Musical Musings

It's been a wild week in entertainment and it's only Monday! Hulk Hogan's son Nick proved he's as reckless a driver off the racing track as on, fortunately he and his passenger hasn't died. Hopefully both will come out OK. Owen Wilson (I think he's called the Butterscotch Stallion) allegedly tried to commit suicide. That's not funny, it's just...sad. Lindsey Lohan gets a day in jail for walking into a police station with cocaine in her possession. You know you're a hot girl when you can get away with a slap on the wrists for drug possession. Paris Hilton was sent to jail longer for traffic violations! I bet Paris is burning...with jealousy, that is.

But most troubling on the entertainment front is John Wetton's heart surgery. Who, you ask. Well, Wetton was the main songwriter / lead singer / bassist of Asia. The continent you say? No, the British early 80's supergroup that released two proper albums before personnel shifts and changing music trends sent them into obscurity. Wetton was a key member of Asia which also included drummer Carl Palmer, keyboardist Geoff Downes and guitarist Steve Howe. Their first two albums, Asia (1982) and Alpha (1983) were important to my early adolecence. My first attempt at singing (horribly) was recording myself singing "The Smile Has Left Your Eyes" because Wetton had a low, droning voice that I thought matched mine (wasn't even close, I can't sing). I had an Asia poster on my wall and was depressed when Wetton was ousted from the band just before the infamous Asia in Asia concert on MTV. I remember buying their third album Astra (1985) and having my friend ask me if I was listening to Barry Manalow. Asia, John Wetton's Asia, was the model of everything dorky, excessive and uncool in the early 80's. Needless to say, they were my heroes.

So, here's to hoping everyone out there having a rough time has things get better soon. Especially John Wetton, the Heat Goes On buddy!

Other quick hits on the music front:

Kelly Clarkson's My December has only gone Gold and is considered a failure. Like many commercial artists, she thought making an artistic statement was playing the same type of songs with all the catchy parts taken out. Unless your name is Phil Collins, it's painful to watch commercial artists try to un-sell out.

Rilo Kiley is being blasted all over the net for ditching their cute indie sound for a commerical modern rock sound. It's painful to watch indie darlings sell out. And their new song "Silver Lining" rips off the guitar lick from George Harrison's "My Sweet Lord". Still, I have a soft spot for this band, so it's not over yet.

The Foo Fighter's new song "The Pretender"rocks hard but borrows it's chorus from Sesame Street's "One of these things is not like the other" tune. We'll have to wait to see if the new album is sponsored by the letter A.