My Life, Made Possible By Pop Culture

Mariah Carey has debuted her newest video (for “I’ll Be Lovin’ U Long Time”) today exclusively through Yahoo! Music and AOL, after weeks of images from the Hawaiian photo shoot being passed around those sites and dozens more. The video is an ode to the story-less videos of Mariah’s early days, when Sony opted instead to just focus on their star and her voice, placing her alone in a room to sing and sway to the tune. Though this video definitely has the “emancipated” feel (she’s in teeny bikinis instead of form-fitting dresses, and it employs the hip-hop techniques of blinking to black and reusing certain “money” shots over and over), it lacks all of the creativity she exalted when she first broke free as a woman and an artist. Unfortunately, director Chris Applebaum shows even less imagination with “I’ll Be Lovin U Long Time” than the last video (”Bye Bye”); there is no leading man, no arc, no story at all: just an exceptionally fit Mariah dead center. For someone who has been honing her acting chops with independent film, I’m underwhelmed, but what about you?

Just in time for the premiere of the fourth season, Lionsgate has released a special companion soundtrack to their hit comedy Weeds. Though an official album, featuring music from and inspired by the show, has been released in conjunction with each season’s DVD release (and the third is upcoming this fall), this new album is perhaps the only true collector’s item, even if it’s a bit kitschy.

After the season three finale, where Nancy (Mary Louise Parker) set fire to her own house during a mandatory evacuation of Agrestic due to the wildfires (a move that proved to have much insight, as her friends were all simultaneously being interrogated about the grow house found in Celia (Elizabeth Perkins)’s pre-fab box), the show announced that they would be retiring their theme song, appropriately named “Little Boxes.” If Nancy would no longer be in Agrestic, the whole opening sequence would have to be scrapped, simulating that while she as a mother and a businesswoman would be moving on with her life, so would the show be heading in a new direction (one which is apparently west, according to the fourth season premiere). Each episode over the three years featured a variation of the original Malvina Reynolds ditty, spanning genres from the folksy tempo of Randy Newman to the country twang of Billy Bob Thornton to salsa and hip-hop and even a ballad. “Little Boxes Dimebag #1,” therefore, is a ten-track volume of said covers, collecting the most original and perhaps most inspired but still promising that this is just a little taste, and more will be forthcoming… if we want it.

Anyone who watches Weeds—religiously or just on occasion—can attest that this song gets under your skin and stays in your head for days after that initial viewing. We’re addicted to Weeds’ product as a whole—not just the smart writing or sharp acting but everything in between. “Little Boxes” has always been catchy, but now that it has been released in a multitude of genres and tempos, there is virtually a version for everyone. Lionsgate definitely knew what they were doing here: feeding the addiction, giving us more and more of the phenomenon, little bits at a time. “Little Boxes Dimebag #1” is only available online but is definitely worth a download… C’mon; all the cool kids are doing it!

With season finales behind us and an onset of new, crappy reality shows awaiting, now is the perfect time to turn off the television, peel ourselves out of the indentation we have made in our couches, and join the real world.  The summer lineup boasts more pseudo-reality shows than we should know what to do with anyway, so why not experience real life and culture a little more in a semi-lost form: live?

The silence emanating from our television sets may be eerie and haunting in the first few days, but we will adjust… just as our eyes will adjust to the blinding brightness once we finally step out of our dimly halogen-lit living room and into the unrelenting path of the sun.  In case there are some signs of withdrawal symptoms within the first few days, there is no need to run screaming for the remote and experience a relapse!  There are some events designed perfectly for people like us—events that will showcase some of our favorite TV regulars in person and performing original stand-up material.

Kathy Griffin (My Life on the D-List) will grace stages through October.  Coincidentally, the fourth season of her show premieres on Bravo in the middle of June, but she is ten times funnier live and off the cuff; check out her DVD Allegedly for proof. Similarly, Nick Swardson, best known from Reno 911! will be appearing nationally starting May 2 all the way through the end of September.  In preparation, Nick’s past comedy specials are also now available on CD, DVD, and iTunes.  Kids in the Hall have reunited for a two-month tour across the country, with a showcase that features some new material, as well as some classics bits.  Lewis Black (Root of All Evil) will yell at audiences through the middle of August.

Country music fans can get two concerts for the price of one with Kenny Chesney and Leann Rimes’ double-billed “Poets & Pirates Tour;” Alicia Keys will bring down the house for the R&B crowd; Kanye West redefines hip-hop with his “Glow in the Dark Tour,” and there are even a few more chances to catch Jay-Z and Mary J. Blige’s “Heart of the City” tour.

Looking for a little nostalgia?  John Mellencamp, Duran Duran, John Fogerty, and Steely Dan all have dates scheduled this summer.  New Kids on the Block kicks off their own reunion tour playing a few KIIS compilation concerts.  Or there’s also Neil Diamond, who kicks off his tour with an American Idol mentoring, before hitting the road only to circle back and perform two very special back-to-back shows at the Hollywood Bowl (the ultimate concert experience if you live in the Los Angeles area) in October.

And speaking of American Idol, if you’re looking for entertainment to appease your son or daughter or younger brother and sister who haven’t gone away to camp, this year’s Top 12 contestants take the stage all together again on July 1, only a few months after the newest winner is crowned.

Also, the Jonas Brothers are touring nationally for the first time as headliners, and if you live in Southern California or on the east coast, there are opportunities to catch them with Miley Cyrus for an extra special show.  For the even younger crowd, Sesame Street Live: When Elmo Grows Up is chock full of music, laughs, and learning.

Regardless of specific interest, there is a plethora of entertainment designed to give technology a run for its money; regardless of how great these artists look or sound on a screen, it pales in comparison to the emotional power of seeing them live.  Television has always been a pretty passive activity; we can plop down in front of it and let its information wash over us without any social interaction whatsoever; it is often an isolating activity.  Attending a concert or performance, however, allows the chance to see the same material through new eyes and experience it with thousands of others of liked-minded people. Once given a taste of such aforementioned events, we may find enjoyment in this new lifestyle among the public so much that when the 08-09 TV season starts up in the fall, it may no longer fill us with the usual tingly excitement. So though some consider tickets to the aforementioned events a bit pricey, the memories alone will be priceless.