Paris, Not France: A Review (of Sorts)

Yeah, I watched it.

The documentary about Paris Hilton filmed in 2006 called Paris, Not France, which aired on MTV recently:



And yeah, while watching it, I fell for the evil bigwigs' plan and saw Paris as a human. And I thought, "she's not all that bad." So I felt for the girl.

So shoot me!

I'm not saying I would want to be her best friend, but I understand her and get that she is a human now. Which is good. It probably helped that I have warmed up to her now that she has lost a lot of attention (fickle audience and all), and she was really funny and sweet this one random time I was watching Life on the D-List with Kathy Griffin and she guested. Plus I used to love The Simple Life when it first started. And I've always respected her a bit more for not getting a boob or nose job, as a fellow weird-nosed tiny-boobed female. Finally, I've been watching lots of band documentaries for no particular reason as of late (Radiohead's Meeting People Is Easy, Metallica's Some Kind of Monster...) so watching this continued the trend of seeing the not-so-great side of success and fame.

Weirdest part was probably seeing how she changes her voice from "public" cutesy coo to "real" deep man-voice. WTF girl.

I'm not even going to try to explain myself further because there is no way to justify this apparent lack of good judgment on my part. Plus, I can't remember more specific reasons for appreciating the documentary and her in it, even though I just finished watching it a few hours ago. I have Alzheimer's.


I excitedly went on my computer after to finally read what Rich from fourfour wrote about it, because I was sure he would have a similar opinion to mine (why do I only enjoy opinions that are he same as mine? Eesh). But to my chagrin, his review was waaay negative and harsh. He just sounds ultra bitter and 'tis quite unbecoming of that lovely man.

Some of the things that bothered him (these are direct quotes):

1. She complains about the press running her through the mud, but admits that she's addicted to reading it.

2. She talks about the importance of being humble, but then refers to a gaggle of squealing Japanese admirers as "worshiping" her.

1. Yeah, because that's real life, Rich. I also complain that eating junk food makes me gain weight but damn if I don't enjoy the hell out of it while I'm eating. Life is full of contradictions. Especially when you're a celebrity "living the dream" yet having to deal with some overwhelming and not-so-great side-effects.

2. The thing about Japanese admirers "worshiping" her- I did notice when she said it, but it didn't annoy me because she said it so matter-of-factly. She wasn't saying it in a cocky above-everyone way, she said it more like she felt detached. It's like when my friend from Beverly Hills gave me a tour of her house but seriously acted like the whole place was blah- no affectation, it just really meant nothing to her. It was kind of like that when Paris said it.


And, I mean, damn, those Japanese fans were worshiping her! They were fucking crying and screaming and looking at her as if she was the second coming of Jesus. So, yeah, she wasn't exaggerating. It's not cool of Rich to put that down because those words look much worse in type than in video, and he should know better than to take things out of their context like that.

But, oh well. Haters gonna hate. And I'm a big hater too so I shouldn't be talking. I think my thing is that I go *against the grain* because I'm a *rebel* like that, so I hate on people that the masses like too much without good reason and I (like on?) people that the masses hate too much without good reason. I'm just trying to balance the world out, yo! Oooookay I'm pathetic I'll go sit down now.

New Epic Video from the Killers

A Dustland Fairytale. Gorgeous beautiful gorgeous beautiful gorgeous beautiful. Enjoy (before it gets taken down):



The director is Anthony Mandler, who also did the When You Were Young video. I salute you sir.

Childhood is "In," Didn't You Know?

I was looking through the Cobrasnake Coachella 2009 pictures, because I still do check that site out sometimes, plus I wanted to see some sweet Bflow goodness... and I stumbled across this:



No this is not just random photo of young aspiring hipsters. The girl on the left is wearing my childhood sheets. It bugged me out for a second to see someone wearing my beloved Minnie Mouse bedsheets, until I realized oh durr she cut them up and sewed them into a dress. Now I know I usually like to poke fun at or, rather, bash endlessly (possibly jealously?) everything that has to do with hipsters, but even I have to admit that I was impressed by this creativity. So all I have to say is, you go girl. That is fucking awesome right there. And where can I get a sewing machine and lessons to make me an exact carbon copy of that dress? Fuck originality, I want that fucking dress and I still have the sheets stowed away in the back of some closet at home.

Speaking of the Cobrasnake, He posted this music video he filmed on his website:



Again, I know I'm being too easy on the guy (is my college turning me into a hipster enabler?? oh shiiiit. Too many hipsters, too little resolve). Nah, but I really thought it was sweet. I know there must be some kind of illegal activity going on with a 25-or-whatever-the-fuck-Mark-Hunter's-age-is-year-old-dude (with a creepo mustache no less) filming a scantily clad, seemingly under age "nymphet" (ew I feel creepy and Humbert Humbert-y using that word. i hope I don't get hits from child molesters now. But then again a hit is a hit and I'm in dire need for more traffic ever since I've abandoned my poor blog.... kidding! I will not stoop that low, promiseeee. uhum). that was a long parenthetical aside. Where was I. Oh yes, well the video is actually nice with the beach and the sun. Maybe if it wasn't so damn creepy, it would be even better. But honestly I've never hated Mark Hunter as much as others seem to, so I tend to keep my mind open when it comes to him. The trendy techno-y song is not so bad either. Apparently it's called "I'll get You" Classixx feat. Jeppe/ Kitsuné.

This is what it says by the video:

Exclusive video directed by Mark "The Cobrasnake" Hunter
When the most famous photoblog in the world meets the nicest music label on Earth, you get a wonderful association presenting the finest of the new American scene.

Please, welcome Kitsuné x The Cobrasnake !

Out on digital Worldwide 06-01-2009!

Aah it feels good to be back and blogging. I'll try to keep up now that summer has begun. I'm in NYC for the next to weeks (be jellis, it's ok) so I should have some things to report back on. Laters.

Hells Yeah- The Killers Cover Bright Eyes' "Four Winds"

I can't not post this. The Killers have covered "Four Winds" by Bright Eyes and twisted it up completely. I love the original, and the two versions should honestly not be compared for quality because they're too different. They should just be compared for sheer polar difference. And still, in my opinion, this cover version works in its own way. Of course it's going to piss off hipsters to no end... but that's what the Killers do- take risks and endlessly bother music snobs- why not!

Take a listen for yourself-



I love it. Who knew you could mix Stewart Price's Pet Shop Boys effects, the Killers' touch, and Bright Eyes lyrics to make something awesome like this? Brandon's voice is flawless, too. Some people are complaining that he isn't expressing enough emotion the way Conor does- but I think it's a nice contrast. Anyway, he would be pummeled if he tried to show a lot of emotion too so he can never really win.

My favorite parts are:
:40 "four winds blowing through her hair..." with the sound effects, ah.
:50 "she just can't sustain..." with strings. Again, gorgeous. I'm such a sucker for pretty sound effects behind nice vocals.
1:20 "The Bible's blind. The Torah's deaf. The Qu'ran is mute. If you burned them all together you'd get close to the truth" - haha, I dig that Brandon is singing this even though he is Mormon. Respect.
1:48 "And it's the sum of man..." with the piano kicking in. I especially love the rising piano a few seconds later during the lyrics, "A heart just can't contain..."

I pretty much love the whole song, really. I can't stop listening. It's addicting.

To compare and see just how different they are, here is the original (sorry, embedding disabled):

"Four Winds" video by Bright Eyes

...and here is the same song but without the added crowd noise in the video, plus Conor Oberst's lovely, brilliant lyrics featured in it:



You know, no matter what music snobs say, it's pretty nice of the Killers to cover Bright Eyes, because this is giving them a lot of attention from Killers fans. They're also acknowledging the greatness of a very underrated song from Bright Eyes' latest sort-of-ignored Cassadega album. This is the first contemporary artist cover the Killers have recorded, or even just performed, previously- before they have all been covers from previous generation artists such as Dire Straits' "Romeo and Juliet", David Bowie's Moonage Daydream, Joy Division's "Shadowplay", Kenny Rogers/Mel Tillis' "Ruby Don't take Your Love to Town", Cyndi Lauper's "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun", Morrissey's "Why Don't You Find Out for Yourself", etc.

This makes me even more excited for the Killers' upcoming covers album! It's going to be so fucking epic.

Spread the Word

And sign the petition here.

FOX News should go fuck itself. For one, I hate all those airheaded bimbos that only get the job there to look pretty. That's right, sweeties, they don't give a shit what you have to say- the slimy old creeps that somehow manage to watch this piece of crap channel just want to stare at your tits. Sorry, but that's reality. And the stupid passive aggressive guys that are on the fox News talk shows... they're just way past saving, way past anything. All of these people just need to fuck off and live under a rock in their own house, NOT in my television!

How dare they talk about Michelle that way. Michelle has more class and dignity in one finger nail then they can ever wish to have in their entire life. Bunch of pathetic fools.

Jay-Z Shows Glastonbury What's What

I was rooting for him to do well. I mean, I get the whole problem with having a rapper- an American rapper no less- headlining this legendary, historically rock-oriented British festival. But the uproar just got kind of out of hand. It started making me uncomfortable- it's like big whoop, let him headline! It started looking a bit racist, although I'm sure that's not where people were trying to go. Well anyway, he did a great job. The crowd frickin' loved him. I love the site of everyone in the audience waving their hands back and forth together and singing along to "It's a Hard Knocked Life." Later in this video Jay-Z says in a sad voice, "so they say you guys don't want me to be here tonight." And everyone booooos. "Said you guys are not into hip-hop" Crowd: "Boooooo!!" (in a good way).

Good job.

It's the Jeannie Tate Show!

HOTDAMN this show is hilarious. I don't usually like these "online shows," but this is more like a sketch thing. An SNL writer named Liz Cackowski has a fake talk show on Youtube, where she plays a soccer mom that drives around in a minivan and interviews along the way. It might not sound promising but trust me, it's really good. I especially like the, er, dysfunctional relationship between Jeannie and her stepdaughter.

Here is the first one I saw, which has her interviewing Bill Hader from SNL (I love him):



Some other good ones:

Jeannie at a special Oprah taping in Madison Square Garden

Jeannie "helping" her stepdaughter film a video for her class at a Hillary Clinton rally

With guest Rashida Jones of the Office

In Italy. LOL.

The rest here

Source: trusty ol' BuzzFeed.

I Love You InfoMania

Here is the latest installment (June 19th) of the most consistently awesome show on television right now: InfoMania on Current TV. It's a recap of stuff that happened during the week- online, on TV, in the world, in magazines, etc- kind of like Best Week Ever but about 500% better. And I do like BWE. Just watch:



It always makes me laugh. And the main host, Conor Knighton! Gaah I love him. Does he know how amazing he is? I bet he doesn't. And everyone else on the show is so spot on as well. I hope this show never becomes crappy, although that's a lot to ask for since pretty much all shows deteriorate at some point.

The Viral Video Film School guy is my second favorite and he looks like Jim Halpert in the Office. Which, speaking of- I just watched the whole last season today (yeah, I'm behind)- and what people said was wrong, it didn't become worse! I loved it.

Pound It

Aww, this is so cute. Michelle Obama congratulates Barack on finally officially clinching the nomination in a way that beats just any lame feminine kiss- pounding it!



If that isn't a true "we did it" then I don't know what is. I don't know why this is so endearing to me, but it just is. I love that Michelle isn't the typical prissy half-brain-dead presidential nominee wife. She's got some balls yo.

Can Obama be president now? Please?

No Handlebars

My friend told me about this song a couple days ago at school- supposedly it has been highly requested on KROQ and other radio stations this past week. It's not what I expected at all, I actually like it... Which is surprising because it's done in a rap style that's a teensy bit reminiscent of Linkin Park. But I don't like Linkin Park so not exactly... maybe more like Eminem. Anyway the real compelling thing about this song is the lyrics. It starts with "I can ride my bike with no handlebars" and then escalates to way darker subjects. Pretty powerful stuff. My friend said the radio DJ hates it because it's too "obvious" and shoves the message down your throat, but I don't think so, I think it's just the way it should be.

So here's the music video for "Handlebars" by Flobots:



I'm not sure what exactly the message is. I thought it was about how the US is show-offy and thinks it's the center of everything. My friend says it's about how we started out so simple and things have become overly complicated, and that it's also a big negative statement on the Iraq war. Who knows, probably a lot can be made out of it.

Is this the next "Hey There Delilah" phenomenon? I think so... I give it about two months until it gets so overplayed that I want to murder it, ha ha.