TV You Haven’t Watched But Should – Sanford and Son

I have already discussed two shows by Norman Lear since I started this column last semester. The first was “Maude” and the second was “The Jeffersons.” I decided this week to write about another classic Lear sitcom that I find to be a wonderful showcase of sharp writing and fantastic acting, “Sanford and Son.”

“Sanford and Son” ran for six seasons when it debuted. Since the show ran from 1972-1977, I’m guessing a lot of you have not seen the classic sitcom unless your parents introduced you to it or you happened to stumble upon reruns of it on TV Land. As is the case with “The Jeffersons,” a lot of you are probably more familiar with “Sanford and Son’s” theme song than you are with the show itself. The theme was composed by legendary producer Quincy Jones, who also crafted many of Michael Jackson’s biggest hits such as “Billie Jean” and “Beat It.” The music is still used today in commercials and even in movies such as “I Am Legend” starring Will Smith. Also, if you’re a fan of the TV show “Scrubs,” you have probably heard J.D. and Turk singing the theme music or sitting down to watch an episode of the classic sitcom as it was one of the characters’ favorite shows. Like all of Lear’s programs, “Sanford and Son,” and even its theme music, has made a mark on American pop culture that still shows up today.

“Sanford and Son” stars comedian Redd Foxx as Fred Sanford and Demond Wilson as his son Lamont. The two own a junk business which they operate in Watts, California, though few episodes of the show actually revolve around the business itself. Both of these actors are tremendous at what they are able to accomplish in these roles. If any of you have ever watched “The Golden Girls,” Fred and Lamont’s relationship can best be compared to that of Dorothy and Sophia. Theirs is a constant love-hate relationship that flows throughout the series. While the two obviously care about each other, it’s not unlikely for Fred to hold up his fist and threaten to give Lamont “one across his lip.” Fred Sanford is also known for his ability to fake heart attacks which happens in almost every episode. This is one part of the show which proves how strong it is. In almost every episode Fred grabs his chest and stumbles around, calling for his late wife Elizabeth telling her “I’m coming to join you honey!” While it happens again and again, Foxx manages to make the bit fresh and keep the humor without it ever feeling like it’s getting old or boring.

While Foxx and Lamont are strong actors who really bring their characters to life, one of the biggest contributors to the show’s success is the supporting cast. Cast members such as Whitman Mayo who plays Fred’s best friend Grady, give the two primary characters someone to shoot insults at or get into trouble with. In fact, the supporting cast is full of actors who can hold their own just as well or sometimes, even better than the two main characters. Toward the end of the series’ third season Redd Foxx got into contract disputes with the show’s creators and ended up missing nine episodes (the last six of season three and the first three of season four). In his place they put Mayo as Grady to work with Lamont and the series ended up being just as successful and almost as hilarious without Foxx. Though, in my opinion, the show probably wouldn’t have lasted the rest of its six seasons without Foxx’s return.

My personal favorite supporting cast member though, is LaWanda Page who plays Aunt Esther, Fred’s super religious sister-in-law. The two actors play off of each other extremely well. While Fred is constantly throwing insults at Esther she is more than able to hold her own, verbally and physically with the overbearing Fred. If you’ve ever heard the term “watch it sucka” then you need look no further than Aunt Esther to figure out where that phrase came from.

While the majority of Lear’s sitcoms are politically and socially oriented, taking stances on serious issues of the time and either poking fun at it through debates among the characters or taking serious looks at the issue, “Sanford and Son” is probably the least socially aware sitcom. It’s not that social issues don’t come up. The show just doesn’t deal with the serious issues in the manner that his other programs do, and doesn’t force viewers out of their comfort zones in the way that “Maude” or “The Jeffersons” might. It concentrates more on keeping the viewers laughing rather than thinking.

For instance in the episode “Fred’s Treasure Garden,” Lamont discovers marijuana growing in the junkyard and wonders how to get rid of it. Fred’s best friend Grady believes it to be wild parsley and ends up putting it into a salad and serving it to two policemen for dinner. In this episode the issue of marijuana is highly satirized to increase the humor value, yet it still manages to poke fun at a major political issue of the time. While in not as obvious a manner as the other shows of its time, it is clearly there and it really succeeds at making the intended statement through comedy.

“Sanford and Son” is one of those shows that can transcend time and still be a great program for people to enjoy today. If you’re interested in seeing the show, the entire series is on DVD and re-runs can be seen on TV Land and TV One. The majority of the episodes can also be found on YouTube. I personally recommend season one’s “We Were Robbed,” season 2’s, “The Shootout,” and season 3’s “Superflyer.”

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Jeffrey Payne
Pierce Arrow Blogger

Music Mailbox: Avril Lavigne

It’s been a long time since Avril Lavigne has put out an album. I was still in high school when I went to pick up her previous album “The Best Damn Thing.” It’s been a long wait and Lavigne’s newest release, “Goodbye Lullaby” is a complete 180 from what she put out with “The Best Damn Thing.”Lavigne’s last album was primarily up-tempo rock jams, spawning hits like the irresistibly catchy, yet slightly irritating, “Girlfriend.” However, “Goodbye Lullaby” goes in the complete opposite direction. The hard rocking sound of the electric guitar is replaced by the light accompaniment of an acoustic guitar, letting Lavigne concentrate more on her voice than on theatrics this time around.

If you went by the sound of the album’s first single, the up-tempo “What the Hell,” to determine the feeling of the album you would be very surprised. This is one of only two numbers that have a harder rock edge, the other being “Smile,” and of the two this is certainly the more poppy number. Don’t get me wrong though. It is an excellent song showing off the classic Lavigne attempt at punk rock that will end up being a stand out in her catalogue along with the likes of “Sk8ter Boi” and “Girlfriend.” It’s fun and it’s a full on jam, but if that’s what you’re looking for in “Goodbye Lullaby,” you’re going to be disappointed.

However, I in no way find “Goodbye Lullaby” a disappointment. In fact, I actually have found myself to enjoy the album even more than 2007’s “The Best Damn Thing.” This is probably surprising to anyone who knows that I am traditionally more entertained by an up-tempo album than an acoustic guitar/piano driven one like this. After hearing the track “Push,” which follows “What the Hell,” I was hooked. “Push” is like those classic Avril songs from her early albums that never became singles but everyone still knew such as “Mobile” and “Fall to Pieces.” They’re not pop-rock up-tempo jams and they’re not hard rock ballads either which she usually goes for. They’re in a league of their own and Lavigne not only succeeds in creating one of these with “Push,” but also the rest of the songs on the album.

Besides “Smile,” Lavigne continues this type of music for the rest of the album. Each song has its own distinctive melody and feel. With most albums that go for this type of tone, the songs can all start to blend together and pretty soon you can’t tell one from the other and you lose the quality of the album. For the most part, this problem doesn’t occur with “Goodbye Lullaby.” Unfortunately toward the end of the CD, around the point of “Not Enough,” the songs start to lose their edge a little and the similarities start to become glaring. However this only lasts for about three songs before Lavigne changes things up and goes for more piano driven songs like “Remember When” and “Goodbye,” the latter of which being one of the most beautiful ballads in Lavigne’s career. The album closes with an extended mix of her 2010 single “Alice” from the “Alice in Wonderland” 3D movie. The extended version only serves to make the original version better.

Overall this is Lavigne’s most impressive album artistically. While a few more up-tempo numbers wouldn’t hurt to break up this mid-tempo album, it is still an impressive set and definitely one of her best. I give “Goodbye Lullaby” a solid eight pop-tarts.

Jeffrey Payne
Pierce Arrow Blogger

TV You Haven’t Watched but Should – Veronica Mars

For this week’s edition I decided to do a more recent program, similar to when I did the review of “Brothers and Sisters.” I’m sure a lot of you heard of but few of you watched the UPN (eventually CW), teen mystery show, “Veronica Mars.” If you did I have to say that you missed out on one of the most quick witted, suspenseful, and overall entertaining shows of the new millennium.

For those of you who haven’t heard of “Veronica Mars” it was a show that starred Kristen Bell as teen sleuth Veronica Mars. The show ran for three seasons from 2004-2007. Veronica is the daughter of former sheriff Keith Mars who was shamed out of office after falsely accusing the parents of Veronica’s best friend, Lily, of murdering their daughter. They live in the town of Neptune which is divided into the haves and have not’s. It sounds like your average teenage soap-opera doesn’t it? While that’s partly true, I can guarantee that you need look no further than this show if you want to see the wittiest dialogue since “Gilmore Girls” as well as hard hitting mysteries that put Law & Order and any of its various spin offs to shame.

Each season has a core mystery, or in the case of season three, two core mysteries, that span the entire season. Each season also includes another big, yet less important mystery, and about twenty small mysteries that set the stage for each individual episode. Every episode of the various seasons adds another piece to the puzzle of whatever mystery happens to be the primary story arc of that season as well as having its own mystery for Veronica to solve. For example, in the first season the primary mystery that Veronica was trying to solve was who killed her best friend Lily Kane? Along with that there is a side plot where she searches for the man who raped her at a party. With each episode of that season we get a piece of what happened with Lily and may or may not get a clue about who raped her. Each week the series keeps you hanging on but never lets you get frustrated enough to want to start watching.

The real highlight of the program though is Veronica herself. Her dialogue is irresistibly funny and the way that she handles tough situations makes you want to follow her and see what she is going to do next. Not to mention Veronica is never one to turn down someone who has been shunned by society who she thinks really needs her help. She’s like a cross between Robin Hood and Sherlock Holmes. She protects and looks out for those who need her help, but she can handle any mystery and handle it with precision and intelligence. One of the best parts of the show is figuring out how she is going to manage to figure out what usually seems to be such a hopeless case.

I think the most appealing factor about “Veronica Mars” is that it shows a strong young woman who is able to take control of any situation and to outsmart anyone who tries to do wrong by her. Unfortunately that’s probably what helped to bring the show to a close. However the show is still around to watch and enjoy. The entire series is available on DVD and various clips are available on YouTube if you want to get a glimpse of what “Veronica Mars” has to offer. I know that I usually recommend my favorite episodes at the end of each of these columns. Unfortunately the ones I think are the best are the season one and two finales and if you were to watch those, there would be no point in watching any of the other episodes. For this show I’m just going to have to say, start at the beginning and enjoy the ride. Do you think that you can figure out the mysteries before Veronica?

Jeffrey Payne
Pierce Arrow Blogger

Music Mailbox: Black Eyed Peas–The Beginning

Everyone has their opinions on The Black Eyed Peas’ performance at the Super Bowl. Hate me if you want for saying it, but I in fact loved it. I thought it was full of great showmanship and, while the vocals were a little shaky, I was impressed that they sang live in a venue where a lot of acts choose not to. That being said, I decided that for this issue’s Music Mailbox, I would review their latest album “The Beginning.”

The Peas’ last album “The E.N.D.” had them returning to music with an entirely new sound that was nothing like any album they had released before. Instead of hammering beats over trumpets and drums, the group shifted towards a more electronic-dance album. While I enjoy that album immensely, there were some tracks that were definitely sub-par when compared to the group’s previous efforts. They continue with this new sound in “The Beginning” and in my opinion I think they perfected it. Everything that didn’t work in “The E.N.D.” seems to have been fixed, and the album is a massive dance explosion from beginning to end.

The album kicks off with the group’s first single “The Time (Dirty Bit).” I mentioned earlier that I thought they had perfected their new electronic sound and I believe that this is the greatest testament of that. The flawless combination of a pulsating dance beat is mixed with a wonderful sample of “(I’ve Had) The Time of My Life.”  What works about this song is that it has a beat that is fresh. It’s not something that sounds like it was recycled from the Lady GaGa collection of dance jams. It’s unique and it’s a straight up good time. Even though it clocks in at over five minutes, the song never gets boring and is a testament to the Peas’ genius when it comes to song production.

The album continues with dance track after dance track. What really works with this set up is that while the Peas’ manage to have each song sound unique and stand out, they also manage to make the entire album flow very nicely. It’s one of those albums that you can put on at a party and press play without ever feeling the need to press eject. Of course, while I love almost every track, there are some definite highlights. “Love You Long Time” is a heavily auto-tuned song that manages to still captivate even with heavily edited vocals and a very simple chorus. There is also “Whenever,” which is reminiscent of the Peas’ prior hit, “Meet Me Halfway.” Fergie sings a ballad like chorus and verses while a lower yet still powerful dance beat plays underneath. It’s actually more energetic and exciting than “Meet Me Halfway” and does not slow down the album at all. Also the second single “Just Can’t Get Enough,” is one of the slower tracks of the album that has an almost electro-soul feel to it. It’s a great track that really showcases how dynamic the group can be.

While the album is mostly a good time, there are a few shortcomings. The dance tracks are great, but some of them start to feel like they’re going on forever. Songs like “Don’t Stop The Party” are great but there is no need for the song to be over six minutes long. The only song on the album that this works with is “The Time (Dirty Bit).” The song would definitely be well received in a party setting, but if you just want to hang out and listen to the Black Eyed Peas it really starts to drag on. Also the deluxe edition bonus tracks are definitely disappointing. While my review and score pertains only to the primary version of the album, I think it’s important to state how unimpressive these songs are. One of which, “The Situation,” is just plain awful.

Overall though, “The Beginning” manages to succeed where “The E.N.D.” did not. While none of the tracks are nearly as infectious as “I Gotta Feeling,” the album still manages to surpass its predecessor and become a much more impressive album in its own right. I give “The Beginning” nine out of ten pop-tarts.

 

Jeff Payne
Pierce Arrow Blogger

TV You Haven’t Watched But Should – Soap

I am really excited to discuss this issue’s program, “Soap.” The reason I say this is because it is literally the funniest show that I have ever seen in my life.

“Soap” is a sitcom that is based on the world of soap-operas. It’s about two families and had steady plots that continued from week to week instead of each week having a new storyline like most sitcoms. While it’s not my favorite show of all time, no show has ever made me laugh as hard as “Soap.” The main reason for this is probably because almost every episode of the series was written by the show’s creator, Susan Harris.

You may not realize it, but a lot of you are probably already fans of Susan Harris’s work, especially if you like a little show called “The Golden Girls.” “Soap” premiered in 1977 and was Susan Harris’s first television series almost ten years before “The Golden Girls.” While a lot of “The Golden Girls” episodes were written by a staff of writers with Harris only writing the occasional episode here and there, she wrote almost every episode of “Soap” herself with the occasional help of a co-writer. It really shows in each episode what a talented screenwriter she is and how there’s no topic that she’s afraid to tackle.

“Soap” was extremely controversial when it aired; possibly the most controversial show to come along since “All in the Family.” Before the show even aired its first episode, some network affiliates had refused to air it and protests were mobilizing all over the country. Most of this was simply based off of preliminary reviews of the show. Even my own grandmother was horrified when I told her I was a fan of the program. I asked her if she had ever seen an episode, and she hadn’t; she only knew what she had heard about when the program first aired. This is actually what drew me to “Soap.” It was my opinion that if any show caused this much trouble, than it must be good!

I was not disappointed. It truly is a spectacular show and it’s easy to see why the show caused so much trouble. There’s nothing that “Soap” won’t tackle, and I literally mean nothing. One episode could have Corinne teaching her mother Jessica the definition of the word “horny,” while the next will have Burt being abducted by aliens. It sounds outrageous, and it is, but that’s what makes it so hilarious. Everything in the show happens so matter-of-factly. At one point Jessica Tate ends up lecturing the devil (yes, the devil), who has just possessed her grandson, as if she was dealing with a misbehaving child. That’s the genius of “Soap.” No matter how ridiculous the storylines, the characters tackle them as if they’re just another walk in the park.

The show’s other highlight is the dialogue. It succeeds in having the best dialogue that I have ever seen in a comedy series. The insults are biting and all of the social criticisms are very poignant. While the storylines are outrageous, the conversations between characters almost always poke fun at major social issues. Everything from racism to homosexuality is touched upon. “Soap” even managed to have one of the first major gay television characters, Jodie Dallas, who was played by Billy Crystal.

I really can’t think of a show that I can recommend higher than “Soap.” All of the topics are just as relevant today as they were in the late 1970s and the humor is just outstanding. All four seasons are available on DVD and most of the episodes are available on YouTube to be watched for free. I usually recommend episodes for you all to watch, but with this show I actually can’t pick my favorites. In this case, I recommend that you start at the beginning and just watch your way through. Trust me, you won’t be disappointed!

Jeff Payne
Pierce Arrow Blogger

Music Mailbox – Ashlyne Huff: Ashlyne Huff (EP)

For this week’s blog I wanted to introduce you all to a new artist that I’ve just recently discovered named Ashlyne Huff. I became a fan of Ashlyne’s after hearing her most recent single “White Flag.” “White Flag” is a great pop track in the vein of Katy Perry’s “California Gurls.” It’s pure, fun, pop music that just makes you want to get up and dance. After hearing and falling in love with this song I decided that I needed to learn a little more about Ms. Huff and I discovered that she had already came out with an EP in 2010 and that “White Flag” was the first single from her upcoming debut album. Since there’s no telling when the album is going to be released I decided to review her debut EP and give you all little preview of this promising new artist.

Even though it’s the first single from her debut album, “White Flag” is actually Ashlyne’s second single. Her first single “Heart of Gold” is on her self-titled EP and is quite different from “White Flag.” “Heart of Gold” is an up-tempo pop-rock number. It has a heavy guitar element that is far from the dance laced pop of “White Flag.” Don’t get me wrong though, this does not hurt the song in the slightest. “Heart of Gold” is a very catchy number that you can both rock out to and dance too. Ashlyne shows this through her music video for “Heart of Gold” which is one of the most impressive pop videos released in the last year. I am more than willing to admit that the video is a big reason for why I love the song so much. The video contains a full dance number, a very interesting theme, and in the end is just plain cool. It might be one of the best debut pop videos I’ve ever seen and think it’s a terrific way to introduce Ashlyne.

“Heart of Gold” is followed by the irresistibly catchy “Trippin’ It Up.” This song is pure fun. It’s one of those songs that you turn on when your roommate is out and you just want to have a private rock-out session. Unfortunately though, that’s where the EP hits a very rocky point. Since a typical EP has only a few songs on it, it’s important that the songs are all stand outs that leave the listener dying for more.  Huff’s EP however, stalls after track two and goes into three songs that are nowhere near as good as the previous two. This disappointed me because with an EP you only have a few songs to show your stuff and I don’t think that Huff takes advantage of this. Tracks three through five are all fillers and while they are sung beautifully they are not stand outs and could cause a first time listener to eject the album and give up on Ashlyne.

On the upside though, the closing track “Comeback” is another great pop jam that, while not as strong as “Trippin’ It Up” or “Heart of Gold,” is definitely a good time that brings the EP to a fun ending.

While I’m a little disappointed with Ashlyne Huff’s self-titled debut EP, “White Flag” is a spectacular pop song that shows Ashlyne has finally found her niche. I still recommend a listen though. “Heart of Gold” and “Trippin’ It Up” are definitely songs that no pop-rock fan wants to miss out on. I think that Ashlyne Huff has the ability to be a very successful pop singer and if “White Flag” is any indication, the album is going to be a good time. So for the Ashlyne Huff – EP I’m going to have to give six pop –tarts but don’t let that deter you from giving Ashlyne Huff a listen.

Jeff Payne
Pierce Arrow Blogger

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TV You Haven’t Watched But Should – Brothers & Sisters

So I’m doing something new with this edition of my TV column. I am actually going to discuss a show that is currently on television, ABC’s Brothers & Sisters. The reason I picked this show as opposed to one of my usual choices from the 70’s or 80’s is because I don’t think a lot of college students watch it and I really think that you all are missing out. I hear a lot of you talking about Glee, The Office, or Modern Family (all of which are shows I enjoy as well). However I think that Brothers & Sisters is truly one of the best shows on television and many people our age are missing out, so I’m here to tell you why you shouldn’t.

Brothers & Sisters premiered in 2006 and since then has followed Desperate Housewives at 10 p.m. on Sunday nights. The show revolves around the life of Nora Walker, played by Sally Field, and her six grown children. During the series’ pilot episode Nora’s husband William dies of a heart attack. This launches the primary storyline of the show which follows the Walkers as they discover more and more of William’s hidden secrets that cover everything from adultery to embezzling. It also deals with the day to day work and relationships of her children not to mention her brother, dead husband’s mistress, and several possible illegitimate children by her husband.  Sounds like there’s a lot going on doesn’t there? Well, that’s because there is and every moment is compelling and often humorous.

As the show is in its fifth year it would be impossible for me to even make a dent in filling you in on everything that’s happened and honestly I don’t have to. Sitting down for any given episode of Brothers & Sisters is like sitting down with family. All of their struggles are real and they cover everything from homosexuality, to drug abuse, to cancer. There’s really nothing that Brothers & Sisters hasn’t touched on in its five year run and nothing that it hasn’t displayed honestly and compassionately.

The reason I love Brothers & Sisters so much is because it’s so real. You feel for every character, even the dead husband’s mistress, they are spectacularly developed characters who you can’t help but be compelled to watch week after week. Not to mention the writing is absolutely spectacular. At points the show can be absolutely hilarious. The dialogue between characters is very sharp and witty, the likes of which haven’t been seen since Gilmore Girls went off the air (coincidentally the same year Brothers & Sisters premiered). The writing can also be absolutely heartbreaking when it comes to moments like when Kitty Walker (played by Calista Flockhart) has to decide whether or not to take her husband off of life support.

However serious the plot lines get though, it never takes away from the show’s heart. I’m a pretty cynical guy which is why I love the old shows like All in the Family where characters are constantly battling each other with hilarious insults. While there are plenty, and I mean plenty, of Walker family battles. They always end up coming back to the importance of family and that is something that you don’t see a lot on television anymore. I’m not talking about a Leave it to Beaver type deal, I mean a real family that screams and fights and deals with life. It’s hilarious and heartwarming and I think the best program out today.

If you want to give Brothers & Sisters a try, new episodes air Sunday at 10 p.m. Also the first four seasons are all on DVD and re-runs can be seen every now and then on ABC. Episodes that I would recommend are the first seasons “Game Night” and “Matriarchy,” Season 2’s “Prior Commitments,” Season 3’s “Troubled Waters Parts 1 + 2,” and Season 5’s “The One That Got Away” which is currently on Hulu. Take a night out with the Walkers, you won’t regret it.

 

Jeffrey Payne
Pierce Arrow Blogger

Music Mailbox – Andrea Lewis: 54321

In this week’s issue of the Pierce Arrow I discussed an up and coming independent pop artist named Ro Danishei who was giving out her debut album for free on her website. Danishei is the third of three different pop artists who have been doing this over the past year. The first was Simon Curtis who released his debut album 8bit Heart in March and the second was Andrea Lewis who released her debut album 54321 in October. I decided I would review Andrea’s album as my first blog entry to coincide with my review of Danishei’s.

Some of you may have actually heard of Andrea Lewis. Only you probably know her better as Hazel from Degrassi: The New Generation way back when it started when we were in middle school. Lewis is a very talented singer with a strong voice that is perfect for the R&B jams that she has created. If you’re a fan of R&B music she can best be compared to Amerie in her early years. She takes a completely different approach than Curtis or Danishei who did dance music. Lewis’s sound is a very soulful one that makes her perfect for the genre.

The album starts off strong with my personal favorite track, “VooDoo.” “VooDoo” is a straight up jam. It doesn’t have any electronic or club elements, just an old fashioned sound that makes you want to dance. Not to mention the occasionally nonsensical lyrics are so infections that you just want to sing along with the song and see if you can keep up with Lewis’s speedy delivery. One of the disappointing aspects about the album is that Lewis does not have any other songs like this on the album. While “VooDoo” gives us a taste of her vocal abilities she spends the majority of the album showing it off through mid-tempo and slow R&B grooves. While the track “Fool Of Me” is a song with a good enough beat to dance to, it’s not nearly as infectious as “VooDoo.”

This ends up being the album’s one major downside. There aren’t a ton of up-tempo tracks which causes the album to occasionally drag on. While there are some definite stand outs, it concerns me that people might not keep the CD in their players long enough to get to them.

Don’t get me wrong though. Just because “VooDoo” is the only jam does not mean the rest of the album has nothing to deliver. Lewis’s voice is just silky and smooth draped over mid-tempos like “She.” On tracks like “Conquerors” though, her voice is a powerhouse belting out the chorus and showing that she can really sing. The best vocal performance comes from the ballad “Talk To Me”, a duet with Simon Curtis. It’s a beautifully haunting ballad that conveys really raw emotion that is expertly delivered by Lewis and Curtis.

54321 is a great debut R&B album with some wonderful songs worthy of radio play and a real release. If Lewis’s next album has this albums flavor with some more up-tempo songs in their she will have quite the product on her hands. She clearly knows what she’s doing though, it’s clear on the album’s “Outro” where she sings an acapella cover of Soul II Soul’s “Back To Life.” I’d definitely recommend the album for any R&B fan looking for new artists to try out. As for my rating I’ll have to tie Lewis with Danishei and give her seven pop-tarts.

Jeffrey Payne
Pierce Arrow Blogger

 

Music Mailbox

Welcome to 2011 everyone! It’s a new year (kind of, I mean it is February already) which means it is also a time for new music. Today I’m actually discussing an artist that’s a little different from the singers I usually discuss. It’s still a pop singer, of course, but this one is unique because all of the past albums I’ve reviewed have been from major label recording artists. Ro Danishei is an independent pop artist who released her debut album “End of the Rainbow” on January 1, for free, on her website.

I actually stumbled upon Ro Danishei through another independent pop singer I enjoy, Simon Curtis. He has worked with Danishei, and back in March he released his debut album on his website as well. Thus, I discovered her album at the turning point of the new year, and I must say that I am thoroughly pleased. Though Danishei may be an independent artist and giving her album away digitally, she effectively manages to put to shame a large group of the current pop stars out there.

If I had to say who Danishei’s style resembles most I’m going to have to go with Ke$ha. Danishei has pumping dance beats that usually go along with occasionally silly lyrics. For instance, my personal favorite song “Drunk Txt” deals with a girl who is drunkenly texting a boy that she likes instead of dancing with her friends. Not the classiest storyline, but it has got a good pop beat and is one of those songs that would be a great time to just sing along with, with friends.

Danishei is far from a Ke$ha clone. Some of her songs can also be compared to the likes of Britney Spears and Lady GaGa. It’s impressive what this girl, without the help of a label, is able to accomplish. For instance, the track “Baby Doll” sounds like something from GaGa’s early days. While the track isn’t nearly as cleanly produced as a song from GaGa would be, it is still a great dance track that has some less than conventional lyrics. The track “End of the Rainbow” sounds like something that Britney could have included on her “Circus” album.

There are some less than stellar points on the album, however. The closing number “Prey to the Beat” sounds promising, but is just an awkward song with a decent dance beat and no other redeeming qualities. It’s an especially disappointing song as it brings the album to a close while the previous track “End of the Rainbow” would have served as a much better closer. Danishei’s vocals on the track are also not as impressive as on other songs. During various songs on the album, her voice can sometimes be over produced. On the ballad “Unlove Pill,” Danishei makes it clear she can sing, which makes it disappointing that on other tracks her voice seems very auto tuned.

Overall, “End of the Rainbow” is a solid debut effort, especially from someone who is not signed to a major label. Danishei is one of three artists including Simon Curtis and Andrea Lewis (who my Degrassi fans out there might remember as Hazel from the early years) who have been releasing their albums for free on their websites. All three are very good efforts. If you’re curious about these others you can check out my review for Andrea Lewis’s “54321” album on my Pierce Arrow blog “Payne in the Media.” As for “End of the Rainbow,” I’ll give it a solid 7 out of 10 pop tarts.

TV You Haven’t Watched but Should: The Jeffersons

I’m sure a lot of you have heard of the show I’m discussing this week, “The Jeffersons.” If you have ever switched to TV Land, even by accident, it was probably on. You also may have heard your parents mention watching the show when they were younger and seeing the daily trials and tribulations of George and Weezy. If you were a big “Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” fan, you might have seen the Jeffersons make guest appearances. Even if you haven’t heard of the show, chances are you’ve heard the show’s theme song, “Movin’ On Up.” It’s been used in a number of commercials, is part of the bridge in Nelly’s “Batter Up,” and can even be found on the soundtrack to the movie “Tropic Thunder.” As much as you may have heard of “The Jeffersons” or come across references, chances are you haven’t watched it yourself. Allow me to explain why you should, and why I don’t think you’ll regret it.

“The Jeffersons” premiered in 1975 as a mid-season replacement. However, the characters of George and Louise Jefferson and their son Lionel had already been on television for years. Lionel and Louise both debuted in 1971 on “All in the Family” as Archie and Edith Bunker’s neighbors. During the first three seasons, Lionel, Louise, and Lionel’s uncle Henry would sporadically pop up in the Bunker’s lives. In 1973 George Jefferson debuted. The excuse used as to why George Jefferson was absent for two and a half years was that he refused to step foot on his racist neighbor Archie Bunker’s property. For the next year and a half, the Jefferson’s made more frequent appearances on “All in the Family” until they were given their own spin-off which ran for 11 seasons.

“The Jeffersons” started out similar to “All in the Family.” It tackled a lot of big issues at the time while still managing to be hilarious. Everything from suicide to racism was discussed. “The Jeffersons” was also famous for having one of the first interracial married couple on television. The show does this very impressively, managing to switch from outrageous comedy to dead seriousness. An example of this is in season seven’s “Sorry, Wrong Meeting,” when George and his friends accidentally attend a Ku Klux Klan meeting. After being verbally attacked by the leader, George ends up saving his life when he has a heart attack. When the leader awakens though and finds out that he was saved by George, he responds “you should have let me die.” It is such a stunningly upsetting moment, especially for a sitcom, but it is also beautifully written and acted. While it’s hilarious to watch George realize where he is, it’s very eye opening to see how the scenario turns out. Few comedies have you in hysterics and then ten minutes later force you to face serious issues which they handle with tact and grace. This is one of the most impressive features of “The Jeffersons.”

What makes “The Jeffersons” such an appealing show is that even though the main protagonist is a blow hard and severely ignorant, you can’t help but fall in love with the characters and get drawn into their world. George has a big mouth and is never afraid to use it. He is just plain entertaining as he never seems to understand the importance of using one’s brain. While he’s a brilliant business man, he has about as much social etiquette as Ke$ha. That’s where his wife, Louise “Weezy” Jefferson, comes in. She’s the voice of reason and the only one capable of talking George down when he’s about to do something stupid, most of the time.

The true highlight though is the Jefferson’s maid, Florence. While she appears sporadically through the first two seasons, she moves in with the Jeffersons in the third season and becomes a main cast member in season four. The reason Florence is such a highlight is because she’s the only one who can put the loud mouthed George in his place. Across 11 seasons she is never at a loss for words when it comes to shooting an insult at George in response to one of his outrageous remarks or actions. The writing for Florence is brilliant and so impressively quick witted that you can’t help but fall in love with her. I have watched a lot of situational comedy, and some of the absolute best dialogue between two characters that I’ve seen is between Florence and George. George usually tries to hold his own with Florence, but always ends up the butt of the joke in the end.

“The Jeffersons” is one of my all-time favorite programs. Like other shows I’ve discussed, it makes you laugh, and it makes you think. It’s comedy packed with social criticism, which for me is the best kind. If you want to see “The Jeffersons,” most of the episodes can be found on YouTube and the show still airs both on TV Land and TV One. The first six seasons are also available on DVD. Episodes that I would recommend include season one’s “The Piano,” season two’s “Florence’s Problem,” season three’s “A Case of Black and White,” or season nine’s “Death Smiles on a Dry Cleaner.” C’mon Franklin Pierce, take a trip to that deluxe apartment in the sky!