In the spirit of full disclosure, let me be the first to confirm the seemingly endless rumours: This will be my last post and I will no longer maintain this blog. I haven’t got much to say at this point other than it’s been a real pleasure keeping you guys up to the date and editorializing on all the latest music-industry happenings.

As a graduate student, I’ll be returning to school in a about a week and will be taking on an internshyip on top of that. Needless to say, I’ll have my hands full.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has read my blog from the beginning. Your loyalty has been truly touching. I would also like to thank my newer readers, because the fact that you flocked to my site eventually is a sign that I have been doing at least a few things right. I know the things people do on their spare time are things that they like to do, and so the fact that people chose to read my postings is sincerely touching.

That being said, because I won’t have anymore free time on my hands, I would rather formally bid you all adieu now than see myself posting less and less during the school year until I become too lazy one day and just don’t post anymore.

There isn’t much news right now (some Fall Out Boy being arrested, if that qualifies as news; I’ve always made a point of not wanting to write tabloid-style journalism and I don’t see why I should start now as I’m just about out the door), so I like that I get to end this on my own terms. That and it has been a crazy summer, with Michael Jackson’s passing, all the news surrounding Akon and his crazy site HITLAB.com (check it out!), and who can forget the report that Joel Madden is going to write his memoirs (classic). As such, I’ll take the undoubted calm after the storm and before the next one as my only chance to make an exit. With that, it’s been real.

Peace out (hopefully not forever),
MC

News that Michael Jackson hasn’t yet been buried is characterizing a relatively slow news week in the music industry. Personally, the fact that this story has been stretched out over the course of two months is really getting to me. I’m all for paying tribute to the man and the legend, but it’s getting to the point where “outlets” such as Entertainment Tonight and Access Hollywood are seeking to capialize on his death. At least, that’s how it appears to me.

In other, I’d even say more important, news Lady Gaga is in Israel after performing there for the first time yesterday. As a Jew myself (or at least someone who was raised Jewish), this is noteworthy to me. It’s nice to know that Israel gets the time of day every now and then from the music industry. Props to Lady Gaga as it must have been easy to pass over Israel considering the ongoing security issues over there.

Lady Gaga, who has taken the world by storm over the past two years, is also set to appear at the MTV Video Music Awards, which are set to air on September 13. Gaga, who is signed to Akon’s Kon Live Distribution label, is up for nine awards, tied with Beyonce for the most nominations at this year’s awards ceremony.

As I’ve said time and again, I can’t help but admire Gaga for the catchy singles she puts out. I wouldn’t call myself a Lady Gaga fan, nor would I actually buy The Fame, but that’s because I’m too hung up on how it would look for a guy to own her album. Still, “Poker Face” and “Paparazzi” are some of the best songs I’ve heard over the past little while. Both congratulations and good luck to her. Here’s hoping she keeps with the winning formula as her career progresses.

Peace out,
MC

I think comedian  Conan O’Brien got it right when he joked on The Tonight Show recently that Britney Spears being handed a lifetime achievement award, as she was at the Teen Choice Awards last week, is proof enough that kids can never be entrusted to vote for president.

I’m paraphrasing of course, but the point made is definitely a sound one. You have to take into account the fact that, I’m relatively sure anyway, the teens didn’t actually vote on this award in particular, but, all the same, I’m sure they would have voted for Spears if they could have.

Now, I’m going to try my best and not make fun of Ms. Spears (at least any further), because that’s not really the point I’m trying to make. What is is that the TCA are a joke.

I’m sure a lot of you already know this or don’t even care, but, in either case, it needs to be said. The only purpose the TCA serve is to give actors of teen and kids movies some recognition. That doesn’t necessarily mean that they deserve any, but that they wouldn’t get it any other way except to give teens who don’t have any taste a forum to voice their opinions. It’s a sad truth; Well, it’s true, and it’s very much sad, at least.

 
Believe me, I’m all for free speech, and, generally speaking, I consider giving everyone a chance to express themselves to be of the utmost importance and a fundamental right not only in the Western World, but all over in this day and age (it should be anyway). But, when people expressing themselves means voting for the best “bromantic comedy” in film and the best “love song” in music (when every single song being released has to do with love in one way or another), it’s enough to make you gag. Do these awards even mean anything? Or are they just filler to make up the however many hours the show is contracted to be on the air with FOX? I can almost guarantee that  anyone who wins an award would trade it for their album being ceritifed platinum in a heartbeat, because at least the latter means a bigger bottom line. A TCA means you get a surf board to show off to all your surfer buddies and get laughed at.

 
It really is easy to imagine that all the celebrities who show up to the TCA do so, grinning and bearing it for the sake of good publicity. To them, it must certainly be considered a wasted night that they could have otherwise used to relax and take a break from their hectic schedules. Instead, they have to go out and show their appreciation for fans who can’t recognize unadulterated (expletive deleted) when they see it. As such, winning one of those surfboards may not even be that much of an honour, but rather serve as confirmation that they’re just the latest flavour of the week.

Don’t get me wrong. I would never suggest that fans aren’t important to celebrities, but when the fans voting have ummm… “undeveloped” tastes, winning one of FOX’s TCA becomes akin to winning a popularity contest put on by the people who continually tell the voters who to vote for. In essence, any non-teen who knows what’s been going on in the entertainment world over the previous two or three months could successfully guess, oh, I don’t know, 90 per cent of the “winners”. I’m not saying the show is fixed, just that teenager’s opinions are way too predictable because they only love what they know, and they only know what they’re fed through television and the radio.

That’s what makes Hitlab so revolutionary in this day and age. It gives music fans the opportunity to distinguish between what should and shouldn’t be hits. Through its proprietary Dynamic Hit Scoring (DHS) technology, songs are broken down into countless mathematical variables, such as its pitch, tempo, and tone and then compared to legitimate Billboard Hot 100 hit songs of the past six years. And the artists on the site are generally unknowns (save for Akon, Lady Gaga, and Saschali, who was signed to Kon Live Distribution after being discovered through the site), so it’s no longer so much a popularity contest as it is an actual contest that rewards those who have talent. The site even takes into account fan votes in its scoring system (a higher rank leads to more exposure and a subsequently higher chance of being signed by site owner Akon). So, if artists truly have a sound that’s original (which wouldn’t be represented in the site’s six-year database) and resonates with listeners, their overall on-site position will be adjusted accordingly.

For independent artists who are just itching to get discovered, there are few better options out there. For music fans in general, whatever the genre, Hitlab has got the fix you’ve been craving. You’ll no longer be some no-name statistic like an album sale that everyone else is buying. Now you can actually make a difference by supporting artists who actually need the help.

Britney Spears, bless her heart, may need help, but not in terms of selling albums. I think can make a ldecent case that none of her albums or songs since … Baby One More Time (1999) have been groundbreaking, or, really, all that different from the last. She doesn’t bring all that much to the table that really sets her apart from every other pop star of the 90s (aside from the fact that she was maybe the original). To give her the aforementioned lifetime achievement award, then, seems somewhat nonsensical, because her fame to this point has been tainted by a lack of talent made up for by the decent songwriting skills of those around her (how many of her hits do you think she wrote?). Her fame is further tainted by the fact that she’s been in the headlines for being an alleged bad mother and rehabbing pop star almost as often as for being an actual pop star. That’s really not fame. It borders on infamy.

For the record, I know I said I wouldn’t use this post as a vehicle to trash Ms. Spears, but, to be clear, it’s still a vehicle being used to trash the TCA; the trashing of Ms. Spears is on the side.

In all seriousness, I think there’s an argument to be made that she’s only been in the spotlight for a decade (about a third of her life, not taking into account her not-so-famous or successful days on The Mickey Mouse Club). I mean, if the word “lifetime” means nothing, then just take it out of the actual title. There’s no disputing that she’s achieved at least something in her career, so just call it a plain-old “achievement award”. But, if you did that, then you’d have dismiss all those infinitely more-deserving, wouldn’t you?

I think, for starters, Akon has done more in the past five years than Spears has done in 10. Where’s his achievement award?

Looking at this year’s show’s nominees for best male artist, you’ve got: Jason Mraz (who won), Kanye West, Lil Wayne, Ne-Yo, and Soulja Boy Tell ‘Em (what the ‘Tell ‘Em’ is supposed to get across that ‘Soulja Boy’ doesn’t, I have no idea). So, there’s no lack of potentially offensive artists here that could have justified Akon’s omission.

In the choice-rhythm-and-blues-artist category, you’ve got: Beyoncé, Jamie Foxx (apparently he’s a singer now), Jennifer Hudson, Ne-Yo, and T-Pain. I mean, c’mon. Aside from Beyoncé, and T-Pain, who’s signed to Akon’s Konvict Muzik label, I don’t think anyone of those artists has the least bit of staying power. But maybe that’s just me. I have been wrong before. Somehow, though, I don’t think I am when I say that, in a world of waste, the TCA are just some more excess we can do without.

Peace out,
MC

In case you haven’t heard yet, allow me to be the bearer of bad news (but please don’t shoot the messenger): The Backstreet Boys are set to release another album.

On an emotional level, as a human being, I’m torn. There’s a part of me that admires the fact that they’re keeping on with their careers, continuing to make music well into their 30s (with the exception of Nick who’s, what? 29?). However, most of me still hates them as artists and myself for admiring them even the slightest bit. 

I mean, who are you putting the albums out for? Your original tween fans who are now starting to have kids? If there is anyone out there who is unfamiliar with the Backstreet Boys, let me enlighten you: They were the predominant act during the whole pop movement of the 1990s, the boy band to top all other boy bands. Their allure, though, wasn’t necessarily that they could sing (they could) and made good music (they didn’t). I would argue that any pop music fan in the 90s and the early part of this decade could get essentially the same recycled record no matter the album by whatever artist they bought (including one soft ballad, one power ballad, one more-of-a-rock-I-don’t-care anthem, one chart-topping pure pop song, and about five-ten filler songs). The movement was just one long commercial to sell style and not music.

Really, the Backstreet Boys sold out arenas because they were heartthrobs that every teenage girl wanted to be with (I know this because I was growing up at the same time and saw firsthand their effect on girls my age). So, now that these girls are weighed down by responsibilities, have hopefully met their actual soulmates (if soulmates actually exist), have started families, and can no longer be deluded by their old romantic fantasies, what’s the point?

To put it in perspective, the Backstreet Boys came out in 1993. It’s now practically 2010. A 12-year-old fan who has followed the band since the beginning would be on the verge of turning 29 as we speak. Just how many 29-year-olds do you know that would go to a Backstreet Boys concert and yell at the top of their lungs just for coming within an arm’s reach of A.J.?

I don’t like pop music. I’ll be upfront about that fact. I think it’s useless and contrived. I’m relatively sure there’s at least one definition of “music” out there that would invalidate it as a genre altogether. Of course, when I say pop, I do mean the genre and not a category of music encompassing all that’s on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and is considered “popular”. I mean that bubblegum brand of music where it’s mandatory for singers to rhyme “love you” with “anything for you” at least once every song (not that that even rhymes, mind you… it’s the same word). And I’d even like to point out that it’s hardly a given that they write their own music and lyrics. I think the Backstreet Boys do at this point, but, by and large, it’s common for popstars to sing songs written for them by somebody else. I personally think that cheapens music when the words you sing aren’t even your own, but maybe that’s just me.

Of course, I’m not going to stand on my pedestal and claim that rock is infallible as a music genre and that all other types suck. I can acknowledge and openly admit that there are plenty of not-so-great rock bands out there (Sugar Ray, 311, Limp Bizkit, No Doubt, Nickelback… the list goes on and on). Feel free to disagree, but, just remember, I’m the one with the blog ; ).

I can also appreciate other genres even if I don’t listen to them and am not a fan per se. I hate Akon’s music, but you can’t help but admire the dent he’s put in the industry in such a short time frame. I mean, as a songwriter and producer he’s got skills. He knows how to write hit songs. And, even in terms of pop, Lady Gaga is starting to grow on me. Say what you want about her (over-the-top, if not non-existent) sense of style, her songs are undeniably catchy and well-written.

Meanwhile, the Backstreet Boys have just become irrelevant. I’d hate to think that this new album is just a way for them to make more money, because, if it is, I’d say that they’re in for a rude awakening. That and the fact that it would be just sad.

Peace out,
MC

I’ve got a little more Canadian content for all of you. If you’ve been living under a rock, let me tell you about Halifax, Nova Scotia folk duo Sons of Maxwell and their recent rise to fame. Long story short, frontman Dave Carroll posted a comically charged poke at United Airlines for their alleged novel take of indifference when it comes to customer service. As such, do yourself a favour and take a look at the video “United Breaks Guitars” on YouTube. And, if you have seen it already, see it again. It gets better the second time around. Not only is it hilarious, but it also proves a point as to just how much of a driving force the internet is becoming in this day and age when it comes to artists getting their message across.

As another example, Hitlab.com continues to make waves as the industry gradually enters the digital age of music. If it isn’t here yet, it sure is coming fast. So fast, in fact, that Akon has signed on with the social-music-community platform knowing that, otherwise, he may get left behind. Hitlab reaches out to fans and artists alike, allowing the latter to post, share, and sell their songs. Not only that, but the site plays host to an ongoing competition among independent artists, giving them a shot at a record deal with Akon.

The site’s breakthrough “dynamic hit scoring” technology ranks songs based on the likelihood of them becoming a long-lasting hit on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Those who get high scores and those who resonate the most with the site’s users themselves earn chance to compete in an annual showcase in front of Akon, after which at least one performer will realize their dream of getting signed under either Kon Live Distribution or Konvict Muzik. The site has already been profiled in detail, most recently in Forbes magazine, where Akon described the site as “the industry killer”.

One glance around ever-smaller CD stores reveals the truth. More and more artists are foregoing the classic CD release altogether and are making their albums available exclusively in mp3 format. It’s a tell-tale sign that the music industry isn’t in trouble, but rather the music industry as we know it is. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, though… just the natural order of things; the next step in evolution, really.

Peace out,
MC

Now that Michael Jackson’s memorial service is a thing of the past, I think it’s time to move on. This is not meant to direspect the King of Pop in any way. I just believe death is a natural part of life, and, while Jackson’s death was arguably untimely, life does go on for everyone else.

So, just throwing it out there, who’s next in line to the throne? Of course, I don’t mean to say that MJ will ever be replaced, but I legitimately believe that other artists out there have the potential for superstardom to the same degree Michael Jackson experienced at his peak.

Personally, if I were forced to throw a name out there, it would be that of Akon. Granted, Akon is already pretty huge, but so was Jackson before he kicked it into high gear in the 1980s and early 90s. Even though their two styles are somewhat different (Jackson with pop and Akon with hip-hop and  rhythm-and-blues), I still think Akon can eventually become the biggest star in the world.

Just take a  look at where he is now: He’s a singer, songwriter, producer, and record executive (having founded two labels, Kon Live Distribution and Konvict Muzik). In addition, he has forayed further into the commercial side of the business, associating himself with Hitlab.com, an online-music-community platform.

On Hitlab.com, independent artists can join and compete for a chance to get signed by Akon to a record deal. Artists and fans alike are welcome to join and, in the case of artists, stand a chance at winning should they demonstrate talent and their uploaded songs resonate with fellow users. The site has already produced one success story in Saschali, an R&B singer from Montreal, Quebec (originally Pembroke, Ontario) who is already recording her first album under the Kon Live label as a result.

What’s interesting is that Akon and Jackson had worked closely together prior to Jackson’s death. Jackson even had a new album in the works, which Akon had helped produce. The two had reportedly developed a close relationship over the past few years, which culminated in Akon recording a few songs with him, including 2008’s “Hold My Hand”.  It is Jackson’s last known recorded song before succumbing to cardiac arrest unexpectedly in June 2009. There are no further developments as of yet regarding the future of the album in question.

A lot of factors no doubt come into play in trying to determine whether Akon will ever attain the same level of success that came all too easily to Jackson, but you have to admit that Akon is already well on his way to making it happen. Furthermore, Akon‘s career path hasn’t been nearly as side-tracked by as many public-relations nightmares as Jackson had become famous for in recent years.

Just to recap, there will never be another Michael Jackson. For all his good and bad qualities, he was really one in a billion at least. But, at the same time, I think it’s somewhat foolish and naive to believe that no one will ever approach his level of success. Unlikely, yes. Impossible, no. Cut Akon some slack. He’s only been in the industry for five years (his debut album, Trouble, came out in 2004). By the time Jackson released his solo debut, since taking over lead vocals in The Jackson Five, he had been in the industry around the same period of time. Add to that another 10 years when Thriller came out. So, I think it’s fair to say Akon should be granted at least a little more time before his all-defining oeuvre is expected out and any conclusions on the subject are made.

Peace out,
MC

Even though July 1st has come and gone, I thought I’d still give a quick rundown of the top Canadian bands of all time (in no particular order) in honour of Canada Day. Those reading this who aren’t Canadian, I would bet money that you will recognize quite a few names on the list.

Nickelback, for one band, needs no introduction, having enjoyed massive success and radio play in the United States. Their single, “How You Remind Me”, helped their 2001 album Silver Side Up sell over 10 million copies worldwide, six million of which American consumers were responsible for buying.

The band’s three albums since then haven’t earned the same amount of success south of the border (or even north of it). Still, there’s no denying that Nickelback is perhaps the biggest Canadian act out there today (aside from Celine Dion, who remains perhaps our most famous export of all-time).

In addition, Sum 41 is another mainstream band that comes from Canada and can best be thought of as Nickelback’s pop-punk counterpart. At around the same time that “How You Remind Me” was climbing the charts, Sum 41 was achieving some breakout success of their own with their single “Fat Lip” and the song’s accompanying album All Killer No Filler.

And if Sum 41 is Nickelback’s pop-punk counterpart, Montreal’s Simple Plan is Sum 41’s even poppier-punk cousin from French-speaking Canada (even though they sing in English). Simple Plan was thrust into the spotlight as a result of their three albums to date (perhaps most notably their 2002 debut, No Pads, No Helmets… Just Balls) and is planning to start recording a fourth soon.

Making an impact more in Canada than anywhere else, the Barenaked Ladies, the Tragically Hip, Our Lady Peace, and Finger Eleven (among other rock bands) have loyal fan followings but have been unable to achieve much international success. I am a huge fan of both both Finger Eleven and Our Lady Peace’s music, owning all of their albums, and, so, I may be biased or just incredible informed when I say that they each deserve more than they’ve earned up to this point. Finger Eleven is more of a hard rock/alternative act, while Our Lady Peace, despite starting out in much the same vein, has gradually evolved into more of a mainstream rock act. They still put out quality music, though, as evidenced by their latest album, Healthy in Paranoid Times, which generally got rave reviews.

If you want a better idea of Canada’s influence on the industry, go back several decades. Pioneers include:  The Guess Who (ironically, their claim to fame was “American Woman”), Rush (“Tom Sawyer”), and Steppenwolf (“Born to be Wild”, “Magic Carpet Ride”). Keeping in the same genre, Bryan Adams has enjoyed success in Canada and abroad since his debut in 1980. Even Neil Young, despite joining Crosby, Stills, and Nash, the group at one time considered “The American Beatles”, is indeed Canadian (while Graham Nash is British, just as a side note).

And I’m not even talking about the country’s most known pop artists over the years, from Anne Murray to Alanis Morrisette, Nelly Furtado, Avril Lavigne, and Feist. One make an argument that Canada has produced just as many successful acts as America. It may not be a strong argument, but there are good points to be made.

Currently, there are several Canadian acts threatening to put Canada on the map in the music industry to an even larger extent. One example is Montreal’s own Sachali, a rhythm-and-blues singer, who was recently signed to international recording artist Akon’s Kon Live label.

Originally from Pembroke, Ontario, Saschali got to where she is through a combination of hard work, dedication, and talent, signing her record deal after earning a chance to perform in front of him through Hitlab.com, a relatively new social-network site that allows musicians to create profiles and upload their music in order to vie for that same chance. Currently, the site plays home to nearly 14,000 as-of-yet-unsigned artists.

Also of note, Pamela Lajoie, signed to Flydecibels, a small Montreal-based label is at the forefront of a new wave of pop singers. Only 16 years old, she, going just by just Pamela, has already released a full-length album, 120 Milles a L’Heure (2007). Coincidentally, Flydecibels is associated with Hitlab. Reportedly, a second album is being planned, and she has spent significant amounts of time in Atlanta and Los Angeles, meeting up with big-time producers, including Diane Warren. Warren notably wrote Celine Dion’s “Because You Loved Me”, which won a Grammy Award back in 1996.

Closer to the rock side of things, The Midway State just made a splash this past year with the band’s full-length debut Holes. Meanwhile,  Ten Second Epic and Marianas Trench, two alternative/pop-punk bands, continue to pump out hook-laced singles met with fan approval. A personal favourite of mine, Evans Blue, is making headway to becoming a legitimate player in the ever-crowded new-metal genre.

Admittedly, while bands do emerge in great number and at a rapid pace and few make lasting impressions, there’s undoubtedly talent in Canada presently. I’m glad to say, as a fan, that the future looks pretty solid as well.

Peace out,
MC

I will just preface this quickly by saying that I’m not a day late reporting Michael Jackson’s reported death, but I’m right on time to give my views on the passing of one of the greatest entertainers the world has ever seen. I believe bloggers aren’t responsible to report news, but, rather, to give their views on the news.

Now that that’s out of the way, let me also admit that I am not a Michael Jackson fan, nor do I own any of his albums. I was even born after Thriller came out in 1982. Some might say that the album was so great that if I am as much of a music fan as I claim to be, I couldn’t have helped but have been influenced by it at some point in my life. That’s just not the case, though, and I won’t lie to that effect to get people to identify with me. However, I will say that I can appreciate the album for what it was, appreciate the songs on it and the rest of Michael Jackson’s library, and appreciate Michael Jackson for his talents as a songwriter. To this day, “Black or White” remains – and likely will remain – one of the best songs (and best videos) ever created. I guess I should state that as my personal opinion, but I won’t. It’s that great of a song.

I obviously have never met him, but based on the image he portrayed through the media and publicly, it’s hard to imagine that he was guilty of all that he was accused of. I’d prefer not to start a heated discussion now, so I’ll just add that I don’t know if he was guilty or not. All I know is the innocence he had about him gave at least the impression of a person who was innocent of those crimes.

In truth, those alleged crimes should not define him. His career should. He was the King of Pop. Nay, he is the King of Pop, and no one should be able to take that away from him, not the title nor his music. At this point, I think the music belongs to everybody.

Peace out,

MC

I sincerely apologize for the extended period of time between posts. I do have a good excuse, though, and that is that I am a student and final exams got in the way of a social life, or any other kind of life, really. But, I’m back and I’d like to comment on the MuchMusic Video Awards, which took place this past Sunday up here in Canada.

For my readers who aren’t aware, MuchMusic is essentially the Canadian MTV, or at least they try really hard to be. At one point, Much could distinguish itself as the one music-based television station to actually play music, but no longer. Now, aside from on their token weekly countdown show, it’s hard to find any music videos at all in between the endless Gossip Girl, O.C., and One Tree Hill reruns.

Whatever your take on MuchMusic is, it’s hard to debate the fact that they know how to put on a street party, even if the annual award ceremony (which always takes place outside, in the heart of downtown Toronto) tends to be a glorified popularity contest.

I won’t recap all the winners, because, frankly, you can get the information anywhere, but I will give an honest analysis of the show in general. Bottom line, as has been a trend in the past, if you’re a big star and you agree to make an appearance, chances are not only will you be nominated, but you’ll win an award out of sheer gratitude. Of course, I can’t back this theory up by actual facts or recorded conversations between Much executives, but I will just say, to avoid risk of libel, that it just appears that way.

I will admit that Kon Live’s own Lady Gaga, who did grace MuchMusic with her presence, deserved to win the award she received for international video of the year artist (for “Pokerface”). She beat out mega stars Beyonce (“Single Ladies”), Britney Spears (“Womanizer”), and Kanye West (“Heartless”), who, again coincidentally, weren’t there. Still, even I can’t deny that Gaga is one of the top up-and-coming stars in the industry. Style aside, she’s got talent. As much as I want to dislike her, I keep finding myself singing along to her songs. Say what you want about her latest single “Paparazzi” (weird video, for one example), it is a great song.

However, that’s where my laundry-list of disappointment begins: Canadian rockers Nickelback (who performed at the show) took home three awards, most notably for video of the year for “Gotta Be Somebody”. It’s hard to dispute the legitimacy of this victory in particular, because there was no other nominee clearly favoured above the rest of the pack. Personally, though, I would have liked to see pop-punk group Marianas Trench win for “Cross My Heart”, which actually was a fun video to watch, was an obvious technical achievement, and was based on a friggin’ great song.

“Cross My Heart”, if you haven’t seen it, and, if you aren’t Canadian, no one will blame you, basically centers around a guy following his girlfriend with a marching band in tow. She somehow doesn’t seem to hear all the ruckus behind her and continues on with her day in blissful ignorance, despite this band growing ever larger (people on the street continue to join in) and ever louder. At the end, stopped at her door, she takes off the earphones she’s revealed to have been wearing, turns around, sees the crowd and her boyfriend, and invites him into her place.

It’s a great concept for a video, and it’s a shame that it got snubbed, especially for a much-less-interesting video about a band playing on a bridge, but that’s the allure of the MMVAs. You never know who’s going to win, because the artist that usually deserves to, more often than not, doesn’t. Marianas Trench had to settle for the award for best director (Colin Minihan), so, at least the video got some recognition for its awesomeness. Although, one can argue, that if a video is recognized for having the best direction, that kind of makes it the best video. The two awards just seem kind of redundant to me, but that may be just my distate for the show in general seeping in.

However, other examples of MuchMusic’s apparent nepotism came to light when the Black Eyed Peas, another performer on the night, won for international video of the year group (“Boom Boom Pow”).  They beat out hard hitters such as Green Day (“Know Your Enemy”), Coldplay (“Viva La Vida”), and The Killers (“Human”) for the award (among other nominees). None of the latter three were in attendance.

It should be noted that the Jonas Brothers lost out despite co-hosting the affair (nominated for “Lovebug”), so props to MuchMusic for showing some restraint there. The brothers did win the award for “Ur Fave International Video” (do the ‘y’ and ‘o’ really take up that much space???) for “Burnin’ Up”, which was presumably voted on by the fans. So, that’s one thing MuchMusic can’t be blamed for at least. I’m sure there will be more to complain about next year, though.

Peace out,

MC