The Time - "Jungle Love" (forgotten song)

Super Bowl 50 is now in the books.  The game itself was pretty good (if you like defense), but as always there has a been a lot of talk about the halftime show.  Coldplay was ... well, Coldplay.  On paper I "should" like them but wow, I just can't.  I can't even say I dislike them... they're just so boring that I feel nothing at all.

(Full disclosure: I did buy "Parachutes" in 2000, but I honestly can't remember the last time I played it).  Apparently it's cool to hate on Coldplay, so I won't waste any more time with them (although their bit on CBS Sunday Morning did make them seem like pretty decent guys...)

Beyonce caused quite the stir with her contribution (Giuliani inserted himself into the story without even mentioning 9/11!), but I don't have anything to offer there either.

I want to talk about the uninspired inclusion of Bruno Mars (ok, technically "Mark Ronson featuring Bruno Mars").   One, we just had him two years ago.  Two, "Uptown Funk" is over a year old at this point.  Three, doesn't it bother anyone that "Uptown Funk" sounds exactly like "Jungle Love"?  There are a lot of articles that talk about how it sounds like many different funk songs, but to me it sounds identical to The Time's 1984 single from "Ice Cream Castle" and featured prominently in "Purple Rain".  Side note: I didn't realize in the 80s that The Time basically was Prince.  As Danette's college roommate said: "Prince dresses him" (or her, where appropriate).

So I just wanted to take this opportunity to say that for the last year, every time we heard "Uptown Funk" (which was a lot!), Danette and I always said "Jerome bring me my mirror!"

The Time - "Jungle Love"

Beyonce - "Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)" (the song remains the same)

I seem to have a Super Bowl tradition going, so no reason to stop now...

Super Bowl XLVII had Beyonce for the halftime show, and by all accounts it was very successful.  Although I'm not really a Beyonce fan, it did seem like a high-energy show.  It was surprisingly short on guest appearances, so I'll have to do my first (and probably only) Beyonce post.

She performed several of her big hits including "Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)", which is probably her biggest hit, crossing over into many other genres.  You've heard it countless times before, but did you know that:

• the iconic dance routine is based on 1969's "Mexican Breakfast"?
• it is the basis of a SNL skit with Justin Timberlake?
• there are not one but two bluegrass versions?  The Cleverlys and The Pigs
• The Daily Show featured a mariachi version?
• it was slowed down by Sara Bareilles?
• just for Danette's benefit*, Liza Minnelli did a version?
• it was used as an example in an NPR piece about how video making has changed?

I find the last bit the most interesting: rather than the theatrical, complex arrangements of 1983's Thriller, which was meant to be viewed on a large screen TV, modern videos are optimized for smaller, mobile devices.  This means lots of flashing lights, centering framing, and facial close-ups.  The contrast with Michael Jackson is interesting, because it was his 1993 halftime show that launched the current practice of A-list performers.  Prior to that, you were more likely to see "Up With People" at halftime (seriously, look it up). 

Now that you've learned about how the viewing devices influence video making, take another look:

Beyonce: "Single Ladies"

Enjoy it because Super Bowl XLVIII might not have a halftime show (however, I'm betting they do).




* Aside from the obvious icon status, Danette completely doesn't get Liza Minnelli.