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TAG: 00s tv
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songspeak
I am on hold, with the State Parks Department…
I forgot to post this last week, but on NBC on Thursday night, Parks and Recreation illustrated a great example of songspeak. While much of songspeak consists of using song lyrics in everyday situations, a lot of it comes from making up lyrics on the fly to songs, usually involving the situation you’re currently in. Well, on Thursday’s episode, when most of the office was out on a hunting trip, Andy and April the intern stay in the office, because April needs to call the State Parks Department to give a tracking number. However, in a standard sitcom scenario, she’s on hold throughout most of the episode. When she leaves Andy there to listen in case anyone picks up while she’s in the bathroom, he starts making up lyrics to the song playing on hold. The song? A muzak version of the classic Air Supply hit All Out of Love. Andy sings his lyrics for April, and they are AMAZING. It sounds like something Matt and I would have sang back in the day. Songspeaks are best when the lyrics are made ludicrously dirty. And now, without further ado…Andy’s classic:
Tags: 00s tv, air supply, all out of love, andy, april, muzak, nbc, parks and recreation, state parks department
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songspeak
Everyone knows it’s Braaa-aaad
There’s a new commercial for 7-Up featuring Brad Garrett that I’ve been seeing lately. In it, Brad gleefully songspeaks The Association hit Windy, with his own goofy lyrics. I don’t have much to say about it, except that it’s yet another example of songspeak in advertising. And I’ll be damned if that garbage truck doesn’t come close to creaming him.
Tags: 00s tv, 00s tv commercials, 7-up, 7up, brad garrett, commercial, everyone knows it's brad, everyone knows it's windy, garbage truck, the association, windy
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songspeak
The Office presents: Subtle Sexuality
Here at songspeak, we love The Office and everything Office-related. Today, The Office just released their latest webisodes on the NBC site. This group of webisodes is entitled Subtle Sexuality, and in it, Kelly and new receptionist Erin start a girl-group and shoot a music video for their new song, Male Prima Donna. The entire series is three webisodes, mainly telling the story of the making of the video (during which, it’s not surprisingly revealed that the song is about Ryan), but the last episode contains the actual music video. And without spoiling anything, it. Is. AMAZING. I think what really makes it is Andy’s (a.k.a. Nard Dog) stellar performance. See for yourself!Tags: 00s tv, andy bernard, autotune, erin hannon, kelly kapoor, male prima donna, nard dog, nbc, ryan howard, subtle sexuality, the office, webisode
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songspeak
The Hoedown Throwdown
So, another trip to Lancaster for me and and my family for work, and more mix CD’s made for the 6 hour roadtrip. When making CD’s for the trip, my wife and I strive for a good variety of music that we enjoy, as well as some kid’s songs to keep Quinn happy in the backseat. It seems every year there’s a song or two that catches on with her that we end up listening to incessantly. Last year, it was the theme songs to iCarly and Drake & Josh. This year, it was the Hoedown Throwdown off the Hannah Montana Movie soundtrack. The Hannah Montana Movie is the first movie Quinn saw in a real theater. And we netflixed the DVD so she’d have something to watch on the portable DVD player on the trip and in the hotel room. I hadn’t seen the movie, and hearing the song on one of my wife’s two mixes was my first experience with it. Then, we arrived in Lancaster, PA, and stopped at the Olive Garden for dinner. And while sitting at the table, Quinn kept singing, “Boom boom clap, boom dee clap dee clap”. It took me awhile to realize she was singing this song, but when watching the DVD with her in the room, it all became clear. Miley travels home to Tennessee with her dad and brother to visit her grandmother, and during a party, spices it up by adding some hip hop to their hoedown. And from then on, Quinn insisted on listening to the “Miley Montana” song (don’t worry, she’s very clear on the Miley Stewart/Hannah Montana double-life situation). And we must have listened to that song about a million times whenever we were in the car. Quinn wants to learn how to do the dance, but thinks she’s still a bit young, and then realized that Miley sings that, “if you’re 5 or 82, this is something you can do”, and since she’s only 4, she’s not quite old enough to do it. Now, Hannah Montana has grown on me in the past year or so, and I must say, this song is damn catchy. I didn’t really mind listening to it over and over. See for yourself:
Tags: 00s movies, 00s music, 00s tv, billy ray cyrus, boom boom clap, boom dee clap dee clap, double-life, drake & josh, hannah montana, hip-hop, hoedown, hoedown throwdown, iCarly, lancaster, miley cyrus, miley stewart, olive garden, pennsylvania, roadtrip, Tennessee, the hannah montana movie
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songspeak
It’s a nice day for an Office wedding
Last night marked the biggest television wedding since Monica and Chandler or Luke and Laura when Jim and Pam got married on The Office. The episode actually surpassed my expectations, and the entire cast got some really funny moments. The episode was chock-full of great moments; Dwight hooking up with Pam’s best friend, Andy tearing his scrotum, Michael hooking up with Pam’s mom, Kevin losing his shoes, Oscar getting offended by Pam’s sister thinking Kevin was his boyfriend, Jim’s slip-up during his toast, and Michael’s awkward attempt at a save. And then, of course, there was the wedding party dancing down the aisle to Forever by (Rihanna-beater) Chris Brown, based on a real-life wedding youtube sensation hit. Let’s suspend disbelief for a moment and not question why all of Jim and Pam’s co-workers would, for some reason, be allowed to walk/dance down the aisle in addition to the wedding party, because, well, the show IS called The Office and a moment like this without the cast of the show wouldn’t feel right. Here is it for those who missed it:
And, the original, as performed at Jill and Kevin Heinz’s wedding (and how awesome is it for them that not only did it become such a huge viral hit, but is now also referenced in one of the most iconic moments on one of the best shows on television?):
All in all, the episode wasn’t nearly as sappy as it could have been, and I thought they did a good job balancing the schmaltzy Jim & Pam stuff with the crazy hijinks that the show does so well.
Tags: 00s music, 00s tv, andy bernard, chris brown, crazy hijinks, dwight shrute, forever, Friends, general hospital, jill and kevin heinz, jim and pam, jim and pam wedding, jim halpert, kevin, luke and laura, monica and chandler, nbc, oscar, pam beesly, rihanna, schmaltzy, season 6, the office, torn scrotum, wedding dance
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songspeak
There’s no need to argue, Parks & Recreation just can’t read my poker face
The second season of Parks and Recreation premiered last night, and they took no time getting right into the songspeak. The cold open of the episode is classic songspeak, with Amy Poehler’s Leslie Knope breaking into a dope rendition of The Fresh Prince and DJ Jazzy Jeff’s hit, Parents Just Don’t Understand. This whole scene actually reminded me of something that Matt or I might have done when we shared an office:But it didn’t stop there. In this episode, Leslie Knope staged a penguin wedding at the local zoo, only to find out they were both male. This created a political firestorm in which the gay community embraced Leslie as a champion for their cause. So they invited her to a party in her honor at Pawnee’s gay nightclub, The Bulge. She goes with the intention of setting the record straight (no pun intended) that the wedding wasn’t a political statement, but is soon won over after a few drinks and hearing all the gay guys chant her name. She dances with them, and then does a stirring rendition of Lady Gaga’s Poker Face, only to have it incessantly stuck in her head the next morning. I can relate, as the song was stuck in my head as I was trying to fall asleep last night after watching the episode:
Two splendid examples of songspeak in the first episode. Hopefully this is a sign of things to come for Parks and Recreation.
Tags: 00s music, 00s tv, 80s music, amy poehler, dj jazzy jeff, gay marriage, gay nightclub, lady gaga, leslie knope, parents just don't understand, parks & recreation, pawnee, poker face, the bulge, the fresh prince
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songspeak
Ukraine proves it has talent with its newest invention: Sandimation!
The other night at poker, our friend told us about a clip he’d seen on youtube of the winner of Ukraine’s Got Talent doing her thing. Her name is Kseniya Simonova, and her thing is telling stories using sand animation. Yeah, you heard me. He tried describing it, but he really didn’t do it justice. It has to be seen to be believed. In the following clip, she tells the story of Germany conquering Ukraine during World War II. Of special interest to the songspeakers out there is the odd use of an instrumental version of Nothing Else Matters by Metallica near the end (or at least something that really sounds like it. Maybe it’s my imagination). It’s really kind of amazing, and my theory on why there are so many people in the audience crying? Some of the sand blew into their eyes.
Who said Ukrainians didn’t have talent?
Tags: 00s tv, crying, germany, kseniya simonova, los colorados, metallica, nothing else matters, poker, sand animation, sandimation, ukraine, ukraine's got talent, ukrainians, world war 2, world war II, youtube
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songspeak
Katy Perry sluts it up on the Today Show. AGAIN.
It’s been almost a year since Katy Perry’s first appearance/performance on the Today Show. She was back on again today, once again trying to show what a unique rebel she is and trying to distance herself from her religious Christian past. She’s had a few singles since I Kissed a Girl came out, and she got to perform them all. Hot and Cold has been overplayed to death, so I won’t even bother with that one. I do quite enjoy the new one that’s been getting played, Waking Up in Vegas (which would have been a perfect theme song for the movie The Hangover, but that’s neither here nor there), and this clip of her performing it contains come of the most awkward moments and downright strange stuff I’ve ever seen:
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Let’s take a look at some of the more notable moments, shall we?
At the 0:27 mark, please note the will-they-or-won’t-they handshake moment that results in Katy grabbing onto Matt’s hand in a very awkward way.
At 0:31, Matt Lauer asks her about her (as usual) ridiculous outfit.
At 1:07, Katy starts talking about bananas and implies something about dicks while practically grinding against Matt, then tries to make a joke about potassium as he ignores her shenanigans.
At 3:10, Al Roker looking like the biggest square on earth as she starts singing the song.
At 3:51, the girl with braces who looks about 12 or younger singing along to a song about getting wasted in Vegas. That’s appropriate.
At 4:21, the cameraman dancing and playing air guitar on the platform. Just wow.
I will say this, whenever Katy Perry’s on the Today Show, she sure doesn’t seem to disappoint in regards to a ridiculous appearance. That’s what I get for waking up and watching the Today Show, I suppose.
Tags: 00s tv, air guitar, al roker, awkward moments, bananas, christian, getting wasted, hot and cold, i kissed a girl, katy hudson, katy perry, las vegas, matt lauer, potassium, rebel, ridiculous outfit, the hangover, the today show, waking up in vegas
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songspeak
MST3K, Joe Estevez, and paper
I used to love Mystery Science Theater 3000 back in the day. It’s been off the air for years, but oddly enough, it’s come up for me twice this week.The first time was on Monday, when I was playing poker at the VFW. For some godforsaken reason, they had Two and a Half Men on the TV (and man that show is awful). I wasn’t paying attention, but apparently Emilio Estevez had a cameo, and there was talk of him and Charlie Sheen being brothers. An epic discussion then broke out at our table about them having different last names and Martin Sheen being there dad. One of the guys didn’t realize they were brothers because they have different last names, and I said that I thought Estevez was their real last name and Sheen was the stage name. I then asked if anyone ever watched MST3K,
and oddly enough, most of the younger guys were fans. I asked if any of them watched it in the later years when it was on the SciFi channel, because in one of the later episodes, they watched a movie called Soultaker 
Joe Estevez, Martin Sheen’s brother. That was one of my favorite MST3K episodes. I think they may have watched another movie with Joe Estevez in it at some point, which isn’t surprising, given his lengthy film resume according to IMDB. I get the impression that most of them are stinkers, if Soultaker is any indication.Anywho, there was also a theatrical MST3K movie in which Mike Nelson and the robots watched This Island Earth. Matt and I rented it once years ago (on VHS, before DVD’s and Netflix), and there was one little part that we still reference to this day. I’m reminded of it, because it was on HBO Family last night and I watched part of it. The hunky scientist lead character receives this thing from outer space, and there’s a book in it.
His little nerdy assistant wearing glasses was looking at it with him, and as the hunky dude is turning the pages, he says, “This isn’t paper, this is some sort of metal” and Tom Servo, imitating the nerdy guy, says, “No, it’s paper” after he touches the pages. It’s a lot funnier if you’re watching it, believe me.Well, that’s my moviespeak story. Matt and I still crack out the “it’s paper” nerdy voice every now and then. Why, I don’t know. Stop badgering me!
Tags: 00s tv, 80s tv, 90s tv, charlie sheen, crow, DVD, emilio estevez, HBO family, IMDB, joe estevex, martin sheen, mike nelson, mst3k, mystery science theater 3000, netflix, poker, SciFi channel, soultaker, this island earth, tom servo, two and a half men, vfw, VHS
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songspeak
After 15 years, ER finally flatlines
Last night, NBC aired the series finale of ER. The past few years, ER has slipped a few slots in my list of favorite shows, but it has always remained in the top 5.I was a sophomore at WPI when the show first premiered, 10pm on Thursday nights (where it remained for its entire run). It truly was a great show in the beginning, and we would religiously watch every episode. In fact, I think I’ve seen every episode since it premiered. My friends and I at WPI never missed it. And then after I graduated in 1997, it was usually viewed with the other Must See TV Thursday night shows in Matt’s parents’ house basement in his room in a large group. When I got my own place, I still watched it, and then when Jo and I got married in 2000, it was one of our “never miss” shows during the week. When I couldn’t watch it, I’d always tape it on my VCR (remember those?). I was 18 when ER premiered, and I’m 33 now. It honestly blows my mind that I’ve been watching it every Thursday night for almost half my life.
It went through many changes over the years, as did its viewers (I graduated college, moved out of my dad’s place, got a job, got married, and had a kid during its run). Cast members came and went. And while the quality did suffer a few years ago, it was still one of the better dramas on television, and actually bounced back the past couple seasons. It was weird watching it last night. It didn’t feel like the end. I don’t think it will sink in until next season, when there’s just no new ER.So many memorable moments in the series. Here are a few that come to mind for me:
- Doug Ross saves a drowning child
- Mark Greene gets brutally beaten in the men’s room (we never did find out who did it)
- They shoot an episode LIVE. Twice! (Once for east coast, once for west)
- Romano gets his arm chopped off by a helicopter tailblade
- Mark Greene gets a brain tumor and dies
- Luka beats a mugger to death
- Carter gives Benton and appendectomy
- Sam shoots and kills her ex while her son is asleep in the car
- Romano is killed when a helicopter crashes. On top of him.
- Carter develops a drug addition, is confronted by everyone, and is dragged off to rehab
- Dr. Dave storms out of the ER and calls Kerry Weaver a “nazi dyke”
- Pratt is in an ambulance that explodes, and dies from complications when the other docs try to save him
- Ray is hit by a truck while drunk, listening to a voicemail from Neela, and loses his legs
- Mark Greene runs into complications trying to deliver a baby, and loses the mother(Feel free to comment with your own memories of the show, on the off chance you’ve made it this far)
The most memorable moment for me, by far, is the stabbing of Carter by a psychotic patient (played by David Krumholtz). The scene still gives me chills, even after 9 years:
The song playing is Battleflag by Lo-Fidelity All Stars, and will forever be known to us as the “Carter getting stabbed song”. I’ll never hear this song again without thinking of Carter falling to the floor and seeing Lucy Knight’s bloody body lying there.
In addition to Battleflag, ER has had its fair share of songspeak moments. Lest we forget singing “Carol Hathaway” to the tune of Gimme Shelter by the Rolling Stones? And a favorite line that Matt and I still break out to this very day occurred when Carol Hathaway gave Doug Ross a very special present. She finally gave him another chance, and they were becoming serious. She thought it was time he had his own drawer to put his stuff in at her place. He opened it and said, “It’s a drawer” in a way only George Clooney could. Something about the delivery made us snicker, and we still bring it up.
The final episode was good. It featured the return of John Carter, Susan Lewis, Kerry Weaver, Peter Benton, and Elizabeth Corday. We got to see Benton’s deaf son Reese all grown up, and Rachel Greene (Mark Greene’s daughter) returned for an internship at County General. It was weird seeing them all, but it felt right for the show to end that way.
Anyway, I think that’s probably enough of me babbling. Congratulations, ER…it was a good run. I really am going to miss you.
Tags: 00s tv, 10pm, 90s tv, Abby Lockhart, Alex Kingston, Angela Bassett, Anthony Edwards, Archie Morris, Battleflag, Carol Hathaway, carter gets stabbed, Catherine Banfield, county general, Dave Malucci, David Krumholz, Doug Ross, Elizabeth Corday, ER, Erik Palladino, Eriq La Salle, George Clooney, gimme shelter, Goran Visnjic, Greg Pratt, Hallee Hirsh, it's a drawer, John Carter, John Stamos, julianna margulies, Kellie Martin, Kerry Weaver, Laura Innes, Linda Cardellini, Lo-Fidelity All Stars, Lucy Knight, Luka Kovac, Mark Greene, Matt's basement, Maura Tierney, Mekhi Phifer, must see TV, nazi dyke, nbc, Neela Rasgotra, Noah Wyle, Parminder Nagra, Paul McCrane, Paul Sobricki, Peter Benton, Rachel Greene, Ray Barnett, Reese, rolling stones, Romano, Samatha Taggart, Scott Grimes, series finale, Shane West, Sherry Stringfield, Susan Lewis, Thursday, Tony Gates, VCR, wpi
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