MamaPop™

The Famous Faces of Domestic Abuse

The Internet is abuzz this week with news of Rhianna's 20/20 and Good Morning America interviews (Jodi also wrote about Rhianna speaking out about her domestic violence experience here), the ones she's giving in conjunction with the release of her new album, Rated R. Now, on the eve of those media appearances, a few additional people are speaking out about what specifically happened to Rhianna and about domestic violence in general.

Anvil Made Me Cry

I don't  watch documentaries because there is usually a distinct lack of killer robots or flesh-eating undead or terrible visions of future dystopias in them. But this weekend's Box Office had little to offer so I rented Anvil: The Story of Anvil, and was pleasantly surprised because even though it was about Canadians and heavy metal I still enjoyed it immensely.

Joss Whedon To Direct Glee! *SQUEE*

Oh, come on. Like that news, like no news ever before it, doesn't warrant a big, high-pitched, girly SQUEEEEE.

SQUEEEEE.

You Can Has Beatles!

So, last month the entire original Beatles catalogue was released in fully digitally re-mastered form. I don't actually know what that means, but I think that I can say that it's a good thing and that everyone will just nod their heads, except for maybe a small handful of vinyl enthusiasts who will swear to their dying days that Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band can never be fully understood unless it is listened to on LP in a wood-panelled basement.

ANYHOO.

We don't have the entire digitally re-mastered Beatles catalogue to give away, BUT, we do have two limited edition lithographs! Of the Beatles! Back when they were cute! YOU CAN HAS.

All you have to do is leave a comment, sometime between now and midnight next Wednesday, naming your favorite Beatle and/or your favorite Beatles tune.

Extra street creed to anyone who can justify Ringo as their fave.

WINNERS! Bitchilla and Suzy Q! You'll be hearing from us! CONGRATS!

 In a stunning piece of news that might've slipped beneath your usually impeccable radar, it's October. I'm not even kidding — you could look it up. In even more stunning news, the end of October means Hallowe'en, a night of trick-or-treating fun and stupid-ass parents who like to pretend they're stuffed scarecrows sitting in a chair next to the front steps until some cute little kid comes along and suddenly they jump up and scream bloody terrifying murder and scare the living bejeezus out of some sweet boy or girl who's been waiting all year to go out as a fairy princess or Superman. I fucking hate those parents.

What were we talking about? Oh, right... Hallowe'en, October... blah blah blah. More pertinently, October is the month where all right-thinking Americans (and the occasional right-thinking Canadian) choose to celebrate the dimming of the day and the fleeting popular embrace of ghosts, witches, demonic were-creatures and other critters not usually welcomed into genteel society by engaging in the time-honored tradition of watching lots and lots of horror movies. Why? Because, unlike children, we can make the conscious choice to be scared — because we understand and experience it as entertainment, as 90 minutes of escapist fun that frees us from the dreary bonds of our day-to-day and provides us with the vicarious thrill of gambling with our lives.

And just when we thought the Usher and Tameka divorce was going to be civil.  Wait, did we ever think that?

Usher has just released a new song and it is all about his divorce.  Because what makes a better song than a divorce?

The song even references firing his mother as his manager because Tameka wanted him to.  "I gave my heart and turned my back against the world 'cuz you were my girl," he sings, continuing, "I done damn near lost my mama/I done been through so much drama/I done turned into the man I never thought I'd be/I'm ready to sign them papers."  Ouch.

You can hear the full song after the jump.

I didn't want to like this album.  I feel that it's my duty to forsake all new music. Is that close minded?  You bet your ass.  Is it a safe bet?  Hells yea.  So, when I was awake well past my bedtime to see the fine folks of Trailer Park Boys on Jimmy Kimel Live, who should be the musical guest?  Non other than Eels, playing a ball-stomping track from their latest effort - Hombre Lobo.  I was slack-jawed.  Musically, it wasn't great, and the lyrics were better than passable, but, there was a Something that stuck with me.  When I woke the next morning, I checked the ever faithful Youtube to see if maybe the Cold Medicine and the weed were playing tricks with my good Reason.  The cold medicine and the weed played no part in my decision to like Eels new album.  There was Something there.

Who here is surprised, raise your hand. No one? Me neither. 

After a blistering row with his she-could-be-his-granddaughter-girlfriend, Ronnie Wood packed up a little suitcase and went to stay in an apartment near the home he shared with estranged wife, Jo Wood. Cops were called to the home he shared with his mistress, Russian cocktail waitress Ekaterina Somethingorother, after she screamed about committing suicide because he wanted to have dinner with his estranged wife, their daughter Leah, and his infant granddaughter. 

Todd Snider is at it again.  In the wake of East Nashville Skyline, The Devil You Know, and the Freak Flag flying, Peace Queer, comes his latest, and perhaps Greatest effort, The Excitement Plan. The gloves are off - if they were ever on at all.  With the help of the legendary Don Was (Rolling Stones, Iggy Pop, Paul Westerberg, etc.), Todd comes out bare knuckled, championing the Common Man, and, quite possibly, high on, er, Life?  And, weed.  I can dig it.

Have you ever played that Music Trivia Game?  Aw, hell.  You know the one.  'Name One Song that Best Relates to You.'  Or some such.  Until The Excitement Plan I always drew a blank.  Well, maybe that one Divinyls song.  But most everyone can lay claim to that one.  So I kept searching.

This has been a big week for the Beatles.  Their new game (see insanely cool commercial below) The Beatles: Rock Band is on the top of many a gift list and their entire UK catalog (plus Magical Mystery Tour and Past Masters) has been remastered and rereleased with a depth and a clarity that so many of us are missing in our lives right now.  Yes, once again we have found ourselves in times of trouble and the Beatles come to us.  Words of wisdom and all that.

Whooooooooa buddy, were the VMAs out of control this year. By now everyone's heard about Kanye's douchebaggery, but trust me, that wasn't the only OMG moment, by far. There were a lot of missteps at the VMAs, as there are every year, but there also were some highlights, so let's go through the show and dissect the chaos, shall we?

In case you missed it, from tonight's MTV VMAs:

Kanye West was then escorted from Radio City Music Hall. Shortly thereafter, the following appeared on his blog:

These two are the same-sexed version of Ike and Tina. 

Stories about how they stumbled out of a bar and ran into their absentee father and proceeded to whoop him three ways to Sunday were something to snicker at; but their braggadocio ("we're like the Beatles." No, you're not) and the endless slap-fights are making headlines more than their music these days.

It's approaching level "Heidi Montag Annoying."

Do you like your religions fresh?  Do you like the word of God dropped? What did you think of R.E.M.'s Radio Song?

If you answered any of the above questions then you are in luck.  KRS-One is starting a new religion and it's both hip and hop. Introducing The Gospel of Hip Hop: The First Instrument, coming soon to a hotel dresser near you.

The tome is 600 pages about the divinity and spirituality of hip-hop, and according to Rev. One, "I'm suggesting that in 100 years, this book will be a new religion on the earth."

Remember in Mean Girls, how Gretchen Wieners, Toaster Strudel Heiress, kept trying to make, "fetch" happen? As in, "That is SO fetch!" Until finally Regina George told her, "Stop trying to make 'fetch' happen! It's not going to happen!"

That's how I'm starting to feel about commercials that try to make their jingles into pop culture institutions.

Courtney Love posted photos of herself on Twitter posing with what I AM SURE she thinks is her teacup poodle but in actuality was just a very confused turtle. 

It's unclear whether the turtle is real or not but her drug problem is obviously alive and well.

Courtney is working on her latest album, Nobody's Daughter, due to be released January 1, 2010 after numerous postponements. Courtney has promised us that her new album will sound like "giant black pyramids".  Which probably sounds a lot like giant black tar heroin.

Here is some footage of Courtney discussing her new album.  She does do some math at the 1:13 mark that will probably blow your mind. Also her future project plans include "dying, fucking, killing, or eating" which sounds like a business prospectus if I've ever heard one.

Dolly Parton has a new video out and it's absolutely awful. It's for a song called 'Change It' which is exactly what you'll want to do to your TV channel if this video ever comes across your screen.

Look, I'm not hatin' on Dolly, I just think she deserves better. Although I'm not a fan, I know she's got a gazillion of them out there and they should all be hootin' and hollerin' mad that Dolly's record company decided to spend only $15 making this video. At least that's what it looks like. Well, make that $16.95 because it appears they may have sprung for a couple of new wigs for the 'Queen of Country Music.'

Besides the fact that the entire thing takes place in that most-overused of video shoot locations, a photo studio (I'm guessing the local 'real-life recording studio' was booked, as well as the 'empty, gritty warehouse') it contains a number of bizarre costume changes and, inexplicably, a segment where Dolly shaves a guy's head. Hee haw!

Going Bump In The Night: Six Movies For Your Hallowe'en Viewing Pleasure

 In a stunning piece of news that might've slipped beneath your usually impeccable radar, it's October. I'm not even kidding — you could look it up. In even more stunning news, the end of October means Hallowe'en, a night of trick-or-treating fun and stupid-ass parents who like to pretend they're stuffed scarecrows sitting in a chair next to the front steps until some cute little kid comes along and suddenly they jump up and scream bloody terrifying murder and scare the living bejeezus out of some sweet boy or girl who's been waiting all year to go out as a fairy princess or Superman. I fucking hate those parents.

What were we talking about? Oh, right... Hallowe'en, October... blah blah blah. More pertinently, October is the month where all right-thinking Americans (and the occasional right-thinking Canadian) choose to celebrate the dimming of the day and the fleeting popular embrace of ghosts, witches, demonic were-creatures and other critters not usually welcomed into genteel society by engaging in the time-honored tradition of watching lots and lots of horror movies. Why? Because, unlike children, we can make the conscious choice to be scared — because we understand and experience it as entertainment, as 90 minutes of escapist fun that frees us from the dreary bonds of our day-to-day and provides us with the vicarious thrill of gambling with our lives.

Usher Writes Song About Divorce and Shocking: It Is Not Nice

And just when we thought the Usher and Tameka divorce was going to be civil.  Wait, did we ever think that?

Usher has just released a new song and it is all about his divorce.  Because what makes a better song than a divorce?

The song even references firing his mother as his manager because Tameka wanted him to.  "I gave my heart and turned my back against the world 'cuz you were my girl," he sings, continuing, "I done damn near lost my mama/I done been through so much drama/I done turned into the man I never thought I'd be/I'm ready to sign them papers."  Ouch.

You can hear the full song after the jump.

A Day Late and a Dollar Short with Eels

I didn't want to like this album.  I feel that it's my duty to forsake all new music. Is that close minded?  You bet your ass.  Is it a safe bet?  Hells yea.  So, when I was awake well past my bedtime to see the fine folks of Trailer Park Boys on Jimmy Kimel Live, who should be the musical guest?  Non other than Eels, playing a ball-stomping track from their latest effort - Hombre Lobo.  I was slack-jawed.  Musically, it wasn't great, and the lyrics were better than passable, but, there was a Something that stuck with me.  When I woke the next morning, I checked the ever faithful Youtube to see if maybe the Cold Medicine and the weed were playing tricks with my good Reason.  The cold medicine and the weed played no part in my decision to like Eels new album.  There was Something there.

Ronnie Wood Throws out Russian Girlfriend

Who here is surprised, raise your hand. No one? Me neither. 

After a blistering row with his she-could-be-his-granddaughter-girlfriend, Ronnie Wood packed up a little suitcase and went to stay in an apartment near the home he shared with estranged wife, Jo Wood. Cops were called to the home he shared with his mistress, Russian cocktail waitress Ekaterina Somethingorother, after she screamed about committing suicide because he wanted to have dinner with his estranged wife, their daughter Leah, and his infant granddaughter. 

You Excited? You Should Be - The Excitement Plan

Todd Snider is at it again.  In the wake of East Nashville Skyline, The Devil You Know, and the Freak Flag flying, Peace Queer, comes his latest, and perhaps Greatest effort, The Excitement Plan. The gloves are off - if they were ever on at all.  With the help of the legendary Don Was (Rolling Stones, Iggy Pop, Paul Westerberg, etc.), Todd comes out bare knuckled, championing the Common Man, and, quite possibly, high on, er, Life?  And, weed.  I can dig it.

Have you ever played that Music Trivia Game?  Aw, hell.  You know the one.  'Name One Song that Best Relates to You.'  Or some such.  Until The Excitement Plan I always drew a blank.  Well, maybe that one Divinyls song.  But most everyone can lay claim to that one.  So I kept searching.

The Beatles and Disney - It's On!

This has been a big week for the Beatles.  Their new game (see insanely cool commercial below) The Beatles: Rock Band is on the top of many a gift list and their entire UK catalog (plus Magical Mystery Tour and Past Masters) has been remastered and rereleased with a depth and a clarity that so many of us are missing in our lives right now.  Yes, once again we have found ourselves in times of trouble and the Beatles come to us.  Words of wisdom and all that.

The VMAs: Win Vs. Fail, When Win = New Moon Trailer And Fail = Kanye

Whooooooooa buddy, were the VMAs out of control this year. By now everyone's heard about Kanye's douchebaggery, but trust me, that wasn't the only OMG moment, by far. There were a lot of missteps at the VMAs, as there are every year, but there also were some highlights, so let's go through the show and dissect the chaos, shall we?

Kanye West Apologizes For Being A Douche On The VMAs

In case you missed it, from tonight's MTV VMAs:

Kanye West was then escorted from Radio City Music Hall. Shortly thereafter, the following appeared on his blog:

Details on the Bros. Gallagher fight and Oasis Split

These two are the same-sexed version of Ike and Tina. 

Stories about how they stumbled out of a bar and ran into their absentee father and proceeded to whoop him three ways to Sunday were something to snicker at; but their braggadocio ("we're like the Beatles." No, you're not) and the endless slap-fights are making headlines more than their music these days.

It's approaching level "Heidi Montag Annoying."

And I Know God Because of KRS-One

Do you like your religions fresh?  Do you like the word of God dropped? What did you think of R.E.M.'s Radio Song?

If you answered any of the above questions then you are in luck.  KRS-One is starting a new religion and it's both hip and hop. Introducing The Gospel of Hip Hop: The First Instrument, coming soon to a hotel dresser near you.

The tome is 600 pages about the divinity and spirituality of hip-hop, and according to Rev. One, "I'm suggesting that in 100 years, this book will be a new religion on the earth."

Quit Trying to Make Pop Songs Out of Jingles

Remember in Mean Girls, how Gretchen Wieners, Toaster Strudel Heiress, kept trying to make, "fetch" happen? As in, "That is SO fetch!" Until finally Regina George told her, "Stop trying to make 'fetch' happen! It's not going to happen!"

That's how I'm starting to feel about commercials that try to make their jingles into pop culture institutions.

Courtney Love: Tortoise and The Hair Edition

Courtney Love posted photos of herself on Twitter posing with what I AM SURE she thinks is her teacup poodle but in actuality was just a very confused turtle. 

It's unclear whether the turtle is real or not but her drug problem is obviously alive and well.

Courtney is working on her latest album, Nobody's Daughter, due to be released January 1, 2010 after numerous postponements. Courtney has promised us that her new album will sound like "giant black pyramids".  Which probably sounds a lot like giant black tar heroin.

Here is some footage of Courtney discussing her new album.  She does do some math at the 1:13 mark that will probably blow your mind. Also her future project plans include "dying, fucking, killing, or eating" which sounds like a business prospectus if I've ever heard one.

Dolly Parton's New Video Should Be Enjoyed Only On the Radio

Dolly Parton has a new video out and it's absolutely awful. It's for a song called 'Change It' which is exactly what you'll want to do to your TV channel if this video ever comes across your screen.

Look, I'm not hatin' on Dolly, I just think she deserves better. Although I'm not a fan, I know she's got a gazillion of them out there and they should all be hootin' and hollerin' mad that Dolly's record company decided to spend only $15 making this video. At least that's what it looks like. Well, make that $16.95 because it appears they may have sprung for a couple of new wigs for the 'Queen of Country Music.'

Besides the fact that the entire thing takes place in that most-overused of video shoot locations, a photo studio (I'm guessing the local 'real-life recording studio' was booked, as well as the 'empty, gritty warehouse') it contains a number of bizarre costume changes and, inexplicably, a segment where Dolly shaves a guy's head. Hee haw!