Music Monday: Philos

I've decided to take a page out of the Twitter book and develop themed days... hence EBUZZ will also adhere to #MusicMonday. If you have suggestions for the other days of the week please let me know.
Today I want to introduce you to a band I found thanks to Twitter...Philos. I was quoting lyrics from "Defying Gravity" the title song from one of my all-time favorite musicals (Wicked) and the group sent me a message telling me that they did a cover of that very song.
An iTunes download later and I was officially in love. I now am the proud owner of the bands latest EP and have included most of it in my current favorite iTunes play-list. I highly suggest you do the same.
The band has shared with me links to their website and YouTube videos of live performances of some of their songs. Below is the video for "Defying Gravity"... if you like it as much as I do you'll for sure want to check out the other links below!
http://www.philosrocks.com/
Philos on YouTube

Inside the New "10 Things"

For the record I've given the new 10 Things I Hate About You a try. I have a rule that pilot's are a poor judge of a show's quality (e.g. the pilot of The Office really sucked), so it'll hold my attention for at least one more episode before I make the firm decision weather to become a fan or hold it forever in contempt.
As much as I've bitched about it in the past, I really WANT to like the new ABC Family series. Mostly, as a HUGE fan of the original film, I don't want it to ruin the franchise.
When I think 10 Things I'll always think Heath Ledger and Julia Stiles...but I have to come to terms with the fact that there is a new generation out there who will likely relate the franchise to its new stars: Meaghan Jette Martin and Ethan Peck.
TV Guide recently did an interview with Meaghan Jette Martin... I've included the "high lights" and my commentary below.

TVGuide.com: A lot of die-hard fans of the movie feel there shouldn't be a TV show, especially now that Heath has died. What do you think about that?
Martin: That's such an interesting thing because the movie is an adaptation of The Taming of the Shrew and Shakespeare passed away. Was the movie disrespecting Shakespeare? And Kiss Me Kate is a musical based off of Taming of the Shrew, [just like] 10 Things I Hate About You. Just because we're using the same title and character names doesn't mean we're trying to take away from the movie, because it's still an awesome movie. And obviously [director] Gil Junger and Larry Miller wouldn't be behind it if they didn't think it was worth it. And if people remember correctly, Heath Ledger actually wasn't so proud of the movie. He did not want to do a teen comedy.

I don't think Ledger ever said he wasn't proud of the MOVIE... I think he just wasn't a fan of sticking himself in the teen genre. That's why he turned down subsequent teen film roles to take on more adult characters. Also, as a fan the reason I don't want a remake is because I liked the original characters so much.

TVGuide.com: Larry Miller, who was in the 10 Things movie, is also on the TV show. Have you heard from any of the movie's other stars?
Meaghan Jette Martin: Unfortunately, I didn't get to go to the premiere party because I was working! [Laughs] But there were a lot of the original cast at the premiere party and all of our cast members who got to go said they were very encouraging. And a couple of them want to guest on the show, which I think would be super-cool. They could play our teachers or something.

It's probably a good sign that some of the movie's cast members showed up to the premiere and support the show. I doubt they would if it totally sucked. I'm just curious to see WHICH cast members attended. I would LOVE to see Allison Janney, Joseph Gordan Levvitt, or Daryl "the Chill" Mitchell back in the series. Better yet, there could be a NUMBERS-10 Things crossover episode where David Krumholtz reprises his role as the nerd and gives a math lecture to the 10 Things crowd (he plays a prof on the hit CBS show anyways!).

TVGuide.com: Kat goes to prom for Bianca in the movie. Are we going to see any of those sisterly favors?
Martin: There's going to be a dance in Episode 8. It's a true and honest relationship between Kat and Bianca. I have an older sister and we fight and bicker, but in the end we love each other and we make sacrifices for each other and help each other out.

If the dance scene features "Shout" or "Angels Fall" I may just have a heart attack. The dance scene from the film is one of my all-time favorite movie moments. Nothing beats the camera shot when Kat runs away from Patrick and down the stairs as the music in the background plays "God Knows Even Angels Fall". I get goosebumps just thinking about it.
And... on that note... if they dare have Kat recite a poem ANYWHERE in the TV serious I'll be uber-pissed off.

Leighton Meester OWNS "Good Girls Gone Bad"

I posted the link to this song when it first hit the airwaves, now I want to share with you the totally awesome music video. Gossip Girl's Leighton Meester is killer in this cameo she did with Cobra Starship.
I used to think Blake Lively was the "it girl" of the series...now I'm not so sure...

Hugh Jackman and Miley Cyrus Together on the Big Screen?

I had to check multiple sources on this one because seeing wasn't exactly believing. It appears, however, that Hugh Jackman REALLY IS teaming up with Miley Cyrus for a tween version of The Bodyguard.

Variety magazine is reporting that Jackman and Cyrus are to going to work together in a movie musical called Personal Security.

The muscle-bound Jackman is to play a tough New York police detective forced into bodyguard duty for a spoiled teen heiress (Cyrus) who is receiving kidnapping threats.

Wow big shocker: Miley Cyrus will be signing in a movie. Gee I wonder if she'll have original songs featured on the soundtrack?!

I'm not sure why Hugh needs to do tween films (when you've got the amount of serious hardware he already has and you've held leads in blockbuster films you don't usually have to revert to Disney level productions). Maybe he's channeling his inner Dwayne Johnson. It seems as though every once in a while A-list celebs like to lend themselves to films for younger audiences. It makes them feel relevant to all ages, not just the over thirty crowd.
Jackman should make this movie a sure hit. The "Sexiest Man Alive" will undoubtedly bring some female viewers who wouldn't otherwise have shelled out for a ticket.
I've made a list of other well known stars who took their acting down a peg in order to enlighten the teen audience.

Mark Harmon - Chasing Liberty
Michael Keaton - First Daughter/ Herbie Fully Loaded
Dennis Quaid - Yours, Mine and Ours
Jeff Bridges - Stick It
Vanessa Williams - Hannah Montana: The Movie

No More Need For the Promise Ring... Kevin Jonas is Getting Hitched!

I was just going to say "a Jonas is getting married" in the headline but I didn't want to cause any heart attacks. Luckily Kevin Jonas, 22, is the JoBro getting hitched (no offense to Kevin but it's obviously Nick and Joe who rule the roles of heart throbs in the group).
Kevin reportedly popped the question to 21 year old girlfriend Danielle Deleasa. I'm sure you heard of Deleasa (cough, cough) as she is a former hairdresser. Luckily her man is raking in the dough right now so job security probably won't be much of an issue.
So how'd Kevin do it?
Apparently he showed up with cushion-cut diamond ring he co-designed with Jacob & Co. at her New Jersey home this morning. How original (NOT).
Kevin had mentioned that his Tiffany's promise ring (the pop star told reporters he was saving his virginity until marriage and wore the ring as proof) was getting banged up on his guitar... I'm guessing he was sick of his ring being the only thing getting banged.
It scares me that Kevin, who is my age, is ready to tie the knot. It makes me feel like I'm moving at an exceptionally slow relationship rate.

Hilary Duff Joins Gossip Girl Cast

I did NOT see this one coming. Hilary Duff has made very few headlines since her Disney days... most recently she's been in the news for her production deal with NBC. Today, however, made Upper-East Siders look twice at her name as it was announced that she'll join the uber-popular CW show Gossip Girl.
Duff will take a page from Miley Cyrus' "Best of Both Worlds" routine when she plays Olivia Burke, a movie star who enrolls at NYU looking to lead a normal life (LIKE THAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN!) Duff's character will be roomates with Vanessa.
I'm not sure if Hilary will play a good girl, or a vixen but either way I'm more than a little shocked at the announcement. Remember... Duff TURNED DOWN the lead role in the CW's 90210 because she wanted to do "more mature" projects. It sounds like maybe she's decided she just wants to do successful ones. I don't remember the last time Duff did ANYTHING worth watching.
Will this be a career booster for the former Disney Tween Queen, or will she sink faster than the Titanic in her new gig? VOTE in the new EBUZZ poll and then find out this fall when Gossip Girl returns to the CW.

R.I.P. Farrah and Michael

I was preparing to write a Farrah Fawcett post tonight. I planned on watching the 20/2o special and then providing a final thought on the life of a person who defined a generation.
All of those plans came crashing down when this afternoon the Michael Jackson news broke. Like any good journalist I completely switched gears and scrambled to not only get a story up on the web (BTW I had the story on WZZM BEFORE many of the networks had it on their sites) and write a breaking news story for the 5:30 show. Before the 6 o'clock aired Michael Jackson had been pronounced dead.
I'll be brutally honest... I have never been a fan of Michael Jackson the person. His eccentricities weren't for me. But his music...now that was something I was a fan of. To me music has no color, no gender, no bias. It transcends politics, economics, and religion. Michael Jackson proved that at a time when racial tension still dominated popular culture.
My earliest Michael Jackson memory wasn't of the man, but of his music. When I was in kindergarten the Ludington High School showchoir sang "Heal the World". They needed kids to do the background vocals and fill the stage. I tried out and was given one of the parts. I'll never forget being up on the stage in that auditorium in front of hundreds of people for the very first time.
"Heal the world. Make it a better place. For you and for me and the entire human race."

I wasn't around for Charlie's Angels. Farrah Fawcett never inspired my hair style, her poster never adorned my wall. Michael Jackson, on the other hand, has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. He is the reason that I went to every showchoir concert possible until I was in high school and finally able to try out for the group myself. He is one of the reasons that I stood on stage in front of hundreds belting out solo after solo. I wanted music to touch the lives of others as his music had touched mine. My theory is that if just one person is impacted by music in a positive way than it's worth it. Michael Jackson's music touched millions of people in that way.
That is why I'm forgetting about Michael Jackson the man. Unlike the specials on NBC and ABC I won't dwell on his court cases, his hotel/baby incident, or his plastic surgery nightmare. I'm going to remember Michael Jackson's music. Thriller, Bad, and the rest of the albums that transformed popular culture will continue to live on long after he is laid to rest. It will be another perfect example of how music never dies.