Archive for March, 2010
Copyright Controversy Over Gorillaz’ New Single “Stylo”
At the end of the day, music is just a series of notes that are thrown together in random combinations with the hopes of sounding good. The possibilities aren’t exactly endless, if you think about it. As a musician myself, I know that I’ve drawn inspiration from other songs. I’ve studied and applied certain chord progressions here and there but I’ve always made a song my own. Also, as copyright holder of “Time Warp,” Grant, by law, only owns the melody and lyrics of the song. However, “Time Warp” lacks lyrics and so the only component of the song he really ‘owns’ is the synth melody, which he is accusing the Gorillaz of stealing. I’ll admit, the resemblance to “Time Warp” and the synth at the 39 second mark of “Stylo” makes for a convincing argument that the Gorillaz plagiarized – even if they do drop the riff about two octaves. However, I’ll also say that the Gorillaz have proven time and time again that they can be successful through their own originality. Why stop trying now?
Lady GaGa “Telephone” – Pop Culture Phenomenon
Lady GaGa’s highly anticipated video for her collaboration with Beyonce was released to E! on Thursday night. It had previously been released at 9:30 PM Pacific Time, so tons of people watched it online before its big premiere and at the time this article was written it had already collected almost 10 million views on YouTube. Beyonce and Lady GaGa had previously collaborated on the song “Videophone” and have since seemed to form a bond and friendship. Lady GaGa’s song “Telephone” is her second huge hit from the new reissue of her debut album, The Fame Monster. Compared to her first album, this one has a more daring and dark twist to the stereotypical pop songs one hears on Top 40 radio.
Gorillaz – Plastic Beach
“Stylo,” the first single off the new LP, is reminiscent of the 1980s with its synth sounds and bass-heavy beats. Grand Theft Auto: Vice City fans, this is your track. “To Binge” meshes elevator music, dreamy vocals, and hints of the old Gorillaz sound with catchy lyrics about love that sing, “My heart is in economy due to this autonomy.” The album’s namesake track, “Plastic Beach,” is a great example of how the band’s sound is expanding and changing into something that sounds like music from the future (think back to the innovative, technological feel of Radiohead’s In Rainbows or the repertoire of Daft Punk). Mix in songs like “White Flag” which rely on theatrical orchestral melodies to propel them, and you have the Gorillaz third and most recent release.
Museum of Modern Art – Tim Burton Exhibit
Despite this progression, throughout all of Burton’s work there is a sinister style that is distinctly him – even in the artist’s earliest work. His work is not frightening in a typical blood-and-guts horror way. It is much more dark and subtle, with an underlying criticism of society beneath the twisted humor on the surface. All of his pieces view the world through this cynical lens. My favorite series involved clever literal interpretation of common phrases such as “Holding Hands,” “Enjoying Each Others’ Limbs,” and “Undressing with Your Eyes”. Respectively they featured a couple holding severed hands; eating each other’s limbs; and demonic eyes with claws undressing a woman.
John A. Fry Named New President of Drexel University
President Fry was a prime candidate for the Presidency from the beginning as his name is well known among Drexel administration. This is because President Fry was Drexel’s neighbor for 7 years as University of Pennsylvania’s Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer under President Judith Rodin. According to the Philadelphia Inquirer, Fry made a name for himself here at Peen and played an integral role in transforming the surrounding neighborhood.
MGMT release New Song From Upcoming LP “Congratulations”
Yesterday evening, Brooklyn indie break-out band MGMT released their first single from their upcoming Congratulations full length. The song is entitled “Flash Delirium” and although we are unable to offer Drexel students direct download of the song, it can be streamed or downloaded at the bottom of the post here.
Dr. Dog w/ Kurt Vile at the Rotunda – March 2nd, 2010
The first single of Dr. Dog’s sixth studio album to be released April 6th, “Shadow People”, was also played, setting the crowd absolutely on fire. “Shadow People” is somewhat like “The Breeze” from the album Fate in that it begins quietly and solely by Scott McMicken, and then grows increasingly louder and more complex with accompaniment of instruments with Toby Leaman and Frank McElroy doing secondary vocals. These ballads sound like the Beatle’s in their psychedelic stage and were absolutely adored by the fans present.
Man Man w/ Javelin at the Trocadero March 5th, 2010
Honus pounded on his keyboard and the band ripped into the beginning of their crazed series of songs. At one point, Honus came out with a megaphone and a trenchcoat like he had just escaped from a mental institution while at another point he changed into a sequenced green shirt to express his feminine side. Meanwhile, the crowd danced and moshed like they were at some sort of psychotic religious service and there is no doubt in my mind that a majority of the crowd were under the influence of at least one variety of pharmaceuticals.
