vh1 top 20 countdown...

the vh1 top 20 countdown is a favorite in our house. we all like it, and it seems a good way to start a weekend morning. as a public service to my reader(s) i will comment upon this week's top 20. i invite your comments, either about the top 20 or my comments (meta-comments, as it were).

1. Because of You - Kelly Clarkson
clarkson is bland, yet unoffensive - hey, in a weak moment i might even crank up. say "miss independent" or "since u've been gone" in my car and bellow along. this song is a bit melodramatic - although i do take the opportunity to point out to my kids that unlike the dad in the video, i pay attention to them when they give me stuff they've worked on, and this will save them from being traumatized into getting bad hair-dye jobs in later life...


2. Gold Digger - Kanye West
a video, in which hip hop's latest big thing takes on a compelling social issue...the victimization of rich male celebrities by evil, manipulative attractive young women - who says today's pop music isn't socially relevant. i mean, the problem is so severe that former cleveland cav sean kemp fell victim to it at least a half dozen times...

sheesh - what a despicable song - perhaps moreso, as kanye seems like a bright, likable guy, unlike, say, eminem, who we all know is an idiot- it's misogynism in clean cut clothing... while i don't have the stats at hand, it's my guess there are multiple "dead beat dads" for every "gold diggers"...

the "problem" posed by gold diggers has a simple solution guys: "keep your pants on..."

oh yeah - and If you aint no punk holla: "we need AIDS test"...

granted, there is some ambiguity in the lyrics, but it really doesn't come out in the video...

3. My Humps - Black Eyed Peas
it's a hiphop tradition to sing about butts, but how weird is it to sing about you're own - creepy - and what kind of dance is the guy dong where he is walking his fingers around his own chest - all in all very disturbing

4. Nickelback - "Photograph" (from All The Right Reasons)
a song/video i love to hate. i can't stand the song or video - but goofing on it is more fun than seeing a video i *do* like.... i mean the guy sings "This is a photograph..." while he's holding a photograph to the camera!!!! thank you captain literal

5. When September Ends - Green Day
ah, a family favorite - not my favorite green day song

6. Stickwitu - The Pussycat Dolls
yawn - creative spelling points, perhaps, but that's it...

7. Feel Good Inc. - Gorillaz
Good song - a house favorite - yet my kids are creeped out by the video. i feel sorry for the little singer cartoon guy with the bad teeth...

8. Sheryl Crow - "Good is Good" (from Wildflower)
i like sheryl crow, but this isn't her best...

9. Mariah Carey - "Shake It Off" (from The Emancipation of Mimi)
mimi - hehe - anyhow, what a contast with #10. carey is surrounded by crow and madonna both who look better with age and carey - far younger - looks scarier...

10. Hung Up - Madonna
i've been an on and off fan of her since "borderline", but i never found her really attractive (seriously) - ok song - ,but i have to admit she looks *great* in this video

11. I'm Feeling You (Feat. Michelle Branch) - Santana
branch and santana ought to make a whole record. i like their collaborations...

12. Weezer - "Beverly Hills" (from Make Believe)
love this song - still not sick of it...

13. Luxurious - Gwen Stefani
i prefer the "just one of the guys" - no doubt gwen, to the solo, glam gwen - though i like some of the songs on her solo record - this one don't do it for me - but there's always the mute button....


14. Brighter Than Sunshine (Live @ VH1.com) - Aqualung
pretty good song - sounds like keane - the cover of jethro tull's aqualung was cool

15. Bon Jovi - "Have a Nice Day" (from Have a Nice Day)
i swear, haven't they done this song before???

16. Stand Up for Love (2005 World Children's Day Anthem) - Destiny's Child
i mean, how can i criticize a song that is the 2005 world children's day anthem - i'm not that big of a jerk. and the ladies are even clothed...

17. All These Things That I've Done - The Killers
the killers are doing their best to channel the 80's - right down to absurd (not in a good way) videos. they are a favorite in my house, but i'm pretty lukewarm. i am baffled if they were serious about this video, or is it meant to be tongue-in-cheek, or if it a comment on the absurdity of videos or what - as a teacher, i must say "guys, you're not trying hard enough".

18.Music (Live @ VH1.com)- Leela James
i actually like this one quite a bit - mental note: check out the rest of the record

19. Fix You - Coldplay
pretty good song

20. The Great Divide - Scott Stapp
wow, i was just saying the other day what the world needs now was a solo record form the leader of one of the most pompous, overblown, annoying bands in history...thank g*d, i slept in a bit and missed this one

my rankings:
1. weezer
2. gorillaz
3. leela james
4. santana/branch
5-20. who cares...