I first knew something was up when Akon said something in an interview about being a non-English speaking immigrant as a young man and then birth records popped up stating that the singer was actually born in the U.S.
So I’m not surprised at all about the reports that, thanks to The Smoking Gun website, place Akon as one big-ass phony.
Not that he’s the only celebrity to lie about his or her backstory, but Akon’s tales of being a big-time criminal and whooping asses in jail trump just about anyone’s I’ve heard, and that includes Vanilla Ice’s tall tales about going to school with Luke Campbell, being a Motocross champion and getting shot in the ass.
The question now is, are any of the 3 million people that bought Akon’s last album going to care? And who will be the next hip-hopper with a “thug” past to be exposed as a studio gangster??
Before I start this write-up, I wanted to mention that Music Help Web has a Twitter page. You can read us on Twitter where we update quick news items that aren’t necessarily something we’d blog about, but still are important. Now, onto the show.
Last night’s show was Mariah Carey Night. All of the remaining contestants performed Mimi’s songs and overall, I was very surprised at how well they did. I figured we were in for a tough night. While I didn’t necessarily agree with the judges that David Cook did a great version of Always Be My Baby, as the reason I like that song is because it’s fun and innocent and he took all of that away, I do think they were fair and gave everyone just about what they deserved.
– Has anyone noticed that Randy Jackson’s side burns are nearing Brandon and Dylan levels from nearly 15 years ago?
– The Idol contestants are performing One Sweet Day by Mariah Carey and Boyz II Men and Jason Castro croaked through the very first verse. I think they told him to lip synch the rest of the way.
– I predict a Brooke, Carly, and KL Cook bottom three by the way.
– Ryno is splitting the folks into two groups tonight without telling them what being in either group means. In one group is Syesha, Carly, and Jason and in the other is David Cook, Brooke (straight), and KL Cook. David Archuleta is the only one not in a group.
– A man that used to look like Elliot Yamin but has terrible facial hair and a curly mop on top of his head is singing what seems to be his next single. I wished for Trainwreck, but he’s singing Free.
– Mariah isn’t singing Touch My Body, which I’m guessing is because she’d probably have to dance a little bit. But she’s instead singing Bye Bye and standing as straight as the mic stand.
– She’s not as skinny as the toothpick that is Brooke White, but Mimi is looking skinny.
– Whichever group Big Dave Archuleta joins must be the group that is safe, because it would have four members versus three.
– That Ryno is such a sneaky guy. He just switched David Cook with Syesha. David Cook, Carly, and Jason Castro are safe along with Big Dave.
– Syesha is safe, leaving the two blondies.
– Brooke is safe and Big Rube Studdard will celebrate this year’s Sanjaya, KL Cook, home.
Next week is Andrew Lloyd Webber? Did I hear that right?
Yep, it’s April 15th. Hope your taxes are done! With freshly received refunds in hand (hopefully), let’s mosey on down to the record store, shall we? Here’s what’s new this week.
Mariah Carey-E=MC2: The most highly anticipated release of the year thus far has finally arrived, and I’m sure Mariah is having a good laugh thinking about the fact that five years ago, her career was considered dead. At any rate, her 10th studio album features Mariah’s usual mix of hip-hop influenced club bangers and emotional ballads. Guests include Young Jeezy (ugh), T-Pain (ugh) and Jermaine Dupri (ugh). It’s still my contention that Mariah has yet to make a definitive album, and that the best album she’s released to date has been her first, but I must say that I’m fairly intrigued here.
The Naked Brothers Band-I Don’t Want To Go To School: Is it me, or is The Naked Brothers Band the most inappropriate band name for a bunch of pre-teens in recorded music history? That’s just inviting the pedophiles to come on board. Anyway, from the little I know about these kids, they’re Nickelodeon-endorsed, and they’re sort of like a more garage-y, less talented version of “Mmmbop”-era Hanson. The little girls will go apeshit for this, I’m sure.
Apocalyptica-Worlds Collide: I thought these guys were just a vaguely classical Metallica tribute banc, but they’re so much more! Well, the cellos are still there, but this album from the Finnish (I believe) metal album contains all original material, and also features guest appearances from Slipknot/Stone Sour’s Corey Taylor as well as the lead singers from Three Days Grace and Lacuna Coil, making this sort of a new-metal (as opposed to nu-metal) all-star album.
Everclear-The Vegas Years: At least five if not ten years past his sell-by date, Art Alexakis and his rotating group of bandmembers are back on a major label (after a one-album detour into indieville) and they’re releasing that old standby-a covers album! It looks like the thrust here is pop/rock of the Seventies and Eighties, with Thin Lizzy, The Go-Gos and Hall & Oates among the artists/bands covered.
Also in stores this week: a new one from WB-endorsed rockers Phantom Planet, new country act Lady Antebellum (whose name makes them sound like the latest U.K. rap phenomenon), a new album from jazz vocalist Dianne Reeves, the debut album from Jordan Zevon (son of the late, legendary Warren Zevon), a new album from William Shatner (which finds him reading the book of Exodus!), and the long-awaited, much-anticipated return of White Lion (remember them? This might jog your memory: http://youtube.com/watch?v=oUR86bnKLaI)!!!
