Posts Tagged ‘RIP’

By: Rob Brayl
For BiggerThanBeyonce.Com

“Among other things, you’ll find that you’re not the first person who was ever confused and frightened and even sickened by human behaviour. You’re by no means alone on that score, you’ll be excited and stimulated to know. Many, many men have been just as troubled morally and spiritually as you are right now. Happily, some of them kept records of their troubles. You’ll learn from them—if you want to. Just as some day, if you have something to offer, someone will learn something from you. It’s a beautiful reciprocal arrangement. And it isn’t education. It’s history. It’s poetry.”
-J.D. Salinger, The Catcher in the Rye

By: Rob Brayl
For BiggerThanBeyonce.Com

Brokeback Elmo.
Sesame Darko.
The Day After Big Bird.

[Photo: New York Post]

Can you believe that Sesame Street has been around for 40 seasons?! Well, 39. But for their upcoming 40th season, the show has recruited several awesome guests–Jake Gyllenhaal being one on a roster of many that includes Hugh Jackman, Michelle Obama, Adam Sandler, and Cameron Diaz (among others).

Screw grown-up TV, Sesame Street is where it’s at!

Check out a vintage clip of the classic show with the legendary Johnny Cash, below.

By: Rob Brayl
For BiggerThanBeyonce.Com

Yo Kanye, it’s called karma.

The Kanye West / Lady GaGa FAME KILLS Tour is officially dead. <--Go ahead West, eat a piece of the humble pie. It won't hurt you, my friend.

When I first heard that it was official that West & GaGa were planning a tour together (of course with the word FAME in the title, since that’s all they both seem to be obsessed with), I immediately thought it was a bad idea. At the core, Kanye West & Lady GaGa have two very distinct fan bases. I respect and admire the idea of trying to do something different but in the world of mainstream music, the idea of different isn’t generally well received. These are commercial artists acting as if their contributions to music is on an artistic level with that of someone like Bjork. I have mad respect for artists who are passionate about what they do and this is one thing that I actually admire about West & GaGa, but at the end of the day, what is just as important is a personality behind the passion that isn’t warped, drenched in ego, or douchetastic. And as we all know, Kanye has had a hard time of proving to the world that he’s a “good guy” (as Lady GaGa referred to him recently, claiming he felt horrible about his rude plea for attention when he shit on Taylor Swift’s VMA moment).

According to Rolling Stone, speculation of poor sales may be the reason for the tour’s cancellation.

I think Kanye is an incredible lyricist (that is undeniable) but perhaps this will be a lesson to the rapper–don’t kill someone else’s ego just to blow up your own, because what goes around, comes back around. And in this case, FAME (when it goes to your head) DEFINITELY KILLS.

By: Rob Brayl
For BiggerThanBeyonce.Com

I have a great deal of faith in faith — that there’s life after death — because if there isn’t, why are we here? I don’t believe that just flesh and bones can contain from the point of view of physics this very real recorded energy inside of us. Whether it’s true or not, we need to believe it.

–Patrick Swayze
1952 – 2009

He will truly be missed.

By: Rob Brayl
For BiggerThanBeyonce.Com

“People have told me, ‘I am an American citizen because of your brother.’ He wrote them a letter or something. He was just that giving, loving person. And the greatest entertainer there ever was. And is. I hope people get a glimpse of him now, some sort of picture.”

–Janet Jackson, in the new issue of Harpers Bazaar
Her 1st interview since MJ’s tragic death

By: Rob Brayl
For BiggerThanBeyonce.Com

If you’ve ever wanted to sacrifice your hair while drinking Pepsi in memory of Michael Jackon, now is your chance.

I KID!

Kinda.

A few weeks ago, I wrote about the Cult of Michael Jackson because, well, to be honest I thought it was freaky. And after posting the article the Cult emailed me a press release of the Chapel’s opening events:

“Imagine the strife and wars we could solve if we just straightened up and boogied down,” said Rusel Parish, the artist who is now busily designing the chapel. “The Cult of Michael Jackson transcends thousands of years of hate, war, and spiritual prisons of other religions; and instead brings the world into a new order: one of love, soul, funk and pop. We could end the entire world’s suffering and we could literally blame it on the boogie.” <-- TRUE DAT.

The chapel will open during September and October as a place for believers to come, meditate and pay homage to the King of Pop. The opening will be at 6 p.m. on 9.11.09. Come one, come all. Details are as follows:

Chapel
Figureworks
168 North 6th Street
Williamsburg, Brooklyn, NY 11211
Reception 9.11.09 6pm
Open September/October

Official After Party
We Love MJ
Hope Lounge
10 Hope Street
9.11.09 from 9PM – late
BBQ & Drink Specials 9-11 PM
No cover charge

Visit the Cult’s official website here.

By: Rob Brayl
For BiggerThanBeyonce.Com

The Palms Hotel & Casino, where DJ AM played a weekly set at Rain nightclub, blacked out the “P,” “L” and “S” on their sign so that it simply read “AM” after hearing news of his tragic death.

If you’re young (or old) and thinking about trying drugs or feel pressured to do so, know that nothing about drugs or binge drinking is cool. Don’t ever let anyone tell you otherwise. Yes, I’m being your Dad for a day! Now go chug some Kool-Aid and do your homework!

By: Rob Brayl
For BiggerThanBeyonce.Com

LOL ALERT!

As readers of this blog, you know I have mad respect for the King of Pop but this random comment from a fan, posted to Rolling Stone’s article on the just-revealed homicide ruling of MJ made me laugh out loud.

“man wtf? everyone is like who cares – huh?! Man I went to the doctor because I couldn’t sleep and he prescribed me a fucking warm glass of milk before bed! Not a friggin cocktail of malpractice like the one described. Now there is proof this doctor killed the king of pop because of his own weak as piss character. I say lock him up next to Mark Chapman. no, actually better yet: CALLING ALL DEMENTED MICHAEL JACKSON FANS: you know who you are, now is your time to come out of the woodworks and get your revenge! light your torches, grab your pitchforks, track this man down and administer him a lethal dose of fucking whoop ass! I would but i live in Australia.”

–Fan known as AlAl

CREEPER ALERT!

Wanna be creeped out by the demented fans AlAl speaks of? Check out the Cult of Michael Jackson, a church based in Williamsburg, Brooklyn (go figure) that turns MJ lyrics into scripture and then worships those teachings.

By: Rob Brayl
For BiggerThanBeyonce.Com

This past weekend I visited the site of the Apollo Theatre in Harlem to join thousands in a celebration of Michael Jackson’s life. The experience was incredible, a severe adrenaline rush.

Many have asked my favorite work by Michael and I am often surprised at how many people are unaware of this single/video.

One of my favorite jams by the King of Pop is IN THE CLOSET, the seductive video directed by famed photographer Herb Ritts.

“Only Jackson would use that title for a heterosexual love song…”
-The New York Times

“Titillatingly titled” but “determinedly heterosexual.”
-Rolling Stone

Check out IN THE CLOSET as well as SCREAM (another amazing visual feast by the legend below)

PICS & VIDEO from the Apollo to follow shortly.