CELEBRITY LOOK-A-LIKES THAT I KNOW PART 5

If you have hung out with me for more than one hour, I have probably told you that you or someone close by reminds me of a celebrity. Sometimes it’s the laugh or the eyes and not everyone agrees with me every time. My success rate hasn’t stopped me from making comparisons often and even keeping a list and posting them on this blog.

So here goes the fifth edition. Check out these links to the first, second, third, and fourth edition.

Don’t be offended, just humor me.

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CELEBRITY LOOK-A-LIKES THAT I KNOW PART 4

If you hang out with me for more than one hour I will probably tell you that you or someone close by remind me of someone. It might be someone famous, or it might just be another friend of mine.

Through the years this has lead me to do a few different “people I know who look like celebrities” (or not so famous people too) posts on the ole blog here.   So here goes the fourth edition. Check out these links to the first, second, and third edition.

Don’t be offended, just humor me.

2013 GRAMMY RECAP/MIND DUMP

I tried to stay away and not tweet or blog abut the Grammy’s. I figured there were enough experts out there offering their opinion.  I tried, you gotta believe my I really did. I just couldn’t’ take it, when I saw people saying things like this……

“What ever happened to Nirvana?” (This guy wasn’t joking)

“I didn’t know Adele was British.”

“What band does Travis Barker drum for?”

At some point I got worked up and started keeping mental notes knowing that I had a good ole fashioned Grammy recap brewing inside of me for the markartrip.com audience. Its feels like 2005 around these parts, but I want to keep my blog light at times and a shallow post about pop culture should be just the trick.

• My wife told me before the show that CBS made rules about the dresses women could wear this year. They wanted the show to be appropriate and stay classy. Having watched, its clear no one listened and the only thing that made it better than last year was that Lady Gaga wasn’t around.
• I almost can’t handle the way CBS and the Grammy’s “partner” together. Its one thing for them to pretend the people’s choice awards are a real show and than just give awards to all of their shows, but they are getting too involved in the Grammys. I mean we all know that LL Cool J is a terrible host and comes across like a bad Tracy Morgan character.
• Faith Hill has braces? She is now going to be skinnier (because she can’t eat normal) and prettier than ever. We are fans of her around our house so no disrespect. She may take over the world now.
• Rihanna looked rough. She’s talented but I honestly worry about her. She is the one from this generation I am afraid will end of up on a bad episode of Behind the Music.
• If you didn’t notice, Justin Bieber wasn’t there. According to his team he got “snubbed”. I think he is the one who snubbed us after he promised a “Justin Timberlake level” album.  That is a promise you shouldn’t make. He tried to pull viewers away and did a live stream chat tonight at the same time.
• Speaking of Justin Timberlake, he was perfection. I know I’m a fan-boy, but he owned the night and the psychology of stepping away just long enough to do some acting and create demand around himself is brilliant.
• I got like 10 texts as he was performing. People acting like I was the only one liking it…you liked it too, just admit it.
• Carrie Underwood was on point too. She didn’t do anything special she just did a good performance that showcased her vocals. She didn’t do some weird medley that took away from things and didn’t over think the fact that she can impress with her voice. Its not rocket science but most don’t do that.
• Frank Ocean, was not that smart. He has some great songs, but he is always performing them weird and not making them accessible to the mass that watched this show. That is why sometimes other people do his songs better than him. Look up “thinking about you” covers on YouTube. He was this years Nicki Minaj, who was given the platform last year and wasted it.
• Fun…..meh? I know the songs are catchy, but I am over them. I feel like they are a slightly better version of Train.
• Zac Brown Band country album of the year. I can live with that. Every song on that album is good. Josh Howard proved that to me and he is right.
• Kelly Clarkson finally won an award. I was starting to think she wouldn’t get up there. Her speech was even entertaining….or maybe drunk?
• The dream, Frank Ocean, Kanye, and Jay won an award….and Jay Z and the Dream had no business on stage together dressed different so Jay through his own artist under the bus saying “he’d like to thank the swap meet for the Dream’s hat”…..I’m ok with that.
• The Maroon 5/Alicia Keys mash-up was actually great. I didn’t know these forced collaborations were allowed to work and sound good. Someone should tell the Grammy’s or the other artists that. Someone should definitely tell Miranda Lambert and Dierks Bentley. They thought you were supposed to make it looked forced and more boring than normal. Respect.
• Its cool to see the Black Keys get love. They have been taking Grammy’s for 3 years not but I when Lebron tweets about you, you are officially cool.
• Before I forget, Taylor Swift opened the show….and didn’t deliver. You got to stay in your lane and wearing a top hat while a circus goes on behind you, without a guitar in your hand didn’t make you look like the world power that you have become. She wasn’t bad but when you are that big an 8 out of 10 is a letdown.
• The thing that is funny about the Grammy’s is how some of us are oblivious to certain genres even though people are already famous and making good money and being successful. I learn about someone new every year (usually folk/rock) and apparently I should have told my wife about Miguel sooner.
• What do you have to do to overcome the term “Ginger” and its stereotypes? Just be as awesome as Ed Shereen. No one even knows he is a redhead. That guy is on top of the world.
• Didn’t see Mumford winning album of the year. Mostly because I expected to see Fun be the hands down darlings of the night, but that was a good win. No problem seeing them get some love, and they seemed to be humbled.
• The closing song with Chuck D, LL and the rest was incredibly bad. It always is and usually has like 10 artists on stage all pretending to play acoustic while singing in mics that aren’t even on, so I shouldn’t expect much….but wow it was painful.
• I love music, I love the Grammy’s, it was a great night, super entertaining, and was the best show in at least 4-5 years I would say.
• What did you think?

 

 

2012 GRAMMY AWARDS MIND DUMP

• Before I say anything else, lets just admit that this was a down year for the Grammy’s. In my hyped up mind they never really deliver but this seemed like an especially low year.
• Adele is classy, but with no Jay, Kanye, Beyonce, Justin, Usher, etc. it seemed more like a Billboard awards show that didn’t have as many iconic people to me.
• Did anyone else notice that Tony Bennett had his eyes open during LL’s Whitney prayer as they scanned the crowd? Guess he couldn’t hear him:) ?
• Speaking of Whitney, I have avoided tweeting anything but I can’t lie, I have a couple of her albums and I listened to “your love is my love a few times”.
• Chris Brown really can do no wrong if it involves dancing. I don’t have to tell you he is great. He doesn’t have to sing to entertain me or the rest of America…and it’s a good thing because he can’t.
• Bruno Mars is kind of like Chris Brown in that at his worst he would still be a way above average part of the show.
• Rihanna – everyone knows I have a soapbox and always want to point how Beyonce is better but she did her catchiest song of the year and that was cool before the first of 6 awkward mash-ups that weren’t good and made no sense appeared.
• Its funny how the stuff that one person loves another person hates. Although I wasn’t psyched about the bands or the vocals in the Beach Boys reunion tribute it was impossible for me to not be drooling and staring at the TV like the time I saw them in concert at a 6 year old at the state fair.  The fumes of the Beach Boys were better than anything else this whole night. Funny how it took like 3 full bands and 9 guitar players harmonizing to do their sound.
• Katie Perry – you got dumped and you are mad about it, we get it, but that is no reason to put out the least radio friendly song of your career. I am not even saying it was bad, but an awards show is no place to lay a turd and that is what you did by playing a song no one knows when you had multiple number ones to pick from.
• Nicki Minaj made the same terrible mistake by not using the platform to be as radio/pop friendly as possible and making people realize they like her and building her cred. Instead she looked like a really poorly executed “good idea” by her team that wanted to be something Gaga did in 09. I liked her before anyone else and she can flow, but she should have just done a medley and stayed safe with superbass.
• I would say that the Whitney Tribute by Jennifer Hudson was awkward or not enough (like every other station, article, and critic) but that reality is that she die like 30 hours before the show and the tech and execution of the Grammy’s is too technical to stuff anything else in that was planned probably at 9 last night. MTV is saying that Bon Iver.
• Chris Brown won R&B album of the year. I guess that makes his comeback officially over. Not just singing “Man in the Mirror” on the BET awards and winning back teenage girls or certain fans. He is back and America forgets.
• The Chris Brown, David Guetta, Lil Wayne and other forced people performance was bad all around. You can force stuff just to get 7 genres on stage…but they do.  Wayne proved why he has no talent and is a shell of his image.
• Electronic music is the thing that will make people my age old. I view it the way 60 year olds view rap I think.  At least Guetta did a little live mixing and you could see him actually playing with his mixer.  There’s no performance skill so a show is fun but a different vibe than any concert setting. When Deadmaus took the stage you could only see the giant projector and someone standing in the ears behind it from the shoulders up….was that him? Anyone doing anything live, or even talent?….we’ll never know…but I have my suspicions.
• If you are old(er) than me) and reading this you can’t ignore electronic music anymore. It was validated in mainstream by its breaking through to this stage so check out the poster boys that were up for awards like Skrillex and catch up.
• Foo Fighters are the only rock band in the world apparently, because they get major stage time on every awards show and win all awards and get to make speeches proclaiming such.  They are good, but we should get at least two rock bands so they can compete against each other.
• This was only further exaggerated when Dave Grohl appears on stage three times….unless you invented music and the piano you do not have that right. Two is a stretch, three cannot happen.
• They are saying that Bon Iver stole best new artist from Nicki Minaj, but I never thought she would win. There random exceptions when the Grammy’s go in a pop direction like the year Christina Aguilera won that award but for the most part they will always side with something a little less mainstream that all the old industry farts vote for. So even if they go with someone young (Bon Iver) they are avoiding the true mainstream stuff like Nicki. This rule also applied when Lady Antebellum beat out Jason Aldean. They are as young as credible as the Grammy’s could go, even though he has like 4 huge songs and the 5 best selling album in all of music last year.
• Speaking of sales I already eluded to Adele but obviously the night belonged to her. For the first time in like 12 years more albums were sold than the previous year. Album sales didn’t decline in 2012 and that is literally because of Adele’s 5+ million sales of her album. She put the industry on her back and carried it and it was never up for the debate if she would sweep all the big awards. She even had to have vocal surgery (that’s why she was so skinny) and made her first performance appearance in a few months to give it a nice spin.
• Taylor Swift and Lady Gaga were on the show and will still be around and always be famous but its funny to think they are both so young and not because they have done anything wrong but have both peaked and can never be bigger than they were so I don’t have much to say.
• The only time of the night my wife cared or paid attention was when Carrie Underwood was on. She gets a lot of gigs because she can duet well live. It makes or great awards show face time. I guess it doesn’t hurt when the skin on that face is perfect too.
• Kanye is a Grammy machine. In an off year he won at least 4.
• I just realized that Kelly Clarkson and Carrie Underwood sang but I never saw Reuben Studdard, Fantasia, or Taylor Hicks….hmmm, that’s weird.
• Well my work here is done. Those are my thoughts unedited, uncensored and after the show.
• Here is a list of winners.

MY THOUGHTS ON THE 2011 VMA’S

I haven’t done this in a while, but I am having an urge for some good old fashioned shallow blogging. I decided I would give my thoughts on the MTV Video Music Awards (VMA’s). I don’t have cable so I always watch them the next day on mtv.com. Sorry for the delay but I am cheap.

• Dear Lady Gaga-you are lucky you have built up some credibility with huge singles and a gigantic tour because your opening performance of an already underwhelming single was not just weird, but spent many credibility chips.
• There was no host this year. I read that MTV was turned down by a few people they asked and just decided to go without rather than stretch for someone not great. Not sure what that says when people don’t want to do it because last years ratings were a record…but it says something.
• Jay-Z and Kanye-You know I loved them and this, but I am a sucker for radio hits and I find this album underwhelming. I know they wanted it to be natural and all-I read the reviews.  Anyway, it was a well designed performance with the flames, smoke, flag and great camera angles as they came the whole way out from backstage, to stage, to runway.
• I find it interesting that Nicki Minaj is now beating Lil Wayne for hip video awards. I wonder if his ego (or hers for that matter) can keep their label together.
• People thought Kanye was crazy when he did the whole Taylor Swift thing and said Beyonce had the video of the year, but I found it interesting that even when he won, he admitted that Chris Brown, Busta Rhymes, and Lil Wayne were the best in that category and better than his.
• I didn’t know if Pitbull would have the guts to keep his verse that says “I got it locked it up by Lindsay Lohan” since she is currently suing him for that line….but he did.
• I already mentioned that there wasn’t a host, but Kevin Hart did the work of one with the opening monologue and videos but didn’t get paid I am sure
• It was also interesting to see Cali Swag District in the one video because I haven’t heard or seen them since their fourth member was shot and killed.
• Because of twitter, I was expecting a lot from a few moments (Gaga, Beyonce’s pregnancy, and Adele). Adele is great and I am not saying she isn’t, but this performance was nothing special. I think people just appreciate that she has a natural hair color that isn’t in a Crayola box and doesn’t use autotune.
• Justin Bieber could win any award he was up for. I bet his fans would stay up all night and vote 1,000,000 times if he tweeted once to his fans and told them to.
• They say that people who are taller have more earning potential, but I have to think that if you could dance like Chris Brown your life would be better too. I love that he isn’t happy dancing anymore and wanted to be Peter Pan on cables.
• Its funny to me that people like Beyonce and Britney are getting lifetime achievement type awards on the last couple award shows I watched. It makes me feel old, but they started so young they both already have two greatest hits albums full of singles.
• Its also so easy to see why Britney still makes money because she has mastered getting 12 year olds and their mom’s to buy her music which is double the income and easier concert sales.
• Ok, Lady Gaga stop with the playing a dude thing. You aren’t even good at it. Its like me doing impersonations, it almost seems like something I should laugh at as terrible. You had an hour to change our of your outfit to intro Britney.
• Its amazing to me that Beyonce was able to keep her pregnancy a secret.  I guess she is good at everything so I shouldn’t be.
• Dear Tyler the Creator, you were not the Best New Artist. I would say that conservatively you were the 3^rd best nominee so cherish that trophy.
• The last part of this show was boring and included people who aren’t good enough to make a good awards show. It also included Lady Gaga still playing a dude.
• Lil Wayne closed the show….and you all know how I feel about him. Please DON’T buy his album as it was released this morning at 12am.
• Adios.

GRAMMY AWARD’S 2011 PREDICTION FOLLOW

A few weeks ago on this blog, I made my picks for this year’s Grammy Awards. Since the ceremony happened this past weekend I decided I should put up the winners and admit the picks I got wrong and see if I got any right. I hardly got anything right-2 and some half rights. The truth hurts. I wish I could blame it on something….How about it was a pretty wild year with some major unpredictable upsets?

 

Album of the Year

My first pick            » Lady Gaga – The Fame Monster

Runner up pick            » Eminem – Recovery

Actual winner            » Arcade Fire – The Suburbs

 

Record of the Year

My first pick            » Eminem (featuring Rihanna) – “Love the Way You Lie”

Runner up pick            » Cee Lo Green – “F— You”

Actual winner            » Lady Antebellum – “Need You Now”

 

Best New Artist

My first pick            » Florence & the Machine

Runner up pick            » Drake

Actual winner            » Esperanza Spalding

 

Song of the Year

My first pick            » Miranda Lambert – “The House That Built Me”

Runner up pick            » Cee Lo Green – “F— You”

Actual winner            » Lady Antebellum – “Need You Now”

 

Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group With Vocals

My first pick            » Sade – “Babyfather”

Runner up pick            » “Glee” cast – “Don’t Stop Believin’ (Regionals Version)”

Actual winner            » Train – “Hey, Soul Sister (Live)”

 

Best Pop Collaboration With Vocals

My first pick            » B.o.B, Eminem and Hayley Williams – “Airplanes II”

Runner up pick            » Katy Perry and Snoop Dogg – “California Gurls”

Actual winner            » Herbie Hancock, Pink, India.Arie, Seal, Konono No. 1, Jeff Beck and Oumou Sangare – “Imagine”

 

Best Dance Recording

My first pick            » Lady Gaga – “Dance in the Dark”

Runner up pick            » La Roux – “In For The Kill”

Actual winner            » Rihanna – “Only Girl (In the World)”

 

Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group With Vocals

My first pick            » Kings of Leon – “Radioactive”

Runner up pick            » Muse – “Resistance”

Actual winner            » The Black Keys – “Tighten Up”

 

Best Hard Rock Performance

My first pick            » Soundgarden – “Black Rain”

Runner up pick            » Stone Temple Pilots – “Between the Lines”

Actual winner            » Them Crooked Vultures – “New Fang”

 

Best Rock Song

My first pick            » Mumford & Sons – “Little Lion Man”

Runner up pick            » Kings of Leon – “Radioactive”

Actual winner            » Neil Young – “Angry World”

 

Best Alternative Music Album

My first pick            » Vampire Weekend – Contra

Runner up pick            » Arcade Fire – The Suburbs

Actual winner            » The Black Keys – Brothers

 

Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group With Vocals

My first pick            » Sade – “Soldier of Love”

Runner up pick            » John Legend and the Roots – “Shine”

Actual winner            » Sade – “Soldier of Love”

 

Best Contemporary R&B Album

My first pick            » Usher – Raymond v. Raymond

Runner up pick            » Chris Brown – Graffiti

Actual winner            » Usher – Raymond v. Raymond

 

Best Rap/Sung Collaboration

My first pick            » Eminem and Rihanna – “Love the Way You Lie”

Runner up pick            » Jay-Z and Alicia Keys – “Empire State of Mind”

Actual winner            » Jay-Z and Alicia Keys – “Empire State of Mind”

 

Best Rap Song

My first pick            » Eminem and Rihanna – “Love the Way You Lie”

Runner up pick            » Jay-Z and Alicia Keys – “Empire State of Mind”

Actual winner            » Jay-Z and Alicia Keys – “Empire State of Mind”

 

Best Rap Album

My first pick            » Eminem – Recovery

Runner up pick            » Jay-Z – The Blueprint 3

Actual winner            » Eminem – Recovery

 

Best Country Collaboration With Vocals

My first pick            » Zac Brown Band and Alan Jackson – “As She’s Walking Away”

Runner up pick            » Dierks Bentley, Miranda Lambert and Jamey Johnson – “Bad Angel”

Actual winner            » Zac Brown Band and Alan Jackson – “As She’s Walking Away”

 

Best Country Song

My first pick            » Miranda Lambert – “The House That Built Me”

Runner up pick            » Lady Antebellum – “Need You Now”

Actual winner            » Lady Antebellum – “Need You Now”

 

Best Country Album

My first pick            » Miranda Lambert – Revolution

Runner up pick            » Lady Antebellum – Need You Now

Actual winner            » Lady Antebellum – Need You Now

 

Best Americana Album

My first pick            » Willie Nelson – Country Music

Runner up pick            » Robert Plant – Band of Joy

Actual winner            » Mavis Staples – You Are Not Alone

 

Best Traditional Blues Album

My first pick            » Jimmie Vaughan – Plays Blues, Ballads & Favorites

Runner up pick            » Cyndi Lauper – Memphis Blues

Actual winner            » Pinetop Perkins and Willie “Big Eyes” Smith – Joined at the Hip

 

 

 

2011 GRAMMY TWITTER RECAP

The Grammy’s were this past weekend. I love watching the show and I tweeted a lot during the ceremony. If you didn’t catch it I thought I would recap here. They are in descending order. Follow me on twitter.

• All the members of Arcade Fire must have the greatest prayer lives ever? #grammys #musicthatidontcareabout
• @courtneycherest @sarahknepper yeah but they are seat fillers:)
• The target.com commercials for wigs intrigue me. I wondered how long till Lady Gaga and Katy Perry brought them into white culture too.
• Didn’t care about arcade fire until I realized they had a redhead in the group. #grammys
• Its bad on most networks, but the placement of CBS personalities from their shows on the #grammys is shameless.
• Been praying for @lecrae to be light and network at the #Grammys
• I read that Lady Antebellum would win because most voters were divided on the record of the year but Nashville would unite. #grammys2011
• @kristinartrip gets mad just seeing Jennifer Lopez with Marc Anthony or even talking about and acknowledging they are married. #grammys
• Did anyone see Eminem smile tonight?….me neither. Great Lyricist but he looks like he might kill somebody 🙂 #grammys2011
• I have never understood the Barbara Streisand thing. Sorry, I just don’t get it. #grammys2011
• After upsetting Drake and Bieber for best new artist, it is safe to say Esperanza Spalding can never go to Canada again.
• Dr. Dre and Eminem-So Good! #grammys2011
• Is John Mayer trying to look like a creepy Johnny Depp? Wait a creepy Depp would be the normal one.
• Cee-Lo just solidified his status as the black, chubby Elton John in that outfit.
• Man the bearded buy in Lady Antebellum sure looks like Lance Bass. #grammys2011
• I am trying to explain to Ross Owen why “American Honey” is a great song. He is indifferent and wants to talk about U2.
• When Lady Gaga won, she (and her reaction) seemed normal until she stood up and we were reminded by her outfit she is a little different.
• I have the same purple zipper suit that Usher is wearing…ironic!
• I am defending Justin Bieber to everyone at our house watching the Grammys.
• Question: Should I go buy a monacle like B.O.B. wore tonight?
• Its still crazy to me that Muse is an arena touring and Grammy band now. They are good, but I just have them trapped in theaters forever.
• Miranda Lambert is gonna deservedly win like 7 Grammy’s and non country people will be confused what is going on. #grammys2011
• And as soon as I open my mouth Christina falls as the song ends and the camera pans away. She can’t win. #grammys2011
• Christina Aguilera just ripped that Aretha tribute! #Grammyredemption Hudson was impressive too.

 

MY PICKS FOR THE 53rd ANNUAL GRAMMY AWARDS

As is the yearly tradition around here on markartrip.com I thought I would give my Grammy Predictions after the nominees were announced last night on the CBS concert special. After the ceremony in February I will repost and tell you how wrong I was. The winners are in bold and the dark horse with an outside chance (second place) are in italics.

This is not who I want to win but who I expect the RIAA to pick.

The 53rd Annual Grammy Awards will be held on 13 February 2011. The famed nominees compilation disc is out on 28 January.

Album of the Year
» Arcade Fire – The Suburbs
» Eminem – Recovery
» Lady Antebellum – Need You Now
» Lady Gaga – The Fame Monster
» Katy Perry – Teenage Dream

Record of the Year
» B.o.B (featuring Bruno Mars) – “Nothin’ on You”
» Eminem (featuring Rihanna) – “Love the Way You Lie”
» Cee Lo Green – “F— You”
» Jay-Z and Alicia Keys – “Empire State of Mind”
» Lady Antebellum – “Need You Now”

Best New Artist
» Justin Bieber
» Drake
» Florence & the Machine
» Mumford & Sons
» Esperanza Spalding

Song of the Year
» Ray LaMontagne – “Beg Steal or Borrow”
» Cee Lo Green – “F— You”
» Miranda Lambert – “The House That Built Me”
» Eminem (featuring Rihanna) – “Love the Way You Lie”
» Lady Antebellum – “Need You Now”

Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group With Vocals
» “Glee” cast – “Don’t Stop Believin’ (Regionals Version)”
» Maroon 5 – “Misery
» Paramore – “The Only Exception”
» Sade – “Babyfather”
» Train – “Hey, Soul Sister (Live)”

Best Pop Collaboration With Vocals
» B.o.B, Eminem and Hayley Williams – “Airplanes II”
» Herbie Hancock, Pink, India.Arie, Seal, Konono No. 1, Jeff Beck and Oumou Sangare – “Imagine”
» Elton John & Leon Russell – “If It Wasn’t For Bad”
» Lady Gaga and Beyoncé – “Telephone”
» Katy Perry and Snoop Dogg – “California Gurls”

Best Dance Recording
» Goldfrapp – “Rocket”
» La Roux – “In For The Kill”
» Lady Gaga – “Dance in the Dark”
» Rihanna – “Only Girl (In the World)”
» Robyn – “Dancing on My Own”

Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group With Vocals
» Arcade Fire – “Ready to Start”
» Jeff Beck and Joss Stone – “I Put a Spell on You”
» The Black Keys – “Tighten Up”
» Kings of Leon – “Radioactive”
» Muse – “Resistance”

Best Hard Rock Performance
» Alice in Chains – “A Looking in View”
» Ozzy Osbourne – “Let Me Hear You Scream”
» Soundgarden – “Black Rain”
» Stone Temple Pilots – “Between the Lines”
» Them Crooked Vultures – “New Fang”

Best Rock Song
» Neil Young – “Angry World”
» Mumford & Sons – “Little Lion Man”
» Kings of Leon – “Radioactive”
» Muse – “Resistance”
» The Black Keys – “Tighten Up”

Best Alternative Music Album
» Arcade Fire – The Suburbs
» Band of Horses – Infinite Arms
» The Black Keys – Brothers
» Broken Bells – Broken Bells
» Vampire Weekend – Contra

Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group With Vocals
» Chris Brown and Tank – “Take My Time”
» Chuck Brown, Jill Scott and Marcus Miller – “Love”
» Ronald Isley and Aretha Franklin – “You’ve Got a Friend”
» John Legend and the Roots – “Shine”
» Sade – “Soldier of Love”

Best Contemporary R&B Album
» Chris Brown – Graffiti
» R. Kelly – Untitled
» Ryan Leslie – Transition
» Janelle Monáe – The ArchAndroid
» Usher – Raymond v. Raymond

Best Rap/Sung Collaboration
» B.o.B (featuring Bruno Mars) – “Nothin’ on You”
» Chris Brown, Tyga and Kevin McCall – “Deuces”
» Eminem and Rihanna – “Love the Way You Lie”
» Jay-Z and Alicia Keys – “Empire State of Mind”
» John Legend, the Roots, Melanie Fiona and Common – “Wake Up! Everybody”

Best Rap Song
» Jay-Z and Alicia Keys – “Empire State of Mind”
» Eminem and Rihanna – “Love the Way You Lie”
» Eminem – “Not Afraid”
» B.o.B (featuring Bruno Mars) – “Nothin’ on You”
» Jay-Z and Swizz Beatz – “On to the Next One”

Best Rap Album
» B.o.B – The Adventures of Bobby Ray
» Drake – Thank Me Later
» Eminem – Recovery
» Jay-Z – The Blueprint 3
» The Roots – How I Got Over

Best Country Collaboration With Vocals
» Dierks Bentley, Miranda Lambert and Jamey Johnson – “Bad Angel”
» Dierks Bentley, Del McCoury and the Punch Brothers – “Pride (In the Name of Love)”
» Zac Brown Band and Alan Jackson – “As She’s Walking Away”
» Blake Shelton and Trace Adkins – “Hillbilly Bone”
» Marty Stuart and Connie Smith – “I Run to You”

Best Country Song
» George Strait – “The Breath You Take”
» Zac Brown Band – “Free”
» Miranda Lambert – “The House That Built Me”
» Gretchen Wilson – “I’d Love To Be Your Last”
» The Band Perry – “If I Die Young”
» Lady Antebellum – “Need You Now”

Best Country Album
» Dierks Bentley – Up on the Ridge
» Zac Brown Band – You Get What You Give
» Jamey Johnson – The Guitar Song
» Lady Antebellum – Need You Now
» Miranda Lambert – Revolution

Best Americana Album
» Rosanne Cash – The List
» Los Lobos – Tin Can Trust
» Willie Nelson – Country Music
» Robert Plant – Band of Joy
» Mavis Staples – You Are Not Alone

Best Traditional Blues Album
» James Cotton – Giant
» Cyndi Lauper – Memphis Blues
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MY NIGHT WITH THE REACH RECORDS UNASHAMED TOUR

Last Wednesday I had the opportunity to drive up to Lima and take in the Reach Records Unashamed tour. In one word it was incredible so I thought I would scribble down some thoughts…..

• The concert was put on by my friend Tug Taviano and his organization Rock4Food.
• Rock4Food just got their 501c3 and is taking what they do to a whole nother’ level.
• Tug is always putting on shows and telling me to come up. Every time I want to go to one it seems I have something going on. Last time he brought in Lecrae and the guys it killed me to not be there so this time I promised myself I would not miss it since I and the rest of American are increasingly aware of how awesome they are and wanted to see them perform.
• I hadn’t missed an HSM Wednesday yet this year and I actually like to miss one a semester to make sure I am not building a program dependent on me.
• I remember seeing the DC Talk Jesus Freak tour in 1996 and hearing it was the biggest Christian tour to that point and knowing it would change the game forever.
• This tour was doing things that Christian hip-hop has not seen. Venues sold out, crowds over 1,000, good production, and showmanship.
• As an added bonus Tug had John Reuben come up and open the night. It’s always good to see Johnny Reubonic.
• I knew Tug was going to take care of us and roll out the red carpet. I love to be treated well at a concert (sad truth I have entitlement issues) but I wanted to see someone else spoiled so I took a guy from youth group (Sam Moore). Watching same eat backstage, drool on Lecrae, sit in on pre-show devotions with the guys, and pretend to battle at the end of the night was so fun for me.
• Mark Clayton (receiver for the St. Louis Rams) was there and partnered for the show. It was great to get to talk to him and just see his demeanor and walk up close. Love seeing guys who are great NFL players living for God.
• Speaking of devotions with the guys before the show it was so refreshing the see their hearts and get to pray with them. I have been at shows where the guys on stage don’t deserve the platform but this was the complete opposite.  The whole night was focused on Jesus and glorifying his name.
• It is so great to see people talking deep theology in music. Cross Movement started it and I even heard Lecrae say they were his blueprint, and all night I honestly felt like I was being fed and not just entertained.
• Many have heard of Lecrae after he has some albums under his belt, has been featured on CNN, topped two Billboard charts, and made waves on itunes. If you haven’t you need to get these songs.
• From Lecrae’s new album Rehab – High, Children of the light, and Background
• From Trip Lee’s album Between Two Worlds – The Invasion and Snitch
• From Sho Baracka’s album Lions and Liars – The rising and Kobe Bryant on em
• I could go on all day but I had fun, was ministered too, and my inner 10 year old hip-hop head had fun. A great night and I can’t wait to do it again.

CELEBRITY LOOK-A-LIKES THAT I KNOW PART 2

A couple of years ago, I did a post on my friends that I think look like celebrities or other people.  It wasn’t insanely popular but it was fun for me. I love doing it because I am constantly thinking “hey that person looks like _________ “.

I have been saving up a list of people for round two. (Now you know what I do in my free time)

Some of these look-a-likes have been pointed out before and are not original to me.  Others are being called out for the first time.  Either way I just cannot hold this post in any longer and want to share it with the world.  I do not mean to offend anyone if I say you remind me a celebrity that you think is ugly, or evil. It might be one thing like your smile or hair or it could be your persona or swagger.  Know that this was done in fun and with a light heart.

I can’t find pictures of ever individual looking exactly like the other to back up my theory, but at some point I have seen pictures of the famous person or the other in person that can support my claims…I did my best! Without further delay…