




There's a wild, wild whisper blowing in the wind calling out my name like a long lost friend. Oh I miss those days as the years go by. Oh nothing's sweeter than summertime and American honey.

4. Penny and Me by Hanson



Cigars in the summertime under the sky by the light I can feel you read my mind. I can see it in your eyes under the moon as it plays like music every line. There's a rug with bleeding dye under the fan in the room where the passions burning high by the chair with the leopard skin under the light. It's always Penny and me tonight.

5. "Growing Up" by The Maine

Photograph, remembering the summer. It takes me back to Southern California. Where the girls would all pass on the boardwalk and laugh at our desperate attempts and our sunburned backs.


Happy summer.

10 Greatest Film Scores

It's weird to think that all you need to hear is the music from a movie to spark your emotion. In scary movies, it's the steady beat or the short staccato notes that trigger you to curl up and cover your eyes. It's the melancholic sounds that make you sob at the end or make the end even more satisfying than the director or actors could. It's because music makes a movie and without it, movies wouldn't be one of the most popular forms of entertainment. Way back in the Charlie Chaplin days of movies, when talking was non existent, music is what carried the story from beginning to end. Has there ever been a movie without some form of music? No.

Some movies have made their music so famous that people can recognize the song more than lines from the movie. When you think of "Titanic," sure you think "I'll never let go, Jack" or that sudden jolt of anger because Rose didn't move over on that stupid door to save a gorgeous Leonardo DiCaprio Jack Dawson to lay beside her. But you also break out to "My Heart Will Go On." When you think of "Jaws" you instantly thinking "dun dun. dun dun. dun dun dun dun." Or "Star Wars" you start humming the main theme.

Some scores are just so beautiful and great and I have rounded up the 10 that make their movie a hundred times better.


10."Latika's Theme" by AR Rahman from "Slumdog Millionaire"

 9. "Main Theme from Castaway" by Alan Silvestri

8. "Neverland (Piano Variation in Blue)" by Jan. A.P. Kaczmarek from "Finding Neverland"

7."Theme from Forrest Gump" by Alan Silvestri

6. "Theme from Jurassic Park" by John Williams

5. "Theme to Cider House Rules" by Rachel Portman

And yes Michiganders, this the the Pure Michigan theme, long before those commercials took over the TV and radio.

4. "Surface of the Sun" by John Murphy from"Sunshine"

3. "This Land" by Hans Zimmer from "The Lion King"

2. "Hymn to the Sea" by James Horner from "Titanic"

1. "Tennessee" by Hans Zimmer from "Pearl Harbor"

10 songs that will make you love 10 hated artists

Justin Beiber. Lady GaGa. Miley Cryus. Linkin Park. Ke$ha. Just a few polarizing names in the music industry. You either love them or hate them. There seems like there is no in between when it comes to these artists. These artists are known for being the worse musicians or the most successful, whatever your take is. Have you ever asked yourself, "how in the world did these people get signed?" You're not alone, many people have wondered the same thing too. It's a fact they are no Celion Dion, John Lennon or the next Beatles, but someone saw some talent in them for them to be some of the hottest musicians.

10 most hated artists. 10 wonderful underrated songs that might, maybe, not a guarantee, but could possibly change your mind on them.

1. Ke$ha

Let's start with the girl who has just as many haters as she does fans. You know her as the white girl who raps in her drinking songs, the dirty one that bathes in glitter and carries around a tooth brush and a bottle of Jack wherever she goes. But before her music producer Dr. Luke ruined her upcoming career, the girl who spells her name with a symbol of currency actually sang normal music. Here's the other side to the party animal, minus Dr. Luke, auto-tune, drinking and glitter. It's Kesha, spelled with an "S."

2. Lady GaGa

Despite the fact she's a five time Grammy award winner, people still hate Mother Monster. It doesn't matter if she was accepted into the most prestigious music school in the country, Julliard, or if she was accepted into NYU's Tisch School of the Arts, people see her as the 21st century Madonna wannabe. If you just strip away her outlandish outfits, you get Stefani Germanotta. And because she's a little out there, people see her as this crazy, bubble wearing wannabe. "You and I" will be on Lady GaGa's third album, on sale May 23.

3. Justin Bieber

Apparently the world doesn't like overnight Canadian Youtube sensations discovered by Usher. Or 17 year old boys who like to wear purple sweatshirts, shake their shaggy brown every five seconds, ride Segways, and release 3D documentary concert films. If they did, then they would like Justin Bieber. But even though he taught himself how to play the piano, guitar and drums all before he was 13, people still think he's ruining today's music. Hate him all you want, but you can't say he sucks at playing the drums.

If that little clip doesn't convince you, maybe this Justin Bieber song will.

4. Katy Perry

She kissed a girl and she liked it. She would rather not by a push up Victoria's Secret bra, but instead a cupcake bra that spews out whip cream. Is her blue hair too flamboyant for you? Well, she just has that bold personality, and it seems like with many artists, their bold personality, like Lady GaGa, makes people hate them even more.  Maybe "I Kissed a Girl," "Hot and Cold" and "California Gurls" aren't the right songs to show her artistic talent, but she has plenty of other songs that do.

5. Taylor Swift

Taylor Swift is not as hated as Ke$ha, GaGa and Justin Bieber, and yes, she did suck at her 2010 Grammy performance beside legend Stevie Nicks. But at least Swift is one of the very few artists today who never used auto-tune, she plays guitar and piano, and gasp, she actually writes her own songs. Yes, she has a whole album where she didn't need help from one co-writer, her third album "Speak Now." Some people don't like her voice, some people don't like how she started out country and then turned pop.  But this song is an older one when she didn't let pop music convert her into a country-pop singer.

6. Miley Cyrus

Dun. Dun. Dun. Oh no, can it be? Ah, it's Miley Cyrus. Miley Cyrus is like Brussels sprouts, no matter how many times you listen to her, you're never going to love her because she's just that bad. But there is one song, if you don't watch the music video to see her pouty face and snaggeltooth, where she actually sounds quite decent...for a Miley song.

7. Rihanna

Umbrella, ella, ella, ay, ay, ay, in a nasally voice, oice, oice, ay, ay, ay. When Rihanna decides to thicken up her voice, she has the potential of not sounding like a donkey. Yes, her songs are overplayed catchy. They're your guilty pleasure, so don't say you don't blast "Umbrella" and "Rude Boy" when you're home alone.

8. Justin Timberlake

It seems these days Justin Timberlake is striving for an Oscar than a Grammy. Maybe he should stick to singing songs about sex and his womanizer ways and his attempt to beatbox. (It's sad to say Wikipedia calls that an instrument, which is why you shouldn't rely on that site for facts.) But there is one Justin Timberlake song where he doesn't rap or beatbox. Although it's on his first solo album, it sounds like his N'SYNC days, you know, when he actually sang. 

9. Pink

She may have a hard exterior and what seems to be like an infinite number of songs that take over the radio. She might have tattoos running up her arms and additional space on her husband. During the early 2000s, when acting punk was "in" thanks to Avril Lavigne (too bad Miley wasn't a little older then), Pink hit her peak in her career. Her raspy voice and "rock songs" are an acquired taste, but there's one song that peels away her "I'm all tough, so don't mess with me" image for a more sensitive one.

10. Linkin Park

A lot of people hate Linkin Park because all their songs sound the same and they use the same chords and chord progressions in every single song that is about how they hate their life, the hardships they face, or them complaining about something. Yes, this song is them complaining about something, but when I first heard it on the radio, I didn't even know it was them. If they made songs more like this where they experiment with different chords on their guitars, maybe people will start to love them.

But the real, unanswered question is, how did Nickelback and Rebecca Black get signed? That will always be one of the Seven Wonders of the World.

10 Best Youtube Covers

This blog is inspired by that wonderful cover that Miley Cyrus did of Nirvana's "Smells Like Teen Spirit." And by wonderful I mean god awful.

But let's not dwell on those covers that put the original song to shame. Most covers are indeed that, but there are some better than the originals. Doing a successful cover can be done. You just need this thing called talent and a voice, and you're already on your way to becoming successful. So let's go through the slush pile of Youtube and pick out the best of the best.

1. "Born This Way" by Maria Aragon.

She's only 11 years old, but I like her version better than Lady GaGa's. I'm sure most have seen her since Lady GaGa posted this on her Twitter and even invited Maria to sing the song during one of her concerts. Talk about a successful cover.




2. "Paparazzi" by Greyson Chance

Ellen already signed him, and he's a legit artist now because he has his own VEVO channel on Youtube. Everyone and their brother has seen this video, but it's just so good.

3. "Love the Way You Lie" by Helena and Maria

I just discovered them a couple days ago, but these twins really know how to sing. Eminem should have found them instead of Rihanna.

4. "Firework" by Tyler Ward and Alex Goot

If you watch covers on Youtube frequently, then you have come across Alex Goot and especially Tyler Ward, who seems like the King of Youtube Covers. "Firework" is getting overplayed on the radio, but these guys don't make it sound that annoying anymore.




5. "Love Story" by Gabe

This cover is two years old, but it's just so good. Taylor's Swift's "Love Story" from Romeo's perspective. So clever. So good. He even got appraisal from Taylor Swift on Twitter.

6. "You're Not Sorry" by Lexie Hayden

She definitely has a stronger voice than Taylor Swift.





7. "The Cave" by Tyler Ward and Megan Nicole

Except for I don't understand the random air guitarist for a split second in the video.

8. "Hallelujah" by Justin Robinett and Michael Henry

This song is one of the most covered songs, but this version is the best. The secret: the harmonies.





9. "The Harold Song" by AZsinger 62

The kid looks like he's 12, and although I love this song so much because it's one of the very few songs we actually get to hear Ke$ha sing, I think I might like his version better than hers.





10. "Airplanes" and "Brick by Boring Brick" by Justin Robinett and Michael Henry

The guys who sung "Hallelujah" have more hits on this song than Tyler Ward does on this song. They are the only two people who are allowed to pretend that airplanes in the night sky are like shooting stars.

Enjoy.

The Coachella Experience

Oh Coachella, you are a magical place of wonders. Not only do you get the greatest bands to perform at your festival, you force all the normal people to dress up like hippies, and you bring out almost every single celebrity for one giant celebrity hippie fest.

Now, most people were not lucky or rich enough to snag a Coachella ticket. Tickets sold out in just a matter of 5 days. So if you are one of the many unfortunate ones, I'll tell you what you missed out.

First, open up Youtube. Coachella was streaming on Youtube for the whole world to see. Pretty cool, right?

Oh, I'm sorry. I need to talk Coachellan.

It was totally far out, man. If you didn't have enough bread to check out the groovy bands, Youtube streamed all the performances. So go watch the highlights. I recommend watching Mumford & Sons. It was so boss, dude. Ya dig?

This year's festival headlined Kings of Leon, Album of the Year winner Arcade Fire, everyone's favorite interrupter Kayne West, The Strokes, Black Keys, The Chemical Brothers, Bright Eyes and Mumford & Sons.

But of course, let's not forget the celebrities. A $300 dollar ticket is really a hundred bucks a day to see your favorite bands, plus celebrities frolicking through the fields of the ritzy Empire Polo Club in Indio, California. This year, quite a few celebrities were spotted. Vanessa Hudgens was caught doing drugs eating melted white chocolate from her fingers with her rumored boyfriend Josh Hutcherson. Emma Roberts and "Glee's" Chord Overstreet were spotted making out. Does this mean a new Taylor Swift song is in the writing process? Then there was Katy Perry waving a light saber because she's so extraterrestrial. Apparently Paul McCartney went incognito, and Jack Dawson Leonardo DiCaprio, Rihanna and Robert Downey Jr. all let their inner hipster come out. That's a whole lotta freaks in one vicinity.

But let's point out the totally rad drama that any celebrity obsessed dude would pay $300 for. Camilla Belle, plus Ashley Greene, plus Joe Jonas equals serious awkward tension. Who wouldn't want to be there to witness that? Seriously, where was Taylor Swift during this? Not only was her VMA interupter headlining, but her ex boyfriend, her "Better Than Revenge" inspiration, and last dating victim were all there.  You can't write that stuff. I'm sure she would have a gas writing all those songs. She could have had enough material to write her fourth album. But no, she has to be traveling for her sold out world tour. Only lame people do that...

And if you're a fan of getting loaded on acid (I disapprove, but some people live for that stuff) Coachella at night will make you double check your drink for any psychedelic drugs. This year, Coachella had an outta sight lit up display of dandelions, swans and cassette tapes, plus many more. Maybe this is the cause for everyone to magically turn into a hippie the second they walk through the entrance.

Now you listen to the music. Golden. You have the bread for a ticket. Winning. Oh shoot, we can't talk Charlie Sheen. I don't know if the Coachellan's accept that. Anyways, so how do you dress like a hippie a Coachellan? Simple.

1. A true Coachellan doesn't wear shoes. But if you're not a reg, flip flops and TOMS work just fine.
2. Girls wear headbands, guys wear bandanas--neon colored bandanas
3.  Hipster glasses. Ray-Bans, aviators, those sunglasses from the '90s. What are they called? I don't know, but you gotta wear them, man, if you wanna be hip.
4. Straw fedora hats, trucker hats, floppy hats, you know, hats not sociably acceptable anywhere else but California's Coachella
5. Flamboyant colors. Ditch the snooze fest white, black and grays. You need be a walking acid trip. Even if you're a straight cat or chick, it's all about the color. Bring out the neons and the flower prints.  Flower power, man. It's 1969 2011!
6. Glowsticks. Come on, you need to add to the overall trippiness.


So there you go. A Coachella wrap up in just one blog. And hey, you got to miss out on the scorching hot weather. Indio, California's average temperature for the month of April is 87 degrees. You know you don't live in the magical land of California when your state's average temperature is 35 degrees. Yay for real life.

Peace out and stay hip.