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Let’s Have A Laugh: 40th Anniversary AMAs Release Nominations

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Music
Posted by JonathanBarkan on October 09, 2012 @ 5:45pm
Category: Music / News

It’s nearing that time again when the music industry collectively pat each other on the backs and present awards to artists who already have shelves devoted to little statues that they earned based on record sales and not any sort of artistic merit. Yup, I’m talking about the AMAs (American Music Awards). But, before we get our panties in a bunch, let’s actually look at what the AMAs were created for. You see, according to a press release, Dick Clark created the AMAs in 1973 as a means of paying “…tribute to popular musicians from various genres of music and to put audiences in touch with the latest phenomena in American music. Since its founding, the AMAs have honored and showcased the talents of some of the biggest names in the music industry.”

So, I’m left scratching my head. Why even create such an event? What is the purpose? I mean, aside from the collective back patting and sycophantic groveling that I mentioned above, is there a point to these shows? Well, obviously ratings. People are gonna tune in to see over-the-top performances (where their favorite artist will no doubt be lip syncing) so they can gush about them to their friends via Facebook and Twitter (who talks on a phone anymore, right?). It’s also a status symbol: “My favorite artist won an award, meaning that he/she/they HAVE to be respected and lauded!”

Whatever. As per my thoughts on ANY award ceremony, I don’t think they do a damn thing. The only people that tune in are those that have a vested interest. No one that is seeking avenues to find new music will even consider watching. What’s the point? They’ve already heard it all before.

If you want to see the list of AMA nominations, check it out below. It’ll be a really recognizable and familiar list. READ MORE

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Green Day’s Billie Joe Has A Temper Tantrum: Screams, “I’m Not F*cking Justin Bieber, You Motherf*ckers!”

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Music
Posted by JonathanBarkan on September 23, 2012 @ 10:45am
Category: Music / Editorials

Update: According to the AP, singer Billie Joe Armstrong is headed to rehab for substance abuse. The band also told AP that their set was not cut short.

On Friday night, at the IHeartRadio Music Festival in Las Vegas, NV (which was also being broadcast live via Yahoo), Green Day frontman Billie Joe lost it when he saw that his band only had one more minute left to perform. And by “lost it”, I mean that he basically had a childish temper tantrum where he swore up a storm (he used the word ‘f*ck’, or a derivation of it, 21 times), smashed his guitar and then threw his microphone across the stage.

The trigger for this was the fact that all bands/performers at the festival had a 25-30 set time allotted. This included No Doubt, Usher, and Bon Jovi, as well as many others. And yet, for some reason, Billie Joe felt that his band deserved a longer set list, claiming that they’ve been around, “…since f*cking nineteen eighty f*cking eight“. Hmmm, Bon Jovi’s first release was 1984, but you don’t hear him whining, do you Billie?

Apparently, Billie Joe wasn’t calm or rational during the show either. Yahoo states that he berated the few people who decided to sit down during their performance (I’d be sitting too), the band premiered a new song entitled “It’s F*ck Time”, and Billie Joe pulled down his pants, revealing his, “…personal grooming habits.”

Read on for my thoughts as well as a video of Billie Joe reverting to a snubbed 4-year old. READ MORE