Category Archives: Music

2012 Grammys: Let’s Break It Down

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I don’t know how the rest of you feel, but here at in a nutshell, we believe a night like the Grammys deserves a gathering. As one of those programs that leaves you marveling, toe tapping, sniffling, tweeting and vigorously mentally jotting down new sounds – this jam-packed event is bound to cause a little conversation and a little action. And so, in true Grammys style, four of the five nuts assembled to take part in our own living room awards show bash – a hilarious night that featured our male correspondent @Bakkesy and his sidekick partner-in-crime @JamesMay021, as well as outrageous up-to-the-second witty commentary, hilarious cyber-bantering with our Toronto nut, snacks, bevvies and one thousand laughs. And in between all of that, some very interesting things in music happened.

As obviously just a little bit of a music nut, the Grammys are without a doubt my favourite night in television. My thoughts on the evening are best re-iterated through something country veteran Reba McEntire’s noted promptly upon presenting an early performance – how it really is the one evening on television when musicians of all ages, all backgrounds and all genres congregate to celebrate the most powerful thing in the world and, in my mind, the most uniting – music.

So, in order to re-celebrate music’s biggest night from the home front – let’s take a happy peak back at the some of the memorable events that made this monumental 54th Grammy Awards something of a spectacle. If you’re looking for the negative, I’m sure you’ll have no shortage of re-caps to find out any blunders – but in the mean time, here are some of the pleasant happenings:

TOP TEN MEMORABLE 2012 GRAMMY MOMENTS:

1) Jennifer Hudson’s Whitney Houston Tribute: Well, this performance was inevitably bound to cripple every single spectator watching – no matter how black anyone’s lump of coal heart is when it comes to the great vocalist who passed suddenly just one day before the broadcast. Hudson, undoubtedly one of the most talented performers of our generation, took the stage to solemnly perform Houston’s hit single from The Bodyguard’s greatest-selling soundtrack of all time, “I Will Always Love You,” and proved immediately she couldn’t have been a better choice to sing the weighty tribute. Before impeccably bellowing each note, maintaining her composure despite being brought to tears during rehearsals and raising the audience to their feet – Hudson’s initial uttering of the opening “If I should stay…” was already cause to have this blissful tribute go down in history as one of the most powerful ever.


2) Adele’s Straight-Up Sweep of Her Categories: Can we really be surprised? I made the mistake of trying to share the love in my Grammy pool picks, when I should have known better – she is unstoppable and completely deserving following her exemplary year in music. This shining vocalist and humble doll of a performer was the ideal inductee into the megastar Grammy-sweeping hall of fame, winning all six of her nominated categories (including Song and Record of the Year – a rare double-win), and sparkling as that undeniably gigantic voice who might ease the pain of having recently lost another one. Aside from her clean sweep and modest on-stage acceptance speeches, Adele brought the brought the house down during her performance of the reprimanding break-up favourite “Rolling in the Deep” – an effortless act that proved a little throat surgery can’t stop this magnificent new icon.

3) LL Cool J hosting: My appreciation for LL and his ever-present cap? Surprisingly heightened following his calm and collected role as host of this year’s show. As we all observed, he only really introduced artists and presenters briefly – but when he pointed out that “This night is about something universal and healing; this night is about music,” outdated newsboy caps around the world went off to him.

4) Bruno Mars Being Something of a Superstar: I have to say, this little jazzed-up boy wonder and his Doo Wops and Hooligans trendy troop really impressed me. The bullhorn toss, the fancy James Brown-reminiscent footwork, sharp outfits and a whole lot of love for the 60s were only a few of the items that wowed me during the new kid on the block’s pumped-up presentation. Obviously pulling moves and costume looks out of the tickle trunk left over from days as a toddler Elvis impersonator – Mars’ overall new-meets-old concept had us grooving in our seats.

5) Foo Fighters…the first time around: I love the boys of Foo, and pity the Foos who don’t. After decades of absolutely searing stages with thumping drum solos, electric riffs and Dave Grohl’s infinite growl, I love to see that they’re still able to rouse a crowd, young and old, the way they do. Anyone who’s seen them live can attest to their explosive rock execution, and despite the fact that I didn’t think they needed to be on stage four times throughout the show, I was very pleased to see them  up there the first time – and a second with our favourite spin-savvy Canadian rodent, DeadMau5.

6) Old Timers For The Win: People are often astonished when some of the more elderly rockers can still bring the masses to their feet, race across stages and rip a guitar solo that someone twenty years their junior might struggle with. I never am. Although I realize that their physicality might be limiting as the years go on (unless you’re Mick Jagger and have chugged from the fountain of muscle elasticity and youth) – the old boys of rock ‘n roll, the founders and the contributors to the greatness of the genre will always have that ability deep-rooted in their soul. Talent like that doesn’t fade; Sir Paul McCartney doesn’t forget those feisty guitar licks from his days as a Beatle or Wing, Joe Walsh and Springsteen absolutely recall how to full-body jam and the Beach Boys don’t overlook how their voices still sound like songbirds when harmonically paired together. And I’m so very thankful for that – for these icons who still grace us with their presence on stage, and help us remember that musical ability and the passion to share it is timeless.



7) Bon Iver Is. The. Champion: Justin Vernon…where do I begin? His breakthrough band, Bon Iver, is one of my greatest musical loves – and until I got to finally see them this past summer, life was really just a tad incomplete. Not only winning Best Alt-Rock album, but beating a slew of trendy new stars like Nicki Minaj and J.Cole to win Best New Artist, Bon Iver humbly thanked a lengthy list of special people including “Katie” (folk goddess girlfriend Kathleen Edwards), the musical talent that couldn’t be there, as well as the voters who he commended for the “sweet hook-up.” Genius musician, hilarious man.

8) Rihanna’s Scorching Performance/Appearance: Men (and women) everywhere were without a doubt zeroed in on RiRi as the “only girl in the world” during both her solo and Coldplay collaboration performance on stage. Stunning attire that unbashfully showed off her banging bod and fashion fearlessness absolutely garnered a few fist pumps out of us ladies; the cherry on top being that her voice sounded top-notch and her feminine confidence was infectious.

9) The Civil Wars Break Onto The Big Stage and Nab Two Wins: Although this powerhouse duo from Nashville, Tennessee are still mildly under the radar – their undeniable country/folk talent and breathtaking debut album are, in my mind, more than enough cause to have them up on that stage (even if only for a brief snippet of their hit song) and winning awards. These two will absolutely stand the test of time, and if you haven’t had the chance to listen to them in full, please do – they’ll twang and two-step you into oblivion.

10) The Boss [pronounced baw-s or bow-s]: Defined as – master of or over; manage; direct; control. Sounds about right. Bruce Springsteen, the best for last, the clear holder of this title and opening act of the big show, was once quoted saying, “We’re here to re-dedicate you to the Power, the Passion, the Mystery and the Ministry of Rock ‘N Roll.” In the Church of LL, who promptly noted that Springsteen still writes his music “for the people,” I only have one response in agreement with Preacher Cool J – Amen.

 

What was your favourite performance of the night? Grammy Moment? Outfit? Blunder? Exorcist re-enactment? Let us know and comment below! (Rhyming? Maybe next year is my year in the rap category…)

Sources (1,2,3)

The New Woman

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“I’m obsessively opposed to the typical.”

I’ll give you one guess as to which outrageous megastar lives by those words. Protruding cheek bones, male alter-egos, fluorescent wigs, girl-on-girl stage appearances and egg capsule transportation are only a few of the shock effects flaunted by artists like Lady Gaga, Katy Perry, Ms. Spears and Aguilera as methods of enhancing their “craft” and pledging continued allegiance to the above quote. Performers, they are – there isn’t a doubt about that. Nor is there a doubt about the mark they’ve made on the industry.

But let’s set talk of the veterans aside to take attendance in the newest school of female-driven pop, hip-hop and rock; a class of equally impossible to ignore lady characters sporting similar neon uniforms, bejeweled nails, curious histories and alluring pouts – taunting men and women alike, probably already bored with the first period of this new journey. Aside from also possessing the common denominator in the rise and allure of award-winning female pop artists in the past four decades – flashy clothes, on-stage domination and pin-up potential – this brood of bad girl up-and-comers has a few other things they’re dreaming up. Rich songwriting, undeniable vocal talent, troubled dark sides and two middle fingers to anyone who thinks otherwise, to name a few.

This A-team of bad girls might not be mainstream paparazzi preoccupied, might put their foot in their mouths more than once, but they’ve got depth as well. They’re confusing and challenging – elements that might sustain them during an inevitably bumpy and long journey to the top. But they’re real, real things last – and what’s real is going to rule the school.

Thanks to the digital age – an era filled with devices, footage, access and heightened connectedness – the general population is, for the most part, unbelievably desensitized to sights and sounds that would have had our grandparents throwing their TV dinners off their laps and boycotting Ed Sullivan, and television, for life. The fact that in this day and age we’re hungry media consuming robots who are accustomed to short clicks and flicks that could lead to imagery blinding us with inappropriateness – is old news to you and me. We’re so rarely surprised, hardly shocked and most interestingly – we’re expecting the next wardrobe malfunction, on-stage intercourse simulation and racy lyric – so naturally, the bar has been raised, and the past twenty years have seen the rise of the performer, the scandal and jolting personas like Madge, Gaga and Spears. But even these acclaimed performers are hard to be surprised by anymore. Funnily enough, what’s surprising nowadays is when the good performer, the spectacle and the vixen – writes, sings and performs a thought-provoking or meaningful concept. Maybe it’s not fireworks and rhyming “love” with “above” – but creatively impressive elixirs like “depth” and “songwriting” go beyond the average near-naked performance and are like oil to this rusty and unphased robot spectator.

Enter Lana Del Rey – the subject of so much media scrutiny and intrigue. At first, seemingly a YouTube sensation with no real explanation, we wondered – was she Lizzy Grant, a pouty Lake Placid native with organic and haunting sounds, who self-coined her vampy persona the “Gangster Nancy Sinatra”? Or was she a manufactured project from the start – timed meticulously to enter with a predictable indie bang that would quickly translate into the mainstream limelight, and then lose its cool? Maybe a bit of both. Her talent, intrigue, and character – regardless of who thought it up – paired with chancy songs, chilling melodies, semi-confusing motivation and dark charm have made her the new spectacle. Her nearly motionless performance sway, although unlike a flashy choreographed dance routine, could be her image. Her album isn’t called Born This Way, it’s called Born To Die, and along with her obsession with Chateau Marmont and old, sad Hollywood glamour – we’re still trying to figure out why. With only a shallow pocket full of captivating songs – she, like the other vamps before her, has people talking. And that’s the point, isn’t it?

Swing on over to Maya Arulpragasam – or British emcee MIA – another ostentatious bad girl experimenting with bigger beats than some male counterparts, boasting a cocky tough persona and flipping the bird during the Superbowl halftime show. Having moved between Sri Lanka and the UK, laying claim to “more records than the KGB” and collaborating with hot shots who she would argue she’s hotter than – she’s often the definition of a sore thumb in female empowered mainstream hip-hop. Throw in Nicki Minaj, whose showy appearance and mainstream performance-style often gets grouped with those less intriguing than her, is musically like a cold splash of water after years of praying for fresh. It’s as if she breathed life into the scene; she may have children in tutus reciting her lines to Ellen Degeneres – but does her hard-hitting presence as the only woman on all-male collaboration tracks always sit easy in the ears? Absolutely not. She doesn’t hold back, she spits nastier rhymes than you’d think capable of such a petite, soft-featured woman – and next to her, the boys have stepped it up.

Kimbra, a 21 year-old hailing from New Zealand and making waves as part of Gotye’s indie hit “Somebody That I Used To Know”, is destined to be everything but a wing girl. This Nina Simon-inspired, smoky soul artist knows how to put her old voice to a big beat – something that’s beyond her years, something that’s fated for bigger fame. Her unconventional performances, quirky and inventive song concepts and exuded confidence are evidence she’s ready to roll with the big guns – and write a song that will make you dance and make you think. Imagine that. The late Amy Winehouse and ladies like Lykke Li, Florence, Cat Power, Zola Jesus have had other paths for themselves, and other sounds for us. Hallelujah.

The list goes on. Welcome to the new age and the new mainstream woman. We’re slowly peeling away our desensitized layers because we’re ready to feel something from music again, something that makes us proud. We want a song that we look up the lyrics to. We want to dance to something because it makes us feel good – and because we’re dancing for what it stands for also. This growing gang of new girls on the block are equipped with the words, looks and moves to make that kind of historical impact on music – and even though they might be a little dangerous, a little weird and a little different at times, a lot of change has never been a bad thing.

Monday Movie Music Moment

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500 Days of Summer

Now, I know I’m a girl…but that doesn’t mean I can’t understand the large role that Zooey Deschanel plays in shaping most men’s vision of the ideal woman. The girl is smart, funny, cool, sweet, can sing, can act – and much, much more. I get it. We get it. She’s a major cutie and a very cool chick.

So, I think most women also understood (and LOVED) the use of Hall and Oates’ addictive 80s hit “You Make My Dreams Come True” in explaining Joseph Gordon-Levitt’s elation after finally sleeping with her, the object of his affection, in the film 500 Days of Summer.

The concept of this scene itself is to die for. In the film, Tom (Gordon-Levitt) might be considered average in every way, but is wholeheartedly lovestruck when it comes to a desirable new employee at his office, Summer Finn (Deschanel) – the typically sought-after romantic pessimist who ends up giving a shot to the dorky leading man. Without giving too much away about the ups and downs of this offbeat romantic-comedy, I’ll say that Tom’s obsession and idolized vision of Summer is certainly strong enough to push him to the point of breaking into song and dance after finally spending a night with her. The perfect song choice, knee-slapping interjections (his glancing into a car window to find his reflection a handsome Harrison Ford) and a toe-tapping dance routine are just some of the flavourful ingredients for a memorable song and dance number in a contemporary film that will stand the test of time.

Enjoy! And hopefully you’re all crazy enough about your guy or gal to break into choreographed, big band dance numbers after date nights…

 

Winterfest, in a nutshell.

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“Music is the ultimate vibration. It unites us regardless of colour or creed and moves us.” – Moka Only

Saturday, the nuts were out in full force supporting the hip hop festival, Winterfest, which sought to highlight local and national acts and prove that Ottawa’s hip hop scene is anything less than boring. And, as I’m sure all the other attendants would agree, Winterfest’s goal was achieved. Over the course of the day and night, crowds in big numbers flooded through the doors of Oliver’s Pub and Patio on Carleton University Campus to take in the live acts and celebrate the hard work and determination of those who have committed to making music their careers.

One of the most enjoyable aspects of being involved with this event, was getting to know the artists on a personal level. While hip hop has a reputation of being aggressive, with artists having tough on-stage personas, the attitude off-stage was often gracious and humbled by the outpouring of support by the local community. For example, Loretta House didn’t just open the show with a bang, they also thanked us for supporting the event and let Catherine have the last slice of pepperoni pizza at lunch. It doesn’t get much better than that.

We knew that acts like Spitten Image and Philly Moves would hold it down like they have in the past, but we were also pleasantly surprised by the performances of acts we hadn’t seen prior to the event. We were blown away when Teddy KGB starting rhyming as fast as Twista. We loved being part of the boisterous crowd that crowded the stage during Dallas Waldo’s set. We all instantly related to the emotion that was felt during Keisha Williams and S.C.R.I.P.T’s collaborations. And, we instantly became members of #TeamSwagg as soon as SwaggStar hit the stage.

This event had so many great elements, but it’s a no-brainer when it comes to picking my favourite part. Winterfest united 4 out of 5 of us nuts all day and all night, and that’s what it was all about; bringing people together. I don’t think that there’s anything in the world that’s better, than taking in great music with your best friends…in a nutshell.

Monday TV Music Moment

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One of the things that I love about modern technology: TV on DVD. While I love curling up with a good movie, there’s something great about having an entire season of television at your fingertips. I think the brilliance lies in the immediacy of it all – finally, the weeklong anticipation is eliminated and we get to see what happens RIGHT away. One of the series that I never get sick of is Grey’s Anatomy. (Hello, musical godsend!) Grey’s Anatomy is well known for launching the music careers of the bands that they feature into stardom, and in the case of today’s very special Television music moment, that’s exactly what happened.

Grey’s Anatomy revolves around the many trials and tribulations faced by a group of doctors and interns at Seattle Grace Hospital. After the first season’s finale episode left viewers in disbelief when it was revealed that the seemingly perfect boyfriend of lead character Meredith Grey had a wife, season two picked up even more drama-fueled than it left off. All season we see Dr. Derek Shepard (appropriately nicknamed McDreamy) torn between his head and his heart; Addison or Meredith. Meanwhile, Meredith tries to move on with veterinarian, Finn Hudson (McVet). Talk about an awkward love square.

And if that square weren’t enough, insert a love triangle into the mix. When Dr. Izzie Stevens falls in love with a transplant patient, she simultaneously ends her relationship with Dr. Alex Karev. Following one of the most intense and highly illegal medical endeavours displayed on the show, Izzie succeeds in saving her new man’s life, much to the chagrin of Dr. Karev.

All of these plot lines combust in the second season’s finale, when the characters are at the hospital for, what else, but a prom. Derek and Meredith get together again, unable to deny their chemistry and passion any longer. Izzie finds her new fiancé to be dead from a complication of his procedure. Snow Patrol’s ballad “Chasing Cars” plays perfectly into the background as we see Izzie mourning her loss and leaving her job as a surgeon. The song swells one last time as Derek and Finn both say, “Meredith?” signaling for her to join them. Its final melody plays out as the camera pans to Meredith’s face and then fades to black, which, at the time left millions of viewers in a frenzy over who she would choose, once and for all…

Winterfest: The Wait is Over!

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For those of you who follow our little blog that could, you know that over the course of the past month we have posted multiple artist features, highlighting some of the phenomenal hip hop talent that Ottawa has to offer. As much as we love these artists on their own, there is a bigger picture that links them all together, and links them to us. That link is Winterfest, and thankfully the wait is almost over.

Winterfest is a one of a kind event being thrown by CKCU-FM, Canada’s first campus-based community radio station on Carleton University campus, which seeks to provide an environment to celebrate all that hip hop culture has to offer our wonderful city. While Ottawa may be known as, “the place where fun comes to die,” Winterfest is definitely an example of how off the mark this stereotype is. An all-day, all-night event that will not only feature a plethora of live performances by the city’s biggest and up and coming performers, Winterfest will also feature live-art demonstrations, a showcase on fashion to fit the hip-hop lifestyle and much, much more.

The response to the event has been overwhelming, with acts from around the country and an array of sponsors signing up to be a part of this one of a kind festival. Indeed, the interest in the event has been so positive, that a ‘Jump-Off Showcase’ has been announced for the evening prior (THIS Friday January 20th, 2012) featuring industry legend, Moka Only, heavy-hitter from Brooklyn, Pumpkinhead, Ottawa’s Favourite Live Act, Philly Moves and more. This intimate setting will kick off a weekend that is sure to be a huge success.

Make sure that if you don’t already have your tickets, you pick them up soon. With approximately 1100 listed as ‘Attending’ on Winterfest’s Facebook page, I’m sure it’ll be a sold out crowd at Oliver’s Pub. We at inanutshell couldn’t be more excited to take in all that Winterfest has to offer, and we will be covering the event this Saturday January 21st. Follow us on twitter for our live-tweeting and make sure to come and find us in person!

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NEED TICKETS? (Come by and say hi!)

The day-time portion of Winterfest is open to all-ages and the general public. The night-time portion is 19+ (with valid ID), where members of the general public must be signed in by a student.

Pick up your tickets in person @
Oliver’s Pub – 1125 Colonel By Drive, Ottawa 
Mama Cee – 8-1020 St. Laurent Blvd, Ottawa
Reap & Sew – 401 Dalhousie St. Ottawa 
Fall Down Gallery – 288 Bank St. Ottawa
Top of the World – 158 Rideau St, Ottawa 
Vertigo Records – 193 Rideau St, Ottawa

Get tickets ONLINE or BY PHONE @
www.ticketweb.ca / (866)662-3449

Making Big Moves

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It’s a given that when performing in your hometown – the city you grew up in – you’re going to be fortunate to have friends, curious acquaintances and long-time supporters attend your local gigs. You likely won’t step onto a stage for the first time in the same shoes as 8 Mile‘s B-Rabbit – knees weak, arms heavy and a mishap with Mom’s spaghetti – to a booing crowd awaiting your failure. Your hometown, your roots, your backbone – are often your biggest fans. And that’s what Ottawa is to Philly Moves; it’s the reason they’ve sold out shows, risen to local hip-hop fame and are growing to national notoriety. They admittedly owe the nation’s capital everything they’ve got.

With that being said, the two-part rap force and their fans must acknowledge that they aren’t just ‘good for Ottawa’. They’re good, even very good, for anywhere.

In 2009, when the duo – composed of MC Tynan “Tragic” Phelan and Producer Jon “Rockwell” Desilva – naively distributed their first album to college stations across the country hoping for airplay, but received no response – they were understandably discouraged. Months later, the pair picked up the phone to inquire and unbeknownst to them, the album had been charting on both coasts since they submitted. Their national fan base, after only their first shot at laying down beats together, had grown right beneath their nose in a matter of months.

Again, last year, the two worked overtime to remind their fans to vote for them as Faces Magazine’s “Favourite Band in Ottawa”. They won. Little did they know, without any coercion or social media marketing, they had simultaneously received another people’s choice-style accolade from Metro News as “Ottawa’s Favourite Live Act”.

“This has all taken off very fast,” says Tynan “Tragic” Phelan, rubbing his forehead to show his own disbelief. “I think the reason we’ve generated so much hype is because we’re so busy. We engage fans one-on-one, we nearly burnt ourselves out performing this summer…there’s no time for people to forget us.”

Engagement is part of the hip-hop doctrine for this laid back pair – whose comedic and confident on-stage personas flaunt the reasons for their live praise – with sounds and lyrics stemming from just about everything that would appeal to any young adult looking for a beat. Being penniless, losing relationships, trying to do the right thing – you name it, they write it.

“Our sound and lyrics are very accessible; there isn’t anything in our music that would alienate anybody,” says Tragic. “It’s accessible without being simple.”

A user-friendly sort of eclecticism is infused into How To Drink Yourself Famous, the newest release from the twenty-something duo which was laid down in both Atlanta and Toronto, and drops the opening night of Ottawa’s 2012 Winterfest hip-hop showcase. Composed of Rockwell’s own instrumentation and vocals (he comes from a punk band and sound engineering background), sunny ska riffs and Pete Rock and CL Smooth-reminiscent downtown jazz hooks – as Tragic says, “12 people will have 12 different favourite songs.”

Photo by Rodriguez Salvador

Tragic, the “heart” of the operation, and Rockwell, “the brain”, agree that with all of the shallow mainstream hip-hop nowadays – Canada’s grasp of old-school sound and messaging have led to the country becoming a golden hip-hop subculture.

“People might accuse us of being ‘emo-rappers’, but that’s what it used to be about – someone spreading an actual message,” Tragic says. “Our music definitely has pop, but it isn’t fluff.”

So, after a tireless summer of weekly gigs and a consequent three-month performing hiatus, Philly Moves returns to crash the stage this weekend at Winterfest - the ultimate comeback to pump Capital City hip-hop appreciation and celebrate the drop of their much-anticipated LP. Performing Friday with Moka Only and Pumpkinhead at Ritual Night Club, as well as Saturday alongside acclaimed Canadian rapper DL Incognito at Oliver’s pub, the Ottawa natives are excited to meet their comrades in the Canadian climb to the top.

And with Winterfest under their wing, Tragic will join his hypeman Rockwell this spring in Toronto to tackle new crowds and a daunting scene; one that is, however, laden with label reps and industry opportunities awaiting unique breeds like Philly Moves.

“We’re like goldfish – we can only grow as big as the bowl we’re in,” states Tragic. “But it doesn’t mean we won’t always be a part of the Ottawa scene.”

And while they test out the waters in the Big Smoke? We have it good too. We can celebrate their vaster success, claim “we knew them when”, and anticipate the tidal wave homecoming shows when they return to our great little pond.

For more information on Winterfest, visit http://winterfestottawa.ca/. Stay tuned for more artist profiles from in a nutshell!

Monday Movie Music Moment

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She’s All That (circa 1999) was the first movie I saw in theatres that didn’t involve talking animals, puppets, or animation. It was at a Birthday party in Grade 6 and the four girls and I who ran into the front row couldn’t be more excited to see a ‘cool grown-up’ movie. Fast forward 10 years later, and you would find me curled up with my 6 best friends at our weekend getaway watching that same movie and shamelessly quoting its corny lines. I don’t know about you guys, but there is something really comforting about putting on an old, cheesy movie.

And so, this past weekend, I turned to my distinguished movie collection and dusted it off for a trip down 90’s memory lane. I was brought to the land where Zack (Freddie Prinze Jr.) was the coolest guy around and Laney (Rachel Leigh Cook) wore glasses, making her a ‘geek’. When Zack boasts that he can turn ANY girl into prom queen, he didn’t know he’d end up turning Laney into the love of his life… awwww!

But before Zack could go ahead and fall for his ‘nerd’ he enlists his sister to give her a makeover. Luckily, all she apparently needed was a haircut and contacts. But, nevertheless, the big reveal is a movie music moment that will go down in history… or at least something that will take me back to the sixth grade for a brief moment (and make me take off my glasses)…in a nutshell.

Who wears glasses anyway? #nerd

Your boy, Mike Kleff

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From the young age of 15, Mike Kleff (Michael Forson) has put his heart and soul into pursuing his greatest passion: Hip-hop. Now residing in Ottawa, Kleff’s family was frequently on the move when he was young. Moving to Canada in the 90′s, his family relocated to Toronto and Montreal before finally settling in the national capital. Kleff remembers throughout his youth, he was always performing. Whether  in talent shows or just dancing in the halls,”Performing has always been a part of me”, says Kleff. “Being the main character, having people watching me. I love it!”

Now 19 years old, Kleff is taking the opportunity to make his mark in  the music industry. And in the social media sphere. The young artist has made a point of connecting with his fans and is doing so, everyday, through the twittersphere. This social media genius has accumulated over 91,000 followers and tweets a good majority of those followers back. “People don’t know how powerful the internet is. I have a maxed out facebook friend list and 90 thousand followers you say? Damn,” says Kleff as he pats himself on the back. ” Keeping in touch with the people is going to benefit my career…I told myself I wouldn’t become that rapper who doesn’t tweet or follow back a fan on Twitter.” Clearly Kleff’s attitude has served him well as he connects with his (large) fan base everyday.

Yesterday @WaydeRussell tweeted at Kleff (twitter handle @KOOLAIDKLEFF):  the mannnnss trying to take over the twitter woorrrll. Onsum PinkY and ThE BRAIN.

Shortly after @WaydeRussell tweeted again at Kleff for him to: followabrotherback

Staying true to his word, this was @KOOLAIDKLEFF’s response to fan Wayde Russell:

But social media isn’t the only thing on young Kleff’s mind. This kid has set his sights high and hopes to someday break into the industry at full force. Hugely inspired by the likes of Jay-Z and 50 cent, Kleff is taking a page out of the rags to riches book. Kleff says that those guys are the ones, “who showed me anything is possible.” But before Kleff makes it to the big leagues, he has done his fair share for Ottawa’s hip-hop scene. Participating in many festivals and tours, Kleff has performed at Carivibe, opened for D Pryde and is now filling the line up for Winterfest 2012. His song, “I duzz it” sums up Kleff’s love for Ottawa but also his desire to take his hip-hop further when he raps, “I love my city, make love to these streets- Kiss and hug my city- Just smudge your fingerprints, can’t touch my city. Open the flood gates, rise above my city.”

Full of ambition and talent, Kleff knows that the hip-hop scene in Ottawa is fierce, competitive even. “It’s like people want to see you doing good, but not better than them. It’s like every artist feels like they got to be in competition with each other.”

But no matter what the competition holds, Kleff is just happy to be a part of Winterfest this year. “It’s definitely giving myself and others an opportunity to gain more exposure and a chance for the fans to come out and show love. It’s dope.”

Performing at Carleton University on Saturday, January 21st Kleff hopes to stand out. He says his performances always bring “Splashyness” to the stage. When I asked what exactly that meant he said,”…like a mix of style and different things put together. Like swag times five. The ones who know me know the term.” Looking forward to some splash, among other things, Kleff’s performance will be one for Ottawa hip-hop books.

Monday Movie Music Moment

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As Catherine has previously mentioned, we find this movie – and everything about it - to die for. In this day and age, it’s hard not to be a huge fan of Kristen Wiig, the comedy “it” girl of the past few years, who like so many before her has climbed to fame thanks to her spot in the acclaimed Saturday Night Live cast. After watching her quirky, effortless comedy on the late-night comedy show, I immediately fell in love with her whacky antics and complete carelessness when performing; every bit of her seems to go into her characters, and her willingness to transform into completely nutty roles speaks to her devotion to comedy.

So, of course, when she landed the starring role in the highly anticipated 2011 comedy Bridesmaids – I pulled a Lion King (that movie we all went to see one hundred times as children), and saw it three times in the theatres. Excited for fountain pop and salty popcorn and equally eager to see the movie with three different groups of great friends whose reactions I wanted to witness, I never hesitated to hand over my bucks for another chance to laugh at Wiig, the outrageous cast of women and the female-focused slapstick comedy.

Why do I like her so much? Because my friends, the nuts and I are all weird – but in a great way. We find each other to be the funniest females any of us have ever met, we laugh until weeze – yet we don’t always consider what we do or say conventionally hilarious. Like Wiig and the Bridesmaids crew, with longstanding friendship and closeness often comes strange and wild humour - and anything goes, I guess you could say. So, as an example of how I expect the girls and I to dance/lip-synch at our own weddings, here’s the hilarious closing scene of Bridesmaids, when Wilson Phillips is invited to perform at the end of the most over-the-top wedding in history. I don’t know about you, but Maya Rudolph, Kristen Wiig (real life best buds) and their little sing-a-long? Sure looks a whole lot like some girls that I know…

Want to watch some of the funniest bloopers of the year? Check out the Bridesmaids reel.