Reality singing competitions (especially those that involve some sort of group dynamic) are usually fertile ground for drama and backstage cat fighting. This following one though, from The X Factor UK’s latest season, just about takes the cake (and it’s on stage too). Watch the entire video, all the way till the end…
…and tell me that wasn’t the most awkward, insanely dramatic audition you’ve ever seen. If it wasn’t for the fact that it’s so over-the-top ridiculous, I would have thought they were professional actors hired to create some excitement. And to think when they first started they seemed like chatty and babbly but kinda hilarious and endearing girls. Boy, did that change fast.
To quote my friend Nessi, “the dark haired one wasnt rude right… then she punched the other girl”. BOOMZ. And the “sorry but who are you?” at Natalie Imbruglia (my hugest celeb crush, btw) was even more BOOMZ (in fact the entire thing was just filled with BOOMZ-tastic moments. “Yeah, where’s the music?”).
Plus, I dare you to tell me they didn’t remind you of them:
The first is an audition from the latest season of the British X Factor and, trust me, this is the breakthrough performance of the year (if not exactly for what you think). Watch the entire video, including the judges’ comments because that is some hilarity going on over there:
The second video is a news report of a rape which features the victim’s brother, who is all sorts of whacked and ghetto:
And this, as has most news of any note recently, was of course transformed into this:
I know it’s a tad evil to be laughing at…things we should laugh at (Shirlena was later kicked out of the competition when it was revealed that she actually had a history of mental illness; and the second one is, y’know, a rape case) but, taken in and of themselves (and ignoring any external context), the videos make for entrancing views.
Perhaps hopping on the bandwagon a couple of years too late, Sara Bareilles (best known only known for her pop ditty ‘Love Song’) nonetheless does a pretty cute, catchy doo-wop cover of Beyoncé’s ‘Single Ladies’.
According to SuperHeroHype (who heard it from, well, Nickelodeon themselves), there will be a new series for Avatar: The Last Airbender! If you haven’t heard, Avatar (nothing to do with James Cameron’s blue-skinned fan favourite film) was this awesome cartoon series (spanning three seasons) that told the story about Aang, the sole remaining airbender (someone who can do air magic), who also happened to be the Avatar, a powerful being able to bend all four elements (fire, water, air, earth) and who was supposed to be the one who would bring an end to the war between different countries in that series’ world. The cartoon was quirky, hilarious at times, had decent animation, lovable characters and a heck load of drama and action and inspired an upcoming live action adaptation directed by M. Night Shoiasmdoamslkfnfjhawldkjsd (which I heard is pretty terrible but I’m still gonna catch it anyway because I’m such a fanboy).
It also was (still is, actually) one of my favourite animations of all time. And now, there’s going to be a new series with a new Avatar!
This is apparently Korra, the new Avatar. She, or at least her back side, is apparently just a hardcore, fey-erce version of Katara (the female lead from the original series). For those who want to know her story, here’s the Cliff Notes version:
The Legend of Korra takes place 70 years after the events of Avatar: The Last Airbender and follows the adventures of the Avatar after Aang – a passionate, rebellious, and fearless teenaged girl from the Southern Water Tribe named Korra. With three of the four elements under her belt (Earth, Water, and Fire), Korra seeks to master the final element, Air. Her quest leads her to the epicenter of the modern “Avatar” world, Republic City – a metropolis that is fueled by steampunk technology. It is a virtual melting pot where benders and non-benders from all nations live and thrive. However, Korra discovers that Republic City is plagued by crime as well as a growing anti-bending revolution that threatens to rip it apart. Under the tutelage of Aang’s son, Tenzin, Korra begins her airbending training while dealing with the dangers at large.
So, firstly, a new Avatar means that Aang is dead! Although I’m pretty sure he’s going to turn up in a billion spirit cameos like his predecessor Roku did, that’s still pretty sad. And secondly, since she’s from the water tribe, I’m going to assume the series is not going to contain “The Last Airbender” as a subtitle anymore. The description of her makes her sound like one of those generically brash, hot-headed anime protagonists who will bumble their way into things and learn to “grow up” along the way which, if you ask me, is way less interesting than Aang’s caught-in-an-iceberg-and-has-to-start-from-scratch thing (although he was pretty brash too). Still, as long as they keep up their irreverent brand of humour, have loads of affable characters and continue to serve up the Chinese-mythology-inspired action, I’m going to be hooked.
A billion years ago (i.e. somewhere in the 1960s), a superhero show was released that was dark, serious and provided a welcome reprieve from the insane over-camp that was the Adam West “Batman” series, a show characterised by intentionally over-the-top action sequences (BAMF! POOF! POW!), ridiculous plots and an utter lack of brevity. That show, featuring two sharply dressed, kungfu fighting vigilantes (one of which was the Bruce Lee) and a sleek car known as the Black Beauty, was the Green Hornet.
Skip forward four decades and the powers-that-be (a.k.a. Hollywood) have decided to remake the show, only camp and dumb. Perhaps to prove the point, they enlisted Seth Rogen (a.k.a. the Fat, Lovable Douche who inexplicably ends up with the unbelievably gorgeous female lead in every Judd Apatow movie ever) to be the titular character (and to fulfil the whole Chinese icon as the sidekick clause, they got, who else, Jay Chou).
I have to say, when I first heard of the new direction the producers were taking the show, I, like several other fans of the original series, was pretty disappointed. They’re taking what is arguably one of the most well-done noir superhero shows of all time and turning it into a farce. And Rogen ain’t exactly dashing cavalier material, y’know? Having said that, though, I have to say I was pleasantly surprised with the theatrical trailer:
True, it definitely isn’t anywhere remotely near the intensity of the original series but, at least from the trailer, I thought they didn’t go overboard with the camp factor. The jokes definitely are of the “Dude, Where’s My Car?” variety but I thought it was actually decently tongue-in-cheek and, provided they don’t keep making jokes at the expense of real action, could actually be pretty enjoyable. The action sequences, too, look pretty awesome, with some visually impressive choreography and videography.
Rogen still doesn’t really look like a superhero (although he has lost like 80% of his body weight or something) but, based on the characterisation of Britt Reid a.k.a. The Green Hornet in this film (bumbling, raw, greenhorn), he actually looks like a suitable choice.
Granted, the remake is probably not going to win any awards of any kind (unless it’s a Razzie) and it definitely isn’t for hardcore fans of the original but I’m just gonna descend from my high horse, elitist fanboyery here and say that, if we were to consider this movie as a totally different version of the story (instead of being a failed, sacrilegious emulation of the source material), it might turn out enjoyable.
Of course, it could turn out to be totally crap anyway, even on its own, but hey, they can’t all be ‘The Dark Knight‘s right?
At the 2010 Tony Awards (which, for those not in the know, is the musical/play version of the Oscars), Matthew Morrison and Lea Michele did a performance (though sadly not together) as Broadway people who’ve made it big on television and boy, was Lea’s performance of “Don’t Rain on My Parade” all sorts of insane.
She was just so inexplicably angry (which, yeah, I know dramatic theatricality is the norm here but even then this felt over-the-top) and spitting all over the place. (Lots of people have been bashing her singing, which admittedly wasn’t her best here, but hey, that’s what happen when you auto-tune people to death and play studio recordings as performance music in the show that made them famous. Clueless audiences have no perspective anymore)
It’s sad, though, that they totally forgot about Jenna Ushkowitz (a.k.a. Tina), who’s also from a Broadway background.
Oh and best part of the video (other than the Jon Groff and Idina appearances)? Beyoncé’s “bitch, please” face when Lea started singing to Jay-Z. Hilarious.
If you thought GaGa’s video for ‘Alejandro’ was intense, check out 90s pop star Shanice’s super insanely dramatic a cappella rendition of it.
First of all, who the heck is Shanice? I mean, I actually grew up on 90s music but I’ve never heard of her (although come to think of it, the name does sound a little familiar now). And secondly, super LOL at the whistle fail at the 2:05 mark, which spoilt what I thought was actually a decent cover of the song. Hilarious.
What's worse than not having read readings? Reading three chapters from the WRONG textbook. And realising it only when tutorial has started. - 30/08/2010 09:56:47
