Well, well, well. Britney’s done it again. She’s become the talk of the town with nothing more than what could be called a comeback. Mind you I don’t own a TV so I did not watch the MTV Video Music Awards. I suppose it’s a bit odd for a station that used to be the only source for videos but now rarely plays a video, to actually hold awards for videos. In some news stories there were reporters reminiscing about how MTV only played videos and that there was once the belief it would kill radio. They go on to hypothesize that MTV has itself become irrelevant. I’m neither here nor there on that issue. However, MTV apparently stood for Music Television at one point. I guess it begs to be asked, “Where’s the music?”
I caught Britney’s ‘comeback’ performance last night on an MTV website when a buddy of mine IM’d me the link. I don’t think there’s anything I can say that hasn’t already been picked apart by every reporter/journalist/music lover already. Her performance, if it can be called that, wasn’t the point. The point was the hype and the resulting talk. Britney is no longer about music, she’s about gossip and talk. She’s a celebrity for celebrities sake. If there’s one thing I can say about the 2007 VMA’s it’s that it certainly did a good job at getting people talking.
High points: Justin Timberlake grilling MTV to play videos apparently every time he got up to accept an award.
The video of the year apparently went to a video that from what I understand did not get aired by MTV, or maybe it’s that MTV did not air it until it became a hit on YouTube.
The reactions of the crowd during Britney’s comeback.
Low Points: Kanye West whining about not opening the show. Kanye West whining about not winning anything he was apparently nominated for. Is there anything he doesn’t whine about? Maybe his tunes need more cowbell, or some heavy rock guitar.
Not enough of the music & video factor to even get me amp’d up to get to a tv to watch the event.
On that note, I still want to say that I think I still love the video format. I still love music. Phony rivalries and performances aside, I believe people are showing the music world that they love their entertainment, and will still get and watch videos so long as someone actually creates them and provides a way for them to be seen. I ought to know, I’ve got a video award, albeit not from MTV.
Could there ever be a resurgence of musical comedy and drama on tv? I was too young for the boat when it was a viable originally. The likes of the Monkeys and The Partridge Family can be seen in re-runs and the like. That doesn’t mean I’m ignorant to their music nor their ideas. Besides Danny Bonaduce is now on morning radio here in Los Angeles so there’s always the curiosity factor to what he was like before he was just a voice peddling advertising.
Of course the real thing behind this is that they didn’t write the song, but they brought it to life. For all of my lack of enthusiasm for Britney, Kanye, or a Music Station that doesn’t play much music, I think I still love them anyway. I’m not sure why I’d be afraid to say that. I mean why don’t I say it more. I should stand on the roof top and shout it out loud, right man? Boop, boop. Oops, now I’m starting to reference Superbad (if you haven’t seen it, it is funny in a sick high school way). Or maybe Superbad is referencing The Partridge Family and spicing it up with R rated speech. Hmmm…
I’ve read David Cassidy saying he was bummed out to be a teen superstar sensation when all he wanted to be was a rocker. I’m betting he can still woo women with this tune if it was cranked to 11 and rocked out. Go for it Dave!
If you don’t have it, get with it. Come On Get Happy! Buy the song.
(** Disclaimer: If the Partridge Family’s keepers decide they don’t think they love me, I’ll have to fly the audio off the server. The post will remain to show that music can survive the monotony of tired artists. **)