Anand's Place: December 2005

Never Walk Backwards

Mt. Tolmie

Erich's Rants

Now I don't often bother with reading other people's rants. Usually, they're just too tedious and not funny enough. But this Erich guy wrote a couple of good ones in a political vein, that nicely capture my attitude towards politics (in case anybody is wondering)...enjoy!

http://ruthlessreviews.com/radio/rush.html
http://ruthlessreviews.com/rants/erich/liberalvagina.html

"I say we sing, and our producer says we sing. If we were not singing, who was in the studio?"

The correct answer is "Charles Shaw, JohnDavis and Brad Howe." (Not pictured.)

Hahahahahahaha! Check the date on this article. It's from before the "scandal" broke.

http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1077/is_n9_v45/ai_9107951

Milli Vanilli: creating controversy and platinum records
Ebony, July, 1990 by Aldore Collier

MILLI VANILLI: Creating Controversy And Platinum Records
IN 1986, Fabrice Morvan, an aspiring dancer from Paris, France, went to Los Angeles for a dance seminar. During the same week, Robert Pilatus, an aspiring musician from Munich, West Germany, happened to be in Los Angeles visiting a close friend.
Whether it was luck or destiny, the two strangers ended up at the same local night spot at the same time. Though there were hundreds in the club, the two noticed each other because of their European style of dress. They became instant friends, and Pilatus managed to convince Morvan to move to Germany and work on a musical project with him. The two soon formed the duo now called Milli Vanilli.
After their initial musical efforts misfired, the two caught the attention of Arista Records president Clive Davis, who happened to be in Germany a year ago. Their debut album, Girl, You Know It's True, sold 10 million copies worldwide, 7 million in the United States alone. They won several American Music Awards and the 1990 Grammy Award as best new artists.
Morvan, 23, says the name Milli Vanilli came from a series of promotional nights the two sponsored at a club in Munich. "We rented a club and on Mondays, we organized milli night for Turkish customers," he says. "In Turkish, milli means positive energy. Vanilli is just a fantasy name. We decided to put them together."

Rarely has a group moved to the top of the charts as fast as Milli Vanilli. Nor has a group generated as much negative ink so quickly. They have been accused of preferring White women to Blacks, of homosexuality and arrogance. Time magazine said they sound like chipmunks, comic Arsenio Hall has taken a few jabs at them and music critics for Rolling Stone and People magazines trashed their album.
Stung by the intensity of the criticism, Pilatus says: "It's depressing and sad. Maybe some are afraid a bit because we have crossover. Other people get jealous. We don't want to have controversy. Like Arsenio Hall, we've never talked to him or seen him. We wonder why he's attacking us."
As for their music, he says you either "like it or not. We never tried to provoke anybody. We just want to stand on our own four feet. We are very outspoken and we are not typical stars who think they are better than other people and sit back and lose the feeling of life. I think some people have lost the feeling of life. If they get too successful, they get paranoid and have bodyguards around. We have no bodyguards. We try to live our own lives. We go out and dance. Sometimes, we get drunk. I'm not too high to learn from other people."
Black women have charged that the duo only uses White women in their videos. Pilatus and Morvan point out, however, that their initial videos featured Black women. The last two videos were shot overseas and the pair did not select the background dancers. They have promised to use more Black women in future videos.
To the charge that they do not sing on their records, Pilatus says it is the result of a disgruntled former background singer trying to destroy them and help his own musical career. "Now, everybody says we don't sing," he adds. "I say we sing, and our producer says we sing. If we were not singing, who was in the studio?"
Their legions of fans appear to be oblivious to the media panning. The duo is currently traversing the country on a 107-city tour. They will take some time off before deciding how to handle their follow-up album. Their success has not gone unnoticed by the powers-that-be in Hollywood; the two are also looking over acting possibilities.
Milli Vanilli's look - which includes unforgettably long braids, spandex outfits and occasionally thigh-high boots - gets as much press as their music. Pilatus, 24, is very happy about that, for their hair is a part of his marketing strategy. He says that most superstars are known for their hair, including Michael Jackson, James Brown, the Beatles and Prince.
In addition to marketing, Pilatus says the long braids are also a symbol of their pride in their African heritage. "People don't realize, especially, in the states, that we took something that, years before, our forefathers in Africa had. They had braids. We are doing what our forefathers did. For us, it is the easiest thing to do to make Black beautiful without changing anything about our faces, our Black nature. We picked up an old tradition."
The duo's ethnic backgrounds have also been the subject of much discussion. Pilatus was born in New York City, the son of a Black American serviceman and a German dancer. After spending almost five years in an orphanage, he and an adoptive sister were placed in the home of a White couple in Munich. Morvan's parents are from the Caribbean. He and his younger sister and brother were born and raised in Paris.
Aside from having been an orphan, Pilatus says his childhood was frustrating and traumatic because of deep cultural differences. "My adoptive father was an engineer and my mother a housewife," he says. "The problem was my father, who is now 64. He didn't want his kids to dress well. He didn't want us to watch American television or American movies, no comic strips. So, I was a lonely guy. All the kids at school could look at Tarzan or Lassie. I couldn't. I had an identification problem with my schoolmates. I was an outsider. If they bought a new jacket that was really good looking, I wanted it. But, I would get a parka because they cover the kidneys well. But, for me, a Black guy in a White population who didn't have any identification, I was handicapped. There were Black servicemen around but I didn't speak English. I spoke a little, broken English. Because I had a German passport, I couldn't go to the American embassy to get American products like curl activator, Magic Shave, the stuff you need. I couldn't even get a comb for my Afro until late." He says he doesn't blame his parents. "They just didn't understand."
On stage, the two are a picture of unity. Offstage, however, they appear to have little in common, except a love for dance. According to Morvan, "We have different types of personalities. I am quiet and he is outspoken. French people are more reserved. I still am reserved. It is the right mixture."
Pilatus, who does most of the talking, agrees. "He's the more balanced guy. I'm more the business guy. He's the quiet guy and I'm the loud guy. He is mellow and I am aggressive."
Pilatus describes their sound as international, not European as some critics have said. "We like to combine rap and soul," he says. "And we adapt it in a way that learns from American soul artists and rap artists. We have different outfits and different styles. We're not totally rap. We're melody rap."
Last August, Pilatus and Morvan left Europe and moved to Beverly Hills, where they share a home. As their free time is minimal, the two say their social lives are not what they could be. Morvan is not dating at present. Pilatus has a steady but openly wonders if their rigorous tour schedule will adversely affect the relationship. For now, he says he will sacrifice the money and fly her to tour dates whenever possible.
Reflecting on the numerous, dramatic changes that have occurred in their lives over the last couple of years, Pilatus says they have learned that "whatever happens in life that doesn't kill you, makes you stronger."
PHOTO : Teen idols Fab Morvan (I.) and Rob Pilatus have skyrocketed to musical success as the singing sex symbols, Milli Vanilli. Their debut LP, Girl You Know It's True, has sold 7 million copies, with videos and concert appearances helping to promote their European style of dress and ethnic hairdos.
PHOTO : Exuberant fans fill the concert hall at a recent Milli Vanilli concert in Philadelphia. The international duo appeal to young people of all races, yet their sound is based in rhythm and blues. They sign autographs for fans.
PHOTO : The presentation of platinum records for the success of Milli Vanilli's debut LP, Girl, You Know It's True, is done by Arista Records president Clive Davis (second, I.), as Sandy Gallin, manager of the duo, and Pilatus and Morvan look on. The singers (below) take a few moments out to enjoy the company of another successful singer, Jermaine Jackson, during a Los Angeles party held in their honor.
COPYRIGHT 1990 Johnson Publishing Co.COPYRIGHT 2004 Gale Group

The Big Man

It's time to recognize the guy who started it all. He was there when I made my first post (see for yourself), and though I have never met him, his spirit guides me on this journey called life. I am of course talking about the one, the only....DAVID HASSELHOFF! Here are some pictures of the great man. Enjoy, my minions!

MIDI 4LIFE

Hahahah, the midi version of Hulk Hogan's entrance music....somebody actually programmed this in, hhahahahahahah! http://www.fortunecity.com/olympia/mcmahon/48/realamerican.mid

Oh yeah, look at this.

Anyone remember this site?

http://www.ikissyou.org/

It's old, but it's pure gold.

Jen Says

Jen Says that I haven't been updating this thing as frequently as I should be. She is right. (Don't tell her that.) She also says that she checks my blog all the time because it is so cool. Heh heh, so true, it is a wonder to behold, no doubt.

Well I don't have much to say in terms of things that are actually interesting, but in the true spirit of blawging, I'm posting anyways. Let's see now...

I worked this week. Yay!
Sometimes I get tired and/or bored.
As part of the training for my new job, in the last 2 weeks, I have crammed a 4-inch-thick binder full of tax laws into my head. (Please try not to visualise). That couldn't have anything to do with the previous point, could it?
My other job at Grouse is fun.
I am good at stuff.
I think it's ok to swear, if that's what you want to do. Just make sure you do it well, nobody likes an incompetent pottymouth.
Clorets gum will make your tongue turn green when you chew it (the gum, duh).
I like playing music with my bands.
Go to www.soundclick.com/motoeblizzid to check out Motoe's new tracks. I've played bass on a bunch of these...enjoy!
Strapping Young Lad rool's! Trust me, they're better than you can possibly imagine. To learn more about the world's greatest metal band, go here: http://www.strappingyounglad.com/SYLindex.html
When it comes to the great Rap vs. Metal debate....uhhh, fuck it. I like anything that's good.
Your mom, hehehe. I said "your mom."
Alright, fuck all that shit. Here's some leftover photos.