RIP Guitar Hero

Posted on February 10, 2011 by Emilio Pérez Miguel

So Long, Guitar Hero. It Was Good While It Lasted...

Guitar Hero, the most revered game franchise of the 21st Century has run its course. Activision has decided to disband the Guitar Hero gaming unit, claiming that players have lost interest in the title.

That will come to a stunner to many an onlooker, until he sits down and thinks how Activision saturated the market with sequel after sequel of the by now legendary game.

Just doing a quick recap:

Guitar Hero: November 2005

Guitar Hero II: November 2006

Guitar Hero Encore Rock The 80s: July 2007

Guitar Hero III Legends of Rock: October 2007

Guitar Hero Aerosmith: June 2008

Guitar Hero World Tour: October 2008

Guitar Hero Metallica: March 2009

Guitar Hero Smash Hits: June 2009

Guitar Hero 5: September 2009

Band Hero: November 2009

Guitar Hero Van Halen: December 2009

Guitar Hero Warriors of Rock: September 2010

That is, six main games were released. And counting all spin-offs, 12 separate titles were issued. Talk about not giving people enough room to breathe…

Plus, the Rock Band games were impossible to beat for Activision – later installments of Rock Band always ranked better than the Guitar Hero contingent.

But all these facts matter little now. One of the most distinctive games in modern history is no more. Air guitar nuts like me will never forget it. Because (I have to admit it) my chances of ever learning to play “Won’t Get Fooled Again” for real are absolutely non-existent.

The Video Of The Moment: A Brazilian Taxi Driver Who Imitates Michael Jackson

Posted on February 2, 2011 by Emilio Pérez Miguel

A Taxi Driver From Minas Gerais (Brazil) Imitating Michael Jackson Has Become The Latest Online Sensation.

After Ted Williams shot to fame, it was only logical that other everymen would follow on his footsteps. This taxi drive from Brazil has officially become the first to wow the world with is talents (in this case, impersonating Michael Jackson) ever since the golden-throated panhandler became famous.

What’s most interesting about this video, now, is that the guy gets every single word perfect even though it’s clear he doesn’t speak English at all.

I think it’s only a matter of time before the job offers begin to pour in…

Month In Review – January 2011

Posted on February 1, 2011 by Emilio Pérez Miguel

Even though I took a couple of days off, in the first month of the year I wrote about no less than three different Uruguayan unsigned artists: El Umbral, Los Pazientes and Matías Singer.

Besides, I managed to review one of these once-in-a-lifetime albums: “Unknown Pleasures” by Joy Division. And check the review of The Kinks’ “Lola Vs. The Powerman And The Moneygoround“, too.

For its part, the music startups that I reviewed included Fanity, Bandhack, Crowdbands, DaoMusic, Radio Tuna and Bassicly. You will find everything from applications for creating playlists and discovering new music to listen to based on your mood, to services for following your favorite artists around.

However, I did not conduct any interview during January. But by the looks of it, February will see a lot of conversational activity. Just you wait and see…

Is Spotify Coming To The US?

Posted on January 24, 2011 by Emilio Pérez Miguel

At Long Last, Spotify Is Coming To The US

Well, one would say it is after reading the story that was run recently on the New York Post. For those of you who can’t be arsed to click on the link: two different music industry sources have confirmed that Sony Music and another (undisclosed) label are about to sign up a deal with the European startup.

In case you are wondering why a service that is so wildly popular in the old world is yet to come to America, the main stumbling block is that records labels aren’t exactly enamored with the freemium model that it champions (they hate its guts, actually). Think about it: Spotify lets people have access to as much music as they want legally, as long as they put up with the ads which are displayed. And these ads can be obliterated if you pay a fee. Continue reading →

Meet Vevo’s Emerging Artists Program

Posted on January 10, 2011 by Emilio Pérez Miguel

Launched Its Emerging Artists Program To Foster And Nurture New Talent. The First Artists To Be Picked Up Is British Singer/Songwriter Jessie J.

Presented by Vevo, the Emerging Artists Program is an initiative that aims to jumpstart new talent. The featured artists are all chosen by Vevo, and they are mostly people who have worked with established artists before.

For example, the first to have been chosen is a singer/songwriter named Jessie J. Hailing from the UK, this girl has penned songs for Miley Cyrus, no less.

Users will be able to watch interviews, tweet the featured artists, have access to behind-the-scene footage and (obviously-enough) watch live performances.

And not-so-obviously-enough, users will also be allowed to listen to standalone audio tracks. That is a first for a video site, actually. YouTube (which has a partner program of its own) does not offer such a option.

Besides, users who promote any emerging artist on Facebook will get a chance to win tickets and merchandise.

I don’t know what you think, but it looks to me as if the Justin Bieber army were about to swell ranks…

Kanye West’s “Monster” Gets Spoofed. This Time, The Muppets Sing It!

Posted on January 8, 2011 by Emilio Pérez Miguel

Kanye West's "Monster" Gets Parodied By The Muppets!

Good ol’ Kanye West and these demonic leaks that blight his life… Just last week, a rough cut of “Monster” set the whole Internet talking. And when that happens, the parodies are never too far behind.

Well, that is exactly what has happened. And who better to do a NSFW song than family entertainers like the Muppets?

Perversely enough, the true star of the clip is not Monster. It is Piggy. Judge by yourself…

Ted Williams, A Homeless Man In Cleveland Gets An Incredible Second Chance

Posted on January 6, 2011 by Emilio Pérez Miguel

Until last week, Ted Williams was a homeless man that panhandled on the corner of a highway in Cleveland.

But when Williams was interviewed by videographer Doral Chenoweth III and he had a chance to show his vocals skills, his life took an incredible turn. The video racked more than 5 million views on YouTube, Williams was officially rechristened “Golden-voiced”, and the job offers began pouring in.

Literally. The man who championed Williams’ cause (a Reddit user that is known as Shiggiddie) received no less than 80 offers for Ted in his personal messages over the course of just two days.

That was amazing, the kind of thing one sees in the movies. And things were to get even more cinematographic. Continue reading →

DJ Earworm Mashes Up The Biggest Hits Of 2010

Posted on January 3, 2011 by Emilio Pérez Miguel

DJ Earworm

There you have the 25 finest Billboard Hits of 2010 mashed up together, courtesy of DJ Earworm.

This megamix (part of his “United State Of Pop” series) obviously includes artists like Ke$ha and Katy Perry, and for many people that is reason enough to skip it altogether. Yet, DJ Earworm’s chops are nothing short of impressive, and even those who hate the artists involved (a list that also includes Bruno Mars, Eminem, Taio Cruz and Lady Antebellum) could learn a thing or two from it.

This is the full list of artists/songs that are mashed up:

Ke$ha – Tik Tok
Lady Antebellum – Need You Now
Train – Hey, Soul Sister
Katy Perry Featuring Snoop Dogg – California Gurls
Usher Featuring will.i.am – OMG
B.O.B. Featuring Hayley Williams – Airplanes
Eminem Featuring Rihanna – Love the Way You Lie
Lady Gaga – Bad Romance
Taio Cruz – Dynamite
Taio Cruz Featuring Ludacris – Break Your Heart
B.O.B. Featuring Bruno Mars – Nothin’ On You
Enrique Iglesias Featuring Pitbull – I Like It
Young Money Featuring Lloyd – Bedrock
Jason Derulo – In My Head
Rihanna – Rude Boy
Lady Gaga Featuring Beyonce – Telephone
Katy Perry – Teenage Dream
Bruno Mars – Just the Way You Are
Mike Posner – Cooler Than Me
The Black Eyed Peas – Imma Be
Jay-Z + Alicia Keys – Empire State of Mind
Usher Featuring Pitbull – DJ Got Us Fallin’ In Love
Travie McCoy Featuring Bruno Mars – Billionaire
Eminem – Not Afraid
Iyaz – Replay

Remix Subterranean Homesick Blues And Win A Trip To South by Southwest

Posted on December 27, 2010 by Emilio Pérez Miguel

Now It’s Your Chance To Remix Bob Dylan’s Timeless Classic And Win A Trip To South By Southwest In The Process.

This is the day for fans of the gnomic singer/songwriter that also happen to love technology. Sony is currently holding an open competition in which people are invited to remix Dylan’s seminal ‘60s track, “Subterranean Homesick Blue”. The prize? A trip to South By Southwest in Austin next March.

The actual remixing process is done entirely online. A neat interface will let you take Dylan’s vocals along with all the individual instruments, and have your own way with them. And those who are skilled enough will be able to record themselves and bring what they see fit into the mix.

As long as Elvis Costello doesn’t show up and decides to write “Pump It Up Pt. 2”, it should be a very even and enjoyable competition for everybody…

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