I generally have no use for the MTV Movie Awards, but this shit is pretty funny (if more than a little tasteless). Sasha Baron Cohen’s Bruno character makes a crash-landing on a perturbed Eminem during last night’s live telecast. Hard to tell whether this was staged or not (if it wasn’t, I think Eminem would have leveled the guy), but it’s funny to watch anyway.
Blog
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The 200-Word Review: Charlie Wilson’s “Uncle Charlie”
Former Gap Band lead singer Charlie Wilson scored big with his 2005 comeback album Charlie, Last Name Wilson, and after four years (and a bout with prostate cancer), he returns with a more club-oriented, contemporary sound on Uncle Charlie. Fans of the last album may be a little disappointed with the club beats and contemporary flourishes from a classic R&B artist, but Wilson’s signature voice is good enough to overcome the occasional sonic misstep.
Among the uptempo jams, the almost Euro-dance Let it Out sticks out, with its’ galloping bassline lifted from Charlie’s 1982 Gap Band hit “Burn Rubberâ€, but the album really picks up steam with songs like the swaying ballad “There Goes My Babyâ€, the summery midtempo track “What You Do to Me†and the dramatic “Homelessâ€. The guest artists (Snoop, as well as an Auto-Tuned Jamie Foxx and T-Pain) are unobtrusive but also unnecessary.
Uncle Charlie is proof positive that mediocre production and songwriting can be saved by superior vocals. While I would have liked content that was a little more mature, organic and age-appropriate, this album stands out as solid enough (in a ridiculously craptastic year for R&B so far) that I’m willing to give Wilson a pass.
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The Drummer vs. The Piano Man
Drummer Liberty DeVitto has sued Billy Joel in a Manhattan court according to the New York Post. Â The drummer also named Sony Music, but a quick tour of entertainmnent lawyers posting online under their names suggest that Sony will quickly be dropped from the matter.
Did this man stiff his drummer? Liberty DeVitto is suing former pop star Billy Joel for royalties. Meanwhile, the contentiousness between Joel’s drummer of 30 years and the artist’s fans is reaching a hyperbolic state. Â DeVitto says that he was fired from Joel’s band in 2005 without even a telephone call. Â Fans on both sides are defending DeVitto’s drumming or Joel’s music and seemingly drawing sides based on their affinity for either..
DeVitto was part of the band that played on what is essentially the soundtrack of a 10 year period from the mid 1970s to the mid 19880s.  You may also know DeVitto’s daughter, Torrey, who recently appeared in a 16 episode arc on One Tree Place.  [She also went to the same small elementary school I attended in a secluded part of Suffolk County, but maybe she attended a little later…]
Cases like this often flare up and are settled years later. Â You won’t see Paula Abdul talking about the suit she went through when a backup singer claimed she also sang leads. Nor will you hear much about songwriter claims very often unless it’s the delicious Joe Satriani and Coldplay allegations. Â Â
Watchers are asking why DeVitto, who claims no contact with Billy Joel, waited years before filing. Â Â There may indeed have been unaswered letters or unreturned calls, and answers won’t be forthcoming until this case has its day in court.