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Red Hot Chili Peppers Commit Californication: Wake-Up Video

Posted 6/8/10 8:15 am EST by in Wake-Up Video


As they have morphed from the world's funkiest hardcore band into a grandiose arena rock monster, Red Hot Chili Peppers have evolved into one of the great American rock bands of the past few decades. But as the last millennium was coming to a close, things did not look especially positive. The group's 1995 album One Hot Minute — which was the first and only RHCP release to feature Jane's Addiction guitarist Dave Navarro — received a very mixed reaction from fans and critics because of its darker undertones and forays into glam rock.

But just as U2 would later do with All That You Can't Leave Behind, the Peppers got back to basics, rehired former guitarist John Frusciante (the six-string force behind their massive crossover hits Mother's Milk and Blood Sugar Sex Magik) and put together the watershed album Californication, which was released on this day in 1999.

Californication was a revelation, and remains one of the finest rock records of the end of the century. Frusciante's jangly, bluesy style of playing buoyed a series of melancholic tunes and huge, rocking anthems. Rather than just focusing on carnal pleasures, singer and lyricist Anthony Kiedis dealt with love, mortality, religion, depression and death, which made for the Peppers' deepest and most eclectic records to date. Even with that heavy lyrical bent, just about every song on Californication was an infectious potential hit, including the razor-sharp speed-rocker "Parallel Universe," the funky headbanger "Get on Top" and the breezy, beautiful album closer "Road Trippin."

The album became the Chili Peppers' most successful and has moved nearly 15 million copies to date. The two albums that followed — 2002's By the Way and 2005's Stadium Arcadium — both followed similar paths to greatness, and though Frusciante has again left the fold, the Chili Peppers will soldier on with new music some time soon. Californication's greatest, most Earth-moving moment remains lead single "Scar Tissue," a rolling, bluesy tune about loneliness and survival. It even won the Grammy for Best Rock Song in 2000.

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Scarlett Johansson Kisses Sandra Bullock: Wake-Up Video

Posted 6/7/10 8:00 am EST by in Wake-Up Video


Sunday night's (June 6) MTV Movie Awards were a thrilling, hilarious romp through the world of cinema as seen through the eyes of MTV (and more importantly, the hardcore fans). Among the highlights were the premiere of a new scene from "The Twilight Saga: Eclipse," a preview of Christina Aguilera's upcoming album Bionic, multiple appearances by show producer Les Grossman and multiple images of a near-nude Katy Perry. (You can re-live all the excitement blow-by-blow at the official live blog kept over at the MTV Movies Blog.)

But the award for biggest moment of the night was not Ken Jeong's heartfelt acceptance speech or the many wins for "The Twilight Saga: New Moon." Rather, it was the tribute to Sandra Bullock (who took home the MTV Generation Award as a salute to her long and varied body of work) that culminated in a kiss between Bullock and Scarlett Johansson. Though the pair have never been in a film together, Bullock did co-star with Johansson's husband Ryan Reynolds in the 2009 hit "The Proposal" (which also starred Betty White, who is totally fine with Bullock's smooch).

The kiss apparently provided some sort of cleansing for Bullock. "Now that we have done that, can we please go back to normal?" she told the adoring crowd. "Because therapy is really expensive. Go back to making fun of me, I don't care. It's time to get back to normal." Relive the entire moment — along with the rest of the most talked-about bits from the show.

It wouldn't be surprising if Johansson's lips actually had a cleansing touch to them. She is an amazing actress who can play just about any role and look good doing it. She's also a musician — and a surprisingly good one too. So in honor of the 2010 MTV Movie Awards and the people everywhere who want to kiss Scarlett Johansson, check out her cover of Tom Waits' "Falling Down," from her refreshingly weird 2008 album Anywhere I Lay My Head.

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Avril Lavigne Drops Her Debut: Wake-Up Video

Posted 6/4/10 9:30 am EST by in Wake-Up Video


Before there was Justin Bieber, there was another teenager from Canada who released a huge debut, turned heads and created a seismic shift in pop music. On this day in 2002, 17-year-old Avril Lavigne released her debut album Let Go, which brought together elements of sugary teen pop, anthemic arena rock and a healthy dose of punk style and attitude.

Lavigne first hit it big with the gigantic single "Complicated," a pop-punk power ballad that came bundled with a now-iconic video that laid out everything that Lavigne was back in '02: There was a mall, some skateboarding, general teenage mayhem and Lavigne's trademark tank top and neck tie combination. "Complicated" was a revelation, as even though it was as produced as the rest of the pop music on the radio, it had a fresh lack of self-consciousness and a delightfully snotty edge.

Let Go also represented the first big breakthrough for Scott Spock, Lauren Christy and Graham Edwards, the production team known better as the Matrix. Their streamlined approach to studio craft (and their ability to hard rock and radio pop sensibilities) turned them into an instantly in-demand source for writing and producing radio hits. Since the success of Let Go, they have collaborated with the likes of Shakira, Liz Phair, Korn, Ashley Tisdale, Katy Perry, Tokio Hotel and Britney Spears.

Lavigne's debut album spawned two more huge singles in "Sk8ter Boi" and "I'm With You," and it went on to sell nearly seven million copies. Lavigne's music has continued to evolve over time, further pushing the boundaries of her particular brand of pop. But even if she never sells another copy of another album, she'll always have "Complicated," rightfully lauded as one of the best singles of the past decade.

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The Lemonheads Feel Some Shame: Wake-Up Video Bonus

Posted 6/2/10 9:30 am EST by in Wake-Up Video


Pop music is a fickle mistress, and it's never certain exactly what will please whatever deity is in charge of who becomes a big deal and who doesn't. Back in 1992, things got really weird for Evan Dando, the frontman and primary songwriter for a ragtag little indie rock trio called the Lemonheads. They had gained a little bit of steam in the college rock community with four albums and a handful of EPs of shambling, workmanlike jangle pop. Then on this day in 1992, they released their fifth album It's a Shame About Ray, and everything got a little bit cagey.

Shortly after the release of It's a Shame About Ray, Dando and his band recorded a cover version of Simon and Garfunkel's "Mrs. Robinson" and released it as a single. It quickly became a huge hit on modern rock radio. Though it wasn't included on the original pressing, "Mrs. Robinson" ended up tacked onto re-released versions of It's a Shame About Ray. It became a mixed blessing for Dando, as the success of the song provided the band with more attention and adoration than they had ever had, but that all happened on the back of a cover song (which he quickly grew tired of).

Still, It's a Shame About Ray remains a gorgeously understated album full of lovely, exacting songwriting, charmingly shabby playing and Dando's sharp, sad lyrics. Though they were deeply personal, Dando infused his songs with a penetrating universality: "My Drug Buddy" was instantly recognizable to anybody who ever saw a relationship spiral out of control, and "Alison's Starting to Happen" became a coming-of-age anthem for girls looking to express themselves. But the highlight of the album is the title track, which let's Dando's slack-jawed croon ride a hazy, breezy riff. It's all about sadness and danger, which is a pretty good set of descriptors for 1992.

And yes, that is Johnny Depp in the video.

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Mötley Crüe Enjoy Girls, Girls And More Girls: Wake-Up Video

Posted 6/2/10 8:30 am EST by in Wake-Up Video


Usually Wake-Up Video is devoted to a great moment in music history, a notable birthday, an important event in sports or a vital holiday. But sometimes, it just helps to get a little boost to get things going on a Wednesday morning. Sometimes, you just need to get over the hump. Sometimes you need Mötley Crüe.

There's no shortage of news in the Crüe universe at the moment (for the sort of band they are, they have showed shocking resilience). Frontman Vince Neil has a forthcoming solo album as well as a memoir coming out later this summer (they are both titled Tattoos and Tequila), and drummer Tommy Lee just announced that the new album by Methods of Mayhem will be hitting the streets soon. And in between all that, the Crüe will be venturing out on the road as part of the Ozzfest tour in August, where they'll share the stage with Ozzy Osbourne for the first time since their infamously debauched 1984 tour that featured multiple arrests, non-stop partying and that famous scene described in "The Dirt" that saw Osbourne snort a line of ants thinking it was cocaine. (Considering the relative sobriety of everybody involved, this tour should be a lot more low-key.)

Considering their longevity and the number of hits they've racked up over the years (including their most recent album, 2008's well-received Saints of Los Angeles), it wouldn't be out of the question to call Mötley Crüe "classic rock" (much to the consternation of the boys from Bowling for Soup). With that in mind, kickstart your Wednesday with "Girls Girls Girls."

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'Lady Marmalade' Conquers The Charts: Wake-Up Video

Posted 5/27/10 9:30 am EST by in Wake-Up Video


Is there anything greater than an all-star single? Not the charity ones that often feel contrived and stunty, but rather a truly killer song that brings together four or so superstars all at the top of their respective games. Last year, the remix of "Forever" satisfied that hunger with Drake, Eminem, Lil Wayne and Kanye West all turning in stunning performances for the sake of a movie soundtrack. Back in 2001, the universe received "Lady Marmalade," a collaboration between Christina Aguilera, Pink, Lil Kim and Mya that topped the Billboard Hot 100 on this date nine years ago.

Crafted for the soundtrack to director Baz Luhrmann's burlesque-reviving technicolor nightmare "Moulin Rouge!" and featuring a video that saw each of the four ladies decked out in their finest glam outfits, "Lady Marmalade" was a force to be reckoned with at the beginning of the summer of 2001 (had it peaked later, it would have been in contention for the official jam of that season). It caught each woman at an interesting time, as Aguilera was only just coming back into the spotlight (her second album Stripped was still a year away), Pink was just beginning to make her transition from pop singer to the hybrid star that she is today and Lil Kim was still a big deal. Interestingly, Mya was probably the biggest star of the quartet at the time, as her smash hit "Case of the Ex" was still fresh in the minds of the pop crowd.

The song, originally recorded by Labelle, first topped the chart in 1974. The remake made it the only song to top the charts after being recorded by two different acts, and won Grammy Awards for all four participants.

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Happy Birthday, John Wayne: Wake-Up Video

Posted 5/26/10 10:00 am EST by in Wake-Up Video


We don't normally celebrate the birthdays of people who have died (mostly because they can't enjoy the cupcakes we make for them — we hate to see cupcakes go to waste), but today's particular birth is extra special. On this day in 1907, John Wayne was born. The greatest star of Westerns in history (and one of America's most hardcore men), Wayne was christened Marion Michael Morrison upon his entry into the world. He grew up in California and wanted to join the Navy, but his talent as a football player brought him to the University of Southern California on a scholarship.

During college, Wayne got a job on the set of a movie directed by early American genius John Ford, which lead to extra work and eventual lead roles for Wayne, who had never really considered acting before. His first starring role was in the 1930 epic "The Big Trail," which was a flop for Fox and sent Wayne into obscurity for the better part of a decade. He finally caught another break with the help of his old friend Ford, who cast him in 1939's "Stagecoach," which made Wayne a star and helped establish his persona as a no-nonsense, valor-filled hero of the wild, wild west.

Nicknamed "The Duke," Wayne became a definitive movie star of his generation, starring in such American classics as "Rio Bravo," "Fort Apache" and the particularly memorable "The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance." Of course, his crowing achievement was 1969's "True Grit," which earned him an Academy Award. Wayne passed away of cancer in 1979 but will live forever in the minds of film fans and enthusiasts of classic American tales. We'll let Kid Rock pay tribute to the first true American Bad Ass.

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Happy Birthday, Lauryn Hill: Wake-Up Video

Posted 5/25/10 9:00 am EST by in Wake-Up Video


On this day in 1975, a true genius was born. Lauryn Hill, who represented one third of the short-lived but extremely influential Fugees and whose entire solo career consists of a single studio album that is among the best of all time, turns 35 years old today (so hopefully you remembered to buy a card). Though Ms. Hill has been rather elusive in the years since the release of The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill (her landmark 1998 solo album), she found herself in the news recently when it was rumored that she could be the headliner of the 2010 version of the Rock the Bells tour (it turns out Clipse and Wiz Khalifa will be taking top-billing on that particular trek).

Hill first scored recognition as a member of the Fugees, the hip-hop/R&B/soul fusion group that launched both her career and that of the ubiquitous Wyclef Jean. She was the rare star who not only had a killer singing voice (her turn on "Killing Me Softly" remains stunning) but also incredible skills as an MC (her rapping on The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill is unparalleled). The Fugees two albums (1994's Blunted on Reality and 1996's The Score) sold millions of copies, scored the group a bunch of hits (including the aforementioned "Killing Me Softly" and "Ready or Not") and netted them a pair of Grammy Awards (including an Album of the Year prize for The Score).

Hill broke out with her solo album in 1998 and immediately floored both critics and fans with her hybrid style. But following the incredible success of The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill, she took time off to have a baby and eventually became dissatisfied with the music industry enough to go way off the grid for a few years. She released a polarizing live album of all acoustic material called MTV Unplugged No. 2.0 that sharply divided critics (though did end up providing the sample around which Kanye West later built "All Falls Down"). Since then, there was a brief Fugees reunion a few years ago, but new music from Hill has been generally invisible. Still, even if she never records another note, she can stand by the fact that her chart-topping hit "Doo Wop (That Thing)" is among the best fusions of hip-hop and R&B ever crafted. If she's the hip-hop J.D. Salinger, then "Doo Wop" is her "Catcher in the Rye."

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'Lost' Still Has Explaining To Do, Says Goodbye Anyway: Wake-Up Video

Posted 5/24/10 9:15 am EST by in Wake-Up Video


After six seasons, over 100 episodes, dozens of deaths, countless twists and at least one polar bear, "Lost" finally called it quits on Sunday night (May 23) with two-and-a-half hour long entry called "The End" that attempted to wrap up one of the most talked-about, blogged-about and argued-about television series of the new millennium. The show attempted to answer a handful of questions (the core mystery about the "flash-sideways" universe was solved), though it still left a heaping ton of stuff left hanging (most notably, it ignored the core question of the series, one that is asked again and again both online and on the show itself: "What is the island?").

When "Lost" first premiered back in 2004, it began as a show about the survivors of a plane crash trying to figure out how to survive and — ultimately — how to get home. Along the way, it spiraled off into a number of different directions. For a show that relied on mysticism and sci-fi fantasy trickery, it hit on a number of issues, most notably environmental preservation (the whole show could easily be a metaphor for conservation and the misuse of natural resources) and the evils that lurk in the cross-section of government and private commerce in the military-industrial complex. (It also taught us about the dangers of time travel.)

But in the end, "Lost" was about the characters, which is why the heartstring-tugging finale worked. It's reasonable to contemplate the greater picture and the nature of fate, but in the end, all you really have are the people around you (at least that seemed to be the message the show wanted to send). That doesn't mean that there aren't plenty of questions still out there, and we'll let OK Go ask the first one.

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Jakob Dylan And The Wallflowers Saddle Up Their Horse: Wake-Up Video

Posted 5/21/10 10:00 am EST by in Wake-Up Video


Growing up is difficult for everybody, no matter who your parents are. So imagine that you have to grow up with a father who is famous. Not only is he a celebrity, but he's a huge rock star. And it goes beyond the fact that he's a musician; in fact, he's an American icon, a representative of a time and place that will be forever etched into the fabric of the history of the country. Such was the case for Jakob Dylan, whose father is the great Bob Dylan. One would assume that Jacob would become an accountant or something, simply to avoid comparisons between himself and his dad. And yet, Jacob made a bold move, assembled a band called the Wallflowers and, on this day in 1996, released the group's breakout album Bringing Down the Horse.

Comparisons to his dad were inevitable, especially considering the tone and timbre of their voices was so similar (though Jakob's diction remains far superior). But rather than traffic in political allegories or blues shuffles about dusty one-horse towns, Jacob's brand of rock crossed country sensibilities, arena riffs and good old-fashioned pop hooks for a brew that was distinctly his own. The group became an instant player in the splintered modern rock scene of the middle part of the 1990s, scoring a big hit with the single "Sixth Avenue Heartache." It didn't hurt that Jakob was a natural video presence, and his piercing blue eyes made him an instant heartthrob.

The Wallflowers were never able to replicate the success of Bringing Down the Horse (though their follow-up, 2000's (Breach), remains painfully underrated — just listen to "Some Flowers Bloom Dead" for proof), though they continue to release albums. Jakob has had even more success as a solo artist, having put out two well-received albums (including the recent Women and Country). However, Jakob's definitive contribution to the music landscape remains the Wallflowers' "One Headlight," a punchy, organ-driven pop tune.

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