It turns out that there are some blogs that have had more than their share of fun with this photo. They have taken their talents in Photoshop to make albums with her head pasted on other very recognisable albums in order to make new and amusing combinations. Let's take a visual tour.

First of all, here is Joyce (from the last post). Her natural self, being every bit the librarian we known and love. If she is not a librarian, she ought to be. The rose she holds as a finishing touch to the photo gets the message across that this is not a heavy metal album. I think the rose is quite effective. Ah, yes ... hangin' out with early Bob Dylan, smokin' weed and listening to Dylan's poetry and song. I thought that was Joyce on the album. She's more hip than we gave her credit. Once again, Joyce proves us all wrong about her. Here she is as a glamourous diva, the real creative muse behind Beyonce. For sheer technological prowess, nothing beats the retouching job of this Prince album. Prince is now the woman he always wanted to be. Now for the ultimate, Joyce's head pasted on Cher's body. And there's more ... Here, Joyce, shows us her other, darker side. She wantsssss it! She wantssss it!

And finally, Joyce is seen hangin' out with her homies from the 'hood at NWA, yo! ]]> http://vonpipmusicalexpress.wordpress.com/?p=166 Sat, 26 Jul 2008 10:13:09 +0000 vonpip http://vonpipmusicalexpress.wordpress.com/?p=166

"Direct Hit" By Art Brut

[audio http://boxstr.com/files/2894995_esgki/02%20-%20Direct%20Hit.mp3]

"G.I.R.L.F.R.E.N (You Know I’ve Got A") By Everybody Was In The French Resistance..Now

[audio http://boxstr.com/files/2899528_i0zyx/Girlfren%20ByThe%20French%20Resistance%20Now.mp3]

If we discount the unlikely scenario that Scouting for Girls might consider changing their name to something rather more suitable like “Upbeat Inane Radio Friendly Sh*te” then surely it is Art Brut who have one of the most appropriate names in pop. The translation from French means “raw art” and the term was first used by French artist Jean Dubuffet. This was art created by people with no formal artistic training, and includes graffiti, children’s drawings and the work of the insane. Dubuffet saw that this material contained a raw unfettered expression of feelings and visions that had not been constrained by rules and convention; it was in essence, art in its purest form. This description, it could be said, aptly sums up Art Brut and their front man Eddie Argos, Art Brut (the band) are not your average pop group and their songs don’t really conform to the “norm” (whatever that is.)

Their first single “Formed A Band” is about, um..well…, forming a band, its genius lies in its simplicity and surely only the stoniest of hearts could not find such enthusiasm endearing “formed a band! We formed a band! Look at us, we formed a band!” as Eddie goes on to tell us he’s going to “write a song as universal as Happy Birthday” and furthermore he wants to be “the boy, the man who writes the song /that makes Israel and Palestine get along." Eddie's songs are full of observational wit, and subjects covered include everyday tales from the urban prairie, to the slightly more surreal, and it’s the honesty within these narratives that makes the humour so engaging. The situations detailed within an Art Brut song never feels contrived, there is no sense that they are being written for a cheap laugh, and Eddie, like Nigel Blackwell, of Half man Half biscuit (one of Ed’s fave bands) can take the obscure and the absurd from modern day life and somehow make the subjects universal. Come on, we’ve all heard a great song on the radio, mid –snog and thought, “This is a jolly good tune, I wonder who performs it, and, would it be appropriate to break from this passionate clinch in order for me to turn the radio up, just a jot, thus enabling me to catch the name of the song/band/listen to the lyrics? “ ... "I know I shouldn't/ Is it so wrong/To break from your kiss/To turn up a pop song "(Pump Up the Volume.)

Not only have they released two critically acclaimed albums (“Bang, Bang Rock n’Roll” and “It’s A Bit Complicated”) but recently to Eddie’s surprise, he became the darling of the New York Bo-ho art scene. Of course with great power comes great responsibility and you’d never find Eddie posing naked on the cover of a magazine, or fighting in public with other bands like that rather narky chap ( Kele Okereke ) from Bloc Party. Eddie has long since put the (rather entertaining) feud with Kele behind him; he’s been far too busy to be bothered with such nonsense. Alas Kele’s “alleged” anger management/ADD issues have recently come to the fore yet again, and, amusingly have seen the hapless chap recently used as a punch bag by John Lyndon’s entourage. Strange behaviour for a fellow who was once quoted as saying “Public feuding between bands is completely pointless." Eddie meanwhile has been spending his time in a much more productive fashion, working on his innumerable side projects, which must indeed get “a bit complicated.” In fact he’s just returned from LA after working on his latest venture. We spoke to the great man to find out more

VP: Your first band was The Art Goblins, and legend has it your live shows used to involve you escaping from a sack. What was all that about?

EDDIE: “I maintain the Art Goblins were a Dadaist Art band playing with peoples perceptions of what a band should be, drawing inspiration from the Bonzo Dog Doo Dah band and David Deviant and his Spirit Wife. Jasper says we were just showing off, thinking about it now, Jasper is probably right! I escaped from a sack and also played the vacuum cleaner to distract from my terrible singing voice.”

VP: Tell us about how Art Brut came about, how you all met?

EDDIE: “I was at a party looking for people to form a band with and Chris was there and thought this sounded like a plan –he thought it was a good way to impress the ladies. Chris talked his flatmate Frederica into playing bass, and we got a bass guitar for her off eBay. I had a friend Ian from Bournemouth who’d also just moved to London he used to be in a heavy rock band called Orco and he agreed to join the new band. Then a friend overheard a German man on a bus telling someone how he played drums and worked in “Merc,” on Carnaby Street . So we tracked him (Mike) down and asked him to join the band. He did, fate played the straight man and we never looked back. Chris left a couple of years ago and was replaced by my friend Jasper from the Art Goblins.”

VP: You’ve recently been working on a new project "Everybody Was in the French Resistance ..Now” How’s that been going and what’s it all about?

EDDIE: “Everybody Was In The French Resistance Now” is a side project of mine with Dylan Valdes from Blood Red Arm. We’re recording a pop album in which we reply to and defend characters from other peoples songs (for example we’ve just written a song in which the son of Billie Jean has tracked down his estranged father, referencing and a continuation of , the Michael Jackson song . The album is called “Fixing The Chart Part I” and will be out by the end of the year I hope. Most of it was recorded in Joshua Tree, California, all of it’s being produced by Dave Newton from the Mighty Lemondrops, I think he’s a genius pop producer, I’m very proud of it.”

VP: You’ve gone down very well in America did this surprise you as some consider you a quintessentially English band,

EDDIE: “A little yes.”

VP: I’ve always found your lyrics very honest, which is where the best humour often comes from, but there are some that think your being deliberately funny. How would you describe your lyrics and what you try and convey?

EDDIE : “ I’m just telling true stories about my life(or occasionally things I’m interested in , for example the Gatti Gang , who are rather inept Italian Terrorists that robbed a bank , I’ve never robbed a bank.”

VP: Who are your favourite bands at the moment and do you have any album/albums of the year thus far?

EDDIE: “My favourite band at the moment is The Mountain Goats; I’m playing their new album “Heretic Pride” a lot. I think a lot of British Indie (if that term still exists ) has dropped to an all new unimaginative low but there are still some very good British bands, Future Of The Left and the 1990’s I think are fantastic, I’m looking forward to both of their albums. Of course I’m still a massive fan of the Indelicates; I’m still playing their album “American Demo” at least three times a week.”

VP: I’m very fond of my pencil thin tache, but why did yours go?

EDDIE: “People kept thinking I was in my 40’s!! “

VP: The now legendary “Beth Ditto” style NME cover made quite a splash, how did that come about?

EDDIE: “It was originally and Art Rockers idea put to me to do a cover in the same pose as Beth Ditto. In true Artrocker style they didn’t get around to it and the NME pinched their idea, although I did get ArtRockers blessing first.”

VP: Have you attended or played at any big festivals this year, or have spats with certain bands put you off?

EDDIE: “I don’t “spat”anymore, well not in public. We played a few festivals which were loads of fun and we got to try out our new songs, and we’ve a lot! So it made it even more fun for us!”

VP: What five things are essential when you go on tour?

EDDIE: “Lots of underwear, Comic Books Mobile Phone, I pod.”

VP: What’s the last thing that made you laugh?

EDDIE: “The glam revival band I’m in “Glam Chops” played in Weymouth a couple of weekends ago and Paul the bass player was telling someone about it , when they asked “ Weymouth in Dorset ?” And he replied “Yeah I would definitely, it was really good!!!”

Links

Everybody Was In The French Resistance Now

Art Brut Myspace

Art Brut Official Site

The Black Arts Myspace

Glam Chops Myspace

The Eddie Argos Resource

Wallpapers (Click Thumbnail For Large Version)

Videos

"Pump Up The Volume " By Art Brut

"Emily Kane" By Art Brut

"Direct Hit" By Art Brut

"Christmas Number One" By The Black Arts

There is no information that I can find on John Bult. Just this lasting impression, the album cover to "Julie's Sixteenth Birthday", plastered all over the 'net. I can't say what hasn't already been said about the creepy impression this album gives me, and the incredulity that an album cover like this would actually be thought to sell records.

All I can do now is to say that this blogger seemed to put it best (get your Irish accent on as you read this quote):

Julie looks like a happy birthday girl, doesn't she? Who wouldn't want to be the object of John Bult's inappropriate lust?

He's doing this right, though. He took her to a nice place with a piano and tablecloths, he had a mug of beer to steady his nerves, and he's holding her hand as he whispers to her "Whatever you do, don't tell your dad."

What can I possibly add to that?

Now for this next album, I wouldn't bother mentioning the legendary 1983 album by Joyce Drake, simply titled, "Joyce", if it were not for the fact that it was deemed #1 on their list of crappy album cover of all time by the (UK) Guardian. This blogger says that this one is considered the Mona Lisa of bad album covers. And that is the only thing that makes the record legendary and worthy of any mention. Personally, it doesn't grab me either way, although I admit she definitely needs a nose job.

I am hesitant to make intelligible comments on the record or the cover, for the first and foremost reason that it was most likely a vanity pressing. And if it is a vanity pressing, then it is no surprise that precious little thought was given to marketing or saleability. This album did not pass by a focus group; it also shows signs of having no makeup artist; nobody did her hair; nobody told her how to dress up. She simply posed for a photo and sang the songs on the record.

Joyce Drake, according to the most reliable sources, is a preacher's wife, and lives in Sealy, Texas; and has not released another record after this one. We make fun of it because of its profound lack of pretense. We are so awash in Photoshop-retouched images of perfection that when confronted with a record like this, we don't know how else to react. We recoil whenever someone is not seen to "get with the program", and to stick to the impossibly high standards we make of all those who put a photo of themselves out to print. Face it: if a person finances their own record, they are likely not going to follow the typical marketing path that succeeded for, say, Madonna. Such a thought may never have occured to them.

I think other possible (and compelling) album titles that would go well with this photo would be: "Can I borrow a shirt?" (look at the one he's got on), "Can I borrow 20 bucks for a haircut?", "Can I borrow 20 bucks until I get back on my back again (I'm almost there!)?", "Would you like fries with that?", or "Can I get something started for you?" to borrow from Starbucks.

Some guys are poets so they can attract women. Some guys have such musical power that they can summon scantily-clad women with just a little string accompaniment with a 6-string ukelele. Such is the miracle of Dinky.

Maybe she is not so much being summoned so much as that she was always there and with that music he's playing, she just can't keep her clothes on.

No information on this album cover. I could very well have my head up my keester and Dinky might actually be the name of the female. I've seen both in my online searches.

I've also seen such women rise from harmonicas. Dick Marris has a little woman right here. It must be real, since this album was recorded before the days of Photoshop and personal computers. Those were the days of miracle and wonder, when giants walked the earth. Certainly giant harmonicas were among us back then (either Richard is blowing a giant harmonica or his head and hands are small -- but then again, it has to be large enough to seat a "little lady", if you know what I mean).

A search for Dick Marris also turned out to be unfruitful.

You do not have to be a professional driver or a traffic cop to assume that he was probably to blame for the accident.

And since traffic safety and bikers are a huge issue in this country, many people have their say underneath news articles at news servers.

But what do you know, we have a typical situation here again.

• the iDNES.cz news server cancelled it
• and so did the Novinky.cz news server
• and the Blesk tabloid daily did not open any at all

I must say I don't understand the have-your-say policies of Czech news servers. This is a topic that could not have initiated ILLEGAL discussion, like racial hatred comments. Sure, they must have been insensitive. But almost every adult in this country is a driver. Almost anyone could have been there. And since people get killed by irresponsible drivers, people should talk about it. And relatives and family of people who cause an accident and end up in a paper should avoid the discussion boards altogether.

So where is the problem?

This 2003 album cover called "A Promise" shows a nude guy who wants to be your friend. He even brought you a present, look! Will you play?

To appreciate the full impact of how crappy this album cover is, I propose the following mental exercise. You are buying the CD, or better still, the 12" vinyl version if it exists. The seller places it in a clear plastic bag. Now you are walking out of the store where you are seen with this album in clear view of everyone else in the shopping mall. You might even walk past a biker gang hanging out at the food court, all of whom notice your new album purchase. See the problem? The only way I would buy this album, if I really had to have my Xiu Xiu "fix", and if this were the last Xiu Xiu album on Earth, would be to mail away to whoever is selling this, and instruct them to mail it to me in a large manila-coloured envolope or cardboard envolope, so that the general public doesn't see the ugly cover. Also, I wouldn't play it on my first date.

This album (Music to Keep Your Hustband Happy) is one of a couple of albums I am aware of that was set up to encourage sex play among married couples.

There are some who guide you on "what women want" and the ones here are a guide on, presumably, what men want. I wouldn't see women buying this. Men would buy it for their wives. The covers must therefore attract the male customers.

Sometimes, however, the way to a man's heart is by tearing off his clothes. Early Hip-Hop artist Tony Tee offers us a show of his masculinity by showing himself as about to lift a barbell, which doesn't look an ounce over 40 pounds, in his 1988 album "Time to Get Physical".

The spandex chick on the cover, going by the body language of both involved parties doesn't look like she's propositioning him as much as she is threatening him. Maybe he didn't pay his share of the rent, or maybe he is hanging out too much in the gym. She is probably accepting sex favours as payment.

Now, there are of course some women who can't stand real men, so she will date a fake one -- one made of wood. And, she'll live in her own world where wooden people and trees talk. This is the world that Nashville-based Geradine Ragan and her "friend" Ricky (who looks like "Planet of the Apes Meets Evel Knievel") want you to get to know better.

I must say that the true essence of wooden puppets are greatly under-appreciated. They don't talk back, they don't verbally abuse you, they don't come home drunk, and they are neither too tired nor do they ever have headaches.

The back cover of the album makes a big deal of the devout Christianity of her and her husband. Her husband, a real person named Dave Ragan, shares his life with Geraldine and Ricky, surely making efforts toward tolerance and a peaceful co-existence with this "other man". Ricky barely tolerates the fact that Geraldine must give the occasional bit of airtime to that husband of hers, Dave. Ricky is probably heartbroken that she decided to marry this perfect stranger without even asking him if it is OK, first. And, obviously, what do the trees think of all this?

Now, with Oscar Zamora and his little wooden "friend" Don Chema, I have the ability to engage in what has so far been my good track record at giving both sexes equal time. That is mostly due to luck, and the abundance of crappy album covers. This Latino ventriloquist is based in the Southwestern US, and seems to be famous more with Latinos than with anyone else.

Listen to Kidz Bop 14 Songs

"Come on and party with KIDZ BOP, and remember, don't stop the music! KIDZ BOP is back with its biggest, most mind-blowing release yet. This time, KIDZ BOP 14 features kid-friendly superstar SEAN KINGSTON on an exclusive version of his hit single "Take You There," with special lyrics sung with the Kidz Bop Kids! Along with other well-known songs like "Love Song" and "Teardrops on My Guitar," KIDZ BOP 14 brings a whole new level of excitement to your summer, whether it's at a backyard BBQ, beach party or family roadtrip. Be a superstar with KIDZ BOP 14!"

But in fact, it is an instrument that has been used frequently, from film scores to Good Vibrations by the Beach Boys (they employed a modified type of Theremin). It is very hard to play, as players have to focus their movements in space, for this instrument is played without touching it.

Buchholz, originally Jazz bassist, liked the sound of this instrument very much and wanted to perform with it. Thus, she studied playing the theremin in Moscow.

I encountered the song Little Liar from the CD Moonstruck on Tonspion.de

In this piece, the theremin is used as accompanying instrument in a calm, bluesy track, sung by Alejandro Govea Zappino. The fragile, scattered character of this instrument fits very well into the slow, ambient bluesy environment of this piece.

The music is derived from a relatively simple hook, or motif, played by an acoustic guitar and an electric bass:

the guitar plays plucked chords in the key or scale of E minor. The most important root notes played by the bass are succesively C#, D# and E. Sometimes, the D is added to this run, producing a chromatic line.

The power of this song does not evolve from this harmonic pattern, but from the contrast of guitar/voice and the sparse, minimalistic usage of the theremin. Nevertheless, it is more of a song for the relaxed moments, an not for being driven by the music.

Now some links to this artist:

www.barbarabuchholz.com

http://www.myspace.com/barbarabuchholz

On myspace, the track Moonstruck demonstrates the ability of the theremin, to sound even like Santana's guitar in Samba Pa Ti

~T.

Birth

1935. Songwriter Les Reed ("It's Not Unusual", "There's A Kind Of Hush" and many more) born in Woking, Surrey.

On Tour

1964. Britain's biggest rock riot takes place during The Rolling Stones concert in Blackpool's Empress Ballroom. Blackpool is besieged by drunken Glaswegians, in the city for their annual holiday. Unfortunately hundreds of them are amongst the audience of 9,000. Things turn sour when Keith Richards objects to Brian Jones being spat at by youths at the front of the stage. He retaliates with his boot, first standing on someone's hands and then kicking another in the face. Within moments, the band are running for their lives.

It takes several hours for calm to be restored. By that time more than £ 2,000 worth of Stones' equipment has been smashed, curtains in the hall are pulled down, seating is destroyed and the ballroom's chandelier damaged. Two policemen and thirty members of the audience require treatment at Blackpool's Victoria Hospital.

The band are booked in to spend the night at a hotel in Preston, twenty miles away and hastily arrange a round the clock police guard in case they've been followed.

In Custody

1996. Rapper Warren G is arrested at the Los Angeles gay and lesbian nightclub Peanuts following the discovery of a loaded 9mm assault weapon in his trunk. Police are called to a disturbance outside the club and notice the truck which matches the description of one used in an armed robbery last week.

The rapper later holds a press conference to admit that he was arrested at the club but insists he was there on a lesbian only night (?). He is released on $ 10,000 bail and will appear in court on August 16th to face charges of possessing a concealed loaded weapon.

In Church (well, almost)

1999. Following their civil marriage yesterday, Phil Collins, 48, and his new bride Orianne Cevey, 27, have a religious blessing at the Beau Rivage Palace Hotel in Lausanne, Switzerland. After the ceremony, a lavish reception is held in the hotel with guests including Eric Clapton.

During their stay at the hotel, Phil arranged for Jack (his Jack Russell Terrier) to have his own suite at a cost of £ 220 a night. Jack got a double bed, minibar, sunken bath and balcony. If that wasn't enough, a dog-sitter was booked to take Jack walkies, whenever the need arose. Orianne's mother didn't fare so well. While Jack was living it up in a suite, she had to make do with a standard room!

On Television

1968. Kraft Music Hall (NBC, U.S.A.) 84. The Turtles - "Elenore". 2m 33s.

Death

1972. Bobby Ramirez (drummer with Edgar Winter's White Trash) dies in a knife fight in a back alley off Rush Street, Chicago aged 23.

Go to Rockmine's main site here.

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At any rate, the actual album cover was quite tasteful. This one was by contrast cheesy in the extreme. Sometimes I can't decide where to put certain albums, because clearly there is crossover. I could have grouped it with the Frankenchrist album because of the dune buggy, but I think viagra won out, because of the unnamed dude in the Superman costume. But I have a lot in this category. So many crappy album covers, so little time.

You can never go wrong with albums that sport naked chicks on the cover. Clearly, Eddie is pleased to see her, and she looks pleased to see him. Fine and dandy, but couldn't he have chose a better title than "Recorded Live at the Open Face Sandwich Club"? Do we really need to be informed that he was playing in a restaurant where people may have only heard him between bites of their steak slices on rye, and were probably chatting throughout his set? Maybe the chick on his piano could control the crowd and tell those wayward patrons to shut the f**k up and let him play.

Eddie Mack had a short career spanning from the late 40s to early 50s. Allmusic lists his genre as "Rock". Yeah. He looks pretty rockin' to me. But then, one must be reminded that it was the early '50s.

As for chicks getting the guy, the Ritchie Family seem to have no problems going by this album cover. The ladies are the ones in the picture that are fully dressed.

I just worry a little that there is not an even share of guys for the girls. There are 5 guys in the photo for 3 women. That's one and two-thirds guys for each woman. My theory is that they got one each with two guys acting as "floaters" in case they have one of those "emergencies". Maybe one of them might get sick. Maybe two of them. I hope the guys wear condoms.

Now we get to see an album where both sexes are in the buff. This is an obscure Various Artists compilation, but it appears from some (unreliable) sources that it was released in 1971. Arranged around their photo like signs of the zodiac are line drawings of people in various sex positions. The title is "The Sensuous Black Woman with The Sensuous Black Man".

Some advice: premarital sex is only fun until you make the girl pregnant. Then, it's not cool anymore. The late 60s and early 70s was an era of something called "free sex", which seems in hindsight not to have been that sensible. Albums like this will tell our kids: "See what we were like? We had all kinds of sex and thought somehow we would never get the girl pregnant." It's the magical thinking of teens with adult levels of hormones.

Cut Copy is an Australian band from Melbourne. The above song comes from their latest release "In Ghost Colours".

Read the Pitchfork Media review of "In Ghost Colours".

O, udoonodat?  yea?  dis?  dis dis?  disdat?  datyou?  whoyoutodisdiserdat!   Yea; me, facka!

Anyway  wonnadem wonnado wonna whiningly win a wonderous wan wonnadem trophy wives.  ukno?  wannawoo him her.  wannawoo wannadem; him.  with himns.

Prettymuch.

Date: 2005
Posted by: mf99
Credits: The credits, in MTV Style, say "Lear", by Wilson Mccutchan, on Phat Phish Records
Cast: David Mclean (King Lear), Chris Teolis (Cordelia), Kevin Hagino (The Fool), James Mangan (Stunt Lear), Andrew McConnon (Regan), Victor Wong (Goneril), Wilson Mccutchan (Lead Vocal)
Duration: 7.07

A first-rate parody of the video for Eminem's 'Stan', changing the story from that of an obsessed fan who writes repeatedly to Eminem before killing himself and his girlfriend, to King Lear writing to his daughter Cordelia ("Dear Cordelia, I wrote to you, but you still ain't calling, hope there's not a problem, I sent two letters to France in autumn..."), complete with the sample from Dido's 'Thank You' to intercut the familiar tale of 'drama, violence and death'. It works ingeniously well, finding adroit parallels in these two tales of disordered passion, maybe even offering some insight into the psychodrama that is King Lear. Production values are so-so, but the effort put into producing the video is more than praiseworthy.

The orginal 'Stan' video, directed by Phil Atwell and Dr. Dre in 2001, is available here.

YouTube page

So the above is a new song out by Katy Perry. Don't know where she came from (okay...I do know. She came from California...but whatever.). But right now she has a chart-topping song called "I Kissed A Girl". It's a catchy song. It does have some ballsy lyrics though, revolving around Katy hanging out in a club and kissing a girl as an experiment and liking it and so on and so forth. So I wouldn't consider it to be music for the kiddies. However today as I was driving home from the park, I was getting cash out of the bank machine and it came on the radio.

Now, first of all, I am not one for censorship. Music has always and hopefully will continue to be honest and straight-forward. There have been many great bands who have expressed their political, religious and sexual views, and I'm all for it. I think that is what music is here for...to express one's opinion. And it is my right to decide what I want to listen too or what I want my kids to hear. And that is what my issue is with hearing it on the radio.

First off, my daughter LOVES music. Especially pop music. Especially pop music that sounds like Gwen Stefani. So when it came on, she called out "Daddy! Turn it up!" and so I did. And then I heard what song it was (took me about 3 seconds. I actually like the song!) and I didn't know what I should do. I mean...it's a pop song and it's really popular right now. So when a radio station is playing it, it should be okay, right?

Well...I don't know. I understand that my 3-year old probably doesn't get the meaning of this song (although she DOES know the lyrics to a lot of songs!), but my 6-year old has been asking questions about...stuff. So now he hears it and starts to think and then what? What do I say? Being liberal has its ups and downs...that's for sure. But I'm thinking any questions that might arise from the lyrics of this song might be a little more than I'm qualified to handle.

So I'm gonna be changing the channel on this one from now on while the kiddies are in the car. Or better yet, I'll just burn off a couple of CD's with music I can play for them and not bother with all the commercials on radio nowadays anyway. Katy Perry is cool if you like her music, but I'm thinking right now might not be the age to clutter my kids' heads with this kind of pop/sex music. And it's definitely not the age for them to be asking me if their mommy has ever kissed a girl. That's for me to know and them to never find out!

Click here to Listen to Kidz Bop 14 Songs and watch the videos

Ok, so he wasn't enough of a cinderella story to go from a G to a Gent, but us pop junkies got our first real glimpse at the man who is Mikey P. So, for those of you, like myself, who are new to meeting his acquaintance, I just had to know what this six pack, gel spiked hair, hunk of south Jersey love was all about. Don't fret, we'll be catching more of this pop eye candy as he hurls his triple threat (rapping, acting, modeling) to superstardom.

From G's to Gents
A G is someone who feels that being hard and being tough is a solution to all situations.
- Fonzworth Bentley on MTV's From G's to Gents, episode 1

Now, with that lesson behind us, let's see how the hell Mikey P found his way onto the cast for this show.

"One day I was sittin' on MySpace and it was like one o'clock in the morning and I got a message from an MTV casting director who said I would fit the show...all of a sudden I was in LA."

As I poke and prod over the phone at this specimen who still had me scratching my head at the thought of him being a true G, I asked him about his naughty side.

"I’ve got a bit of attitude problem I guess you could say. I’m a boxer. I’m a wrestler. A little bit of a mean streak...but I’m a nice guy, I swear...I just don’t take shit."

While I type this post, I'm watching episode 2 and see my boy Mikey P ('cause you know he's my boy now...lol) get 2 black balls and then the boot from Fonzworth <insert Debbie Downer noise>

Ok, out with a third of my interview notes. However, do not fret fans, we had much more to talk about.

Wait! Before I move on, I must make this point very clear.

MIKEY P DOES NOT IRON HIS UNDERWEAR!!! 8-)

...per his bio on MTV. Rather, he is 100% genuine bachelor living in a bachelor house with four other bachelor friends (no, not from DaCav5) outside Philly these days. My boy doesn't even own an ironing board (and no, that is not a cue for you obsessive groupies to go shipping him ironing boards...although even that thought briefly crossed my mind as well...hee hee!).

Moving on to Mikey P and his music.

Mikey P and DaCav5

First off, I lovez me some music, and I'm always down to hear a new sound. DaCav5 is so many things wrapped up into one group and certain to take on the pop circuit and club circuit by storm. Hip hop? Well, you know us black folk ain't always so welcoming of the multifaceted when it comes to our hip hop. They'll have to bring it hard to get the true cred or be willing to straddle the fence and take their hip hop licks for doing so like Ja Rule and Will Smith. But I'm not hatin' on those bros because they've got money in the bank to show for it.

As we continue, I ask Mikey P how he got involved with DaCav5.

"The group was actually established back in like 2000. I didn't get picked up with the group until almost like 2005. I'm not the newest member, but I'm like a newer member...They broke up, and then all of a sudden, like me and one of the guys from the [original] group BRoc was makin' remixes for Q102, one of the stations that I work at [in Philly]...So he [BRoc] came up with the idea of getting the group back together with...new members and me being a part of it."

So what's DaCav5's style of music?

"We try to hit every genre in some way because the music industry is changing so much now, like no one is doing hip songs now...Hip hop is not just like hip hop anymore. It's like hip pop...pop songs are playing on hip hop stations, hip hop songs are playing on pop stations."

We get to chatting about Lil Wayne's success, and I ask Mikey P if he's looking for the same level of success with DaCav5.

"I wanna take it above and beyond that because like with our group, we're like the United Nations. We have so many ethnicities and...different personalities. We could touch like every type of fan...We've made rock songs, trance songs, just straight hip hop, straight pop songs."

Before the interview I had taken a quick listen to Mikey P's "July 15th Freestyle" that he had posted up on his myspace page. You should take a listen. His sound and delivery is very similar to Eminem.

"I get that comparison a lot. It's just my delivery and the fact that I have a higher pitched voice...He's my favorite rapper...I got three people I listen to in my tape deck- Gym Class Heroes, Eminem, and Lil Wayne. They're my peoples..."

How'd DaCav5 really start to get noticed?

"We just started making tracks on our own. We made this song that became so popular...Tetris...The song just got so popular we just starting growing off that. It's so weird. That was honestly a song we just did like as a joke."

Destiny is some funny shizz y'all. The Good Man Above has a way of just flipping a switch to make things happen just when you least expect it.

Do you all write all of your own songs?

"We all write our own parts to the songs. We all assist each other in writing. It's a group effort, so we all have to be on the same page. Like if something doesn't sound right, we switch up, we work together to make everything sound intact."

With his recent break on From G's to Gents, I wondered if he ever had plans to do more or even go solo.

"I'm trying to be a jack of all trades...My main focus is obviously music, but I love doing acting. I don't particularly love modeling...I have a great photographer that works with me all the time and helps me get my portfolio up, and I can't be mad at that....

We all make solo songs...We can all do it ourselves, but we like to do it together because it's more impactful...We like the response that we get as a group rather than like solo stuff. That's...a path we want to take.

I just did 'Transformers 2'. I got a featured extra role in that movie. I playe a quote-unquote hot college guy which was pretty cool...went to Princeton University, and I shot like 14 scenes so I'm excited for that to come out."

Mikey P - The Man Behind the Curtain

Everyone has their equivalent rags to riches story, and Mikey P is no exception. This boy has been working on Philly's radio station Q102 for several years now and also works part-time at a gym to pay the bills. And, yes, ladies he's on the solo tip these days, although I'm sure he has a couple of acquaintances in his back pocket for a rainy day, you know? You gals can whore yourselves...oops! I mean introduce yourselves (excuse my French...lol) to him on his myspace page.

Can't nobody ignore Mikey P's chiseled bod, so here's his secret. Shhhh! ;-)

"When you work in a gym you just can't not work out. At least for me, I can't...My dad's trained me to work out...I work out six to seven days a week, probably like two to three hours a day...My dad threw me a weight bench when I was like eleven years old...I pride myself because I'm all natural. I don't take steroids or stuff like that...I just can't do it, plus, I think my dad would kill me if I did." (laughs)

While you might not sense it from what I've written in this post before now, it quickly became evident to me while we talked that Mikey P lovez his papa.

"I look up to my dad with pretty much everything. I take his advice, and I use it wisely."

Awwwww! Such a family guy. Sniff-sniff! Break out the kleenex ladies, and give props to pops!

Mikey P got started in the rap game during high school.

"I've been writing raps and poetry since I was like a freshman in high school. I was the kid in English class that would write the best essays."

We need to get this man up on open mic night!

Forgive my Eminem reference again, but I can't get the song "Lose Myself" out of my mind as I think of Mikey P taking the stage before a performance. So, I asked him if he gets nervous or has any rituals.

"Before I perform, I guess I try not to talk to anybody. I kind of like just to sit to myself and just think about the performance. Afterwards, I talk to everybody. I'm real talkative, but like before, I'm not talkative. Like I hate when people try to have conversations with me right before I get on stage."

Along that vein, I asked if Mikey P had any particularly embarassing moments while on stage.

"I'll put myself out there. That one song we have 'Tetris.' There's this one part that, I swear to God, every time I hear that song I just like (he pauses and I can hear the tension in his voice), I don't forget [but] I mumble the words because I'm rappin' so fast. I completely forget how I say it all the time."

Well, it's about time for my Porky Pig moment. I did my best to share as much with you as I could while not going too far into "noveliciousness" with ten thousand word essays and shit. There's a little more in my reserve so we'll see how the wind blows, and maybe I'll do some follow up posts. Thanks to Mikey P who was indeed a true gentleman and so easy to talk to on the phone and also to Dove from Tygereye Entertainment who hooked me up with this interview.

For more Mikey P and DaCav5 check my posts:

DaCav5 releases single "The Runway." Album drops this Fall.

Coming Soon! Ifelicious interview with Mikey P from G's to Gents and Jersey hip-hop group DaCav5

DaCav5's Mikey P on MTV's From G's to Gents - Premieres July 15

and to save you some clicks, here's the myspace pages...

Mikey P - www.myspace.com/theonlymikeyp

DaCav5 - www.myspace.com/dacav5

Update 7/25- since Chico's link to the Tetris video didn't imbed in his comment (I'm open to hearing from any wordpress user that knows why that doesn't work), I'm posting it here.  It is catchy so I can see why it got so popular.

Birth

1965. Slash born Saul Hudson in Stoke-On-Trent, Staffordshire. His father, Anthony designed album covers (Joni Mitchell's "Court & Spark" amongst others) and his mother, Ola was a costume designer for "The Man Who Fell To Earth".

In Church

1971. John Maus, better known as John Walker (The Walker Brothers) marries Julie Parker Cann at St. John's Roman Catholic Church in Norwich. The event is kept secret to avoid an invasion of fans, and is only seen by a few passers-by. Miss Cann was formerly secretary to DJ Simon Dee.

In Custody

1977. Led Zeppelin run into trouble after their concert at the Alameda County Coliseum in Oakland, California. John Bonham, manager Peter Grant and crew members Richard Cole and John Bindon are arrested and charged with battery following a number of minor arguments with members of Bill Graham's staff.

In Court

1976. George Harrison and Ringo Starr fail in their attempt to get a court injunction stopping Polydor Records from releasing "The Beatles Tapes". The album is a compilation of interviews gathered by David Wigg from 1968 to 1973 for the London Evening News. The Fabs tried to stop the release claiming that the interviews didn't reflect their current views and it might be construed as a genuine "Beatles" album. The judge refused the injunction saying such claims were "ridiculous".

On Television

1980. Rockpalast (WDR, Germany) The Beat (WDR Studio-B Koln)

Death

1995. Two men die during R.E.M.'s concert at Dublin's Slane Castle. One drowns while swimming across the River Boyne to get in for free. The other is accidentally pushed from a bridge into the river. The drownings happen despite a special river rescue team patrolling all weekend.

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Courtesy Tygereye Entertainment

For Immediate Release

DaCav5 Sets It Off with "The Runway"
New Single Lighting Up Philly Radio
Full Length Album Coming This Fall

Philadelphia, PA -- Enter the next generation of popular music. South Jersey's DaCav5 is an enigmatic group, pushing the boundaries of futuristic sound with their eclectic blend of Hip Hop, Dance and Pop. Their new single "The Runway" has been put in rotation on Philadelphia's Q102 and 15 mixshows (and counting) nationally, as DJ's and key tastemakers are taking note of the group's dynamic talent.

With over three million plays on their Myspace page and a strong rapport with their fans, DaCav5 is well on their way to national stardom. They are currently preparing their album Guilty Pleasure for a September 2008 release. Additionally, group member Mikey P is a contestant on the upcoming MTV reality series From G's To Gents, which is hosted by Fonzworth Bentley and produced by Jamie Foxx.

The group was initially formed by member B-Roc in 2000, as he brought on members that included Benofficial and Soul while still in high school. After a debut album which had them touring throughout the Mid-Atlantic and Southeast, some temporary breaks (including time to graduate college), and some membership changes, Mikey P and Mike-EEE came aboard and the group pushed into 2007. Together they released their indie project Change Of Plans, which spawned two locally popular singles.

Their current single "The Runway" will be available on iTunes worldwide in mid-July, as well as on Napster, Amazon and Rhapsody. Performance dates over the Summer will include shows in Las Vegas, Miami, Atlantic City and other key U.S. cities.

Few artists have been truly successful at fusing several genres of music, however those who have touched fans through their work have attained global success beyond their wildest dreams. Creative songwriters like Cee-Lo of Gnarls Barkley, Andre 3000 of Outkast, Will.I.Am of Black Eyed Peas and super-producer Timbaland have been able to defy and transcend the categorization of their art. DaCav5 is truly the next wave of ultra-edgy artists.

“We are creating the belt curve instead of following it,” explains B-Roc. “We’ve got five different guys, five different races, five different styles - which means the fans will have their own member that they can relate to. The good thing about it is that it works! We've got the whole pop layout visually…but we rap.”

DaCav5 has opened for the likes of Nelly Furtado, The Pussycat Dolls, Alicia Keys, Rihanna, The Fray, Maroon 5, Sean Kingston, JoJo, Cassie, Chingy and many other major label artists in various genres over the past two years. Their persistence and likeability keeps promoters intrigued, although it is ultimately their ability to grab the audience, and sometimes outshine the headliner, that keeps them coming back.

When fans listen to our music, I want them to feel good and vibe to it,” says Mikey P. “I want them to connect with what we are saying in the record. Music is all about the way it makes you feel - so I hope it makes our fans feel good.”

- - - - -

(Fans, you can also check out my interview with Mikey P - Up close and personal with From G's to Gents and DaCav5's Mikey P)

Birth

1963. Emily Saliers (The Indigo Girls) born in New Haven, Connecticut.

In The Skies

1994. The Minor Planet Circular issued today, announces that minor planet 3834 which was discovered on 11th May 1980 has been named Zappafrank in memory of Frank Zappa.

In Custody

1996. Kim Thayil (Soundgarden) is arrested in the early hours of the morning following allegations that he assaulted a fan at his hotel in Charlotte-Mecklenburg, North Carolina. Soundgarden had returned to the hotel after playing the Lollapalooza at around 1am. Thayil went to his room and discovered it had been broken into. On going downstairs to discuss the matter with the hotel's manager, he was harassed by drunk party-goers attending a wedding reception. He grabbed the disposable camera of one guest and threw it away. The guests then charged at him. In his flight, he is thought to have hit one of the group in the face. He is charged with assault on a girl and damage to property and released on $ 2,500 bail.

In Court

1997. Robbie Williams is in the High Court in London, defending a lawsuit brought by his former manager Nigel Martin-Smith. The ex-manager is seeking £ 1 million which includes £ 78,000 in unpaid commission on royalties and advances and a percentage of the singer's earnings until 2006.

On Television

1967. American Bandstand (ABC, U.S.A.) 1784. The Doors – "Light My Fire" & "Crystal Ship"; Bee Gees (on film) – "New York Mining Disaster 1941". Here's "Light My Fire".

Death

1996. Rob Collins (The Charlatans) crashes his BMW on the journey from a local pub to Rockfield Studios in Monmouth, Wales where the band are recording their fifth album. He is resuscitated by a nurse at the crash site but dies in the ambulance on his way to hospital. A sound engineer travelling with him escapes serious injury but is in shock.

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That said: did you see that Westerberg just dropped an album, through Amazon, for $0.49? And it's one track and almost 46 minutes? God bless Minnesota.

Also incredible: that last post, the last Thursday one? Jennifer O'Connor. Oh. My. God. Her new one, Here With Me, is coming out mid-August, and I'll review it more then, but seriously: she's one of a small number of the absolute best (and woefully underknown) singer/songwriters around. Don't believe me? Download the title track (and seriously, please: download the thing. Listen to it nonstop).

Here With Me

Okay, that's it for a bit. See you at the end of the month.

Birth

1945. Mike Wilsh (The Four Pennies) born in Stoke On Trent, England.

On Tour

1963. The Beatles appear at Blackpool's Queens Theatre. Police are called to deal with the crowd of 4,000 in the street outside who couldn't get tickets. Because of the fans, the band make it into the theatre across the rooftop from an adjoining building.

In Custody

1997. Police are called in to investigate after Whitney Houston is taken to a hospital on the island of Capri with a deep cut on her face. She and Bobby Brown have been sailing the Medirranean in a yacht and have just arrived on the island. The soul diva said she'd gashed her face while diving near rocks but a member of the yacht's crew said she'd received the cut on board.

In Court

1997. C. Delores Tucker, lobbying against gansta-rap lyrics files a lawsuit against the estate of Tupac Shakur alleging intentional infliction of emotional distress, slander and invasion of privacy relating to lyrics about her on Shakur's last album.

On Television

1973. Disco (ZDF, West Germany) 31. The Tremeloes; Rebekka; Alice Cooper; Wolfgang; Millie; Ricky Shayne; Love Generation; Dawn; Michael Holm; Oliver Onions; Daisy Door.

Death

2002. Producer Gus Dudgeon (59) and his wife, Sheila die in the early hours of the morning when their Jaguar XK8 leaves the M4 motorway near Reading and crashes into a concrete embankment 20 feet below. Dudgeon had worked with a wide variety of artists from Joan Armatrading to XTC over the years but he's best known for his work with Elton John. His production credits for Elton include the classics, "Your Song", "Goodye Yellow Brick Road", "Candle In The Wind" and "I'm Still Standing". In a statement on his web site, Elton said, "I am devastated by the tragic news about Gus Dudgeon". He went on to describe him as "an incredibly talented producer and a very dear friend for many years" adding, "I will miss him terribly".

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