Jai Ho vs. Jai NO!

I would just like to express my disdain regarding an unfortunate sight I witnessed yesterday when I received an email from a friend.  I would soon find that it contained a very disturbing video.  My mouse hovered over the link, and with one click, I was face to face with something horrific.  It was much to my dismay that I found myself watching the remixed version of  “Jai Ho”… performed by the PUSSYCAT DOLLS.

It’s not that their version sounds bad or anything, it just saddens me that in order for mainstream pop culture to accept this song, it has to be redone by a current pop sensation.  In this instance, I feel like the scantily clad Dolls are dumbing down an already amazing piece of music.  I really don’t think it was necessary to modernize/Americanize/Nicole Scherzinger-ize the song.  I mean, it won an Oscar, so enough people obviously liked it the way it was!

Maybe I’m crazy, but check out the two versions below and let me know what YOU think…

• *NOTE**  If you haven’t seen the movie, I suggest you stop watching the original at around 3:15, as to not give away the ending.

The film version:

And the Pussycat Doll version:

Slumdog Millionaire: A Must See

Looking for something to rent this weekend?  Don’t waste your time in line at Blockbuster…go buy this one!

Top 5 Reasons You Need To See Slumdog Millionaire (In No Particular Order)

1.     It not only won Best Picture at the Academy Awards, but snagged 7 additional Oscars as well.

2.       The music is excellent.  One of the aforementioned Oscars was for best original song, and there are a slew of other catchy tunes on the soundtrack.

3.     The final scene includes a really cool dance number featuring the cast and the Oscar winning song “Jai Ho.”

4.     Dev Patel (Jamal) and Freida Pinto (Latika) make an excellent pair.  (In celebrity gossip news, Perez Hilton and company are saying that Pinto dumped her fiancée for Patel.  Hmm…)

5. It’s an uplifting story of love, heartbreak and destiny, and I promise you won’t be sorry after watching it.

In case you haven’t seen the trailer before, here it is:

Unwigged and Unplugged in Detroit

“It’s like how much more black could this be?  And the answer is none.  None more black.”

Quick, name that movie!  If you haven’t got it from that one, I’ll give you another clue:

“These go to eleven.”

I hope that the light bulb has gone off by now, but if not, I’m referring to the classic that is Spinal Tap.  For those of you who are Tap ignorant, the film is a rockumentary/mockumentary of the band Spinal Tap, made up of David St. Hubbins (Michael McKean), Nigel Tufnel (Christopher Guest) and Derek Smalls (Harry Shearer).  A summary does not do this comedic masterpiece justice, so you’re just going to have to watch for yourself!  If you haven’t seen it, I suggest you finish reading this and sprint to your nearest video store immediately.

First released in 1984, this year marks the 25^th rockin’ anniversary of Spinal Tap’s inception, and to celebrate, its three stars are embarking on a 30 city tour.

Coined Unwigged and Unplugged, the tour features actors/directors/musicians Christopher Guest, Michael McKean and Harry Shearer.  Not only did all three appear in Spinal Tap, but the trio have stuck together for several films directed by Guest, including Waiting for Guffman, Best in Show, A Mighty Wind and For Your Consideration.

One of the best aspects of this show is that it isn’t solely a Spinal Tap reunion.  The three friends will be performing songs from A Mighty Wind as well, and apparently there are a few surprises in store.

The “unwigged” and “unplugged” part refers to the laid back vibe of the tour.  Seeing as how the guys are getting up there in age, they’ve decided to nix the wigs and electric guitars, and just perform as themselves.  As they say on the official Unwigged and Unplugged website, “Think of the evening as three old friends jamming in your living room.”

To give you a taste of the film, here’s a clip:

Unwigged and Unplugged kicks off on April 17 and runs for six weeks.  Guest, McKean and Shearer are coming to Detroit’s Fox Theatre on May 29^th, so be sure to get your tickets fast!  I’ve got mine, and am counting down the days until I will be sitting in the second row, wearing my Nigel Tufnel-inspired skeleton t-shirt. (65, in case you were wondering).

Everybody look at me, cause I’m sailing on a boat!

It seems as though everyone is taking to the seas these days.  Whether it be college kids going on spring break or comedians and rap stars collaborating to make a hilarious music video, sailing is the cool thing to do.  I don’t know about you, but I would love to spend my spring break on a boat with Andy Samberg, Akiva Schaeffer and T-Pain.

If it’s not the guys of The Lonely Island, it’s one celebrity or another sailing off to their private island in some exotic locale on their personal yacht.  If you are lucky enough to be boarding a cruise ship over break, you may just pass Diddy, Bono, or Tiger Woods on the open water.

Now I am no expert on yachts or anything of that nature, and I’m not even going to pretend like I am.  I am slightly more educated now than I was a few weeks ago though, thanks to my brother bringing me a magazine back from a boat show he attended for work.  Initially, I would have been perplexed.  I read People, not Boat USA International. But then he informed me that Johnny Depp’s yacht was on the cover, and it all made perfect sense.

Depp’s yacht, the Vajoliroja (say it fast and pronounce it correctly and it sounds like “The Jolly Roger”), is exquisitely furnished with custom window coverings, patterned leather and Italian velvets.  Fun fact about the boat’s name, it’s a combination of Johnny’s name, along with girlfriend Vanessa and their kids, Lily Rose and Jack.

The pictures in the magazine are extremely impressive, yet many of them cannot be found online, so I’m going to have to go with the few I can locate:

Vajoliroja

The interior

While I myself am heading off to the windy city for spring break, if any of you are going anywhere towards the Mediterranean, keep an eye out…you just might spot a celebrity the next boat over!