The Amy Winehouse "introduction SLASH comeback tour"

Just me or were you completely uncomfortable watching Amy Winehouse sing about "Rehab"...smiling all the way...during last night's Grammy Awards telecast?

This is not a commentary as to whether or not she deserves the five Grammies though altmike does wonder if she would have won without snorting cocaine on a regular basis.

Really what is so strange to me is the combination "launch" and "comeback" performance...all blending together. Life imitating art? Art imitating life? It is too confusing for me to figure out.

The cynic in me is not beyond thinking that is all one big publicity stunt. It is too perfect marketing ploy.

And don't get me started on the Britney Spears "Piece of Me" video which I saw on the VH1 countdown this weekend. Did they pull her out of the loony bin to film this gem?

.alt> Mashup Aerosmith vs. Nelly Furtado

VS.







A little rock, a little hip hop, the latest bastardization! Nelly Furtado's "Promiscuous" was Billboard Magazine's "Pop Record of the Year" in 2006. "Walk This Way" by Aerosmith was one of their big singles peaking at #10 in 1977. In the 80's it was covered by Run D.M.C.

WEEKLY MASHUP
Aerosmith vs. Nelly Furtado "Promiscuous Walk"

The Monday Morning Mashup Vol 4- Coldplay vs. The Temptations

Just in case you don't know what a mashup is...read this.




Last week on American Idol contestant Chris Sligh attempted a Coldplay infused version of "Endless Love"- the Diana Ross/Lionel Ritchie classic. Though we give him an "A" for effort, it was kind of off. I think that particular ballad just wasn't suited for the arrangement. But this mashup of Coldplay's "Clocks" (2003) and The Temptations "Papa Was A Rolling Stone" (1971) works rather well. But you can judge for yourself.

Here is Chris Sligh's "Coldplay-ish" performance of "Endless Love" from American Idol last week:

Compare that to the mashup (you can snag it for a limited time!):

Coldplay vs. The Temptations
"Papa Was A Clock"

Mike's Monday Morning MashUp Vol 3- Blondie Vs. The Doors

Blondie Vs The Doors- Rapture Riders


"

Happy to report that mini Y2K did not wreak the havoc on my computer as I was expecting. My Blackberry was off an hour but my buddy Brad sent me a patch to fix that.

So I had no excuse but to have your Monday morning MashUp ready to go. Since last weeks Killers vs. the Gorrilaz went over like a lead balloon (guess you don't like the newer music), I have gone back in time to find you a fantastic retro mix of two classics. Blondie (Deborah Harry) vs. The Doors (Jim Morrison). Could you imagine how hot there offspring would be? Anyway, hope you like RIDERS RAPTURE.

Elliott where have you been!

Finally American Idol alumni Elliott Yamin is releasing some music. In fact, if you go to this website there's a free download of the acoustic version of his new track "You Are The One".
I always liked Elliott. I think he can vocally run circles around this one whose CD sales are plummeting quicker than the titanic.

The altMike Monday Morning (ish) MashUp Vol 2 Gorillaz vs. The Killers

I didn't realize that "Somebody Told Me", the Killers first single in the US only reached #51 on the Billboard charts in 2002. I thought it got much higher (wow 2002 seems like just yesterday).
Our favorite virtual band Gorillaz faired better with their hit "Feel Good Inc." which reached #14 in 2005. Both singles were a lot stronger in the U.K.

I call this mashup "Somebody Told Me (to Feel Good)".
Preview from the player on the right ------->
Download if you like for a limited time only.
Enjoy!


Buy: Gorillaz "Demon Days" CD featuring "Feel Good Inc." from Amazon.com
Buy: The Killers "Hot Fuss" CD featuring "Somebody Told Me" from Amazon.com

Monday Morning (ish) Mashup! Volume 1

Some background on the psychology of blogging.....

My blog buddy "Spider" has his site running like clockwork. For example, on Sunday mornings when you power up your computer and check out his blog ,you will find S.U.N.D.A.Y S.N.I.P.P.E.T.S (which, by the way, spells out "S.T.A.N.D. U.P. E.N. P.I.S.S." if you juggle the letters around) . It is as reliable as the Sunday newspaper arriving at your doorstep. Nobody does it like Spider. "Warm and Fuzzy Fridays", "Meaningful Mondays", and my favorite "What the FUCK were you THINKING? Thursdays". We call this "destination blogging" (actually I call it this, I am not sure anyone else does). It is a very effective way to get readers on a routine to check out your blog systematically. This is why everyone reads A Spider's Web in Thornton Park.

PS...."Sorted Lives" does this also.....well.... sort of.

Anyhoo...

I am going to attempt to try a little destination blogging myself. Welcome to the first installment of ALTMIKE's MONDAY MORNING MASHUP. Just in case you don't know what a mashup is...read this. I happen to be a mashup freak. I love them. I find it fascinating when someone takes perfectly good music and ends up bastardizing the song to the point of no return by mixing it with another song. I particularly like finding a new song mixed with an old school one- kind of like the new song paying homage and giving respect to the old song which inspired it.
My thought process here is to find a fun mp3 every week and post it here on Monday mornings. Just a little burst of energy to help get the work week going. AND I KNOW IT ISN'T MONDAY MORNING DAMMIT BUT GIVE ME A BREAK I AM TRYING TO DO THE BEST I CAN!!!!!

Therefore...

Being acutely aware of my strengths ("another good idea Mike!") and weaknesses ("Mike will REALLY be able to COMMIT to putting this feature on your blog at the SAME TIME EVERY WEEK particularly the morning after a once in a blue moon night out with Brad for one dollar Long Island ice teas at the Savoy?")....

the end result is this...

.
ALTMIKE'S MONDAY MORNING (ish) MASHUP

You will be able to preview the week's selection on the media player on the right. See it? Just press play. If you like you can use one of the links below to get the music. The song will have active links for a limited time so keep that in mind. :)

This week it is Christina Aguilera's "Aint No Other Man" vs. Dead or Alive's "You Spin Me Round". This mixture from hell I call "Ain't No Other Dead or Alive Man".
Now I didn't put this together and I would give props to the person who did if I knew who it was because it really is a flawless mashup.
Hope you like....let me know your thoughts.

And....

Don't forget to check back Monday morning sometime early next week to find the next installment of:
ALTMIKE's MONDAY MORNING (ish) MASHUP.




Download: "Ain't No Other Dead or Alive Man"
Purchase: Christina Aguilera "Back to Basics" CD from Amazon
Purchase: Dead or Alive "Evolution- The Hits" CD from Amazon

Introducing Joss Stone.....Again

I laughed my ass head off this morning watching VH1's Top 20 Countdown. There at number 20 was the "latest", "defining", and "groundbreaking" video from Joss Stone. "Tell Me 'Bout It" is the first single from her new CD- "Introducing Joss Stone" (though a better title might be "Reintroducing Joss Stone" or better yet "Take Joss Stone.....PLEASE!")
Have you heard of Joss? If so, you must watch gobs of VH1 because that is really the only place you can hear her music in the states. The video channel has tried relentlessly to shove this "teenage blue eyed soul queen" down our throats for the past 3 years though she has yet to take off. To me, she just doesn't sound authentic. A soul diva needs...um... soul and I don't hear it in her music. Yes it is true she is a Grammy Award nominee and that one of her songs even landed in Billboard's top 10 for an ever so brief stint.
To that I say....hmmmmmmm.

I just find it amazing how VH1 sticks with Joss through thick and thin.
What a loyal beast.

I wish VH1 was my boyfriend.

Miss Hit

The new Katharine McPhee solo CD is yet one more example of a former American Idol contestant resorting to "lowest common denomination of pop" blandness. Kind of like watching grass turn brown. What a shame because I think she has a lot of talent though she certainly isn't her.

The Greatest Songs You've Never Heard Before- Vol 1

There are great pop songs out there that never made it anywhere close to the top of the charts because of bad timing, bad production, bad marketing, the wrong singer, etc. etc.


What if these unfortunate melodic mishaps were given a second lease on life? Every so often I will feature a "musical misfire" and suggest the artist that might resuscitate the "left for dead" track.



Take for example the none-hit wonder Milira. "Go Outside In the Rain" was featured on her self titled debut album which probably sold like 3 copies in 1989. Other notables off this cd are versions of Marvin Gaye's "Mercy Mercy Me" as well as "Until You Come Back To Me" originally recorded by Aretha Franklin . These soul classic renditions are just so-so, and the production on "Rain" is entirely heavy handed. I also didn't like her interpretations of most of the songs on the CD- entirely too jazzy for the subject matter. Still the melody line and lyrics of "Go Outside In the Rain" shine through I dig the words " I wanna go outside in the rain, so no one no one no one no one can see me crying." A great vision.

Fast forward to 2007.... Jennifer Hudson can you hear me? Listen this ain't no dream girl. Take your diva self and record this song. Make it a hit!

Download:
Milira- Go Outside In the Rain

Purchase:
Milira from Amazon.com

PS I will add writing credits for the song but currently they are no where to be found.

A Message to the Lead Pussycat Doll

Dear Lead Pussycat Doll,

I certainly don't want to come off as "catty", but after seeing your performance on the American Music Awards it has become apparent that the time has come to leave the group and put the other Dolls out of their misery. The bottom line? You sing, they don't. Don't worry Lead Pussycat Doll, those four must be keenly aware that they are well into 13 of their big 15 minutes....and they should have nine lives each to practice until they get it right. Let them move on, or retire, or partner up with the remnants of Destiny's Child and open a burger joint called "LEFTOVERS".

By the way Lead Pussycat Doll....what the hell is your name anyway?