Brad’s Corner is a monthly commentary written by Brad about whatever he feels like. It’s supposed to be funny, interesting and thought-provoking, but most geniuses are misunderstood. Check out the May 2004 edition of Brad’s Corner and see what’s on his mind.
I am getting older, and I don’t like it. Bands I liked in high school are now played on classic rock stations. Toys, shows, movies, and music that seems as though it is from just a few years ago is now on I LOVE THE 80’s on VH1. My sister has 2 kids; I have a real job, my own house, and I now listen to talk radio during the day. “Alternative” talk radio like Russ Martin and Howard Stern, but talk nonetheless. This from the biggest music freak I’ve ever met – myself. The worst part about all of this is that I’m not old by any stretch. I’m only a few months away from being 25, however, Hollywood’s pop culture machine already considers me older than Willie’s guitar. People my age are at the tail end of Generation X. There’s definitely a generation gap between Generation Y and us, or whatever the hell is coming up behind us. I can’t comprehend their choices in music or movies, and Hilary Duff is cute but she can’t sing. So what does the record industry do? Give her a record deal. Sometimes I feel like a Baptist preacher from the 1950’s in Georgia watching Elvis strut on the Ed Sullivan show. Except I’m no prude, I’m a hip young adult. It sucks realizing you’re getting older. I know a lot of Galleywinter members are close to my age so, I know my galley brothers and sisters are experiencing the same things that I am. I remember when Metallica was cool and wasn’t just an act that influenced the latest crop of metal bands ripping them off. I remember when Janet Jackson and Mariah Carey used to wear a lot of clothes. I remember when country music was country. I remember when George Bush was President…wait a second. I remember when I hated Bill Parcells. I remember that when I first started drinking Miller Lite it was just a white can with blue letters. I also remember pull-tabs on soft drinks and beers. I remember Courtney Love when she was a crazy, pill addicted mess…wait a minute. I remember being scared of Ice Cube. I remember when Adam Sandler was funny and Chris Rock wasn’t. I remember tons of things that people just a few years younger than me don’t. Case in point, one of the interns here at the office is only 19. She and I were talking and somehow the Simpsons came up. I said, “I remember when they started out on the Tracey Ullman show when Fox was a new channel”. She was like, “What are you talking about?” That is when it hit me.
Anyhow, I guess my point is this: getting older sucks. Since I’m not even “old” yet, I can’t imagine how I’m going to feel in 25 years when I am approaching 50. By then I’ll be talking about the good old days when Britney Spears glued diamonds to her naked frame and it was considered controversial.
Minor chords: -Larry Joe Taylor’s 16th Annual Texas Music Fest AKA Redneck Woodstock was a blast. It rained a lot this year and gave the event a true Woodstock atmosphere, complete with mud fights, overpriced food, and corporate sponsorship. I don’t ever see myself not going to this party. I’ll be really old – like I was alluding to earlier – and making sure that my kids and grandkids have babysitters just so gramps can go party like a rock star.
-Well, Punk’d returned to MTV after they said it was going off the air indefinitely. I’m hoping they punk someone HUGE like Jack Nicholson or Al Pacino. Can you imagine Punking Tony Montana? I don’t think he’d be very kind. Oh yeah, he may laugh at first but then you’re saying hello to his little friend; his Jewish lawyer. What if they Punk’d Samuel L. Jackson? Can you imagine the dialogue he’d lay on you afterwards?
-Rapper T.I. has a big hit with his song Rubberband Man. He raps about something involving the Taliban and it’s kind of annoying. I recently heard on the radio that he was sentenced to three years in prison for past transgressions. I’m sure if the judge had heard his “music” the sentence would have been longer. It would be awesome if we could throw artists in jail for bad taste. Rascal Flatts and Christina Aguilera would never see the light of day!
-Blender magazine put out its list of the 100 Worst Songs of All Time. They had a few hits and misses in my opinion. While most of their picks did suck, I’m not sure they were the worst of all time. My list of the 5 worst songs of all time ( off the top of my head):
1. You Light Up My Life by Debie Boone. Who knew songs about God could be so annoying and misinterpreted. 2. Lovin’ You by Minnie Ripperton. Her best contribution to the entertainment world was giving birth to Maya Rudolph who is the funniest girl on SNL in years. 3. Informer by Snow. What the hell was that guy saying anyways? 4. Cotton Eyed Joe by The Rednex. Way to f* up a country classic, have some foreigners re-do it and add a techno beat. 5. Anything J-Lo has put out. This one is self-explanatory. Her wispy, talk-like, weak vocals ruin any production quality the music may have.
-If anyone is going to be in the Waco area on Memorial Day weekend – May 29th to be specific – send me a PM or an e-mail. We’re throwing a party and you’re invited!
-Eminem’s group D12 has a new video out called “My Band”. It’s hilarious! Check it out if you can.
-Champagne does not taste good at 6:30 in the morning. Don’t ask.
-Greenfest was a big hit. Lots of alcohol consumed while listening to good music and fellowshipping with new and old friends. Apparently 3Curl had a run-in with a smurf in a dark alley.
“Of all the things I’ve lost, I miss my mind the most.” Mark Twain