MY nominees for Best Video of the Year By a Female Artist

If MTV were still relevant at all, maybe Kanye would have complained that there were a ton of videos (including his own "Heartless") that weren't nominated at all.

For the most part, I didn't see anything new in any of the videos nominated. I didn't keep tally of cliches but the number would be pretty high if I did.

I was glad to hear that MTV brought back the Breakthrough Video of the Year category. It disappeared two years ago I think (when Mutemath should have won for "Typical". Alas, the category didn't make it to air though. If you want two of the best videos by female artists you can look at that category. Here are those two, plus Janelle Monae's "Many Moons".

MTV's Nominees for Best Video by a Female Artist

I've been thinking about this Kanye thing & have a really good blog post percolating right now. I just watched all six nominees and as much I like that Beyonce video, I think in some ways it may be the worst of the pack. Check back Thursday for the blog. If I can wait that long to post it.

Now, which do YOU think is best?

P!nk - "So What"
Lady GaGa - "Poker Face"



Kelly Clarkson - "My Life Would Suck Without You"


Katy Perry - "Hot N Cold"


Beyonce - "Single Ladies"


Taylor Swift - "You Belong With Me"

Kanye and Taylor

Made this in December of last year for a post on autotuning vocals. Now, after Kanye West so lovingly interrupted Taylor Swift on MTV's Video Music Awards, it takes on new meaning.

Cover Song of the Week - The Fray Covers Kanye (Video)

The Fray's version of Kanye's "Heartless" was my first post in this series. Here's an excellent fon Vimeo for the studio version of the song. What I wouldn't give for someone to do a video of this quality for a KNAPSACKHEROES! song.

Cover Song of the Week - The Fray Covers Kanye

Here's a new feature to the blog...and yes, I really will try to post a new one every Thursday.

Our first cover is The Fray covering Kanye West's "Heartless". I found it on Kanye's blog. Created the graphic myself though...in case anyone's wondering.

Click here to visit a site where you can listen to and/or download the MP3.

Singing isn't necessary any more.

It doesn't matter what Simon Cowell told you. 2008 was the year we learned that it one no longer needs be able to actually sing in order to have a hit single. Kanye proved that again (twice) last night on SNL.

Oh, don't get me wrong; West's "808's and Heartbreaks" is among my favorite albums of the year. It's just, the man can't sing. T.I. and T-Pain are other rappers who don't actually rap any more but don't actually sing either. It's all about the auto-tune.

It should be stated that though these artists are using auto-tune in a totally new way, hip hop is not the industry that most frequently employs the method. That would probably be country. They just don't make it as obvious. Whereas Kanye wants you to know he's using it, it's mostly live performance and the lack of auto-tune where it becomes (painfully) obvious that Taylor Swift depends heavily upon it in the studio.

So, here I am - a guy who can actually sing. And who cares? Then again, maybe it never mattered. Rolling Stone just named Bob Dylan the 7th greatest singer of all time and I'd say that's pretty accurate.

P.S. There was some auto-tuning on my voice for the KNAPSACKHEROES! EP. I wasn't happy about that.