Showing posts with label MTV. Show all posts
Showing posts with label MTV. Show all posts

Thursday, August 3, 2017

What Are Anna H's Answers To Your Questions About Music, Anime, & Pets?

How's it going my gumdrops? Today I am answering more questions. Like I have said in the past, I normally reserve Q&A blogs for September 23rd. Next month, on the 23rd will be the 4th anniversary of It's Not All Gumdrops & Unicorns.

Since a number of my subscribers typically have a lot of questions to ask, I have been trying to decide if I should do Q&A blogs more routinely.

Here are 3 questions from Victor. Victor asks the following:

1) Have you ever listened to a song, that you liked but you can't remember the artist or name of said song and would get it stuck in your head for hours hoping to remember the artist's name?

2) What brand of anime do you like that are of your taste buds? (Dark Comedy, Horror, Gritty Grindhouse, mature shows, etc.)

3) Did you ever have pets when you were younger and wish you had seen them one last time?

These are excellent and fun questions to answer, Victor! I am actually glad that you asked them. To answer the following questions you asked:

1) Yes! This has happened, since childhood. You would be amazed at the many times throughout my life, that I have heard songs but didn't know, who sang them. This is something most of us listeners face at least once in our lifetime, I'm sure.

After watching commercials that advertise music compilations, if not watching a classic music video on MTV Classic (nowadays), I'll usually say either, "Oh! So that's who sang this song! I always thought it was ___," or something similar.

In fact, I was in the middle of watching MTV Classic the other night and saw the music video for the song "Broken Wings." I always thought it was Don Henley's growing up. It turns out it was Mr. Mister, who sang "Broken Wings."

Interesting enough, Mr. Mister DID actually go on tour with Don Henley, The Bangles, The Eurythmics, etc. during the 1980's.

Also, the Indie Grebo Industrial Rock band, Pop Will Eat Itself. For the last 2 decades, I never knew who sang the song, "Ich Bin Ein Ausländer," meaning "I am a foreigner"  in German. 

When 102.1's Radio DJ, Raven hosted her radio show, Industrial Nation on late Saturday nights, she played Industrial Metal and Electronica remixes of Rock songs. 

It wasn't until a year or 2 ago, that I learned the name of this band. To be more specific, Raven used to host her Saturday night show, Industrial Nation, in my hometown at New Rock 102.1, during the mid to late 1990's.

2) When it comes to Anime, I try not to limit genres and sub-genres. I watch a wide variety of Japanese animation meant for both genders, different age groups, sexual orientations, etc. both English subtitled and dubbed.

Lately, I haven't had as much time to watch as many as I used to because I'm busy both on and offline. I still have yet to stream xxxHolic in its entirety. However, I am currently watching JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Stardust Crusaders, Tokyo Ghoul, and re-watching Naruto Shippuden dubbed in English on Adult Swim's Toonami block.

If I had more time, I would stream Anime again. My biggest complaint about both Cartoon Network and Adult Swim these last 5-9 years has been, that both only care about Shonen Jump Action Anime.

Because of these restrictions, both networks have bred a lot of ignorant, entitled, and highly misinformed sycophants and zealots for fans in America.

Toonami only represents Action Animation specifically meant for teenage boys. It does not represent the female demographics. 

Those currently running Cartoon Network AND Adult Swim intentionally alienate most of their viewers regardless of their age and gender.

Colours TV was the only network that represented a wide variety of Anime genres for both genders. 

Even though Colours TV was a highly syndicated multi-cultural network, it STILL aired Shonen, Shojo, Comedy, Romance, Action, Mystery, etc.

Cartoon Network and Adult Swim could afford to tear a page out of Colours TV's book. Colours was EXTREMELY  lowly-funded. Although, those running it were still able and willing to air something for most types of Anime fans.

3) Yes, I've had 3 dogs and 4 guinea pigs, during my youth. I haven't owned any pets for the last 13 years. 

Pets require a lot of time, money, energy, and care. I always took care of my guinea pigs and they normally lived for at least 5 years.

After my last dog, Alexis had to be euthanized in 2004, I stopped wanting pets. I hate the fact, that my pets normally died around Christmas.

Who wants to wake up to dead pets on Christmas Day?

I sure as hell don't. I don't want to be in tears on Christmas Day because my pet died naturally or was euthanized without being told about it, until the very last minute.

I REALLY  wish I could've seen my dog, Mendy 1 last time before doing my high school final exams before Christmas Break, almost 2 decades ago. After coming home from school and learning, that he was euthanized, I cried my eyes out.

Hopefully, all 3 questions have been answered Victor. Since I mentioned Pop Will Eat Itself, here is their music video for "Ich Bin Ein Ausländer."

Pop Will Eat Itself "Ich Bin Ein Ausländer" Dos Dedos Mis Amigos (1994)

Sunday, July 23, 2017

Cartoon Sunday: John R. Dilworth's The Dirdy Birdy

How's it going my gumdrops? Did you enjoy yesterday's Song Saturday Tribute to the late Chester Bennington of Linkin Park and Stone Temple Pilots? If so, let me know.

Meanwhile, I am sharing something a little different from the usual for this Cartoon Sunday. How many of you are familiar with John R. Dilworth? 

The actor, writer, director, animator, and producer is also known as "Dilly." "Dilly" is best known for the Animated Horror Comedy, Courage The Cowardly Dog. 

I find it is strange that no one credits the cable network, Nickelodeon. Several years before Courage The Cowardly Dog aired on Cartoon Network, Nickelodeon aired it.

In fact, I remember channel surfing and stumbling upon Courage The Cowardly Dog on Nickelodeon, when I was in 6th grade. That was more than 20 years ago. 

Quite a few shows meant for children, which started airing on Cartoon Network WERE originally from Nickelodeon.

The TV series based on R.L. Stine's anthologies for Goosebumps aired on Nickelodeon, before Cartoon Network acquired it, is another example.

I remember Courage The Cowardly Dog airing on Nickelodeon years before Cartoon Network acquired it. 

Even though I was never a fan of the cartoon during my adolescence, there will be some man-child 1 generation younger than yours truly, discrediting me about something they were not old enough to comprehend, much less watch.

Unlike younger Gen Y and Zers, Cartoon Network, Nickelodeon, Disney, etc. were NOT  a part of my childhood or adolescence.

Watching Saturday Morning Cartoons and cartoons that aired on local channels everyday was how I grew up.

During the 1980's to mid-90's, cartoons used to air on local channels at least 5 days a week. 

On weekdays, cartoons aired on local channels in the mornings and afternoons. By 1992, I had already reached puberty and most cartoons meant for kids did not resonate with me as a pre-teen.

By 1994, I started watching the Liquid Television Animation block on MTV and Anime on The Sci Fi Channel. In '94, I stopped watching local channels for animation.

MTV and Sci Fi had more mature content in their animation that I wanted to watch. 

Cartoon Network and other networks aired more immature cartoons for pre-schoolers, kindergarteners, and elementary school children. 

Much like PBS's programming meant for kids, I found their content to be highly patronizing, especially as an adolescent. 

Some of you already know about me watching the Liquid Television Animation block. 

Beavis and Butt-Head, Daria, The Maxx, The Head, Celebrity Deathmatch, Aeon Flux, etc. were popular, during my adolescence.

The Cartoon Sushi block succeeded Liquid Television by 1997 on MTV. During the mid to late 1990's and early 21st Century, I was an adolescent, when MTV aired these cartoons. This was years before Adult Swim was ever launched.

By 1997, the local networks had replaced cartoons with Court TV and Daytime Talk Shows. These local networks assumed every household by that time had basic cable channels like Cartoon Network, Nickelodeon, Disney, etc.

Truth be told, every household did NOT  have a basic cable package.

Because today's blog mostly focuses on MTV, the network's cartoon blocks, its cartoons from the 1990's, and briefly mentions John R. Dilworth's Courage The Cowardly Dog, it's only fair to share a cartoon, which briefly aired on MTV.

Have you ever watched John R. Dilworth's "The Dirdy Birdy"?

"The Dirdy Birdy" was a 7-minute animated short, which aired on MTV during the early 1990's. 

The short features a hostile cat (Fergurina) and the obnoxious bird (Purdy) sitting in a tree.

If you did NOT  know any better, you would swear that Purdy was the equivalent of an online troll sexually harassing Fergurina. 

Purdy is in love with Fergurina and expresses his affection for her. The bird's affections consists of MOONING her. The Grim Reaper also makes his cameo appearance.

Talk about an obnoxious creep! No wonder why the cat turns into a monster. 

Never in all my years have I ever seen a bird moon a cat in a tree or a cat transform into such a ferocious monster. This is surely a sight to behold!

Rather than explaining every detail of this abstract short, which used to air on MTV, it is much better for you to independently watch it, right now.

John R. Dilworth "The Dirdy Birdy" (1993)

Saturday, February 20, 2016

Song Saturday: Vanity's Nature Boy [Cover]

            RIP VANITY!!!
 
How's it going my gumdrops? Wow! This is shocking and sad news. Literally 1 day after Valentine's Day, Denise Katrina Matthews, (a.k.a. Prince's former protege, "Vanity") just died from Renal Failure at age 57. 
 
This is not only surprising, but also tragic. It appears that more entertainers have been dying again, including this past week. Vanity recently celebrated her 57th birthday, last month on January 4th. It is 1 month later. NOW, she's dead.

I don't know about anyone else, but it seems like the year of 2016 will be worse than the last several years. I really dread what this year has in store for everyone. 
 
2016 already got off to a brutal start with famous people, most specifically musicians dropping like flies.

As I was saying, Prince's former protege, Vanity died from Renal Failure on February 15, 2016. It's a good thing Prince hasn't died yet. Chances are great that my uncle would go postal over him. Prince has always been more of an idol to him than Jimi Hendrix. The man loves them both, although he seems to favor Prince over Hendrix.
 
Growing up during the 1980's and '90s, I was never a Prince or Vanity zealot. However, my youngest aunt and I both had our own parakeets named Prince and Vanity. She had a blue parakeet, named Prince and mine was a purple parakeet named, Vanity.

More than 30 years later, I still feel that having a purple parakeet named Vanity is strange. I mean, c'mon! 
 
Everybody knows that Prince is about purple. He has an album called Purple Rain and purple is his signature color.

When my youngest aunt and I had our 2 parakeets, I was a preschooler. She claims that my parakeet, Vanity literally pecked hers (Prince) to death. Supposedly, Vanity pecked out all Prince's feathers and gave him a disease. Talk about a vicious bird.

Other than owning 2 parakeets named after Prince and Vanity, I was NOT  a zealot of theirs. Don't get me wrong by any means. I DID like some of Prince and Vanity's songs growing up, during the '80s, but I listened to more Pop Music and Glam Metal. 
 
Even though my mother FORBADE me to listen Rap, I still listened to it. Regardless, I always listened to whatever I wanted to growing up and still do today as an adult.

Earlier this week, I learned some interesting tidbits about Vanity. For example, I had NO idea that Vanity and Nikki Sixx from Motley Crue were engaged in 1986!
 
On YouTube, I stumbled upon an old interview with Arsenio Hall interviewing Vanity.
 
Arsenio Hall Interviews Vanity (1986)  
Watching the way that man salivated over Vanity repulsed me to no end. Growing up, my grandmother always ranted about how much she could NOT  stand Arsenio and normally referred to him as a "lowlife." 
 
After watching his interview with Vanity as a 33 going on 34-year-old woman, I have to agree with her. Arsenio Hall reminds me of the sleazy, lowlife creeps from the street.

Meanwhile, I was annoyed watching Vanity act like a bimbo on stage. Not to speak ill of the dead, but she was literally a bimbo on crack or a "crack whore." Vanity used so much crack throughout the 1980's, that she and Nikki Sixx broke off their engagement in 1987.  
 
The Howard Stern Show: "Motley Crue's Nikki Sixx Explains Why He & Vanity Broke Up" (2007)
By 1994, Vanity overdosed on crack and nearly died from Renal Failure. Because of the large amounts of cocaine she used throughout the decades, she started having kidney problems and had to go through a Peritoneal Dialysis 5 times a day.

After surviving her cocaine overdose in '94, she chose to become a "Born Again Christian" and went into Evangelism. 
 
In 1995, there was a 1980's special on MTV, which was reflecting on music videos and groups from the '80s. It also shared updates about musicians from that decade.

Vanity explained in an MTV interview about her drug addiction and how she became a "saved" evangelist. In addition, she began blaming Prince for her cocaine problems. 
 
As a 13-year-old girl at the time, I could not help rolling my eyes at Vanity's interview. 
 
Unless Prince physically FORCED  Vanity to the ground and made her use cocaine, or slipped it inside her food and beverages, he is not at fault. 
 
She chose to become a drug addict. I think it's wonderful that Vanity quit abusing drugs and changed her life for the better.

All the while, Vanity acting like a self-righteous victim and blaming Prince for being a crack whore was and continues to be bullshit. 
 
I completely empathize with Vanity wanting to change her life for the better and leaving her scandalous past behind. In spite of the past, she really needed to take ownership for her dumb choices. Hopefully, the woman did before dying.

Before I forget, I learned something else about Vanity that I found to be interesting. Like a few other singers in the past including the late David Bowie, Vanity did a cover of the old Nat King Cole song, "Nature Boy."

In 1989, Vanity made a cameo appearance on Friday The 13th: The Series as a Pop singer named, Angelica. It was on Season 2: Episode 20 titled, "The Secret Agenda of Mesmer's Bauble." In that same episode, it featured Vanity's cover of Nat King Cole's "Nature Boy."

You may be assuming that I'm half-assing today's blog. I really hope this is NOT  the case. This has been quite a rough week and I almost didn't publish ANY  Song Saturday blog for today. 
 
Rather than doing an entire music block of Vanity songs, I thought I would share this extremely rare cover of Vanity singing "Nature Boy" for today's Song Saturday. 
 
Vanity "Nature Boy" [Cover] Friday The 13th: The Series (1989)

Friday, August 2, 2013

Song Saturday: J-Pop And J-Rock Music Block

This blog was originally published on Blogster August 2, 2013.


How's it going Xangans and Blogsterians? This week, I am going a slightly different route for Song Saturday here at Blogster. So, I chose to share some popular J-Pop and J-Rock music videos.

Most of these songs have been featured in Anime such as NANA, Jigoku Shojo (Hell Girl), Vampire Knight, and Death Note. I am unsure if Girugamesh ever had their song, "Volcano" featured in an Anime.

While watching the former music televsion network, IMF in 2006, the network introduced me to the J-Rock band's music video for their song, "Volcano."

IMF was abbreviated for the International Music Feed. It REALLY sucks that IMF no longer exists. It was a lot like the original MTV from the 1980's except it was a 24-hour international music televsion channel.

IMF was especially educational because viewers had the opportunity to learn about foreign entertainment, cultures, folklores, etc.

While sorting through my J-Pop and J-Rock music choices on YouTube, I struggled to find the Japanese music videos with English subtitles.

I constantly watched these music videos and wanted to share them on Blogster with the English subtitles. Then, everyone can undersand what they are saying.

Here's some Japanese Music Trivia for you:

1) Olivia Lufkin's music has been used in both Anime and Japanese Dramas (J-Drama). Most of her songs were on the soundtrack to the Anime, NANA. Olivia's voice was also dubbed into the Anime for the character, Layla Serizawa.

NANA is a Josei (Womens) Anime about romance and rival J-Rock bands. If you ever have the chance, I recommend watching it.

Olivia Lufkin "A Little Pain" Olivia Inspi' Reira [Trapnest] (2006)

 

2) Mamiko Noto is not only a singer, but also a voice actress. In fact, she has done the Japanese voice for the protagoniat Ai Enma in the Shojo Supernatural Horror Mystery Anime, Jigoku Shojo (Hell Girl).

I have watched all 3 seasons of the Anime and Mamiko normally did the ending theme songs for the Hell Girl franchise.

In fact, this music video for her song, "Karinui" (Basting) was the original ending theme song for the Anime and has the Ai Enma doll.

In a sense, Mamiko Noto's giving a nod to the protagonist she voiced in Hell Girl. Damn, is that doll creepy!

Mamiko Noto "Karinui" Hell Girl Soundtrack {2005}


3) Kanon Wakeshima's songs were used as ending themes for the Shojo Horror Action Anime franchise, Vampire Knight. "Suna No Oshiro" (Sand Castle) was featured as the ending theme song for Vampire Knight: Guilty.

Kanon Wakeshima "Suna No Oshiro" Vampire Knight: Guilty Soundtrack {2008}


4) I think the Japanese Rock band, Nightmare is famous for being used in the Shonen Supernatural Thriller Mystery Anime, Death Note.

During Season 1, "The World" was Death Note's original opening theme song. All the while, "Alumina" was the ending theme song. I ALWAYS favored Nightmare's song, "Alumina" over "The World."

Nightmare "Alumina" Single {2006}


5) When I originally saw this J-Rock band, Girugamesh on TV with their music video, "Volcano," I remember how they really blew me away.

BTW: Girugamesh is the Japanese romanization for the ancient Sumerian king/demigod, Gilgamesh.

Girugamesh "Volcano" DVD Single {2007}


So, this concludes my J-Pop and J-Rock Music Block for Song Saturday.

What are your thoughts about these Japanese Rock bands and singers? Let me know what you think in the comments section below!

Sunday, February 3, 2013

Chiller TV Or Not So "Chiller TV"?

 This blog was originally published on Xanga February 3, 2013.

Chiller TV or not so "Chiller TV"? 

That is the question I have been asking myself for a while. Originally, I started watching Chiller TV for Horror Anime such as Descendants of Darkness (Yami no Matsuei) and Tokko.

Considering that Chiller TV is Syfy's sister channel, I should've known the network was going to be a disappointment. Once it turns March 1st next month, it will be 6 YEARS, since Chiller was launched. After 6 years, some of us Horror fans already lost interest.

Chiller TV looks like a network that was only launched 5 minutes ago. Most of its programming consists of censored Horror Movies and TV shows in syndication.  

NOTHING about the network "chills" me to the bone. I have watched movie trailers both old and new, as well as movies on other networks with more frightening scenes than what is being aired on Chiller. Is that pathetic or what?

NBC Universal owns Chiller TV AND Syfy. Both have phenomenal special effects used in their commercials to help promote each network. yet their content is like eating a Shit Sandwich.

Sometimes, I watched Chiller TV to help me fall asleep in the morning because I have Chronic Insomnia.

Does anybody other than myself find that last statement to be somewhat abnormal?

Horror was NOT  meant to be used as a sleeping aid. It is meant to frighten its audience to the extent, that we are too scared to sleep for days, not bore us to sleep. I understand that Chiller TV is supposed to be low budget.

If NBC Universal is advertising Chiller TV and Syfy, the quality of programming should be much better than they are on both networks. 

Maybe LESS time and money should be spent on their promos and MORE time and money should be spent on their content.

Chiller TV should NOT  repeatedly marathon the same shows everyday, while occasionally airing new Horror countdowns and documentaries like some fine china. 

It would not be so bad, if Chiller left every syndicated movie and TV show UNCENSORED.

Horror is not meant to be censored. If Chiller TV is supposed to be attracting Horror fans, the network is doing a poor job of it.

When it comes to airing content, Chiller TV should be a premium channel like HBO, Starz, Encore, etc; Chiller TV should be an UNCENSORED Horror network, that can be watched on basic or premium cable and satellite packages.

By Chiller not being included on Time Warner's basic cable package, its viewership is extremely niche. Only those with Direct TV and Dish Network can watch Chiller. 

Coming from a Horror fan and author, Chiller TV is disappointing. When I see a channel for Horror fans, I expect to watch independent, mainstream, and banned movies that were too controversial to be released in movie theaters.

At the rate Chiller TV is going, the network would be better off airing R.L. Stine's Goosebumps TV series from the mid-90's, which used to air on Nickelodeon.

Don't get me wrong, I do NOT  hate R.L. Stine's novels. He's like the Stephen King for pre-teens and younger. Also, I find Stine's novels more entertaining than King's.

However, I like movies based on Stephen King's novels better than movie's based on R.L. Stine's.

Anyway, with decades worth of Horror movies, Chiller TV could air so many of them throughout the hours. 

Instead, the network's programmers choose to air censored, syndicated shows from over 10 to 30 years ago. Follow those same shows up with films, which have terrible script writing and talentless, unknown actors we don't care about watching.

If NBC Universal and Chiller TV want to maintain their viewers and attract more fans, they should modify the network's programming. Chiller's programming is barely worth watching, most of the time. I occasionally watch the channel for their documentaries.

Chiller TV's programming is starting to mimic music channels. Just like MTV and VH-1 spend most of their time discussing music videos from the last 10 to 30 years, Chiller mostly wastes time discussing Horror films throughout the decades.

That is when the network OCCASIONALLY decides to air a new Horror documentary.

For the love of God, Chiller TV, please air uncensored Horror and NOT  "child-friendly" content. STOP discussing Horror and START showing it. Be like Nike and "Just DO it," already! 

Trust me, your ratings would probably soar, if you actually aired something, that Horror fans WANT  to watch.

Do you agree or disagree? Let me know what you think!